Sarkozy: Obama Naive And Conceited

[Marc39]

Barack Hussein Obama's need for adoration seems to be a bit unrequited, at least by one French politician...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GwGCTvpOi1I

[oldhat]

So Jack Kelly (who looks and sounds drunk in that segment) says that he has an unnamed friend who has an unnamed friend who is close to Sarkozy who heard him say Obama is naive (in regards to the Iran issue).

And this was a Fox News scoop.

Sounds real *********** airtight to me.

[quixotecoyote]

The two presidents' very different personalities can collide: Obama, smiling but aloof, treats Sarkozy as one of many not-quite-equals in Europe, while Sarkozy, the backslapper, likes to call the U.S. president his "buddy," but hasn't had the favor returned

....

Sarkozy's Obama complex is now a subject of persistent media speculation in France—and could become a real problem if the Obama administration doesn't make more of an effort to understand it. This isn't just a matter of policies and personalities, but of politics. In France's troubled banlieues, many young people of African and Arab origin who once sported Che T shirts now wear Obama's image instead. A recent Transatlantic Trends poll shows that Obama has a phenomenal 88 percent approval rating in France, while Sarkozy generally scores under 50. As some French journalists cautioned the new U.S. ambassador to France recently in a private meeting, if Sarkozy ever fears that the American president might try to bypass him and appeal directly to the French people on important issues, then Sarkozy's testy friendship could turn to bitter enmity.http://www.newsweek.com/id/216240


Ohhh! Is this going to be our thing Marc? You search around for people saying negative things about Obama and post them without thinking, and I follow up by pointing out the context that makes you look silly for doing it?

I haven't had a good dose of forum drama since that Finland-Russia fanatic stopped posting.

eta: Here's some more. Sarkozy's got a big mouth:
Sarkozy reportedly described Obama as inexperienced, ill-prepared by advisers, and thus far "not always up to standard on decision-making and efficiency." And those turned out to be relatively kind words. Sarkozy said German Chancellor Angela Merkel had been reluctantly forced by economic realities to copy his own policies for dealing with the recession. Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, said the French President, was simply "not very clever."

...


Sarkozy also suggested that Italian premier Silvio Berlusconi's multiple elections wins is proof of his greatness. "What is important in democracy is to be re-elected," Libération cited Sarkozy as saying, a phrase unlikely to join "fraternité, égalité et liberté" as a description of French democratic ideals.
http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1892375,00.html

Would you like to stand behind Sarkozy's opinions of national leaders, knowing that he's a big fan of Berlusconi?

[varwoche]

Barack Hussein Obama's need for adoration seems to be a bit unrequited, at least by one French politician...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GwGCTvpOi1I This is so phenomonally flimsy that it's a joke. Even if true, nobody (who is vaguely rational) would give a damn. Your post may as well be written by a liberal who is trying to discredit people who are anti Obama. Please, do keep up the good work!

[headscratcher4]

"Barack Hussein Obama's need ..."

And this assertion is based on?

[oldhat]

You know the Republicans are scraping the bottom of the barrel when they're using hearsay by French politicians.

[Upchurch]

"Barack Hussein Obama's need ..."

And this assertion is based on?

Marc39's need to really, really, really not like Obama?

[Dr Adequate]

Well, this had "fail" written all over it from the get-go, didn't it?

[Shalamar]

Well, this had "fail" written all over it from the get-go, didn't it?

I predict that Marc will respond that we just don't understand, and can't read what is really being said.

That, or he'll just ignore the thread entirely.

[leftysergeant]

Would you like to stand behind Sarkozy's opinions of national leaders, knowing that he's a big fan of Berlusconi?

Just based on his delusion that Berluscni gets elected because he is a good leader reinforces what the Spanish official said about his not being too bright.

The little Mafioso BUYS the election. He owns all the TV outlets and the voting machines.

Whaadda soooprise that he keeps getting elected.

Sarkozy should just go home and enjoy his trophy wife and stop posing as an intellectual and an inovator.

[psychictv]

This is pretty serious. As the Republicans have warned us time and again, French opinion about our President should have a central role in shaping our public policy and our own opinions of the President... oh wait.

[Dr Adequate]

This is pretty serious. As the Republicans have warned us time and again, French opinion about our President should have a central role in shaping our public policy and our own opinions of the President... oh wait. We have no evidence that Sarkozy said any such thing. It might perfectly well be garbage invented by Fox News.

Now, as the Republicans have told us again and again, garbage invented by Fox News should have a central role in shaping our public policy and our own opinions of the President.

