President Obama Exercises Diplomacy, Helps Avert Mess (Again)

Let me get this straight….allllllll the countries except Turkey supported Rasmussen, but somehow it’s the great negotiating skills of Obama let led to his appointment? He’s just the grooviest president ever!

“This was a different style than what the leader are used to from a U.S. President,
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But aren’t the **Europeans** the ones that are famous for not listening to Turkey?
It may have been a different style, but it sounds like he just convinced Turkey to give the US and Europe what they want. Nicely.

Nice to see diplomacy being used to seek consensus at the international level.
I wonder if such a thing would work at the national level?

It is not accurate to state that “The Muslim nation objected to Rasmussen’s outspoken support of free speech”.
Turkey and many other muslim nations objected to having their ambassadors rejected by Rasmussen when they requested a meeting with him to discuss the cartoon controversy and several other incidents of anti-islamism in Denmark. Rasmussen used the controversy politically to gain a reputation as an advocate for free speech, a reputation that is very much a mis-representation of who he is and what he stands for.
Knowing what Obama stands for and what Rasmussen stands for I can only assume that Obama was duped into chosing Rasmussen. Or, it might be the latest example of Obama’s reaching across the isle gone amok.
Either way: Shame on you, Obama!

“I have no idea what piece you read, but I read the one I commented on.”
Where in the piece does it say that the negotiating skills of Obama led to his appointment?
“I also listened to the speech where your president very clearly called Americans arrogant, yet you attempt to spin otherwise.”
I do? We have been arrogant. If you can’t see that, then you are not at all rational.
“You seem to have problems with comprehension.”
Nooo, you’re the one who misrepresented the piece.

jake- do we get any scoops on his private mistakes, or just his private “victories”? How about bowing to the Saudi King? Is that not worthy of a story, but making Turkey feel worthy is?

“just stepped in for a second while checking email. Hey folks get out an enjoy yourself today.
There is a great day just waiting for you outside those doors.”
Shazaam! You must be like super crazy deluxe active and busy if you’re just stopping in for a second while checking email.

News Flash: Messiah saves the world again.

“News Flash: Messiah saves the world again.”
What is it with you people and your need to distort and exaggerate EVERYTHING? This article merely says that Obama has gotten the lone hold out on board with a Rassmussen appointment. Please do your best to keep one foot in reality. And pass that request on to your completely insane right-wing brethren. Jesus don’t like deception.

But alas, all of that pandering and kissing up…
All of that dazzling charm and belittling remarks about America…
And Obama still couldn’t get the combat troops he needed.
I think the world leaders are complimenting him in public and laughing at him in private.

All those “Civilized” Europeans in the streets ‘Rioting’. Rioting at the G-20 and the Nato Conference (they must have thought it was a Soccer Tournament).
They also want to Kick all Foreign workers out of their countries (as they Hypocritically criticize the US for building a wall. A wall to keep Illegal Aliens out, as opposed to the Communist German Wall to keep people IN.
These are the Same people who ‘sat by’ and let (or actually caused) WWI, WWII, The Cold War and the Former Yugoslavia happen (the former Yugoslavia is a ‘special case’ that proves that Europeans are ‘Clueless’ even about their Own History — WWI did start there and when it flared up this most recent time they Still could not ‘come together’ and solve the problem, even with the other Recent Historical Examples as guideposts. They just sat there and screamed for the US to come save them again……… Then when 1/10th as much help is asked of them in Iraq & Afghanistan they cry like Bitches. —- Great World Partners they are!!!)……
I guess they are ‘just’ not as Tolerant and Diplomatic as they claim.
Apparently, far from it !!!!!

Mr. Obama has done an incredible job of repairing some of the mess we made with our allies. It isn’t spin. It is the simple truth and the only people who can’t acknowledge that can’t see anything without looking through the lens of their own dogmas.
From that vantage point the same person could watch Obama save their family member from a burning building and turn it into a bad thing.

Obama creates a mess at home by appointing tax cheaters to run the federal tax collecting agency (IRS).

Obama calls us “Americans” arrogant, and ABC continues to praise him, and gush over his wife’s wardrobe. She looks horrid, and he is nothing but a butt kisser.
What exactly did he do over there that averted such a mess? Everything he wanted he did not get. That sounds like failure to me.
I never liked him, and when he started dissing the people in Pennsylvania, and making remarks that were condescending..it made me dislike him even more. Now he has the nerve to call the people who voted him into the White House arrogant.
Unbelieveable.

The Messiah has spoken. I wouldn’t be alive if it we not for his mercy.

The Messiah has spoken. I wouldn’t be alive if it we not for his mercy.
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Well your post is certainly pointless. The GOP sounds weaker to me every day. Aimless, without direction, without a clear and positive goal, without measurement, without purpose, without meaning, without life.

Barack does not understand the difference between people liking him and people respecting him. Or, he does, and he just does not care. So which is actually worse? Barack forgets that he now represents America; not his own selfish “audacious” goal to be the most liked guy in the room. He is pathetic.

When it comes to being a minority, President Obama understands better than anyone the frustration of being in that position. Could it be a disenfranchised minority country like Turkey can be persuaded to act with moderation if they just have a little respected influence in the world. While we are disgusted with terrorist acts, we may find the key to turning things around is just such diplomacy. I like what is being done and said…just a thought!
b

Thinking: Diplomacy is more than just a word or combination of words. Actions matter as well and the administration has had a few unnecessary gaffes. Newsweek reports an unfilled post for Chief of Protocol. Additionally, the WH didn’t know there is an entire State Department Office dedicated to foreign visits.

Obama is apologizing for America and pandering to the Europeans. I have nothing but contempt for Obama.

