Romney struggles to stem fallout from comments on Olympics

THAT IS SO IGNORANT. Why should he have to defend his words, when it was the truth and several British spokespersons agreed that he only said what was already known and had EVERY right to say that there was worries about how it would be. Its so stupid how people complain about how politicians lie, but complain even more when they tell the truth. So DUMB. But understand, I don't like either Obama NOR Romney, but Romney shouldn't be made to seem the bad guy for speaking what we already knew.

The Associated Press is putting Romney down. If this was Obama the Associated Press would be saying Obama was right. The press and people who support Obama can say whatever about Romney, but the London 2012 Olympics have proven Romney to be right.

London cops lose keys to Olympic venue Wembley Stadium; Officials say no security compromise @ http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-33747_162-57482022/london-cops-lose-keys-to-olympic-venue-wembley-stadium-officials-say-no-security-compromise/

Olympics-BOA chief says still need to crack empty seats problem @ http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/08/02/oly-emptyseats-day-idUSL6E8J2GZS20120802

The secret security guard: G4S is the Millwall of the Olympics @ http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/jul/31/secret-security-guard-g4s-millwall?newsfeed=true

Fencing controversy forces Korean to sit on piste for ages, eventually costs her medalFencing controversy forces Korean to sit on piste for ages, eventually costs her medal @ http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/olympics-fourth-place-medal/korean-fencer-forced-remain-piste-while-waiting-incredibly-191228265--oly.html

Romney struggles to stem fallout from comments on Olympics

Trivial and frivolous argument over nothing.

Do you want a person who would sell out America just to get elected?

You're not aware of George Soros' connections to the present White House occupant?

Everyone knows that Romney is trying to get big donations from Sheldon Adelson, who gave Gingrich $10 million dollars in Super pack money when he was running. In other words, Romney is selling out America to the highest paying supporter - Adelson, who is a hard core supporter of Israel. Do you want a person who would sell out America just to get elected?

My aversion and just plain disgust

To be read as "lunacy."

Holy crap if this guy can't get his poop in a group the Republicans might as well go back to "nukular" boy of the magic backrubs.

Q: What is Romney's favorite social network medium?

A: "TWIT - TER"

Back on topic please.

RomeoR, "The Brits were unprepared. This is why they've had to import U.S. customs and border patrol agents to help beef up their airports. "

This is excellent. America to the rescue again? Please provide your evidence for this as I don't see any circumstance US citizens would be given the authority to stop and question UK and EU citizens at their own border.

I'll be glad when adults are finally voted in the White House; when leadership, intelligence and experience will overrule this politically correct band of bumblers...

Yes, it's a good point. Who was the last great American President? It seems "great American President" has become an oxymoron. Mind you, are there any great politicians anywhere in the world nowadays? It could be that, to some extent, most of the world is governed more than anything else by the economic demands of international bankers and multinational corporations rather than the ideologies of any democratically-elected officials.

What is it with the lack of diplomacy exhibited by American politicians in the last 12 years. First we had Bush doing off the wall things and talking trash, then it got worse with Rice insulting first the Spanish Ambassador then the Spanish president because they didn't want to send troops to a war that if anything would have hurt them more than it would help them or us. Rice showed the worst manners ever in an international diplomacy situation. She was not at all equipped to be Secretary of State. Better would have let her be Secretary of the Interior..way interior like Podunk Idaho or some other place so far off the beaten track that no one would even think of going there. Oh and the Boycott of French Fries, French's mustard and everything else made the US look like a bunch of elementary students on an excursion to nowhere.

This followed by Obama's arrogant attitude which he thought was standing up to foreign powers, even before initiating any kinds of talk. Then Biden just babbling utter cowcrapolla and finally Mrs. Clinton continually sticking her nostrils into the private affairs of other soveringe nations.

At home we had the guy from Minnesota who sought out young men in public lavatories, another government representative who took off his clothes on the Internet and the Governor of New York who was blatantly keeping a whole stable of hookers. Another flaming idiot who was keeping illegally obtained tax-payer dollars in his industrial sized freezer and the story is never ending.

I guess because Clinton got away with those Lewinsky shenanigan's the rest of these idiots think they are invisible and bullet proof into the bargain. It's getting to the time that US voters are going to seriously have to start looking in other places for their politicians and maybe reform the diplomatic disasters that both parties have become. It's too bad politics isn't a little more like professional sports where you buy, sell and trade players or find great material via free agency.

But if politics could be compared to Baseball the US federal government would make the Chicago Cubs look like perennial winners.

As they are saying in London, "Mitt the Twit".

I'll be glad when adults are finally voted in the White House; when leadership, intelligence and experience will overrule this politically correct band of bumblers...

@Johnny

Don`t believe all teh crap you see in US right wing media, oh sorry too late, nyuk nyuk nyuk.

98% of the media in the US is liberal, that you can believe, so there is almost NO balance out there.

CNN NBC MSNBC (aka National Barack Channel) ABC CBS Current TV Newsweek NY Times LA Times Washington Post Huffington Post Salon NPR Time Daily Kos MoveOn. org The Daily Beast The Nation New Yorker The Village voice Politico (sometimes, they can reach a middle ground) Think Progress Media Matters Drudge Retort Harper's Magazine Center for American Progress The Brookings Institute ACLU

But wait, there's more, a whole lot more about 50 more... I didn't even scratch the surface, now let's look at the so called Right-wing dominated controlled media.

