But, unbelievably, it turned out that 2016 was not in the bag! Obama set off on a "take no prisoners" campaign with nothing more than his unexampled hubris, apparently believing that his persona and magnificence would win over a few starstruck IOC cheerleaders. Obama gambled the prestige of the United States on an opportunity to enhance his personal glory if he won. He lost. He can pretend that it is nothing, but unfortunately it is not nothing. Michelle is furious, and for once, I agree with her.
Only the Olympics? Obama does not have the connections, force of will, rhetoric or naked power to browbeat even the Olympic Committee, nor the intelligence capability to uncover its intentions. Now he has to face the Iranians and North Koreans, and the Grand Master, Putin, without getting his lunch money stolen. This is why this mis-step is such a disaster.
World leaders now know, with certainty, that Obama is satisfied to conduct affairs of state by the seat of his pants. He is looking only to cover himself in glory, for which he is willing to expose the prestige of the United States to hooting derision. This is a telegraphed weakness that foreign ministries around the world will carefully study. Now that Obama has, in such a short time, already provided an extensive catalog of bad judgment, weakness, and willingness to abandon allies, he will be tested far, far beyond that which a strong leader and confident nation would be expected to endure.
Michael Medved pointed out that it probably cost $1,000,000.00 worth of taxpayer money to fly Dear Leader over to Denmark—that's personally why I can't swallow the "no big deal" argument.
And of course, here's the formidable insight of George Will on the narcissistic quality of the Obamas' speeches, which everyone noticed save those still blinded by what will calls the "sunshine of Obama's charm":
Vain. Yes, let's use a word everyone can understand. Mmm, mmmm, mmmmm!
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