“We got sidetracked with Iraq.” A President should not say this to a public crowd, especailly when there are American troops under his command still in Iraq working their asses off. What a disgrace to the men and women who died in Iraq and are going through hell with disabilities.

Obama is not for American Sovereignty. Obama looks at American as just another old country that needs to know its place to get along and be excepted. I’m all for unity and promoting peace, but not for throwing away leadership and soverignty. Why don’t we all just become one world? NOT.

He’s like a new age Ozzie Nelson … there is not any reason for evil-doers even to do evil…any longer… what did the world do before He arrived??

To mjl
You said, “Obama calls us “Americans” arrogant, and ABC continues to praise him, and gush over his wife’s wardrobe.”
When Obama said that “America” had acted at times arrogantly, he is obviously talking about the government,and in this case one of the most arrogant governments we have ever had. The Bush neo-con mentality literally believed that we could do anything we wanted, anywhere in the world, and at any time with no impunity. To then transfer that to mean that all Americans are arrogant completely misses the point.

Cellllll-ebrate good Obama, come on!…Its Obama..bama…..Thank God I Voted!

Gosh, I now know where all the sore losers from the last presidential election have gathered! What a collective bunch of unpatriotic Americans are collected here to pick apart the new president just because he dares to be daring.
Yeah, we know you don’t like strength to come from diplomacy when you all have those guns within arms-reach and always prefer to attack aggressively than to talk reasonably.
Obama has done well overseas in pushing OUR agenda forward. The way to success is give and take, especially when WE end up taking more from the gathering than we give. But you sore losers don’t see that; all you see is that you lost and therefore must attack the winner.
Way to go, all you pseudo-patriotic Americans!

Obama’s compromise on tax havens to exist in Hong KOng, while promising not to support Tibet’s freedom
In exchange the list of tax havens that was released 6 months ago was re-released, with NO punishments for those nations.
It’s called … BS

Obama now supports the provisions of the Patriot Act. He now supports extraordinary rendition. He supports warrantless wiretaps. He supports expanding the military, and especially expanding the presence of our military forces overseas. Replacing Iraq with Afghanistan was not what the progressive left signed up for.

“Replacing Iraq with Afghanistan was not what the progressive left signed up for.”
Actually, many on the left have been wondering why our presence in Afghanistan hasn’t been more substantial. Considering that, y’know, the guy responsible for 9/11, among many anti-U.S. terrorist cells, is in that region.

The simple things are sometimes the most important. What a welcome difference in the way we deal with other countries. Obama has a light touch but still gets what he wants. Bush would have bulldozed and alienated over Turkey in such a position. You know…the nation north of Iraq that has tense situations with the Kurds. Instead it seems that Obama got what he wanted and left Turkey pleased about it. This is exactly what he needs. And to all those bitching about Obama’s speech about arrogance…we are arrogant in the US. We should really remember that humility can be a virtue and that patience and compromise can do just as much as military actions that have prevailed in our foreign policy for years now.

If i recall the WORLD TRADE CENTER was first bombed under Clinton by Osama Bin Laden while Clinton was funding him with billions of dollars. Also Clinton supported Sadam Hussein financially and militarily while Sadam was on a murdering rampage of his own citizens.
WOW thought i never know the truth.

The truth will set you free. Obama lies.

For a President to continue to blame the past, and to denigrate America whenever he can, is a complete and utter disgrace. We have troops overseas being wounded and making sacrifices while this leftist do-nothing ‘president’ makes like a celebrity and dictator. He is sending more troops who again are risking their lives, while he mouthes this stuff just to “appear” popular to Europe.
Who cares what Europe or any country thinks?

How about a little news on how Obama accepts millions from unions and then
tells GM it is not doing enough!!!
The unions are what has screwed the auto industry along with government regulations. Guess what? People can’t afford to buy brand new autos that have been made too expensive with union labor and government over-regulation!!!
What a Chicago style scumbag!!!

Gee, way to slant your news coverage Jake! Could you be more subserviant? The man has gotten nothing out of this trip (oh, except for gifts and a lot of fawning press coverage for him and his wife for doing nothing).
No more troops, no spending plan. He BOWS to the king — where’s the coverage on THAT! He and Michelle are more concerned with “cool” gifts than appropriate ones.
I could vomit, but the stakes are just too high. We have frat boy in the white house, and it shows.

Obama and his wife and OPRAH are not thankful enough for having Obama elected and harbor deep resentment “that they just hide.”

Obama calls America arrogant, dismissive and derisive
Um…the London Telegraph correspondent in Strasbourg said that this was the most critical remark he’d ever seen a president give on foreign soil and I think he’s right. When Kennedy arrived in Paris he did not attack Eisenhower and the United States.

OMGosh…this MSM drivel…I can’t wait for them to comment when o really screws up…although I think that has happened 100′s of times already…it should be a hoot!

The fact of the matter is that we have been the “Ugly Americans.” If you serve in the military and travel overseas, you get a real perspective of how we come across as Americans. Yet while Obama point out our arrogance, he clearly pointed out the Anti-American sentiments as well in Europe. He was clear and unequivoca in his comments. I’m sick of all these bashers who watched the prestige America go down world wide in hte past eight years. Obama is clearly the leader we need to navigate us throught this difficult time. And for you who say we are trading Iraq for Afghanistan, Obama has always said that that is the war we should have been focused on. The Bush administration has this country duped and now that we are focusing on the right war idiots want to allow terrorist to have a free reign. Bin Laden is still free and has to be stopped. The haters can say what they will but it’s refresshing to see an intelligent man represent this country. But I suppose the Limbaugh clones want Obama and this country to fail too. Why? Because if our economy starts recover during his administration; if companies start to flourish again; if we kill Bin Laden; if health care becomes available for the majaroity of Americans and America is seen postively again in the world’s eyes, then we know that the GOP is done and they need to close their doors for good. So, I’m praying that OBAMA succeeds for the sake of this country first and so that the Republican Party will have it last epithet read on the Senate and House floors.

