"Ich Bin Ein Beginner!"

Hey, Barry's got his "Egg of Power", its all good.

Obama's trip to Canada didn't exactly blow me away either. It sounds like the Big Owe considers foreign relations to be something of a nuisance.

That will probably change. During his presidency, Obama may come to realize that the U.S. is more dependent on the cooperation of its allies than he expected, and that taking the time to foster good will more than pays for itself.

No country is an island, entire of itself. Well, okay, some countries are islands, but you know what I mean.

Amateur hour at the White House once again.

Could it be that the only purpose of Obama's run for the presidency was to rehabilitate, by his own example, George W. Bush?

George sure is looking good right now...

This is indicative of Obama's narcissism. He can't treat people as equals. Either they are under his control or they simply don't exist - or are enemies.

By 'his control', I mean that they accept the Image of Obama as Obama authors it. The only interaction possible with Obama is acceptance of him as in control of both his image and your behaviour.

That's also why Obama's claim for bipartisanship is false; what he means is that the Republicans accept his agenda, not that the two political parties collaborate and work together on policies and programs.

Bush always treated foreign leaders with respect as equals. Always. There was the full dress marine display with flags, the full press conference where both leaders stood, each at their podium, and were free to answer questions. Not Obama. The other leader is not treated as an equal, as a leader, but as someone who must be controlled by Obama. So, he'll be 'squeezed into' Obama's busy schedule, he'll be denied a free press conference and symbolic expression of respect.

With regard to Obama's trip to Ottawa, he made it as short as possible; that was another 'squeezed into Obama's busy schedule'. That action shows that you are less important than him. He was treated by Harper with dignity - with ceremony and a press conference.

However, Obama's agenda was focused on the after-the-'irrelevant meetings' with officials and the photo-op at the ByWard Market. The 'common people' are far easier to manipulate and charm and are too much in awe to comment and dissent.

It is interesting to see how a severe psychological pathology reacts in an exposed situation. Obama's requirement for control over how people interact with him, which he maintains by rhetoric, has been protected for years by his actions being nested within the Party and the Chicago network.

Now that he is no longer nested, but is the Supreme Commander, how can he control others? He managed to do this during the campaign by his rhetoric, since there was no need for action.

Now, his rhetoric and his actions are separated. His actions are open to criticism, and he can't control other people's views by controlling them by his rhetoric. How's he going to deal with this? He'll feel vulnerable as more and more people criticize him.

Identifying other people as 'lesser beings', which he did to both Harper and Brown, by defining himself as almost too busy to spend much time with them, and also, by his clear denigration of Brown as an equal leader - that's one tactic.

Ignoring them, if he can - he'll do that with a lot of Americans who complain.
Having his Press Office denigrate and smear political pundits who dissent and criticize. Having others in the Party do the same.
New laws against freedom of speech?

Well, no honor among thieves. BO, the marxist, disses Brown, the socialist. While I have little sympathy for Brown, he does after all represent the UK so BO's behavior is appalling and inexplicable. Was their any air time or mention of the slight?

P.S. ET, interesting.

On the other hand, seeing as Great Britain is vying with Pakistan as the #1 source of Jihadi terrorists, it ain't all bad.

Rabbit said; It sounds like the Big Owe considers foreign relations to be something of a nuisance.

No Kidding, I reckon he is gona let Hillary be the one for that. But, seriously, Obama was a Community Organizer for Pete's Sake.

If I was President Anybody, I would not have met with Gordon Brown.

1) He's an unelected PM whose too scared to call a general election because he'll lose.

2) He'll lose the next general election in a year or so so what's the point in getting to know him.

3) He broke an unwritten rule during the 2008 American election by picking sides.

4) He's a one-eyed Scottish idiot - Jeremy Clarkson from BBC's Top Gear. No offense of course to the disabled or Scottish.

Funny, Gordo Clown flies to the US and Obama snubs him. Obama flies to Canada and the meeting is a huge success. Looks like we're in the good books...at least for now.

Obama is probably bearing a grudge at the British for the treatment of his brothers in Kenya, his birthplace. Whatever the circumstancers, Obama is not a class act as is our prime minister. I wonder what he wouls do if and when the Queen or another member of royalty visits the U.S.?

Didn't they get a load of Michelle's massive pipes?

