Reacting with indignation to David Frum's assessment that President Barack Obama was a “failure” at the G-20 summit because European leaders “rebuffed” his quest to get them to follow his lead in enacting massive deficit spending, an aghast ABC News veteran Sam Donaldson sputtered that the change in “tone” from former President Bush was more important than substance:
The last President we had that went to Europe, I mean no one wanted to see him. There was great hostility. This President's changed the tone. Just changing the tone was a great plus for the United States.
On Friday night's Real Time with Bill Maher on HBO, Donaldson conceded Obama “was rebuffed when it came to the great stimulus, yes Germany and France said you can't print Euros like we're printing dollars” but, nonetheless, he declared: “This was the best outcome you could hope for.”
Donaldson, who retired from ABC News a few weeks ago but will continue to appear occasionally on This Week's roundtable, asserted on the April 3 cable show produced in Los Angeles:
The last President we had that went to Europe, I mean no one wanted to see him. There was great hostility. This President's changed the tone. Just changing the tone was a great plus for the United States. He was rebuffed when it came to the great stimulus, yes Germany and France said you can't print Euros like we're printing dollars, but from the standpoint of the $1.1 trillion dollars which everyone pledged to help a lot of nations, a drop in the bucket you say, more than we had before. And the regulations, he bought on to some of that as long as they don't make it just something that controls the United States. This was the best outcome you could hope for.
—Brent Baker is Vice President for Research and Publications at the Media Research Center
Editor at Large
Comments Policy
Let's see if I get it. O.K.
April 4, 2009 - 04:09 ET by legacyrepublicanO.K., our president was not loved but now is.
However, their desire not to go down the same road as us is now wrong while before when they didn't want to go down the same road it was right.
Is that what he came out of retirement to tell us?
Such an incredible analysis of our foriegn policy! \sarc
We are soooooo screwed by the MSM!
Sam Donaldson? Wow. Isn't
April 4, 2009 - 05:27 ET by Warner Todd HustonSam Donaldson? Wow. Isn't that self-serving, loudmouthed, government subsidy stealing, old geeser dead yet?
Warner, the upshot about this is...
April 4, 2009 - 09:35 ET by goldenthroatSlingin' Sam is regularly interviewed on the morning show at WTAM 1100 in Cleveland - which is a Fox Radio affiliate! When I called about this I was told "we are both an ABC and Fox affiliate" - go figure - then they run Glenn Beck and Rush immediately following the morning show! And this station constantly promotes how Fox Radio was such a great fit for them. Talk about trying to mix oil and water!
Like his ABC cronies, Donaldson has become such a freakin' pompous blowhard over the years and makes about as much sense when he is interviewed on WTAM as he was on Maher's quasi-show. Maher wouldn't dare have a counterpoint this commentary, would he?
"Who am us, anyway?" - Firesign Theatre
I guess they did not see the part...
April 4, 2009 - 05:42 ET by jdripperWhere this jackass apologized for America's arrogance. Or his stunning tribute to Europe's leadership.
This "visit" was an abysmal failure.
Jack
"If at age 20 you are a conservative then you have no heart. If at age 30 you are a liberal then you have no brains." Sir Winston Churchill
Donaldson conceded Obama
April 4, 2009 - 06:29 ET by USA4freedomDonaldson conceded Obama “was rebuffed when it came to the great stimulus, yes Germany and France said you can't print Euros like we're printing dollars” but, none the less, he declared: “This was the best outcome you could hope for.”
This was the best??
What was the worst? Nuclear war??
Sam I think that the glue that holds your toupee on, has glued a few too many brain cells together..
Sam, can you name ONE thing that the United States got out of the G-20?
Just ONE.
We are helping the I..gnorant M..other F.. for the lions share of a Trillion dollars.
Not to mention that I just love hearing my country slammed over seas, (liberals are just the best at that.. We hate our country, and we love to tell you, so you will too..)
No extra troops for Afghanistan.
