Kate, Ed at Hot Air makes a good point about how Obama cancelled his visit to the American Rammstein and Landstuhl bases, Landstuhl in particular having the mission of treating American (and Coalition/NATO including Canadian) soldiers.

Gotta have priorities, I guess.

Tin ear, you say? I think his whole head is made out of tin. Cheap tin, with a high-grade vacuum inside.

"Ich bin ein Beginner" now that is priceless!!!

I saw Ed's story this morning too - it is here btw:
http://hotair.com/archives/2008/07/24/competing-optics-cheering-germans-or-american-military/

Of course it'll be a huge surprise if anything is made of this latest gaffe/snub.

McCain isn't exactly endearing but this Obama creep is just obnoxious.

Waaaah!!

Another well thought-out lefty argument. Well, done, Right-wingers...

You have to cut a leftard some slack because this is the normal depth of their response. After this comes - Racist, Knuckle-draggers, neo-con, george bush loving, gun loving...blah blah blah...Yep, trying to carry on an intelligence discussion with a leftart is a very weary endeavor.

One thing for sure is that Obama is extremely well funded. Only the best for
Barack! Right down to the graphics work on that German poster.

The socialist hordes in the European Union would be overjoyed for Obama to become POTUS.

Beware, you USA voters of what you vote for. . . . .

Canada was taken down the socialist path by Pierre Trudeau and we are still so engaged, just look at the current provincial leftist governments in place across Canada, aided and abetted of course by Canadian leftist MSM.

Hard to shed, once the slop trough is in place.

It's incredible - Obama is, as I keep saying, essentially a fictional character. A creation, a two-dimensional screen saver, morphing from a square to a circle to a triangle, from red to blue to green to...all in the space of a few minutes.

A creation - and who/what is creating him? Because Obama has no reality as a Self; he's not even a cartoon character because he has no distinct identity - and all cartoon characters, from Bugs to Cat, have their identity. Obama has no identity; he's a chameleon; he takes on the identity of whatever dominant group he stands next to...and next to...and next to..

Who is funding him? Because it's obvious that as a creation, some agency is at the drawing board.

The GOP, on the other hand, has put forward a real person. The question is - do we want this Real Person, ie, McCain? Is he 'right for the time'? Is he the only conservative, so to speak, that the GOP could come up with?

And what is going on in the country, that a nation could actually posit a fictional character as its head of state?

I *guarantee* you that you can find a nazi propaganda poster that looks exactly like that. I am sure I have seen a similar one before. Wouldn't that be a find...get looking, folks.

"Beware, you USA voters of what you vote for. . . . ." - some right-wing rube

Canadians and Europeans enjoy superior educational systems, heath care, and a happier populace.

Yep, Americans don't want any part of this.

"I *guarantee* you that you can find a nazi propaganda poster that looks exactly like that. I am sure I have seen a similar one before."

Probably at your last SDA group meeting. Start there.

...and the land was thick with trolls and other leftards...

It's over Harry.
...-

"Power Line Forum | Obama Team Starts Work On Presidential Transition
Obama Team Starts Work On Presidential Transition ... Barack Obama has directed his aides to begin planning for the transition. ..."

Daverbonz: "trying to carry on an intelligence discussion with a leftart is a very weary endeavor."

Personally I prefer my tarts to be rightward inclined, but I definitely get the weary endeavour part.

Indeed, ET. It's as if Obama is trapped as Woody Allen's "Zelig".

The US media giants have decided to elect Obama. They have lost all objectivity and are fully in the tank.

So much for professional journalism.

The question now is if Obama can keep his megalomania in check long enough to get elected or will he blow off the media and toss them under his now crowded bus with everyone else he no longer needed to get elected.

I'm betting the glow will come off before November and the media will turn on him like a school of starving wolves going to town on a wounded deer.

Then he'll really play the race card because that is really all he has under that very thin veneer of policy.

I wouldn't be surprised if Obama hails himself as a modern day Jesse Owens during his Berlin speech.

And no sign of the Democrat Donkey symbol either ... just that blue arched three striped Obama-rising symbol ...!!!!

Sheer hatred abounds in the land of the strong and the free ..... {{{shudder}}}

Ein Reich, Ein Volk, Ein Obamessiah.

Sneaky moniker, "Right is reich".
Nazism, was the extreme LEFT of the spectrum and as far away from the right as it gets.

The National Socialist German Workers Party, was the Nazi Party of which Hitler was the Fuhrer with dictatorial powers.

Like Hitler's uprising, "Putsch", consider your theory of "Right is reich" collapsed.

I cannot believe the sheer arrogance of this man, wanting to have an open air speech with the Brandenburg gate as a backdrop.

Even German politicians don't do that lest they be seen as being too 'over the top' nationalistic.

The quadriga has great symbolic meaning in Germany..

I am glad he was denied.

Perhaps , for the leftists who cared to drop in, the poster could be found at any meeting of the Cecil st. Marxists in Toronto.There's a fine bunch of left wing stooges just drooling to please their communist masters..

..or perhaps find your local chapter of ARA, they know where all the pink skeletons are to be found.

