POTUS relations with England suffering

[NormanPride]

http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/nilegardiner/100088961/barack-obama-top-ten-insults-against-britain-2011-edition/


In March last year I published a list of Barack Obama’s biggest insults against America’s biggest ally Great Britain, during his time in office. A lot of water has flown under the bridge since then, including the Gulf oil spill and the White House’s campaign against BP, the now infamous Obama-Sarkozy press conference earlier this year, and the release by Wikileaks of US government documents revealing the Obama administration had betrayed Britain in order to appease the Russians over the New START Treaty.

In honour of President Obama’s state visit to Britain this week, here’s an updated and revised list, as a reminder to readers of the president’s less than stellar track record when it comes to US-British relations. The US president will no doubt be careful not to offend his hosts when he travels to London, and he will receive a warm welcome from the Queen and the Prime Minister, as any American president would. But the prospect of an embarrassing diplomatic gaffe or insensitive remark cannot be ruled out from a world leader whose administration has all too often specialised in them. As I noted in my original piece:

Without a shadow of a doubt, Barack Obama has been the most anti-British president in modern American history. The Special Relationship has been significantly downgraded, and at times humiliated under his presidency, which has displayed a shocking disregard for America’s most important partner and strategic ally.

There are a multitude of reasons for President Obama’s dismissive approach to the UK, and here are a few: an obsession with engaging and appeasing America’s enemies rather than cultivating allies; personal animosity towards Britain because of his grandfather’s role as a Mau Mau supporter in 1950’s colonial Kenya; Democrat resentment over British support for the Bush Administration over Iraq; left-wing disdain for the idea of Anglo-American exceptionalism and world leadership; support for supranational institutions such as the European Union over the supremacy of the nation state.

I would be interested to see a rebuttal to these points, if it is possible.

[TheHumanAlphabet]

They are all fawning over themselves after his highness's "academic" and "intellectual" speech to parliment today...

[The Profit]

They are all fawning over themselves after his highness's "academic" and "intellectual" speech to parliment today...




They are smart people.

[StoopTroup]

Sounds like they are pissed we cut off their drilling of OUR oil off the Coast of America.

Maybe folks at Amoco shouldn't have sold their souls to the Brits back in the 1990's.

I'm thinking he might have got it right but it's tough letting everybody else drill when they have been nothing but dicks and liars about cleaning up the Gulf. Again...we continue to bag on our President when BP is trying to screw him because he's cut them off.

It's to bad they don't try and appease him instead of ruin him. I'd say we should let Britain know the ought to leave Northern Ireland and then they can drill in the Gulf again. Well....maybe not....but that's politics. We have really sold our little guys interest in America by allowing Companies like BP to walk freely into our Country and take a dump on us.

[soonerboomer93]

Maybe, but he's not punishing BP, infact, BP is selling some of it's refineries in the states now.

What he has done is punished a lot of the normal everyday people who had nothing at all to do with that accident but are paying the price for the drilling ban

[NormanPride]

Exactly.

[Sooner11JK]

Sounds like they are pissed we cut off their drilling of OUR oil off the Coast of America.

Maybe folks at Amoco shouldn't have sold their souls to the Brits back in the 1990's.

I'm thinking he might have got it right but it's tough letting everybody else drill when they have been nothing but dicks and liars about cleaning up the Gulf. Again...we continue to bag on our President when BP is trying to screw him because he's cut them off.

It's to bad they don't try and appease him instead of ruin him. I'd say we should let Britain know the ought to leave Northern Ireland and then they can drill in the Gulf again. Well....maybe not....but that's politics. We have really sold our little guys interest in America by allowing Companies like BP to walk freely into our Country and take a dump on us.



Yeah it really sucks when foreign-owned companies come over here and hire hundreds upon thousands of Americans.

I hate it when they do that. :confused:

[KantoSooner]

US/UK relations ebb and flow. Reagan and Thatcher were exceptionally close, though Maggie seemed to think Ronald rather mentally challenged. Bush I had his personal history to fall back on. Clinton was a Euro-Poodle and was bound to appeal to Labor. Bush II? A bizarre love affair with Tony Blair that probably had more to do with Blair's penis envy and religious instability. Going back further, Wilson? MacMillan? Nixon? LBJ? None had particularly close relations with their 'cousins'. Hell, Eisenhower cut England and France off at the knees during the Suez crisis, resulting in the loss of the remnants of Empire East of the Med.
Obama? I think he falls pretty much in the middle of the pack as far as the Brits are concerned. There'll be a bit of residual racism, as there is here (and Prince Phillip is a screaming racist), but not to worry.
And, as to 'protocol'? **** it. IT IS NOT IMPORTANT NOW, NEVER HAS BEEN. He with the most divisions tends to set the table manners.