Go Obama!

This article was written by the Obama campaign team. Obama has done NOTHING but give some rah rah speech. He got no support in reality from NATO. He doesn’t understand the difference between being liked and being respected. The Russians, Iranian, and North Koreans are all planning to run over him, and they will. He just is not up to the job.

all you obama haters … relax… we know your glass is always going to be half empty ….
it could be worse.
we could be looking a president setting there like a dunce while planes are crashing into building.
so be grateful we have a president who is leading.

This is confusing. A week earlier on March 27th, the following was reported in the media . This is from Voice of America. ……………………………
March 27 – Turkey said on Friday it was not opposed to Denmark’s prime minister becoming the next head of NATO. That message was delivered by Turkish President Abdullah Gul in Brussels, where he was visiting to push Ankara’s stalled candidacy to the European Union.
Turkish President Abdullah Gul praised Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen, calling him one of the most important and successful prime ministers in Europe. Mr. Gul’s remarks, made to reporters in Brussels, appeared to mark a turnaround.

Love your blog, Jake, and you are pretty much the reason I signed up for Twitter but some of these comments???????? Jeesh. I guess freedom of speech really is a good thing, but it wastes so much space!
Personally I think a large travelling staff and a fancy car to get around in for a few weeks is a small price to pay for reestablishing America’s image and credibility on the global scene. And I am a taxpayer. ;-)
Hang in there, Jake, and keep up the good work.

I can see that: ant farm | Apr 4, 2009 5:25:03 PM
Great job regurtating Sean Hannity’s exact words. Maybe someday you “republicans” will learn to think for yourselves. It was the mans first trip overseas trying to repair the image of the U.S. that was so tarnished by u know who. Give the guy a break and if not, get a life!

Mary in TN; First, he got no combat troops from NATO. This means he FAILED at doing anything useful. Second: Medvedev is not the power in Russia, it is Putin. Medvedev couldn’t decide to ship an AK-47 without Putin’s approval and he is not giving it. You are just like Obama, living in some make believe world with pollyanna solution. Obama is going to find out the reality of the rest of the world shortly.

You know, Obama did something good in both those situations. For some reason, if that maes you MAD you are putting your party over your country. That is truly sad. We should all be happy he is doing well because he is OUR President.

Mary in TN; First, he got no combat troops from NATO. This means he FAILED at doing anything useful.
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He got 1/2 billion, he got promise of civilian help and promise for poli9ce training and training of the Afghnistan Army. He recieved continued support of the NATO troops already there, if you think that those were a shoe in you do not understand the situation.

It is interesting that everyone has a strong opinion on Obama.
Those who love him are happy with most everything he does.
Those who hate him are never pleased despite his best efforts.
The reality is that Obama is not perfect, but he is one of the best presidents of the USA ever. He deserves a chance to succeed (and the world needs Obama to succeed).

To all the negative Republicans, you truly don’t understand how hard it was for the rest of us to stomach watching George Bush destroy relations around the world. Keep harping about teleprompters and all the other lame things and excuses you can come up with because we really don’t care what you have to say.

Brenda- you don’t understand how hard it is for us to travel to dangerous places knowing we have a president who commands no respect. He is liked by everybody but nobody respects him because he has no experience, no foreign policy knowledge. He is a movie star. For the past 10 years, I felt much safer because although people hated Bush, they had respect and respect is what keeps me safe.

Thinking- you are just spewing the party line. COMBAT TROOPS are meaningful because putting troops in harms way is real commitment.
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Hmmm…… Ask those countries how many casualties they have had so far in Afghanistan. Just like you guys to talk big. minimize the sacrifices made, and do nothing but critizes.

It is easy to type negativity about our POTUSA but that will not take away from the fact that he rocked this week! It felt good not seeing our flag being destroyed because of worldwide hate and dissatisfaction with our country; it felt great not cringing because my POTUSA would make an ass of himself; it felt good feeling the respect and yes, love, flowing from people to our representatives – FOTUSA and POTUSA.
So continue to spew your hate and nastiness but that will NOT take away from the fact that he did us proud, politics aside, he really did a good job! I am proud to be an American, today more than ever!

Has anyone seen the MSM show the gaffe of o bowing and on bended knee to the Saudi King? Think we just saw the equivelent of when one dog lays down and shows it’s underbelly.

It is amazing to read such contempt for Obama over this story. Why do Republicans come across so vile, angry, and wicked? Even as I share mostly traditional conservative principles, I simply cannot identify with the divisive, grumpy representatives of the Republican party. It has become increasingly clear that Republicans do not represent American interests. They merely represent the interests of a shrinking, highly insecure, select establishment. And, at present, they seem intent on a mission of self-destruction. What is wrong with expressing compromise, compassion, and humility? And to think, this is the party which professes to uphold conservative values on faith and morality. Yet their present collective tone yields such blatant hypocrisy.

President Obama has the makings to be our finest President ever. It makes me sad so many Americans can’t see the good he’s doing and I’m not sure what more he has to do to prove himself to those who didn’t vote for him. I’m very well-traveled and I have seen firsthand how REVILED the U.S. was around the world. That all changed when Obama was elected. His trip abroad is largely symbolic and a major opportunity to fix our tarnished image overseas. The U.S. has to be liked and trusted again. We also need to realize, as Obama does, that we are NOT the only world power anymore. We have to share the stage with others.
Sadly, though, our poor President is in a “damned if you do and damned if you don’t” situation with Afghanistan. Thank you former President Bush for ramming us all up the arse with that one!

