Nothing. Absolutely nothing. Let me repeat that one more time for our Chicken Little Republican friends. There is nothing wrong with this picture. And more importanly, the sky is not falling.
It's the handshake heard 'round the world. The infamous image of a smiling President Barack Obama greeting Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez last week at the Summit of the Americas in Trinidad and Tobago. The handshake that sent conservatives into hissyfit high-gear.
Republican Sen. John Ensign (NV) said Sunday that it was "irresponsible" for Obama to be seen "laughing and joking" with the Venezuelan president. And former House Speaker Newt Gingrich said "This does look a lot like Jimmy Carter. Carter tried weakness and the world got tougher and tougher because the predators, the aggressors, the anti-Americans, the dictators, when they sense weakness, they all start pushing ahead."
In dismissing this irresponsible rhetoric Obama pointed to his victory in November which signaled that Americans wanted change; change from eight years of the Bush administration's reckless foreign policy. He said voters elected him to enjoin both friends and enemies alike into the peace process.
In discounting the "weakness" claims, Obama said "The American people didn't buy it. And there's a good reason the American people didn't buy it, because it doesn't make sense....It's unlikely that as a consequence of me shaking hands or having a polite conversation with Mr. Chavez that we are endangering the strategic interest of the United States."
You see, Republicans don't understand diplomacy. Engagement. Negotiation. The political mastery behind Teddy Roosevelt's "Speak softly but carry a big stick" brilliance. To the contrary, they subscribe to the Speak like an obnoxious bully, carry a big stick, and beat everyone over the head with it philosophy. They simply don't get the strategy behind thinking before you speak, measuring your moves, not tipping your hat. They don't know what it means to talk smart rather than talk tough. That's because they're used to a petulant, testosterone-deprived, arrogant, simpleton cowboy-wannabe who lived in a black and white world, pissed off friends and enemies alike, and alientated us from the entire world.
Sure, why don't we just insult everyone. Lump them all into this Axis or that Axis. Cut off talks. Threaten. Refuse to meet. Re-adopt the wildly successful You're either with us or against us philosophy of diplomacy. Let's keep invading countries and be at war with everyone. Fuck the world and fuck Peace on Earth. Fuck Iran, fuck North Korea, Venezuela, Cuba and everyone else. Fuck everybody. We're the goddamn United States, baby. George Bush taught us that. We don't need anyone. Who the hell is this Obama guy thinking we should actually act like statesmen and strive towards a new and lasting peace. What a pussy.....
4 comments:
For the last eight years, the Bush administration completely isolated the United States around the world. Instead of nurturing diplomacy, the Bush administration focused its attention on making the U.S. military and the Department of Defense our representatives overseas.
Luckily for us, the current President understands the need for diplomacy and the importance of ongoing dialogue with our friends and our foes. This is a great moment for the Americas. If we are not supposed to talk to people we don’t agree with, then how can we facilitate change in these nations?
Right on Andy! - Barn
All day long on the news I have been hearing about how the republicans have their panties in a wad over Obama shaking hands with Chavez. So what? Usually when a non story is all over the news it's because there is a much bigger story they don't feel the need to cover such as Obama's recent decision to not prosecute those guilty of torture in our name or Obama's decision to not renegotiate NAFTA. Just because our guy got elected is no reason not to pay attention and hold his feet to the fire whenever necessary.
The Republicans continue to look like brain dead fools. They keep trying to come up with something to critize President Obama hoping it will stick. It is not working. Instead they should come up with workable ideas, polices and plans that will promote their views. For now the Republican Party is left with extreme righites who still want to turn our country into a Republican Chistian nation that no matter what happens we are all on our own. I hope they keep up their brain dead ways. Americans need to continue to see how void of ideas they really are.
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