[NormanPride]

I just don't like the way he's handled it. I can understand not pandering to them, but at least don't be an ******* about it.

[KantoSooner]

Fair enough.

Though the Brits can be awfully condescending. Were I in his shoes, it would have taken about one 'boy' or the like from some toff and it'd be 'Welcome to Chicago'.

[TheHumanAlphabet]

Maybe, but he's not punishing BP, infact, BP is selling some of it's refineries in the states now.


The only way BP can distance itself from their poor management and safety record IS to sell the Texas City refinery. While they are at it, they should hand over the management of the Alaska pipeline. They have so mismanaged it, it is crumbling and leaking...

[Bourbon St Sooner]

I don't think Obama did anything to BP that they didn't do to themselves. It's not like he's excluded them from any future lease sales or told them they can't operate any more in the Gulf or nationalize the Alaskan Pipeline.

Now, what he did to businesses on the Gulf coast is another matter.

[sappstuf]

Maybe, but he's not punishing BP, infact, BP is selling some of it's refineries in the states now.

What he has done is punished a lot of the normal everyday people who had nothing at all to do with that accident but are paying the price for the drilling ban

Punishing? Hell, they stopped by BP and filled up the entourage yesterday.


President's men fill up 'The Beast' in surprise visit to BP garage (http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23953562-presidents-men-fill-up-the-beast-in-surprise-visit-to-bp-garage.do)

[StoopTroup]

Yeah it really sucks when foreign-owned companies come over here and hire hundreds upon thousands of Americans.

I hate it when they do that. :confused:

Were you one of them?

[StoopTroup]

Punishing? Hell, they stopped by BP and filled up the entourage yesterday.

So filling up a few cars is gonna help them along huh? LOL

[royalfan5]

The Founding Fathers thought the English could sod off as well.

[AlboSooner]

The POTUS' agenda should be only to advance and preserve this country. Just because we don't kiss up to England every time it doesn't mean the POTUS is anti-British. What a ridiculous charge: anti-British. As if Obama works against anything the UK does.

[C&CDean]

I just wished the bloody queen would have kicked him in his royal junk.

[StoopTroup]

I hope her ship sinks and Kate's 1st born looks like this....

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_x3QQjhCW-ds/SRgpozK545I/AAAAAAAAAW0/v5Mb0OE-jDg/s320/baby_obama.jpg

[hawaii 5-0]

England hates Obama so much they asked him to address the complete Parliament.

Previously only addressed by the Queen, the Pope, Nelson Mandela and Charles DeGaulle.

Yep, they really don't like the POTUS.


5-0



Trump/ Pufnstuf 2012

[picasso]

http://www.theblaze.com/stories/these-are-obamas-top-10-insults-against-britain/

[hawaii 5-0]

http://www.theblaze.com/stories/these-are-obamas-top-10-insults-against-britain/



That's some funny stuff there, especially the comments. I love it that Obama was called out for blaming BP for polluting our Gulf Coast.

For shame!!!


5-0


Trump/ Katie Perry's left boob 2012

[Peach Fuzz]

The only way BP can distance itself from their poor management and safety record IS to sell the Texas City refinery. While they are at it, they should hand over the management of the Alaska pipeline. They have so mismanaged it, it is crumbling and leaking...

Oh c'mon now, crumbling and leaking??? I really doubt they care that little for black gold that they would neglect such an important pipeline.

[KantoSooner]

BP is pretty well known among the oil majors for pushing safety and maintenance limits further than anyone else. One would hope they get nailed hard enough for the gulf fiasco that a little corp culture change takes place. It's pretty obvious that you can make plenty of money without taking the risks they do.

[TitoMorelli]

I really think the First Lady should have held off on getting a super-afro until after the trip to England:

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2011/05/26/article-1390986-0C44C00400000578-37_634x407.jpg

[The Profit]

I really think the First Lady should have held off on getting a super-afro until after the trip to England:

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2011/05/26/article-1390986-0C44C00400000578-37_634x407.jpg




That is funny. Hell, part of her hair ended up on the opposite side of the photo.

[Chuck Bao]

Okay, you guys calm down. This is the BBC's take on all this.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-13519456


US and UK's 'essential relationship': More than words?

