If that doesn't take the cake!
The White House, under their very vocal spokesperson, Robert Gibbs, emphatically stated that Former President Bill Clinton was not sanctioned by the US Government when he flew to North Korea to negotiate with Kim Jong II the pardon of two Americans senteced to 12 years of hard labor.
Gibbs even, while the discussions were in progress and was asked about Clinton delivering a message from President Obama, flatly denied it, claiming that Clinton had no message to deliver.
So, how is it that Obama allows North Korea to save face?
How does the WH claim this "victory" when they denied Clinton was acting on their behalf?
Politics.
Not statesmanship.
Politics.
Double-faced, double-talk, secret deals, clandestine operations.
Even lying to Main Street USA about what was going on.
At this point, I must agree with a couple of analysts that I have heard saying that the WH was going to use this in an attempt to stop, and hopefully reverse, Obama's falling favorable opinion status.
Our politicians, and their appointed cronies, seem to think that they can say whatever they please, to whomever they please.
Maybe that is a lesson for Main Street USA to learn.
Speaking of lessons, watch out about this national health reform.
From what I hear, not one person in Congress has read the entire bill, all 1,100-plus pages.
So, why to they then get a recess? They only work, what, 184 days a year anyway. That means that have 181 days off a year.
Demand that your ELECTED representative READ the legislation themselves (not one of their people). Then have them tell you what you can expect. And, then ask them what the difference is between how it will affect you and how it will affect them, sitting in their plush DC office, with their staff, their (virtually unmonitored) expense accounts, etc.
I dare say not one of them can guarantee that you will not see your taxes raised when the anticipated revenues fall short and expenses end up higher than projected.
I know this started off about North Korea, but this is the direction my mind went and I let it go.
Over For Now,
Main Street One
Showing posts with label Kim Jong II. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kim Jong II. Show all posts
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Negotiating The Release, Stay Away, Gibbs
It was nice to see Former President Bill Clinton at work with North Korea securing a special pardon for our two captive Americans.
Of course, the first thought that popped in my mind when I heard that he was traveling across the globe was about how Secretary of State Hillary Clinton had botched her communications with Pyongyang a couple of weeks ago in what ended up as an argument conducted through the media.
In my opinion, the exchange between the Secretary and North Korea bordered on the childish.
And the State Department is supposed to conduct foreign affairs, generally through statesman-like conduct.
That aside, it was a great effort by President Bill and it was nice to hear a few minutes ago that he, Laura Lynn and Euna Lee are heading back to the United States. I could not imagine 12 years of hard labor in North Korea.
One thing that I certainly did not understand was when, while the negotiations were still on-going, White House spokesman Robert Gibbs announced to the media (which was immediately reported and, I am sure, read by people in North Korea) that Clinton did not take a message from President Obama to Kim Jong II.
Even if it was not true, I doubt that the former President would have made it a very long comment and would absolutely have been something that Obama would have said.
Thus, for Gibbs to shoot off that comment while Clinton and Jong were still in the midst of their talks, was ill-advised, to say the least.
To coin a phrase, Gibbs "acted stupidly."
Why?
Because that comment could have cast a deep shadow on Clinton's trip and his overall credibility as someone negotiating "in good faith." Fortunately, it did not affect the pardon. But, it certainly could have knocked the train off the tracks.
Take a lesson, here, Mr. Gibbs, watch what you say in the future.
Over For Now,
Main Street One
Of course, the first thought that popped in my mind when I heard that he was traveling across the globe was about how Secretary of State Hillary Clinton had botched her communications with Pyongyang a couple of weeks ago in what ended up as an argument conducted through the media.
In my opinion, the exchange between the Secretary and North Korea bordered on the childish.
And the State Department is supposed to conduct foreign affairs, generally through statesman-like conduct.
That aside, it was a great effort by President Bill and it was nice to hear a few minutes ago that he, Laura Lynn and Euna Lee are heading back to the United States. I could not imagine 12 years of hard labor in North Korea.
One thing that I certainly did not understand was when, while the negotiations were still on-going, White House spokesman Robert Gibbs announced to the media (which was immediately reported and, I am sure, read by people in North Korea) that Clinton did not take a message from President Obama to Kim Jong II.
Even if it was not true, I doubt that the former President would have made it a very long comment and would absolutely have been something that Obama would have said.
Thus, for Gibbs to shoot off that comment while Clinton and Jong were still in the midst of their talks, was ill-advised, to say the least.
To coin a phrase, Gibbs "acted stupidly."
Why?
Because that comment could have cast a deep shadow on Clinton's trip and his overall credibility as someone negotiating "in good faith." Fortunately, it did not affect the pardon. But, it certainly could have knocked the train off the tracks.
Take a lesson, here, Mr. Gibbs, watch what you say in the future.
Over For Now,
Main Street One
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