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Romney pisses of the UK on his first international visit.

*sigh*

I'm going to flag this thread for the next time someone across the pond criticizes and insults the USA, then calls anyone who complains about it a crybaby.

I'm not a Romney fan. Frankly, I think the guy is a slick fraud with a mind so brainwashed by privilege and elitism that he honestly can't open his mouth without insulting half this country... and apparently any other country. But come on, he was asked a question, he answered it without criticism, opined that he imagined the UK would pull the games off well. Now the UK Tabloids, and apparently some thin-skinned UK posters here, have twisted his context to sensationalize the story (not that any tabloid, UK or American would EVER have a history of routinely doing such things) and throw the past 30 years of USA olympic history in our face.

Get. Over. It.

We all understand that the Brits were betrayed and gobsmacked by a private security firm that basically bailed at the last minute. That is hardly the UK's fault, and nobody is even implying that it is. Jesus, turn on the telly, watch the ceremonies and the competitions, have a great time and be proud of the UK for pulling off an incredibly difficult feat in a major population center. Quit bellyaching and finger-pointing. The London Olympics will be a smashing success. Lighten up, folks.
 
DiAnna said:
*sigh*

I'm going to flag this thread for the next time someone across the pond criticizes and insults the USA, then calls anyone who complains about it a crybaby.

I'm not a Romney fan. Frankly, I think the guy is a slick fraud with a mind so brainwashed by privilege and elitism that he honestly can't open his mouth without insulting half this country... and apparently any other country. But come on, he was asked a question, he answered it without criticism, opined that he imagined the UK would pull the games off well. Now the UK Tabloids, and apparently some thin-skinned UK posters here, have twisted his context to sensationalize the story (not that any tabloid, UK or American would EVER have a history of routinely doing such things) and throw the past 30 years of USA olympic history in our face.

Get. Over. It.

We all understand that the Brits were betrayed and gobsmacked by a private security firm that basically bailed at the last minute. That is hardly the UK's fault, and nobody is even implying that it is. Jesus, turn on the telly, watch the ceremonies and the competitions, have a great time and be proud of the UK for pulling off an incredibly difficult feat in a major population center. Quit bellyaching and finger-pointing. The London Olympics will be a smashing success. Lighten up, folks.
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The point I think some are making, and with cause, is that Romney will have a hard time complaining about Obama being a poor diplomat when he himself went overseas and was a poor diplomat. Is it nitpicky stuff? Absolutely. However, diplomacy is, in part, paying attention to that nitpicky stuff.
 
AdamT said:
I think the standard I would use as to whether a comment constitutes a diplomatic faux pas is whether or not it incited a significant reaction in the target country.
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I will say this. The fact this is becoming a big story there (or at least appears to be based on the american reporting of it thus far and what's been linked to England...Though I do laugh that 9 out of 10 times when the Daily Mail gets linked it gets DESTROYED as being not serious, but has no peep against it in this thread) does increase the magnitude of the flub. I still think it's ridiculous and overblown to get upset about it...but ultimately, whether I think it's idiotic to be upset about it or not is somewhat irrelevant to whether or not people do get upset.
 
Seriously, I wonder what the average cost of a pint will be in London during the Olympics?
 
DiAnna said:
*sigh*

I'm going to flag this thread for the next time someone across the pond criticizes and insults the USA, then calls anyone who complains about it a crybaby.

I'm not a Romney fan. Frankly, I think the guy is a slick fraud with a mind so brainwashed by privilege and elitism that he honestly can't open his mouth without insulting half this country... and apparently any other country. But come on, he was asked a question, he answered it without criticism, opined that he imagined the UK would pull the games off well. Now the UK Tabloids, and apparently some thin-skinned UK posters here, have twisted his context to sensationalize the story (not that any tabloid, UK or American would EVER have a history of routinely doing such things) and throw the past 30 years of USA olympic history in our face.

Get. Over. It.

We all understand that the Brits were betrayed and gobsmacked by a private security firm that basically bailed at the last minute. That is hardly the UK's fault, and nobody is even implying that it is. Jesus, turn on the telly, watch the ceremonies and the competitions, have a great time and be proud of the UK for pulling off an incredibly difficult feat in a major population center. Quit bellyaching and finger-pointing. The London Olympics will be a smashing success. Lighten up, folks.
Click to expand...

oh please there are more posters on this site that insult Europe than vice versa. The guy is a guest and when asked the question he should of replied a nice short answer " everyone is workign hard and im sure its going to be a great two weeks" and then leave it at that. Its called diplomacy and it seems that quite a few of you on here could do with brushing up on it a little.
 
