Poor Mitt, it's hard to make friends...

inmytree

polaris_x wrote:

http://www.thestar.com/news/world/article/1232546--london-2012-mitt-romney-in-london-kind-of-like-mr-bean-only-american



“Romney in London,” read one Tweet highlighted on the blog. “Come on. We needed this. It’s a little comic relief. Kind of like Mr. Bean, only he’s an American.”

Mr. Bean....

polaris_x

cincybearcat wrote:

polaris_x wrote:

Romney was also described as “devoid of charm, warmth, humour or sincerity,’” Chapman tweeted.

Ummm, so he's being accused of being British?

hedonist

polaris_x wrote:

cincybearcat wrote:

polaris_x wrote:

Romney was also described as “devoid of charm, warmth, humour or sincerity,’” Chapman tweeted.

Ummm, so he's being accused of being British?

x2 :P

gimmesometruth27

polaris_x wrote:

http://www.thestar.com/news/world/article/1232546--london-2012-mitt-romney-in-london-kind-of-like-mr-bean-only-american

Lee-Anne Goodman
The Canadian Press
19 Comments

WASHINGTON—Mitt Romney’s trip abroad was meant to illustrate his command of the international stage as he aims to deny U.S. President Barack Obama a second term in November.

Instead, there was this headline Thursday adorning one of the biggest and most respected newspapers in Great Britain, the Guardian: “Mitt Romney’s Olympics blunder stuns No. 10 and hands gift to Obama.”

The Guardian even featured a live blog devoted to Romney ridicule.

“Romney in London,” read one Tweet highlighted on the blog. “Come on. We needed this. It’s a little comic relief. Kind of like Mr. Bean, only he’s an American.”

Indeed, Romney’s visit to the country considered America’s closest ally has been a veritable public relations disaster, one that immediately got off to a bad start when an unnamed adviser told the Daily Telegraph that the candidate’s “Anglo-Saxon heritage” means he can forge closer ties with Britain than Obama.

As Romney tried to distance himself from those remarks, the Republican presidential hopeful set off another firestorm when he suggested London wasn’t properly prepared for the Summer Games.

“You know, it’s hard to know just how well it will turn out,” he told NBC News on Wednesday.

“There are a few things that were disconcerting, the stories about the private security firm not having enough people, supposed strike of the immigration and customs officials; that obviously is not something which is encouraging.”

He even raised concerns about the Olympic spirit of the British, asking: “Do they come together and celebrate the Olympic moment? That’s something which we only find out once the Games actually begin.”

Prime Minister David Cameron was not amused.

“You’re going to see beyond doubt that Britain can deliver,” a testy Cameron told reporters on Thursday.

“We are holding an Olympic Games in one of the busiest, most active, bustling cities anywhere in the world. Of course it’s easier if you hold an Olympic Games in the middle of nowhere,” he said in apparent reference to the Salt Lake City Olympics managed by Romney in 2002.

London Mayor Boris Johnson joined in on the pile-on on the eve of the Games’ opening ceremonies later Thursday.

“There’s a guy called Mitt Romney who wants to know whether we’re ready. Are we ready? Are we ready? Yes we are!” Johnson told a cheering crowd of about 60,000 people in Hyde Park.

During a 45-minute meeting at 10 Downing St. earlier Thursday, Cameron reportedly raised his dismay about the remarks. Romney emerged from the meeting with a decidedly different tone.

“I am very delighted with the prospects of a highly successful Olympic Games,” he said. “What I have seen shows imagination and forethought and a lot of organization and I expect the Games to be highly successful.”

The White House, meantime, made a point of highlighting the president’s “full confidence” in Britain’s ability to host a secure Olympics.

“In keeping with our special relationship, the president also made it clear that he has the utmost confidence in our close friend and ally, the United Kingdom, as they finalize preparations to host the London Olympics,” said White House press secretary Jay Carney.

