Ask Me Help Desk - Merci Beaucoup revisited

Merci Beaucoup revisited

Quote:

“It's embarrassing when Europeans come over here, they all speak English, they speak French, they speak German. And then we go over to Europe and all we can say is 'merci beaucoup'.”

---------Barack Hussein Obama, July 2008

So far, Obama has visited quite a few countries throughout the world. He has given numerous speeches on a whole host of topics and themes (well, one topic and theme --- that the USA is responsible for all the evils of the world). I have heard quite a few clips of his speeches. And to the best of my knowledge, not a single one of them was in a language other than English. In some cases it was very poor English, but it was English nonetheless.

I'm just wondering when he plans on speaking another language so that he doesn't have to be embarrassed.

Perhaps he should learn to speak Austrian... he won't be embarrassed then.

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Yeah. Even aside from the fact of electing the first African American President and whatever one's partisan views this is a guy whose IQ is off the charts...
--- Historian Michael Beschloss, on Imus in the Morning, 11/10/08

Uh huh. Yeah. Right. He's frikkin' brilliant. An IQ that's off the charts, multiligual, and a deep knowledge of foreign cultures.

Elliot

Yes, Obama is brilliant. No, make that the "superpresident," the president who "rocks and rules," the only man who can send a thrill up Chris Matthews' leg, the guy who can say with deep humility, "I have a gift." As long as he and TOTUS are in sync.

I'm' sure those of you in NY heard about this brilliant move approved by the White House...

White House apologizes for NYC flyover

Quote:

President Obama's White House was forced to issue an apology Monday after a photo opportunity gone wrong — an Air Force 747 plane did a low flyover lower Manhattan, prompting terrified citizens to flee from their offices and high-profile accusations of government insensitivity.

White House Military Office director Louis Caldera issued a brief statement.

"Last week, I approved a mission over New York. I take responsibility for that decision," he said. "While federal authorities took the proper steps to notify state and local authorities in New York and New Jersey, its clear that the mission created confusion and disruption. I apologize and take responsibility for any distress that flight caused."

The panic started Monday morning when a backup 747 used as Air Force One flew by lower Manhattan with a fighter jet closely following, rattling windows and causing some limited evacuations.

The late afternoon statement came as New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg — an Obama ally so far — said he was outraged.

A few hours earlier, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs had dodged questions about the incident, saying he hadn't followed it closely.

An administration official said the Federal Aviation Administration was informed this would be taking places, and notified Mr. Bloomberg's office on April 22.

The problem was the FAA was told the information was classified and did not alert the press to warn the public.

Democratic Sen. Charles Schumer blasted the FAA in a Monday press conference, calling the chain of events "absolutely outrageous and appalling" given the vivid memories New Yorkers still have of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

Mr. Schumer said the FAA seems to be "directly responsible for the public panic."

"In New York of all places not to warn the public that one of the largest jets in the country tailed by a fighter jet is going to fly low over their community defies logic and really borders on being either cruel or very very stupid," the New York senator said. "We cannot allow this to happen again."

I'd venture a guess that it was very stupid. But leave it to Schmucky to blame the FAA instead of the White House for telling them to keep it quiet.

http://media.washingtontimes.com/med...c8653055db7939

I agree. You guys should change your laws and allow our guy Kevin Rudd to run your country. He speaks fluent Mandarin which makes him a real hit with the Chinese President. All their meetings are held using a majority of Mandarin dialect.
Its about time you guys stopped electing 'dufuses' to the role of running your country. But I suppose that's what you get when it all comes down to who has the most money. You won't agree but your whole election system seems completely flawed to me. But that's a whole other topic.

P.S. Rudd can speak Australian as well. That must be very similar to Austrian? :)

I'm from Canada and many people here speak French in Quebec and New Brunswick especially. I never understood why Americans consider it elitist to know French, look at John Kerry in 2004. I've heard it is widely spoken in Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire and Louisiana so what is wrong with a politician knowing French? Most European leaders know English.

Quote:

Originally Posted by earl237

I'm from Canada and many people here speak French in Quebec and New Brunswick especially. I never understood why Americans consider it elitist to know French, look at John Kerry in 2004. I've heard it is widely spoken in Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire and Louisiana so what is wrong with a politician knowing French? Most European leaders know English.

Nothing wrong with knowing French, I took two years myself. It's more an issue of knowing "the French." :D

Je reviens justement d'une exposition de 4 jours complètement en français. C'est un atout très important d'être bilingue. C'est le pourquoi que j'ai eu une promotion dernièment. Je me considère chanceux d'avoir voyager un peu autour du monde et rencontrer des gens de toutes sortes de cultures et qui parlent toutes sortent de langues variés - cela m'a appris que nous sommes vraiment pareil autour du monde.

It's just that those French have a different word for everything (Steve Martin)

Hello again,

This post again shows how much the right DOESN'T understand diplomacy, OR the world. They think it's about photo ops, and bows and smiles and stupid crap like that. They think it's about "shock and awe", belligerence and telling the world what to do.

