Barack Obama 'too tired' to give proper welcome to Gordon Brown

The London Telegraph ^ | March 7, 2009 | Tim Shipman

[2ndDivisionVet]

Barack Obama's offhand approach to Gordon Brown's Washington visit last week came about because the president has facing exhaustion over America's economic crisis and is unable to focus on foreign affairs, the Sunday Telegraph has been told.

Sources close to the White House say Mr Obama and his staff have been "overwhelmed" by the economic meltdown and have voiced concerns that the new president is not getting enough rest.

British officials, meanwhile, admit that the White House and US State Department staff were utterly bemused by complaints that the Prime Minister should have been granted full-blown press conference and a formal dinner, as has been customary. They concede that Obama aides seemed unfamiliar with the expectations that surround a major visit by a British prime minister.

But Washington figures with access to Mr Obama's inner circle explained the slight by saying that those high up in the administration have had little time to deal with international matters, let alone the diplomatic niceties of the special relationship.

Allies of Mr Obama say his weary appearance in the Oval Office with Mr Brown illustrates the strain he is now under, and the president's surprise at the sheer volume of business that crosses his desk.

A well-connected Washington figure, who is close to members of Mr Obama's inner circle, expressed concern that Mr Obama had failed so far to "even fake an interest in foreign policy".

A British official conceded that the furore surrounding the apparent snub to Mr Brown had come as a shock to the White House. "I think it's right to say that their focus is elsewhere, on domestic affairs. A number of our US interlocutors said they couldn't quite understand the British concerns and didn't get what that was all about."

[TBall]

Yeah right he was “too tired.” Was the horrible gift of 25 classic movies a result of him being too tired as well? Was he tired when he sent the Churchill bust back?

[Cecily]

Exactly. They sure aren’t too tired for the Wednesday night hootenannies.

[adorno]

But not tired enough for Wednesday parties?

Which reminds me...

Say that, on a Wednesday night, after all that partying and Obama going to bed very tired and sleepy and perhaps even a bit (or a lot) high from some substance, alcohol or otherwise, that the White House gets that "famous" (infamous?) 3 AM call about an international crisis... who's going to answer it?

[Bertram3]

Beat me to it.

[Just A Nobody]

But...but...I thought he was going to REPAIR our tarnished image around the world.

IFFBCB!

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

Obama, Biden, Hillary, and the Democrats represent an endless fount of incompetence and stupidity, soon to be followed by a titanic flood of excuses.

[bergmeid]

Big speech on what? Never mind, whatever it is, the markets will take another hit.

[jonrick46]

The sound of Zero running on Zero:

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzeeeeeeeeeeerrrrrrrrOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzeeeeeeeeeeerrrrrrrrOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzeeeeeeeeeeerrrrrrrrOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

[Deetes]

Poor me poor poor me . Time to go pick up your welfare check Boy ...,

[BARLF]

Bump

[Red Steel]

Barack Obama's offhand approach to Gordon Brown's Washington visit last week came about because the president has facing exhaustion over America's economic crisis and is unable to focus on foreign affairs, the Sunday Telegraph has been told.

Not tired enough for White House Wednesday night parties.

[milagro]

That was my guess--Powell trying to distance himself before it's too late from his endorsement of Obama.

FWIW, I sure do miss the ole "kill people and break things" General! He was my--and a whole lotta people's--hero back in the Desert Storm days. Now he seems--like so many Washington insiders these days--to be just another political hack! But--maybe this criticism of the "dear leader" is a sign of hope. Or, otoh, maybe deep deep doo-doo!

OI!

[1010RD]

Well you know how Bush ruined our international reputation and all...wait that was a lie.

So now the One has Obama’d the British, our most special allies.

How will the media elites spin this one to protect the one?

[Just A Nobody]

Anyone miss [PRESIDENT] George W. Bush yet???

Since the moment I opened my eyes on the morning of 1-20-09!

.

[1010RD]

His wealth increase by hundreds of percents once he was placed on the fast track to power. Wife suddenly became a necessary for several boards, too.

[1010RD]

Is Biden an improvement? Or will Rahm stage a coup?

[leapfrog0202]

Only thing I can think is they’re trying to jolt them into figuring out what the heck he should be doing??? I don’t know, but I think whoever said this is trying to shock the administration into better action.

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

I don’t think a Teleprompter has yet been designed that can fix this mess.

[Political Junkie Too]

That would be Joe Biden's job, because everyone knows, you don't mess with Joe.

-PJ

[1010RD]

Remember the shellacking Reagan got for napping?

I suppose that being a member of a permanent victim class does have its benefits.