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."

[1010RD]

Obama is getting skewered. I wonder if the Germans still love him after this and the Russian snub, plus Hilary’s gaffe.

This is the Keystone Kops meet Mickey Mouse gang. Overwhelmed - has any POTUS ever been described that way?

Carter?

[Just A Nobody]

He's only 48 years old!!

Legend has it he is only 47 and won't be 48 until August. I have no way of proving that, but just wanted to throw it out there. For all we know, he is 67.

[Secret Agent Man]

If this is the case, I believe he must resign.

[Eva]

obama is just plain incompetant

No, no, no. This was all intentional. Obama started the insults by returning a bust of Winston Churchill to England. So, along with normal state gifts, Brown included a copy of the complete works of Winston Churchill. (Unless Mark Steyn was joking, again)

Churchill wrote horrible things about North African Muslims. This had to be included in the set of books that were given to Obama.

Obama returned the insults in kind.

[PghBaldy]

All this talk of Lincoln, and it was the wrong one. We elected Mary Todd Lincoln.

[Cecily]

“0 is being trashed in a foreign newspaper by his new best friend forever Colin Powell.”

You are probably right. Backstabbing and leaking are what Gen. Bowell does best.

[Riley]

You are right. They are not dummies and are just biding their time to hit us again.

Right now, we still have all of the Bush era infrastructure and momentum in place. Wait until Obama starts unplugging all of that- that's when we'll start having real problems.

[Pearls Before Swine]

Totally understandable. Gordon Brown must have showed up on a Thursday. The White House is all hung over from the Wednesday night bashes.

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

["the president's surprise at the sheer volume of business that crosses his desk."]

They didn't have any problem bashing President Bush 24x7.

[maica]

Thanks for the link. FR is bountiful!

[ScaniaBoy]

I don’t think so. What with closing Gitmo, stopping trials against terrorists, opening negotiations with Syria, Iran, Hamas, the Talibans and every other muslim terror organization, Obambi will be crucified if there is another 911.

[Type Righter]

Sweet Mary and Joseph, that’s not the excuse they gave, is it??? Holy carp, even if it was true - and the cure is to stop jetting across the country for every 25 jobs “created” - don’t put that weakness on display for our sworn enemies with a track record of miscalculation to see. That’s just plain reckless.

But what else can you expect from an illegal drug user? Isn't recklessness just part of the game? What really goes on at those so-called parties every week? A little recreational chemical usage? A spot of brainwashing to reinforce the latest talking points?

[anglian]

‘Mrs 0’ in Vogue. http://www.mrs-o.org/wp-content/uploads/vogue_jan.jpg

[Secret Agent Man]

If Biden takes over, eventually he’ll stroke out or have a Fred Sanford (I’m comin Elizabeth, it’s the big one). Which leaves us with Queen Pelosi. Who doesn’t have any executive experience either.

[Riley]

All this talk of Lincoln, and it was the wrong one. We elected Mary Todd Lincoln.

Coffee does NOT feel good being expelled through the nose, I'll have you know.

[JrsyJack]

This empty suit wants to wear the trappings of the office, sit behind the big desk and delegate running the country to Pelosi and Reid.

[luvie]

Gimme a freakin’ break!

He’s young compared to our President Bush, and GW never
stiffed anyone!

[Bertram3]

You never heard a peep from the media. That Obama’s gaffes are getting out does not bode well for our nation or the world.

The high dollar Obama shills in the MSM are watching their wealth circle the drain just like everyone else is. They won't stay in his corner after inflation starts eating up their paychecks.

[They'reGone2000]

Beautiful.

All it needs is a nose that grows.

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

"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"."

They can't be made to pay taxes or grow the government, so why bother with them?