Posted on 03/07/2009 12:16:38 PM PST by 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."
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
Clean up the "worthless POS" part (too crude for a proper British publication) and that would be a good Letter to the Editor to send to The Daily Telegraph.
“The real views of many in Obama administration were laid bare by a State Department official involved in planning the Brown visit, who reacted with fury when questioned by The Sunday Telegraph about why the event was so low-key.
The official dismissed any notion of the special relationship, saying: ‘There’s nothing special about Britain. You’re just the same as the other 190 countries in the world. You shouldn’t expect special treatment.’ The apparent lack of attention to detail by the Obama administration is indicative of what many believe to be Mr Obama’s determination to do too much too quickly.”
So much for diplomacy!!
Anyone see this story on ABC, NBC, CBS or CNN? Didn’t think so. Can you imagine if W was as pathetic?
“....but there have been flashes of irritation when he thinks he’s being pushed to make a decision sooner than he wants to make it. ....”
God help us if we are attacked on our soil.
LOL! Right on!
Where's Bill Clinton's brother now that POTUS needs him again?
That's a little hard to swallow since he let Pelosi write the money bills and he has Tiny Tim Geithner to do any other odds and ends of housekeeping that may cross his mind. Meanwhile he parties and goes on vacation an awful lot for being on the job only six weeks.
What squat these flaming anuses produce.
Truth is tonight we-they were talking about the closing of firehouses.I have 2 son’s who are fireman and a husband who is retired officer on the fire department.They say an injury a day for fireman since the recent closing.As a Mom I don’t like the stats.Overworked and not close to fires.((((Hugs))))) for your work,Fatima
Did no one in his administration seek any advice?
Has Hillary not seen what happens in the White House?
Bunch of stinking idiots. Remember when they made fun of Bush for picking folks who were stronger than he was in certain areas (ie: Dick Cheney). The mark of a good leader is that he surrounds himself with people who are more capable in the areas they are weak.
These are not good leaders.
So true about Powell's eyesight.
Regular people always used to be surprised when I told them that I detected a weakness in Mr. Powell's character.
OBAMA One Big-Assed Mistake, America.
Alternatively, the people running him probably knew from the start exactly what he was: a sprinter, not a stayer. They needed a certain psychological type, and the burn-the-candle-at-all-ends arrogance comes with the territory. Hence the unseemly haste to make all their political hay before he hits the wall.
Did they finally get around to redecorating the oval office?
Last I knew they were still using GWB’s stuff that Laura picked out.
The list gets longer every day.
Don’t forget what’s going on along the Mexican border right now...a war in the making.
Obviously foreign policy is WAY above Obama’s pay grade.
I don't think he has a complete Cabinet yet, does he?
They'll shoot a lot of American civilians and put a lot more into reeducation camps. Buy more ammo.
“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,”
Not up to the job, huh? Guess that bill Pelosi wrote was such a burden to sign.
I think the real question is whether the Obama Brownshirt Brigade is ready to go out and occupy the rural areas and subdue the rebels that refuse to vote the way they should.
Are any of us smiling? We love our country and are not happy. Neither is George, but he will not let that show.
I may have mistakenly thought you were calling the Telegraph a tabloid.
As to the lack of named sources -- in the 4+ years I've been here most of the hit pieces on President Bush never named sources and these pieces were in the NYSlimes, WaComPost, Time, NewsweAk et al, along with many broadcast smears. It never seemed to be an issue then. (Perhaps for you, but not for many here.)
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