Lisa…Sadly, though, our poor President is in a “damned if you do and damned if you don’t” situation with Afghanistan. Thank you former President Bush for ramming us all up the arse with that one!—Then explain to me why Kerry, Clinton, etal all said at the time it was a good idea??? o didn’t cause he wasn’t in the senate at the time…so techinicaly his hands are ‘clean’

There is so much FEAR in the world today. That’s why there is so much “cutting off our nose to spite our face” type opposition to quite possibly the best president we have ever had.

I happen to have a high opinion of President Obama and very much appreciate all his hard work. I just hope that more and more of us help him in his endeavors.

WELL, IF WE HAD JOHN MCCAIN AS PRESIDENT, I WONDER WHAT KIND OF DIPLOMATIC OVERTURE WOULD HE USE! ONE GUESS, ITS MY WAY OR THE HIGHWAY, AND IF YOU DO NOT LIKE WHAT I’M SAYING WE CAN GO TO WAR AND THE ONE WHO WINS WILL GET HIS WAY!

personally i dont think we ever really had the ‘respect’ or ‘relationships’ with the rest of the world you mean. if you mean he ruined relations with the arab world oh well maybe they shouldnt have sponsored al qaeda the taliban and bin laden.

mr obama doesnt speak for myself or anyone in the military i am sure. what a disgraceful thing to say about our country and its people to our supposed allies.

Thank you President Obama for finally stating the truth. America is arrogant. The posts tell the story. U.S. policy and some of it’s citizens are arrogant. Some have been living in denial for a long time. AIG as well as most of corporate America is showing it’s arrogance. Because of it’s arrogance and greed we find ourselves in an economic crisis that is about to topple the world economic system. The arrogance of the past administration has our country in a unjustified war in Iraq. Which is costing us billions of dollars. Our arrogance is so grotesque that some of the citizens of this country would rather see the president and the country fail. Some are so arrogant that they can judge the character of a president in 3 1/2 months of his presidency but can’t judge the character of their country’s wrongdoings. We have reporters who can hardly ask a question or report the news without displaying their contempt for the new president. I Bush always came across as a cowboy and arrogant. But, I did have some compassion for him when 9 1 1 happened on his watch. I would hope that people would have some compassion and give this president a chance to govern.

Ah I get it so better to have a lousy President who insults our country and its people to other countries (while bankrupting our country) than to impeach him? Couldnt we get another President? Dare I say Joe Biden or someone? Blind faith in government! How insightful! I think its people like YOU who may be ruining our country.

I just cannot stop myself posting that your president Obama is the greatest ever president, the reason behind my speech is base on the fact that he is one lifting USA out of difficulties amidst the mess which he is inherited, when everything is in quagmire, very different from the difficulty year that Roosvelt face, during which he had no choice under the pressure from Hitler that he had to decide for a war, whereas that Obama faces is in a dilemma which he got to have the determination and the ability to face the strong opposition from inside to carry off such a tall order though it is too early to say if that will be a success or not.

This is starting to worry me: Obama helped elect one of the closest European Bush allies and all his supporters are praising him.
Do any of you know who Rasmussen is?
Besides from being Bush’s soul mate he is an anti-environmentalist, an islamophobe, a radical free market fundamentalist (deregulation, anyone?) and a political opportunist who’s only two sacred values are money and power.
Consider how you would feel if the Europeans helped elect Rumsfeld UN Secretary General. Now you know how I feel. Obama’s been had and it is a sad day for Denmark and for the world.

You should be proud of your country not your President. “Pride cometh before a fall”. He was not in the military service and many veterans gave their lives in service to our country (America) so we could live here in freedom. He is bankrupting America and bailing it out so its property is worth less and less to the bank and socializing it by taking over TV, healthcare, insurance, autos etc. If a bank took over GM after bankruptcy it would own peoples car payment papers at full value! What kind of President apologizes for a war where we freed people from a dictator and says his country was ‘arrogant’? What are we Japan now? He insulted all of us and veterans. He certainly doesnt speak for all of us. Just his side.

Any chance Obama can stay in Europe? He can borrow money from their grandchildren to solve their problems too.
Obama has little credability and has been played by the other G20 leaders. He continues to BOW to all non-American leaders as if they are so great and enlightened. Obama is dangerous to America. May God Bless the depression he is creating.

I’m glad that Obama got NATO giving us more troops for Afghanistan…
oh wait…
he didn’t.

Stanley what about our American and ally friends and relatives who died from roadside bombs in Iraq that its friendly innocent people made after we arrived and liberated them from Saddam? Now more Americans are going to die in Afghanistan because Mr. Obama says its ok! Are we going to eradicate poppy fields? No just occupy? If we arent stopping the flow of terrorist cash via sale of opium? How is Obama different is Obama from Bush really switch his party and skin color and you would have almost the same person doing the same poilcy.

Our President is doing America proud in this tour. The right wing fringe tries to use anything he says or does against him. The “arrogance” quote that they are trying to peddle now is just a desperate and despicable omission of the complete context of his statement and the way in which he called out the Europeans for their “anti-Americanism was on full display, but nothing pleases the right wing fringe. Not used to Honest talk from an American President in any setting whether at home or abroad. You all will not “Dixie-Chick” our President because we that support him will not let you get away with the lies or half truths.

