About Us
Mission Statement
Rules of Conduct
 
Name:
Pswd:
Remember Me
Register
 

Keeping them Guessing
Author: BobR    Date: 2013-12-11 11:48:07

I've heard it said that living well and enjoying life is the best revenge. Against whom, you might ask? Against all of the frowny-faced bitter people that just aren't happy when other people are happy. As we all know - there are a bunch of people who aren't happy when President Obama is happy, or doing well, or succeeding. They are all ready with a freeze frame photo (occasionally doctored) that shows how disrespectful or angry or "black man" he is. Naturally, a state visit to South Africa for Nelson Mandela's internment fits the bill.

That funeral hasn't happened yet. What did occur yesterday was a celebration of Nelson Mandela's life. This is not unlike an Irish Wake, where people get together and have a party and reminisce about all the good things. It is not a somber occasion. That did not stop the haters from venting their spleens in personal umbrage to what they felt was a less than docorous display from the president.

Like everything else he does, it was analyzed beneath the microscope of the media noise machine:
President Barack Obama's gestures at Nelson Mandela's memorial service in Johannesburg were widely scrutinized on the world's stage Tuesday.

First, Obama shook hands with Cuban President Raul Castro as the U.S. president approached the podium at the soccer stadium to address Mandela's mourners. The brief exchange, captured on video and photographs, sparked an immediate reaction online and on TV, with cable news pundits and Twitter users debating the significance of warmth shown between leaders of countries that have not had formal diplomatic relations since 1959.
[..]
At another point, President Obama posed for a "selfie" from his seat at the memorial with British Prime Minister David Cameron and Denmark's Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt. First lady Michelle Obama[..] did not participate.

John McCain reacted much like most of the right-wing blatherers:
Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) on Tuesday suggested that President Barack Obama’s handshake with Cuban President Raul Castro was like shaking hands with Adolf Hitler.
[..]
“It gives Raul some propaganda to continue to prop up dictatorial, brutal regime, that’s all it is,” the Arizona Republican insisted. “Why should you shake hands with somebody who’s keeping Americans in prison?”

Nothing like going Godwin right off the bat. Yes, Raul Castro is exactly like Hitler, except for the whole genocide thing and the deaths of millions based solely on their race.

Unfortunately, instead of telling McCain and his fellow knee-jerk reactionaries what mental midgets they are, the White House instead decided to take the weak way out:
President Barack Obama's handshake with Cuban President Raul Castro at Nelson Mandela's memorial service was simply a nicety, the White House says, not a sign that the U.S. is considering a further thawing of relations with Cuba.
[..]
Rhodes said Obama shook hands with a number of foreign leaders and none of the exchanges were planned ahead of time: "What people need to remember is that today was about Nelson Mandela," he said. "That's where the president's focus was, not on any political or policy matter."

That's a shame - I would like tourism to Cuba become an option once more. I would love to get some good Cuban cigars. Hey - it's all about what I want, right?

Along with all of the living presidents (except George the senior, likely too feeble to travel), Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) of all people also went to S. Africa. It seems odd to have Republicans like Cruz and Newt Gingrich voice support for the good that Mandela did when so many of their party members at one time (and still do) considered Mandela to be a terrorist. Cruz is certainly taking a lot of flak for his support of Mandela, and Gingrich is telling the tea party they are idiots for not supporting Mandela's actions.

Maybe it's all by design. While all this hullaballoo is occurring, the Senate is quietly getting very close to passing a long term budget proposal that will eliminate the 11th hour budget stalemate resolutions that have become all too commonplace. The problem, of course, is the optics of it. With 2014 primaries just a few months away, Republicans are all too mindful of rabid extreme conservatives running against established "mainstream" Republican incumbants.

The president doesn't have to campaign again. Ted Cruz does; Newt Gingrich might. Perhaps they should take a cue from the president and just smile and go their own way. They're going to get blasted anyway - might as well make their critics wonder what's going on.
 

75 comments (Latest Comment: 12/11/2013 22:55:49 by Raine)
   Perma Link

Share This!

Furl it!
Spurl
NewsVine
Reddit
Technorati