Is there another reason he would involve himself in such a small issue, while remaining more aloof from a bigger one?
It’s not exactly a stretch to figure that he only involves himself in the things that matter to him, and his advisors don’t really keep him focused on what’s really important. Then the media goes into a furor and he blames it on a staff member. There’s a reason even many of his supporters are saying he’s getting too insulated these days.
Eye-rolling is not hyperbolic nonsense.
When did republicans become such pussies? We’re the United States of America, motherfuckers. Our president has to go make some symbolic appearance, just to show our commitment to fighting terrorism? Our fucking commitment? The tens of thousands dead and wounded in our military and the trillions of dollars don’t speak to our commitment?
Oh no say the wepublicans. The pwesident has to go hold hands and pose for a phony march.
Jesus, whatever happened to rock-ribbed? Ted Cruz just outed himself as a weak-kneed, finger-in-the-wind appeaser, so he’s out. Let’s hope Christie or Bush have a little more backbone.
Anyone remember Bin Laden? Yeah, guess not.
It’s my personal opinion that Shotgun Joe Biden could have made the trip to France and show that the U.S.A. stood shoulder to shoulder with the 40+ other governments who publically denounce these idiotic terrorist attacks (yes, I said terrorist attacks) against freedom of speech. It’s not like Shotgun Joe has anything else to do.
There is no reason for Obama to make the trip.
That’s a reasonable position to hold. (even if you fail to show appropriate respect to the Vice President)
And we would have had the entertainment of seeing how Joe “Oh dear lord, what have I done” Biden would have shown his goofy side. Love him to death, I think he is genuinely a great guy and a true patriot…but he scares me a little bit when he is out in public.
Even the French have a more nuanced view of the broader meanings.
I wasn’t expecting Obama to be there, but I thought this was a no-brainer job for John Kerry. And yes, it was cringe-worthy to hear the excuse afterward.
But this in no way mitigates l’horreur that is Terr:
LOL, as if “most Jews” would agree about anything.
Who doesn’t think they were terrorist attacks? Other than brain-dead conspiracy theorists, I mean.
I repeated the term so there would be no question of how I felt about the terrorist attacks.
Ah. Thanks, I guess.
Just for future reference, and my own amusement, what, specifically, do you consider to be the appropriate amount of respect that should be shown to Joseph Robinette “Joe” Biden, Jr., 47th Vice President of the United States, if I were to mention him in the future, while posting in the SDMB BBQ Pit?
His Excellency Sir Joe is good. In fact anything without a shotgun reference would be nice.
[QUOTE=doorhinge]
(yes, I said terrorist attacks)
[/QUOTE]
Oh, NO, you DIH-UHNT!
You’re right, that is a tough question.
Here are some quick easy options for you off the top of my head:
“Vice President Biden”
“Mr. Biden”
“Biden”
“Veep”
“V.P.”
“Our Pal Joey”
“Joe”
In his defense, at least Biden’s shotgun gaffe didn’t involve an old man’s face.
But almost impossible for me to remember. Shotgun Joe Biden just seems to go so well together. And isn’t he Obama’s point man on the guns and terrorist?
These things are not done in a straightforward and direct fashion, that makes room for too many crude mistakes. My nickel says the obvious, that appropriate American diplomats had utterly informal and non-binding discussions with the French, discussions that were more like a series of nods, winks and shrugs. Would the French like the President to be there? we ask. That would be great, they answered, love it to pieces but…we are naturally concerned with his safety and security. We quite understand your concern, we answer, but want to be clear that we take the whole matter with the utmost gravity, we would hate anyone to think we have slighted you in any way.
Perhaps you could have a ceremony of your own? they suggest. A gesture of solidarity is, after all, the entire point, geography is not pertinent. By which point in the conversation, our diplomats get the message that the French are not thrilled about worrying over Obama’s security. (Mon Dieu! What if something should happen to him on our soil and under our watch! * Merde!!*)
Perhaps the American ambassador would be appropriate, we suggest. Perfectly suitable, they answer, she is, after all, the ambassador… Plus, nobody knows who she is, she would not make an inviting target. Nobody said that in so many words, one simply doesn’t suggest that the American ambassador is a minor figure.
Gestures and shrugs, nothing explicit, it isn’t done that way. There was a minor fumble, a higher ranking official would have been more appropriate. But we give a shit, they know we give a shit, and that’s all that matters…
So the WH freely acknowledges a minor mistake, and the French politely decline to be insulted. Sentiment is expressed, dignity is preserved, faces are saved.
And [DEL][COLOR=“Black”]penis[/DEL][/COLOR] WHARRGARBL ensues!
CMC fnord!
Exactly.
Also, wasn’t it just a decade or so ago that Conservatives were calling the French pussies for not supporting the war in Iraq, and doing shit like renaming French fries Freedom fries and criticizing John Kerry for being “too French.” Didn’t Bill O’Reilly at one point call for a boycott of all things French?