What I am getting at is if we are not advancing the rights of women in Afghanistan, we are not supporting the drug war by closing down opium production there…what in heavens name are we doing there still? Denying safe haven for terrorists? Its sounds like its pretty safe there for them now. Afghanistan is a country of millions. We are only tens of thousands without allies. NATO doesnt want to help and THESE are the people you want to be the friends of the USA and grow relations with (cowards who dont want to help us)? We are apologizing to Europe? What the heck for?

Our President is being schooled by former KGB members and leaders of other despotic regimes. He accomplished nothing at the G20 other than to sell out American sovreignty to those who would love to see America fail. THE ONE is weak and his performance helped confirm that fact for our enemies.

“Lack of regulation? Who are we kidding? Ask the auto industry if they have a lack of regulation. Then again, ask any industry how the government regulations play into how they do business.”
I got a better idea: Let’s ask the former stockholders and employees of Bear Stearns, Lehman Bros and Merrill Lynch about how lack of regulations affected their companies. Unregulated by the SEC they managed to leverage themselves right out of business.

“To all the negative Republicans, you truly don’t understand how hard it was for the rest of us to stomach watching George Bush destroy relations around the world. ”
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When both world wars broke out…America stepped up to the plate, and defended Europe, in her time of need. We asked only the same in our time of need, and were told NO! Except for the UK. To which most of it’s citizens, were angry.
What happens, when that time of need comes again, and they need our help? Will we? Why should we?
Obama pandered to Europe. Told them what they wanted to hear, and trashed our Country, by telling them, we’re arrogant. I took great offense in that, considering Obama has broken almost all of his campaign promises, driven us into a debt, that not even our great great grandchildren will see a way out of. The great new poverty for us all is coming soon. Yet, so he can stroke his ego, he trashes us, and panders to those who seek to destroy us.
Yup….I’m so frickin proud.

For those who still approve of the irresponsibility that thrust us into the current crisis, it’s inconceivable that an American President could actually get a country to give him what he wants by earnestly listening to them explain why they don’t think they want to do it.
The framers of the Great George W. Bush Recession never tolerate opinions contrary to their own. They equate contemplation of the consequences of their actions with weakness.

Oh my, I see the media is still at it. I really wonder what is their aim now, Obama already won the election so why the props, something going wrong??

Obama saves the day?
are you kidding me?
why do you journalists think your fellow Americans are stupid?
millions of Americans have NOT voted for this moron…. so there are some intelligent people who live in this country and vote.
Obama is a clueless jerk who thinks all he has to do is enter the room and any problem will disappear.

The Republicans (I presume there are Republicans) on this site who revile their President (and sometimes the rest of the world who are part of this planet) tell the millions of us outside America who are on the net and check out postings like these, more about themselves than Mr Obama ever could…

Kerela,
conceding one’s past misdemeanor is nothing big deal, we can only change better by improving through mistakes made, today your president gives me a BRAND NEW impression that is sharp contrast against the previous arrogant behavior of your former officials. One thing that we CANNOT DENY is that your president’s attitude is having the recognition of the world leaders which is shown in the speeches made those leaders and the COMPROMISE they made after proposal suggested by your leader.

Most of the NATO troops are from Britain and will only be there until shortly after the Afghan Elections.
Obama did nothing on this trip except blow another $100 billion of US Taxpayer’s money going to the scumbags at the IMF.
Had Obama cared about the US unemployed he would have gave unemployed Americans the $100 billion. It would have come to approx $7,500 every unemployed American.

“Rasmussen enjoyed widespread support among leaders of 27 member states, with one notable exception: Turkey. The Muslim nation objected to Rasmussen’s outspoken support of free speech during the 2006 controversy over cartoons of the prophet Mohammed that appeared in Danish newspapers.”
I am sick and tired of this 19th century attitude towards countries lying east and south of Europe. Why do you have to characterize these nations with a broad stroke as “Moslem”? Why exactly? Secularism is enshrined in Turkey’s constitution and there is not even a single mention of the word “God” in it. Compare this to USA’s Declaration of Independence. Do we ever call US, “the Christian nation”? Or since there is actually a state-sponsored church (with the Queen as its “Supreme Governor”) in the UK, do we ever refer to the UK as “the Christian nation”?
Look, Jake: I am not sure which schools you went to but if you have a degree in journalism and have read a few books on world history and politics, you should realize that the age of Orientalism is about one century over. If you don’t know what I mean, then please pick up a book by Edward Said.

Stanley,
I bet you support the $100 billion Taxpayers Money that Obama just pledged to the IMF? Don’t you think all that money could be of better use here in the US?

thill
The government have already passed a bill to invest more than 800 billion in the country to stimulate the economy..and the congress plans to vote on more..have you been reading the newspapers or watching the news! $100 billion is the US share for Nato..all the country have to invest together..investing in the world by helping countries economically to get out of situations and growing their ecomomies makes more sense than fighting wars..don’t you think! Or maybe like your great leader George Bush you think we can grow the domestic economy by picking fights with other countries and fighting wars!

A Leader Indeed! Mr. President, you make us Proud.

I am so happy. The president is loved. We get 3000 NON combat troops right through August. Wow!!! That’s 4 months Wow! Another 1500 cooks and dishwasher may stay longer. Oh double wow!!! Turkey gets a special visit and instead of a 27 – 1 vote it is 28 – 0. Oh triple wow!!!
We get world regulation of our economy and the need to give 250 Billion to the IMF. I am so glad that they are willing to take money from us, arrogant Americans.
Just imagine what might have happened if he had not apologised.