And yet Romney’s gaffes didn’t stop at the Olympics. He also mentioned meeting with the head of the top-secret MI6 British intelligence agency, something considered a protocol lapse.

Even the right-wing British media were critical.

“Who invited him?” asked the The Daily Mail, going on to call Romney’s British visit “humiliating.”

The paper’s political editor, James Chapman, provided a Twitter play-by-play of Romney’s very bad day. The most damning came from Chapman’s Whitehall sources, whom he said branded the candidate “worse than Sarah Palin.”

There was still more. Romney was also described as “devoid of charm, warmth, humour or sincerity,’” Chapman tweeted.

The Daily Mail also reported on what it considered another gaffe, calling it “cringeworthy” when Romney referred to British opposition leader Ed Miliband as “Mr. Leader” after the two men sat down for their own meeting. Other media suggested Romney had forgotten Miliband’s name.

Times of London columnist Janice Turner wondered how Romney will manage trips to actual trouble spots.

“So Mitt Romney disses our Olympics. We’re the Special Relationship, the easy-peasy bit of U.S. foreign relations. How will he deal with China?” she Tweeted.

Romney has also raised eyebrows for a fundraiser Thursday night that was expected to attract employees of Barclays bank, the first financial institution to confess to manipulating a key market index.

Bob Diamond, the disgraced former head of Barclays, was slated to host the fundraiser but has since cancelled. Barclays has been fined $453 million U.S. by American and British authorities.

After attending the opening ceremonies of the London Games on Friday, Romney might be relieved to see the last of Great Britain when he heads to Israel on Saturday. He’ll then visit Poland on Monday, meeting in both countries with public and private officials.

its george bush III

:fp:

josevolution

Hi's a total ass he should just walk around with a shoe in hi's mouth all day long .......

josevolution

cincybearcat wrote:

polaris_x wrote:

Romney was also described as “devoid of charm, warmth, humour or sincerity,’” Chapman tweeted.

Ummm, so he's being accused of being British?

Uhmm no he was being described for what he really is a fake bastard ....

Johnny Abruzzo

Don't think I saw this in this thread (I'm paraphrasing - don't have the exact quotes):

He said he didn't even know when the dressage competition (his wife's horse is in the Olympics) was happening.

The press said he either:
1- is lying
2- is not like all other humans

cincybearcat

josevolution wrote:

cincybearcat wrote:

polaris_x wrote:

Romney was also described as “devoid of charm, warmth, humour or sincerity,’” Chapman tweeted.

Ummm, so he's being accused of being British?

Uhmm no he was being described for what he really is a fake bastard ....

Umm You see that guy in your avatar? Go find him and light him (lighten) the hell up!

josevolution

Cincy i'm allways at ease i suggest you go and light up ...

cincybearcat

josevolution wrote:

Cincy i'm allways at ease i suggest you go and light up ...

I'm good, thanks.

frazba

Jason P wrote:

frazba wrote:

The Guardian is actually famous for being a left leaning newspaper, quite the opposite from what you're suggesting. Criticising Romney's every step makes perfect sense.

The site needs to add a sarcasm smiley.



Maybe we can get Kat to work on it.

:fp:

Apologies, that went right over my head :oops: In my defence though, I was drinking.

RFTC

cincybearcat wrote:

RFTC wrote:

i have not kept up w/the news but if romney really made those comments on brit soil 2 days ahead of the Olympics, it shows he's not ready for primetime. call it a gaffe or whatev but from what i just read, it screams management consultant not president.

someone earlier mentioned what would happen w/china, holy fk w/this guy he'd likely complain about the food being too spicy.

If it were China, no one would have a problem with him saying something bad.

yeah its not lot china is an important country to have good relations with :fp:

i know you were being sarcastic as well, but the dude has problems, when fox news and krauthammer or whatever his name is calls him out it's embarrassing.

the gop elites have got to be thinking of a back up plan, maybe an october surprise?

Byrnzie

cincybearcat wrote:

polaris_x wrote:

Romney was also described as “devoid of charm, warmth, humour or sincerity,’” Chapman tweeted.

