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Interview with Charles Krauthammer: 'Obama is Average'

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In a SPIEGEL interview, Charles Krauthammer, the leading voice of America's conservative intellectuals, discusses Barack Obama's Nobel Peace Prize, the president's failures and the state of the United Nations and the international community.

SPIEGEL: Mr. Krauthammer, did the Nobel Commitee in Oslo honor or doom the Obama presidency by awarding him the Peace Prize?


Charles Krauthammer: It is so comical. Absurd. Any prize that goes to Kellogg and Briand, Le Duc Tho and Arafat, and Rigoberta Menchú, and ends up with Obama, tells you all you need to know. For Obama it's not very good because it reaffirms the stereotypes about him as the empty celebrity.

SPIEGEL: Why does it?

Krauthammer: He is a man of perpetual promise. There used to be a cruel joke that said Brazil is the country of the future, and always will be; Obama is the Brazil of today's politicians. He has obviously achieved nothing. And in the American context, to be the hero of five Norwegian leftists, is not exactly politically positive.


SPIEGEL: It hardly makes sense to blame him for losing the Olympic bid in one week, and then for winning the Nobel Prize the next.

Krauthammer: He should have simply said: "This is very nice, I appreciate the gesture, but I haven't achieved what I want to achieve." But he is not the kind of man that does that.

SPIEGEL: Should he have turned down the prize?

Krauthammer: He would never turn that down. The presidency is all about him. Just think about the speech he gave in Berlin. There is something so preposterous about a presidential candidate speaking in Berlin. And it was replete with all these universalist clichés, which is basically what he's been giving us for nine months.

SPIEGEL: Why do Europeans react so positively to him?

Krauthammer: Because Europe, for very understandable reasons, has been chaffing for 60 years under the protection, but also the subtle or not so subtle domination of America. Europeans like to see the big guy cut down to size, it's a natural reaction. You know, Europe ran the world for 400 or 500 years until the civilizational suicide of the two World Wars. And then America emerged as the world hegemon, with no competition and unchallenged. The irony is America is the only hegemonic power that never sought hegemony, unlike, for example, Napoleonic France. Americans are not intrinsically imperial, but we ended up dominant by default: Europe disappeared after the Second World War, the Soviet Union disappeared in 1991, so here we are. Of course Europeans like to see the hegemon diminished, and Obama is the perfect man to do that.

SPIEGEL: Maybe Europeans want to just see a different America, one they can admire again.

Krauthammer: Admire? Look at Obama's speech at the UN General Assembly: "No one nation can or should try to dominate another nation." Take the first half of that sentence: No nation can dominate another. There is no eight year old who would say that -- it's so absurd. And the second half? That is adolescent utopianism. Obama talks in platitudes, but offers a vision to the world of America diminished or constrained, and willing to share leadership in a way that no other presidency and no other great power would. Could you imagine if the Russians were hegemonic, or the Chinese, or the Germans -- that they would speak like this?

SPIEGEL: Is America's power not already diminished?

Krauthammer: Relative to what?

SPIEGEL: To emerging powers.

Krauthammer: The Chinese are rising, the Indians have a very long way to go. But I'm old enough to remember the late 1980s, "The Rise and Fall of the Great Powers" by Paul Kennedy and the prevailing view that America was in decline and Japan was the rising power. The fashion now is that the Chinese will overtake the United States. As with the great Japan panic, there are all kinds of reasons why that will not happen.

Look, eventually American hegemony will fade. In time, yes. But now? Economically we now have serious problems, creating huge amounts of debt that we cannot afford and that could bring down the dollar and even cause hyperinflation. But nothing is inevitable. If we make the right choices, if we keep our economic house in order, we can avert an economic collapse. We can choose to decline or to stay strong.

SPIEGEL: Do you really believe that Obama deliberately wants to weaken the US?

Krauthammer: The liberal vision of America is that it should be less arrogant, less unilateral, more internationalist. In Obama's view, America would subsume itself under a fuzzy internationalism in which the international community, which I think is a fiction, governs itself through the UN.

SPIEGEL: A nightmare?

