Governor Mitt Romney had a chance to demonstrate on his trip to Great Britain, Israel, and Poland that he is ready to take on the duties of America’s top diplomat and commander in chief — among the presidency’s most vital responsibilities. Yet for reasons that are hard to understand, Romney undermined himself through surprising lapses in judgment and careless rhetoric, and he failed to articulate his core beliefs on international policy. Far from building confidence in his foreign-policy credentials, the trip actually fueled doubts about his readiness to lead in the most complex and dangerous international environment in a generation.
Inevitably, foreign-policy tryouts for presidential candidates have much more to do with politics than with serious policy. Romney had much to showcase. He is very smart, and is more experienced and capable than his critics allow. Still, the erratic nature of his remarks in each capital was mystifying, especially in light of how important the trip was to his electoral hopes.
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Professor Burns passes off Mitt Romney's missteps as just a bad few days in the campaign. It is more relevant to note the neo-conservative rhetoric Mr. Romney espoused. This is no fluke. He is getting his advice from a who's who of those who pushed the Iraq War even before 9/11. This kind of philosophy that embraces dangerous adventurism in other countries to flex our muscles and maintain a military chokehold should be on public display before anything happens. We have lost thousands of young people and ruined tens of thousands more lives for little or even negative gain. Besides these losses it has added to the debt since both wars were waged on borrowed money and we will be paying for those injured for years to come. It is only proper to take care of these people but it will extract a heavy price in human terms and financially. If these are the people Mr. Romney relies on to run his foreign policy he should not be President. President Bush used these same characters with disastrous results. We do not need a repeat performance.
It is sad that a learned professor would fall lockstep into repeating the liberal media talking points about the trip. Remember the famous Obama trip in 2008, when the crowds were all showcased, and the fawning media could do nothing but slobber praise on this part time law instructor/community organizer? The differences between the trips, from the standpoint of media treatment, are nothing short of jaw dropping. Burns should know better. NEW PARAGRAPH: In London, Mitt simply answered a question which acknowledged some of the challenges that had been reported in the news in the week before he arrived. God forbid!! He called these stories "disconcerting"!!! Surely a community organizer would have said something else. NEW PARAGRAPH: HIs commentary on the Palestinians should have recognized the burned placed on them by Israel. But his overall message was strong, insightful, and bold. Yes-Culture matters. Only a community organizer would suggest that all cultures provide the same opportunity for economic growth, and he would be praised to high heaven for saying such a stupid thing. NEW PARAGRAPH: Mitt has to realize that the Obama media is going to act like this until Nov 6. He must rise above it, laugh at its idiocy, and show the presidential demeanor that our current chief executive never seemed to learn.
Eager and enthusiastic critics howl at the moon as the faux pas king, Barack Obama, tries to repaint his image bowing to that Saudi King. His "solid" foreign policy credentials include demanding the Jews shrink their country to the size of Long Island to appease his Muslim brothers. Obama's foreign policy record has so little impact on our current election his foot prints in the sand all lead to some quiet retirement spot. What has he done on foreign policy? I know what he did on America's internal economic policy. He sponsors hate and class warfare. He offers no national budget to promote economic growth and, if you're looking for a job in America now, check McDonalds. Yesterday, African American Christian pastors declared war on Obama and called him a disgrace to their race and America. That, "folks" is pretty powerful repudiation of Americas second black President.
I suspect his remarks in Israel were dog whistles to the "left behind" crazies back home.
None of these were mistakes. They were insight into the proposed Romney administration. Remember, Willard said last week that Dick Cheney is exactly the kind of man he wants for VP. Mitt isn't all that bright and isnt allowed to do much of his own thinking, leaving him clueless when asked a question without a handler within earshot to let him know what to say. Its a shame that the conventions havent even happened yet and the republican party is already committed to following The Mittster off the cliff.
