# Where was Barack Obama, to stand for Democracy? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 12, 2015, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-barack-obama-to-stand-for-democracy/709597 "2015-01-12T03:49:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 10
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2015, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-barack-obama-to-stand-for-democracy/709597/181 "2015-01-12T21:39:22Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > So you’re saying we should have sent the Sec of Education? According to both my memory of boot camp and googling (cite is a few posts before), an ambassador in-country ‘outranks’ (in precedence and honors) all the cabinet secretaries (even the Secretary of State, which is rather counter-intuitive). ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2015, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-barack-obama-to-stand-for-democracy/709597/182 "2015-01-12T21:44:55Z")
Could have sent John McCain, we can easily handle a war with France, we still have the maps, the roads probably are pretty much the same. Or maybe just annex Quebec, and then give it back. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2015, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-barack-obama-to-stand-for-democracy/709597/183 "2015-01-12T21:48:01Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > According to both my memory of boot camp and googling (cite is a few posts before), an ambassador in-country ‘outranks’ (in precedence and honors) all the cabinet secretaries (even the Secretary of State, which is rather counter-intuitive). While I was actually making a point, it was also a _Battlestar Galactica_ reference (the new one, not the original). But no matter that you didn’t get it-- _Washte_! ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2015, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-barack-obama-to-stand-for-democracy/709597/184 "2015-01-12T22:01:20Z")
Forget Obama’s snub, what about the French snubbing us. We’ve had the Sandyhook shooting and the Boston Bombing and frigging 9/11, and not once has the French president dropped everything he was doing and come to the US on two days notice for a photo op. Arrogant frogs, I say we bomb Paris just to show 'em who’s boss. ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2015, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-barack-obama-to-stand-for-democracy/709597/185 "2015-01-12T22:10:15Z")
[del]Radical Islamists[/del] Republicans sure are easily offended. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2015, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-barack-obama-to-stand-for-democracy/709597/186 "2015-01-12T22:12:13Z")
Just got back form the bank where I rain into my buddy’s wife, who is French. I asked here what she thought of this scandal, and she just laughed. And then we decided to meet for a drink later… just kidding about that last part. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2015, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-barack-obama-to-stand-for-democracy/709597/187 "2015-01-12T22:21:54Z")
So does this episode mean that Benghazi! really is over? ---
**Author:** ![marshmallow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@marshmallow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/marshmallow)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2015, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-barack-obama-to-stand-for-democracy/709597/188 "2015-01-12T22:31:39Z")
Decent quality bait, hit the right buttons to annoy libs, got some big time bites too. Mostly stayed in the lines, a little obviously over the top at parts though. The following bit was my favorite, elicited a chuckle from the overwrought sentimentality. > [@Stringbean](#): > > It is obvious Europe is reeling from this. The potential for strong divisions and hateful rhetoric has never been stronger since the formation of the European Union. This episode will test the bonds of European solidarity. As countries from which we inherited our principles of “liberty and freedom for all,” they need our support. ---
**Author:** ![Katriona](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/katriona/32/113_2.png) [@Katriona](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Katriona)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2015, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-barack-obama-to-stand-for-democracy/709597/189 "2015-01-12T22:35:58Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > Diplomatic protocol is all about the level of the person that is sent. A cabinet minister’s level is much higher than ambassadorial level. Hell, I think a State Dept. Sub-sub-Secretary is higher than ambassadorial level. Great. Top U.S. diplomat for Europe, Assistant Secretary of State Victoria Nuland was there and marched at the rally. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2015, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-barack-obama-to-stand-for-democracy/709597/190 "2015-01-12T22:38:32Z")
> [@marshmallow](#): > > Decent quality bait, hit the right buttons to annoy libs, got some big time bites too. Mostly stayed in the lines, a little obviously over the top at parts though. The following bit was my favorite, elicited a chuckle from the overwrought sentimentality. To be fair, I’m sure that if Obama had dropped everything and flown there to lock arms with Hollande and Merkel and belt out _La Marseillaise_, **Beanie Weenie** would be lionizing him with equally purple prose. Right? ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2015, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-barack-obama-to-stand-for-democracy/709597/191 "2015-01-12T22:48:24Z")
