Barack Obama arrives in Britain

He's going to hold meetings with Gordon Brown, Tony Blair and David Cameron. He's also got a rare solo press conference outside Downing Street planned.

Any idea why he did he big speech in Berlin but doesn't have one planned for Britain? What happened to the special relationship between the US and the UK, huh?

He was probably trying to smooth over the cracks created by the "Ich bin ein Berlinah" incident...

Interesting! It will be intriguing to see and hear his adventures on this side of the Atlantic.

I am a little sad he isn't doing a public speech, I would have happily trotted off to see him. It is sad that I feel this way about a presidential candidate and not my own Prime Minister I guess. I was trying to get a train from Paddington the other day and they temporarily shut half of it so Gordon Brown and his entourage could waltz through, I think this has a lot to do with it.

I wonder how much if his time in Europe will be spent explaining his "rifined" position on Iraq. I think it is great the Senator Obama now is supportive of rebuilding Iraq and also now believes that conditions on the ground in Iraq should be a determining factor for troop levels. barack Obama, most likely will not discuss his new position on Iraq. Senator Obama will do what he does best- Tell people whatever it is they want to hear.

Does Obama like Superman??? Or do Superman fans like Obama??

After watching Obama's speech in Berlin, I thought, "Let's see Senator McCain do that."
He can't and won't. All he can do is romance the ones stateside who've already made up their minds.
I want a president that can address all of humanity with the passion and clarity that Senator Obama possesses.
That's true leadership.

'WHY IS HE CAMPAIGNING IN GERMANY???? He wants to lead the US, so what makes him think that this is a step toward leading us??'

'Frankly I don't care how the Germans and French see him. He is running for the highet exectutive position of a sovereign country with a Consittution that may or may not be in sync with the rest of the world.'

These are quotes of comments I've lifted from another story on current.

It's sad people think global opinion isn't important in a globalized era. First and foremost, we are citizens of the world. We must work with other nations and strive for their respect and understanding. Some people fail to realize this.

I feel Obama was well guided to present in Germany - the country with the largest population in the EU. It helped to show the world his capacity to an active participant in foreign relations.

I think you're selling McCain short: he can also come up with embarrassingly transparent, half-hearted drives for better black education to show how different he is from Bush!

He has more flyer miles than Bush and he's using them for a reason that would help many around the world.

SHows you how smart he is, just yanked Mcain's biggest tool away from him.

First of all, the germans love "ich bin ein Berliner" (even though that is saying I'm a donut). Secondly, they loved how Obama spoke yesterday and that he held himself as a world citizen. I know this because I live in Germany and spoke with many about it today, auf Deutsch.

I wonder how many people there would turn out to see McCain speak.

I think i hear a cricket!

'I'm kIng of the world!"

At American taxpayer's expense... people in this country are living in poverty, joblessness, and hunger, and he is jetting all over the world to get photo ops. And how is he getting to all of these places? Private jets expending lots of GHGs with expensive secret service detachments as well no doubt? The best food and hotels, and whatever else he wants.... again, while people in America live in poverty, homelessness, joblessness, and hunger... but yeah, I'm sure making a spectacle of himself in Germany yesterday will feed them all.

If you are running for president of the US how about actually campaigning in the US? Or is this a preprequisite of the Bilderberg/CFR elitist crowd pick to initiate yourself by rubbing elbows with the other rich globalists of the world? The very G8 globalists who gave us a shitty climate change plan to cover for their corporate and political pals over the urgency of this crisis and what it is doing to the poorer people of this world?

His speech in Berlin calling for working together on this ' war on terror' was also nothing different from what we have heard from Bush or McCain. Only he delivers it in a silver tongued manner. But no matter, those already blinded by the rhetoric or simply putting party over country will never see it for what it is. Personally, I think we are screwed no matter who gets coronated in November... but we'll see I suppose.

After watching the video, I have to say that I was glad to have an American leader "go back" to what should never have been left in the first place: That ideal of America being a PART of the world. On top of that, Obama raises our aspirations to encompass all of humanity and it's struggle for a better world instead of focusing upon our simple nationalistic ideals.

I do, however, have to take exception to his remark

". . . we must reject the Cold War mind-set of the past, and resolve to work with Russia when we can, to stand up for our values when we must, and to seek a partnership that extends across this entire continent."

He could have stated that so much more eloquently so as to draw the Russian people in rather than set them up as "apart." During his speech, it came across, in my mind, as confrontational amidst all of his other "we are the world" rhetoric.

Other than that, wow!!

Ugh, Obama is just another New World Order puppet...

I couldn't believe how many people came out to see him in Berlin

Obama does have a silver tongue compared to McCain. Considering politics is the ultimate b.s. marketing competition, I certainly hope people don't get their hopes up too much just because someone is offering them hope and change.

My parents are very intelligent people and they're Republicans (err...were, my dad died last year but my mom's still a Republican I guess) because they believe more in small government and in making people take responsibility for their own success and prosperity given the freedom granted to them.

