It's odd. I know there are conservative people in Britain. But they're like God: I need faith that they actually exist because, aside from my wife, I have never met anyone who came even remotely close to scoring 0.001 percent on the conservative scale.
I've certainly never worked with any. A good example came last week when the Daily Express arrived to the scanning room where a younger co-worker and I were stationed. The headline announced "40 Percent Rise in Ethnic Numbers." My immediate thought upon reading the headline was, "This is not good for social cohesion." My colleague, however, gruffly stated, "Let's leave this paper with its racist headline till last."
Its racist headline? Score another point for the rose-colored glasses wearing, blue-sky thinking crowd, because that kid is clearly part of it. Who cares if foreign influx into the country is so high that we quickly find ourselves possessing no common language, cultural references or shared values with each other? We should care. After all, don't the British complain incessantly about the Americanization of their culture? Alas, I suppose it's far easier and more fashionable to complain about American words infiltrating Brit-speak (which are actually English words that Americans preserved) than how closely British immigration policy, or the lack of it, resembles that of the U.S.
Why exactly do I bring this up? Sky News reported that President Obama signed the Westminster Abbey guestbook but dated his comment "May 24, 2008." A harmless gaffe, but do you know what the reaction to the story would have been had George W. Bush done that? It would have been proclaimed the dumbest mistake in the history of mankind. Reader comments would have declared: "Further proof the president's an idiot," "The American people deserve this man," "George Bush, worst president evah," and peppered throughout by the occasional but obligatory "George Bush, war criminal."
It should come as no surprise that the reaction to the Obama story was all peace, love and what's the big deal?
Give up nit picking [sic], so what he made a mistake with the date [sic], I think the president is a great guy and doing a grand job. It was lovely to see him and his wife at Buckingham Palace with the Queen.
What is it, fashionable to hate on Obama now?
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Glenn Contrarian
You know, Mark, does Obama's occasional goof compare with George H.W. Bush upchucking on the lap of the Japanese prime minister? Or George W. Bush's uninvited neck rub of German prime minister Pat Schroeder? I don't think so.
You can't ping Obama for ignorance - witness George W. Bush's assumption that the difference between Sunni and Shi'a Muslims wasn't anything to worry about.
You CAN ping him for being human and making the occasional embarrassing goof...for instance, I don't know ANYONE who hasn't written the wrong year - my wife just joked with me over the phone a few days ago how she wrote 1991 for the year when she wrote the date on something.
On the 'fifty-seven' states quote - he was probably thinking about the fifty-seven states AND territories/districts we have, for this includes Guam, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, U.S. Virgin Islands, Northern Marianas Islands, 'Minor outlying islands', and Washington D.C.
Okay? A highly-educated man might make the occasional goofs - and his are very occasional as compared to Dubya - but the man is still very highly educated. Don't get me wrong - there's several things he's done (or failed to do) that I really don't like, but in the big picture (with an eye on history) he's been great so far.
That, and I think you'll find that part of the reason why the Brits - and most of the rest of the world - love the guy is because they really believe that he wants the best for everybody. Whether that is indeed the case will of course be debated...but that's what the majority of people believe.
In other words, he's found (as I did a long time ago) that sincerity, good will, and humility go a long way towards earning forgiveness of mistakes made. BC conservatives will surely jump on that last statement with the assumption that he's neither sincere nor humble, and doesn't have an ounce of good will in him...but then - as we've found - it doesn't matter how well Obama performs his office, how much good he does for America, the Right will never, ever give him credit for doing anything right.
2 - Mark Edward Manning
Glen, we gave this boob a ton of credit for making the call on bin Laden, despite the fact that he had to sleep on it and it was probably Hilary that actually made the call. And we also -- I certainly did -- congratulated him for extending the Bush tax cuts last December. Even if he did leave Bill Clinton in charge of explaining it.
Obama is about as far from humble as you can get. It's all about the limelight for him. That's why he's never at the White House. This narcissist is still on his upteenth vacation since "taking" office. He's had more trips in two-and-a-half years than most working Americans have in a lifetime. And he's always throwing extremely lavish soirees when he is at the White House while telling the rest of us to watch how we live.
He's so humble that he appallingly treats an ally -- the very definition of humble, if you're looking for it -- Binjamin Netanyahu, like garbage due to the anti-Semitic filth he was converted to after spending 22 years in the racist Trinity Church in Chicago.
Obama wants what's best for himself and will stop at nothing to promote HIS beliefs, not what's good or representative of the average American.
But since the world loves an apologetic American, he will always be adored. Even in Britain, which he loathes. I don't know what it says about the British themselves, but it sure isn't good.
3 - zingzing
"That's why he's never at the White House. This narcissist is still on his upteenth vacation since "taking" office."
really? do you think he's on vacation right now? and how many vacations do you think he's had at this point? what are you counting as vacation... you must have a pretty lax definition of it.