Terr and Clothy would have linked arms and danced jubilantly while singing _Yankee Doodle Dandy_ and _Hail to the Chief_. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2015, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-barack-obama-to-stand-for-democracy/709597/192 "2015-01-12T23:05:18Z")
> [@Katriona](#): > > Great. Top U.S. diplomat for Europe, Assistant Secretary of State Victoria Nuland was there and marched at the rally. You mean the diplomat who said “Fuck the EU”? That Victoria Nuland? ---
**Author:** ![BOOM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c4cdca/32.png) [@BOOM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BOOM)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2015, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-barack-obama-to-stand-for-democracy/709597/193 "2015-01-12T23:24:55Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > You mean the diplomat who said “Fuck the EU”? That Victoria Nuland? Maybe Nuland’s Ukrainian puppet represented Obama? ---
**Author:** ![DingoelGringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9d8465/32.png) [@DingoelGringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DingoelGringo)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2015, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-barack-obama-to-stand-for-democracy/709597/194 "2015-01-12T23:27:38Z")
> [@Trinopus](#): > > If he’d gone, the same people would blame him for spending millions of dollars of jet fuel, security overtime, etc., for nothing more than a symbolic gesture. > > The “loyal opposition” has become a sick joke in this country. That is my reaction!!! ---
**Author:** ![Stringbean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Stringbean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stringbean)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2015, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-barack-obama-to-stand-for-democracy/709597/195 "2015-01-13T00:04:55Z")
As the much-adored, much-adorned OP of this thread, there is much I would like to say. However, I will let [The White House](http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2015/01/12/top-obama-administration-officials-criticized-for-not-appearing-at-paris-march/) do my talking for me. Fuck all you, and have a nice day. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2015, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-barack-obama-to-stand-for-democracy/709597/196 "2015-01-13T00:13:17Z")
> [@Stringbean](#): > > As the much-adored, much-adorned OP of this thread, there is much I would like to say. > > However, I will let [The White House](http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2015/01/12/top-obama-administration-officials-criticized-for-not-appearing-at-paris-march/) do my talking for me. You’re (still) an idiot if you think that resembles your OP. ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2015, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-barack-obama-to-stand-for-democracy/709597/197 "2015-01-13T00:20:00Z")
> [@Stringbean](#): > > As the much-adored, much-adorned OP of this thread, there is much I would like to say. > > However, I will let [The White House](http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2015/01/12/top-obama-administration-officials-criticized-for-not-appearing-at-paris-march/) do my talking for me. > > Fuck all you, and have a nice day. You’re a stupid man that lets RW pundits think for you. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2015, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-barack-obama-to-stand-for-democracy/709597/198 "2015-01-13T00:22:25Z")
> [@Stringbean](#): > > However, I will let [The White House](http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2015/01/12/top-obama-administration-officials-criticized-for-not-appearing-at-paris-march/) do my talking for me. My favorite quote from that article: > [@](#): > > Earnest declined to say who decided not to send a higher-profile official, but it was “not a decision that was made by the president.” Nothing is ever President Obama’s responsibility, is it? I guess he’s not familiar with Harry Truman. ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2015, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-barack-obama-to-stand-for-democracy/709597/199 "2015-01-13T00:26:47Z")
Keep on fucking that chicken, **D’Anconia**. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2015, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-barack-obama-to-stand-for-democracy/709597/200 "2015-01-13T00:44:34Z")
> [@andros](#): > > Keep on fucking that chicken, **D’Anconia**. Go fuck a cactus. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-barack-obama-to-stand-for-democracy/709597.md?page=9) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-barack-obama-to-stand-for-democracy/709597.md?page=11)