And then you have the nerve to accuse them of inconsistency?

[psychictv]

So... does that prove that Fox is French?

[Undesired Walrus]

Barack Hussein Obama's need for adoration seems to be a bit unrequited, at least by one French politician...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GwGCTvpOi1I

You're not supporting the US President are you Frenchy? Go back to Russia.

[MikeMangum]

Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, said the French President, was simply "not very clever."

Concerning Zapatero, Sarko was incredibly kind to refer to him "not very clever".

[Cynic]

So... does that prove that Fox is French?

No no no: Fox is Freedom.

[DC]

Barack Hussein Obama's need for adoration seems to be a bit unrequited, at least by one French politician...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GwGCTvpOi1I

LOL

Fox "News"....

[FrankChurch]

He's a cheeseeater, what does he know..lol

[Marc39]

Sarkozy's negative impressions of Barack Hussein Obama have been making their way around the world for some time...

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1031943.html

[applecorped]

Hate Obama, Love Polanski, those wacky French!!!

[Marc39]

Hate Obama, Love Polanski, those wacky French!!!

Jerry Lewis: The French Chaplin.

[Darth Rotor]

So... does that prove that Fox is French?

No, faux is French.



(For fake)

I am skeptical of the veracity and accuracy of this alleged Sarkozy sentiment. Let's let the 48 hour rule have a chance to work.

DR

[Tricky]

The French, those people that the Right Wing was, only a few years ago, calling "Cheese-eating surrender monkeys", are now annointed by that same Right Wing as the appropriate source for evaluating American politics. The times, they are a-changin', fer sure.

[Upchurch]

The French, those people that the Right Wing was, only a few years ago, calling "Cheese-eating surrender monkeys", are now annointed by that same Right Wing as the appropriate source for evaluating American politics. The times, they are a-changin', fer sure.
I have no idea what you are talking about. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freedom_fries)

[a_unique_person]

Barack Hussein Obama's need for adoration seems to be a bit unrequited, at least by one French politician...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GwGCTvpOi1I

Is his middle name Hussein? I didn't know that. Does that mean he's an insane, homicidal maniac like Saddam Hussien? The names are the same.

[Peephole]

From that Fox News video:

"And he's very worried about what that means for the West. Because the President of the United States is the leader of the free world. And if the President of the United States isn't going to lead the free world, it's not going to be led."

:dl::dl::dl::dl::dl:

Oh you Americans. No way in hell, Sarkozy said this.

[Redtail]

So... It's "freedom" toast\fries again?

[Shalamar]

So... It's "freedom" toast\fries again?

No No.. Now they're french fries Again, since the French* now hate the President, and agree with the republicans in saying that Obama is a evil vile socialist facist out to destroy.. the west?


*Well, That being one French person at least. But one means that the sky is falling on the stoopid libruls, right?

[Marc39]

Oh you Americans. No way in hell, Sarkozy said this.

I haven't heard any denials from Sarkozy, nor, any demands from Sarkozy that Fox retract or correct statements attributed to him. Have you?

[psychictv]

I haven't heard any denials from Sarkozy, nor, any demands from Sarkozy that Fox retract or correct statements attributed to him. Have you?

You think the President of France has the time (or gives a flying ****) to correct the lies of a foreign tabloid news / propaganda outlet that already has zero credibility in its own country?

[Marc39]

You think the President of France has the time (or gives a flying ****) to correct the lies of a foreign tabloid news / propaganda outlet that already has zero credibility in its own country?

Yes, absolutely, particularly since Fox has an international presence, has a larger domestic audience than CNN and is US-based.

Until Sarkozy disputes dismissive statements about Obama attributed to him by a series of reputable media outlets in the US and Israel and requests retractions, characterizations of those statements as lies have no substance.

[Cynic]

I've always found it impressive that Fox considers itself insignificant and outside of the mainstream when it wants to criticize "the media" and hugely important whenever its ego is at stake. It's respected when it wants to be taken seriously, and disrespected when a Christ-pose is more convenient. Shifts like the news, er, wind, Fox. I'm not sure which version Sarkozy sees, but I figure any which one you chose, he probably doesn't like them.

[UnrepentantSinner]

This is pretty serious. As the Republicans have warned us time and again, French opinion about our President should have a central role in shaping our public policy and our own opinions of the President... oh wait.

Yeah. I thought we weren't supposed to care about what "Old Europe" had to say about our president or our policies?

[GreyICE]

Hey marc, there's 6 billion people on earth.

I'll tell you when you hit the 6 million mark of people who hate Obama. Then you'll have proved 1% of the world's population dislikes Obama. That leaves the other 99% up in the air, but hey, details.

