Campaign Posters at the Western Wall.

[ilisao]

"Appearing presidential" should convey to the voters that one is capable of assuming the office of the president once one is elected". Obama has been behaving as if he is president and respresents the foreign policy of this country.

"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 speech or a political rally.

“But he is not president of the United States,” a reporter reminded the adviser. "

All candidates strive to appear presidential. You mean when McCain visits another country he is not trying to appear presidential?

Have you ever taken a class on campaigns and elections? You would be well-served by doing so.

 

[cteddiesgirl]

I am shocked by this statement! Why should a US presidential hopeful campaign abroad. A US president's #1 priority and his #200th priority and everything in between is to the AMERICAN people, not to the Germans, not to the French, not to anyone but the Americans. I am appalled that Obama felt the need to campaign abroad and it scares me to think what he would do if he becomes President. Is he going to Ask Nicolas Sarkozi what to do before he does anything? Is he going to ensure that the German popular agrees with him before he speaks. Its appalling!

And good relations with other countries is good for Americans.
If we had had good relations with all the Islamic countries, then we wouldn't have had 9/11, Afghanistan or Iraq.

I don't see him asking permission for his every movement from the other leaders. But he is conferring with them to have good relations.


Not to mention (yet again) that there are many voting Americans living in other countries. And not all of them live on military bases.

sure they only came for the bands...
funny no one left when the music stopped....
I have seen many concerts where folks voted with their feet as soon as what they came to see ended...


On the news folks were saying they wished he had spoken longer....but of course they were only there for the music...

Exactly. I've never known someone to just hang around to listen to something they don't want to hear just for the heck of it.

But I think the logistics of it prevented from the above places. You just can't have thousands of people come hang out at a US air base. You know, security and all.

Oh no. There's not supposed to be any security. They're supposed to be open to everyone to just walk right in.

Would you mind answering the question, versus just trying to squeeze in another unattributed sound bite, please?

Why would she?

She's yet to answer my question about why she has to spend so much time and energy trying to tear down Obama rather than trying to build up McCain.

 

[Laugh O. Grams]

"Appearing presidential" should convey to the voters that one is capable of assuming the office of the president once one is elected". Obama has been behaving as if he is president and respresents the foreign policy of this country.

"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 speech or a political rally.

“But he is not president of the United States,” a reporter reminded the adviser. "

Not yet...

Besides, it's about time that someone told "old Europe" that that Dubya's not going to be around much longer so Angela Merkel will have to look elsewhere for unsolicited back rubs...

 

[charlie,nj]

I'm still waiting for Dawn's response -or Charade-or Charlie- to this question.

Can one of you respond to why it's ok for McCain but not for Obama? How about that little campaign stop with Lieberman when Lieberman kept whispering in McCain's ear correcting his mistakes? I'm pretty sure that was a campaign trip too.

I couldn’t find any pictures of McCain signs (or balloons) while he was in Mexico.

I did find a nice shot of how he got there...talk about going green…wow

How could you not love this guy!!!

.

 

[gate_pourri]

Do you find it appalling because you won't vote for this candidate, or because it is inappropriate for a Presidential candidate to appear Presidential?

I find it appalling that he thinks he is so high-n-mighty that he is parading around the world as the American President. He is NOT the president. We have only one president and his name is George W. Bush.

 

[Fizzgig]

Charlie, I found this right for you, seeing you and Dawn seem so happy to change the subject:

And another to lighten the mood:

 

[cteddiesgirl]

I find it appalling that he thinks he is so high-n-mighty that he is parading around the world as the American President. He is NOT the president. We have only one president and his name is George W. Bush.

Yeah. And Bush is certainly the best at foreign relations... That must be why everyone loves us so much.

I don't think he's parading around as the president. He's parading around as a presidential hopeful.

 

[Fizzgig]

I find it appalling that he thinks he is so high-n-mighty that he is parading around the world as the American President. He is NOT the president. We have only one president and his name is George W. Bush.

http://www.nydailynews.com/latino/2...mccain_tours_basilica_of_guadalupe_will_.html

"McCain's trip to Colombia and Mexico was billed primarily as an opportunity to promote free trade in the Western Hemisphere.
...

On Wednesday, he said as president he might pursue a possible free trade agreement that would cover the entire Western Hemisphere."

I ask this again... Is it because Obama isn't who you will vote for in the coming election, or because you don't want Presidential candidates to interview for their jobs AS Presidents?

Oh, and I can give more links of Presidential candidates trying to cast themselves as good contenders for the job, if you'd like.

 

[akhenaten]

http://www.nydailynews.com/latino/2...mccain_tours_basilica_of_guadalupe_will_.html

"McCain's trip to Colombia and Mexico was billed primarily as an opportunity to promote free trade in the Western Hemisphere.
...

On Wednesday, he said as president he might pursue a possible free trade agreement that would cover the entire Western Hemisphere."