Conservative/Traditionalist/Liberal

Fox (TV) WSJ (fiscally conservative) Newsbusters Media Research center

Hmmm, yeah, the ring wing is sooo out of control and stifling the rights of the rest of America and Americans.

Only advantage Mitt has is his vast money pool which he obtained by screwing Americans out of jobs and outsourcing them to China. He is a parasite and on top of that hides his money to avoid paying taxes in the country that allowed him to get wealthy to start with. Immoral basically. Top 1 percent thinking.

Don't you liberals get tired of saying and repeating the same thing over and over again. Mitt didn't screw anyone like Obama did the nation and is continuing to do so. The Romney outsourcing that Liberals want you to believe has been totally debunked. The sooner we can get Obama out of office, the sooner, we can try to get America back on its feet, get this 8.2% unemployment down.

http://factcheck.org/2012/06/obamas-outsourcer-overreach/

As they are saying in London, "Mitt the Twit".

Mitt is going to run a worse campaign than Dole in 96. At least Dole acted like a human. With Miit it is all about becoming President so that anything he does or say is about just that. He hides his religion, his history, his taxes so he can play the part. But unfortunately for him he is a zero on the personality scale and repeatedly screws up in public. How could anyone mess up a visit to London before the Olympics? And he was schooled by a goofy major of London that has a bad haircut. Putin, as with that sap bush, would destroy Mitt McEmpty Suit.

Only advantage Mitt has is his vast money pool which he obtained by screwing Americans out of jobs and outsourcing them to China. He is a parasite and on top of that hides his money to avoid paying taxes in the country that allowed him to get wealthy to start with. Immoral basically. Top 1 percent thinking.

"They certainly do (and considering Obamas countless diplomatic blunders, that is not a big claim either.

This entire controversy about Romney remarks is completely media made. As usual, the mainstream medio both the US and the UK acts as the public relations arm of the Obama administration. The only thing fascinating here is the sheer hypocrisy by the media, and the gullibility of a large part of their readership.

By the way, while Romney is in London, he might as well retrieve that Churchill bust which Obama sent back ("we don´t need that there"...), creating a diplomatic first. At least I don´t know of previous presidents who sent back diplomatic gifts. does anyone?"

@WilliB:

By saying that this controversy is completely media made, is it your interpretation that none of it ever happened and that Mitt is being persecuted? As for hypocrisy, I think both parties are very guilty of that. I wish both parties wouldn just focus on the issues, minus the distortions of the truth and do what it takes to fix the country as opposed to worrying about hanging onto their political office, title, etc. With regards to Romney retrieving the Bust of Churchill, do you think he's smart enough to take advantage of the opportunity?

@RR

Thought you guys loved the private sector? And you laugh when they fail to meet their pledge and the government steps in? Love Americans twisted logic. Have a great year.

Don`t believe all teh crap you see in US right wing media, oh sorry too late, nyuk nyuk nyuk.

Mitt is correct. The Brits were unprepared. This is why they've had to import U.S. customs and border patrol agents to help beef up their airports. They've also had to assign members of their military to protect the Games, rather than use privately contracted 'rent-a-cops' as they had originally planned.

Mitt commented that he hoped that despite these set backs the Games would come off well. In response, the British media (and hyperventilating American liberals) pitched a hissy fit.

Heh, it's all so expected.

RR

Sail,

I don't find a protocol miscue the same as coming into a country as a guest and steaming into the organizers of the worlds biggest even in 2012 the same thing. Romney should have known better.

Mitt is definitely suffering from Foot in Mouth Syndrome recently, though I think he deserves more credit as an individual than this thread allows. It's got to the point I'm actually genuinely feeling sorry for the man, he is a successful individual but there's clearly something about the man that makes people turn their noses up at him....

We've seen a lot more of his wife giving interviews alongside him which is probably a smart move on the behalf of their campaign - she seems more down to earth and relaxed to the seemingly wooden and out of touch Romney.

Wanker or Robert Black seem apt names for Thicky Mitty

His nickname in the british press now, mitt the twit.

He should have been named Matt.

Please do go on about how Romney's idiocy is the fault of Japanese politicians?

@ smithinjapan: Romney has nothing to do withJ-politicians. Just pointing out to that poster that to call Romeny dumb is not a good thing since most of the J-pols seem to come from only one source, and if they are so smart as the poster was saying, why is Japan not doing as well as it should.

@Alphaape So Obama is battling the recession better than Japanese leaders. That's good to hear.

@ jimizo: No he is not.

Everyone seems to be blasting Romney as being arrogant, but it is funny how everyone seems to forget how the selection for the 2016 Olympics went. The Chicago types (Oprah) and the rest of the US delegation for Chicago were going on how having the games in Chicago would be a crowning moment for Obama at the end of his second term when the world will be better off and a fitting tribute to "The One" by having the Olympics in his home town. Even with his last minute dash to seal the deal didn't seem to work. But, never mind the media is focusing on Romney with a gaffe, which he will probably make more of just like Obama has made some too.

whatever he may or may not be, he is certainly not a moron.

That is also my argument. Mitt is definitely NOT a moron, neither is Obama, however Obama has a certain viewpoint that is alienating him and ruffling feathers with many voters including Independent voters. But what gets me is why liberals have to get so nasty if you don't agree with them, the hatred and vitriol, is that necessary? Obama misspeaks and makes a fool of himself daily. It happens. If you don't like Mitt, fine. But an idiot, far, far from it.