Okay, you've got two down. So that's 5,999,998 more to go! Get posting!

[Marc39]

I've always found it impressive that Fox considers itself insignificant and outside of the mainstream when it wants to criticize "the media" and hugely important whenever its ego is at stake. It's respected when it wants to be taken seriously, and disrespected when a Christ-pose is more convenient. Shifts like the news, er, wind, Fox. I'm not sure which version Sarkozy sees, but I figure any which one you chose, he probably doesn't like them.

Fox heavily promotes its dominance in the media marketplace, so, your statement really has no merit at all.

[Gangularis]

Fox heavily promotes its dominance in the media marketplace, so, your statement really has no merit at all.

I think it's obvious that you totally missed the point, that fox tries to play peg itself as "out of the mainstream media", and then it flaunts it's ratings, which entails that it is quite mainstream.

[Marc39]

I think it's obvious that you totally missed the point, that fox tries to play peg itself as "out of the mainstream media", and then it flaunts it's ratings, which entails that it is quite mainstream.

No points have been made in your posts, at least, none that makes sense, so, none was missed by me.

[Flo]

I haven't heard any denials from Sarkozy, nor, any demands from Sarkozy that Fox retract or correct statements attributed to him. Have you?

Yes, absolutely, particularly since Fox has an international presence, has a larger domestic audience than CNN and is US-based.

Until Sarkozy disputes dismissive statements about Obama attributed to him by a series of reputable media outlets in the US and Israel and requests retractions, characterizations of those statements as lies have no substance.



Er, Marc, French person here ...

1) Sarkozy is known for a number of things, one being a tendancy towards megalomania. He's said a number of very stupid things about almost everybody on Earth, and we expect him to do the same should the ETs land. If you want to know what the French think of it, look for "Les Guignols" on the French TV channel "Canal +".

2) He doesn't speak English and is therefore very unlikely to watch Fox.

3) Fox has no audience at all in France, outside of the rooms of a small number of international hotels where American tourists tend to stay.

4) the vast majority of French people like Obama.

just my 0.2 Euros ...

[malbui]

Er, Marc, French person here ...

1) Sarkozy is known for a number of things, one being a tendancy towards megalomania. He's said a number of very stupid things about almost everybody on Earth, and we expect him to do the same should the ETs land. If you want to know what the French think of it, look for "Les Guignols" on the French TV channel "Canal +".

2) He doesn't speak English and is therefore very unlikely to watch Fox.

3) Fox has no audience at all in France, outside of the rooms of a small number of international hotels where American tourists tend to stay.

4) the vast majority of French people like Obama.

just my 0.2 Euros ...


I would go so far as to say that the only exposure most French people have to Fox is when snippets of Fox programmes are shown on comedy shows in "WTF are these extremist lunatics on about?" segments. Always good for a cheap laugh but hardly opinion forming.

[sugarb]

Well, this had "fail" written all over it from the get-go, didn't it?

Indeed. I thought ALL Americans were naive and conceited.

:p

[a_unique_person]

From that Fox News video:

"And he's very worried about what that means for the West. Because the President of the United States is the leader of the free world. And if the President of the United States isn't going to lead the free world, it's not going to be led."

:dl::dl::dl::dl::dl:

Oh you Americans. No way in hell, Sarkozy said this.

LOL.

[a_unique_person]

Yes, absolutely, particularly since Fox has an international presence, has a larger domestic audience than CNN and is US-based.

Until Sarkozy disputes dismissive statements about Obama attributed to him by a series of reputable media outlets in the US and Israel and requests retractions, characterizations of those statements as lies have no substance.

Double LOL.

[UnrepentantSinner]

Er, Marc, French person here ...

Oh come now Flo. Who's Marc going to believe, you or Fox News? ;)

[Perfume V]

You have to wonder why Marc wasn't using this line of reasoning back in the days when America had a president who genuinely was hated around the world. Back then, the utter contempt that most countries had for George Bush was held up as 'proof' of his strength and innate leadership abilities. A statement like this:

Because the President of the United States is the leader of the free world. And if the President of the United States isn't going to lead the free world, it's not going to be led.

- from a Frenchie, no less - would have been roundly mocked as more bitter America-hating coming from "Old Europe". But now, of course, it's different. Back then, it was treasonous to criticise the President, and doubly treasonous to do it abroad. Now, Republicans have changed their views: as Ed Brayton's pointed out at his blog recently, you'll be holding your breath for a long time if you want to hear the right condemn the people criticising the US on foreign soil these (http://scienceblogs.com/dispatches/2009/09/palin_slams_obama_on_foreign_s.php) days (http://scienceblogs.com/dispatches/2009/09/andy_williams_bashes_obama_on.php).