Ah, the irony!

“If I go into politics it should grow out of work I’ve done on the local level, not because I’m some media creation.”
--Barack Obama, 1990

I watched the screetch with interest; keeping in mind that I had just read a biography of Lenin, written in 1944. The Germans had SENT the Lenin snake to Russia in a sealed train car to undermine the resolve of Russian troops AND to derail the first free Duma Russia had ever had; under the Presidency of Prince Lvov and the Liberal, Kerensky.

Lenin, the Bolshevik, took Russia from the freest nation in Europe to the most terrorized slave nation in the world - in less than a year. He unleashed a bloodbath and terror on the people of Russia that made Saddam look like a moderate people lover. Stalin, Lenin's heir, made Lenin look like a good guy. Today I heard Bolshevik language in that speech, it resounded with the aim of Lenin - world Communism with a one world government!

"No Parliament can under any circumstance be an arena for reforms for betterment of the conditions of the working class .... The only question can be that the utilizing bourgeois state institutions for their own destruction."

My question - when Obamaramma was seducing the crowd (as did Lenin and Lenin's clone, Hitler - both mesmerizing orators) did ANY of the people go home and remember the WORDS he had spoken and rationalize what he said and/or WHY he said those words?

People are seduced by emotion not reason.

"There is no obstacle the people cannot defeat if the world stands as one" -Obamma

You have to admit,the man does speak well.I watched the speech and was impressed with the delivery, and cliches throughout. A little disappointed that he didn't shout out " Obama will tear that wall down". He mentioned walls about thirty times throughout the speech,but alas,not once did he say wallyj.

Obama's speech was repetitive, uninspiring, full of the usual platitudes, poorly delivered, and from what I could tell, poorly received by his audience. He has been recycling the same naive speech since the beginning of his candidacy: let's all be nice to each other and world will be a better place. I give him an F.

the latest polls coming out are showing No Bounce for BHO since he went on his "magical mystery tour", underground media reports have the MSM scratching their heads on how that could be! a debate is beginning among them as to whether 'their' coverage wasn't over the top and too much for the American people. there is a fear among them that there could be a backlash against the MSM, but even worst, a backlash against BHO! the MSM fears to criticize BHO because they remember what happened when they asked him some tough questions while he was campaigning against HRC. he is a 'manufactured product' likely being payed for by George Soros, from the money he made speculating in Crude Oil Futures.

Quote Obama:
"We will remake this country.
We will remake the world."
Tumultuous applause.
Sieg Heil.

Der Spiegel glowingly covers the Obamafest.
"Jetzt ist die Zeit, neue Brücken zu bauen!"
"Now is the time to build new bridges."

My personal favorite pic featured here in the photo gallery:

http://www.spiegel.de/fotostrecke/fotostrecke-33614-18.html

wallyj, you think BHO speaks well??? have you ever heard "Him" speak without a teleprompter??? Tues Rush played 8 min edited from a BHO 40min press conference, the entire 8 min were hums, hahs, and duhs, not one repeated!!! guess you bought the media line about "Him' being the great orator! listen to him speak without a teleprompter, and you'll soon see the empty suit "He" is!

Teleprompter or not,I think he speaks well. He gives his audience what they came for.I do not agree with his words or using the 'we are the world'BS to sell himself,but it is effective.And who are we anyways to question the message of the new God?

ET: Really like this track you're on here, vis-a-vis fiction. Of course, the retort -- popular among intellectuals and artists -- might be that fiction can be truer than truth, etc. etc. etc.

violet: Spot on. An 'F' from me too. I find his speaking cringeworthy.
A great speaker is someone like Pastor Hagee -- a guy who can run shivers up your your spine while being a unabased, unwavering atheist and while thinking he's essentially NUTS. Now that's ORATORY. The music, the rhythm of it. You're swept away by it while feeling ashamed the next morning. Mind-boggling.

Finally, ya know, these cats are courting major backlash danger here: the great unwashed, the "penny stinkards" being told by MSM how to vote, being told by Euros how to vote. Flipping the bird at "fly-over-country" desperately clinging to their guns and their god. And the arrogance -- the presumption that the presidency is already attained; the transition team etc. I find myself chuckling over that image of the over-earnest Kerry earnestly working on his acceptance speech (by candlelight I keep imagining).

To a guy with long experience with markets, this is all looking too much like a "sure thing".

Everyone should just take a pill. The US election isnt till November. These things run in cycles.

If this was a tour in early October and he was getting all the puff press then there might be an issue.

This was all about getting commercials shot and to prove he could make it around the world without losing his luggage....thats it. The American people will still want answers on banking crisis, automotive jobs, high gas prices etc.

Obama still has to answer those questions, as does McCain.

As for the speech, well if Drudge is to be believed he made comments about remaking the world....hmmm little concerning there, nothing wrong with some aspiration but that seems a little TOO LOFTY and not the least bit disturbing.

Anyway, these things run in cycles, and the puff piece of today turns into difficult and deep criticism later. Americans are on vacation, the press has no news to report, they had a junket and good news story to cover.