I doubt you even know what that is besides some rose-tinted, cliche-ridden stereotype that doesn't actually exist anymore. :-)

I do, that's why I said it. But you think we should follow the out of control Entitlement European mantra?

Now I know you shouldn't be taken seriously from this point.

That's ok, I never took you serious to begin with.

I'm starting to think - and your comment has helped solidify this - are conservatives DELIBERATELY trying to lose?

Quite the opposite, but Conservatives are NOT going to sit on the back of the bus, tow the line and fall into lock and step and say things in order to appease liberals. NOT going to happen. And that kind of arrogance and confidence that you display is what can ultimately be the liberals downfall this November.

Is there a gentleman's agreement to throw this election?

Not sure.

I mean, let's face it: Mitt's only where he is now because he's rich and had the financial firepower to outlast the other morons in the GOP primaries.

This might come as a surprise to you, but when you are applying for the job of the presidency, you need a lot of cash, a lot of cash! Obama's bank account doesn't quite represent or reflect someone that is poor. Besides, Romeny made his money, earned it, was successful, has a long resume of creating jobs and compare that to Obama's record. He (Obama) created: DEBT and how about our 8.2% unemployment? But I forget, it's not Obama's fault. It was the ghost of Bush. lol

Besides that, what's he got?

Proven Business Smarts. 50% of Americans would choose Romney for the economy than Obama.

Oh yeah, I know - he's tactless, insults America's closest allies, wants to start yet another war, and wage war on America's middle class, women and poor.

Yawn, Obama, sells out America, makes us look like idiots in front of our allies, burns britches with one of our closest ally, Israel. Obama started a war, by forcing the country to take his crappy health care plan that the majority of Americans don't want! African Americans are suffering more under this President than any other President. 44% unemployment?! That is insane! Guess that's why Obama sent Biden to speak with the NAACP, because he didn't want to take ANY chances of him getting booed and rightfully so! He started a war by lying to the middle class that he would NOT raise their taxes and now low and behold, he has to in order to pay for this monstrosity!

On the minus side, he's not Christian.

Of course, he's a Christian

Not looking very good, is it?

Judging by the polls, he is doing pretty good, some polls it's a tie, some are neck in neck. If you are Obama, that's not something that you want at all. ;-)

Come on. Neither Obama or Romney are morons. I still do not get the reasoning behind meaningless name-calling. I really don't. He made a mistake. You truly think that mistake is the reason why he is "not fit to be the president"? Really? It just seems so over the top to me. I will refer you to my post above. I agree Romney screwed up. However, just looking at the man and what he has done up to now with his life should be enough of an indication that, whatever he may or may not be, he is certainly not a moron.

Ben Jack: "Do you think Romney was intentially trying to be insulting?"

No, I'm saying he's a moron who doesn't think before speaking, and a person not at all fit to be the president of a rather prominent nation in the world.

Sure they can comment all they want, but either way it is totally irrelevant

Typical. "You folk keep your noses out of our politics, but if we don't like the way you conduct yours, we're gonna carpet-bomb you back to the stone-age.

The truly scary thing about Palin was that millions of American conservatives - incredibly - thought she was a viable candidate.

You have millions of Americans are finding that out about Obama as we speak. They too, thought he was a viable and effective leader, but look how that turned out.

Sane Americans and the rest of the world just laughed.

Sane Americans want to kick themselves in the gut for voting for this guy and they aren't laughing!

And - again amazingly - there's actually some Americans out there (not quite sure where or whether they are even eligible to vote) who think the same about Mitt.

...As well as Obama, I agree.

The mind boggles.

Yep

I've got 4 words: conservatives, are you serious?

Yes, you can take us seriously and as for radical looney liberals, we don't take them seriously.

As for Romney, his undiplomatic quips won't be easily forgotten, whether he deserves that or not, and more people will wonder if he is the right man for the job he is after.

@Jimizo

A) Sure they can comment all they want, but either way it is totally irrelevant because they cannot change the outcome of our election, therefore it's unimportant to me as to what and how they think about our election. Also, I have Goggle maps, work quite well, but thanks for the gracious offer. B) Yes, it does, I am aware of that, so that when we have a President that wants to tax corporations into oblivion, he is not creating a friendly business environment for growth in the private sector. Hey, Jimizo, Obama is caring that torch now, aren't you as equally outraged that Obama is supporting the drone attacks annihilating everything in his wake, a lot of innocent people were killed also in Afghanistan, Karzai, continuing our relationship with Pakistan another corrupt government. Where is your outrage? C) Like I said, Palin is NOT perfect, but I love how she just gets you liberals all hot under your collars. Again, if you want to talk about disgrace. Shouldn't Pelosi be reaping the rewards and taking advantage of Obamacare that she so desperately fought for. Even when she told the public, but not really worry what's in 2000 pages fine print. But I think, more and more people are finding out and getting buyers remorse of this President.

are you implying the voters of Alaska were dumb...?

Are you seriously, seriously implying that Palin isn't dumb?? You honestly think she's smarter than a chicken???