I love his line: you can’t print Euros like we’re printing dollars..
Why? Maybe even you Sam can see that we are going to ruin our economy, or that someone in Europe can see they will ruin their economy? Could you be just honest enough to say it.. They are TOO SMART TO FOLLOW OUR LEAD DOWN THIS PATH TO RUIN.
Sam.. less glue.. more I.Q.
Ronald Reagan, 1962: I did not leave the Democratic party, the party left me.
Insert: your name, 2008, and the Republican party.
Did you happen to see Special Report on Fox News last night?
April 4, 2009 - 07:13 ET by WhoIsJohnGaltAt the end when they have the three panelists for two segments discussing certain topics, last night Charles Krauthammer and Mort Kondracke were at each other. Charles excoriated the President for going overseas and doing a mea culpa for the United States in front of Europe. Y'know, Iraq was our fault, this was our fault, that was our fault, we were wrong, etc...basically bashed us in front of Europe.
And then that idiot Mort, who tries to be the middle of the road, said that it was right what Obama did, and of course, if we want Europe to help with Afghanistan, we had to admit wrong as it pertains to Iraq. Brett asked if we would indeed get help with Afghanistan, and Mort said "no". Charles spoke right up at Mort and said, "So he goes over there and (I forget his terminology, but essentially said we kissed Europe's ass and admitted we were idiots, embarrassed us) and gets nothing for it?" and he looked right at Mort.
Mort said nothing and just looked down. Silence on the panel for a few seconds. In my mind I imagined that if Charles wasn't paralyzed, he'd have gotten up, walked over to Mort and b-slapped him.
I have great respect for Charles, although I don't always agree with him, and last night he was PISSED at Obama. He's a big believer in the doctrine that you don't criticize America overseas, and Obama has no concept of the value of that.
Yeah,
April 4, 2009 - 08:37 ET by UpNorthCharles was so pissed he was practically levitating out of his chair. Mort is just another go-along, get-along lib.
Beltway Brats
April 4, 2009 - 10:47 ET by StarAZBack before Obama, when I was a Dem, I could not stand Fred Barnes, but now I am wondering about the Mort-ster--he seems to be on both sides of everything. It's quite a trick.
WHo is John Galt: What
April 4, 2009 - 08:39 ET by BDWHo is John Galt:
What MOrt Kondrache and the other liberals do not understand is that Europe WILL NOT ASSIST IN AFGHANSTAN to any greater degree.
Barack Obama could have gotten up before the G-20 and effectively dropped his trousers and it would make no difference. Any additional troops dispatched to Afghanistan by a NATO nation will likely simply move intot he German controlled area and get fat like the Bundeswehr from lack of exercise.
More troops from Holland, Britain, Australia, and Canada would be welcomed since THEY FIGHT. THe others (French, German, etc) do not and are a drag on the supply lines.
No amount of simple talking to a european will ever change that. Not enough testosterone left in old Europe to accomplish anything.
[Krauthammer's] a big
April 4, 2009 - 09:52 ET by motherbelt[Krauthammer's] a big believer in the doctrine that you don't criticize America overseas, and Obama has no concept of the value of that.
That unwritten rule being broken by former Presidents is bad enough, but for the current President????
It's just jaw-dropping!
To say it lacks class would be a masterpiece of understatement!!
I didn't think it was physically possible, but this both sucks and blows. -Bart Simpson
And they
April 4, 2009 - 19:52 ET by UpNorthmust have missed the Obamunist bowing and scraping to the King of Saudi Arabia? You know, the tradition of an American President never bowing to a foreign monarch? Guess that's passe' now, the Obamunist has shown the way, we're inferior to anyone and everyone, when we're not arrogant, dismissive and derisive. What do you think of that Sam? Oh that's right, the Lame Stream Media won't address the bow.
This clown makes Jimmah Cahtah look like a lion on foreign policy.