Obama proved he can pronounce country names and not make an ass of himself with world leaders, thats a pretty low bar (that not all live up to BTW). But thats it.

Obama is an interesting phenomena, and if the press continues to be this unquestioning then two thngs will happen

1) Obama and his campaign will soften and make an error the press cannot ignore

2) The American people will see the gross difference and become suspicious.

Like most things this stuff is self correcting. Obama has a lot of hurdles to get through before he wins, as does McCain. This little stunt is out of the way, now he will be back to drinking coffee in Dayton Ohio and CHowing down hot dogs in every state fall fair. If he doesnt then he will be unpleasantly surprised in November.

As Ann Coulter said to Chris Matthews, that feeling going down your leg is called "sciatica".

Uberobama

ICH BIN EIN CANADIAN, and I already visited BERLIN.

CHEERS

Hans-Christian Georg Rupprecht, Commander in Chief

Frankenstein Battalion
2nd Squadron: Ulanen-(Lancers) Regiment Großherzog Friedrich von Baden(Rheinisches) Nr.7(Saarbrucken)
Knecht Rupprecht Division
Hans Corps
1st Saint Nicolaas Army
Army Group “True North”

"This is the moment" is a line stolen from a beautiful love song:'The Hawaiian Wedding Song'. It was sung all the time in Hawaii when I was there in the 1970's. Beautiful song, beautiful words and many boomers like myself might get misty eyed over those lines alone, failing to realize that that warm feeling is the memory of sandy beaches and Elvis Presley in the halcyon years when we could still dream....and believe that some of our dreams would come true.

Goes to show that America is truly the land of opportunity especially if you have Soros, Daily Kos, the MSM, and other assorted leftwing nutbars funding you.

I am rooting for the women of PUMAPAC http://blog.pumapac.org/ to make maximum disruption for BO at the DNC in August and with any luck will shift Hillary voters to McCain.

Sure was a lot of White Germans applauding Obama. Didn't hardly see a black amongst them.

Personally, I don't like Europeans trying to pick our next President like they did John Kerry (which I may add ain't his real name.)

Also, that's the 4th Obama speech I have heard. They all sound the same.
,

When I think of Osoma I mean Obama supporters the following paragraph from Deserta comes to mind:

Avoid loud and agressive persons, they are vexations to the spirit. If you compare yourself to others, you may become vain and bitter (he thinks he's Jesus for Gawds sake); for there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself (like Obama aint god).

Germany and Obama have alot in common such as fascism and communism.

"People of the world look at Berlin"

Huh ?
Will New York look like Berlin in 8 to 10 years?

While McCain comes to Canada, Obama goes to Europe to wow the Euroweenies and tell them that "America had no better partner than Europe"

http://www.nationalpost.com/news/world/uselection/story.html?id=677380

I'm glad I had a barf-bag at the ready.

I wouldn't find it so hard to take if he were telling that to the Brits. As dhimmi as they are becoming back home, at least they are providing boots on the ground in the Middle East and Afstan. But to say that to the Germans or French is an insult to us Canucks - another reason to despise the foreskinhead.

(I had thought about calling him a "peckerhead", but there isn't enough substance there.)

Chauncey Obama for sure,

from the new movie "Berlining There"

"It's for sure a halfwhite man's world in America. I raised that boy since he was the size of a 'pissant' and I'll tell you he never learned to read nor write. No sir. Has no brains at all. Stuffed with rice pudding between the ears. Short-changed by the Lord and dumb as a jackass. Yes sir, all you got to be is halfwhite in America to get whatever you want. Gobbledegoop."

Yes, there's Soros, MoveOn, Daily Kos and the MSM funding Obama. Why?

It can't be because of his own ideas, principles and integrity because Obama has none of these. Would his election give them power? I've no idea.

I sometimes wonder if it's some kind of perverse back room betting game - of 'Let's see if we can pull this off. Put an emptyhead on the scene and see if we can get him elected to the highest office in the world. Bets start at....."

Meanwhile, the MSM are focusing on The Black Scenario, with program after program telling viewers how 'hard it is to be black', which means, Vote for Obama Or You are a Racist.

Apparently, Berliners didn't love Obama..they were interested but didn't fall for him the way the Betting Room Backroom Guys have..

There will be a German documentary on the anointed ones wife called "Das Bitch"

Yes, there's Soros, MoveOn, Daily Kos and the MSM funding Obama. Why?

Well, that's an easy one. He offers the best chance in a generation for a huge ramp up of the state, which you have to admit is already leviathan.

Chanucey! Yes. Berlining There! Very good cal2.
I keep thinking of Woody Allen's Zelig too. Remember how he popped up on he stage behind Hitler.

Am I the only person who finds the style of the German-language Obama poster to be just a tad creepy?

Ich bin ein American Mugabe

"Canadians and Europeans enjoy superior educational systems, heath care, and a happier populace.

Yep, Americans don't want any part of this."

Dystopia's child

I suppose you think that Canadians have a history and reputation of "peace keeping" instead of being great warriors; and, I suppose you think that radical islam views us differently than Americans. After all, isn't that what you've been told?