In Britain, too, Obama is generally greatly admired. The right-wing press don't like him, of course, but the general public is another matter. I've seen posters and paintings of him on sale, both of his books and several biographies and books of his speeches have been in the bestseller charts - and this is in a country that is roundly politically apathetic at the moment. I asked my granddad whether he could remember this sort of response to an American president during his lifetime, thinking he would say JFK, but he hadn't. He'd never seen anything like it in his life.

I suspect that Marc will dismiss this as more "messianistic" "hero-worship" of Obama, if indeed he bothers to read it at all, which judging by his conduct in the rest of this thread he won't. But I hope the rest of us can see that, whatever we personally think of Obama, this line of reasoning is nothing to do with critical thinking at all. When people like Obama, it's irrational Obama cultism. When people don't like him, these statements have to be afforded the treatment of holy writ. It's cherrypicking statements according to bias - we mock this when people do it in the Conspiracy Theories forum, and we should mock it when it happens in Politics.

That's if Sarkozy said this at all, which I've still seen nothing persuasive about. But hey! As Marc pointed out, Sarkozy hasn't stepped forward and said "I did not say this", therefore he must have said it. Now, when's Glenn Beck going to release those documents disproving the fact that he raped and murdered a young girl in 1990? What's he got to hide?

[funk de fino]

If Fox has an international presence it is only because we europeans have a strange sense of humour and love a bit of slapstick;)

[Fishstick]

If Fox has an international presence it is only because we europeans have a strange sense of humour and love a bit of slapstick;)

We watch fox for the same reason we do japanese gameshows. You know someone's going to get hurt. You know it's insane. You know it's incredibly stupid. But you can't look away.

[Marc39]

Er, Marc, French person here ...

1) Sarkozy is known for a number of things, one being a tendancy towards megalomania. He's said a number of very stupid things about almost everybody on Earth, and we expect him to do the same should the ETs land. If you want to know what the French think of it, look for "Les Guignols" on the French TV channel "Canal +".

2) He doesn't speak English and is therefore very unlikely to watch Fox.

3) Fox has no audience at all in France, outside of the rooms of a small number of international hotels where American tourists tend to stay.

4) the vast majority of French people like Obama.

just my 0.2 Euros ...

I rather like Sarkozy and think he's particularly perceptive about Barack Hussein Obama's incompetence.

You can have Obama when he loses the next election. Then, you can return to having a president of France who hates America.

[Flo]

I rather like Sarkozy and think he's particularly perceptive about Barack Hussein Obama's incompetence.

You can have Obama when he loses the next election. Then, you can return to having a president of France who hates America.


Argumentum ad "those who criticize people I hate are my friends", I see.

It really tells a lot about your power of perception :D

[Marc39]

More on Sarkozy's "contempt" for Barack Hussein Obama...

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2009/09/29/sarkozys_contempt_for_obama.html

[Flo]

More on Sarkozy's "contempt" for Barack Hussein Obama...

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2009/09/29/sarkozys_contempt_for_obama.html


Stop thinking Sarkozy matters. He doesn't.

[Marc39]

Stop thinking Sarkozy matters. He doesn't.

Keep repeating that mantra.

[DC]

i love obama just for turning the rightwingers even more loonatic and nutty :)

[Upchurch]

Keep repeating that mantra.

So, you think think the opinion of the French President matters to how the US behaves? Have you always thought this or is it, in fact, this latest anti-Obama revelation that brought you to that opinion?

[Pardalis]

Sarkosy, that name sounds familiar, isn't he Carla Bruni's husband?

[Praktik]

http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1892375,00.html[/URL]

Would you like to stand behind Sarkozy's opinions of national leaders, knowing that he's a big fan of Berlusconi?

Hmmm - no term limits in Italy I guess. Shouldn't the Time article have referred to Berlusconi as "Dictator-for-Life"?

Seems to be the standard these days.

[Darth Rotor]

The French, those people that the Right Wing was, only a few years ago, calling "Cheese-eating surrender monkeys", are now annointed by that same Right Wing as the appropriate source for evaluating American politics. The times, they are a-changin', fer sure.
You do realize that they have had a few elections, just as our country has had, right? Elections often bring some change here and there ... change you apparently don't believe in, if it's in France. ;)

You want to see a change I can believe in? Sarkozy led France back into the NATO integrated command structure.

