Horserace
July 18, 2008 10:07 AM

Starting Gate: Going Global

As Barack Obama prepares for his upcoming trips to Iraq and Afghanistan and a jaunt through the power centers of Europe, the expectations seem to be growing -- not so much for any great policy development but for the spectacle itself.

The potential benefits and risks are obvious. Obama has the chance to shore up his foreign policy credentials in a setting befitting a presidential visit. The images and opportunities for Obama to appear statesmanlike should only enhance his stature to the voters back home. Of course, the spotlight means that any missteps or flubs are likely to be greatly enhanced as well.

As carefully as the trip appears to have been planned, the chances of a major mistake should be at a minimum. But there’s something about Obama taking off a good chunk of time in the middle of a presidential campaign that points to bigger concerns for Obama. The fact that the campaign appears to feel the need to bolster his foreign policy credentials with the trip highlights just how little time has been in the arena.

In 2000, George W. Bush appeared almost uninterested in foreign affairs at times. In a famous interview in New Hampshire, Bush was asked to name the leaders of several foreign countries and was unable to. Although it was a “gotcha” question from a local journalist, the episode combined with his stated desire to stay out of the business of foreign entanglements to portray a candidate who had little experience in global affairs.

Of course, the events that have happened in the interim have made foreign policy an essential for a presidential candidate, and Obama’s is limited. That’s one reason for taking this trip before the election. As John McCain and his campaign have pointed out this week, Obama’s policy approach seems to be set already, especially when it comes to the war in Iraq. Nothing that happens on this trip seems likely to change any of that.

McCain, and Hillary Clinton before him, have argued that Obama’s inexperience raises serious questions about his ability to handle a complicated and dangerous world. The Democrat is taking precious time out of his campaign to try and inoculate himself against those concerns. And his counter-argument that the type of experience Clinton and McCain boast hasn’t been effective has so far carried the day among voters. Still, the stakes are significant for this trip if he wants to take the next step towards becoming the odds-on front-runner in this race.


Around The Track

  • Bill Clinton signaled that the chill of the primary season is beginning to thaw when he told reporters yesterday that he has spoken with Obama and is ready to hit the campaign trail on his behalf. “I told him that whenever he wanted me to do it, I was ready, and so it's basically on their timetable,” Clinton said. After the trouble the former president found himself in during the primary season, the bigger question might be whether the Obama campaign wants him to.

  • McCain is back in Michigan today to talk about the economy after raising an reported $1.4 million in a fundraiser in the state last night.

  • A federal judge ruled that Libertarian candidate Bob Barr should be allowed on the Ohio ballot this November after the party sued the sued the state for requirements that would have kept the former GOP congressman off, the AP reports. The ruling is under review and could be appealed but if Barr gets on the ballot in state like Ohio, it could damage McCain’s campaign by siphoning away conservatives.
  • Tags:
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    Starting Gate
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    by peterp111 July 18, 2008 11:29 AM PDT
    What Obama does not seem to understand is that the Brandenburg Gate is something you earn. President Reagan earned the right to speak there because his relentless pressure had brought the Soviet empire to its knees and he was demanding its final "tear down this wall" liquidation.

    Who is Obama representing? And what exactly has he done in his lifetime to merit appropriating the Brandenburg Gate as a campaign prop? What was his role in the fight against communism, the liberation of Eastern Europe, the creation of what George Bush 41 -- who presided over the fall of the Berlin Wall but modestly declined to go there for a victory lap -- called "a Europe whole and free"?

    There''s nothing new about narcissism in politics. Every senator looks in the mirror and sees a president. Nonetheless, has there ever been a presidential nominee with a wider gap between his estimation of himself and the sum total of his lifetime achievements?


    Obama is a three-year senator without a single important legislative achievement to his name, a former Illinois state senator who voted "present" nearly 130 times. As president of the Harvard Law Review, as law professor and as legislator, has he ever produced a single notable piece of scholarship? Written a single memorable article? His most memorable work is a biography of his favorite subject: himself.

    For the first few months of the campaign, the question about Obama was: Who is he? The question now is: Who does he think he is?
    Reply to this comment
    by mattcat25 July 18, 2008 11:44 AM PDT
    Use it, or lose it. The US House of Representatives are considering legislation that would force Multinational Oil Corporations holding back on oil production in places like Alaska to commence operations or lose leases that would then go back to bid. It%u2019s supply and demand, if oil companies are willingly holding back on drilling to force the price of crude oil higher and, to duress the American People into releasing further restricted areas (like %u201Canwar-anwar%u201D) and off shore. These companies should face the loss of their drilling rights.