You've been watching too many M.Moore documentaries. Of all G8 countries, Americans who have actually been through the health care system are the most satisfied. These stats have been posted on this site, you're full of B.S.

Social promotion is doing wonders for our education system, and our Universities are becoming a laughing stock because of the lower entrance standards, you're full of B.S.

Although Americans are stressed out WRT the economy and other immediate issues, between 70 - 80% of Americans are happy with their own personal situation. Americans (and you) have been sucked in by the MSM to believe that everything has gone to h*ll for everyone else, so suckers like you regurgitate the rhetoric, you're full of B.S.

http://www.gallup.com/poll/103483/Most-Americans-Very-Satisfied-Their-Personal-Lives.aspx

As you can see your BS won't fly here, you've been brain washed!

We all know that adoring throngs of Germans cheering a speaker is a guarantee that they are a blessing to the world.

Like Slim Pickens said in Blazing Saddles though, "He can do purdier things with his tongue than a twenty dollar whore"

Do you know that despite the fact that Germans guarantee a free college education, in the US, far more poor people go to college? You can look it up. You can't figure it out from your opinion though.

Looks like Obama has already attached his lips to the Euro arse.

Oh Lee Harvey Oswald, where art thou?

The MSM is making a big deal out of the number of people in attendance at Obama's German love festival.

But you have to remember that in general Europeans, especially the younger ones, are fascinated by America. They may pretend as a group they dislike America, but the actual truth is quite the opposite.

Obama is flashy, flies in a big plane, smooth talker, and they soak it up. I guarantee you that if he had started to wiggle his hips to Elvis Presley they would have gone mad with excitement.

It is a childish fascination, and attending his speech was probably seen as the "in thing" to do, especially for all those young Germans who are currently on their 6 week summer vacations and who are trying to look hip.

Obama is just too smooth. I've seen him a few times on the news tonight and can't, for the life of me, remember one thing he said.

All cliches, all schlock, all of time.

And, OMG, he could become the POTUS. It's surreal. It's like watching a train wreck in slow motion. What can stop it from happening?

WAKE UP, AMERICA!

The citizen of the world comment was a mistake, it wont play well. Attacking it too directly would be a mistake on McCain's part but it is worth highlighting.

It is platitudinous in the most Obama like way, tastes great, less filling (sounds great means nothing), but should the Ohio or Michigan Auto Worker hear that isnt his/her reaction going to be to globalization and foreigners taking his/her job?

Generally people want politicans who help them not others. You can help others when you are in a comfortable place yourself or feel it is required to help your own well being....i.e. dont let them starve they'll only come by to steal.

McCain has a chance to play this up but needs to be subtler about it.

Now, Obama's opportunity, and what he is trying to show, is that the world loves America and wants to love America, if only the right guy is in charge.

What I fear about Obama is what I remember reading about how the Europeans totally soured on Carter at the end. Dithered, no backbone, no direction too nice......it is better to be respected than loved

What scares me is that with every four year presidential election cycle we have a more dumbed down public. Sorry, but, it's true. The MSM in this country are worse than usual in crossing the line, they now act as outright agents of that moronic Empty Suit. Scary, isn't it.

The Germans can swoon over Obama for all I care, when they aren't at your throat they are at your knees as per Churchill. It's a culture so riddled with excess, either disgustingly decadent or maniacally homicidal that they are off my radar forever as normal and something that I would respect.

It appears that you have to move a country into the gutter, in this time in history, like Britain before the average clueless birdbrain wakes up.

The lefty MSM are worse than any of the raggedy-assed terrorists that haunt our planet because they are well-fed, safe from harm, recipients of our democratic society and then undermine those very things. Obama, a mirror image of their superficial selves, is what they want imposed on us.

Obamma goes to Germany and holds hands and sings "We are the world".

I'm finding his personal messianism a bit worrying. OK He's a poltiician and uses rhetoric. But he only uses vacuous, cheap rhetoric, the kind that impresses 15 year olds.

I really do believe he thinks of himself in messianic terms.

He has already stopped the seas rising. Now he is breaking down walls, between peoples, rich and poor, etc. etc. etc. etc. Any rhetorical trick to garner some likeness to Kennedy or Reagan.

However, they weere both presidents and had achieved a lot before becoming such. Obama is empty tundra.

Obamma goes to Germany and holds hands and sings "We are the world".

I'm finding his personal messianism a bit worrying. OK He's a poltiician and uses rhetoric. But he only uses vacuous, cheap rhetoric, the kind that impresses 15 year olds.

I really do believe he thinks of himself in messianic terms.

He has already stopped the seas rising. Now he is breaking down walls, between peoples, rich and poor, etc. etc. etc. etc. Any rhetorical trick to garner some likeness to Kennedy or Reagan.

However, they weere both presidents and had achieved a lot before becoming such. Obama is empty tundra.

All cliches, all schlock, all of time.

Couldn't have put it better myself, batb.

Now, how about that royal "we".

All me; all Obama; all the time.

Can anyone spell personality cult?

Barack Obama is what you get when you clean up Bill Clinton, pull him out of the Arkansas Trailer Park, and stick him in Harvard Law School, instead of Georgetown.