************************Romney thought we would have to wait and see if BRITAIN was ready. The Mayor of LONDON was before a crowd yelling " ARE WE READY" ???? DID YOU SEE THE PICTURE OF THE MAYOR OF LONDON STUCK ON THE ZIP LINE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Are they ready yet??????????? This writer is from Harvard's KENNEDY school of GOVERNMENT. That explains a lot./
What we need is teleprompters with brains! We haven't really seen Romney enough yet to draw your conclusion re: handy handlers, but we have seen your guy blowing it with his off the cuff remarks sans teleprompter. Re: Mitt's IQ. he was bright enough to exceed the requirements for employment as a community organizer. To repeat the "talking points" I am accused of throwing around, if Mr. Obama is so brilliant, why doesn't he released his academic records starting with that little red school house in Jakarta?
Romney is not prepared to be president. His international experience involves Swiss bank accounts and finding countries for the jobs he outsourced while at Bain. Combined with his proven lies, spineless flip-flopping, tax cheating, and record-shredding secretiveness, the man is nothing but a neocon puppet.
You have to be kidding! Right? Undeleted expletives and name calling really nail your case, and have you forgotten guess who's experience and training for the job? Please provide more information and drop the silly name calling.
Obama's solid international record....? Like the newest security leak on Syria?
He teaches at Harvard - what do you expect. Just like Indian Lizzie who wants $1 trillion in infrastructure spending....
Will be happy to supply this info later, profox. Only have a PDA at the moment, but check back late tonight. In the meantime, read the Globe's story from last week or so on the shredding of documents related to Romney's time running the Salt Lake City Olympics. The Globe ran a similar story in recent months about the shredding of documents from when Romney was governor. Now he refuses to release his tax returns because they may show he paid zero or almost no taxes. That's tax cheating in my book.
mecn - I assume you are ok w/ Obama not releasing medical or academic records? Or his support of Holder?
Obama's so called international record - consists of the SKILLS of Secretary of State Hillary Clinton! On the other hand, Obama's faux pas are glaring, but ignored by the media. Obama whispering and assuring Putnin to "wait until after the (U.S.) elections" before Obama would speak openly!!@!!!. This ditty was picked up on an open mike and reported voraciously in European news papers. The U.S. press has given Obama a 'free ride' during his first campaign to this very day.
Obama swore that he would "not have voted in support of the war." Obama promised to "end the war." Obama promised to 'bring home the troops' if elected President.
The Democratic party started their own media team trailing the Mitt Romney campaign. Not only are they feeding the U.S. media, but they are trying to influence foreign opinion. The Democrats have turned the political process into antagonistic warfare. The behavior and actions introduced by the Democrats has never been seen in the history of free democracy. Where the voters want rational decision making and collaboration in Washington ****the Democrats have set out to ensure they stay in power no matter the tactics or the mentality*****fair process is buried in this political fight.
OH, I forgot to remind those who believe Mr. Obama's IQ is off the charts that he thinks America has 57 States and the U.S. Marines are called the "Marine Corpse" as in dead bodies.
begolfing, thanks for changing the subject. We're talking about Romney. But to to respond to your question, assuming your claim is true, and to the degree such releases have been made by other candidates/presidents, then sure, I would prefer to see him release those records. If you are questioning the basic idea that he graduated then you're just spouting empty conspiracy theories. Question for you: Do you think it's OK for a potential future president to pay little to no taxes? What kind of role model is that? Set aside your hatred for Obama when responding.
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He payed the taxes he owed. Blame the system not the participant
That's not an answer.
it isnt?
The West Bank and Gaza were economically pitiful prior to 1967 and the peace process has been all process, no peace, so giving up the U.S. role as mediator isn't giving up much. Some Democratic policy wonk from Camelot High School doesn't like Romney, what a shock. I give Professor Burns an "F" for this shoddy piece of DNC agitprop.
I'm a Jew, and "my country" is the United States. Same goes for other American Jews. That's a subtle distinction that you and Mittler don't seem to have internalized.
Just like he flunked at being governor of Massachusetts...