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Europe
America snubs historic Paris rally
2015-01-12
Holder skipped out of proceedings early, Kerry was in India, Obama and Biden just stayed home

President Barack Obama and other top members of his administration have snubbed a historic rally in Paris today that brought together more than 40 world leaders from Europe, Africa, the Middle East and even Russia.
'France is our oldest ally,' Obama said during a speech Friday in Tennessee. 'I want the people of France to know that the United States stands with you today, stands with you tomorrow.'

But he wasn't standing in Paris as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas put aside their differences and linked arms. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and Russian Foreign Affairs Minister Sergei Lavrov made the same unifying gesture in the march down the Place de la Concorde in defiance of the Islamist terror attacks that rocked the city last week.

According to an administration official, President Obama spent part of his Sunday afternoon watching a National Football League game on television. Both games were broadcast hours after the march.
How 'bout them Packers, huh Champ?
Heads of state from every major European power, including British Prime Minister David Cameron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, joined French President Francois Hollande.

Obama and Vice President Joe Biden remained in Washington, despite having no events on their public schedules Sunday. Secretary of State John Kerry was a world away in India, on a pre-planned trip.
Isn't this what vice-presidents are for?
Attorney General Eric Holder was in Paris for a terrorism summit held on the march's sidelines, but he slipped away and made appearances on four American morning television talk shows just as the incredible rally was starting.

The US was represented at the march only by Jane Hartley, the American ambassador to France who is unrecognizable to most Americans, let alone the rest of the world.

A senior administration official was quick to point out, however, that 'Attorney General Holder – a Cabinet level official – is representing the United States at the security meetings in Paris today.'
Not even Jen Penski could stir herself to make a statement?
'He is joined by the DHS Deputy Secretary [Alejandro] Mayorkas,' the official added in a statement to many news outlets.
'The United States is represented at the march by Ambassador Hartley.'

And 'as far as public signs of French solidarity from the U.S.,' the official concluded, 'don't forget several public statements from the president, his call to Hollande and a condolence stop to the French embassy.'
More words. From Champ. That'll do a lot of good. Much, much more criticism from just about everyone, from Newt Gingrich to Fareed Zakaria, at the link.
Posted by:Steve White

#17  Our president is actually complicit in what happened in Paris. Instead of standing up for free speech and free expression, we have heard seen him say that the “future must not belong to those who would slander the prophet of Islam.” This type of pandering statement amounts to appeasement and encourages the acts of Jihad against those who exercise free speech and free expression.
Posted by: Mugsy Glink   2015-01-12 21:15  

#16  Kerry and Holder were actually in Paris.

Um, no. Holder was, but Kerry was in India.
Posted by: Pappy   2015-01-12 20:40  

#15  Nice little analysis: Barak Obama's Harriet Miers Moment. Seriously.
Posted by: Hupineger Glomomp7489   2015-01-12 19:41  

#14  Hen heh ZF, high concept indeed.

Now What?
In which a suddenly unemployed senior executive moves back to his old neighborhood and tries to fit in.

Pilot: The Beard
Barry has a problem growing a real beard. He turns to his on again off again friend Plugs for advice.

Need a 10 pm slot, unless we rewrite Moo.
Posted by: Shipman   2015-01-12 18:04  

#13  Surprised a Clinton or two didn't appear at the Paris rally.
Posted by: rjschwarz   2015-01-12 14:50  

#12  #7 do you really think Champ could get a beard like that to grow?

Day One of retirement, he's striving
The hair on his jaw to enliven.
It's not like a beard
On his chin would be weird --
The other one seems to be thriving.
Posted by: Zenobia Floger6220   2015-01-12 14:42  

#11  Kerry and Holder were actually in Paris. Champ was watching football, or stroking his chicken, or both. The FOAD message from the regime is palpable.
Posted by: Besoeker   2015-01-12 14:27  

#10  self-respecting Mohammadan

Oxymoron of the ages nomination.
Posted by: Anice Nim   2015-01-12 14:19  

#9  Wrong people marching. No self-respecting Mohammadan would march arm-in-arm with a Jew and a Brit.
Posted by: Besoeker   2015-01-12 13:40  

#8  Obama and others were ironically watching a viewing of Selma.
Posted by: Airandee   2015-01-12 13:33  

#7  JohnQC, do you really think Champ could get a beard like that to grow?
Posted by: Ebbang Uluque6305   2015-01-12 11:59  

#6  ValJar did not think the anti-muslim optics would help his post presidency plans, or hers.

I would say that it's more related to current presidential plans and involves a particular 'constituency'.
Posted by: Pappy   2015-01-12 11:17  

#5  Now that I think about it, this turd may have done a good thing, regardless of the reason. He does, after all, have that magic Inverse Midas Touch that destroys anything he gets involved with.

France may still have a chance as long as he stays away.
Posted by: Nguard   2015-01-12 11:05  

#4  

Well, just maybe there is a reason.

Posted by: JohnQC   2015-01-12 10:18  

#3  Surprised. True, the march is an empty gesture that demonstrates weakness. but it's the type of meaningless theatre that community organizers embrace.
Posted by: regular joe   2015-01-12 10:17  

#2  ValJar did not think the anti-muslim optics would help his post presidency plans, or hers. Conversely, the side he will be "clintoning" for deep pockets and adorarion is defined all the more....
Posted by: NoMoreBS   2015-01-12 10:12  

#1  Same White House cabal that snubs America on a daily basis. Welcome to the club.
Posted by: Procopius2k   2015-01-12 09:29  

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