On the other hand, Democrats seem to have more of a "save the world" type mentality which appeals to my helpless "save the world" side that still thinks it can help people that can't, won't, or don't want to help themselves. I like a lot of what Obama has to say in regard to things that are often not brought up as "mainstream" issues, like cracking down on credit card companies for predatory marketing etc., so I'm torn.

If we're kind and generous to make society more equal, won't that just mean a different class of people starts taking advantage of the system? I still don't understand where the fuck welfare came from. If you can't afford to have a kid and don't have a job, then you are the person that shouldn't be allowed to have kids not rewarded for bringing more tragedy and suffering into the world.

Is that a Democrat or Republican view? Neither right? It's a different solution and way of thinking in a whole new direction that focuses on taking care of the problems at hand only as long as they are coupled with measures to prevent the problems from happening again.

Right now, neither party seems to offer solutions like that and I simply don't understand why not.

Fine, open up so new areas for drilling as a stop-gap measure, but don't allow any profits to be made from it, instead require that all proceeds be invested in developing sustainable or renewable energy technology. Is that so hard? Put the carrot in the right place and then you won't need to argue or use the stick.

If the election is a personality contest, Obama will probably win. When I look back at life and the government with the wisdom of my parents years and experience one day, I may consider my present views foolish though.

Since I can't be "world president" by launching the "1" party yet as I hope (get it, hope...) to one day, at this point it's a toss up. McCain pales in comparison to Obama's youth appeal, but the older, wiser Americans may realize not all the problems facing our nation are the result of the Republicans or the Bush Administration and stick with the more "conservative" model of limiting the government's reach.

The one thing I would like to remind everyone of is that it's not one party or the other that has caused or allowed the problems we're facing to exist, it's both of them. I'm all for a big government that takes care of the people, the catch is, it has to TAKE CARE OF THE PEOPLE. The American government obviously hasn't been functioning that well as a whole in many areas, so until it starts WORKING, I'm not so sure giving it more power or increasing its size and scope is such a great idea.

Wait... what country is he trying to become president of? Why doesn't he do more campaigning for the poeple who will actually vote for him.

Yada, yada, ya.

I wish people would stop talking about him like he is jesus...

He's just another politician at the end of the day.
Nothing particularly radical about him.

Yeah, i'd have him over McCain but its not much of a choice.

Also his supporters are like apple fans. Infuriating and smug.

Democrats are acting exactly how Republicans did after they elected Bush. The day when Obama denounces the past seven years of torture, war and surveillance and sweeping presidential powers is he day he gets my vote, Until then his empty words of hope and change mean zilch to me.

What Obama is doing doesn't make sense. Doesn't he realize that people in Berlin and Britain don't get to vote in the U.S. elections?

It's my understanding that Randy Scheunemann, a member of John McCain's bunch, brought to light that Obama has shown little investment in foreign affairs despite his role as a leader for the European Subcommittee of the Foreign Relations Committee. The telling fact, apparently, was "900 days"...since Senator Obama visited Iraq.

Despite Mr. Scheunemann's revealing blow to Obama's effectiveness as a member of the Foreign Relations Committee, Obama countered with his own history making tour of the Middle East and Europe that sent a flabbergasted McCain reeling with disbelief and envy. It was reported that McCain was grumbling that he wanted to visit Germany after he was president, not before.

Prior to Obama's trip to the Middle East and Europe, McCain had Obama on the ropes and let him go.

What might be worth noting is that McCain has toured outside of the U.S., and it wasn't as well publicized as Obama's recent tour. As a matter of fact, McCain was campaigning in Columbia, Mexico, and Canada. Where was his photo op?

McCain doesn't have the political paparazzi feeding frenzy that Obama has.

It won't be long before CNN Headlines creates Access Washington and World Politics with politicians like Russia's Dmitry Medvedev, France's Nicolas Sarkozy, and Spain's José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero.

With such a political entourage, McCain won't be able to keep up; thus, leaving Obama, by way of natural selection, the winner.

In a nutshell, McCain is a Military Oracle...and Obama...well, he is a Political Right's Prodigy.

Where do we put our energy? In the power of our military force? Or in the empowering of our diversified solutions?

Can't wait to see.


our political right's image?

I'm getting a headache from all the comments from people who believe he should be campaigning in the States rather than the rest of the world. No doubt these people would also be the ones to say he has no foreign policy credentials. It's just one week guys, get a grip.

Ps. McCain would probably do the same sort of thing if his campaign could afford it (although as many people say, he wouldn't manage to pull quite the same sort of crowd).

i loves the picture with this story

Something I haven't heard mentioned is absentee voting. Both military and expats abroad had a big affect on the election in 2000 and in Ohio in 2004. A trip overseas might affect those voters as well as others have mentioned help to begin or at least signal a change of course in E.U. U.S. relations and for a weeks time that seems worthwhile. Most notably because N.A.T.O. forces are under increased pressure in Afganistan and experiencing higher casualties than at any time during the six and a half year conflict.

This guy is a total ASS, if he doesn't think Americans can see through this American Idol show he's staging then he's dumber then he looks. Just think how stupid he is going to look when he loses the election and goes back to Europe to party with his friends.