"Even in Britain, which he loathes."
why do you say that?
you seem to know a lot about this president that no one else knows. please, reveal your sources, oh master.
4 - Mark Edward Manning
Zing: Did you even READ Nile Gardiner's article that I linked to? Obama loathes Britain because he can't stand their colonial past, and he mocks the country every chance he gets. And the British public doesn't care because, well, he's just so damn nice and has such a good understanding of fair play and he supports the underdog and, ooh, cor blimey, mate, I can't even finish me tea, I've got a tingle up me leg, guv'nah. (Yeah, I'm mocking the British now, but I'm just having some fun. Obama is serious about it though.)
Telegraph Associated Content Telegraph 2 BBC
I think the "special relationship" is overblown myself, but Obama takes it to extremes.
Obama is constantly jetting off to Europe, to Brazil, to Hawaii, and all across the country, but always makes sure there's a golf course available first. I don't begrudge the man some R&R, he's as entitled to it as any other President. But Obama is always flying off somewhere on very dubious claims of importance. 65 days off over an 18-month time span. That makes even European worker vacation entitlement seem stingy.
Want some more links. Here you go: Gather OC Register Bluegrass Pundit
One place he really needs to be right now? Joplin, Missouri. When's he going to be there? Sunday. A week after the city was wiped off the map. Because having a sleepover with the Queen -- who he disrespected by not SHUTTING UP once the band took their mistimed cue -- at Buckingham Palace is too important.
Do me a favor and actually do some reading this time, Zing, before you predictably tell me I don't know what I'm writing about.
5 - Glenn Contrarian
Mark -
65 days off over an 18-month time span
Ah. Compare that to George W. Bush, who spent almost exactly ONE-THIRD of his presidency - almost three YEARS - on vacation at Camp David or at his ranch. This does not count the times he flew overseas or played golf in D.C.
But I get it - Obama's really the bad one here. I know that because You Say So.
6 - Jordan Richardson
So basically that amounts to about 12 percent of Obama's presidency. Uh oh, call in the feds!
And those "dubious" events that he goes to, like the Queen's sleepover for instance, are all part and parcel with the business of diplomacy. Stupid, but still part of the job description.
Remember, this cat no-showed the Olympics and sent Biden instead. Even our guy was there!
7 - Jordan Richardson
And let's make no mistake about it: Bush played up his dumbass nature. If he didn't have that, he wouldn't have enjoyed ANY popularity as president. Part of his stupidity really was stupidity, but a big part of it was an act to appeal to his idea of the "common man."
8 - Glenn Contrarian
Jordan -
Remember, the conservatives don't like the 'd-word' - diplomacy. That's all stuff-and-nonsense to them...unless it's their guy doing it, of course.
9 - zingzing
those links are nitpicking, mem-mew, but they are pretty slight. do you really think he hates england? in the end, why should he be bothered, chuff, chuff? why would anyone?
10 - Cannonshop
#4 Wrong, Mark-the LAST place ANY President should be, is in a disaster zone where the work is, well...still relevant. Ever seen the three ring circus that arrives with a Presidential visit? The blocked off roads, the halted work, the overflow of hangers-on and Entourage (not even including the security detail and other people who have a LEGITIMATE reason to be surrounding the President), not to mention the crowds, and then the crowd control, and all the rest of it?
Sunday's about the earliest the president can actually visit a site in the condition of Joplin, and NOT (by vice of BEING a presidential visit) interrupt critical operations in a way that hurts the people who're already hurting.
If anything, it shows a remarkable amount of restraint for the current Narcissist in Chief NOT to rush down there and try to make political capital on the backs of people who're still injured, shell-shocked, and grieving. They'll still be grieving on Sunday, and they'll a lot of them still be hurt (injured), and a whole lot of folks down there don't have homes right now-and won't by Sunday, either-but at least they're not as likely to suffer MORE wounds just to give POTUS some teevee time in the middle of a REAL disaster.
11 - Christopher Rose
Mr Manning: I believe you have been around Blogcritics long enough to be aware that our standard for providing links requires them to be active, not raw URLs. If not and if you also have not yet learned this most basic of techniques, please take on board this lesson in how to format a link.
Thanks.
Christopher Rose
Blogcritics Comments Editor
12 - Andy Marsh
Holy Christ Glenn! Bush has been out of office for 2 fucking years now!
Bush did this and bush did that! Who give a rats ass what bush did and what the fuck does it have to do with ANYTHING current?!??!
13 - Clavos
One thing about Glenn's incessant comparisons to GWB, in which the implication is always that Bush did same bad thing Obama's doing, but to a much greater degree; they, of course, ignore the old adage that "two wrongs don't make a right."
14 - Glenn Contrarian
Andy and Clavos -
Why is it that every time y'all complain about Obama doing something wrong, that when I point out something that YOUR guy did significantly worse, y'all trip the fright rantastic?
As long as you two keep complaining about what he does wrong, I'm going to keep pointing out what YOUR guy - or at least one that YOUR people elected (twice!) - did that was far worse.
