ROME -- Here in Rome this evening, the images of Barack Obama's European tour are streaming non-stop across European television sets. His every move is being reported in the Italian and broader European media -- rockstar status to say the least. Italians understandably feel a bit left out of all of the "EUbama-mania" since time would not permit an Eternal City stopover (ah, how nice it would have been to have started my blog with the title: "Veni, Vidi, Vici!," I came, I saw, I conquered!).
At their joint press conference this evening in Paris that was broadcast throughout Europe, French President Sarkozy could barely contain his preference for Obama as the presumptive president of the United States. Addressing a huge contingent of French and American journalists at the Elysee Palace on a springlike evening in downtown Paris, Sakozy and Obama engaged in a veritable love fest from the moment they both strode to their respective podiums, manifesting an extraordinary confluence of friendship and mutual admiration that bodes well for Obama and the United States should he be elected president. It was so Gershwin-like. Obama even quipped that he was glad that French fries were back on the menu in the Congressional cafeteria.
Obama masterfully glided his way through this joint "presidential" press conference. He hit all the right notes for his French and European hosts (and for his American audience back home). From climate change, to Afghanistan to Iraq and Iran, Obama assured the French president that should he be elected president, a new era in Franco-American cooperation would be a hallmark of his presidency. Obama echoed the message of his Berlin speech by expressing admiration for Sarkozy's embrace of change and trans-Atlantic harmony, and lauded Sarkozy for committing France to a deeper, more cooperative bilateral relationship with the U.S. Sarkozy had already done much of the advance work for this pas de deux when he visited the U.S. and addressed a joint session of Congress.
When provoked by a questioning journalist to reiterate his stateside criticism of the Bush administration's foreign policy, Obama displayed a sure-footed grasp of what it means to rise to the level of international statesman while abroad. He reminded his audience that there is a tradition in the U.S. that while traveling abroad it is impolitic and inappropriate to be critical of the sitting president however tempting it may be. Obama deserves a lot of credit for respecting that tradition and he conveyed that position with dignity that all Americans would find refreshingly heartening given what has transpired in recent years.
The only minor off-note I detected in the media commentary that followed their press conference was from some European journalists who were surprised that Obama stated he had not learned anything new on his trip so far. His assertion that his foreign trip reinforced his preconceived strategic views on: Afghanistan (the war must be won), Iraq (the surge has brought more security and the Iraqis are beginning to take more and more responsibility for their own security that will enable a prudent drawdown of troops), and Iran (its nuclear program poses an existential threat to Israel and to the security of Europe and the U.S. and tougher diplomacy and sanctions are needed) left some wondering what facts he was finding along the way that may have reinforced some views or altered others.
I have carefully followed Obama's trip while in the Middle East and in Europe from the moment he set foot in Kuwait. Count me impressed! Oh, yes, this trip was going to be a tall order for any presidential candidate no matter how much experience they asserted in foreign affairs. The Obama campaign should send two dozen roses to John McCain thanking him for egging this trip on Sen. Obama in the first place. This junior senator has shown a senior statesmanlike capacity to impress, master complex foreign policy issues under a global microscope, and evident a welcoming demeanor that disarms his hosts, let alone thrills gaggles of adoring international admirers.
Most importantly, as the trip draws to a close I believe Sen. Obama has crossed a critical threshold that his opponents were determined to prevent him from crossing. The GOP, and RNC, McCain and his advisors grossly miscalculated what this trip would mean for Obama's presidential aspirations. From Kabul and Baghdad to Jerusalem, and then in Berlin and now in Paris this evening he has conveyed to my fellow Americans back home that by his conduct abroad this past week he has earned the right to be considered a respected presumptive commander-in-chief. If there is any concern on my part at this point, he has raised such high expectations of what an Obama presidency may mean for America abroad that meeting some of them, or at least transforming them into effective policies, will constitute one of the greatest challenges of his first months in office.
Since your position on a political question is always congenitally decided, you can be excused for eructing such lunatic nonsense.
Barack Obama complaisantly sat through two decades of virulent, anti-America jeremiads from a nutcase whom he declares to be his "spiritual mentor," lifting neither finger nor tongue in defense of the country. This is not Commander in Chief material.
Maybe your guy can talk the green off your daily pint of lime Kool-Aid, but he can't talk the greenhorn out of his resume.
I'm not sure that this tour conclusively proves anything except that Brother Neo is a fine speaker and cuts a nice figure in the media.
Certainly, leadership requires powers of persuasion and the ability to lead.
However, to suggest that this tour means that he has earned the right "to be considered a respected presumptive commander-in-chief" seems a bit much.
Unless we pick our presidents and C-in-C's based on this quality alone.
I'd argue that picking a president should be a higher order of endeavor than picking prom king and queen. The events of the last seven years should support the contention that what matters most is the content of character and mind.
I have a dream that one day we will pick our candidates on this basis - and a guy who looks like Brother Dennis will be taken seriously as a candidate.
Other countries select candidates on this basis - why can't we?
Quote :
But it’s been hard for me to find a European, aside from two Harvard-educated friends in Paris, who confessed to excitement — not just about the visit, but the prospect of an Obama presidency.
Maybe she didn't look at the photos with all the American flags.
Maybe she is one of the 13% that have some excitement for Big John.
So who's buying?
One thing, I really wish both of them would take some time out of their busy schedules to learn the basics of a foreign language. It's such a pity more Americans don't make the effort. A little French would have gone a long way today to show that here is one American dude who takes the time to appreciate another culture in that most intimate of ways. What a nice surprise that would be for the world, to one day have an American President who is a polyglot. Languages are cool, people!
How ignorant is that? Don't we want someone who has that qualification, who fits the role well? What if he were clumsy, insecure and had a difficult time answering reporters' questions?
Gimme a break. This is bias with a capital "b".
I had no doubt that Obama would be nothing short of exemplary. It was a joy and a relief watching Chancellor Merkel, Sarkozy, al-Maliki and Abbas greet and respond to him as warmly as they did.
The world community is welcoming us back into the fold. Apparently people worldwide, like ourselves, have been hungry for America's stewardship and friendship. Sarkozy and Merkel both had expressions of relief and joy when appearing with Obama. They looked so pleased. Their grins reminded me of the cat that ate the canary.
Obama's speeches are inspiring and motivating. More importantly his words elevate us. And at that moment each individual realizes he or she is a part of something bigger and grander than just oneself. We are awakening in the Oneness of all Humanity.
This is America's opportunity to get things right. This is our moment.
I am ONE PROUD AMERICAN!
Remember to go to Obama's website and DONATE!
Obama is going to be the President of the United States.... and with that comes the fact that he will be Commander in Chief of our Armed Forces..
This was always meant to be a role of a civilian because the founding fathers realized the danger of having Military being CIC and POTUS....
They are different mindsets.... McC has no judgment beyond war....
O has the judgment for POTUS and he also has the judgment to have good WAR advisers....
Nobody has noticed that McC can't talk about anything but the war?
What about Healthcare,Economy, Jobs, Foreign Relations, Energy??
All he talks about is war
Stunt or photo-op they may call it, but it doesn't change the fact that it was REAL. The positive interactions and relations with the leaders and the people he met were all very REAL. 215,000 people, were real, not staged, Obama's eloquence, intelligence and diplomacy are real. The stark contrast with Dubya is real and refreshing to see. Try as they may, to minimize the importance of this trip, it completed the package of Obama's presidential readiness in the eyes of many.
Instead they were treated to what a real statesman is suppose to be like and who impressed all in every country he visited.
And McCain came off with several Dukakis in a tank moments right here in America this week,instead.