Krauthammer: Worse than that: an absurdity. I can't even imagine serious people would believe it, but I think Obama does. There is a way America will decline -- if we choose first to wreck our economy and then to constrain our freedom of action through subordinating ourselves to international institutions which are 90 percent worthless and 10 percent harmful.

SPIEGEL: And there is not even 1 percent that is constructive?

Krauthammer: No. The UN is worse than disaster. The UN creates conflicts. Look at the disgraceful UN Human Rights Council: It transmits norms which are harmful, anti-liberty, and anti-Semitic among other things. The world would be better off in its absence.

SPIEGEL: And Obama is, in your eyes, …

Krauthammer: He's becoming ordinary. In the course of his presidency, Obama has gone from an almost magical charismatic figure to an ordinary politician. Ordinary. Average. His approval ratings are roughly equal to what the last five presidents' were at the same time in their first term. Other people have already said he's done and finished because his health care plans ran into trouble; but I say they're wrong. He's going to come back, he will pass something on health care, there's no question. He will have a blip, be somewhat rehabilitated politically, but he won't be able to pass anything on climate change. He will not be the great transformer he imagines himself to be. A president like others -- with successes and failures.
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Continued at Interview with Charles Krauthammer: 'Obama Is Average' - SPIEGEL ONLINE - News - International
 
I'd calll Krauthammer a leading voice of the Neocon movement. He is hardly conservative on many issues-he is a huge gun banner for example. He fits the original meaning of NeoCon to a T
 
TurtleDude said:
I'd calll Krauthammer a leading voice of the Neocon movement. He is hardly conservative on many issues-he is a huge gun banner for example. He fits the original meaning of NeoCon to a T
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ABOUT CHARLES KRAUTHAMMER

Charles Krauthammer ia one of the most influential conservative commentators in the United States. On foreign policy issues Krauthammer, 59, is considered a neoliberal. But as a proponent of the right to have an abortion and an opponent of the death penalty, he is more liberal in many respects than the mainstream of the Republican Party. His regular column for the Washington Post is syndicated by around 200 newspapers. He won the Pulitzer Prize for his work in 1987.
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From the article.

Those crazy Germans!
 
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niftydrifty said:
An appeal to popularity? Chuck, really? Krauthammer has been referred to as the world's worst pundit. There are dozens of Conservative writers much more logical than him. Articles written during Bush's first term were equally clueless.

some highlights:

2001: "He earned that long vacation!"

2003: "Two weeks in, we are fighting a conventional war in Iraq, and winning!"

2004: "Iraq is not a quagmire!"

2006: "I already said it was a civil war in Iraq a long time ago!"
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The titles make sense and are arguably spot on.
 
As I see it today if you want to use Neo as a prefix place in front of the Neo-National Socialist Political party currently moving to take this country down at every turn.
I do have to agree with Krauthammer that Obama is a man of perpetual promise. Every time he fails which is all the time instead of manning up and facing the music he just comes up with another lie he knows he either won't keep or won't work and if by some miracle he gets something done it will either be detrimental to the or be some extravagant measure for his personal pleasure. He is like a welfare recipient who found a bag of someone Else's money and is on a spending spree because it's free and it's party time all the time.
He is so into it look at the lines of people in Detroit thinking Obama was going to give them free money. Hell they lined up in the hundreds and nearly had a riot when they found it wasn't going to happen.
I think to call Obama average is being charitable at best. He's proved by his inability to speak without a teleprompter and script the best he can do is ah and um his way through an interview. And they claim he's smart. No he"s educated and that does not translate into intelligence or he would be coming up with dumb ass ideas that only serve to push his Socialist/Communist agenda.
Average is a dream he can aspire to but never reach until he stops campaigning and starts doing the job and keeping the few good promises he made. So far you can Google it and find over 150 lies he's told so far and they are documented, and that is above average.
 
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bhkad said:
The titles make sense and are arguably spot on.
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It isn't "spot on" for an analyst of any sort to comment upon current situations without much foresight or context. Use of words such as "win" without mention what "win" means is pathetic. There is little evidence of much depth to his thinking.

