March 07, 2009

Smart diplomacy

Remember how hilarious/horrifying it was when Chimpy McBu$hitler couldn't come up with the names of some foreign leaders some years back? That was because he was teh stoopid, right? But when a member of Team Hopenchange mangles some similar things, well, it's because of too much hard work, apparently...

Tiredness appeared to show Friday when she answered questions in front of 500 young Europeans at the European Parliament, where she was the highest-ranking U.S. visitor since the late President Ronald Reagan in 1985.

A veteran politician, Clinton compared the complex European political environment to that of the two-party U.S. system, before adding:

"I have never understood multiparty democracy.

"It is hard enough with two parties to come to any resolution, and I say this very respectfully, because I feel the same way about our own democracy, which has been around a lot longer than European democracy."

The remark provoked much headshaking in the parliament of a bloc that likes to trace back its democratic tradition thousands of years to the days of classical Greece.

One working lunch later with EU leaders, Clinton raised more eyebrows when she referred to EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana, who stood beside her, as "High Representative Solano."

She also dubbed European Commission External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner as "Benito."

I can't wait until the MSM begins cataloguing instances of the Obama administration's ineptitude in matters such as these. I'm not holding my breath, but I can't wait.

Oh, and this gives me pause:

Parliament President Hans-Gert Poettering was effusive in his praise, saying that with the new administration, the United States and Europe once again "share the same values."

"What you said mostly could have been said by a European," he told Clinton after she fielded questions ranging from climate change to energy security and aid to Africa and one on gay rights from a participant wearing an "I love Hillary" t-shirt.

Well, that's just fan-fucking-tastic. I can't wait until we have laws regulating the sale of "misshapen" produce and speech codes that prohibit people who produce films condemning radical Islamists from flying between, say, Texas and Oregon.


Posted by: Sean M. at 01:28 AM | Comments (7) | Add Comment
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1 How about this to add to amateur (or is it comedy) hour on the diplo-circuit:

With a media gaggle looking on, Clinton handed Lavrov a green box tied with a green bow. He opened it to reveal a "reset button," a reminder of Vice President Joe Biden's recent remark that the Obama administration hopes to reset U.S. relations with Moscow.

Trouble was, the Russian-language label the Americans put on the button had the wrong word. Before she realized the mistake, Clinton assured Lavrov, "We worked hard to get it right."

"You got it wrong," Lavrov responded with a smile. He said the word the Americans chose — "peregruzka" — meant "overloaded" or "overcharged" rather than "reset."


Oops.

Posted by: ECM at March 07, 2009 02:56 AM (q3V+C)

2 "Tiredness"? Why is it always that excuse, yet when Bush did something, he was Teh SToopid?

Posted by: eddiebear at March 07, 2009 11:17 AM (0LM0b)

3

Tiredness?  Now that's something I can relate to.  Perhaps he (and his team), like me, has massive adrenal fatigue from a life of bad health choices and stress.  Perhaps that's why he won't release his medical records.  I'd be happy to recommend a great doc he can go see.

It couldn't be that he and his team are just a bunch of incompetent nincompoops, so I'm going with adrenal fatigue.

Posted by: Hermit Dave at March 07, 2009 11:24 AM (WhFvm)

4

(Not entirely) OT:

NYT SUNDAY: Obama can not assure economy will grow again by end of year; Urges Americans not to 'stuff money in mattresses'... Developing...

via: Drudge

I'm not sure which part of 'don't talk the economy down' he isn't getting.

(I'm also starting to indulge in conspiracy theories that all of this is intentional on his part--someone talk me down.)

Posted by: ECM at March 07, 2009 01:22 PM (q3V+C)

5

It's official: Obama is completely out of touch w/ reality:

"Look, I wish I had the luxury of just dealing with a modest recession or just dealing with health care or just dealing with energy or just dealing with Iraq or just dealing with Afghanistan," Mr. Obama said. "I don't have that luxury, and I don't think the American people do, either."

Can he honestly believe that anyone in this country currently gives a damn about any of those issues outside of the economy? Really?

Hell, you can even smell the rank odor of "pity me" wafting off his supine, spineless, carcass.

h/t: Wizbang

Posted by: ECM at March 07, 2009 04:53 PM (q3V+C)

6 I love the fact that Obama has chosen Turkey, a secular country, to be the site of his visit to a Muslim country within his first 100 days in office.

You know if Bush had done the same the press would be castigating him for not knowing that little little geopolitical tidbit.

Posted by: chad at March 07, 2009 05:13 PM (Fdmhw)

7 "tiredness" is a valid excuse. Do you know how fucking hard it is to ruin a country in a month and a half?

Posted by: Frank G at March 08, 2009 05:34 PM (Aaspy)

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