I ask this again... Is it because Obama isn't who you will vote for in the coming election, or because you don't want Presidential candidates to interview for their jobs AS Presidents?

Oh, and I can give more links of Presidential candidates trying to cast themselves as good contenders for the job, if you'd like.

It would be nice to see a serious , direct response to your question.....

 

[Mr Man]

some excerpts from his speech in Berlin are starting to come out....

'People of Berlin -- people of the world -- this is our moment. This is our time.


'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.'

.....and on the seventh day......he rested......



I like the McCain campaign response

McCain 2008 spokesman Tucker Bounds said in response: "While Barack Obama took a premature victory lap today in the heart of Berlin, proclaiming himself a 'citizen of the world,' John McCain continued to make his case to the American citizens who will decide this election. Barack Obama offered eloquent praise for this country, but the contrast is clear. John McCain has dedicated his life to serving, improving and protecting America. Barack Obama spent an afternoon talking about it."

heh......it appears Sen Obama has his waterskis on......which way is he headed?

 

[DawnCt1]

Yeah. And Bush is certainly the best at foreign relations... That must be why everyone loves us so much.

I don't think he's parading around as the president. He's parading around as a presidential hopeful.

The goal of any presidential candidate should not be getting the "world to love us so much". The primary job of the president of the United States is to protect and defend the country. Not to abandon our own best interests. I am not sure that Obama gets it! For him to say that "he doesn't look like other Americans who have been here." HOW ARROGANT! Colin Powell and Condileeza Rice have both preceeded him to Germany.

 

[DawnCt1]

some excerpts from his speech in Berlin are starting to come out....



.....and on the seventh day......he rested......



I like the McCain campaign response



heh......it appears Sen Obama has his waterskis on......which way is he headed?

I must be mistaken; it wasn't a campaign rally; it was a Papal Mass!

 

[Fizzgig]

It would be nice to see a serious, direct response to your question.....

*sigh* Yeah, it would. But it would also show their cards, so why would they do that?

The emotional responses they have to Obama are probably akin to the spine-rattling shudders I have when I watch Bush fumble his way through any political appearance where he isn't saber-rattling.

It's nice to see a well-spoken candidate calmly respond to questions. I find Obama's humor engaging, versus off-putting (McCain's "JV squad" Press passes come to mind as off-putting). McCain gains press coverage and believers when he pitches himself as the underdog. To believe he is the underdog is just falling under the spell of his marketing pitch.

Both candidates have something to sell.

 

[CPT Tripss]

I really wish you could see what a detriment you are to your cause. You seem to think you are doing good work but you are being sooooooo counterproductive. Its a shame really.

Shhhhhh let's just keep it our little secret.

Maybe she is a mole?

 

[ilisao]

The goal of any presidential candidate should not be getting the "world to love us so much". The primary job of the president of the United States is to protect and defend the country. Not to abandon our own best interests. I am not sure that Obama gets it! For him to say that "he doesn't look like other Americans who have been here." HOW ARROGANT! Colin Powell and Condileeza Rice have both preceeded him to Germany.

That made no sense and you are the one mixing up the terms president and presidential candidate.

The goal of any presidential candidate should not be getting the "world to love us so much". They do need to let the world know they have a presence and can interact outside the country.

The primary job of the president of the United States is to protect and defend the country. Not to abandon our own best interests. And part of that is establishing relationships abroad. And it's not as if GWB has done a stellar job in this.

 

[Par8hed]

I must be mistaken; it wasn't a campaign rally; it was a Papal Mass!

Funny...I thought it was George W. who claimed God speaks to him.

 

[Fizzgig]

Funny...I thought it was George W. who claimed God speaks to him.

As shown by my link above, it was JEB Bush and McCain at the Catholic Church. GEESH, keep up!!

 

[CPT Tripss]

...and Obama ballons at Germany's landmark's...

.

That'll cost points with the French

 

[DawnCt1]

*sigh* Yeah, it would. But it would also show their cards, so why would they do that?

The emotional responses they have to Obama are probably akin to the spine-rattling shudders I have when I watch Bush fumble his way through any political appearance where he isn't saber-rattling.

It's nice to see a well-spoken candidate calmly respond to questions. I find Obama's humor engaging, versus off-putting (McCain's "JV squad" Press passes come to mind as off-putting). McCain gains press coverage and believers when he pitches himself as the underdog. To believe he is the underdog is just falling under the spell of his marketing pitch.

Both candidates have something to sell.

I haven't seen a Obama as "well spoken candidate calmly responding to questions". I heard Um, um , ah , um , etc, etc. Your guy cannot speak without a teleprompter. He is awful unscripted. McCain, is awful in front of a teleprompter but he can speak clearly, answer questions directly and I can certainly see why Obama is avoiding a town hall meeting with McCain.

 

[DawnCt1]

Funny...I thought it was George W. who claimed God speaks to him.

President Bush isn't running, but I would rather have a presidential candidate who speaks to God rather than one who thinks he is the messiah!