Good thing Obama ain't like that.

excon

There's no problem with knowing French. It happens to be a very pretty language, and the country happens to be a beautiful country. France would be such a nice place if not for the French.

BTW, did you know that the French city of Nice is pronounced "NEESE"? THat's because there's no word for "nice" in French.

And have you seen the new French battle flag? A white circle on a white background.

In the old days, British military officers used to wear red coats so that if they were wounded, the blood wouldn't show and demoralize the troops. The French military officers wear brown pants.

Nevertheless, putting the French aside for the moment (I wish we could put them aside forever) what I have an issue with is not whether someone learns to speak French or not.

It is the idea that speaking multiple languages somehow makes one a better, more worldly person. And the idea that if you don't speak multiple languages, it's because you are too arrogant and/or too stupid. And that those who travel to other countries but do not speak those languages are an embarrassment.

And all this coming from a guy who doesn't even know that Austrians speak German, not "Austrian".

THAT's what I have issues with.

I happen to speak three languages to varying degrees. But I do not believe that someone who travels abroad and DOESN'T speak a foreign language is "an embarassment".

I DO believe that a President who claims polyglots as the elite but is not himself a polyglot is a fool.

BTW, George Bush spoke Spanish. Bush actually gave speeches in Spanish. Since I don't speak Spanish at all, I have no idea whether he's good at it or not. But the fact that Bush did so puts him one up on Obama by Obama's own standards.

Elliot

Quote:

Good thing Obama ain't like that.

If that is so then why didn't Obama speak French when he conducted a faux town hall meeting in France during his apology tour ?

Quote:

Originally Posted by excon

Hello again,

This post again shows how much the right DOESN'T understand diplomacy, OR the world. They think it's about photo ops, and bows and smiles and stupid crap like that. They think it's about "shock and awe", belligerence and telling the world what to do.

Good thing Obama ain't like that.

excon

All right, Mr. Expert. What exactly is diplomacy about? If it ain't about photo ops and bows and smiles and stupid crap like that, why does Obama spend so much time doing those things?

FYI, excon, diplomacy IS about telling the world what to do... in as polite but firm a manner as possible. It is also about dealing with those nations that disagree so that we don't come to blows over the disagreement. And when diplomacy fails, that's when the military steps in.

But the topic of this post ain't diplomacy. It's the fact that Obama, is claiming that all Americans should be polyglots or else be embarrassments to the Nation... while at the same time being capable of only a single language himself. (And not particularly good that that language either... he gets "I" and "me" screwed up all the time.) In essence, the topic is about Obama's hypocrisy and double standards.

Elliot

Squanderer in chief - Los Angeles Times

Quote:

White House apologizes for NYC flyover

Guess it never occurred to them that NYers would be sensitive to low flying planes around our iconic sites.

Maybe the President was going to use the photo op as backdrop to explain to us NYers how to save energy... you know... proper inflation of tires... places to construct windmills etc.

Quote:

Originally Posted by tomder55

Guess it never occured to them that NYers would be sensitive to low flying planes around our iconic sites.

Maybe the President was going to use the photo op as backdrop to explain to us NYers how to save energy ....you know......proper inflation of tires .....places to construct windmills etc.

Wait a second. The Obama White House apologized for something... and there was no foreign head of state in attendance?

How novel.

Elliot

Quote:

This post again shows how much the right DOESN'T understand diplomacy, OR the world. They think it's about photo ops, and bows and smiles and stupid crap like that. They think it's about "shock and awe", belligerence and telling the world what to do.

Sarkozy: Obama Weak, Inexperienced and Badly Briefed - The Page by Mark Halperin - TIME.com

Hello tom:

Since when did you rightwingers care what the French think?? Oh, I got it. When they agree with YOU, the French are cool. Otherwise, not. Doncha think you look a little hypocritical? Nahh, you don't.

excon

It's not just the French, seems a good bit of Europe is not so enamored with Obama's foreign policy. As Glenn Reynolds says, "they told me that if I voted for John McCain, we’d continue to alienate our allies through diplomatic arrogance. And they were right!"

Quote:

Originally Posted by excon

Hello tom:

Since when did you rightwingers care what the French think??? Oh, I got it. When they agree with YOU, the French are cool. Otherwise, not. Doncha think you look a little hypocritical? Nahh, you don't.

excon

Nah... the French are NEVER cool. But based on the law of averages, they have to occasionally get something correct by mistake. Even a broken watch is right twice a day.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ETWolverine

So far, Obama has visited quite a few countries throughout the world. He has given numerous speeches on a whole host of topics and themes (well, one topic and theme --- that the USA is responsible for all the evils of the world). I have heard quite a few clips of his speeches. And to the best of my knowledge, not a single one of them was in a language other than English. In some cases it was very poor English, but it was English nonetheless.

I'm just wondering when he plans on speaking another language so that he doesn't have to be embarrassed.

Perhaps he should learn to speak Austrian... he won't be embarrased then.

