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Influenced by New York Times columnist Bob Herbert's recent claims on MSNBC's Morning Joe that the McCain campaign deliberately included "phallic symbols" along with images of attractive young white women in an ad attacking Barack Obama to exploit racial resentment, MSNBC host Keith Olbermann latched onto this theory on Monday's Countdown show and observed that the ad featured "two underdressed blondes mixed with the black guy," and contended that the ad included "three phallic symbols, two blondes and Barack Obama," opining that the ad is an example of "miscegenation," and that it suggests Obama is "going to wind up dating...

Sen. Barack Obama's recent speech in Berlin may have been a hit with American journalists. That, however, is due to most journalists' politics, not to the profundity of Obama's remarks. They were neither profound nor stirring. Indeed, a careful study of the speech should lead an impartial observer to be concerned about Obama's grasp of the world. I started my analysis last week; I conclude this week. Let me begin with that which was praiseworthy. Obama: "This is the moment when we must defeat terror and dry up the well of extremism that supports it. This threat is real and...

Between this and last week’s Godwin-ing of the crowd scenes, I’m honestly curious to see where the left takes the critique next. One would think they’d either run out of cards to play or would quietly pocket the ones they have left lest they make themselves look more ridiculous, but each new day brings a fresh load of semiotic ore mined. It’s the “Ulysses� of campaign ads — the only limit on what it means is your own imagination. Still, Herbert’s reading warrants special mention, not only because it manages to be simultaneously exceedingly paranoid and pedestrian but because he...

Anyone who wants to understand Barack Obama would do well to stay away from the radio and the TV. Obama is a theatrical presence. That's what it means to be "charismatic": To an unnerving degree his appeal relies on sight and sound rather than sense. Better, in my opinion, to stick to the printed word. On paper (or the computer screen) his words can be thought about and chewed over. You can understand him at your own pace, undistracted by that rich baritone, the regal bearing, the excellent drape of his Burberry suits. The printed word has its problems too,...

Obama gets a German crowd together by free rock concert before and after the speech, and he is viewed by MSM as iconic in Europe. Obama apologized to Germany for USA world aggression - to all people, Germany????? He said he would repair US relations with Germany - as if it was the USA's fault? He said that he would tear down walls between our nation and the world. Those walls are called borders and sovereignty: 1) the right to make our own laws, 2) the right to commit and direct our own troops in the defense of that sovereignty,...

WITH gestures that ranged from a wink to a sneer, most anyone you met here this week volunteered the view that Barack Obama’s visit to Europe caused unprecedented frenzy. But it’s been hard for me to find a European, aside from two Harvard-educated friends in Paris, who confessed to excitement — not just about the visit, but the prospect of an Obama presidency. It is true that Der Spiegel, the German newsweekly, featured Mr. Obama on its cover, topped by the words “Germany Meets the Superstar” — but the cover was satire, and nasty satire at that. The editors managed...

The headline on the website of German magazine Der Spiegel about Barack Obama's speech in Berlin: "Huge Crowds Left with Mixed Feelings." Two hundred thousand turned out for the speech, but CNN's Candy Crowley reported an "absence of euphoria" at the event. As Senator Obama went global with "Yes, we can" and "Change we can believe in" he left at least some of the horde in Berlin scratching their heads. Perhaps these Germans, out to hear what all the excitement was about, were looking for leadership and substance rather than kumbaya. What they got was the global version of "There...

An American presidential candidate travels to the very center of Europe and draws a huge cheering crowd. George W. Bush obviously could never do that. Nor could John McCain. For the many Americans sick to death of eight years of confrontation and quarrelling with friends and allies, Barack Obama’s visit to Berlin presented an exciting and hopeful picture. This is how things should be! It was a great moment — so long as you viewed it with the sound off. But if you listened to the speech, you heard an ominous and disturbing statement, one that raises the same unsettling...