    Of course the Republican Party that is behind the proliferation of higher fuel prices (to you and I) are against this new legislation and President Bush has already threatened to wave his magic veto wand against the American People.
    Reply to this comment
    by ragnar30066 July 18, 2008 12:53 PM PDT
    I think this is Obama''s first move toward running for Secretary General of the United Nations, after he is elected President.

    But what can he run for, once he is elected president of the world?
    Reply to this comment
    by ariel133 July 18, 2008 1:49 PM PDT
    Well, Obama won''t be speaking at the Brandenburg Gate afterall. One step closer to the end for this fella who thinks he is entitled to something he didn''t earn. This is how Clinton lost. It is a sure thing Obama will too.
    Reply to this comment
    by rowdywicca2 July 18, 2008 2:53 PM PDT
    Bob Barr will take some votes away from mccain!! ha ha ha!!
    Reply to this comment
    by vastr-wcon July 18, 2008 3:01 PM PDT
    .
    Talk of this "tough" trip only illustrates that if one sets the bar low enough, even a Kerry-like shallow, arrogant, platitude-spouting, inexperienced, elitist, narcissistic, flip-flopping gas-bag, who is so mentally deficient from extensive drug use he even has to plagiarize his hollow platitudes, can pass it.

    Sorry, hussein sycophants of the MSM - but everybody can see right through this phony challenge.

    /
    Reply to this comment
    by andor3 July 18, 2008 3:09 PM PDT
    "... Reagan earned the right to speak there because his relentless pressure had brought the Soviet empire to its knees..."

    you are kidding... there are people who continue to believe this. Reagan has no legacy ion the fall of the USSR, just a lot of damage to the USA from his ignorance and bad leadership. We are now seeing why Reagan/Bush?bush is the worst set of leaders in US history, and their legacy must be relentlessly undone to save the country.
    Reply to this comment
    by gangesdak July 18, 2008 3:15 PM PDT
    It was only during Reagan''s presidency I found that one liners became so popular that no one had any interest in well thought out discussion; America degraded itself to mediocrity from Reagan''s time. I do not understand why some people still insist calling him a great president.
    Reply to this comment
    by Torilin July 18, 2008 3:17 PM PDT
    bush is the worst set of leaders in US history, and their legacy must be relentlessly undone to save the country.


    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Posted by andor3
    I have to disagree partilly. Bush Sr. did a pretty good job. Bush Jr. just plain SUX!!
    Reply to this comment
    by mbcsmith July 18, 2008 3:21 PM PDT
    Use it, or lose it. The US House of Representatives are considering legislation that would force Multinational Oil Corporations holding back on oil production in places like Alaska to commence operations or lose leases that would then go back to bid. It%u2019s supply and demand, if oil companies are willingly holding back on drilling to force the price of crude oil higher and, to duress the American People into releasing further restricted areas (like %u201Canwar-anwar%u201D) and off shore. These companies should face the loss of their drilling rights.
    Posted by Mattcat25 at 11:44 AM : Jul 18, 2008



    Spouting that lame A$$ excuse used by harry "I surrender" Reid makes you look as stupid as him. Can they driil and extract under these leases? No, I didn''t think so.
    Reply to this comment
    by mbcsmith July 18, 2008 3:23 PM PDT
    Obama is going back home to the land of muslims. Hope he receives the traditional welcome of women in Burkhas and celebratory rifle fire.
    Reply to this comment
    by fstop100 July 18, 2008 3:27 PM PDT
    When he gets to the middle east he should just put on his turbine and stay there. Someone tell him he isn''t welcome in the US of A.
    no habla espanol!!!
    Reply to this comment
    by realpatriot1 July 18, 2008 3:40 PM PDT
    mbcsmith,

    If you''re going to call other people stupid you should take pains to make sure you don''t show your own ignorance in the rocess. Of course they can drill and extract under the terms of the lease-that''s what the leases are for!

    The oil companies are sitting on huge reserves while they play politics with the issue.

    The fact is that even if they extracted the oil from the reserves they already control as quickly as possible and drilled offshore and all the other damaging things they want to do environmentally the price of gas would only go down less than a dime a gallon.