@bassfunk The reasons why people from other countries want to comment on US politics is: a) They have an interest in things that go on beyond their own borders ( bizarrely enough they also had opinions on French, Spanish and Russian elections - I'll send you a map ). b) US foreign policy has serious ramifications for people of other countries ( thousands of slaughtered Iraqis, bombing pharmaceutical plants in Sudan, supporting the Sauds, Hussein, Mubarak etc. c) When a US citizen describes an ignorant, idiotic disgrace like Palin as 'having strong credentials', all people should shudder.

ETA: should=sure do

One thing can definitely be said about most English speakers, they should love to hug and hang on to their partisanship to the point where they are unable to see anything else. Say anything reasonable about a Republican and the Democrats see red. Say anything reasonable about a Democrat and the Republicans get blue in the face. This is just another example of things getting overblown and anything really important taking a backseat.

Romney did screw up. However, it was not the giant disaster some are making it out to be. It just wasn't.

Mitt? Smell The Glove. Sailwind? Break wind and be done.

Thunderbird2,

No offense, but he gave his answer during a media interview. Keeping ones gob shut during an interview by the Media sort of defeats the purpose of the whole thing.

toguro:

" Didn't Romney's camp say that he better understood the Anglo/American relationship better than Obama, and that he was going to rebuild those bonds? "

They certainly do (and considering Obamas countless diplomatic blunders, that is not a big claim either.

This entire controversy about Romney remarks is completely media made. As usual, the mainstream medio both the US and the UK acts as the public relations arm of the Obama administration. The only thing fascinating here is the sheer hypocrisy by the media, and the gullibility of a large part of their readership.

By the way, while Romney is in London, he might as well retrieve that Churchill bust which Obama sent back ("we don´t need that there"...), creating a diplomatic first. At least I don´t know of previous presidents who sent back diplomatic gifts. does anyone?

The citizens in every democracy in the world lampoons and criticises their politicians and to some degree, culture. We make jokes about regional stereotypes. That happens in America, Australia, Germany, Japan, Tuvalu... however we will all turn on a 'guest' who starts to criticise and make barbed comments.

As Madverts said, if I was to stand in the middle of New York and said it was a dump, or that the police are a joke, etc you can guarantee I would have abuse hurled at me and I'd be frogmarched to the nearest dark alley for a good kicking.

Romney should keep his big gob shut when travelling to foreign countries.

Adverts,

My aversion and just plain disgust with the Media on the difference on how they cover an American politician with a D behind his name or one with an R behind is quite well known. In the case of Obama's protocol miscue during his toast to the Queen during his last visit, I was grateful for the difference. It was frankly embarrassing for him and I felt empathy for President Obama afterwards as awkward as describe by the Media was being charitable at the very least. And you and know after so many years of discussion that if Obama had an R behind his name the howling by the media would have been excruciating.

I brought that into this discussion to show the contrast in coverage between an R and a D. Romney as has been pointed out could have used much more tact and diplomacy, though in total fairness his comments were not insulting as this article states or where not even close to being out of line with his experience as being in charge of running a past Olympic games. Though given how the Media has treated it we are now stuck with Mitt the Twit in the coverage which insults my intelligence based on my knowledge of how Romney pulled off running a very successful WinterOlympic games in 2002 right after the aftermath of 9 11.

@jimizo

Mitt has extensive overseas ties. China for one.

Well, Obama is in bed with China, oh, wait...he sold the country practically out to China.

I guess being smart and good-looking ain't everything' In my experience, US conservatives are the only people I've come across in any functioning democracy who do not regard intelligence as requisite for office.

Then you must have been living in a walking hibernative state. You say Bush wasn't intelligent, which is not true, but let's entertain that for a second. Obama is smart, so you say, but raising taxes in a recession and borrowing money, the way we are without cutting ANY spending, doesn't across to me as really smart.

Many of my European, Japanese, Korean colleagues often wondered how in a country of well over 300,000,000, they could select halfwits like Bush ( incidentally, the man who turned a surplus into a deficit as well as embroiling the country in a disastrous, illegal war ).

I often wondered why these other countries want to comment on US politics, like we really care what they they think, if you can vote, by all means, I will listen to your point of view, even if it's radically left looney. As for your deficit argument. We don't need to keep blaming Bush, the man is retired and is off somewhere soaking up the sun and enjoying his life. Keep the focus on Obama. When will you hold Obama responsible for anything? When the man is gone from office, you liberals will still never talk about him in any negative way. But sadly, Obama wins the crown title spender and making huge deficits. http://www.forbes.com/sites/peterferrara/2012/06/14/president-obama-the-biggest-government-spender-in-world-history/

That's not to mention the sick joke of Sarah Palin completely debasing America's reputation worldwide. They, like Mitt, may hold appeal for slack-jawed yokels but they should not be allowed out of the country unless accompanied by responsible adults.

That's the best you got?? Palin, would pale in comparison to Nancy Pelosi who constantly, constantly puts her foot in her big mouth. Pelosi shouldn't even be a politician. Because she married into money, that's her qualification? Have you ever been to the Bay area? Do you know her and her liberal cohorts did to my state. She is THE biggest embarrassment to not only California, but to the entire country. Palin may not be perfect, but she ran a state, went against the Washington establishment, she can govern and has strong credentials, like her or not.

http://times247.com/pset/nancy-pelosi-s-greatest-gaffes/

Like you choked down before changing handles? Mitt has done nothing here but solidify his stupidity and inability to be a leader.