Obama's damp squib speech today to 50,000 Germans (yes, that's all that was actually there, despite the free food, free drink, and the concerts) started off with Obama recounting to the Germans their own history. They must have loved that. There's nothing better than being told something you already know and was very personal to you by someone who wasn't there and had no part of it. It crossed my mind as he droned on, just what would have Obama done had he been in the Senate when the Berlin Airlift was proposed? Would he have supported it or would...

"Obama Addresses 200,000 in Berlin" -- thus ran the AP headline the day after Barack Obama's much-hyped speech in front of Berlin's Siegessäule or "Victory Column." This 200,000 figure has quickly become the standard estimate of the crowd for Obama's speech in both the American and the German media: so standard indeed that it is for the most part not even treated as an estimate. The estimates given by German public television ZDF actually during the event, however, were as many as 10 times lower. ZDF began its special "Obama in Berlin" coverage [German video] at 6:45 p.m. Central European...

And it came to pass, in the eighth year of the reign of the evil Bush the Younger (The Ignorant), when the whole land from the Arabian desert to the shores of the Great Lakes had been laid barren, that a Child appeared in the wilderness. The Child was blessed in looks and intellect. Scion of a simple family, offspring of a miraculous union, grandson of a typical white person and an African peasant. And yea, as he grew, the Child walked in the path of righteousness, with only the occasional detour into the odd weed and a little blow....

Radical optimism is America’s contribution to the world. The early settlers thought America’s founding would bring God’s kingdom to earth. John Adams thought America would emancipate “the slavish part of mankind all over the earth.” Woodrow Wilson and George W. Bush preached their own gospels of world democracy. The great illusion of the 1990s was that we were entering an era of global convergence in which politics and power didn’t matter. What Obama offered in Berlin flowed right out of this mind-set. This was the end of history on acid. Since then, autocracies have arisen, the competition for resources has...

And it came to pass, in the eighth year of the reign of the evil Bush the Younger (The Ignorant), when the whole land from the Arabian desert to the shores of the Great Lakes had been laid barren, that a Child appeared in the wilderness. The Child was blessed in looks and intellect. Scion of a simple family, offspring of a miraculous union, grandson of a typical white person and an African peasant. And yea, as he grew, the Child walked in the path of righteousness, with only the occasional detour into the odd weed and a little blow....

One People !! One World !! One Leader !!"At the core of the socialist outlook on life is what Friedrich Hayek described as 'the fatal conceit.' Far from any conscious or conspiratorial intent, a socialist's fatal conceit stems from his egotistical" -- continued at http://grandoldpartisan.typepad.com/blog/2008/07/the-obama-speech-at-the-hitler-monument.htmlThis article is adapted from page 15 of Back to Basics for the Republican Party, the acclaimed history of the GOP cited by Clarence Thomas in a Supreme Court decision.

Now that Barack Obama's photo-op safari through the Middle East is over -- "Look, Obama-nation, I bagged the Western Wall!" -- I find there's still that detail about Jordan's King Abdullah II himself chauffeuring America's Sen. Obama (also himself) to the airport worth lingering over. There the two men were, alone on the road -- at least, alone on the road in the middle of a full-metal motorcade -- cruising in the king's Mercedes 600 to the candidate's "Change you can believe in" Boeing 757 charter jet. What did they talk about? Since the traveling press didn't even find out...

<p>Obama, all his advisers, and the fawning MSM are clueless.</p> <p>As mistakes go, I would say this is the ultimate. A prepared speech (not an off-the-teleprompter gaffe), announced days in advance to the world. How is a mistake this huge possible? There is no chance he misread (misspoke), otherwise, there would be no mention of Belfast in that portion of the speech.</p>

Berliners spent the whole day trying to catch a glimpse of Barack Obama. The rumor that he had spent the afternoon working out at the hotel gym took on all the significance of an Elvis sighting. Until 7:21 p.m., that is. The sentences grows louder and louder; they start to drown out the applause. At the end of most of his speeches in the US, Obama tells his audience that he loves them. But in Berlin he just said "thank you." For a moment, it was plausible to think that he wanted to quickly aunch a global transformation through this...