Picture the scene. It's late at night. Two lovers meet. They have been through much together. She used to be the one around whom the world span but now she has mainly memories. He is now the one who turns heads and who everyone wants to be friends with.

She turns to him and asks pleadingly "Darling, do you still think I'm special?"

"Of course I do," he replies automatically, without warmth for the 100th time.

Then, smiling, he adds "Above all, my love, you are essential".

Few relationships have to withstand more scrutiny than that between Britain - the ageing dame on the world stage - and America - still its young, virile star.

What's more, this ancient relationship between two countries and two peoples is seen by many through the prism of the relationship between its two leaders.

That is why David Cameron and Barack Obama's choice of words to describe their relationship matters. By labelling it "essential" rather than "special" (they, incidentally, will insist that it can be and is both) they are signalling something important.

Both sides know that the British media - rather more than our leaders - will leap on any sign that their country no longer matters as much as it once did.

Both sides know that the Obama White House in its early days was totally insensitive to this. The removal of Churchill's bust from the Oval Office, the gift to Prime Minister Brown of a boxed set of DVDs available on any high street and what became known as "Gordon's kitchen nightmare" - the "brush past" meeting in the kitchen of the UN's HQ in New York - were all signs of that.

Lacking affection

Both sides know, however, that it simply would not be credible for Obama to suddenly declare his passion for Britain.

While one of his grandfathers relayed happy memories of the Brits after his time as a GI based in the New Forest, the other shared stories of having been imprisoned and abused by British forces in Kenya (as Ben McIntyre of The Times relates powerfully today).

Thus, David Cameron has persuaded his guest to adopt a phrase he first used in the White House last July. "The essential relationship" may lack emotion, warmth and nostalgia but it, like the president, is meant to be contemporary, practical and sincere.

“Closeness to an American president is a huge prize for any prime minister”

It is supposed to reflect our two countries' mutual dependence and the value to the wider world of British and American co-operation in Afghanistan, in the battle against al-Qaeda, in Libya and in encouraging the rise of democracy in the Arab world.

It is a reflection, too, of David Cameron's understanding that he has to show that Britain has something to offer her partner rather than being seen as needing constant reassurance that she still matters.

Closeness to an American president is a huge prize for any prime minister - not least when the man from the White House is as popular here as Barack Obama is.

That closeness does not depend on party politics. After all, JFK - a Democrat - became so close to Harold Macmillan - an old school Tory - that he referred to him affectionately as "Uncle Harold".

In their joint article the prime minister and the president speak of "coming of age" at the same time, of seeing "eye to eye", of a relationship between their two countries which is "a perfect alignment of what we both need and what we both believe".

It even, though not by name, compares their shared willingness to stand up for freedom with the bond between Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan during the Cold War.

The test of this visit and the months to come is whether these words turn out to be more than just the work of skilful writers, diplomats and spin doctors inside Number 10 and the White House.

[NormanPride]

Lip service, Chuck. You should know it when you see it.

[Chuck Bao]

Lip service, Chuck. You should know it when you see it.

Huh?

Do you dispute the fact that 10 Downing Street didn't suggest the "essential relationship" term used in the speech?

Do you dispute the fact that US President Obama remains very popular in the UK?

I know that that has got to hurt some of your feelers. But, that is the truth and not just "lip service".

I spoke with my British journalist friend and he is the one who sent me a link to that piece and said that it is far more accurate than that first article.

He even called the journalist who wrote the first piece a "right-wing moonbat". Either that is a British term or they are actually starting to pick up words from the colonists. ;)

[The Profit]

There is no doubt that President Obama is very popular with the British. They absolutely love both he and our first lady.

[KantoSooner]

But, but, but, but....

that would mean that he's not hated by everyone on the planet other than leftwingpinkolamestreammediamoveon.org

Could it be true?


I tell you one thing, I'm loving me some intellectual butt rape of Euro-weenies these days.
"What Gunther? You don't have Turks in your government? That wouldn't be due to being Ubermensch Teutonic **** Heads, would it?"
"Ooooo, Pierre, needn't fret the lack of diversity in your upper house. I'm sure you'll elect an Arab or two....in the next several hundred years."
"No need to explain Antonio, I know that the Sicilians are, well, how do you say? um...really just not as, um, well, Prime Ministerial as Silvio."

After years of putting up with their snide remarks all the while knowing how superficial european cultural tolerance is, I'm enjoying this. And I will continue giving them the red hot poker, sideways, for at least another year and a half.