You'd prefer a weatherman that told you a cold front was coming, not the one that just said, it's "cold now," or, "it's warmer now."

Those particular articles I chose are excellent examples of Krauthammer's myopic point of view. For example, while Krauthammer was saying that it was a conventional war in Iraq, others were warning about what would, and did, happen. At the time, Krauthammer (and Kristol, et al) dismissed those pundits (y'know, the "unpatriotic" ones) as nuts. Those moments should be counted against CK's credibility. There have been a lot of them. And yet, there he still is, week after week, along with the Weekly Standard clown posse, on Fox. Go figure.
 
niftydrifty said:
It isn't "spot on" for an analyst of any sort to comment upon current situations without much foresight or context. Use of words such as "win" without mention what "win" means is pathetic. There is little evidence of much depth to his thinking.

You'd prefer a weatherman that told you a cold front was coming, not the one that just said, it's "cold now," or, "it's warmer now."

Those particular articles I chose are excellent examples of Krauthammer's myopic point of view. For example, while Krauthammer was saying that it was a conventional war in Iraq, others were warning about what would, and did, happen. At the time, Krauthammer (and Kristol, et al) dismissed those pundits (y'know, the "unpatriotic" ones) as nuts. Those moments should be counted against CK's credibility. There have been a lot of them. And yet, there he still is, week after week, along with the Weekly Standard clown posse, on Fox. Go figure.
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Nice, I see you must have worked for clinton. :mrgreen:

Fact is whatever else krauthammer is, or you think him to be, he is more right about obama and the present american political system than not.
 
Charles with his usual spot on assessment, although, I think average is a tad bit overstated. Compared to his promises, Obama has been dismal, personally, I'd think he more compares to a circus clown, the perfect entertainer. Never says anything of substance, never does anything, never makes a difference, is there for show and tell and of course, a few laughs.
 
Dutch said:
Nice, I see you must have worked for clinton. :mrgreen:

Fact is whatever else krauthammer is, or you think him to be, he is more right about obama and the present american political system than not.
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Pffft, in reality, the actual fact is, in this current article, the one linked to in the OP, CK uses an appeal to popularity to make an argument about Obama. not too long ago, CK looked at another president's steadily sinking popularity, and claimed that his commitment to following through with policy initiatives displayed "political courage."

So Obama is not more than a mere man. Everyone but the whacko fringe already knew that. confusing whacko fringe with mainstream is not being "more right about the present american political system."
 
niftydrifty said:
Pffft, in reality, the actual fact is, in this current article, the one linked to in the OP, CK uses an appeal to popularity to make an argument about Obama. not too long ago, CK looked at another president's steadily sinking popularity, and claimed that his commitment to following through with policy initiatives displayed "political courage."

So Obama is not more than a mere man. Everyone but the whacko fringe already knew that. confusing whacko fringe with mainstream is not being "more right about the present american political system."
Click to expand...

Where does he make an appeal to popularity? He does not. He points to the lack of accomplishment yet winning accolades as ridiculous.

"He is a man of perpetual promise. There used to be a cruel joke that said Brazil is the country of the future, and always will be; Obama is the Brazil of today's politicians. He has obviously achieved nothing."

Of course he has achieved something. He has decriminalized marijuana for those states that passed Medical Marijuana. Other than that he has given speeches, to Berlin, to the UN, to Cairo, to America. His steady lack of accomplishment measures the success he has.

CK nails it.
 
reefedjib said:
Where does he make an appeal to popularity? He does not.
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the last paragraph that you pasted, above.
"He's becoming ordinary. In the course of his presidency, Obama has gone from an almost magical charismatic figure to an ordinary politician. Ordinary. Average. His approval ratings are roughly equal to what the last five presidents' were at the same time in their first term."
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reefedjib said:
He points to the lack of accomplishment yet winning accolades as ridiculous.

"He is a man of perpetual promise. There used to be a cruel joke that said Brazil is the country of the future, and always will be; Obama is the Brazil of today's politicians. He has obviously achieved nothing."

Of course he has achieved something. He has decriminalized marijuana for those states that passed Medical Marijuana. Other than that he has given speeches, to Berlin, to the UN, to Cairo, to America. His steady lack of accomplishment measures the success he has.

