Arrogant Americans??

[Ummmm]

I think it should be arrogant president. Pompous ass comes to mind, also. Why why why is Mr. Obama badmouthing Americans while he is campaigning in Europe? Even his toothy grin (sometimes at very inappropriate moments) is starting to get on my nerves...

[Scoops]

from The Telegraph Newspaper UK 4-03-09

President Barack Obama has declared that America has "failed to appreciate Europe's leading role in the world" and has "shown arrogance and been dismissive, even derisive" towards its allies.

His speech in Strasbourg went further than any United States president in history in criticising his own country's action while standing on foreign soil. But he sought to use the comments, which amount to a mea culpa for recent American foreign policy, as leverage to alter European views of America and secure more troops for the war in Afghanistan.

He declared that there had to be a fundamental shift on both sides of the Atlantic. "America is changing but it cannot be America alone that changes."

Addressing a crowd of some 2,000 mainly students from France and Germany, Mr Obama said: "In America, there is a failure to appreciate Europe's leading role in the world.

"Instead of celebrating your dynamic union and seeking to partner with you to meet common challenges, there have been times where America has shown arrogance and been dismissive, even derisive."

He then balanced this striking admission with a tough message to Europeans that blaming America and using its actions as an excuse to avoid tackling the global Islamist threat was unacceptable.

"But in Europe, there is an anti-Americanism that is at once casual, but can also be insidious. Instead of recognising the good that America so often does in the world, there have been times where Europeans choose to blame America for much of what is bad."

In a speech which his aides billed as a commitment to rebuild transatlantic relations by offering an olive branch directly to young Europeans, he offered himself as the figure who could bridge the gap that had grown over the eight years of President George W. Bush's administration.

"On both sides of the Atlantic, these attitudes have become all too common," he said. "They are not wise. They do not represent the truth. They threaten to widen the divide across the Atlantic and leave us both more isolated.

"They fail to acknowledge the fundamental truth that America cannot confront the challenges of this century alone, but that Europe cannot confront them without America."

During questions, Mr Obama, who was applauded frequently and had to choose between scores of young students clamouring to catch his eye, asked Americans to let French and Germans address him. "Do me a favour Americans," he said. "Wait till we get back home and I'll do a town hall there."

Although a central message was that he represented a clean break from his predecessor, Mr Obama – in a rare use of his Muslim middle name - emphasised that some of the problems Mr Bush had faced would not miraculously disappear.

"I think it is important for Europe to understand that even though I am president and George Bush is not president, al-Qaeda is still a threat and that we cannot pretend somehow that because Barack Hussein Obama got elected as president, suddenly everything's going to be OK," he said.

"It is going to be a very difficult challenge. Al Qaeda is still bent on carrying out terrorist activity. It is - you know, don't fool yourselves because some people say, 'Well, you know, if we changed our policies with respect to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, or if we were more respectful to the Muslim world, suddenly these organisations would stop threatening us.' That's just not the case."

[Scoops]

Although I am not thrilled with him voicing those comments....sometimes you gotta kiss a little butt to get anything from most of those @#$%### over there. so I'm okay with it. lol

[Susan]

Ummmmm, all I can say is that those of us who didn't feel like Mr. Bush was doing a good job know exactly how you feel!

[Danielle]

Scoops thanks for posting the actual article, it's nice to know what people are talking about

[Scoops]

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QUOTING FROM POSTER: Danielle;1856155 (Post Number)

Scoops thanks for posting the actual article, it's nice to know what people are talking about

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You're welcome....when you see it in full context, you see where he was coming from and what he was trying to do. Maybe not a great tactic to put us down a bit on the world stage, but otoh...I think it's the only way to make inroads.....you have to take some responsibility for things being the way they are.......being a likeable guy isn't enough....Bush was likeable and that got us nowhere with them over there.

[Danielle]

I have been amazed all all the coverage Michelle is getting for touching the queen and not wearing sleeves to some function.. lol...

[Scoops]

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QUOTING FROM POSTER: Danielle;1856159 (Post Number)

I have been amazed all all the coverage Michelle is getting for touching the queen and not wearing sleeves to some function.. lol...

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It's all silly to me. The Queen touched her first, so she didn't break protocol or insult the formalities required. They said it was ok.


If you look at the pic I posted the link to of the G-20 wives...one of them is in a strapless pretty low cut formal dress. I am sure she is getting flack in her home papers whoever she is!!!

[Danielle]

I can't imagine having to live under such microscopes. I'd be in hot water ten times a day in the first week.

If I met the Queen I'd want to get her a big old hug and kiss lol

[MacBug]

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QUOTING FROM POSTER: Scoops;1856132 (Post Number)

Although I am not thrilled with him voicing those comments....sometimes you gotta kiss a little butt to get anything from most of those @#$%### over there. so I'm okay with it. lol

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I'm with you once again Scoops! A little butt kissing might just go a long way over there! What can it hurt?

[MacBug]

I don't see what the big fuss was about either. I think Michelle is the President's best asset, as I thought Laura was President Bush's also. Makes the Queen seem more real that she touched Michelle first. I've always thought of British Royalty as having a huge stick up their butts.

Good thing I'm not living my life under a microscope either, no? LOL

[Danielle]

I agree McBug, I thought after Diana died the Royal family had learned stuff but they are as uptight as ever.

I am surprised the Queen had as many kids as she did, for some reason I think the only rolling in the hay that goes on is in the royal stables

[MacBug]

I'm glad my comment wasn't misunderstood. I was kind of afraid I'd be jumped on because Princess Diana was so loved all over the world. She's not the one I was referring to. I felt she was about the only one who deserved to be admired the way she was.