It gives me goose bumps just thinking about it.

[NormanPride]

Huh?

Do you dispute the fact that 10 Downing Street didn't suggest the "essential relationship" term used in the speech?

Do you dispute the fact that US President Obama remains very popular in the UK?

I know that that has got to hurt some of your feelers. But, that is the truth and not just "lip service".

I spoke with my British journalist friend and he is the one who sent me a link to that piece and said that it is far more accurate than that first article.

He even called the journalist who wrote the first piece a "right-wing moonbat". Either that is a British term or they are actually starting to pick up words from the colonists. ;)
Excellent! This is the exact kind of post I was hoping would be made. A clear, concise rebuttal. Thanks, Chuck. I'm glad to hear his gaffes have not cost us points in the eyes of most people.

[AlboSooner]

sigh. it's just political theater people.

[hawaii 5-0]

BP is pretty well known among the oil majors for pushing safety and maintenance limits further than anyone else. One would hope they get nailed hard enough for the gulf fiasco that a little corp culture change takes place. It's pretty obvious that you can make plenty of money without taking the risks they do.



BP executives actually got fat bonuses because of their 'high safety standands'.




5-0



Trump/ Coulter 2012

[Chuck Bao]

Excellent! This is the exact kind of post I was hoping would be made. A clear, concise rebuttal. Thanks, Chuck. I'm glad to hear his gaffes have not cost us points in the eyes of most people.

Thanks NormanPride, but that was a very poor effort. I went back to read the 3 emails my British journalist friend sent me and there is no way that I could cut and paste the emails here. He managed to insult Americans in that uniquely British condescending way with a very slight turn of phrase, just enough to be insulting and just not enough to be outraged and call him on it. Those Brits are so infuriating, especially if you have to work with them.

That "special relationship" has been turned on its head and spun around several times. Does anyone else think that this is just a bit odd because no US president, regardless of "most powerful man in the world" moniker actually will change US policy much?

The G.W. Bush administration may have been popular with the UK government and senior bureaucrats, but President Bush was extremely unpopular with the public and a huge liability for the UK politicians.

Conversely, the Obama administration may not be trusted by the UK government and senior bureaucrats, but President Obama is wildly popular with the UK public. My know-it-all British friend mentioned, like the BBC article did, that UK Prime Minister Cameron will get a ratings boost by Obama's visit.

My British and other European friends have said many times in the past how much they admire and respect the American people for our generosity, steadfast and hard-working character but they couldn't understand how we could elect such bad governments. Now on the the flip side, they're saying that we have a good government and the American people attacking the Obama administration are the ones to have gone off the rails. I may have mentioned "moonbat" in the past and that was thrown right back at me.

I am not saying whether they are right or wrong and there is no need to argue with me about their perceptions. I will probably agree with you anyway.

Like AlboSooner said, it is all just political theater, something worthy of West End.

[Chuck Bao]

But, but, but, but....

that would mean that he's not hated by everyone on the planet other than leftwingpinkolamestreammediamoveon.org

Could it be true?


I tell you one thing, I'm loving me some intellectual butt rape of Euro-weenies these days.
"What Gunther? You don't have Turks in your government? That wouldn't be due to being Ubermensch Teutonic **** Heads, would it?"
"Ooooo, Pierre, needn't fret the lack of diversity in your upper house. I'm sure you'll elect an Arab or two....in the next several hundred years."
"No need to explain Antonio, I know that the Sicilians are, well, how do you say? um...really just not as, um, well, Prime Ministerial as Silvio."

After years of putting up with their snide remarks all the while knowing how superficial european cultural tolerance is, I'm enjoying this. And I will continue giving them the red hot poker, sideways, for at least another year and a half.

It gives me goose bumps just thinking about it.

I can't help but laugh with you, KantoSooner. Good grief, I really, really don't like Europeans.

[picasso]

There is no doubt that President Obama is very popular with the British. They absolutely love both he and our first lady.

No doubt! Profit just poled every lad in the heather.

[texaspokieokie]

I hope her ship sinks and Kate's 1st born looks like this....

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_x3QQjhCW-ds/SRgpozK545I/AAAAAAAAAW0/v5Mb0OE-jDg/s320/baby_obama.jpg

that'd be cruel & unusual.

[OutlandTrophy]

BP is pretty well known among the oil majors for pushing safety and maintenance limits further than anyone else. One would hope they get nailed hard enough for the gulf fiasco that a little corp culture change takes place. It's pretty obvious that you can make plenty of money without taking the risks they do.

really? who told you that?