Carl @3.26 I like your points, but please post links and info supporting them.

I am willing to belieeeeeve :-)

Wllyj @ 3.52. He does not spek well in the sense of rhetoric, let alone content.

He speaks well in the sense that he has a barritone voice, the best voice for public speaking.

Stephen @4.05 I hear and appreciate your arguments.

But, this "little stunt" cost millions of dollars and was very tightly organized by Obama's masters.

This "little stunt" also set a precedent of a US presidential election campaign going international. I am reminded of Roman Emperors who resorted to foreigners to get "elected" Emperor.

BTW I think the Roman Empire was a good thing.

Stephen: "The citizen of the world comment was a mistake, it wont play well. Attacking it too directly would be a mistake on McCain's part but it is worth highlighting."

I just saw McCain on the news, and I think he's already on to it. Unlike Obama's drivel, I've been able to remember what McCain had to say.

He said, essentially, that he would have preferred to see a president, not a presidential candidate, speaking to the German people and that he felt it was important to stay in tune with the issues closer to home.

'You writing his speeches, Stephen?! ;-)

Be afraid,be very afraid.When the whole world starts to worship Obama,then just maybe the anti-christ is lurking.He is the exact right age and ethnicity,claims to be all things to all men.Is a vaccuouse idol with no substance.There is a puppet master somewhere pulling the strings. The media is "twitterpated" and will hear nothing but wonderful things about their idol. God help us all!

Waiting any day now for some paper to proclaim him the second coming of Christ.

That was about as smarmy/phony as it could get.
Forget the "Beginner", this should be the beginning of the end if there's any sanity among the majority of voters in the US.

He's simply gone over the top and over the line.

What comes to mind is: Who the hell does he think he is?

batb,

I am flattered but no, people with more IQ and more talent with words are doing that.

I am but a lowly observer.

Unlike many here I actually like Obama, I think he represents something interesting and important. I am glad he is the democratic nominee rather than Hillary...relieved is the better word.

I also think the campaign he is running is brilliant...as in wow it is run well, good messages etc. It is essentially a 2008, technology fueled, youth version of Reagan's its morning in America again. Same core message, America is good, time for a change and let America shine. Old old political ideas just properly packaged. This is why it resonates and is working, there actually isnt anything "new" about it. And Hope....heck that was Bill Clintons theme in 1992 (kid from Hope etc) These are messages that work in US politics time and again.

The personality cult thing is troubling, I dont think Obama believes it....I think, some days I wonder. But other days I think he is just a really talented pol who uses all the tactics that any talented pol would use.

1) Empty rhetoric, its about leaving options open, his words have soooo many loopholes in them he can manouver

2) Inspiring speaking style...just about lots of packaged soundbited, there is no unwrapping of an argument in his speeches. This is typical, I agree with the commentator who said it is about the baritone. Also notice how he is always photo'd from below or from the side....the heroic pose, goes back to Roman busts....old trick.

3) Consistent theme....he has a standard stump speech and it works for him....he'll need to change it. I watched his speech at the Dem convention in 2004 and he used similar themes, my story could only happen here, improbable etc etc.

Point 3 will wear thin eventually, but it is a story that fits with an American Dream meme. Bill Clinton used it, little boy from hope....its the Lincoln in a log cabin, anyone can be President "myth". We all want to believe it is true, and part of me buys into that. Obama is not a Bush, a Clinton, a Kennedy a Cuomo etc. neither was Bill C when he ran.

McCain hasnt set a real theme yet, as far as I can tell. Being more experienced seems to be it, but it is a counter theme so far (which by definition makes him like the opposition or the challenger), it lost Gore and Bush I their elections. McCain needs a positive theme all his own. The advanced version of this was what Reagan did with the lone Bear Hunter....great ads.

Cant use the better off than 4 years ago....McCain is in a tough spot. He needs to chip away and erode any building of support for Obama in foreign policy, commander in chief while buidling his domestic platform.

He still hasnt found his voice. Cant win the presidency as "The Maverick" or "Straight Talk Express". There are very smart people working for the Republicans, and McCain is no dummy. They'll develop a theme that is authentic to McCain.

This election is is going to be a solid win for one of these two, but it will look close till mid October then someone will develop a lead. There are enough doubts about Obama that prevent him from developing an early lead, while they remain and if they get confirmed then his lead will evaporate.

Both candidates have strong core support and a general likeability.....But it will be a solid win, not Reagan or Nixon 72, more like Nixon 68 for whoever wins.....too early to say right now.

I'm surprised his speech wasn't plastered with the 3 most common words in Deutschland, ein pils, bitte.

i heard on the radio, one of the reasons so many were there to hear "Him" was that two pop bands played a free concert before "He" took the stage! will try to find more details on this and post it.

Can't stand Barack, but I thought what a great opportunity to deliver a few home truths to the Europeans. Unfortunately he wouldn't know a home truth if it came up and bit him (which it probably will).

What an empty speech. It was a shopping list of tasks to be done. Okay, Barack, roll up your sleeves and do the work. There were far too many tasks listed. It reminded me of one of those speeches at a political convention where every interest group is touched on.

