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."

[jeffc]

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.

Translation: They are incompetent and overwhelmed. Doesn't seem as they care, either.
As each day goes by, I get more worried about our nation. And the question remains: How long until the MSM realizes how bad he is and turns on him? Will the Chicago homies then go after the MSM? Something's gonna give sooner or later, we just can't stay on this course.

[I Hate Obama]

John McCain could have handled it and his age is equal to all the times Obama says “uhhh” without a teleprompter.

[Loyalist]

Barack Obama is quickly reducing himself to a figurehead. The President’s executive functions and policymaking is all going to be delegated to people we don’t really know while Obama signs bills and does photo-ops.

That actually might not be such a bad thing. Woodrow Wilson’s stroke slowed down executive business, but it also kept him from fighting to have the U.S. join the League of Nations.

[ducdriver]

Only temporarily, while he vacations and recuperates in HI...Biden will look competent in comparison, don’t you think?

[maica]

“the president’s surprise at the sheer volume of business that crosses his desk”

&&&&

Has he even had one Cabinet meeting yet? I remember the media chronicling Bush’s lack of meetings, press conferences, speeches, etc, starting about the day after his inauguration.

[Polybius]

After all that experience at community organization and that half-term as a senator, who knew we were electing a lightweight, unprepared, puppet?

You are being unfair.

Puppets don't need Tele-Prompters.

[ConfidentConservative]

“But he writes such lovely prose.”

And speaks so well while using a teleprompter!

[FrankR]

I'm surprised he didn't say, "I'm BUSHed!".

If he's tired, it's no doubt it is over the midnight "Earth, Wind, and Fire" concerts at $100/lb steak dinners at the white house.

Did someone not sit this clown down and explain the job of the Presidency to him? This job is 24/7, with every minute filled with world shaking events and responsibilities. This is not a "community organizer" job, or a voting "present" job; there is no going home to MaBelle Michelle and the kids at 5pm.

I'm sure glad HE didn't have to shoulder the responsibilities of the Vietnam War or 911 as the President...he would have never made it. It would be like, "Can't we wait until Monday to bomb Hanoi...I'm tired."

I don't recall any President every publicly saying the he "was too tired" to represent our country to Foreign Leaders. I mean Daddy Bush puked in their lap, but at least he didn't call in "tired".

Did CommieBama say, "I'm too tired to choose a respectful gift for Gordon Brown, just call Ronco and order him a DVD set."? Too tired to be classy and nice?

Maybe this guy is just not up to the job...physically as well as mentally. So far, all of his financial decision suck, he has been rude, crude, and infantile with his decisions and astoundingly stupid with cabinet appointments.

I think Mr. Silver Tongue and his teleprompter got elected by mistake. Maybe it was a black power thing. But, CommieBama ain't acting like a President.

I never thought I'd see a "low rent" White House in our country...even with hillary hanging porno-ornaments on the White House Christmas Tree...at least it wasn't as tacky as the ObamaCommies.

I want to propose a helpful cure for our young president...I think each as every American should run out and buy him a bottle of GERITOL and send it to the White House with a card reading..."Mr. President, So you won't be too tired to treat our Allies with the proper respect in the future, please accept this complimentary bottle of GERITOL. Maybe by the time you reach 49 it will have cured you."

[A_Former_Democrat]

I saw GWB in church two Sundays ago. He looked tanned, fit, relaxed and smiling broadly as well-wishers gathered to welcome him back. It was so good to see him like that as I wondered how these last few years had aged him.

[Dr. Bogus Pachysandra]

Burdock Hinsane Obama just wants to be “the idea guy.”

[Syncro]

He has time to destroy the economy, and attack ordinary citizens like Rush Limbaugh. If he slept for the hours he has spent dissing Rush he would be in good enough shape to deal with foreign affairs.

What if there is a crisis that he isn't purposely making worse (the economy) that comes along and he has to be Presidential?

Oh that's right, he is PRESENT Obama.

All he needs to be is Presential

[The_Reader_David]

Yup. Obama is a post-turtle. Someone put him in a high position, and now he doesn't have any idea what to do.

[pray4liberty]

He’s in way over his head, we’ve known this all along, the rest of the world is finding out.

I'm surprised he didn't just call Joltin' Joe to fill in for him..

[mojito]

My favorite quote from the piece:

“The Sunday Telegraph understands that one of Mr Obama’s most prominent African American backers, whose endorsement he spent two years cultivating, has told friends that he detects a weakness in Mr Obama’s character.”

“The one real serious flaw I see in Barack Obama is that he thinks he can manage all this,” the well-known figure told a Washington official, who spoke to this newspaper. “He's underestimating the flood of things that will hit his desk.”

And just who could this mystery “African-American backer” be?

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

[Liberty Valance]

Early to bed, early to rise ...

[stayathomemom]

Ditto! Who would have thought. Just like the Israelites pining for their life of slavery in Egypt.

[Gorzaloon]

Hell, this incompetent jackass is making me miss Bubba Clintoon.

Same here, the lovable old scaliwag.

While he may have been seen as the reason people dig up drains in some quarters, at least he would not destroy the economy, because the bigger it was, the bigger pieces he could nibble off it.

I'll take a good ol' Dixie Mafia crook any day over this THING(PBUH) we have now.

[Syncro]

Heck he doesn't make any decisions himself anyway

[4Speed]

Well the Jackass wasn’t staying UP LATE READING the Stimulus, was he ?

I don’t think so. Plotting the overthrow of the American Constitution is Exhausting.

[Syncro]

Maybe this guy is just not up to the job

LOL, understament of the decade!