    Of course, if the oil companies can con the public into giving away more drilling rights on public land without the companies having to pay royalties and without having to protect the environment they''ll take it.
    Reply to this comment
    by whitemale08 July 18, 2008 3:43 PM PDT
    I love how hate radio personalities like Sean Hannity are so jealous of Mr. Cool Barack Obama...lol.

    Girls all around the world (lil Wayne song) are going to be swooning over this dude cause he''s got the TOP JOB.

    Say hello to Mr. President Barack Obama!
    Reply to this comment
    by ajaxtheleast July 18, 2008 3:53 PM PDT
    Afraid of Obama?

    The ladies notice that.
    Reply to this comment
    by aldon61 July 18, 2008 4:13 PM PDT
    Bob Barr will take some votes away from mccain!! ha ha ha!!


    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Posted by RowdyWicca2 at 02:53 PM : Jul 18, 2008

    Rowdy, Bob Barr may well cost McCain the state of Georgia in the general. If that happens, McCain better have one he can steal from the blue states.
    Reply to this comment
    by nanc12 July 18, 2008 4:14 PM PDT
    It is a sure thing Obama will too.
    Posted by Ariel133

    If it was a ''sure thing'' you wouldn''t be on here night and day trying to convince people to vote for McCain, lol.
    Reply to this comment
    by sistatee-2009 July 18, 2008 4:16 PM PDT
    Perhaps Mrs. Obama should be left behind, so that her thoughtless utterances do not embarrass Barack on a world stage.
    Reply to this comment
    by ariel133 July 18, 2008 4:27 PM PDT
    "McCain, and Hillary Clinton before him, have argued that Obama%u2019s inexperience raises serious questions about his ability to handle a complicated and dangerous world. The Democrat is taking precious time out of his campaign to try and inoculate himself against those concerns. "

    YES, BARACK, GOOD LUCK WITH GAINING ANYTHING SIGNIFICANT, ALTHOUGH A LITTLE HISTORY LESSON MIGHT ENSURE THAT YOU CAN SPEAK ON YOUR OWN. PLUS, IF YOU FLUB, YOU''RE DONE. FEEL THE PRESSURE YET?
    Reply to this comment
    by ariel133 July 18, 2008 4:29 PM PDT
    Nanc12- LIKE CANDIDATES RUNNING A RACE- SUPPORTERS OF MCCAIN NEED TO GET HIS MESSASGE OUT TOO- YOU AND OTHERS JUST DON''T WANT TO HEAR ABOUT THE BETTER CHOICE- BUT YOU WILL SEE ME HERE DAY AND NIGHT- LOL
    Reply to this comment
    by oneamerican- July 18, 2008 5:02 PM PDT
    Vote for Barack Obama, the European''s Choice candidate!

    Yawn.

    Reply to this comment
    by samthetvcat July 18, 2008 5:03 PM PDT
    ---"Bill Clinton signaled that the chill of the primary season is beginning to thaw when he told reporters yesterday that he has spoken with Obama and is ready to hit the campaign trail on his behalf."---

    I think he means it too . . . only nobody flips that fast unless it''s in their best interest to be the wolf in sheep''s clothing, don''t you think?

    Meaning is Bill Clinton suddenly so enthusiastic because he thinks there''s a strong chance Barack''ll lose and he needs to be seen as not playing any part whatsoever in his downfall?

    The Clintons clearly think because Hillary got 18million votes that she''d actually ever have a shot at winning, when in fact the true message of Barack getting 18million+1 was to show that the country can''t stand them and want to move on.

    I suppose the bright side of having to put up with more Clinton shenanigans in 2012 would be that bizarre carnival sideshow type entertainment of seeing Bubba exploding at reporters as they''re being served strings of humiliating defeats, and of Hillary being pulled off stage kicking and screaming that she''s not finished yet as she futilely pours more of their millions down the drain. Yikes . . .
    Reply to this comment
    by jazz_jeff2 July 18, 2008 5:17 PM PDT
    Well Ireland supports Obama.
    All the best to him.

