Not up there with Kennedy or Reagan's but Obama's Berlin speech did its job

Verity

Well, out of around 400 comments on Little Green Footballs already, not one positive or lukewarm one. Everyone thought he was absolutely terrible. They all made fun of his speech. And that the crowd was lukewarm.

Ann

He didn’t want to be seen to be politicking overseas, but he gave a campaign speech overseas ... a snake-oil salesman through and through.

Is anyone really falling for the nonsense that a whistlestop tour overseas somehow changes him from a complete charlatan with no experience whatsoever, into an international statesman? Amazing.

Ichbin(k)einBerliner

I thought that the potted history lesson in his speech wasn't very astute at all, especially for a man who positions himself squarely in the 21st century. I don't think the way he tries to attract people to his false brand of populism is very convincing to anyone either, other than perhaps his sycophantic followers back home.

The reality is that he is a political backwoodsman trying to position himself as a refreshing new deal in leadership. The reality is that he is a dangerous man.

Verity

"Not up there with Kennedy or Reagan's but Obama's Berlin speech did its job"

Given that Obama's not the President of the United States, or even an official candidate, what job would that be?

"Obama didn’t want to be seen to be politicking overseas."

ARE. YOU. MAD?

axt113

Verity, you're expecting anyone on Little green footballs to praise Obama? That's like expecting Huffington Post to praise Bush

Verity

ax113 writes: "Verity, you're expecting anyone on Little green footballs to praise Obama?"

No.

Strange assumption on your part.

I have enjoyed dropping in on LGF for around three years now so am pretty much familiar with the ethos of the blog. Some of the posters are knowledgeable, have a wide frame of reference, are very astute and very funny. As in "Ich bin ein Beginner". Some of the comments were very funny.

What I pointed out, was that they were not just negative, they were scathing. The venue was chosen with great ignorance. (Hitler- and he'd just left Israel, the moron.) The speech was self-referential to an infantile degree. The crowd was not enthusiastic and had apparently turned up for the free beer and the concert that Obama's people had thoughtfully laid on. He didn't mention President Kennedy (D), who I can't stand, but did truly hold his nerve during the Cuban missile crisis or President Reagan (R) who faced down Gorbachev from the Brandenberg Gate. He just said, in his childishly self-referential way, that other Americans who had spoken here "didn't look like me".

I can't wait for France. It will be the usual suspects who turn up for grèves and political demos beautifully turned out.

Now, most people outside the tourist industry in Paris do not speak English. (Neither does Obama, without a script.) So this should be good!

Verity

From LGF today: A U.S. military official tells NBC News they were making preparations for Sen. Barack Obama to visit wounded troops at the Landstuhl Medical Center at Ramstein, Germany on Friday, but “for some reason the visit was called off.”

One military official who was working on the Obama visit said because political candidates are prohibited from using military installations as campaign backdrops, Obama’s representatives were told, “he could only bring two or three of his Senate staff member, no campaign officials or workers.” In addition, “Obama could not bring any media. Only military photographers would be permitted to record Obama’s visit.”

The official said “We didn’t know why” the request to visit the wounded troops was withdrawn. “He (Obama) was more than welcome. We were all ready for him.”

God, he's a nasty, sleazy piece of work!

Augustus

I often ask myself why Obama has acquired a sort of cult status, even in Europe. Even politicians drool over him. It's unusual to glorify politicians at the best of times, let alone those with no experience of power. What is the quality that marks him out for all this praise? Is he that much more worldly and refined compared to Bush?

Hysteria

I feel quite sorry for the people in the US who are on the Obamawagon - the are in for such a terrible shock. Have you seen him when he is asked question ad-hoc? It is truly awful. His speeches SOUND good but there is nothing of substance - just vague "third way/change you can believe in" c**p.

I am not sure if I am in the "he's actually dangerous" camp yet - but it might not take much to convince me!

THX1138

Who cares if 400 people sat in front of their PC commented on stupid right wing blog like LGF, 200,000 people commented in Berlin in person.