But the latest polls say he is not that far ahead and that Americans just don't know enough about him.

The strongest reaction from the crowd was about ending the war in Iraq. If I was a soldier I would be insulted by his pandering to this anti-war sentiment and especially by his cancelling a visit to a military hospital in Germany.

Ein stein . Bitte.

after that everything is relative

building the wall or taking it down?fancy posters have a long history in the fatherland.

http://www.calvin.edu/academic/cas/gpa/posters/kauft.jpg

While BHO wends his way across Europe his numbers at home continue to slowly wane. A number of the better polls have only a one percentage point difference between him and McCain today. Where is his bounce that the MSM was fully expecting?

Even more interesting is that BHO's numbers are beginning to crater in some states there were gimmes for him earlier.

What the MSM and the pollsters are NOT talking about is a factor that has to have the Obama campaign sweating bullets behind the curtain. Since no one has any way to assign a numerical factor to "The Bradley Effect" prior to the election they all ignore it.

Believe me, it exists this time around, it's real, it's going to be larger than expected or predicted in whispers, and it will bury BHO.

A large part of the voters in the south are not ready to elect a black president. A very significant number of Dems will not vote for a black. A large number of Independents will not vote for a black. Oh, they all tell the pollsters they will, but then they don't when in the privacy of the voting booth. Hence the pre-election polls and the exit polls saying one thing, and the actual votes saying something totally different (The Bradley Effect).

My guess is that if the inability to predict the magnitude of the Bradley Effect did not exist the truth might be McCain up by 5 or 6 points right now. Probably by 10 after Barry ends his swing through the Mideast and Europe.

With the blind obedience of the media in hand, it would’ve been more symbolic to have spoken from the bunker.

"The Germans can swoon over Obama for all I care, when they aren't at your throat they are at your knees as per Churchill. It's a culture so riddled with excess, either disgustingly decadent or maniacally homicidal that they are off my radar forever as normal and something that I would respect"-PENNY

HHMMM now who is being a bigot?

If you act like a President people will see you as one.
Much easier to choose that way. This rally and trip was pure brilliance.
This was done for the swing voters.
This was done so America can picture him as a leader.
I am curious to see net week's poll numbers.

I'm no fan of Obama, but let's all rejoice that we're not hearing very much about Hillary anymore.

With regards to the troll who essentially called me a nazi: Some of us actually know our history because we read things called books. These books have words in them, and sometimes pictures too. Sometimes, a book on world war two will contain German propaganda posters! If you're especially educated on your history, you may have seen perhaps dozens or even hundreds of these posters! Why is this important information?

It's important because the next time you see some smarmy schmuck try to pull the same crap you won't be fooled. Pity tha you haven't seen more propaganda posters, eh?

KevinB, you should understand that the Messiah is still only the "presumptive democratic nominee"! we'll be hearing from HRC soon enough.

O Barack, I've been completely wrong about you! I repent wholeheartedly:

Listening to you,
I get the music.
Gazing at you,
I get the heat.
Following you,
I climb the mountains.
I get excitement at your feet.

Right behind you,
I see the millions.
On you,
I see the glory.
From you,
I get opinions.
From you,
I get the story.

Mark, I didn't spot the commenter in question, but as someone that's read a book or two, I can assure you that the upward-facing profile is in fact a reoccurring propaganda image associated with National-Socialist and Bolshevik posters. The layout artist of the Tiergarten poster knew that too. It's not rocket science---it's commercial art 10. Come to think of it(!) my commercial art teacher was a Berliner named Willy Rohrelack whose printer father was taken to the camps and Willy pressed into the Wehrmacht when they were discovered. No wonder I know this! Forget what I said about books. Prost!

As Rush said, one event that did not have media coverage was BHO visiting his place of birth as he didn't want to disturb the animals.
He had posters, in Hebrew at THE WALL and it did not go over well. He was heckled there. Talking of the propaganda posters, and BHOs. There he was, in Berlin, in Germany, where Hitler stood years in front of cheering crowds with his arm lifted in a salute. Take a look at BHOs stance at the same place with his arm raised. He promised to bring the world together in peace and harmony. It is the moment. It is the time. Has he explained how he is going to get muslims to stop beheading other muslims or journalists. The fist time something happens, if he is elected, like a suicide bomb, people will be all over him, you said if you got elected all that would stop. When he pulls the troops out and the taliban take over and attack, he will get blamed. He will have four years of being blamed for breaking his promise to bring peace and goodwill to all the world. And as he has promised to change the world, he will be condemned by the world.
He asked Germany to step up its committment to Afgan, as America can't do it alone. Someone tell him that america hasn't been alone in Afghan, Canada is there doing the heavy lifting and taking the most casualties. He said europe was america's best friend, and snubbed Canada. He snubbed the PM of Britain, he snubbed wounded troops, and military bases. I have been a strong supporter of our mission in Afghan, but if BHO gets elected, I say bring our troops home by Jan 23, 2009. If he thinks america is hated now, just wait till he does not deliver on one promise to make change.
How many of that crowd will cast a vote in Nov, and how many votes did he lose today, from the military and independants.