I have first hand experience with their US Land safety program and you're as wrong as two boys f**king.

[BU BEAR]

The British are not really all that mad about Obama's posture toward them. They are just acting put out so that Obama will give them one of the new, high capacity iPods loaded with even more of his speeches.

[The Profit]

No doubt! Profit just poled every lad in the heather.




I have poled some Mexicans, Okies, yankees and Injuns, but I have never poled a Brit.

[KantoSooner]

really? who told you that?

I have first hand experience with their US Land safety program and you're as wrong as two boys f**king.

And I have first hand experience with their pipelines on the North Slope and worked with several refinery operators at another refinery who subsequently went to work at BP and told me that comparatively the safety and maint was beyond belief bad.

Shall we compare their record with that of other oil majors?

[OutlandTrophy]

And I have first hand experience with their pipelines on the North Slope and worked with several refinery operators at another refinery who subsequently went to work at BP and told me that comparatively the safety and maint was beyond belief bad.

Shall we compare their record with that of other oil majors?

it's not first hand if someone tells you what BP was or was not doing.

BP is the only operator that I know of that will not let roughnecks and service hands stay on location. They and Conoco were the first I know of to have mandatory tourly safety meetings. They've been doing this for years.

[Mjcpr]

it's not first hand if someone tells you what BP was or was not doing.

BP is the only operator that I know of that will not let roughnecks and service hands stay on location. They and Conoco were the first I know of to have mandatory tourly safety meetings. They've been doing this for years.

I don't think tourly is even a word so that discounts their credibility in the whole thing.

[OutlandTrophy]

:les: IS SO!!!

[Mongo]

:les: IS SO!!!

I concur

BP runs one of the tightest ships

[BU BEAR]

Let's get this back on track. Is England just posturing for a sweet iPod loaded with the TOTUS' speeches or is Obama really wrecking the relationship between our two countries?

[StoopTroup]

Isn't England mostly Black now?

[MR2-Sooner86]

There is no doubt that President Obama is very popular with the British. They absolutely love both he and our first lady.

Which is why they were one of the first ones invited to the royal wedding.

[StoopTroup]

Which is why they were one of the first ones invited to the royal wedding.

You obviously no nothing of British protocol.

[TitoMorelli]

This thread is worthless without photos of Pippa.

[MR2-Sooner86]

This thread is worthless without photos of Pippa.

http://www.technogypsie.com/photogallery/2010/may/051310/pippylongstocking.jpg

[TitoMorelli]

#($&%(*# @MR2!:mad: :mad: :mad:

[soonercruiser]

They are smart people.

For fondling over themselves???
:D

[The Profit]

For fondling over themselves???
:D



Please don't be silly

[soonercruiser]

US/UK relations ebb and flow. Reagan and Thatcher were exceptionally close, though Maggie seemed to think Ronald rather mentally challenged. Bush I had his personal history to fall back on. Clinton was a Euro-Poodle and was bound to appeal to Labor. Bush II? A bizarre love affair with Tony Blair that probably had more to do with Blair's penis envy and religious instability. Going back further, Wilson? MacMillan? Nixon? LBJ? None had particularly close relations with their 'cousins'. Hell, Eisenhower cut England and France off at the knees during the Suez crisis, resulting in the loss of the remnants of Empire East of the Med.
Obama? I think he falls pretty much in the middle of the pack as far as the Brits are concerned. There'll be a bit of residual racism, as there is here (and Prince Phillip is a screaming racist), but not to worry.
And, as to 'protocol'? **** it. IT IS NOT IMPORTANT NOW, NEVER HAS BEEN. He with the most divisions tends to set the table manners.

How about an analysis that doesn't include genitalia comparisons?
The Left had field days with Bush II's follies.
But, it is simply sacrilege to poke fun at Obama dumb moves!
And, it is tiring, as there are sooooo many! :rolleyes:
Bull sh**!

[soonercruiser]

No doubt! Profit just poled every lad in the heather.

You dare question the all-knowing and all-seeing Profit???
"The End is near"! :D

[Chuck Bao]

How about an analysis that doesn't include genitalia comparisons?
The Left had field days with Bush II's follies.
But, it is simply sacrilege to poke fun at Obama dumb moves!
And, it is tiring, as there are sooooo many! :rolleyes:
Bull sh**!

Dear sir, you are so sadly mistaken. They are almost as comparable as a tropical storm is to a category 5 hurricane.