Like an invasion started on false pretenses that has cost us thousands of lives and trillions(!) of dollars - when I see YOUR side call for Bush's head on a pike for HIS war crimes, for what he did to America and the world, then and ONLY then will any of you have ANY moral standing to criticize what Obama does on foreign or military policy!
15 - Andy Marsh
So Glenn, in other words, you have a shit argument and that's the best you can do.
Got it!
Have a lovely Memorial Day weekend!
16 - Mark Edward Manning
Christopher, I hereby solemnly apologize for failing to follow the appropriate rules regarding active links in the comments section, and will endeavor in future to apply these most basic of techniques to any future sources that I may wish to supply to the best of my apparently limited capabilities and despite my lack of beautiful person credentials. Thank you.
17 - Mark Edward Manning
Andy,
Don't you know that it's all George Bush's fault and it always will be for the rest of mankind's history on Earth? It doesn't matter that it's been more than two years since he left office. He was such an extraordinarily dangerous man that 2,000 years from now, there will still be a palpable link to George W. Bush as the source for every woe to affect the dignity and spirit of all nations that still exist.
18 - Clavos
As long as you two keep complaining about what he does wrong, I'm going to keep pointing out what YOUR guy - or at least one that YOUR people elected (twice!) - did that was far worse.
You remind me of a kid who, when caught doing something wrong, responds with, "But Johnny (or everybody) does it."
Juvenile and irrelevant.
19 - zingzing
to be fair, clavos, when a guy who works every damn weekend has taken 60 or 70 days of vacation in the last two and a half years, and mark wants to complain about it, it's also a bit juvenile and irrelevant. it's obviously just pathetic partisan nitpicking. don't forget the source.
20 - Glenn Contrarian
Clavos -
Is it wise to have the same guys who drove our economy into the ditch in the first place to be the ones to get it out of the ditch? Especially when they have ZERO new ideas on how to fix the economy other than what they were already implementing or trying to implement when they were in charge? You know what I mean - rampant deregulation, ignore the national infrastructure, and tax cuts uber alles?
You know that popular definition of insanity, Clavos - doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. Your guys want to do the SAME things they did when they drove our economy into a ditch...but they're really really sure that THIS time it'll work!
No thanks - I'll take the side of those who want to do something OTHER than what ruined our economy in the first place.
21 - zingzing
"Is it wise to have the same guys who drove our economy into the ditch in the first place to be the ones to get it out of the ditch?"
well, at least they can figure out how they put us in the ditch to begin with. unless they were drunk at the wheel and have no recollection.
cue archie.
22 - Mark Edward Manning
Juvenile ... Don't forget the source ...
I give credit to liberals when they make sense. When was the last time you gave any credit, however small, to a conservative, Zing? For anything? I'm guessing ...well, never. Because to be a scintilla less than totally partisan, for even one day, would mean compromising your sense of fair play.
And the definition of fair play, as we all know, is to only ever acknowledge the contributions of people who willingly drank the Kool-Aid, allowed themselves to be brainwashed and have never stopped believing anything the mainstream media has told them.
I think for myself, Zing. If you think I'm a 110%, straight-down-the-pike conservative, then you don't know me as well as you think you do. But I'm not surprised by the arrogant assumption that you do.
So keep using me as a tool to amuse yourself if that's what floats your boat. Have fun.
23 - zingzing
"When was the last time you gave any credit, however small, to a conservative, Zing? For anything? I'm guessing ...well, never."
that's not true. socially, there's very little that i agree with conservatives on when it comes to politically divisive stuff. but politically divisive stuff is not the totality of what happens in this life. conservatives have stuck up for many things that i would consider obvious, and i guess they did as well. i'm with them on some of the tsa stuff (as are many liberals), and i'm with them on some of the patriot act stuff (not that they weren't for it before they were against it, but whatever, people can change).
"But I'm not surprised by the arrogant assumption that you do."
who ever said i did? i've only ever responded to your words. i don't think what you write here makes the totality of you. i wouldn't begin to assume that.
"So keep using me as a tool to amuse yourself if that's what floats your boat. Have fun."
you are my little butt plug.
24 - zingzing
"Because to be a scintilla less than totally partisan, for even one day, would mean compromising your sense of fair play."
do you only read my words on your articles? or do you have any real idea what you're talking about? yes, i am to the left. most certainly. i'm to the left of obama (or at least his performance), if you can believe that. but my reactions to you does not illustrate how i think on everything. if it did, that would be sad. wouldn't it?
i dunno how you become so arrogant as to assume that you are the only tool in my life. i have many pleasure tools. i can't even fit them in my hands or mouth, there's so many. i have a box i keep under my bed filled with them, and i collect more every day.
alright, that's enough.
25 - Mark Edward Manning
Zingzing: Alright, that's enough.
Yes, quite. But, again, if you had fun, that's all that matters.
I'm to the left of Obama, if you can believe that.
No worries. I believe it.