Anyone who saw Barack Obama at Berlin's Siegessäule on Thursday could recognize that this man will become the 44th president of the United States. He is more than ambitious -- he wants to lay claim to become the president of the world.

RUSH: Cookie is working on a couple of audio sound bites and Drive-By Media reaction to the Messiah's speech in Germany. I have an idea what she's going to send. I never know what she's going to send unless I specifically asked for it. But Cookie is so good I seldom have to ask for it. I get what I want anyway. Now, one thing about this speech. I'll wait until we get the bites and see if what I'm expecting in these, citizen of the world stuff. When he started talking about that, that's when the red flags went...

Did anyone notice that when Barack Hussein Obama spoke to 200,000 people in Germany today (Thursday) that he addressed them as "Citizens of the world.....this is our hour"? He very eeriely, sounded just like I've always imagined that the Anti-Christ would sound when he makes his world debut. I'm not saying he is; I don't think he meets all the qualifictions. Just my observation.

In his 'A WORLD THAT STANDS AS ONE' speech, Obama (somewhat) addressed a variety of issues. In attempt to prove to the world that he is not a Republican or President Bush Obamessiah used the word "new" or "anew" sixteen times, in attempts to drive the point home. The speech was pretty bland for my taste. It was toast without the butter (or jelly for those of you who prefer toast with jelly to toast with butter). There were a few parts of his speech that managed to royally irritate me...aside from the standard 'America needs you foreign nations to...

Berliners Jam Park to Hear, Touch Obama in Concert Atmosphere By Patrick Donahue July 24 (Bloomberg) -- Berlin's city center took on the atmosphere of a rock concert as more than 200,000 people jammed the German capital's Tiergarten park to hear U.S. presidential candidate Barack Obama. Spectators chanted ``yes we can,'' Obama's catchphrase, as the 46-year-old senator stressed the shared ``burdens of global citizenship'' that bind the U.S. and Europe. Beer and sausage vendors lining the park provided refreshments. ``He's extremely charismatic -- I've never seen anybody like this,'' said Wolfgang Zuchowsky, a 73-year-old retired police officer from Berlin. ``It's...

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Anyone who saw Barack Obama at Berlin's Siegessäule on Thursday could recognize that this man will become the 44th president of the United States. He is more than ambitious -- he wants to lay claim to become the president of the world. It was a ton to absorb -- and what a stupendous ride through world history: the story of his own family, the Berlin Airlift, terrorists, poorly secured nuclear material, the polar caps, World War II, America's errors, Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, freedom. It's amazing one could even pack such a potpourri of issues into sentences and then succeed in...

Thank you to the citizens of Berlin and to the people of Germany. Let me thank Chancellor Merkel and Foreign Minister Steinmeier for welcoming me earlier today. Thank you Mayor Wowereit, the Berlin Senate, the police, and most of all thank you for this welcome. I come to Berlin as so many of my countrymen have come before. Tonight, I speak to you not as a candidate for President, but as a citizen -- a proud citizen of the United States, and a fellow citizen of the world. I know that I don't look like the Americans who've previously spoken...

Before the Obama speech, the front cover of Stern magazine asked whether Obama was coming as a Messiah or as a seducer - there was not much of either in evidence tonight. The crowd of around 120,000 was in carnival mood (snip) The crowd - including German children on school holidays and contingents of young American Democrats who had come from across Germany - initially cheered just about everything he said. "My father grew up herding goats in Kenya," garnered cheers. "His father was a cook," received more still. But the history lesson left most of the younger sympathisers drifting:...

(People of Berlin – people of the world – this is our moment. This is our time.) I know my country has not perfected itself. At times, we've struggled to keep the promise of liberty and equality for all of our people. We've made our share of mistakes, and there are times when our actions around the world have not lived up to our best intentions.