[Ummmm]

I don't particularly care if Michelle goes sleeveless or not or whether she wears a sweatshirt or a tanktop. As far as her touching the Queen, I feel if the Queen can touch our First Lady, our First Lady can damn well touch the Queen. I also feel butt kissing is seen as a sign of weakness in the Muslim world -- I don't like America looking weak.....

[MacBug]

You do have a point there, Ummmmm.

[Mia]

Situation is that America has the most arms, but it doesn't have the 'wow' factor it once had.

We need more allies then just the United Kingdom.

[PK...]

My only hope is that he doesn't make a habit of it...

If he does, it will only serve to reinforce the opinions of those who thought his choices in "friends" left a lot to be desired...

Perhaps they had his ear more than we were led to believe?

Guess we will see....

;0))

PK

[Cindyloo]

Well, I felt, as an American, very insulted in what OB said.

I've tried very hard to back up our new president and still will, but there are just some things he says that downright bother me.

I am going to say this though, President Bush, whom I loved and respected, said some things that weren't exactly the BEST things to say at times too...lol

[PK...]

Hah, Cindy, but according to the liberals, he had a reason...

O, on the other hand, is "brilliant", so his words will have to be spun accordingly...

Perhaps we conservatives just don't "get" it, LOL...

I just can't help myself... I still see Alfred E. Neuman every time I see him... Hard to take him seriously....

;0))

PK

[DIDN'TVOTEFORHIM]

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QUOTING FROM POSTER: Scoops;1856161 (Post Number)

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QUOTING FROM POSTER: Danielle;1856159 (Post Number)

I have been amazed all all the coverage Michelle is getting for touching the queen and not wearing sleeves to some function.. lol...

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It's all silly to me. The Queen touched her first, so she didn't break protocol or insult the formalities required. They said it was ok.


If you look at the pic I posted the link to of the G-20 wives...one of them is in a strapless pretty low cut formal dress. I am sure she is getting flack in her home papers whoever she is!!!

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DESPITE her CLAIMS, MICHELLE IS NOT JACKIE KENNEDY!

UNFORTUNATELY FOR HER, MICHELLE WILL never BE A JACKIE!!!!!!!!!

WHY CAN'T THE BITCH JUST ACCEPT THAT!

[Irishrose395]

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QUOTING FROM POSTER: PK...;1856274 (Post Number)

Hah, Cindy, but according to the liberals, he had a reason...

O, on the other hand, is "brilliant", so his words will have to be spun accordingly...

Perhaps we conservatives just don't "get" it, LOL...

I just can't help myself... I still see Alfred E. Neuman every time I see him... Hard to take him seriously....

;0))

PK

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Um I am a libreal and I don't get why he would imply that his own country is arrogan! What in the world?

I'm like some of you guys the whole Queen footage is just silly to me also.

[Irishrose395]

Unless I am missing something here, but I don't get it still.

[TOTALLY DISGUSTED]

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QUOTING FROM POSTER: Irishrose395;1856296 (Post Number)

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QUOTING FROM POSTER: PK...;1856274 (Post Number)

Hah, Cindy, but according to the liberals, he had a reason...

O, on the other hand, is "brilliant", so his words will have to be spun accordingly...

Perhaps we conservatives just don't "get" it, LOL...

I just can't help myself... I still see Alfred E. Neuman every time I see him... Hard to take him seriously....

;0))

PK

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Um I am a libreal and I don't get why he would imply that his own country is arrogan! What in the world?

I'm like some of you guys the whole Queen footage is just silly to me also.

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UMM.. WHY IS THE QUEEN FOOTAGE 'SILLY'?

JUST another INDICTOR THAT MICHELLE IS not JACKIE KENNEDY! YOU CAN TAKE THE BITCH OUT OF THE HOOD-BUT not THE HOOD out OFTHE BITCH!

THANK GOODNESS FOR THOSE WHO TOTALLY refused TO NOT ONLY not VOTE FOR THE BITCH BUT WHO refuse TO ACCEPT HER AS 'JACKIE KENNEDY!'

[Cindyloo]

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QUOTING FROM POSTER: PK...;1856274 (Post Number)

Hah, Cindy, but according to the liberals, he had a reason...

O, on the other hand, is "brilliant", so his words will have to be spun accordingly...

Perhaps we conservatives just don't "get" it, LOL...

I just can't help myself... I still see Alfred E. Neuman every time I see him... Hard to take him seriously....

;0))

PK

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LOL Alfred Neuman. I hear ya PK

I wanted to say, I said "respected" as in past tense about Pres. Bush. I STILL love him and respect him. I miss him really..lol

On the Michelle Obama aspect...I DO think she's attractive, but she's no Jackie Kennedy.

[PK...]

Mornin, Cinday...

Happy "morning after", LOL... Hmmm... Birthday hangover... I wonder...

I am probably in the major minority, here, but I never thought Jackie Kennedy was a "Jackie Kennedy", LOL...

I think History treated Jack much better than he probably deserved, lol... But we (and he) were cheated by his death...

;0))

PK

[Cindyloo]

Morning PK

No hangover...it was a very quiet peaceful birthday. Oh heck, it was boring!!..lol

I always liked the Kennedys. That's when I was a Democrat though..lol

Jackie wasn't overly beautiful, but just so stylish.

John Jr. was a looker, I thought.

That family sure did have a lot to deal with.

When Kennedy was assassinated, I was 18 and wow, what a time THAT was. I cried for days on end. It was quite a loss.

[PK...]

LOL, Cindy...

Yours sound like mine...

Boring is not bad - so long as they keep coming, LOL...

;0))

PK

[Cindyloo]

Gosh, that's so true. I guess, be glad we're still HAVING birthdays..lol

I'm treasuring every one of them.