    Defeat Bush''s latest prodigy.
    Reply to this comment
    by randynason July 18, 2008 5:20 PM PDT
    Obama prepares to take his campaign global, to meet with our European allies. McCain prepares to take his campaign to the Town Hall to meet with the geriatric crowd. McCain says that it will be the race of the century... straight to the bathroom... after taking his ex-lax.
    Reply to this comment
    by mattcat25 July 18, 2008 5:21 PM PDT
    The World hates George Bush...
    Reply to this comment
    by jgg000 July 18, 2008 5:27 PM PDT
    Personally, I don''t give a hoot about what the rest of the world thinks about Bush
    Reply to this comment
    by pvperson July 18, 2008 5:39 PM PDT
    "Personally, I don''''t give a hoot about what the rest of the world thinks about Bush"

    and that kind of reasoning is why we''re at war in two countries, probably soon to be three.
    Reply to this comment
    by hungry1968 July 18, 2008 5:41 PM PDT
    Personally, I don''''t give a hoot about what the rest of the world thinks about Bush

    Posted by jgg000 at 05:27 PM : Jul 18, 2008





    What a coincidence - you don''t think he''s done anything wrong either, and think McCain will make a PERFECT successor for him.

    That shows EXACTLY where your intelligence lies.
    Reply to this comment
    by cbs4me3 July 18, 2008 5:42 PM PDT
    Less than 4 months until the election and Obama decides to try to get some foreign policy/natinal security experience and to try to show some semblance of a commander. Equally bad, he has 300 foreign policy advisers. No two of these advisers can agree on anything; no wonder he flip flops. America does have John McCain who has this experience and possesses the ability to be commander in chief.
    Reply to this comment
    by jw218389 July 18, 2008 5:42 PM PDT
    BUSH McCAIN IS MORE OF THE SAME!! (TM)
    Reply to this comment
    by hungry1968 July 18, 2008 5:43 PM PDT
    Vote for Barack Obama, the European''''s Choice candidate!

    Yawn.


    Posted by OneAmerican- at 05:02 PM : Jul 18, 2008





    Vote for John McCain so he can finish the economic destruction of our country, keep us mired in iraq forever, and attack Iran which will cause a war our broken military won''t be able to withstand.
    Reply to this comment
    by medmom04 July 18, 2008 5:44 PM PDT
    America does have John McCain who has this experience and possesses the ability to be commander in chief.
    ******I would have hoped by now, that McCain''s oh-so-valuable foreign policy experience might have led him, through intelligence and experience, to show better judgment than to take on bush''s poorly advised policies.
    Reply to this comment
    by jgg000 July 18, 2008 5:45 PM PDT
    name any world leader who cares what we think about him. When you try to please everybody, you end up pleasing nobody.
    Reply to this comment
    by medmom04 July 18, 2008 5:48 PM PDT
    In 2000, George W. Bush appeared almost uninterested in foreign affairs at times. In a famous interview in New Hampshire, Bush was asked to name the leaders of several foreign countries and was unable to.

    ************+
    ahhhh that''s our Prez!!!!
    Reply to this comment
    by jgg000 July 18, 2008 5:49 PM PDT
    That shows EXACTLY where your intelligence lies.

    Posted by hungry1968 at 05:41 PM : Jul 18, 2008

    Aren''t you the one who said Iran isn''t a threat to the world?
    Reply to this comment
    by medmom04 July 18, 2008 5:53 PM PDT
    I''m not so thrilled with the need to take this trip now. bad timing. the way things have gone the last eight years is troubling, regardless of partisanship. why europe? i see a desperate need for ALL of our senators, esp those who voted for the Iraqi war, to get their plush behinds over there, see what we''ve done to the infrastructure, to the family structure, to everything that needs to be rebuilt and secured, and not just because of the *** for tat tossing between these two annoying candidates.
    Reply to this comment
    by medmom04 July 18, 2008 5:55 PM PDT
    lessor of two narcissistic upper class political evils.... i can''t be convinced that mccain''s experience means much, when his experience has not convinced him that following Bush''s policies like a blind sheep are not what is best for our country....
    Reply to this comment
    by noprejudice July 18, 2008 6:08 PM PDT
    are you convinced that either of these two will do better than bush? i realize it LOOKS like it''s all uphill from here, however, I would prefer someone articulate enough to use communicate and common sense in our foreign policy practices, and in alot of cases I would say a woman would do the better job. unfortunately, the one woman we had hopes for was just as bully-esque sounding as bush and mccain are.
    Reply to this comment
    by jgg000 July 18, 2008 6:12 PM PDT
    I agree. It''s like a choice between a headache and a stomach ache. For me, it''s who do I trust more.
    Reply to this comment
    by noprejudice July 18, 2008 6:29 PM PDT
    i used to aim for the house/senate as a security blanket for whatever nut we vote into the highest office. i had such high hopes for more balance in nov. ''06''s votes, and yet nothing changed. so i''ve lost that confidence. i trust neither of these men, and i am skeptical that either of them could show me they are smart enough to take care of America the way she deserves to be nurtured.
    Reply to this comment
    by jarisha July 18, 2008 6:32 PM PDT
    This is the perfect time for this trip. Nothing much is happening right now in the campaign; most people won''t start really noticing until October.
    Obama is, as usual, being his usual brilliant self. By making headlines in Europe that McCain can''t, he can begin to make a case that he can talk one-to-one with all the world''s leaders. Watch how they handle it: there will be tons of pictures of Obama laughing it up, but there will be just as many serious posses, showing his gravitas and depth.
    Obama does not need "300 advisors" for foreign affairs. He graduated from Columbia University in New York City, where he majored in political science with a specialization in international relations.
    That was before going on to Harvard in late 1988 where he was selected as an editor of the law review based on his grades and a writing competition. In his second year he was elected president of the law review, a full-time volunteer position functioning as editor-in-chief and supervising the law review''s staff of 80 editors. Obama was elected in 1990 to be the first black president of the Harvard Law Review. He graduated with a J.D. magna *** laude from Harvard in 1991.

