So freaking what. The French don't care. The US media and the GOP are making this an issue. If anything, we could have sent Holder seeing as he was already in Paris but does the POTUS have to make an appearance? We have already contributed a ridiculous amount of resources and why should we walk arm in arm with a city that has become largely anti-Semitic and with leaders who quell free speech in their own country?
This is where former presidents come in handy. Bush might have been a bit unpopular to get involved in anything involving Middle eastern terror and it might be hard to provide adequate security for him or Obama. But I'm surprised Barry didn't ask Clinton or Carter to represent the US. I'm surprised Carter didn't show up anyway, but the old duffer is getting a little slow at 90.
Couldn't you just see Dubya arm in arm with the Middle East contingent or even Putin? Yea, Clinton might have been a good option. The problem would still be sharing a stage with massive hypocrites.
1) Neither did any other foreign leader. It was a photo op away from the march, surrounded by security. 2) Who cares? Did any of them come to America and show support after the 9/11 attacks? This would have been a great opportunity for Presidential hopefuls like Hillary. Grab Bill, head to Paris at "Obama's request" and then rake in the media gold. This would go double for GOP hopefuls who lack foreign policy experience. Another wasted opportunity for good politics.
Yeah, but they did manage to get a crowd to the Gentle Giant's funeral. Priorities are priorities, you know!
Actually many visited ground zero to leave wreaths. Putin was the first to call Bush with condolences. The French president Chirac was the first foreign leader to visit the White House after 9/11.
He was the first to visit and yet his comments to Annan at UN headquarters a week after the attack were limiting, saying he was still evaluating France's level of contribution. Compare that with Obama who called immediately and pledged "unlimited support". The march in France was nothing more than a photo op and a chance to pledge some kind of bullshit brotherhood support. Did Putin go home and make any changes about freedom of speech or expression in Russia? Then who freaking cares if Obama was there. Did Turkey go home and release the jailed journalists in their country? Did Saudi Arabia stop flogging journalists? Again, Obama pledged real support....intelligence, money, God knows what else. That makes America more of a leader, not marching down some dumb street in France dreaming of tarts and baguettes.