CK nails it.
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I'm amused when pundits criticize politicians that they don't agree with, for being 'political.' what president in history has not made more promises than they could keep? "nothing." CK excels at hyperbole. 9 months in, Obama has achieved nothing. yet, in the autumn of 2001, W deserved a well earned vacation. craziness.
 
"He's becoming ordinary. In the course of his presidency, Obama has gone from an almost magical charismatic figure to an ordinary politician. Ordinary. Average. His approval ratings are roughly equal to what the last five presidents' were at the same time in their first term."
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reefedjib said:
Where does he make an appeal to popularity? He does not.
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niftydrifty said:
the last paragraph that you pasted, above.
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You call that an appeal to popularity? Gimme a break.

niftydrifty said:
I'm amused when pundits criticize politicians that they don't agree with, for being 'political.' what president in history has not made more promises than they could keep? "nothing." CK excels at hyperbole. 9 months in, Obama has achieved nothing. yet, in the autumn of 2001, W deserved a well earned vacation. craziness.
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Oh they are all political. So now you are making another accusation of CK's failings with no quote. Provide a quote or is it as flimsy as your last one?
 
Charles Martel said:
Charles with his usual spot on assessment, although, I think average is a tad bit overstated. Compared to his promises, Obama has been dismal, personally, I'd think he more compares to a circus clown, the perfect entertainer. Never says anything of substance, never does anything, never makes a difference, is there for show and tell and of course, a few laughs.
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Enjoying that fantasy world you're in?
 
Obama is and was a nobody - his perpetual promises were carried by his charismatic personality. He's the perverbial Prom King in an on-going dance which never ends. He doesn't take sides normally and delegates everything including his policies so he can be all things to all people - and therefore claim he was for/against almost anything with plausible deniability if needed. Krauthammer hits the nail on the head, as he usually does.
 
niftydrifty said:
Pffft, in reality, the actual fact is, in this current article, the one linked to in the OP, CK uses an appeal to popularity to make an argument about Obama. not too long ago, CK looked at another president's steadily sinking popularity, and claimed that his commitment to following through with policy initiatives displayed "political courage."

So Obama is not more than a mere man. Everyone but the whacko fringe already knew that. confusing whacko fringe with mainstream is not being "more right about the present american political system."
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You people were sold an image. I'd say a number of you simply ignored the fact he had no experience, no trackrecord, and no defining character traits. He was an empty vessel you could simply pour your hopes into. So you probably shouldn't bring up the idea of a wacko fringe as it was democrats that kept passing out at his rallies.

2286535588_d17889426a.jpg
 
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WillRockwell said:
Enjoying that fantasy world you're in?
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The truth often stings, Will, the fact that you were bamboozled and sold this bill of goods isn't my fault. Hate the game, not the player.
 
reefedjib said:
So now you are making another accusation of CK's failings with no quote. Provide a quote or is it as flimsy as your last one?
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The quote where CK said "nothing" just like I said he did. or the link where CK remarked about W's vacation that I pasted in my first post? Cmon, I can't read for you.

Dutch said:
You people were sold an image. I'd say a number of you simply ignored the fact he had no experience, no trackrecord, and no defining character traits. He was an empty vessel you could simply pour your hopes into. So you probably shouldn't bring up the idea of a wacko fringe as it was democrats that kept passing out at his rallies.
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cool, let's discuss me. I'm so much more interesting than the topic, anyway!

I'm not plural.

and secondly, I had a Ron Paul sign in my yard most of last year.
 
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niftydrifty said:
The quote where CK said "nothing" just like I said he did. or the link where CK remarked about W's vacation that I pasted in my first post? Cmon, I can't read for you.
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Where CK said that Obama was being "political" like you stated.
 
reefedjib said:
Where CK said that Obama was being "political" like you stated.
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Did you read a different interview with Krauthammer?

po·lit·i·cal
Pronunciation: \pə-ˈli-ti-kəl\
Function: adjective
Etymology: Latin politicus
Date: 1551

of, relating to, involving, or involved in politics and especially party politics

what I said was:

I'm amused when pundits criticize politicians that they don't agree with, for being 'political.' what president in history has not made more promises than they could keep?
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"A man of perpetual promise." Gee, sounds familiar.