Ummm, so he's being accused of being British?

That's rich.

Byrnzie

RFTC wrote:

the gop elites have got to be thinking of a back up plan, maybe an october surprise?

Michelle Bachmann's long lost hillbilly cousin?

cincybearcat

Byrnzie wrote:

cincybearcat wrote:

polaris_x wrote:

Romney was also described as “devoid of charm, warmth, humour or sincerity,’” Chapman tweeted.

Ummm, so he's being accused of being British?

That's rich.

I was going to ask if you had a sense of humor...then I saw your next post.

polaris_x

:fp:

http://www.thestar.com/news/world/artic ... lls-donors

JERUSALEM—Having publicly pledged a “solemn duty and moral imperative” to protect Israel, Mitt Romney told Jewish donors Monday that their culture is part of what has allowed them to be more economically successful than the nearby Palestinians.

“As you come here and you see the GDP per capita, for instance, in Israel which is about $21,000 dollars, and compare that with the GDP per capita just across the areas managed by the Palestinian Authority, which is more like $10,000 per capita, you notice such a dramatically stark difference in economic vitality,” the Republican presidential candidate told about 40 wealthy donors who breakfasted around a U-shaped table at the luxurious King David Hotel.

MORE:Mitt Romney would back Israeli military strike in Iran

The economic disparity between the Israelis and the Palestinians is actually much greater. Israel had a per capita gross domestic product of about $31,000 in 2011, while the West Bank and Gaza had a per capita GDP of just over $1,500, according to the World Bank.

Romney, seated next to billionaire casino owner Sheldon Adelson at the head of the table, said he had read books and relied on his own business experience to understand why the difference is so great.

“And as I come here and I look out over this city and consider the accomplishments of the people of this nation, I recognize the power of at least culture and a few other things,” Romney said, citing an innovative business climate, the Jewish history of thriving in difficult circumstances and the “hand of providence”

The breakfast with top donors — including Adelson, New York Jets owner Woody Johnson and hedge fund manager Paul Singer — concluded Romney’s visit to Israel, the second leg of a three-nation overseas tour designed to bolster the his foreign policy credentials.

MORE:Romney team bars reporters from Jerusalem fundraiser

Standing on Israeli soil for the first time as the GOP’s presumptive presidential nominee, Romney on Sunday declared Jerusalem to be the capital of the Jewish state and said the United States has promised never to “look away from our passion and commitment to Israel.”

The status of Jerusalem is a critical issue in peace talks between the Israelis and the Palestinians.

“Those who believe in the two-state solution must realize that East Jerusalem is the capital of the Palestinian state,” senior Palestinian official Saeb Erekat told The Associated Press. “I don’t think that even during a U.S. presidential election campaign, destroying the two-state solution should be rewarded by Mr. Romney or others.”

During his visit to Israel, Romney did not meet with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas or visit the West Bank. He held a brief meeting with Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad.

Romney’s campaign says his trip abroad, which began in England last week, is aimed at improving the former Massachusetts governor’s foreign policy experience through a series of meetings with foreign leaders. The candidate has largely avoided direct criticism of U.S. President Barack Obama while on foreign soil.

MORE:Why ‘Mitt the Twit’ Romney may be the best thing to happen to London’s Olympics

The Jerusalem fundraiser, however, was a political event that raised more than $1 million for Romney’s campaign. It marks at least the second finance event during his tour. The first, in London, attracted about 250 people to a $2,500 per person fundraiser.

Both presidential candidates have aggressively courted American donors living abroad, a practice that is legal and has been used for decades.

Several donors were among those gathered in Jerusalem for Romney’s speech on Sunday.

Romney’s declaration that Jerusalem is Israel’s capital was keeping with claims made by Israeli governments for decades, even though the United States, like other nations, maintains its embassy in Tel Aviv. He did not say if he would order the embassy moved if he wins the White House, but strongly suggested so in a CNN interview.