Remember back in May when media gushed and fawned over a huge crowd in Portland, Oregon -- supposedly gathered to hear the words of Democrat presidential candidate Barack Obama -- but chose not to report the free concert given before his speech? Well, it has been learned that before the presumptive Democrat nominee spoke to a crowd in Berlin Thursday, two popular German acts -- reggae artist Patrice and rock band Reamonn -- entertained the gathering audience. Will media report this tonight, or just gush and fawn over the huge crowd again? While you ponder, here's what was reported by...

1:42 p.m.: SPIEGEL ONLINE has learned that Obama has cancelled a planned short visit to the Rammstein and Landstuhl US military bases in the southwest German state of Rhineland-Palatinate. The visits were planned for Friday. "Barack Obama will not be coming to us," a spokesperson for the US military hospital in Landstuhl announced. "I don't know why." Shortly before the same spokeswoman had announced a planned visit by Obama.

Liberal media are making the big show and beating drums to make Obama's BUBBLE grow! Hope it will explode soon right in their faces. This program is on "franceinter.com"(sorry for the link) One can mail them... Maybe all the pretentious Obama's show will hurt him back and hurt the liberal medias . If "France"(hear the liberal medias)like Obama that is a very good reason to be suspiscious and not vote for him

This man must not be elected.

Not Since 1939 Have So Many Germans Turned Out To Hear A Politician in BerlinBarack Obama is set to speak at the Victory Column in Berlin. The Victory Column commemorates Germany's last military victory over France and Austria in the last 1860's - early 1870's. From that link: Berlin authorities say that as many as a million people could attend. Four TV stations are broadcasting the entire speech, and the rest are scrambling to secure prime locations at the site. Originally, the column was in a different location, but Hitler moved it in 1939 to its present location. He too...

AND NOW . . . amidst billowing clouds of fragrant, aromatic first- and second-hand premium cigar smoke. . . it is time for . . . that harmless, lovable little fuzz ball, the highly-trained broadcast specialist, having more fun than a human being should be allowed to have, from behind the golden EIB microphone, firmly ensconced in the prestigious Attila-the-Hun chair at the Limbaugh Institute of Advanced Conservative Studies, with talent on loan from G-d, at the cutting-edge of societal evolution, with half his brain tied behind his back — just to make it fair, the all-knowing, all-caring, all-sensing, all-feeling,...

6:55 p.m.: Obama leaves his hotel to make his way to the Victory Column, where he to give his speech. Around 100,000 people are reported to be awaiting him there.

++ Pop Concert for Obama Fans ++ 6:33 p.m.: The tens of thousands of Obama fans are being entertained as they await the senator. The reggae musician Patrice kicked things off, followed by the rock band Reamonn.

Obama is scheduled to speak in Berlin at the Victory Column sometime between 1 and 1:30 Eastern. All cable networks will cover the speech, live.

Apologies for the broken link before this is a must see http://www.thenextright.com/patrick-ruffini/obama-campaign-prints-german-language-flyers-for-berlin-rally

Obama's Premature Inauguration Syndrome is still giving him trouble, witness the mass Obama rally scheduled for Berlin's SiegessSaeule or Victory Column, to celebrate his penetrating insight in foreign affairs. Google's top listing of this Ueberphallic Prussian monument has to be seen to be believed: It is a favorite Berlin gay newspaper, as you can see. You have to admit those Germans have a sense of humor. What superficial American tourists never understand, of course, is that just about  all those magnificent European monuments stand for historical massacres. Even the big cathedrals symbolize the religious wars of the Reformation, which killed...

BERLIN (Reuters) - German Chancellor Angela Merkel is an admirer of U.S. presidential candidate Barack Obama -- even though she has not yet met him in person. Asked at a news conference on Wednesday what she thought of Obama, Merkel responded: "I would say that he is well-equipped -- physically, mentally and politically." Obama is due to meet with Merkel for about an hour on Thursday morning and will later give a speech on transatlantic relations at the "Victory Column" in Berlin's Tiergarten park. Merkel objected to initial plans by the Obama campaign to hold the speech at the Brandenburg...