Uh huh. Yeah. Right. He's frikkin' brilliant. An IQ that's off the charts, multiligual, and a deep knowledge of foreign cultures.

Elliot

Yeah. Not bad for a Kenyan.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ETWolverine

In the old days, British military officers used to wear red coats so that if they were wounded, the blood wouldn't show and demoralize the troops. The French military officers wear brown pants.

Elliot

:D roflmao :D

Hablo Espanol - pocito.

I'll speak French when Obama speaks without his teleprompter :)

G&P

More on the unbelievably stupid stunt in New York by the most brilliant administration ever.

Quote:

Federal officials knew that sending two fighter jets and a 747 from the presidential fleet to buzz ground zero and Lady Liberty might set off nightmarish fears of a 9/11 replay, but they still ordered the photo-op kept secret from the public.

In a memo obtained by CBS 2 HD, the Federal Aviation Administration's James Johnston said the agency was aware of "the possibility of public concern regarding DOD (Department of Defense) aircraft flying at low altitudes" in an around New York City. But they demanded total secrecy from the NYPD, the Secret Service, the FBI and even the mayor's office and threatened federal sanctions if the secret got out.

All for an "iconic" souvenir photo of AF1 flying by the Statue of Liberty. And what was the cost of terrorizing New Yorkers for a souvenir photo?

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The flight by the VC-25, a modified Boeing Co. 747, and two F-16 fighter jets cost $328,835, Air Force spokeswoman Vicki Stein said.

Just some stimulus as Allahpundit put it:

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The amount of booze, smokes, and anti-anxiety meds alone that New Yorkers must have consumed in the aftermath of this mass panic attack was probably worth $10-20 mil to the city.

Geez, now Biden is terrorizing New Yorkers another way, warning people to stay off the subway for fear of this flu that's so far affecting .0003 percent of the population and scientists say is "relatively mild" and "may not even do as much damage as the run-of-the-mill flu outbreaks that occur each winter without much fanfare."

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"I wouldn't go anywhere in confined places now," Biden said when asked whether he would advise family members to use public transportation.

Biden made his comments during a brief interview on NBC's "Today" show during an interview with Matt Lauer.

"I would tell members of my family, and I have, I wouldn't go anywhere in confined places now. It's not that it's going to Mexico, it's you're in a confined aircraft when one person sneezes it goes all the way through the aircraft. That's me. I would not be, at this point, if they had another way of transportation suggesting they ride the subway. "

And this is the most brilliant administration ever?

Yes, they are. Just ask them.

Remember, Obama has a gift.

Quote:

Sen. Reid Says Obama Told Him, 'I Have a Gift'

WASHINGTON -- Everyone knows President Barack Obama can deliver a great speech, including the president himself, according to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.

The paperback version of Reid's memoir, "The Good Fight," is coming out May 5 with an epilogue called "The Obama Era." Reid said he was impressed when Obama, then a first-year senator from Illinois, delivered a speech about President George W. Bush's war policy.

Democrat Reid writes: "`That speech was phenomenal, Barack,' I told him. And I will never forget his response. Without the barest hint of braggadocio or conceit, and with what I would describe as deep humility, he said quietly: `I have a gift, Harry."'

Give me a break.

Elliot

Biden needs to zip it . Today he made comments that could possibly have the same impact on the airline industry that the 9-11 attacks had.
The Associated Press: Biden tells family to stay off planes, subways

Stupid comments by Biden. Very stupid.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skell

Stupid comments by Biden. Very stupid.

I knew we still had areas we agreed. ;)

I'm a swinger. I agree with everyone at some point in time. :)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skell

I'm a swinger. I agree with everyone at some point in time. :)

I do, too. Really. But I can't say I'm a swinger. :D

As bad an effect that his comments might have on air travel ;it is even worse the type of panic a public leader could cause with his idiocy about travelling in public transportation. Although it is a fact that as a Senator he routinely travelled on AMTRAC to his home in Delaware ,Biden's wealthy family has other options.
But not every American can simply escape public transportation. For many, their livelihoods depend on subways and buses delivering them to their jobs.
He is contributing to a level of anxiety about this strain of flu that is already way out of proportion to the threat.

Quote:

Originally Posted by tomder55

Biden's wealthy family has other options.

Hello tom:

Biden is ranked 99 out of 100 senators in terms of their personal wealth. I don't know what you been smokin.

excon

Quote:

Originally Posted by excon

Hello tom:

Biden is ranked 99 out of 100 senators in terms of their personal wealth. I dunno what you been smokin.

excon

You mean that he's among the poorest of the rich people in out country?

According to his 2007 tax return, Biden and his wife earned $319,853, and according to disclosure filed in the Senate, he also received a $112,500 book advance from Random House. That is a total of $432,353. That was over 8 TIMES the median income in the USA in 2007.

And that doesn't even take into consideration his Senate benefits package.

What a pauper. My heart bleeds for him.

Elliot

R Hunter Biden;his son, is a K Street lobbyist worth millions . No doubt he will lobby his brother Beau when he becomes eligilble to assume the Biden Senate Seat .