Gazing serenely from the Great Wall of China last week, President Barack Obama appeared to be making the most of one of the supreme perks of White House occupancy — a private guided tour of Asia’s most spectacular tourist destination.
White House aides exulted that perfectly choreographed pictures of this moment would make front pages around the world. Yet an experience Obama declared to be “magical” turned sour as he returned home to a spreading domestic revolt that is fanning Democratic unease.
It was not just that the US media have suddenly turned a lot more sceptical about a president with grand ambitions to reshape politics at home and abroad — even one previously friendly newspaper noted dismissively: “Obama goes to China, brings home a T-shirt.”
Nor was the steady decline in the president’s approval ratings — which fell below 50% for the first time in a Gallup poll last week — the main cause of White House angst. Obama remains more popular than either Ronald Reagan or Bill Clinton a year after their elections, and both presidents eventually cruised to second terms.
The real problem may be Obama’s friends — or rather, those among his formerly most enthusiastic supporters who are now having second thoughts.
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Either Obama’s WH staff didn’t prepare the way by having predetermined successes lined up or they really thought that the President of the World and Pacific only had to show up and be “present”. Cheers.
He only went to school in China, to learn about capitalism from them.
Sometimes a visit like this doesnt bare fruit for many years. Plus it doesnt hurt to ‘kiss up’ to the one who owns most of your capatilist debt.
You remind me of a battered dog UV, defending the master who beats him – as many dogs will do. That is not a compliment.
I think Obama and his adminstration are hard upon the rocks. Chicago politics is NOT what Americans aspire to and when his own media — who elected him — start to turn on him?
“Well…they’re covering their sorry butts aren’t they?”
Let it work…he is a one term president.
Sometimes the snake charmer doesn’t charm so good and gets bitten by the cobra !
Just saying that at some point charisma has to be backed up by something of more substance like actual competence, wisdom and a spine.
A lot of the problem may be just overconfidence by Obama and his disciples in his capacity to get positive changes by smooth talking at problems: If we are super nice they will love us diplomacy ! The velvet glove has to be backed up by the iron fist when needed otherwise the World will eat you alive if they perceive that you are a pushover.
Geez, hes only been in power less than a year and some expect miracles. Heck, it took Bush two terms to financially & morally bankrupt the U.S. which may never fully recover.
Meanwhile, the Chinese are picking up the pieces. Remember that old Chinese saying ‘he who borrows our money will be owned by us forever’
Re: #7 — Wrong UV…Bush was into his tenth month in his first term when the Twin Towers fell.
What was he supposed to do? Fall over and kiss his ass goodbye.
Not one chance in a million.
So now Obama must carry on his “war” and how does he do that without giving up? It’s clear he wants to but that does not make his decisions right.
How do you bail without giving up?
Obama’s diplomacy will continue to fail to bear fruit (even years from now, UV) because he has no clue what he is doing. Since his arrival at the White House he has done little but project waekness to the world. Remember Sarkozy’s reaction to that idiotic speech Obama gave at the UN back in September? For allies, Obama’s foreign policy (if one can call it that) is bewildering: to adversaries, long accustomed to facing Washington’s strength, it is an opportunity that seldom presents itself in international politics.
‘How do you bail without giving up’ - they may have to if the Chinese refuse to lend them any more money or God forbid, calls in their I.O.U’s
You know that old saying about dancing with the (red) devil.
The US is Insolvent
http://www.chrismartenson.com/blog/us-insolvent-and-headed-towards-bankruptcy/22538
Re: #10 –”The US is Insolvent”.
Not really. It’s a matter of who owns who. China is so deeply in debt regarding the US that they are in huge trouble. If the US defaults what can China do other than to whine?
Truth be told both will go down but the question is “Who will recover first?”
I don’t know.
Ahh…just another example of Obama being a rank amateur and an embarrassment on the world stage. History may declare him, as a predicted one-term president, as being worse than Carter.
But, of course, by the time that Obama and Pelosi are through, the US will effectually be bankrupt…
What a shame
Well, the voters wanted change… Too bad they didn’t ask what change looked like before they made their mark.