    Can McCain come anywhere near this man''s abilities? We''ve had a dumb president for 8 years. Let''s try a smart one!
    Reply to this comment
    by noprejudice July 18, 2008 6:53 PM PDT
    a smart prez.... yea that''s my dream too.
    Reply to this comment
    by chika6 July 18, 2008 7:58 PM PDT
    Pls USA if you dont want OBAMA send him to us in Britain, we are dying to have this intelligent, eloquent and charming man rule us. Pls NEVER send McCain, Britain is full of people like him hence we are where we are.
    Reply to this comment
    by fstop100 July 18, 2008 8:10 PM PDT
    lets replace the All American hot dog with a taco as America''s food...


    no habla espanol
    Reply to this comment
    by joe1022joe July 18, 2008 9:42 PM PDT
    Can you imagine the sneers of foreign leaders behind Obama''s back?
    Reply to this comment
    by jgunther7 July 18, 2008 10:17 PM PDT
    Hey joe1022joe, your completely off the mark. While some of the old entrenched politicians are suspicious of those who come from outside the establishment, the great majority of Europe and the rest of the World eagerly await Obama as the new president. I am a US citizen writing this from Europe.
    Reply to this comment
    by sean5002 July 18, 2008 10:19 PM PDT
    ************

    Can you imagine the sneers of foreign leaders behind Obama''''s back?


    Posted by joe1022joe at 09:42 PM : Jul 18, 2008


    ___________________________________

    In your DREAMS , They are actually praying he does get into the Oval office,

    Finally some stability, those SNEERS I think you hear is for the current JOKER in the Whitehouse. Dont get it twisted.


    Reply to this comment
    by jgunther7 July 18, 2008 10:36 PM PDT
    World leaders look forward to a US President who can make an intelligent statement, and come up with cohesive policies. The world is sick of George Bush who is a moron and his going around the world killing millions of people and stealing oil. They fear McCain would be the same and Hillary is just a greedy politician. The whole world is looking forward to Obama as president of the US.
    Reply to this comment
    by wfbinnc July 18, 2008 10:50 PM PDT
    ABC, NBC & CBS all claim to provide NEWS coverage to the American public and to adhere to journalistic standards. Yet here they are shamelessly building up this trip and pumping up interest for Obama while at the same time ignoring John McCain. McCain has traveled overseas several times in the past 18 months or so. Where was the coverage for him? Maybe 10 seconds on the evening news? Where was the hype and analysis / quotes for McCain''s last trip to Iraq? All three networks are sending their network anchors with Obama. Which of them sent their top people with McCain? This is complete and total proof of massive and overt bias by all three networks towards Obama and against McCain. The really sad thing is this is nothing new, and these people still will claim to be unbiased, fair, and impartial JOURNALISTS! Shame on them.
    Reply to this comment
    by jgunther7 July 18, 2008 11:01 PM PDT
    For the most part, the media acts without bias or principal, they go with whatever storyline will sell. In the case of John McCain, he never says anything new or profound. He tends to talk in sound bites that just repeat the Republican Party line. When they try and interview him it is all much the same, just repeating the same old line. There is no intellect there to engage in intelligent conversation. Obama has to worry that it is not too late for the Republicans to replace him with a high calibre candidate.
    Reply to this comment
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