Largest Demonstration of Unity by World Leaders Since WWII Perhaps Ever!

[Gaspar]

Remarkable and historical sight.  Palestinians marching with Jews, tyrants marching with democracies, all in solidarity against radical Islamic terrorism.  The leaders of the free (and not so free) world and over 1 million civilians marched arm-in-arm.  Just like after WWII, France became the capital of the world.


It seems that the only thing that the terrorists (or "Activists" as CNN's Christiane Amanpour calles them) accomplished is strengthening the world-wide united front against Islamic terrorism. 

Many of these countries (Over 40), if not most, represent enormous Islamic populations, and to see their leaders lock arms and hear the cheers of the people, must be transformative, and is exactly what the world needs to generate hope and usher in change.

The kids and I had a long talk, and then watched it unfold on TV.  I doubt they will ever forget it, or the solum faces of the leaders as they marched.

[guido911]

Go ahead and let the shoe drop. NO senior U.S. officials were present. No Obama, no Biden, no Kerry, and I believe no Holder.

[guido911]

And Jon Stewart has added his thoughts, which to many in here is tantamount Gospel.

http://www.mediaite.com/tv/what-the-fck-jon-stewart-trashes-obama-for-paris-rally-absence/

[Townsend]

Go ahead and let the shoe drop. NO senior U.S. officials were present. No Obama, no Biden, no Kerry, and I believe no Holder.

Do you honestly give a rat'sass this time or are you just bitching because you consider it opportune?

[Gaspar]

Perhaps the back-story is, that they didn't invite him.

He seems to want to make everything about himself, so to allow this to happen in his absence, actually gave it more meaning internationally.


I think if he was invited and opted not to go, the White House would have prepared statements on his reason not to attend, and more than likely some circumstance that would provide absolute justification.  Further more, they would have most certainly sent another high-ranking member.  Holder was already there, with a security detail, so there can't be any such excuse. However, the fact that the White House is now saying that they made a mistake, tells me that they would rather have a domestic sword to fall on, than admit world leaders would dismiss the presence of Obama.  This is bolstered, rather oddly, by many of the other world leaders who were in attendance, admitting to various news sources that they were in no way offended by President Obama's absence.  For most countries, any degree of political solidarity with a sitting US president is worth it's weight in gold, and many of these leaders have never even gotten close to the president for a photo-op.

This is just another thing we will learn more about in the months to come. I could have sworn he was there though.  Way back in the back as usual.  You just have to look really close.

[RecycleMichael]

Made up outrage once again by gaspar.

40 world leaders attended. I am not the expert on world geography that gaspar must be but I am pretty sure that there are more countries than that.

If President Obama would have gone, gaspar would have posted that he only went there to play golf.

What will gaspar do with all his spare time when Obama leaves office? Hopefully, something worthwhile instead of the B.S. he posts on this forum every day.

[Conan71]

Made up outrage once again by gaspar.

40 world leaders attended. I am not the expert on world geography that gaspar must be but I am pretty sure that there are more countries than that.

If President Obama would have gone, gaspar would have posted that he only went there to play golf.

What will gaspar do with all his spare time when Obama leaves office? Hopefully, something worthwhile instead of the B.S. he posts on this forum every day.

What do you bet Obama gets bored with golf in retirement and takes up politics as a hobby?

[Gaspar]

Made up outrage once again by gaspar.

40 world leaders attended. I am not the expert on world geography that gaspar must be but I am pretty sure that there are more countries than that.

If President Obama would have gone, gaspar would have posted that he only went there to play golf.

What will gaspar do with all his spare time when Obama leaves office? Hopefully, something worthwhile instead of the B.S. he posts on this forum every day.

Actually I didn't post anything in this thread about Obama's absence from the event until after others already commented, but I admire your devotion to defending Obama at any cost.  Followers with that degree of furrier are getting harder for him to cultivate, and therefore of great value to his legacy.

You are most certainly correct, several countries were absent.  North Korea, China, Zimbabwe, Malta, and Granada were not there, also Lichtenstein and Nauru were no-shows.  Actually the only countries that had representation were those willing to represent a united front against terrorism. I think the most astonishing aspect of the whole event was a show of solidarity between Isreal and Palestine in condemning terrorism.  That image will serve as a symbol for the future.

This really was't a right wing/left wing issue.  Democrats and liberals in the media expressed the same disappointment.  Jake Tapper on CNN said he was embarrassed by Obama's absence, and spent the better part of the day discussing it.  Katy Couric questioned it, and Jon Stewart offered strong words of ridicule and parody.  Nearly the entire WH Press Corps questioned Josh Earnest as to the reason for no representation, then after offering several different excuses for the the president's absence, finally yesterday afternoon the White House admitted themselves that it was a mistake.

So I really don't sense any unjustified degree of scrutiny from my previous post. I was simply trying to offer a hypothetical reason based on the little we know from the White House.  However there are still those, even today, even after the White House admitted the mistake, like Ronan Farrow (cries quietly into his sweater) and Jimmy Carter (Obama gives him great joy), who are admirably defending the President's decision not to attend.  I think Jimmy's explanation was by far the best.

“President Obama’s just come back from vacation, and I know how it is when you’ve been gone for a week or two,” Carter said in an interview with Yahoo Global News Anchor Katie Couric.  “Your desk is piled up, and he had other pressing problems to address. So I don’t think there’s any reflection on our country or no criticism is worthy.”  Meanwhile President Obama was meeting with the Spurs Basketball team for a photo-op.


It's been a long time since I've seen that Victrolla dog WDaF look on Katy's face.  It was refreshing.  Jimmy still knows how to bring an interview to a halt.

[RecycleMichael]

Actually I didn't post anything in this thread about Obama's absence from the event until after others already commented,

You are guido911 are a tag team conspiring together to attack Obama.

I bet you guys even wear the same outfits when you attend the secret society meetings.

[heironymouspasparagus]

Kerry gets a pass....he was in India/Pakistan jawboning to keep them from throwing nukes at each other.  I bet we got off with only paying them a couple billion each this time....


Holder is the chief dipstick in charge on this one - he was already there!!  Even if Obama didn't ask him to stay, he is at a level where he should have taken the initiative no matter what the other members of the clown show were doing. 

[Ed W]

Not to worry, Michael. If President Obama had attended the march in Paris our conservatives could be relied upon to whine about that too.

[Conan71]

Not to worry, Michael. If President Obama had attended the march in Paris our conservatives could be relied upon to whine about that too.

I personally would have crucified him for a foie gras shortage which would have definitely been his fault.

[guido911]

Do you honestly give a rat'sass this time or are you just bitching because you consider it opportune?

I have got to know. What is it like up Obama's whatever?

[guido911]

You are guido911 are a tag team conspiring together to attack Obama.

Um, did you forget you used to bash Obama? I mean, before tribal party loyalty required you to look beyond all his faults you pointed out he had BEFORE Hillary lost the 2008 primary. Memory lane...

http://www.tulsanow.org/forum/index.php?topic=9376.0

http://www.tulsanow.org/forum/index.php?topic=9704.0

Do you want more?

[guido911]

Not to worry, Michael. If President Obama had attended the march in Paris our conservatives could be relied upon to whine about that too.

Someone tell the Obama administration to stop whining about not sending someone high profile from the Obama administration to France...

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2015/01/12/obama-paris-march-terrorist-josh-earnest-john-kerry-ted-cruz/21639383/

Have you ever heard the expression "lead with one's chin"?