If you were a Citizen of the World, instead of just a narrow Nationalist, you would pick up what he's putin' down.

"If you were a Citizen of the World, instead of just a narrow Nationalist, you would pick up what he's putin'[sic] down."

Except Barack Obama isn't running for "Leader of the Free World" or "Good Buddy of Europe". These are honorifics that might (but might not) result from future foreign policy decisions.

Barack Obama is running for the office of President of the United States. If elected, he will automatically become the narrowest nationalist of all: the national interests of the US will come first and foremost for him at all times, no matter what his foreign admirers in Germany or France or Canada or anywhere else might think. He will have no choice in the matter because "America First" is the most important responsibility in the job description of any US president.*

How could it possibly be otherwise? Americans elect an American to lead America.

We'll see what kind of "Citizen of the World" President Obama turns out to be if, say, there's a NAFTA dispute with Canada or the Europeans fail to support some US initiative on Afghanistan or terrorism.

As I have said before, I'm not sure what will ultimately prove be more disappointing for the expectations of Senator Obama's enraptured supporters: his defeat or his victory.

* It would be worth asking Germans whether their Chancellor should put German or American national interests first at all times. Ha ha!

"youth version of Reagan's its morning in America again. Same core message, America is good, time for a change and let America shine"

Except for one thing, Reagan defined the change he believed in, he had written about it, given speeches about in, with specifics and it was a rejection of everything Obama stands for. And the other thing, Obama's "change" policies had a long record of failure before Reagan came along, the deepest failures in the Carter administration. Which makes today's economy seem like something out of the legend of Atlantis compared to what it was like before Reagan. I remember it well. 18% mortgage rates, 8 or 9 percent unemployment, the numbers were so huge that they seem unbelievable now, but they are the fruit of the policies that Obama offers as "change"

I personally would feel a lot more comfortable for our country's future if Hillary were the nominee, and I can't stand her personally and wish here husband would just pull a Gaugin and disappear to some polynesian island to spend the rest of his life getting laid by pretty young girls, far from cameras or microphones.

"Citizen of the World"

Hmmm. 'Has a certain ring to it. 'Sort of reminds me of "one world government." 'Gets me to thinking that maybe that's what Obama has in mind: One World Government, all of us Citizens of the World, and he's the LEADER...arghhhhhhhhhh...

...oh, I just woke up. Was that ever a nightmare...

hahahaha it will be nice to see all you old right wing foogies head explode when Obama is elected in November

Tim,

Agreed, I was speaking about the message, which is what most people pay attention to as opposed to the previouos writings etc.

The large overarching theme of Hope and Renewal can be used by conservative OR liberal. Obama grabbed it and slapped Hillary's campaign upside the head with it. Hillary chose the experience card, as thin as it was people believed it. But most people want Hope not Experience.

Hope is a goal, experience is a tactic or method of getting there. Safety is a goal, experience or thoughtfulness etc are a way of getting there.

McCain makes a mistake if he reruns Hillary's campaign against Obama. The campaign has lost once, it will lose again. McCain needs a larger theme, as I have said. No need to panic yet, it is still so early...but soon.

Obama in Europe. You can see the backlash beginning, but it is about showing him as a credible player. Today is it, anything more and he risks overexposure, he already does. The more brutal European press will alternatively love him and slap him at the same time for it meaning nothing....this will feed back to US press.

If Obama is grounded and doesnt believe his own press then he can pivot and spend the rest of his time on domestic issues, eating hot dogs and drinking bad coffee. McCain's press release about an early victory lap is on the mark, if Obama confirms the comment with actions of Hubris then he will be punished.

For students of politics and political campaigns this is an election to watch and learn from.

To domestic matters, there was an article in t he Globe speculatibg that this was 1974, the Canadian environment. Essentially saying DIon was Stanfield and will be harmed by a too complex policy. Agreed on the latter part but Dion is not Stanfield and Harper is definitely NOT Trudeau. But the result of making the Green Shift your main focus will weigh him down. The party knows it.

Once again another election and campaign to go to school on. Sorry if this was a distraction.

^^^^^
Well thought out and balanced view Stephen.

I think Obama needs to go away for a few days after this.

Always leave them wanting more. There could be an overcoverage backlash.

Speaking of "Hope" and "Renewal", apart from the fact that Jimmah Cattah at least had some substance in some areas, Obama is like the second coming of Jimmah. And second comings, like second marriages, are a victory of hope over life experience.

good lot of model posters here for Obamagoebbles

http://www.calvin.edu/academic/cas/gpa/posters1.htm

" old right wing foogies "

You know what made us old right wing fogies? Experience. I voted for Jimmy Carter twice. Never voted for a Republican before I voted for Reagan the second time, and proudly. If Obama gets elected, a large portion of your generation can be expected to become "old right wing fogies" too. Obama needs naiive, innocent voters like yourselves that have never heard the brand of economic devastation he is selling before to win elections.

Glenn: "hahahaha it will be nice to see all you old right wing foogies [sic] head [sic] explode when Obama is elected in November"

WRONG!

