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Obama in Afghanistan – Spike it really hard, with everything you have

Obama in Afghanistan – Spike it really hard, with everything you have

Breaking news is that Obama has made an unannounced trip to Afghanistan to sign a security agreement and will hold a 7:30 p.m. address to the nation from Bagram Air Force Base.

At what point does this all backfire?  It’s so transparently political taking place on the anniversary of bin Laden’s killing.

The power of the presidency is great.  But something tells me Obama is going way too far, and other than the cheerleaders in the press, not many people will be impressed.

We can’t stop him from spiking the football, so just as well that he spikes it really hard, with everything he has.

Update:  Dana Milbank had a pretty hard hitting column about Obama, President Obama, campaigner in chief:

In a political culture that long ago surrendered to the permanent campaign, Obama has managed to take things to a whole new level….

It’s not just the gatherings officially categorized as campaign events. To a greater extent than his predecessors, Obama has used the trappings of his office to promote his reelection prospects even while handling taxpayer-funded business….

The election is still six months away, but it’s increasingly difficult to distinguish Obama’s political events and speeches from the official ones.

And National Journal tries hard to make the case that a presidential visit was justified, but then notes that the document signed is a vague set of goals, not anything specific:

An Obama administration official told National Journal the strategic partnership agreement does not include specific dollar amounts of military or economic aid—or any details about how many American troops will remain in the country after the U.S. combat role ends in 2014.

Instead, the official said the “general document” lays out the framework for the long-term relationship between Washington and Kabul—which will include military activities, like continued U.S. training and equipping of local forces, and counterterrorism operations.

Why maintain the charade?  It was a political trip, no need pretending otherwise.  The question is whether it was an appropriate political trip.

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Comments

jimzinsocal | May 1, 2012 at 3:34 pm

His vanity may well be his undoing.

nothing shocks me after the Greek columns

Romney may as well keep his mouth shut at this point, Obama is making a fool out of himself all by his lonesome.

Mutnodjmet | May 1, 2012 at 3:54 pm

It seems the “War on Women” meme is backfiring. Walmart Moms care more about the economy than Osama. Progressive policies have left more and more women unemployed, so they aren’t interested is seeing the peacock strut.

LukeHandCool | May 1, 2012 at 3:57 pm

It’s no longer a presidency. It’s a never-ending reality show.

Like Jim Carrey, I feel like an unwilling participant in this reality show. It’s just getting too freaky that this guy could’ve become president. We’re all like Jim Carrey as Truman … the media narrative enabling this phony is starting to crack and more people are waking up … hopefully. Please tell me they’re waking up and realizing there is nothing real about this reality show.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BhIIPbO_6xg

Well, at least it’s before all of the primetime shows come on – I can ignore him and not miss any of my favorites…

Why am I picturing Rob Gronkowski?

The man said he couldn’t even hammer a nail into a wall…

Spiking a football?

More like dropping an egg….

Ragspierre | May 1, 2012 at 4:10 pm

When you lose Ariana “Blah-blah Gabor” Huffington…

you are screwed.

via Hot Air:

Football spiked: Obama to address nation on Bin Laden anniversary live from Afghanistan

words escape me-

This “security agreement” is no doubt the touted future “Status of Forces Agreement” allegedly hammered out with Karzai. I’ve yet to see any details or wording from said new SOFA document, what the future status is of US Military personnel under Afghan “law” and so forth … if anyone else has, please post them. I am not referring to the Afghan SOFA from 2003. I may have missed something. Maybe I’m too cynical, but the whiff of new “sell-out” bothers me.

When you’ve lost Dana Milbank…

Doug Wright | May 1, 2012 at 4:14 pm

Yep, but, well, Obama might now claim that Bush flew to AF before him so that’s OK.

OBTW, OT: Just read about the Cleveland 5 who tried to blow up a bridge. Never spent more than a few minutes in Cleveland and that was on the freeway on the way past that wonderful, where some friends do live. Besides, that CYCO idiots has the middle initial “L” and isn’t me. Honestly, I swear it, now stop that, please or I’ll cry. Well, NOT really but might want to, really!

Douglas N. Wright, USA 1955 – 1962.

Since when do Americans mark the anniversary of the death of an enemy? How Soviet of him.

