(Untitled)

[yanatonage]

I'm inclined to agree with the critics who say that Barack Obama's trip to Europe is unhelpful and even alienating to middle america: all I was thinking was, dude, I can't afford a trip to Europe, so stop shoving it in my face!

Comments

[bing_crosby]

totally. NY Times this morning: "Obama, Vague on Issues, Pleases Crowd in Europe." Aw, isn't that cute. Stephen COlbert did a funny European Backpacking kind of joke earlier this week.

[silenceinspades]

i thought europe went out of business years ago. it's good to hear it's still open.

i can't afford plane tickets either. thankfully, that just means we'll be american forever.

[yanatonage]

or until my "american forever" tattoo runs off

[fflaneur]

Well, whoever follows the guy who picked on France and Germany for not believing that Iraq has nuclear weapons has some handshaking to do.

[yanatonage]

we just need someone official to smile bashfully and shrug their shoulders, that's all

[adrastea_star]

I don't know if it's alienating to middle america (I don't think this trip came as a surprise to anybody), but from the media coverage this week, it seemed a little forced. visit a bunch of foreign countries just to say you have, but skip visiting the troops when you're in the middle east? Hopscotch around the continent like a sugar-filled third grade girl but don't spend a meaningful amount of time in any one place? How does that polish up foreign policy credentials, exactly?

[bing_crosby]

he did visit troops. but I agree it was a weird trip.