SHARKPUNDITRATA

For the 262,368 times, the MSM has dwelt on why Obama should not accept that the ‘Surge’ advocated by McCain has worked in Iraq, while ignoring the same question of McCain of why he voted for the iraq war, said Americans would be welcomed with love and that the war would hardly cost the American tax payers anything in monetary or terms.  Yet the war has cost more than $700 billion and counting and over 4000 lives. 

Senator Barack Obama returned from his triumphant world tour of the Middle East and Europe over the weekend.  The American main stream media (called MSM in short) has been trying its best to dilute the nostalgic admiration shown by world leaders to Obama, while high-lighting the griping of his Republican opponent Senator McCain. 

Before Obama left on this historic tour, there were speculations in abundance about the mistakes he was likely to make and how it would cost him.  But the tour was very successful, so much so to the envy of the McCain campaign, which had goaded Obama to make the trip, but now doing everything to undermine the tour.  Here are some of the highlights of the tour.  New York Times’ ‘The Caucus,’ by Jeff Zeleny gushed in a headline

OBAMA’S HIGH-POWERED RIDE TO THE AIRPORT

AMMAN, Jordan — The king drove the senator to the airport.

After dinner at His Majesty’s palace tonight, known here as Beit Al Urdan, Senator Barack Obama was headed to catch a plane to Israel. So King Abdullah got behind the wheel of his dark-gray Mercedes Benz, Mr. Obama hopped in the passenger’s seat and they headed through the streets to Jordan/Queen Alia International Airport.

The motorcade — unlike the United States, which contained more Mercedes than mini-vans — created a bit of a stir when it arrived on the dark tarmac. Reporters and photographers stood watch as King Abdullah stepped out of his door first, followed by Mr. Obama.

The two stood at the steps of the plane, talking for several moments before saying their farewells.

King Abdullah, who had been in Aspen, Colo., made a special trip back to Amman to see Mr. Obama tonight. He was waiting at the door of his home when the senator arrived. (Queen Rania was said to be on hand, but was not seen by reporters.)

“Thank you so much,” Mr. Obama said as the king pumped his hand. The two had briefly met once on Capitol Hill, but had never shared a one-one-one meeting.

“Let’s make a photo opportunity,” King Abdullah said, re-enacting their handshakes and smiling broadly for the cameras.

And so they did, repeating the scene one more time a few hours later in the shadow of the newly-painted Obama campaign plane.

Even before he left for the tour, Iraq Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki had announced his support of Obama’s timetable for withdrawing troops from Iraq.  The German magazine, Spiegel, published the interview with the PM, and here’s what it said:

Iraq Leader Maliki Supports Obama’s Withdrawal Plans

In an interview with SPIEGEL, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said Barack Obama’s 16 month timeframe for a withdrawal from Iraq is the right one.

Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki supports US presidential candidate Barack Obama’s plan to withdraw US troops from Iraq within 16 months. When asked in and interview with SPIEGEL when he thinks US troops should leave Iraq, Maliki responded “as soon as possible, as far as we are concerned.” He then continued: “US presidential candidate Barack Obama talks about 16 months. That, we think, would be the right timeframe for a withdrawal, with the possibility of slight changes.”

Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki says he agrees with US presidential candidate Barack Obama’s plans for withdrawing US troops from Iraq.

Maliki was careful to back away from outright support for Obama. “Of course, this is by no means an election endorsement. Who they choose as their president is the Americans’ business,” he said. But then, apparently referring to Republican candidate John McCain’s more open-ended Iraq policy, Maliki said: “Those who operate on the premise of short time periods in Iraq today are being more realistic. Artificially prolonging the tenure of US troops in Iraq would cause problems.”

Then, it was on to Germany, where more than 200,000 adoring fans chanted his name and ate up every word he said.  The German English language Local Online, had this to say: 

Over 200,000 jubilant Barack Obama supporters shut down the centre of Berlin on Thursday evening to listen to the US presidential candidate give an impassioned speech on the global challenges of the 21st century.

Berlin gears up for Obama visit (24 Jul 08)

Obama plays down expectations before Berlin speech (24 Jul 08)

Can Germany’s Obamania last? (22 Jul 08)

People from all walks of life streamed to the German capital’s Victory Column memorial at the heart of the city’s Tiergarten park hoping for a glimpse of the popular US senator from Illinois.

In France, President Sarkozy called Obama his pal, and waited outside the Elysee Palace to welcome him.  Ben Smith of Politico.com wrote

Sarkozy: Obama’s my ‘pal’

French President Nicolas Sarkozy is offering Obama a warm welcome on the day of their meeting, in an interview with the conservative daily Le Figaro.

“Obama? He’s my pal,” the president told Le Figaro. “Unlike my diplomatic advisers, I never believed in Hillary Clinton’s chances. I always said that Obama would be nominated.”

Sarkozy added that an Obama victory “would validate” his strategy of reconcilation with the United States. His embrace of the United States has made him American conservatives’ favorite Continental politician, but he doesn’t seem to be reciprocating.

Meanwhile, the French press appears to be welcoming Obama Friday with some of the same excitement as the Germans Thursday. The cover of the liberal daily Liberation, above, says Obama showed in Berlin that he’s presidential material, and the inside story headlines his appeal for unity.

One interesting detail from Le Figaro: The Obama-Sarkozy meeting will be conducted with a minimum of fuss, to mark it off clearly from the trappings of a presidential visit.

“Nicolas Sarkozy’s advisers received only one demand from the team of the Democratic candidate: no American flag for the press conference, because it’s a candidate being received, not the president of the United States.”

A gigantic world tour, and recognition from world leaders that Obama is a leader they could deal with comfortably, whether in Iraq, Israel, Germany, France, United Kingdom, they all felt extremely comfortable dealing with Obama to the extent that Frank Rich of the New York Times called Obama, ‘The Acting President.’

But back here in America, it is a different story.  Everybody in America knows that McCain is a darling of the media estalishment, he couldn’t do any wrong, in fact, remember when he and Obama appeared at the Associated Press evemt in Washington, DC, in April this year.  The media gave McCain a standing ovation and AP’s Liz Sidoti brought him favorite doughnut and coffee with a little cream, but the president of the AP ‘mistakenly’ called Obama, ‘Osama’ a la Osama bin Laden.  If you were to collect all the gaffes that McCain has made, and dump them in the Atlantic ocean, they would fill the whole ocean, but you wouldn’t notice it if you were reading the MSM. 

For the 262,368 times, the MSM has dwelt on why Obama should not accept that the ‘Surge’ advocated by McCain has worked in Iraq, while ignoring the same question of McCain of why he voted for the iraq war, said Americans would be welcomed with love and that the war would hardly cost the American tax payers anything in monetary or terms.  Yet the war has cost more than $700 billion and counting and over 4000 lives.

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