Risky Thicket said:
Seriously, I wonder what the average cost of a pint will be in London during the Olympics?
Click to expand...

Heh, I was just wondering how much it would cost to get a hotel room.
 
Redress said:
The point I think some are making, and with cause, is that Romney will have a hard time complaining about Obama being a poor diplomat when he himself went overseas and was a poor diplomat. Is it nitpicky stuff? Absolutely. However, diplomacy is, in part, paying attention to that nitpicky stuff.
Click to expand...

I agree with regards to nit picky stuff matters, understanding how different cultures take different things matters (perhaps while I think this is stupid to get up in arms about, british culture see's it differently), and that stuff like this can remove it as a possible thing Romney can suggest he's BETTER at. However...it seems less that people in this thread are suggesting Romney will have a hard time complaining about Obama being a poor diplomat and more just trying to suggest that Romney is a poor diplomat.

My actual point was that you have diplomatic flubs arguably larger than this with regards to our allies on Obama's side, so while I get criticizing Romney and trying to argue this kind of thing takes diplomacy off the table for him as trying to push it as a strength over Obama....it's not exactly a one sided issue to blast.
 
Redress said:
The point I think some are making, and with cause, is that Romney will have a hard time complaining about Obama being a poor diplomat when he himself went overseas and was a poor diplomat. Is it nitpicky stuff? Absolutely. However, diplomacy is, in part, paying attention to that nitpicky stuff.
Click to expand...

Romney has zero diplomatic experience. Hell, he can't even be diplomatic when it comes to insulting this country's middle class and blue collar workers, because his mind simply cannot comprehend a world beyond wealth and privilege. There are plenty of things to criticize him for... but not when something basically benign is twisted out of context in order to fabricate outrage that isn't warranted.

Do not believe I am defending Romney. I'm simply expressing disgust by the deceptive and disingenuous sensationalizing of routine, boring remarks.
 
AdamT said:
I think the standard I would use as to whether a comment constitutes a diplomatic faux pas is whether or not it incited a significant reaction in the target country.
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However, since Conservatives in the United States don't give a damn what anybody else thinks of them - not even our closest ally who continues to lose servicemen in Afghanistan on a weekly basis, none of that matters. We're America!
 
Romney is such a tool and he proves it constantly. This is a perfect example. Mittens needs some serious coaching. The problem with him is that he is used to servants bowing and scraping the floor and telling him he is god.
 
You know, I think if Romney stays away from giving the PM or the Queen DVD box sets of some lame Hollywood release, he'll do just fine. :mrgreen:
 
Higgins86 said:
oh please there are more posters on this site that insult Europe than vice versa. The guy is a guest and when asked the question he should of replied a nice short answer " everyone is workign hard and im sure its going to be a great two weeks" and then leave it at that. Its called diplomacy and it seems that quite a few of you on here could do with brushing up on it a little.
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This is probably more a yank thing, but this is something I find funny about an aspect of the U.S. Culture in general and it's not just in politics.

When people give canned answers then the media and some fans of whatever the activity is (Be it sports or politics) bitch, complain, and lament how the people is just giving "canned answer" or is using "coach/player speak" in sports or is just "being a politician" or other such things because they feel the person isn't really answering the question but just saying what's tactful and by the book.

THEN, when you actually have someone open up and attempt to give an honest answer to a question....they get RIPPED by the media for not being smart about what they say, tactful, giving people ammunition, etc. This is just hitting me and popping in my head in this because of listening to Sports Radio earlier and hearing this kind of thing going on in terms of a player saying "all the right things".

It's just one of those weird things of the U.S. media which I don't know if it shows up around the world. When you say the "diplomatic" or "tactful" or "prudent" thing but it doesn't seem like it's an actual honest, or complete, or true answer but simply platitudes or what you're supposed to say....we rip people. Then, when people give an actual, honest, complete, or truthful answer....we rip people.

It's something I see more in sports, and I always feel for the athletes with it, but it happens at times on both sides of politics too.

Sports Caster: "Hey...Player X. The opposing teams QB is hurt in the ribs. You think you're going to try to hit him hard there"
Player X: "I'm going to go out there and try to play hard and do my best and play within the confines of the law."
Sports Caster after the Player hangs up from the interview: "Wow, he just dodged that question. I hate how they always use player speak. Of COURSE he's going to go after the guys ribs."

- - -

Sports Caster: "Hey...Player X. The opposing teams QB is hurt in the ribs. You think you're going to try to hit him hard there"
Player X: "Well you know, I'm going to make sure all my hits are legal. But yeah, if I got a chance to pop him in the ribs and make him think about that injury, you know I'm going to do it."
Sports Caster after the Player hangs up from the interview: "Wow, can you believe he said that. Talk about bulletin board material. How stupid was he to state that!"
 
