Ukraine

[AquaMan]

Putin better have some quality food tasters on staff and a good line on where Stalin's bullet proof sofa ended up.

[guido911]

From SNL. 

http://www.mediaite.com/tv/snls-obama-and-liam-neeson-stand-up-to-putin-with-explosions-and-shirtless-horsebacking/

[Gaspar]

Diplomacy apparently is failing and at this point Crimea is very unlikely to remain independent.  Hopefully there is still hope for the surrounding region, and we can show leadership in restraining Putin from further advance.

Unfortunately I think the president may have missed an excellent opportunity this weekend.  The surrogate diplomacy system through SS John Kerry has all but fallen appart, therefore it is necessary for direct diplomacy, much like what Reagan employed with Gorbachov.



This past weekend the president had an excellent opportunity to invite Putin to talk, away from the noise of politics, and out of the reach of media microphones and cameras.

Obama could have invited Putin (a very athletic man) to join him on the golf course.  The situation and security would have been perfect for such a mission, as that the President had already reserved Key West's Ocean Reef Club for his golf weekend and had, 5 Secret Service helicopters and 57 Secret Service agents securing the course during his multi-million dollar get-away.




What better way to exemplify American Exceptionalism than to treat the tired overworked Putin to some golf and a few rounds of American Skyy Vodka at one of the countries most exclusive and expensive golf courses?

The leaders could discuss his actions in Crimea and his plans for the rest of the Ukraine, and this would give Putin an opportunity to meet, and perhaps even get some autographs from Ahmad Rashad, Cyrus Walker and Alonzo Mourning (Obama's scheduled golf partners).  Or, instead of rounding out the foursome with American sports royalty, the president could have invited Angola Merkel and David Cameron who both enjoy golf, to join them.  

I think this would be a very attractive proposal for Putin, especially during a time when the Russian golf courses are on winter rules, and are likely used for weapons testing.


I'm sure that there are reasons why such a diplomatic mission was not considered.  It may be that Ahmad has already booked a non-refundable ticket on SouthWest or something.  I just think that perhaps the president could share his greatest passion and pastime with more than just Hollywood and sports celebrities.  My father always told me that "If you enjoy what you do, you never work a day in your life."  I'm glad president Obama has found such a passion, I just wish he could put it to productive use.

[AquaMan]

I like your new style. A bit more subtle and refined. Same obsession with O's vacations but its a fair target.

NPR had an interesting commenter this morning who referred to Putin's plan to make a Euro-Asian compact to compete with the EU.He's staked his credibility in Russia on the plan. Ukraine is key to that plan. He says Putin tried to peacefully win over the Ukraine, and thought he had, but felt like the overthrow was a ruse put on by American & NATO interests to thwart his plans for a competitive alternative to the EU. That wouldn't surprise me after watching our past covert activities.

So basically both sides feel like they've been screwed and aren't seeing the event in the same way. Hard to communicate when you can't even agree on what  you just saw.

[Gaspar]

I like your new style. A bit more subtle and refined. Same obsession with O's vacations but its a fair target.

Initially focusing on the whole golf thing was all just tongue-in-cheek, because no one really believed that a president would flaunt such activity at the expense of the taxpayer during times when people around the world were looking to him as a leader, but he did. . .again. . .and again.

Now holy smile, look at the optics today. I really don't care if Obama wants to fly around and play golf with celebrities. It's a major part of his fundraising, and he's not ashamed of it. I get that.  I also understand that people in his position deserve a release, but during times of international, economic, or environmental crisis, he may want to tone it down a bit, or at least use it, like many business people, and past presidents do, as a tool to bring folks to the table.  

People used to get down on Bush for flying off to his ranch as a retreat, but he used it to pull world leaders out of the spotlight and spend quality time with them.  Blair, the Saudi Crown Prince, Howard, Koizumi, Berlusconi, Chinese Prez Zimen, Mexican prez Fox, Egyptian Prez Mubarak Hell, Bush even had Putin to the ranch, ate chicken-fried steaks, drove around in his pick-up and cut some lumber.