"There are 43 million uninsured Americans – 4 million more than when the current administration took office. George W. Bush will reverse this trend by making health insurance affordable for hard-working, low-income families."

"George W. Bush will establish the 'Healthy Communities Innovation Fund' to provide $500 million in grants over five years to fund innovative projects addressing targeted health risks, such as childhood diabetes."

"As President, Governor Bush will…pay the debt down to a historically low level."

"The Social Security surplus must be locked away only for Social Security."

"Governor Bush's income tax cuts will benefit all Americans, but they are especially focused on low and moderate income families."

"y far the vast majority of my tax cuts go to the bottom end of the spectrum."

"To restore confidence in government, [George W. Bush] will...attack pork-barrel spending."

"To restore confidence in government, George W. Bush will...return civility to the nomination process."

George W. Bush will "fully fund the Pell grant program for first-year students by increasing the maximum grant amount by more than 50 percent"

George W. Bush "will also ensure that the federal government, which is the country's largest polluter, complies with all environmental laws."

What did CK say when Bush accomplished (nor even tried to accomplish) not one of those things?

"A vacation Bush deserves" - Charles Krauthammer, 8/13/2001
 
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niftydrifty said:
What did CK say when Bush accomplished (nor even tried to accomplish) not one of those things?
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I don't know, I don't follow him as closely as you are. So what if he's biased. Doesn't mean what he says isn't well thought out. It is well thought out, you just don't like what he has to say.
 
reefedjib said:
I don't know, I don't follow him as closely as you are. So what if he's biased. Doesn't mean what he says isn't well thought out. It is well thought out, you just don't like what he has to say.
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"Well thought out." That's a curious way to put it.

Double standards for different presidents. A blatantly false statement about accomplishments. An appeal to popularity. A myopic point of view that makes conclusions about big picture or history for a president he doesn't like, 9 months in, but says "wait and see" for a president he does like after 1, 2, 3, even 8 years. Confusing fringe with mainstream opinions. Criticizing a politician for being ... political.

Nothing about Charles Krauthammer is "well thought out."
 
niftydrifty said:
cool, let's discuss me. I'm so much more interesting than the topic, anyway!

I'm not plural.

and secondly, I had a Ron Paul sign in my yard most of last year.
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So......you threw your vote away. ;)
 
niftydrifty said:
Did you read a different interview with Krauthammer?

po·lit·i·cal
Pronunciation: \pə-ˈli-ti-kəl\
Function: adjective
Etymology: Latin politicus
Date: 1551

of, relating to, involving, or involved in politics and especially party politics

what I said was:



"A man of perpetual promise." Gee, sounds familiar.

"There are 43 million uninsured Americans – 4 million more than when the current administration took office. George W. Bush will reverse this trend by making health insurance affordable for hard-working, low-income families."

"George W. Bush will establish the 'Healthy Communities Innovation Fund' to provide $500 million in grants over five years to fund innovative projects addressing targeted health risks, such as childhood diabetes."

"As President, Governor Bush will…pay the debt down to a historically low level."

"The Social Security surplus must be locked away only for Social Security."

"Governor Bush's income tax cuts will benefit all Americans, but they are especially focused on low and moderate income families."

"y far the vast majority of my tax cuts go to the bottom end of the spectrum."

"To restore confidence in government, [George W. Bush] will...attack pork-barrel spending."

"To restore confidence in government, George W. Bush will...return civility to the nomination process."

George W. Bush will "fully fund the Pell grant program for first-year students by increasing the maximum grant amount by more than 50 percent"

George W. Bush "will also ensure that the federal government, which is the country's largest polluter, complies with all environmental laws."

What did CK say when Bush accomplished (nor even tried to accomplish) not one of those things?

"A vacation Bush deserves" - Charles Krauthammer, 8/13/2001
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Don't like all the mean things krauthammer said about obama......trash what he said about bush.....strawman argument. :roll:
 
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