Gazing Lovingly Into The Pool
Toby Harndon on the narcissist in chief:
There was one world leader absent for today’s commemorations marking the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. Surprisingly enough, it’s President Barack Obama, who found time last year to give a campaign speech there last year, which Der Spiegel summed up as “People of the World, Look at Me”.
The White House has cited a packed schedule, though looking at it he had nothing much on yesterday (brief chat to reporters about healthcare – by far his biggest priority) and just blah briefings and a bill signing today until a metting this evening with Benjamin Netanyahu. This time, Der Spiegel has reported it as “Barack Too Busy”.
But Obama is, of course, making time to trot over to Norway to receive the Nobel Peace Prize in December. Didn’t seem to have too much of a problem clearing the diary for that – though his acceptance of the prize and decision to give a another soaring, historical, epoch-marking etc etc speech there will be looked back on as a colossal political mistake and sign of hubris.
Remember the gushing – fawning, really – in the American press about how beloved the Big O is in Europe? I’d say that is more than a bit overly optimistic. This man may be a legend in his own mind, but Europe appears to see considerably less. In fact, they are making fun of the pool-gazer. (And if you do not know the story of Narcissus, go look it up on the interwebby.)
The Wizard of O and his munchkin chorus here in the US may be quite smitten with the Wiz. The rest of the world appears to have seen behind the curtain.
Obamantics, World news | Gaius November 10, 2009
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By Sam, November 11, 2009 @ 4:24 pm
Gilderoy Lockhart
By Andrew X, November 12, 2009 @ 12:11 pm
Toby Harndon is totally and completely wrong here. His article needs some serious revision to make it correct.
I’ll do it for him –
Remove the words “surprisingly enough”.
There. Done.