His remarks on the subject during his speech drew a standing ovation from his audience, which included Adelson, the American businessman who has promised to donate more than $100 million to help defeat Obama.

Adelson was among a several donors who flew to Israel for a day of sightseeing with Romney in addition to private meetings with top Israeli officials.

A group of donors also met with a top aide to President Benjamin Netanyahu, one donor said on the condition of anonymity to discuss private meetings. After the meeting, the donors toured other historical sites in Jerusalem.

Romney met with Netanyahu and other leaders before the speech. He also visited the Western Wall, Judaism’s holiest site, where he was mobbed by worshippers.

In his remarks, Romney steered clear of overt criticism of Obama, even though he said the threat of a nuclear-armed Iran “has only become worse” in the past five years.

In an unspoken rebuttal to Obama and other critics, Romney said, “It is sometimes said that those who are the most committed to stopping the Iranian regime from securing nuclear weapons are reckless and provocative and inviting war.

“The opposite is true. We are the true peacemakers,” he said.

Romney flew to the Middle East from Britain, where he caused a stir by questioning whether officials there were fully prepared for the Olympic Games. A stop in Poland will complete his trip.

Four years ago, Obama visited Israel as a presidential candidate, part of a five-nation trip meant to establish his own foreign policy credentials.

A goal of Romney’s overseas trip is to demonstrate his confidence on the world stage, but his stop in Israel also was designed to appeal to evangelical voters at home and to cut into Obama’s support among Jewish voters and donors. A Gallup survey of Jewish voters released Friday showed Obama with a 68-25 edge over Romney.

Romney and other Republicans have said Obama is insufficiently supportive of Israel, noting statements the president has made about settlements and his handling of evident Iranian attempts to develop nuclear weapons.

In a March speech before a pro-Israel lobby in Washington, Obama warned of “loose talk of war” that serves only to drive up oil prices. “Now is the time to let our increased pressure sink in and sustain the broad international coalition we have built,” he said at the time.

AP writers Amy Teibel in Jerusalem and Steve Peoples in Washington contributed to this report

FinsburyParkCarrots

Jason P wrote:

The Guardian has always had a pro-american ... and especially pro-republican ... demeanor to their organization.
:fp:

It has?

Okay, saw the follow-up posts. Carry on. Just checking.

PJ_Soul

cincybearcat wrote:

Yep, much better to just say nice things rather than actually talk about the realities. And he knows a thing or 2 about the Olympics. Not to mention, all he said was that there have been some issues and we'll have to see how London pulls it out. Not really that bad, unless of course you are just a miserable person waiting for the next reason to be outraged.

It was just totally rude and unnecessary, and he should have known better, ESPECIALLY because of his role in Salt Lake. It simply showed his inexperience (or lack of of ability) when it comes to diplomacy and tact, which is a pretty important part of the job he's interviewing for.

Oh, and I think he will get the US into a war with Iran if he wins the election. Good times.

PJ_Soul

BBC article - Trip ends on sour note.

All in all, it may have done him more harm than good.... or not. Frankly, I think Romney could be exposed for some seedy sex scandal, and it still wouldn't change voters' minds. I think just about everyone's minds are already made up because the US is SO polarized at this point, the gap between the candidates is too large for really anyone to cross either way.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-19052292

Byrnzie

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/ju ... ic-success

The presumptive Republican candidate in the the US presidential race told a $25,000-a-head (£16,000) fundraising event in Jerusalem: "As I come here and I look out over this city and consider the accomplishments of the people of this nation, I recognise the power of at least culture and a few other things."

"I am overwhelmingly impressed with the hand of providence, whenever it chooses to apply itself, and also the greatness of the human spirit, and how individuals who reach for greatness and have purpose above themselves are able to build and accomplish things that could only be done by a species created in the image of God."


'A few other things'? Like $4 Billion of U.S Aid every year? And 40 years of U.S vetoes at the U.N in Israel's favour?

What a douchebag.