What might explode if Obama is elected in November is another public tower or two. All of his talk about "change" and being "citizens of the world" makes me nervous.

BO seems to think that if we just make a big enough circle, with everyone holding hands, that all the boogie men--aka terrorists--will go away and we'll all just be one happy family.

I don't think he gets what we're up against, like so many moonbat weenies: "Just talk nice and be nice and everything will be nice."

The only thing bullies--aka terrorists--understand is force, and it better be bigger, better, and braver than theirs. They've pushed us around long enough.

If I was voting in the U.S.A. this November, I wouldn't want a soft, "this is the moment," we're-all-just-one-big-happy-family babysitter in the White House. I wouldn't want someone who's had only three years of experience in my country's government (with an entitled, angry wife). I wouldn't want Hillary, either.

I'd want a hard-headed, been-there-done-that, seasoned, tough-love POTUS. 'Wonder who that might be?

"Hope is a goal"

Really? Hope is what is left after you have tried everything else. At least to successful people. To losers, hope is what you try first, in place of helping yourself.

While I take your point that Obama has heavily borrowed from the atmospherics of the Reagan campaign. He has nothing like the record that Reagan had, or the ideas that Reagan had.

Obama was editor of the Harvard Law Review, but oddly enough, never wrote an article for that publication. Obama destroyed all of the records from his service in government, except that from his 140 days in the Senate.

"For students of politics and political campaigns this is an election to watch and learn from."

No, the Reagan campaign was such an election. All that can be learned from this is can you replicate the Reagan success without the intellectual underpinnings. Next to Obama, Reagan was an intellectual giant, and had the paper trail to prove it going into the presidency.

Where leftards make their mistakes is drinking their own propaganda that Reagan was an empty suit. Voters never bought that, and for good reason. We will see if Obama can win running as an empty suit.

recommended reading, (if only for the satire), by Rush this morning!

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/gerard_baker/article4392846.ece

Obama is going all the way ,

You can spout all your right wing talking points and insults all you like but the fact is change is in the air. and it all has you shitting your depends.

Do you think will elect another out of touch clueless leader like MCbush.

Obama is going all the way ,

You can spout all your right wing talking points and insults all you like but the fact is change is in the air. and it all has you shitting your depends.

Do you think they will elect another out of touch clueless leader like MCbush.

"You can spout all your right wing talking points and insults all you like "

The difference between you and me is that I know what the years will do to you. You have no fucking idea. How about you go talk to a third grader about what a movie you are watching with him is going to end like. You will find they they haven't the foggiest idea, lacking your long experience in watching movies.

Nothing I say is a "talking point." Nobody tells me what to say. YOu are confusing us with you, who gets your thoughts spoon fed to you via one leftard site or the other. I was like you once. I voted for Teddy Kennedy in his primary challenge to Carter because Carter was "too conservative!"

Twenty years from now you will begin to have something approaching wisdon if you keep your eyes open. If you note Obama's promises, note his vision for the future, then if he wins, you compare it, over the years, with the reality around you, in your own life, look at the true consequences of his policies. See if mortgage rates reach 18 percent, like they did under Carter, who has similar beliefs about economics, or unemployment reaches European levels like 10%, as they were under Carter. That's right, both those things were true at the same time, and we stood in line for gas because Jimmeh thought that price controls were a great idea. Price controls = supply controls. That is how us old fogie right wingers get made.

"You can spout all your right wing talking points and insults all you like "

The difference between you and me is that I know what the years will do to you. You have no fucking idea. How about you go talk to a third grader about what a movie you are watching with him is going to end like. You will find they they haven't the foggiest idea, lacking your long experience in watching movies.

Nothing I say is a "talking point." Nobody tells me what to say. YOu are confusing us with you, who gets your thoughts spoon fed to you via one leftard site or the other. I was like you once. I voted for Teddy Kennedy in his primary challenge to Carter because Carter was "too conservative!"

Twenty years from now you will begin to have something approaching wisdon if you keep your eyes open. If you note Obama's promises, note his vision for the future, then if he wins, you compare it, over the years, with the reality around you, in your own life, look at the true consequences of his policies. See if mortgage rates reach 18 percent, like they did under Carter, who has similar beliefs about economics, or unemployment reaches European levels like 10%, as they were under Carter. That's right, both those things were true at the same time, and we stood in line for gas because Jimmeh thought that price controls were a great idea. Price controls = supply controls. That is how us old fogie right wingers get made.

"I speak today as both a citizen of the United States and of the world." Ronald Reagan, June 17th, 1982, to the United Nations.

That is all.

This is 2008 not 1982

"And as a responsible citizen of the world, we have the responsibility to help people live free lives. I believe freedom changes the world. I know free societies are peaceful societies." - George W. Bush, May 14th, 2004

Better? I know, that's 2004 not 2008. Sorry meme-bot, it's the best I can do.

Yeah, well, both President Reagan and President Bush were the POTUS when they said it. They'd earned their spurs, so to speak, and had actually DONE a few things with the other citizens of the world to make the world a better place.

What's OB done, so far? He hasn't earned any spurs; he's still trying to get onto the horse.