The American Spectator

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'A Manifesto for the Planet'

By Robert Stacy McCain on 7.25.08 @ 7:24AM

That's how Mike Allen of the Politico is describing Barack Obama's Berlin speech:

Billed as a speech about Transatlantic relations, it turned out to be a manifesto for the planet, with an appeal to "the burdens of global citizenship." . . .
Obama's speech, the centerpiece of his presidential-style sweep of the Middle East and Europe, set a global agenda as expansive and audacious as any contemplated by a candidate for United States president.

Allen also applies the phrase "sweeping vision," perhaps a euphemism for "grandiose delusion." While the speech will undoubtedly be celebrated as a success in the MSM, Noam Scheiber of The New Republic wonders if it helps Obama to seem "more popular in Germany than in rural Pennsylvania."

UPDATE: More arched eyebrows at TNR over Obama's decision to go ahead and start measuring the Oval Office for new drapes. Meanwhile, via Instapundit. there's this Associated Press headline:

Obama Scraps Visit to Wounded Troops

Congratulations on the shark-jump, Fonzie.

UPDATE II: And why did Obama skip the troop visit? NBC reports:

One military official who was working on the Obama visit said because political candidates are prohibited from using military installations as campaign backdrops, Obama's representatives were told, "he could only bring two or three of his Senate staff member, no campaign officials or workers." In addition, "Obama could not bring any media. Only military photographers would be permitted to record Obama's visit." (Emphasis added.)

(Via Hot Air.) As Johnny Cochran might say, "If there's no photo op, Obama does not stop."

topics:
Barack Obama, Military