That is freakin' huge change, at least politically. It's both about time, and welcome back aboard, Francois!

No more of this "in but out bullcrap" we had to put up with for over forty years.

DR

[ProbeX]

Barack Hussein Obama's need for adoration seems to be a bit unrequited, at least by one French politician...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GwGCTvpOi1I

A. Prove this is valid "news". There is no confirmed legitimate source. Not surprising for FOX.
B. Who cares what Sarkozy thinks about Obama's speech?

[Darat]

Quite a few posts moved to AAH - you know the routine drop the bickering else further action is likely which may include suspension.

[dudalb]

A.I want a better source then what Marc39 gives. but
B. I don't put it beyond Sarzoky to do a little bad mouthing of Obama on the sly and have it sort of leak out with denialibility, since making Anti American Statements are quite popular with a segment of French Voters.

[Marc39]

A. Prove this is valid "news".

A head of state disparaging the president of the US isn't valid news?

Were the target of such derision Bush, that's all people would be talking about.

What, is Obama in some sort of protected class?

...There is no confirmed legitimate source.

Sarkozy is the source.

Not surprising for FOX.

Because Fox doesn't represent your political views?

B. Who cares what Sarkozy thinks about Obama's speech?

Right, when all else fails, simply discount Sarkozy as an important member of the world community.

[Peephole]

Yes, absolutely, particularly since Fox has an international presence, has a larger domestic audience than CNN and is US-based.
Can't speak for France but Fox News isn't shown anywhere here in Belgium and people generally only know it as the crazy Republican's channel.
I haven't heard any denials from Sarkozy, nor, any demands from Sarkozy that Fox retract or correct statements attributed to him. Have you?
You know, the world outside the U.S. really couldn't give a flying **** what some idiot on Fox News said.

[cbish]

Indeed. I thought ALL Americans were naive and conceited.

:pWe are!

It's our signature feature.

[DC]

A head of state disparaging the president of the US isn't valid news?

Were the target of such derision Bush, that's all people would be talking about.

What, is Obama in some sort of protected class?



Sarkozy is the source.



Because Fox doesn't represent your political views?



Right, when all else fails, simply discount Sarkozy as an important member of the world community.

erm no, its classical hearsay. on real news stations it woudnt make the news.

[ProbeX]

A head of state disparaging the president of the US isn't valid news?

Not unless you have evidence that it actually happened.

[leftysergeant]

That a right-wing jerk who thinks Berlusoni is bright doesn't like an American who actually is bright is not news.

[Dr Adequate]

So, suddenly the new idols of the wingnut faction are ... the President of France ... and Gore Vidal (http://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?t=155278)?

It has been said that politics makes strange bedfellows ...

[Dr Adequate]

From that Fox News video:

"And he's very worried about what that means for the West. Because the President of the United States is the leader of the free world. And if the President of the United States isn't going to lead the free world, it's not going to be led."

:dl::dl::dl::dl::dl:

Oh you Americans. No way in hell, Sarkozy said this. You just don't understand the psychology of the French. Deeply humble about their own culture to the point of self-loathing, they feel utterly lost without some American telling them what to do.

Now when Bush told them to jump, they just asked: "How high?" And now he's gone, they're missing the firm smack of American leadership.

Didn't you read about the recent protests in Paris where tens of thousands of confused and betrayed French people turned out with placards saying: "Obama --- Please Make France Your Bitch"?

[malbui]

You just don't understand the psychology of the French. Deeply humble about their own culture to the point of self-loathing, they feel utterly lost without some American telling them what to do.

Now when Bush told them to jump, they just asked: "How high?" And now he's gone, they're missing the firm smack of American leadership.

Didn't you read about the recent protests in Paris where tens of thousands of confused and betrayed French people turned out with placards saying: "Obama --- Please Make France Your Bitch"?


You don't know the half of it, Dr A. In my workplace we stand around idle all morning with nothing to do except drink coffee and flirt. It's only in the early afternoon our time, when the US wakes up and gives us our orders, that we have purpose and direction in our lives.

[The Fool]

Give him time, if he says that Netanyahu is a boofhead he will become a cheese eating surrender monkey again....life as a goodie can be so brief.

[UnrepentantSinner]

You don't know the half of it, Dr A. In my workplace we stand around idle all morning with nothing to do except drink coffee and flirt. It's only in the early afternoon our time, when the US wakes up and gives us our orders, that we have purpose and direction in our lives.

I call shennanigans! America is a 24/7- 365 kind of country. We just choose not to call you until after you've had a chance to start your day. :D