Then that means, Obama should be committed to a funny farm. ROFL

Guests, even self-invited ones, absolutely do not do that in the UK.

Yes, I am pretty sure that would be true anywhere. Romney did screw up.

What he said was the truth, same as EU news was saying... Dems hate the truth,, and will do anything to look away and blame others..

Sail,

"The absolute nerve of that guy to actually state the obvious."

Guests, even self-invited ones, absolutely do not do that in the UK.

I'm pretty sure the same rings true in the US to be honest - the number of times you've brought up Obama with Bass tends to make me think this is just more partisan stupidity.

Being an opinionated Brit, I would expect similar mouthing-off in some US states could end up with me being a recipient a Colt .45 suppository....

*"Mitt Romney spent two or three years in France. He has extensive international ties. Unlike President Obama he even speaks a foreign language."

The similarities between Mr Romney and John Kerry will be complete come November....*

Sorry nope, he ruined those ties with his outright lie that whilst in France he lived in a hovel and had to defecate in a bucket, the French rather angrily pointed out that he had in fact stayed in an historical aristocrats palace.

Bring on the apologists who cannot bring themselves to admit their own party members are shaking their heads (ex. sailwind, Ben Jack, etc.).

??? Again, first: I have no "party" here. Second: I have clearly said Romney did not use tact. Where the heck is any apologizing? I said it was wrong and I will say it again. However, comparing a comment that seems to have merit, although worded poorly, rudely, tactlessly or whatever word floats your boat, with displaying the wrong flag in an Olympic event, especially the choice of flag that was displayed. All I am saying is that surprised me a whole lot more than any of these politicians shooting their mouths off.

No, that would only be the case if it were intentional and politically motivated,

Do you think Romney was intentially trying to be insulting? Pretty bad effort I'd say if that was his intent. It certainly was not politically motivated as as sailwind said he was merely answering a question, albiet in what turned out to be rather tactless.

in which case it legal actions might be taken.

???Legal actions? Whatever are you talking about? In none of the cases, including Romney's skipping through the faux paux pastures, are anything that anyone would take legal actions about. It is the Olympics. Not only putting the wrong flag up but putting up a flag of a country that is at war with the country playing? Sorry, if you do not think this is a huge error, you have not watched the Olympics very closely before.

As an apologist deflection it doesn't hold water.

?? Do you know what the word "apologist" means? Respectfully, I know you do. Why use it with me? I have clearly said Romney do not use tact. No doubt about it, no excuses. It was a comment that was not well thought out considering the circumstances. However, it does seem London was not quite as ready as the mayor claimed. All sides have been acting rather tactless. Cameron insulted Salt Lake City for absolutely no reason, which was also tactless. The Olympics is not about this kind of bickering. Romney should have known better, but he is hardly the only rude one involved here.

SushiSake: ...your disdain for America than any criticism you have leveled at the president your people democratically elected.

I see you are returning to your favorite insult.

while conveniently ignoring the 2 wars...

And this as well. Isn't it about time for some new material, or have you reached zen?

Alphaape: "@ Jimizo: I guess you Japanese friends have no excuse for some of the J-politicians that seem to keep coming up and winning posts and staying in the government time and time over."

Didn't know this thread was about distracting from American politicians making olympic blunders and instead a chance to undermine other politicians as a type of deflection! Please do go on about how Romney's idiocy is the fault of Japanese politicians?

Ben Jack: "Quite frankly, I think the mistake with the South Korean flag being displayed at a North Korean football (soccer) match is way more serious a mistake to make. I mean, that is a rather huge error."

No, that would only be the case if it were intentional and politically motivated, in which case it legal actions might be taken. As an apologist deflection it doesn't hold water.

"People in both parties wondered aloud how the former Massachusetts governor could have complicated the opening leg of a three-nation tour carefully crafted to highlight his diplomatic strengths and personal Olympic experience."

Bring on the apologists who cannot bring themselves to admit their own party members are shaking their heads (ex. sailwind, Ben Jack, etc.).

SushiSake,

Ben Jack asked yesterday why candidate Obama's foreign jaunt in 2008 didn't cause a similar reaction among liberals.

The reason can be summed up in 3 words that describe what Obama has over Romney - and still does: intelligence and tact.

I agree Romney could have used more tact. There is absolutely no doubt about it. However, there is not a doubt both men are incredibly intelligent. It lowers the leve of conversation for you to attempt to suggest otherwise. Anyway, your answer above did not actually answer my question. Do you remember why I asked it? You suggested Romney was somehow wrong for taking the trip when many people are out of work in the US. So, it still begs the question, why was it okay for Obama to do it?

Quite frankly, I think the mistake with the South Korean flag being displayed at a North Korean football (soccer) match is way more serious a mistake to make. I mean, that is a rather huge error.

Even as he sought to strike a cautious stance Friday, Romney raised eyebrows anew when he referred to looking out of the "back side" of 10 Downing Street, Cameron's residence, to see the beach volleyball stadium. The term "back side" is the common local term for derriere.

Raised eyebrows?

Who gives a fock?

Bass, your unspoken but clear support of the corrupt GOP regime says more about your disdain for America than any criticism you have leveled at the president your people democratically elected.

And your desperate talk of debt run up under president Obama, while conveniently ignoring the 2 wars, tax breaks, Medicaid benefits, etc. all kicked off by your GOP buddies and that blew the debt through the stratosphere successfully show that - despite your seemingly robust arguments - you really haven't learnt any economic lessons at all in the last decade.