I guess the Europeans still don't understand: Obama wants our allies to be Russia, Iran, the Palestinians (and the Islamic world generally), and the socialists of Central and South America, but only insofar as Obama wants any allies at all, other than those who will do open obeisance to him.

Obama, of course, actually despises and elevates his authority and interest over all other human beings (or maybe, just say "beings"). Whenever he gets the opportunity to do so without harming his own interests he will signal his disdain and displeasure with any who might in any way be considered a competitor for power -- the middle finger openly, but slyly offered to Hillary and McCain during campaigning last year; the attempt to marginalize by name every commentator or pundit who gains media attention when opposing Obama or his actions (Limbaugh, Santelli, Cramer); now Brown, one of the first of many world leaders who will be taken down a peg for seeking to share, or even bask in, Obama's glory.

Barry may sit in the oval office stroking his egg but he's just a piece of the furniture...Washington/America is now run from the back rooms of Chicago.

The hopey-changy troofers traded the Dallas mob in for the Chicago syndicate.

I guess I'm more charitable than ET.

To me, Obama's behaviour is analagous to taking your friends for granted, but spending most of your time trying to recruit new friends

Nobody is happy, your friends feel insulted, and your newly recruited friends probably really aren't

PS - that "ich bin ein beginner" - that's the funniest thing I've seen for a long long long time!

Beginner!

How on earth does kate come up with all the play on words quips !!?? Simply amazing and really, really effective. (Only possible if one has a real grasp on reality)

The Tabloidy Media on the other hand ...

I have to agree with Phil. Brown is a loser who has publicly blamed America for the "credit crunch" rather than accept his share of the blame. A year from now will face the wrath of the British public who will kick the socialists into touch for at least a generation. Or at least that's the theory. He could of course invoke the Civil Contingencies Act and suspend elections.

I steal them.

I doubt that. Most go the other way.

Style, swish, swagger. That's So FO, Man.

The FO Man, he won.

As Britain has become a shaky Allie and the central clearing house for Islamic terror planning in the west, who can blame him. Canada should be a little on guard against Britain as well while it is afflicted with the Asian Flu complicated by socialist tardism.

Nonsense. You merely do not explicitly source the genesis of your insights out of respect for our own...

(Egad! I've been in PC-land too long!)

@ET (11:30 AM);

I believe Obama's schtick is a little more nuanced than what you describe. It looks more like: "I'll treat you with consideration not normally due you, and in return you get behind me and square off if necessary."

He was, indeed, a community activist. It's the kind of leadership style that normally comes from that circuit. It works in lower-class environs because it depends upon the Hawthorne Effect - treating normally-despised people with respect and thus waking them up.

Tenebris said "Egad!" bwaha!

Tenebris - nice postmodernist comment!

As for one's political view of Brown or the UK, that cannot, ever, be symbolized in a lack of respect for the Office of the UK PM or the UK as a nation. And that is what Obama did - expressed disrespect. You express your rejection and concern over policies, openly, but in statements and discussions.

Erik - no, I don't think that Obama's behaviour to Brown is due to his feelings of 'heck, we're just good friends, who needs to dress up'. Narcissists don't have friends; they have followers.

LT: "I have to agree with Phil. Brown is a loser who has publicly blamed America for the "credit crunch" rather than accept his share of the blame."

Why, only last December he claimed in the H of C that he had "saved the world." Even Al Gore can't match that.

Barack Obama had many big problem because of Bush government, especially on financial crissis and jobless problem in US.

Un huh der wally. Ya don't get to try that one out. Need someone to blame for the current situation in the States then look no further than the Dems in congress that gave the blank cheque to Fanny and Freddy. The GOP tried to put some regs in place to protect the system, but the Dems would have nothing of it.

real....when you'all change your name to waluyo? You should have let us know.We would have thrown a party for you!!
Back on track...why should the big "O" be friendly with anybody? He don't need no help,bein the King and all.Besides,us whiteys caused all the probls he all gonna fix!(Damn....channeling that leftie again.)

Obama was afraid the somebody might ask him about being the first dual citizen president with the UK. It is quite clearly true to the Brits that Obama was a British citizen, err subject, at birth.

"especially on financial crissis and jobless problem in US"

Sorry, but when you say, just borrow these trillions of dollars and I will fix the mess, and you get the trillions... It's your mess. You bought it, you own it.

