Well it's obvious now, isn't it? If you want to win an election just pop 'over there' and get your agent to book you in for a one off performance in that Theatre of Fools, Congress, where you can spend a happy hour up on the podium before the world's media telling them their president is as thick as a plank. If you make it fierce enough it will drive fancy Nancy Pelosi to tears and thus win you even more plaudits from your audience. However, more important, it will play like a dream to your home audience who, as 'Bibi' Netanyahu guessed, will flock to the polls and defy all those wishy-washy liberal commentators who forecast his demise by voting him in with a solid majority.
The history of the divorce between Israel and America has yet to be written but that will not stop me from my position of sublime ignorance from pointing the finger of blame straight at Obama. From day one of his presidency he was determined to detach himself from Israel and to seek rapprochement with Muslim states. Gazing around the utter shambles that is the middle east now one is entitled to ask, 'Went the day well, Mr. President?'
Anyway, Dave, mate, don't hang around, book a quickie return flight to Washington, get the afternoon slot in Congress so that you hit the evening schedules 'over here' and tell 'em that Obama is a prat. They're solidly Republican these days so you should get a standing ovation. Then back home ready to pick up the victory wreath!
I expect he would follow your advice but he has got his head stuck up Obama's backside!
Posted by: backofanenvelope | Wednesday, 18 March 2015 at 09:10
Alas, like so many other prime ministers before him.
But as it happens, BOE, you touch upon a subject - Anglo-American relations - upon which I intend to pontificate when I have sorted out what passes for my mind.
Posted by: David Duff | Wednesday, 18 March 2015 at 09:52
I can't remember where I read this and I'm sure I've completly mangled the idea, but someone said something to the effect that Obama's foreign policy has been to make enemies of the USA's friends and to try but fail to make friends of the USA's enemies.
Posted by: Kevin B | Wednesday, 18 March 2015 at 10:15
A fair summary, I think, Kevin.
Posted by: David Duff | Wednesday, 18 March 2015 at 10:20
Try a google on Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. A major new initiative by the Chinese that is opposed by Obama, but which the UK, Australia and NZ have joined. Another great success for Obama!
Posted by: backofanenvelope | Wednesday, 18 March 2015 at 10:20
Do pay attention, BOE, or I will have to send you up to the Head! I wrote about the AIIB a couple of posts down! Even so, it is yet another small indicator that the 'tectonic plates' (sorry to use such an old analogy!) are shifting.
Posted by: David Duff | Wednesday, 18 March 2015 at 11:10
So you did! Sorry. No comments tho'. Not even from Whitewall!
Posted by: Backofanenvelope | Wednesday, 18 March 2015 at 11:15
I have it on excellent authority that he is cogitating!
Posted by: David Duff | Wednesday, 18 March 2015 at 11:30
I sent 'Bibi' an email congratulating him. This is not the time for a safty when the Jihadists are running amock killing their own.
Posted by: jimmy glesga | Wednesday, 18 March 2015 at 23:52
Bidon insults the NI loyalist community and Obama has a problem with shaking the hand of Edna Kenny. It is put down to a joke. Time for the Democrats to have a rethink about their candidates. Even Nixon tried to be a diplomat. Obama reminds me of Dulles.
Posted by: jimmy glesga | Thursday, 19 March 2015 at 03:19
"I sent 'Bibi' an email congratulating him."
I thought he looked especially pleased on the news last night!
Posted by: David Duff | Thursday, 19 March 2015 at 08:37
Obama's new policy toward Israel---spite. Israel's new policy toward Obama--contempt and distrust. Sounds about right.
Posted by: Whitewall | Thursday, 19 March 2015 at 13:20
Spot on, I'd say!
Posted by: David Duff | Thursday, 19 March 2015 at 15:09
Got a reply from 'Bibi' unlike Chanel 4 News!
Posted by: jimmy glesga | Thursday, 19 March 2015 at 20:27
What was it, "Oi vey, my life already" or something like that?
Posted by: David Duff | Thursday, 19 March 2015 at 22:04
It was in Hebrew! But I think he was saying, Jimmy, I will take you for a pint in Glesga where I know I can walk freely doon ra streets without interuption from the loonie lefties.
Posted by: jimmy glesga | Friday, 20 March 2015 at 02:00
Have a care, Jimmy, you'll end up paying for the drinks!
Posted by: David Duff | Friday, 20 March 2015 at 08:18