The least Obama could do is invite him to the country club, whack some balls, ride a bike, and sip some fancy beer.  Even if it accomplishes nothing as far as Putin is concerned, it accomplishes a lot in the eyes of the world, as symbolizing a leader willing to work out disagreements face to face. It makes him look like an American President.

[Conan71]

That brings back a popular image of St. Ronald:





I have no idea if those images were captured while he was doing real work on his ranch or if he came in after the minions had piled up the wood.  Bush was frequently photographed on his ranch working the land.  Again, who really knows if he was working it or simply stepping in for the photo-op.
It's a matter of the image a president or his handlers wish to impart on people. 

Certainly photo ops with the down-trodden or an American hero aren't as much about compassion or interest for whomever the person is in the photo with the president rather than an attempt to show the president "cares".

President Obama tends to portray the image of a slacker who is more interested in expensive resorts and playing golf.  That's fine if that is the image he wants to project, but it's an odd image a president would want to cultivate with record numbers of Americans on food stamps and out of work.  He seems to have unfortunate timing of taking his junkets while there are either major foreign policy issues to be settled or budgetary/economic policy issues hanging in the balance back in DC.  He makes himself an easy target for criticism.  I assume he has really thick skin.  Either that or he's a narcissistic sociopath. 

[AquaMan]

To some people its all about appearance. I suspect its the emphasis on marketing during the last few decades.

You know which president had the worst reputation for playing golf even during crises? Eisenhower. It never ends.

[Conan71]

To some people its all about appearance. I suspect its the emphasis on marketing during the last few decades.

You know which president had the worst reputation for playing golf even during crises? Eisenhower. It never ends.

I wonder how many photos existed of Ike playing golf?

Of course one of the more notable cases of presidential image (and maybe this is where it started) was FDR never or rarely being photographed in his wheelchair. 

[Hoss]

I wonder how many photos existed of Ike playing golf?

Of course one of the more notable cases of presidential image (and maybe this is where it started) was FDR never or rarely being photographed in his wheelchair. 

Most of that has to do with the lack of a 24 hour news cycle in the 30s/40s/50s like there is today.  Can you imagine the outcry had the internet been available to depict a polio-stricken president?  How would the media have treated Kennedy had that been Fox News breaking the story about his relationship with Marilyn Monroe.

[heironymouspasparagus]

I wonder how many photos existed of Ike playing golf?

Of course one of the more notable cases of presidential image (and maybe this is where it started) was FDR never or rarely being photographed in his wheelchair. 

Ike playing golf....

https://www.google.com/search?q=ike+playing+golf&newwindow=1&client=firefox-a&hs=ZEm&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&channel=sb&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=pwgeU9aqMK6ayQH9poDoBA&ved=0CCYQsAQ&biw=1133&bih=619

[Gaspar]

Most of that has to do with the lack of a 24 hour news cycle in the 30s/40s/50s like there is today.  Can you imagine the outcry had the internet been available to depict a polio-stricken president?  How would the media have treated Kennedy had that been Fox News breaking the story about his relationship with Marilyn Monroe.

He had a relationship with Marilyn Monroe?

[Gaspar]

To some people its all about appearance. I suspect its the emphasis on marketing during the last few decades.

You know which president had the worst reputation for playing golf even during crises? Eisenhower. It never ends.

Anyone who says marketing is not important is a fool.

Especially when you have a record like Obama's, marketing should be everything, because that's all that is left.

[cannon_fodder]

I have little doubt the EU encouraged or supported the opposition to protest the rejection of the trade deal. Less so for the USA (a third party).  But the EU and USAs lack of significant involvement is evident in our lack of a follow up plan.  Plus - at the end of the discussion, one country has militarily occupied another.  And it isn't EU or US troops...

On the 24 hour news cycle...