He says he had to do it. That means he is sure that doing it will work, if it doesn't, all he has done is flood the remaining flotation chambers on a foundering ship.

Time will tell. I have seen this movie with Jimmy Carter, and the ending is not good.

I have seen this movie with Jimmy Carter, and the ending is not good.

I think it's worse than that, Tim. By the end of obama's only term in office, Americans will be looking back wistfully upon the carter era.

mhb23re
at gmail d0t calm

daniel ryan - are you saying that respect is not normally due to the PM of the UK? Sorry, I disagree. A basic normative rule between sovereign nations is respect for the highest political office. Period.

And Obama's being a community activist is not at all the same as respect for an equal - and the UK PM is an equal to the President of the USA. This has nothing to do with what one thinks of the current holder of that position; this has to do with the status of the position. Obama did not treat the UK PM as an equal.

As a community activist, Obama treated the impoverished, not as his equals, but as 'victims' requiring his Magnificence And Assistance. That's perfect for his narcissistic personality. The Hawthorne effect, by the way, is short term and the hapless victims require constant input from the Magnificent Leader.

@ET (2:36 PM):

I think you got my point as of the last paragraph of your response. I don't, however, know why you would think I approved of Obama's conduct towards the British PM. I was trying to explain where he got the character traits that you've pegged as pathological narcissism.

To be more specific, I was trying to guess at why he sees himself as a fair dealer with the Republicans and with conservatives. With respect to PM Brown (and PM Harper), I'm sure the word "workaholic" has already been passed through channels to smooth out any ruffled feathers. Obama's hurriedness, though, show a self-absorbedness that conflicts with his image as a sensitive social guy.

ET is right. Obama may have had his own reasons, but all he has accomplished is to weaken a political ally at home.

Hmmm, Well, correct me if I am wrong, but didn't Britian during the 1950's Kenyan Mau Mau Rebellion capture and torture Hussein Onyango Obama, the President's grandfather.

Which explains why the Messiah threw out the Bust of Winston Churchill.

Obama is a turd.
As much as I enjoy the commentaries of wordsmiths like ET, I really don't think there is any point in wasting any more words on that ambulatory stool sample.

edward teach - I disagree. Just because we and some others recognize the problems with Obama doesn't mean that others do.

He and his administration and the Democratic Gang have to be constantly, relentlessly critiqued, debated, confronted, brought to accountability. Constantly.

To ET
I agree with your analysis generally but I believe that foregoing the press conference, this time, was motivated by the desire to avoid a repeat of the embarrassment he suffered at the canadian press conference.During the press conference with PMSH the big O looked nothing like a statesman and the contrast was just too obvious.Add to that the fact that Obama can't speak without a teleprompter there is no way his handlers were going to allow a press conference that would highlight his failings even more.

helene - that's a very interesting theory. You might be right - and it's yet another aspect of his narcissism.

We'll see how this plays out - So far, Obama has indeed avoided any type of press conference where he was required to answer without a teleprompter's advice. He himself is not an analytical person and can't think through policies and therefore, can't deal with questions about them. His first press conference at the White House was entirely scripted.

I've heard that there are plans to 'wire' him, to have him fitted up with a device where he can hear the advice and answers fed to him from his staff. We'll see if this happens (and if we can even notice it).

So, we'll also see how he handles other VIP visits.
Nice comment.

Oh God!

Note to self:

Groceries..
Valium
Tylenol
Nexium
Scotch

I think it was silly for PM Harper to lead his news conference with Pres Obama in French.

To me it was an insult to the POTUS, if he doesn't speak/understand French.

Why pretend about the French Quebecers when there isn't more than 100 or 200 Quebecers that are concerned with anything that happens outside of Quebec in Canada.
Let alone the world.

Unless it is Cuba.

My favourite commetn to the T-graph piece:

I fail to see your point. If Brown showed up on my doorstep I wouldn't give him the time of day either.

I agree once again with you 'ET'. Where I come from and how I was raised it was simple recognizing a coyote when you seen one. He is one major coyote and he surrounded himself with a pack. This man can not be trusted with anything.

The comment by Helene about lack of press conferences is a very interesting one. That, combined with the profit and earnings ratio, makes me realize again what an unfit and unserious person now occupies the White House.

A sad decline from the days when there were serious thinkers there.

Brown...obama...European... I don't have a dog in this fight.