It has only been three months and the president has already shown that he has the potential to be the best president that we have ever had! The man is pure brilliance and knows how to bring people and countries together..he is well respected by the other world leaders eventhough he is probably the youngest. Oh what a man! Thank you America for voting and making this man our president. I am so proud to be an American..I can now walk with my head high when I travel to other countries because even the baggage handlers at the foreign airports are excited about this man and despises our past administration. What a blessing to have Obama as our president! I have travelled to several countries and everyone bar none are excited about this man..even in countris that are by and large anti american the tide is shifting because somehow they tend to think that Obama’s heart is in the right place. I think so too and I get a sense that most of my fellow Americans think the same. God bless president Barack Obama and God bless America!

Kanoz rinmnak,
I am not sure if my perception is correct, to a great extent that the terrorist attack on 9/11 was attributed to the enmity built up in the past years between your administration with the MUSLIM, I mean those EXTREMISTS Muslim. It is a kind of rancor that the Muslim are dwelling on which has resulted in this attack because they (Muslim) do not have a place to VENT on their anger, and there is no way that they can fight you face in face because of your military might that had driven them to attack UNDER TABLE.

This man is piece of corrupt lying trash, who will destroy America.
Posted by: decentAmerican | Apr 4, 2009 11:19:13 PM
******************************
Your trashing the President (any President) in that manner is neither “decent” nor “American” -

another mass shooting in Pittsburgh from a man who was scared about the “Obama gun ban” which is fake and being plastered by the Fox news crazies. Yes the phony conservatives have had a hand in a man acting crazy and Killing COPS. Shame on you people for lying.

Jake Tapper,
Thank you for this article. You are one of the best. Some of the readers here obviously don’t read your column regularly. If they did, they would know that you can hardly be described as a fan of President Obama. What is sad is that, as long as you are pointing out what you perceive to be a fault, or short coming of president Obama, some here sing your praises as a journalist. Too bad that when you point out something that president Obama may have done that was a good thing, you suddenly become in the presidents back pocket. He is all of our president, so instead of looking for something to complain about, how about we all be fair and balanced. Thanks again Jake.
independent viewer/voter

Growup wrote:
“Your trashing the President (any President) in that manner is neither “decent” nor “American”
So that means you will be also criticizing all the people on this board who constantly trash Bush and who did so for the past eight years? I won’t be holding my breath.

“another mass shooting in Pittsburgh from a man who was scared about the “Obama gun ban” which is fake and being plastered by the Fox news crazies. Yes the phony conservatives have had a hand in a man acting crazy and Killing COPS. Shame on you people for lying”
Hahahaha, give me a break. So I guess Al Gore was responsible for the Unabomber then? And this fake gun ban, is not so fake, or maybe you missed the press conference by Eric Holder a few weeks ago where he detailied the guns he was going to try to have banned; Keith Olbermann must not have mentioned it. I guess you didn’t have your TV on for that one, did you?
“What is it with you people and your need to distort and exaggerate EVERYTHING? This article merely says that Obama has gotten the lone hold out on board with a Rassmussen appointment. Please do your best to keep one foot in reality. And pass that request on to your completely insane right-wing brethren. Jesus don’t like deception.”
We like to exaggerate everything?Hahahahahaha you have to be kidding me right? Perhaps you should read some of the posts exclaiming how this man is the greatest president ever and is so absolutely brilliant. Or perhaps you should reread this blog post about how Obama did virtually nothing and it is inflated into some great victory.

“Wow…back to back posts citing the exact same point, after it not being mentioned all day. Could it be the midnight Limbaugh memo just went out? Comparing Bush’s numbers at the same point in his Presidency is LAUGHABLE. Did he walk into the worst recession this country has seen in two generations? No, he didn’t. He walked into prosperity. Not hard to pull good numbers when the table was essentially set for you. And Obamas numbers have increased over the past two weeks.”
Uh, actually they have decreased. You need to visit a cite that lists multiple polls instead of cherrypicking one biased polled that sampled 36% Democrats and 25% Republicans. And regardless of the obfuscation you engage in, Bush’s and Clinton’s poll numbers were no worse than this bozoes two months in to their first term. And I don’t listen to Rush Limbaugh or watch Fox News, so you can stop using that old, tired, cliched argument.

“…his absolute reliance on a teleprompter…”
This sounds like another right-wing lie.

“The members of Obama’s cult of personality need to come out of their coccoons and realize this president has been an abject failure…”
Sorry Bob, but I don’t need to do or realize anything that you want me to, especially to realize something as ridiculous as Obama being an abject failure only 3 months into his presidency -and that doesn’t make me belong to some kind of cult.

How come we don’t see the videos of our American President bowing to King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia on the MSM? He gave a small bow of his head to Queen Elizabeth, but bowed from the waist to King Abdullah? What’s with that, and how come the only place we see the tape is on the internet?

“Obama has done well overseas in pushing OUR agenda forward. The way to success is give and take, especially when WE end up taking more from the gathering than we give.”
==============
Actually, Kira, Obama takes virtually nothing from “the gathering.” No coordinated global stimulus and no meaningful commitment of troops to Afghanistan, the two main things he came for. We even have Gordon Brown crowing that Washingtonian market economics is dead. OUR agenda pushed forward? Hardly. More like kicked to the curb.
Of course, there was all the breathless adulation, a couple of minor diplomatic finesses and almost non-stop apologizing for American arrogance. If that’s what spells success for you, no wonder you’re so pleased.

It is too simplistic of the reporter to suggest that Turkey objected to Rasmussen just because of the cartoon controversy. The Danes allow PKK, a Kurdish terrorist organization that is in open war with Turkey, to broadcast from Denmark. There is a fine line between free speech and giving support to terrorists and that was the main issue of the Turks against Rasmussen.