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Zyphlin said:
I agree with regards to nit picky stuff matters, understanding how different cultures take different things matters (perhaps while I think this is stupid to get up in arms about, british culture see's it differently), and that stuff like this can remove it as a possible thing Romney can suggest he's BETTER at. However...it seems less that people in this thread are suggesting Romney will have a hard time complaining about Obama being a poor diplomat and more just trying to suggest that Romney is a poor diplomat.

My actual point was that you have diplomatic flubs arguably larger than this with regards to our allies on Obama's side, so while I get criticizing Romney and trying to argue this kind of thing takes diplomacy off the table for him as trying to push it as a strength over Obama....it's not exactly a one sided issue to blast.
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I will grant you that, and I think keeping track of the arcane rules would be a pain at best.

The right hand rule | Arab Business Culture . com
 
haymarket said:
Romney is such a tool and he proves it constantly. This is a perfect example. Mittens needs some serious coaching. The problem with him is that he is used to servants bowing and scraping the floor and telling him he is god.
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You know, when you have to resort to juvenile name calling, it becomes impossible to take your point seriously.
 
Redress said:
The point I think some are making, and with cause, is that Romney will have a hard time complaining about Obama being a poor diplomat when he himself went overseas and was a poor diplomat. Is it nitpicky stuff? Absolutely. However, diplomacy is, in part, paying attention to that nitpicky stuff.
Click to expand...

It wasn't a huge mistake. The problem is that it came at the beginning of his big trip designed to make him look presidential on the world stage.
 
Redress said:
You know, when you have to resort to juvenile name calling, it becomes impossible to take your point seriously.
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Thank you Jesus. I love it when someone from on high who is all pure and holy sees fit to correct the sins of the great unwashed.
 
IndepCentristMA said:
Who cares what Cameron has to say? No one?
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Come on. Even if you don't think this is a big deal, or should be a big deal, suggesting we should not care what arguably one of our top allies...right alongside Israel...in the world thinks about our potential President is ridiculous. Should we put huge stock on it for something like this that far out when it could easily be a response simply due to needing to project a good face in light of the Olympics and could easily be forgotten within 3 months? I don't think so. But to suggest we just flat out shouldn't care what the thoughts of one of our closest allies is regarding a potential President of the US....that's just ridiculous imho. No less than if someone suggested we shouldn't care if Netanyahu stated a negative opinion about Obama.
 
Not a massive Obama fan but he had the right idea in the run up to 2008, smile at the cameras, compliment your hosts and guess what thousands turn up in Berlin to watch an American politcian speak. Romney on the other hand has only been out of the US for a couple of days and he managed to get thousands of people to boo his name...
 
Higgins86 said:
Not a massive Obama fan but he had the right idea in the run up to 2008, smile at the cameras, compliment your hosts and guess what thousands turn up in Berlin to watch an American politcian speak. Romney on the other hand has only been out of the US for a couple of days and he managed to get thousands of people to boo his name...
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In most countries this would matter. However, as has been mentioned, conservatives here don't give a damn about what any other country thinks of them or their candidate. The rest of the world doesn't exist as far as they are concerned.

Here's a thought - if he's pissed off the people in our only reliable military ally in the world, imagine how well he'll do diplomatically with the rest of the world.
 
nota bene said:
There are genuine, significant concerns about security.

Breaches Focus Attention on London Olympic Security

2012 London officials probing reported security breach at Olympic Park - ESPN

Olympic security breaches - ITV News

allAfrica.com: Uganda: Athletes Safe From Terror Threats?

Olympic security farce: now MI5 sacks systems experts after anti-terror supercomputer collapse | Mail Online
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speculation added with the normal pre-olympic speedbumps. As I said before im confident from our years of dealing with the IRA and their constant threats on major events that MI5 and the Gov will be able to handle the games without incident.
 
Higgins86 said:
Not a massive Obama fan but he had the right idea in the run up to 2008, smile at the cameras, compliment your hosts and guess what thousands turn up in Berlin to watch an American politcian speak. Romney on the other hand has only been out of the US for a couple of days and he managed to get thousands of people to boo his name...
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Have the people running the show in London figured out the difference between the two Korean flags yet?
 
johnny_rebson said:
Have the people running the show in London figured out the difference between the two Korean flags yet?
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lol techincal error mate. But if you have a problem with the Olympics being held in London I suggest you dont watch, easy fix.
 
Glasgow (where it happened,) is 400 miles from London.
 
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