Ditto for Romney and virtually every other conservative candidate the GOP threw up.

Except Jon Huntsman, of course, whose intellect was clearly simply too terrifying for conservatives to deal with.

Mitt's clearly geedub 2. 

Like bush, Mitt wants to start a war. Like bush, Mitt wants to cut taxes (where the heck did that get anyone?) Like bush, mitt looks out for the 1% Like bush, mitt is dead set on destroying the working class.

The list goes on.

@Alphaape So Obama is battling the recession better than Japanese leaders. That's good to hear.

Just for the record:

Mitt Romney struggled Friday to stem political fallout at home after insulting Britain’s handling of the London Games.

This is what the A.P considers insulting of Britain's handling of the London Games:

Speaking to NBC News, he said: "It's hard to know just how well it will turn out. There are a few things that were disconcerting: the stories about the private security firm not having enough people, supposed strike of the immigration and customs officials, that obviously is not something which is encouraging."

The absolute nerve of that guy to actually state the obvious.

Many of my European, Japanese, Korean colleagues often wondered how in a country of well over 300,000,000, they could select halfwits

@ Jimizo: I guess you Japanese friends have no excuse for some of the J-politicians that seem to keep coming up and winning posts and staying in the government time and time over. Most of the J-politicians I seem to run across are either decendants from some other political hack, or married into and had a family that has worked in politics all their life. But I guess that explains why Japan is so far ahead than the US in battling the recession (sarcasim intended).

"Mitt Romney spent two or three years in France. He has extensive international ties. Unlike President Obama he even speaks a foreign language."

The similarities between Mr Romney and John Kerry will be complete come November....

@bassfunk 'I guess being smart and good-looking ain't everything' In my experience, US conservatives are the only people I've come across in any functioning democracy who do not regard intelligence as requisite for office. Many of my European, Japanese, Korean colleagues often wondered how in a country of well over 300,000,000, they could select halfwits like Bush ( incidentally, the man who turned a surplus into a deficit as well as embroiling the country in a disastrous, illegal war ). That's not to mention the sick joke of Sarah Palin completely debasing America's reputation worldwide. They, like Mitt, may hold appeal for slack-jawed yokels but they should not be allowed out of the country unless accompanied by responsible adults.

Go home, Mitt! No, on second thought, please don't come back!

Sail, the orchestra made the error.

Are you implying it was your president's faux paus???

Yes, and the orchestra did not make an error and they weren't so enamored of President Obama's "poignant pause" to start to play the British National Anthem by mistake.

From the BBC itself and not the U.S media that was running cover for him afterwards:

Barack Obama was probably not aware that he was doing anything unusual when making a toast "to the Queen" and then continuing with a short speech. According to protocol, however, he should have stopped after the toast.

The band, taking its cue from the word Queen, struck up with the national anthem leaving the president struggling to make himself heard.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-13558270

@USAgold Yep. Mitt has extensive overseas ties. China for one.

@sushisake, Obama man-crush guy

Such a lightweight. Probably a result of living in such a large country where going 'overseas' means crossing state lines, at least in the early stages.

Mitt Romney spent two or three years in France. He has extensive international ties. Unlike President Obama he even speaks a foreign language.

The reason can be summed up in 3 words that describe what Obama has over Romney - and still does: intelligence and tact.

We have an intelligent President (so they say and look what that brought the country) I guess being smart and looking good ain't everything.

Romney is turning out to be nothing less than a regurgitation of geedub.

You are joking, right? lol

And look where that got us:

A US and global economic meltdown followed by lots of mentally suspect conservatives STILL desperately trying to pin the blame on Obama, despite the unravelling of the global economy happening under and due to to a president and policies THEY supported.

Yes, look where that got us. Again, how's the economy doing? Who is in charge of it? Please don't give me the typical Bush doorah! It's Obama's economy now and what does he have to show for it? But please, I want to hear you spin your way out of it. Even over at the Barack Channel, Morning Joe couldn't hold himself together. The negative ads that the Dems are unleashing are making them look beyond ridiculous as well as desperate. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VckF7_e7ZCc

Looking forward to watching the GOP get it's ar_e handed to it in November. :-)

Hmmm, you might want to re-think that comment. Actually, it's not looking THAT great for the Dems.

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/obama_administration/daily_presidential_tracking_poll

People are losing faith in his majesty it seems....ouch!

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/elections/election_2012/election_2012_presidential_election/trust_on_issues_obama_v_romney

Looking forward to seeing the Dems this Nov. eat a huge load of Crow. :-)

Michael Phelps could win another 6 or 7 gold medals but for some people no story will be bigger than what Mitt Romney said. You have to laugh.

Sail, the orchestra made the error.

Are you implying it was your president's faux paus???

How easy to get voters in America to forget all about the non-issue of Romney's 1999 tax returns.

As Mr. Obama toasted the Queen and palace guests, the orchestra mistook a poignant pause for the end of his speech, striking up "God Save the Queen" early. The president continued over the music and lifted his glass, a gesture ignored by the Queen until the end of the song.

Note the words "the orchestra mistook." But I suppose it's all Obama's fault anyway?

The reason can be summed up in 3 words that describe what Obama has over Romney - and still does: intelligence and tact.

And a thorough knowledge of protocol to boot:

But the president's most awkward moment was at the state dinner hosted by Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday.