It takes something really special for a Democrat to lose Dana Milbank.

jimzinsocal | May 1, 2012 at 4:20 pm

Bolton has it right. It was an American victory and Obama has managed to make it all about himself. As usual

http://www.therightscoop.com/bolton-nails-obama-on-trying-to-take-too-much-credit-for-bin-laden-kill/

Spiking the football with metrosexual flare and a limp wrist.

Please be kind to Obama, people. He’s just trying to help us all understand how much more wonderful he is than he is getting credit for. This isn’t campaigning. It’s education.

See?

    9thDistrictNeighbor in reply to irv. | May 1, 2012 at 4:39 pm

    Yeah, this is like getting your history education from Steven Spielberg movies….

Too bad the Professor has to watch it, so we don’t have to.

Thanks, Professor!

Maybe he is looking for a fall back in case November doesn’t break his way. President for life, praise be his name, of any or all of the “icky-stan” countries might be a nice change if he does not have to put up with the obstructionist Republicans and can just bask in the glory that he deserves.

LukeHandCool | May 1, 2012 at 4:46 pm

I don’t think there was ever an anniversary celebration of the successfu mission to kill Admiral Yamamoto.

And they knew his Betty would definitely be accompanied by Zeroes who would do everything they could to protect him.

Talk about gutsy decisions. It seems those who gave the orders never thought to brag about the mission’s success.

    LukeHandCool in reply to LukeHandCool. | May 1, 2012 at 4:48 pm

    By the way, the anniversary was a couple weeks ago. It was carried out April 18, 1943.

      Ragspierre in reply to LukeHandCool. | May 1, 2012 at 4:53 pm

      The anniversary of the Doolittle raid on Tokyo was just a few days ago, too.

      Those guys in those days knew how to be Americans…and how to keep their mouths shut.

The problem with this now is the same problem he had a year ago, and even worse: a ruinous and dead-end economy and a fractious and demoralized nation. Whatever “bounce” there is comes back to the same ugly — even uglier — terra firma. Within one month of bagging Osama last year his ratings had flattened our again. Why will this be any different? Even if this makes a blip at the moment, what about two weeks from now?

Also, this “accomplishment” (which any sensible American understands was a shared victory principally due to military and intelligence hard work and heroics) has no domestic cognate of success in our experience with Obama.

But what else can he do?

Umm, maybe he just wants some really good WEED and Big O, no not him, opium.

Hurt his widdle wist spikin’ the football..

In saying “To a greater extent than his predecessors,” Milquetoast should have added combined.

southcentralpa | May 1, 2012 at 6:03 pm

Have you heard a peep about the fact that he’ll be making this speech at 0400 local time? Hmm, neither have I…

Since he’s there, suit him up, send him on patrol..

    Anchovy in reply to JP. | May 1, 2012 at 6:35 pm

    That will not work… the people who really want to destroy this country will protect him with their lives.

    However, I will admit it would be funny to see O on patrol with 200 Taliban surrounding him to keep him safe.

    Ragspierre in reply to JP. | May 1, 2012 at 7:24 pm

    Sheeeet…

    I would BUY the video of that patrol…!!!!

johnnycab23513 | May 1, 2012 at 6:39 pm

The only reason he is giving a speech is so we will pick up the bill for the trip. AQ and Talaban are both having fund raising dinners for him.

a visit to any of the ground zero sites would have been more effective, imo.

if i were stationed overseas again and he came to talk: stand when he walks in. sit down. no applause. stand up when he leaves. no applause.

[…] This time the campaign publicity stunt is not on the basketball court or a late night TV show. The campaign publicity stunt tonight comes from Afghanistan, paid for by the American […]

BannedbytheGuardian | May 1, 2012 at 7:45 pm

I am not sure anything Afghani is a winner. It is a massive mess & nations are tidying up previous commitments & preparing to leave.

My guess is they are preparing for another engagement.

Sinai might be on the cards.

The trip probably coincides with the opening of the Kabul Golf Club.

HEROISM vs POLITICS: http://youtu.be/JsrSAqRrCc0
“I… I… I… I…”

If you haven’t seen this one on Obama’s football-spiking, just out from Veterans for a Strong America, have a watch.

radiofreeca | May 2, 2012 at 8:37 am

You do realize that his speech is at something like 4AM Bagram time? Which means it’s not for the troops, its meant for the East Coast USA.

[…] Insurrection weighs in — Obama in Afghanistan – Spike it really hard, with everything you have: At what point does this all backfire? It’s so transparently political taking place on the […]