"Hugo Chávez becomes the latest leader to fall under Barack Obama's spell"

[ClarkUSA]

"We shook hands like gentlemen; it was obvious it was going to happen," Chávez told reporters later. "President Obama is an intelligent man, different from the previous one."

Obama received a rousing welcome from his fellow leaders as he told them he wanted an equal partnership with no senior partner and no junior partner... What is striking... is the amount of goodwill that Obama has generated wherever he goes, from US troops in Baghdad, crowds in Istanbul and now fellow leaders in Latin America.

Even Daniel Ortega, the Nicaraguan leader who was a thorn in the side of Ronald Reagan, introduced himself to Obama... With shrewd timing, on the eve of the summit in Trinidad, Obama came up with concrete action on Cuba, relaxing travel restrictions for 1.6 million Cuban-Americans... Raul Castro, the Cuban leader, has responded with an olive branch of his own, saying Cuba is willing to discuss "everything" including human rights.

Bush was an easy hate figure for many around the world... The same approach could be equally used by the likes of Mahmoud Ahmedinejad of Iran to mobilise their own populaces and distract them from domestic concerns such as high unemployment.... with the highly popular Obama in the White House, such tactics simply do not wash.

The most telling indication so far of Obama's political effectiveness in diplomatic terms is that he is forcing others to play on his terms. Just like a superior tennis player, he is dictating play. He is moving his opponents around the court, not the other way round.... Ahmadinejad has had to change his tune. With presidential elections coming up, the Iranian president is under fire for sticking to a hard line that helps perpetuate Iran's pariah status.

Last week, he sounded more concilatiory than usual, saying Iran would have a new package of proposals on the nuclear issue... the US is not simply proferring olive branches. The Obama administration is signalling its willingness to drop its precondition that Iran stop uranium enrichment before direct talks with the US... for the time being, Obama is being given the benefit of the doubt by many leaders - carping from Nicolas Sarkozy aside... Even Chávez, so long a darling among fellow Latin American leaders, knows he can only play second fiddle to Obama.

Meanwhile, on CNN's "State of the Union with John King" all the pundits (David Gergen, Cheney biographer Stephen Hayes, and
Gloria Borger) have decided that Pres. Obama "went too far" because he "smiled too widely" at Hugo Chavez. Wingnut apologist
Hayes wonders whether Americans will worry whether Pres. Obama is "tough enough" because of his "handshake with Chavez."

Oy! :eyes:

[MADem]

1. Muahahahahahahahahaha!!! It's all part of his EVIL plan to TAKE OVER THE WORLD!!!!

Muahahahahahahahaha!!!!!!!

Muahahahahahahahaha!!!!!!!

Muahahahahahahahaha!!!!!!!

Muahahahahahahahaha!!!!!!!

Muahahahahahahahaha!!!!!!!

:rofl:

[ClarkUSA]

2. rofl!

:thumbsup:

[indimuse]

5. ...

:rofl:..

[Cali_Democrat]

25. HAHAHAHAHA

:thumbsup:

[firedupdem]

3. I saw that on CNN. They really acted as if the president went over

there and tap danced for those leaders. It was ridiculous. He smiled too much, he was too touchy. I can't believe these people are paid for their analysis. I guess we should start bombing those places and spreading our freedoms. :eyes:

[ClarkUSA]

6. It was like watching Faux News. I don't recall CNN ever criticizing Bush's overseas behavior.

John King is a Reagan Republican whose coverage always slants to the right.

[Pirate Smile]

4. They wanted him to act in a way completely counter to his nature - not going to happen.

Gergen - the smile was "too wide" - oh, give me a break.

[ClarkUSA]

7. Now John King asks the panel:" "Should he have been smiling?"

:banghead:

[KittyWampus]

11. clearly Obama should not have been smiling. He should have given Chavez a neckrub

[ClarkUSA]

12. lol!

;)

[Cha]

16. No, he should look as sick

as john fuckin' king(cheney softballer).

[ClarkUSA]

17. John King's obvious bias is so damned obvious he might as well be hosting on Faux.

He was the same way during the general election. I hope his show tanks. Anyone who gets the first post-inaugural
interview with Cheney must be a major Republican ass-kisser behind the scenes. Brit Hume can retire in peace now.

[Cha]

18. Yeah, john king is warped..he doesn't

even know we know that his getting the cheney interview brands him as a gopervert.

Contact John King http://www.cnn.com/feedback/forms/form4.html?130

[ClarkUSA]

19. Thanks for his email addy. I told him to stop looking at Faux News for inspiration.

I also asked him whether he was trying out for Brit Hume's place. ;)

[Cha]

20. Good..we need to let him and whomever

else know that they're not getting away with all that mediawhore Crap.

[DutchLiberal]

24. No, John, he should have given Chavez the finger.

Okay? Are you happy now, John?

Can we get some *real* news reporting now? Please?

Someone?

[cbc5g]

8. This is why I love Obama...diplomat in chief

Great charisma and intelligence.

[ClarkUSA]

13. He's answering the wingnuts' "tough enough?" charge now at his press conference.

"We went through this during the campaign season... as if courtesy is somehow a sign of weakness. It doesn't make sense..."

[Kdillard]

9. It was ridiculous the "analysis" from CNN and MSNBC.

I love the point made in this article about Ahmadinejad I honestly believe the end result will be more productive relationships and more allies than we have had in years. No we won't agree with everything but we can make progress.

[ClarkUSA]

10. I had to turn from CNN to MSNBC and am waiting for his live press conference now.

Don't tell me MSNBC had some of this nonsense on (lemme guess, from Pat Buchanan or the MTP stooges, right?). Right now,
the dialogue about Pres. Obama is better than the drivel that John King and his know-nothing panel is spouting. Julie Mason
and John Yang aren't wingnut apologists at all. Oh... spoke too soon... wingnut blogger is on now. Oy!

I love the point made in this article about Ahmadinejad I honestly believe the end result will be more productive relationships
and more allies than we had had in years. No we won't agree with everything but we can make progress.

Absolutely. This is the CHANGE we voted for and this is the HOPE the world believes in. :D

[vaberella]

14. yeah...didn't Freepers say that O is able to hypnotise people?!

Presidents and Kings too..not just the little people.

[ClarkUSA]

15. I forgot about that one. Wow, I guess they were right!

;)

[mzmolly]

21. Oh no. NOT the wide smile!?

:eyes: Then again, if I had sliver lips like John King, I might be envious of those who could actually smile as well? ;)

[ClarkUSA]

23. Yes, the wide smile. Can you believe this shit was bandied about for an HOUR?

You're onto something: John King, David Gergen, Gloria Borger and Stephen Hayes all have must have smile-envy. ;)

[Dumak]

22. I guess John King grew up with grim-faced parents.

I tried to find a picture with John King smiling, but was unsuccessful.
He probably never apologizes for anything either,lest that imply guilt!
He doesn't recognize his own neurosis.

Sorry John, Barack grew up in an environment where smiling is okay and automatic and doesn't have sinister implications.