BERLIN (Reuters) - German police detained a motorist on Wednesday who crashed through barricades set up at monument where Barack Obama will hold a speech on Thursday and dumped red paint from his speeding car. ADVERTISEMENT Police said the 40-year-old man was overpowered by security officials who first tried in vain to used metal rods to bring his car to a halt at the spot where the U.S. Democratic candidate for president will speak on Thursday afternoon. The man was turned over to police and taken into custody for questioning. The car was searched for explosives. No one was injured....

The Politico reports the Obama campaign's background briefing regarding Obama's coming speech this Thursday in Berlin: At a morning background briefing, reporters parried with senior advisers on the characterization of Obama’s speech Thursday in Berlin as a campaign rally. The outdoor speech at the Victory Column could draw thousands of people, similar to the size of Obama events in the United States. “It is not going to be a political speech,” said a senior foreign policy adviser, who spoke to reporters on background. “When the president of the United States goes and gives a speech, it is not a political...

FReepers are brilliant. So I have an immodest proposal for you all that could work a major coup in knocking Obama off his horse in the upcoming rally at the Victory Column in Berlin. Imagine the scene: Thousands of people, probably a lot of young, mushheaded lefties, probably a lot of swooning. Obama is introduced. The crowd roars. He waves in appreciation, grinning broadly. After a respectable few moments of basking in the adulation, he motions for the crowd to settle down to hear his prophetic words. He begins to speak, warming to a theme of kumbaya fuzzy warm one...

The Real Barack Obama reports on the Obama campaign's plans to control the image of his Berlin rally:“Looks like the Germans figured out why Obama won’t allow anyone to bring anything into his big show,” Beethovenqueen writes. The Bild headline reads “Barack Obama bans protest signs in Berlin.” The article then goes on to say: Obamas Organisatoren wollen nichts dem Zufall überlassen. Auf Handzetteln, die seit Montag für die Rede im Berliner Bezirk Tiergarten ausgeteilt werden, heißt es: „Plakate oder Transparente sind nicht gestattet.“ Aus Sicherheitsgründen sollen die Besucher auch keine Taschen und Rucksäcke mitnehmen dürfen. Translation: Obama’s organization is...

Finally, Barack Obama's campaign has settled on a site for his Berlin speech. But some German politicians have now criticized his choice as being one full of Nazi-related symbolism. Barack Obama will hold his speech at the Siegessäule monument in the heart of the city, according to an announcement made by his campaign office in Chicago on Sunday. In his speech, he will speak about the "historic US-German partnership" and about the importance of strengthening trans-Atlantic relations, according to his campaign team. Still, even as the issue of his speech's location has now been settled, a number of politicians in...

Barack Obama's campaign said Sunday he will give a speech on the future of trans-Atlantic relations in front of a Prussian war monument in downtown Berlin _ in view of the historic Brandenburg Gate. The announcement that he will speak at the Victory Column, or Siegessaeule, ended weeks of speculation here. It also triggered criticism that the 226-foot column built in 1873 to celebrate Prussian war victories over Denmark, Austria and France was an inappropriate choice. One of Berlin's best-known monuments, the column is topped by a golden, winged figure representing Victoria, the Roman goddess of victory. It stood in...

Barack Obama’s campaign has elected for it’s candidate to speak at the Siegessäule, a victory column, which was moved by Adolf Hitler from the Reichstag to its current location in 1939 as part of Hitler’s planned transformation of Berlin into the Nazi capital “Germania.”

BERLIN: The decision by Senator Barack Obama to speak at a landmark monument in Berlin this Thursday has opened up yet another controversy, with conservative and opposition politicians saying the site recalls Germany's Nazi past and Prussia's militaristic tradition. Obama is planning to address what organizers expect will be huge crowds at the Siegessäule, or Victory Column, which is located in the center of a long and busy intersection that straddles the lush, public Tiergarten gardens and stretches up to the Brandenburg Gate. SNIP After days of back and forth between the chancellery and the Obama campaign, the Victory Column...