Two fairly hefty tests have arisen from which we can either adjust our opinions of President Obama, or simply nod knowingly having our worst suspicions confirmed. The first test was his speech at the commemoration of Martin Luther King's epic speech of fifty years ago. MLK was a voracious sexual predator with the morals of an alley cat, as well as an academic cheat and plagiarist and the thought occurs that perhaps it was a wet dream he had and he simply, er, mis-spoke! However, he did possess the gift of oratory and the test for Obama today was whether he could at least get close. Nowhere near, I'm afraid to say. I only watched the first part because thankfully Sky News cut to a commercial break after about ten minutes and I have never been so glad to see some adverts! I bet the BBC, in their lickspittle way and without any thought for the suffering of their viewers, covered the whole thing without interruption. Well, they have to, really, given that they are running an entire programme devoted to the event including a replay of the famous speech for which they are required to pay hefty copyright fees to MLK's children who rarely let a chance slip to collect 5-figure sums from anyone replaying 'good ol' Pop's' words. Back to Obama, it's awfully bad form, so I am told, to characterise black people as having a good sense of rhythym. Well, there's no chance of me ascribing that talent to Obama, he's got about as much rhythym as Big Ben on a slow day! He is a slave to his teleprompter and thus his sentences are broken down ... into brief clauses ... delivered in his boring baritone ... and thus ... several times per sentence ... there is a long silence ... during which ... we wonder what is for dinner tonight ... or which of those elderly black ladies ... sitting on the podium ... were shagged by MLK? There is no poetry in Obama's text and no fire or passion in his delivery, just thudding triteness. Big Fail, Mr. President!
In the next few days or weeks he will have yet another test to pass or fail. 'Dim Dave' has, quite properly, recalled parliament in order for it to discuss and debate the pros and cons of action against Syria. Already, it is obvious that there is a huge reluctance on the part of MPs to give him the go ahead. Thus, tonight, despite the embarrassment, it is clear that he will not seek a vote for it on Thursday. Past presidents of the USA have ripped the guts out of the idea that Congress should be involved in deciding on any foreign action by their armed services. Even so, the seriousness of launching a mass air and missile attack against a nation which has done no harm to the United States demands that the President consult his Congressmen in full session, not private meetings behind closed doors which can be carefully crafted for public appeal. As far as one can judge, the vast majority of Americans are opposed to any involvement. So will Obama risk the sort of embarrassment that 'Dave' is already feeling? Maybe, but I will not be holding my breath!
Thanks to 'SoD' for the Telegraph link