As Mr. Obama toasted the Queen and palace guests, the orchestra mistook a poignant pause for the end of his speech, striking up "God Save the Queen" early. The president continued over the music and lifted his glass, a gesture ignored by the Queen until the end of the song.

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20066209-503544.html

Britain.

Visiting the UK should have been as easy as waking up in the morning. A walkover.

And yet Mitt not only manages to insult his hosts the day before he arrives, but finds himself being totally humiliated in front of 60,000 people by the mayor of London in Hyde Park.

Ben Jack asked yesterday why candidate Obama's foreign jaunt in 2008 didn't cause a similar reaction among liberals.

The reason can be summed up in 3 words that describe what Obama has over Romney - and still does: intelligence and tact.

Romney is turning out to be nothing less than a regurgitation of geedub.

And look where that got us: 

A US and global economic meltdown followed by lots of mentally suspect conservatives STILL desperately trying to pin the blame on Obama, despite the unravelling of the global economy happening under and due to to a president and policies THEY supported.

Looking forward to watching the GOP get it's  ar_e handed to it in November. :-)

A Brit headline was "Mitt the Twit".

Idiots like this should be quarantined. Arrogant, ill-thought-out comments like this give his country a bad name and reinforce negative stereotypes of the great US people. He'd do better staying at home with people he's comfortable with.

Sooo, Obama is giving The great US of A a good name? A solid sound of confidence? Obama has never been an embarrassment? And when you talk about arrogance, Obama practically invented the word. But as usual, the same predictable liberal egotistical way of thinking. If liberals make a gaffe, it's ok, it happens and nothing to be ashamed or worry about. If a conservative makes a gaffe, the world is coming to an end, we have to sanction them, shun them, ridicule them, because conservatives are expected to be perfect every time, all the time. Double-standard doesn't come to mind, just a little bit?

His nickname in the british press now, mitt the twit.

The more americans learn about mitt mcbainster the more they are gong to hate him. Like all of the republican candidates that ran against him. His only advantage, lots and lots of money.

Obama is going to wipe the floor with him during the debates. It will not be pretty.

The RomBot's foreign trip is turning into an unMittigated disaster.

Will he upset the Israelis and Polish too?

Such a lightweight. Probably a result of living in such a large country where going 'overseas' means crossing state lines, at least in the early stages.

The British have got so much to educate Americans about.

One journalist described a visit by a US politician to the UK as an 'easy date'. A few words about the 'special relationship', our historical ties etc. and you'll be in the bedroom in the blink of an eye. If Mitt managed to get a bowl of soup over his head in London, god knows what's going to happen with less willing types.....

This complicated technique (to GOPs at least) is called diplomacy, something that Mitt seems to have left at home when packing for this trip.

He was asked a question about London's preparations for the Games. The London press has been in an uproar prior to the games about how they were handling security. Romney ran the 2002 winter Olympics which was to occur in just 5 months after 9/11.

An excerpt from an article detailing the background.

Fraser Bullock can never forget the first time he talked with Utah Olympic leader Mitt Romney after the 9/11 attacks on America.

"I got a phone call from Mitt, who had just driven past the Pentagon right after it had been hit and smoke filled his car," recalled Bullock, the chief operating officer of the 2002 Winter Games.

Romney had been in Washington, D.C., lobbying for more federal help with Olympic security, to help close the budget gap left by the bid scandal that had surfaced years earlier.

Suddenly, Romney was fleeing the nation's capital and having to confront the impact of the day's events on the Salt Lake Games.

Bullock said the pair began talking "about the fact that in less than five months, we were going to host the world and how were we going to keep everyone safe."

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/705390637/2002-Winter-Olympics-challenged-changed-by-911.html?pg=all

I do agree that he could have answered the question in a much more diplomatic manner, however he was answering the question not so much as a diplomat but as a past organizer of the Olympic games that had to face a radical shift in security arrangements and was expressing his opinion from that experience alone.

Unforced error.

Didn't Romney's camp say that he better understood the Anglo/American relationship better than Obama, and that he was going to rebuild those bonds?

"Iron Drone"

Who needs Iron Man when you've got Iron Drone!

@sailwind: everybody knows that. Problem is that Mitt IS a guest (BTW, he invited himself) in British land. And didn't your mother tell you to behave properly when visiting somebody else's house? To say that everything is nice and tastes well? This complicated technique (to GOPs at least) is called diplomacy, something that Mitt seems to have left at home when packing for this trip.

sailwind, diplomacy is about not saying to your friends what their enemies are already saying. It's like criticizing your own country in front of other world leaders, you don't do it. Even Mitt Rhomboid promised not to criticize Obama overseas. He just was too stupid to think it only applied to Americans. I might swear at my sister but if another guy does I'll feed him his teeth.

British press reports laced with lingering resentment targeting Romney’s initial comment—that problems with Olympic preparations were “disconcerting”

This would be the same British press that reported 3 days before the opening of the games:

Government forced to call in 1,200 extra troops who were placed on standby for Olympic Games after G4S security fiasco

An additional 1,200 troops will be deployed at the Olympics amid continued concern of the security staffing of beleaguered firm G4S.

Ministers today took the decision to call up the 1,200 troops who were on standby last week, as the crisis surrounding G4S deepened just three days before the London 2012 opening ceremony.

