Pres BO is in Asia and this is what we are reading back here:
ABCNEWS: Obama strikes out in Asia...
NYT: Obama’s Glow Dims on Trip Abroad...
After Botched Trip, Obama Limps Home - Kenneth Bazinet, NY Daily News
Shellacked at Home, Shellacked Abroad - San Francisco Chronicle
Obama's International Strikeout - Washington Times
So what's going on? What happened to "all of that love for BO" that we saw in 2008?
The answer is simple!
In 2008, candidate BO was that "charmer" who told people what they wanted to hear.
Candidate BO fulfilled the "Euro-left fantasy" of having a US president who sounded like one of their weak "I won't fight for anything" leaders!
In 2010, "Euro-fantasy" has been replaced by the reality that Europe can not defend itself without the US Fleet in the Meditaranean or those US Air Force bases on their continent.
Europe, and the world, need a US president who will stand up to Iran and promote a strong US economy.
Back here, Pres BO has made a lot of bad decisions and the world has taken notice.
First, Pres BO talks a lot about "free trade" but refuses to sign the Colombia Free Trade Agreement.
Once again, he is pandering to US labor unions rather than signing a "no brain-er" deal that would actually create jobs in the US.
You can't treat your friends like that and not have everyone notice!
Second, candidate BO was against The Korea trade deal in 2008. Those were the days when candidate BO irresponsibly blamed free trade agreements for unemployment in Michigan, Pennsylvania and Ohio.
You can't bash a trade deal in 2008, do nothing for 2 years and then expect that the South Koreans will go "yes we can" at the sight of the Messiah.
Third, Pres BO's stimulus was a disaster for job creation here.
It's simple: The world wants pro-growth policies because it needs US consumers to buy their goods!
Overall, the trip was embarrassing and it exposed a weak president who is clearly in over his head.
I agree with the WSJ:
"If Mr. Obama wants to restore his economic leadership, both at home and abroad, he needs an urgent shift in priorities.
Strike a deal with Republicans to extend the current tax rates across the board, pursue the spending cuts proposed by his own deficit commission, end the regulatory binge that has constrained America's animal spirits, stop trying to direct capital toward political mirages like "green jobs," and press Congress to pass the Korean and other trade pacts.
The world will follow American leadership again only when it sees policies that restore robust U.S. economic growth."
In 2008, the world fell in love with the candidate because he said nothing and spoke in "feel good" generalities.
In 2010, it does not like his weak presidency a heck of a lot, specially now that everyone knows that the magician does not have any rabbits in his hat!