I think that has somewhat died.  Whenever I try to find news on TV all I find is fluff, talking heads, or some quasi documentary show.  CNN, in particular, used to be JUST NEWS.  You could flip it on 24 hours a day and in a 1 hour cycle pretty well know what's up in the world.  Now, I don't know what's on.

MSN is the prison network.  Fox is all blabbering talking heads.  If I wanted fake outrage and kind-of-news with a slany I'd watch the Daily Show - which at least admits it isn't a real news show.  Not sure any of the three news networks have "news" anymore.

I don't get the channel, but someone told me Al Jazeera America is just news. No reality shows. No talking head shows.  Wth?  We need Al Jazeera to get it right?

[Gaspar]

I have little doubt the EU encouraged or supported the opposition to protest the rejection of the trade deal. Less so for the USA (a third party).  But the EU and USAs lack of significant involvement is evident in our lack of a follow up plan.  Plus - at the end of the discussion, one country has militarily occupied another.  And it isn't EU or US troops...

On the 24 hour news cycle...

I think that has somewhat died.  Whenever I try to find news on TV all I find is fluff, talking heads, or some quasi documentary show.  CNN, in particular, used to be JUST NEWS.  You could flip it on 24 hours a day and in a 1 hour cycle pretty well know what's up in the world.  Now, I don't know what's on.

MSN is the prison network.  Fox is all blabbering talking heads.  If I wanted fake outrage and kind-of-news with a slany I'd watch the Daily Show - which at least admits it isn't a real news show.  Not sure any of the three news networks have "news" anymore.

I don't get the channel, but someone told me Al Jazeera America is just news. No reality shows. No talking head shows.  Wth?  We need Al Jazeera to get it right?

BBC News does a fairly good job, and CBS has been trying hard to fill in the blanks by actually reporting, but you are right, all of the "NEWS" channels have gone the way of MTV. 

"NEWS" is such a restrictive format for them.

[Rookie Okie]

Diplomacy apparently is failing and at this point Crimea is very unlikely to remain independent.  Hopefully there is still hope for the surrounding region, and we can show leadership in restraining Putin from further advance.

Unfortunately I think the president may have missed an excellent opportunity this weekend.  The surrogate diplomacy system through SS John Kerry has all but fallen appart, therefore it is necessary for direct diplomacy, much like what Reagan employed with Gorbachov.



This past weekend the president had an excellent opportunity to invite Putin to talk, away from the noise of politics, and out of the reach of media microphones and cameras.

Obama could have invited Putin (a very athletic man) to join him on the golf course.  The situation and security would have been perfect for such a mission, as that the President had already reserved Key West's Ocean Reef Club for his golf weekend and had, 5 Secret Service helicopters and 57 Secret Service agents securing the course during his multi-million dollar get-away.




What better way to exemplify American Exceptionalism than to treat the tired overworked Putin to some golf and a few rounds of American Skyy Vodka at one of the countries most exclusive and expensive golf courses?

The leaders could discuss his actions in Crimea and his plans for the rest of the Ukraine, and this would give Putin an opportunity to meet, and perhaps even get some autographs from Ahmad Rashad, Cyrus Walker and Alonzo Mourning (Obama's scheduled golf partners).  Or, instead of rounding out the foursome with American sports royalty, the president could have invited Angola Merkel and David Cameron who both enjoy golf, to join them.  

I think this would be a very attractive proposal for Putin, especially during a time when the Russian golf courses are on winter rules, and are likely used for weapons testing.


I'm sure that there are reasons why such a diplomatic mission was not considered.  It may be that Ahmad has already booked a non-refundable ticket on SouthWest or something.  I just think that perhaps the president could share his greatest passion and pastime with more than just Hollywood and sports celebrities.  My father always told me that "If you enjoy what you do, you never work a day in your life."  I'm glad president Obama has found such a passion, I just wish he could put it to productive use.

Hilarious, we all know if the president had done any one of these things that you suggested here (before you ranted about them), you would have gone off on him for doing so.  Right?