Can someone please explain to me what Tapper means by Obama’s “negotiating skills”? He speaks as if the man has some kind of well-renowned and time-served negotiating ability, instead of being the completely inexperienced rookie we know he is.
It really is about time liberal journalists opened their eyes and came down from the “Obama buzz” that’s turned their minds into a dreamlike mush since the election. It’s like all pretense of journalism has been discarded as they fall over each other to write glowing reports full of praise and superlatives about the man. I said I would be objective about Obama’s actions and give him due praise – but as much as I’ve tried, I haven’t found one instance of the man exercising any kind of intelligent prudence whatsoever. A great President he most certainly ain’t. Four years down the line when the buzz has worn off, there are going to be an awful number of liberal journalists looking back on their fawning coverage and cringing with embarrassment.

To MR.Mirsat
Turkey have not in a period of 10 years been abel to come up with a single piece of evidence that ROJ the kurdish Tv station wich broadcasts from Denmark supports PKK or viceversa. If Turkey could proof it. I’m sure the station would be closed in an instant..

By the way, it’s so funny to me how vapid obama supporters really are. They ride the waves of public opinion from day to day with no substance to carry them through tough times.
Any Christian knows we will never be liked. It is in our book. But, what we do know is that 1) it’s the truth, and 2) we have strength not of ourselves to weather mistreatment, etc.
That is my life. What I think is so curious is the sentiment in these comments, “it’s so great our president is loved!” and “Obama is so worthy of our praise!” and “Don’t you love those poll numbers? Wow. It’s so wonderful to be a part of this.” What? Emotional fervor? Be a part of WHAT? Nebulous peace? Words words words.
Do you know philosophy? Do you know our constitution? Do you even know economics? No.
Nor do you care. Jump on that bandwagon and ride those waves of approval…bobbing up and down…too bad they aren’t reporting the THOUSANDS upon THOUSANDS of protesters against THE GOVERNMENT. You might feel on the WRONG side of history. oops.
Much cooler to be right than popular. Free your mind.

Thank you Diane for your comments. At least I know that I for one am not alone. May God bless you and your family and loved ones always.
I know in my heart that this country will not continue to run my bigots and thieves for too long anyway. The American people will have their say again soon and GOOD vs Evil will prevail. The ones that did not feel an importance of voting last time around will show up the next time. I feel this in my heart. God will prevail in the end and will answer OUR PRAYERS.
It is a shame that a wolf in sheeps clothing was so able to take over the minds of so many.

I may vote against this incumbent next time..if we still get to use the secret ballot.

“it is against Military protocol for him or her to speak negatively about the Commander and Chief of the United States. You take that Oath when you swear to defend the Constitution! ”
Posted by: allincompassing | Apr 5, 2009 5:00:39 AM
***************
If you knew what you were talking about,
you’d know that Obama swore to the same
oath, yet he bashes America to all of Europe.

Why does everything you people write about the President sounds like you’re writing the accomplishments section of his high school yearbook?

Oh there is one, jump on the bandwagon, high school accomplishment page, vapid, not aware not substance. Same words. The problem I have with that is that I have heard and read so much substance and I wonder if we hear different things sinse it is apparent pro and not pro are not even close to being in the same hemisphere, let alone wavelength. Substance. Substance and alternatives depending on outcomes. That really has baffled me of the bandwagon crowd. From the beginning.

Some of you people must have a Kool Aid overload..
Obama was a groomed puppet via the Bilderburg group that met in New York last June. When Hillary and Obama suddenly disappeared and no one could find them, they were attending the Bilderburg meeting. Welcome to the New World Order ! It’s slowly coming to the forefront. We will al be a one world government now.
Obama is selling us out.
He is just the puppet for the puppet masters of the World Bank.
In 4 years WE THE PEOPLE will take our country back.
In two years the people in congress will get what is coming to them. TERM LIMITS. If they want pass the rule of TERM LIMITS then WE THE PEOPLE CAN AND WILL. Just Watch !
Our government now is the most corrupt in HISTORY. These people in government do not care about US ! We the people will take this country back if there is anything left of it when Obama and his totally democratic congress get through trashing the economy and trashing our constitution.
If I hear one more person on this board trash MY PRESIDENT, President George W. Bush I am going to scream.
He is not responsible for all that is going on today. You can look no further than all your corrupt people in our government. The congress and President have no morals. If they did they would not be doing all this BS that they are doing now.
Yes, some of the people on Wall Street were greedy and did bad things but you don’t punish the entire country for their wrong doings.
Look no further than members of congress and Obama himself that profited from donations to their campaigns.Fannie Mae, Freddy Mac, AIG and others contributed substantial amounts of money to Obama,Dodds,Schumer,Frank,and many others campaigns. Is that right ?
You fools can continue to worship Obama like some kind of God if you want but I prefer to stick to my creator. If all these politicians had God in their life it would restore morality to our government. But..Oh I forgot, being a believer in God is not KOOL anymore.”How sad is that ?”
May God continue to Bless this Great Country and bring back morality in our Government.
If that one would find a church to attend maybe he could set an example for all Americans since so many worship ship and cling to his every move.

One commented that if our politicians had faith in a God they would not be corrupt and Obama and the rest of them are evil. I think the Republicans who depend upon the moral right, and I am not being negaive about those who are religious; the evil that have lately been in power and did their greediest best to destroy us for some cash are those who claim strong religious beliefs. They use their base but do nothing for them since they are here to serve the wealthy. So how is Obama evil while those who are now social conservatives for the social conservative vote are still the same conservatives who serve only the very small percentage of the wealthy and themselves. Obama is so evil and in disguise for so many years working to serve the less fortunate in his community and wants to spread evil education and opportunity and all the evil improvements from science and maintenance.