The military is already plugging the gap left by G4S with 3,500 troops after the security firm admitted two weeks ago it could not provide its 10,400 contracted guards.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2178175/London-2012-Olympics-1-200-extra-troops-called-G4S-security-fiasco.html?ITO=1490

So, let me get this straight, the purpose of Romney's trip abroad was to highlight his lack of diplomatic ability and completely nonsensical approach to foreign policy?

The Republicans are trying to lose. They must be, there's no other explanation.

Idiots like this should be quarantined. Arrogant, ill-thought-out comments like this give his country a bad name and reinforce negative stereotypes of the great US people. He'd do better staying at home with people he's comfortable with.

Rick made George look like a "Roads Scholar"

Is that anything like a highway engineer?

my apologies for Mutt Romney's faux paws

Indeed. He should keep his paws to himself.

@ KnavDave: Glad you brought up many of the gaffes the GOP candidates have made, but I guess you didn't think about brining up some of the ones that the Dems have made too. But I am sure that you are "Fari and Balanced" in your assessment. Tell me, would you have a leader that at least speaks clearly and tells you what's on their mind,even though it may come out as "PC" as it should, or would you like a leader say Obama, who when reporters asked his Press Secretary what was the captial of Israel, he refused to answer it, and just gave a song and dance. So you may get one who may speak what's on his mind, or keep the one that can't say anything and thus leave us continually in circles because he must "dance the dance of PC."

Not just mr romney but all the presidents or president candidates of america were out of touch with this world! bill clinton was an exception!

It's hard to believe Mitt's a Republican making remarks like that, he sounded more like a democrat with their stupid remarks all the time. America needs him to stop acting like a Dem

First, my apologies for Mutt Romney's faux paws ... and for letting him escape the country. I had him strapped to the top of my car, but he was barfing from car sickness, so I had to let him out. Apparently, there is still a mess coming out of his mouth anytime he opens it.

Simply put, the only way to explain Romney's oblique criticism of all Brits while visiting a land of such nice people is that he's a moron. He epitomizes everything that brought on the Great Recession in the first place. I mean, he even ran a major financial company named after the arch-villain of Batman. He's completely out of touch with those who are not part of his 1% of the world -- the part that makes millions but pays no taxes ... the kind Republicans want to help with extended tax cuts. He is like a combination of George Bush Sr. for his being out of touch with the average person (remember the man who was suddenly stunned by the innovation of a grocery scanner a decade after they had been in popular use) and George Bush Jr for his inept speech. (And there is nothing you can remember there because he never said anything memorable.)

To those of us who are Yanks, it's not hard to imagine sheer stupidity in politics. In fact, we laude it. It's our form of entertainment. Remember, we're the ones who RE-elected George Bush. You might not fault us the first time (because you're nice like that), but it's not as though we didn't have a chance to figure out how dumb he really was by the second time. You see, we like stupid leaders and hate academic types who think they know everything. Last time we almost elected Sarah Palin, whose astute observation about Russian-American politics was that she could see Russia from Alaska. Even that was debatable. Anyone who has spent time in Alaska, knows visibility rarely exceeds five miles. Yet, she could easily have wound up being president of the most militarily powerful nation on earth. Excuse me while I shiver in my boots, and not over the thought of Alaska. Asked what she reads to keep up on the world, her answer was essentially, "Stuff. I read stuff ... lots of stuff. You know papers."

If you don't think we Americans actually like stupid politicians, just look at last year's Republican line-up of primary presidential candidates. There was Rick Perry. He's a Texas governor like Cowboy Bush was. The only difference between Rick and George was that Rick made George look like a "Roads Scholar" (Well, that's how Rick would have spelled it (George, too), as if being a Rhode's Scholar meant being someone who's learned how to lay pavement.) Perry was dumber than a fence post, but they like fence posts in Texas, so they elected him governor. Heck, he has a cedar knot for a brain, so why not? Then there was that guy named after some form of lizard or maybe after some kind of figgy cookie. I mean, who names their child "Newt?" He was supposedly the brightest one of the pack -- a history professor no less -- but his idea for saving the economy was starting a colony on the moon. Great, we screwed up your American colonies. Now we have to go screw up the moon?

Now that I think about it, he might have been on to something. (Or just ON SOMETHING.) If we could send the entire Republican primary line-up to live out their lives on the moon, think of what that could do for the economy here! We'd even have the claim of creating the first Lunar No-Think Tank.

Then, of course, ALL of those guys (and gals) that were running in the primary believe the way to save the economy is by renewing the Bush Tax Cuts. Never mind that we've had four years of the Bush Tax Cuts under Obama, and they haven't created any jobs yet! Never mind that we had almost eight years of them under Bush, and look where we wound up? We wrecked the world for ourselves and everyone else.

I'm starting to think we Americans are just your retarded cousins. Mittens, after all, is one of our best and brightest -- the kind of guy we'd make CEO of a major corporation 'cause we think he's smarter than most of us. If he does get elected, the most recession-proof career anyone could choose would be as a comedian. I mean just think of the land of opportunity he will open up for writing late-night comedy! The man's a treasure trove of comedic potential.

--Knave Dave http://TheGreatRecession.info

IIf you're a Brit, please share this with your friends. If you're an American, share it only with the friends you don't want ; )

Message for Mitt, unless you're talking to the redneck crowd that supports you at home, "think before engaging mouth"