President Obama and Angela Merkel - Charming

[bigtree]

[NYC_SKP]

1. ~Contrast~

[KansDem]

16. Was this ever explained?

W looks like he's not in complete control of his faculties...

But was there ever an explanation offered as to why he did this?

[Politicalboi]

2. I wonder if she misses

The massages.

[cindyperry2010]

5. I am just guessing mind you

but I would bet that is a no

[ellenfl]

3. omg, the admiration in the last pic. looks like she has a crush on him! far cry from fratboy. eom

[bigtree]

6. he totally charmed her

I've never seen her smile like that.

[thelordofhell]

4. She happily responds to a real statesman

As opposed to the drunken frat boy that was holding office before

[Arctic Dave]

7. Merkel is a rightwinger, why should we care if Obama wants to be BFFs with her?

Once again he is too accomodating to people he should be helping to get rid of.

[ellenfl]

8. because he's a statesman and she's the leader of an allied country. you don't bring

people to your point of view by alienating them.

ellen fl

[Arctic Dave]

9. I don't think you understand my post.

Statesman or not, why should we care that he is schmoozing a winger. That would be like posting pictures of him and bush chumming it up over beers.

[bigtree]

10. what a limited view you have

Did you forget the Euro crisis and Germany's role in all of that? Is there some way that you know of to bypass Germany in those negotiations that concern the other countries affected? I think it's a coup to have the President developing a good working relationship with these foreign leaders. It's more than misleading to suggest that a close relationship is some sort of collusion. It's our president's job to develop these relationships and to further our country's interests in the process. We're not isolationists.

[Arctic Dave]

11. I would much rather a democratic president

foster relations with like minded politicians. I take it you will be overjoyed by the photoshoot of him and bush later.

Please PM me your response of how great it is of him to chum around with bush the idiot, I would like to save it for posterity.

[bigtree]

12. what an idiotic statement about Bush. Such a simple-minded view of world affairs

Last time I checked, Germany was an ally of ours. Apparently, you would forgo relations with our ally until they elected someone you agree with? US is one of Germany's greatest trading partners, and the US needs Germany because of the nation's strong ties with Eastern Europe.

Forget it, though. You're determined to play like you're some sort of superior being -- and clairvoyant, no less. You're neither . . .

[Arctic Dave]

13. But yet we snub and bomb other countries because of their leaders.

When will see Obama have a Hugo Chavez over for a stroll and a giddy little chat? We, after all, are trading partners.

[bigtree]

14. we're talking about Germany

. . . at least, I am. Here you are, kicking around your strawmen . . . how about something remotely cogent about our governmental relationship with our ally and trading partner's economic policies and how they relate to our own country's economic ambitions and challenges?

Never mind. you've gone from simplistic and accusatory to the tangential and unrelated.

[Arctic Dave]

18. Simply following your chain of logic.

I take it some elected leaders are better then others. Got it.

I wonder if an outside observer would view it as a bit of a rascist policy?

[bigtree]

19. with the major nations which are our allies, our relationships are based on our national interests

. . . more than they rest with the leaderships of the governments.

You just get more ridiculous. I started to make an informed reply and, on re-reading your response, I realized that you've just gotten more ridiculous. Racist? What planet are you speaking from?

[midnight]

15. Yes.. I wonder why we can show statesmanship to Germany, but feel the need to have troops on the

ground in Afganistan....

[bigtree]

17. France and Germany both went into Afghanistan together (committed troops)

With a contingent of 5350 soldiers and policemen, Germany is one of the main contributors of troops to coalition operations in Afghanistan . . .

Both countries, conversely, were strong opponents of the Iraq invasion and occupation.