So that means you will be also criticizing all the people on this board who constantly trash Bush and who did so for the past eight years? I won’t be holding my breath. Posted by: Bob | Apr 5, 2009 12:07:07 AM
*******************************
It’s good you are not going to hold your breath, because I have and I will. The poster I responded to had the gall to call himself a “decentAmerican” while totally trashing the President. Nothing decent about it or your assumptions.

I’m kind of confused why your source deems Turkey a “small” country. It’s really not, both size-wize and economy-wise. It’s the 17th biggest economy in the world, and frankly it’s one of the most strategically important countries, as it has strong ties to both Israel and the US on one hand and Iran and Syria on the other. (Note: I’m not Turkish at all, I don’t have any vested interest in this. But Turkey is a lot more important than most people realize.)

Ok…
Bring Back the Prestigious Years of …
[Bush-Cheney 8 Years] ?
Who Amassed Over [15 Trillion Dollars] in Debt, to the Largest [Communist-Socialist Country] on the Planet [China], who Buy Up Our Debts and Finance our 2 Wars in the Middle East, at the Cost of [20 Billion Dollar Per Month with Interest], for the Past 6 Years and Counting….
The Glorious Bush-Cheney Years of Never, Ever Vetoing a Single Spending Bill, Crossing his Desk in [8 Years]…
Glorious Years..Indeed.
Bring his Tough Talking, Big Spending A!! back as President of the USA once more… Ha !!
Or the [Clinton-Gore 8 Years] with At Least President Clinton & Vice President Gore Believed in [Pay as You Go and left this Nation with a Surplus, an Yes I Omit, Monica Lewinsky, the Entire Nation has already and the Clinton's are still on the Political Scene.
Or The Prestigious [Nixon Years]
Or Ronald W. Reagan [8 Years Of De-Regulation] which has Lead to the Current, Wall Street, Housing and the Banking Crisis, we have Today.
Capitalism has Failed…Period
Or the [Ford Years]
Or The [Carter Years]
You Mother Lovers… A-M-A-Z-I-N-G !!!
Capitalism has [[Failed]] Period

Posted by: decentAmerican | Apr 5, 2009 1:45:37 PM
One of the most vile things I heard while on vacation in Northern California was a group trying to get the San Francisco sewage plant re-named after George W. Bush.
I’m sure they thought it was a form of dissent and that they were being “decent” Americans too.
I’m sure you would beg to differ, but you’re not any different.

It seems that simplistic thought tend to occur among those believe Mr Bush or Mr Obama may be nefarious politicians. These two men have differing views re: the types of policies that benefit individuals and the public at large. Mr Bush had 8 years in which to achieve his goals. If he did not do so, that reflects his inability to manage successfully himself and his administration during various periods of his presidency. My impression is that he held typical conservative views and some views that were even idealistic from any viewpoint—-such as his commitment to AIDS victims in Africa. His conservative views were usually reflected in his domestic policies, where he very much continued the Reagan policies of social welfare for the rich and “the Devil may take the hindmost” for the rest of us. Such policies eventually led to the economic decline experienced during the past year. These policies encouraged the capitalists and their administrative managers (a cadre that wanted to enrich themselves) to close factories in the United States and ship jobs abroad, thus decreasing the incomes of those employed as workers. American laws were not changed in order to encourage or force American companies to keep producing in the United States, and thus keeping jobs within this country.
So far, the Obama administration has not adequately addressed the issue of keeping industrial jobs within the United States. It must do this if this country is to continue to keep employed the great number of our citizens with poor education, poor job and social skills, and poor prospects for employment. We must also have jobs for workers wih good working skills, adequate education, and desire to advance. People must have income if they are to have hope or the drive to obtain their needs in a legitimate manner. The Obama administration seems to be composed of persons with a greater sense of concern for the common man and his needs for employment. It is taking steps that will benefit some and may be hoping that others will eventually be employed and will become more able to provide for their own needs. The president himself seems to have his heart in the right place and the will to seek changes which will benefit the working and the middle classes. He seems to recognize that this will not be an easy task, as conservative Democrats and most Republican members of the Congress simply lack the imagination and the desire to significantly alter the social system of this country so that all citizens are treated more equally.

Decent American..You are abosolutely right in your post.
The left wingers and the main stream media have become the most vile people I could have ever imagined.
When they open their mouths what is left of their brians fly out.

In response to one of you that talked about jobs leaving America.
The Unions have destroyed large companies in America and the governement and their excessive taxes on business’s have run companies out of America. A business in the business to make money so I surely can’t blame them for moving out of the country.
Unions shoudl be abolished and the government needs to quick with the tax hikes on business’s. They can’t survive.
The government “can’t” make a company stay in America. What gave you that idea ? Force companies to stay in America ?
We are not a communist country YET.
Want be long though now that we have a dictator in the white house that will now control our every move.
Where we live, what we eat, what we drive, what we eat, how we raise our children, how we dress, etc. etc.
A president that goes around the world trashing American.
The man is a traitor. He needs to resign. He has no clue. Impeach him now.
TREASON !
How shameful.
And how shameful for people to worship this man like he was a God.

Thank you again Jake for some honest reporting. Please don’t veer from reporting with integrity. Ignore the ignorant comments. It would appear to us that it clearly are those who know nothing, don’t read are the truly ignorant of the past.
Keep up the good reporting Jake – whatever it is – . We have now totally placed CNN in the Fox column! GOP trash – manipulation.

I believe this will be one of his first miracles on his way to becoming a Saint !