Posts Tagged ‘olympics’

Paul Ibrahim

While still in campaign mode prior the presidential election, Barack Obama’s teleprompter squandered no opportunity in sternly reminding us: George W. Bush has ruined America’s relations with every country, province and hamlet in the world – but worry not, the Citizen of the World is here to “repair” America’s oh-so-shattered international image.

A furious reparation operation was thus launched immediately upon Obama’s inauguration. It began with his opposition to free trade agreements with friendly Colombia, South Korea, and Panama. He thoroughly upset the Chinese by slapping high tariffs on their tires, and the Canadians by prohibiting Air Canada’s charter fleet from flying

Repairing Relations.

their NHL teams between U.S. cities – leading to promises of retribution from both countries. His signing of a “Buy American” clause has been methodically vilified by Brazil, Canada, China, Japan, Australia, India, Singapore, France, and the European Union, among others, some of whom have been compelled to trigger retaliatory measures.

Yes, an international trade war brought to you so swiftly and so single-handedly by the Citizen of the World himself. Read the rest of this entry »

Jamie Weinstein

Rachel Maddow: Every member of every country that was in the finals sent a head of government or a head of state…

Mike Murphy:  But there’s a difference, Rachel. The president of the United States is a special category of one, and you don’t put a president in that position…

Rachel Maddow:  Sure.  And tell a Spaniard that King Carlos is second rate…

The more you don't know . . .

Mike Murphy:  King Carlos knows deep down he’s second rate to the president of the United States…

Discussion (edited for clarity and brevity) on President Barack Obama’s trip to Copenhagen, Meet the Press, October 4, 2009,

It is unlikely one would have to convince Spanish King Juan Carlos that he is not as significant an international figure as any American president. Unlike MSNBC commentator Rachel Maddow, the Spanish King is surely fully aware of this reality. Most world leaders understand this implicitly with the possible exception of megalomaniac dictators and sometimes French presidents. But deep down, even these exceptions aren’t really exceptions.

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Bob Maistros

Ho, hum.  Another week, another Obama controversy.

This time it’s the hullaballoo over whether it’s a distraction for the president of the United States to go abroad shilling for a city’s Olympic bid – even if it is his adopted hometown’s – in the midst of such minor inconveniences as near-double-digit unemployment, an Iranian nuclear crisis and the rapid cratering of his health care reform proposal on Capitol Hill.

Opening ceremonies.

It’s obvious to me that the assorted talking heads tut-tutting our president’s involvement are missing some important points.  Like the fact that O’s home is located just a few blocks from the proposed Olympic Stadium site.  So not only is it a matter of neighborhood pride, it turns out that with the place vacant for a while the fam squats in public housing in Washington, Barack and Michelle have an opportunity to pick up a little extra rental scratch they hadn’t even anticipated when they closed the little land deal together with Tony and Rita.

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