Tony Over Substance
April 4, 2009 - 06:09 ET by ConScottPresident Obama and spouse look quite the tony pair on the 'Jerry Lewis Hitchhike Tour of France.' Who needs substance when you look and sound this good?
Guess that successful diplomacy is no longer contingent upon vast donations of money and troops from all the nations of the world when it comes to war escalation the Obama way. Going it alone is back in style.
ConScott, I think that is
April 4, 2009 - 06:39 ET by USA4freedomConScott,
I think that is the part that drives me insane.
Its like a reporter telling you despite the fact your team is loosing 58-0, they have the best-looking cheerleaders, and mascot. (sad part is, they are not even cheerleaders)
After all it’s not who wins the game, it’s who looks good doing it.
The Russians have to laughing their ass off. I bet that “Comrade” line was the biggest inside joke of the week. I bet they we bumping each others elbows, and whispering: that will be 25 rubles, I told you he was too stupid to get it..
Ronald Reagan, 1962: I did not leave the Democratic party, the party left me.
Insert: your name, 2008, and the Republican party.
So the best that the silver
April 4, 2009 - 06:52 ET by eaglewingz08So the best that the silver tongued Messiah could do, the best that the media annointed smartest person ever to occupy the white house and who has the angels' blessings, and the person who could twist the hearts of anyone to do his bidding, the best that Obamessiah could do is a D minus (it wasn't a total failure because he got the G20 'to make a note of the OECD tax havens). But did Bill Maher make any comment about Mr. Obama bowing and scraping before King Abdullah the merciless of Saudi Arabia. Could you imagine him letting Pres. Bush off the hook for that submissive behavoir? Oil man scrapes before Oil King?
I don't think obama's
April 4, 2009 - 07:37 ET by MidAmericaI don't think obama's bowing his head when meeting the Saudi King had anything to do with oil and had everything to do with sending a signal to the Muslim world that the United States now bows before the guardian of the most holy sites of Islam.
Right, the best outcome
April 4, 2009 - 09:53 ET by motherbeltRight, the best outcome you could hope for was to be rebuffed.
Wow. What an amazing feat The One pulled off!!
Well, as liberals love to say....At least he tried!! He had good intentions!!
That's what matters.
I didn't think it was physically possible, but this both sucks and blows. -Bart Simpson
3.3 guys.
April 4, 2009 - 07:40 ET by JWFThere are 3.3 guys working their butts off on the fryer line at McDonalds to pay for this guys social security.
Oh sometimes I is so proud of our socialist programs. Please Uncle Obama, give us more sir.
Weakened United States
April 4, 2009 - 08:00 ET by adamsmithSam Donaldson is just like any other brainless liberal, or as Mark Levin says, "Statist"...A weak America is a good thing. Obama saying we are arrogant is just more from the Saul Alinsky "Rules for Radicals" agenda. Everything is bad about your own country, and his "First Wookie" wife saying "the first time in my life", she really believes that crap. This administration is doing all it can to weaken America, to make it one more European nation. There are videos on YouTube from before the election where President Zero said outright that he would not weaponize space, will draw down the military(in the middle of a war no less) and it's obvious he's trying to weaken us economically. The only problem is Europe is heavily subsidized by our country. They have military assistance from us, as well as extremely subsidized drugs for there "free" health care systems, and the list goes on. When America worsens economically, as it will, Europe may go into food lines, and you can bet China's population will shrink due to starvation.
But oh, don't Barack and Michelle look so dreamy while the country goes down in flames? This is Carter administration on Meth and steroids. We need another Reagan really quick.........
Sam Donaldson
April 4, 2009 - 19:06 ET by merlin61So, according to Mr. Donaldson and all of the
MSM, Pres.George Bush never, never saw any
European leaders in eight years. No one wanted
to see him, according to Mr. Donaldson, and all of
Europe hates us. I remember Pres. Bush meeting,
calling and communicating with all world leaders
and was especially accepted by Tony Blair. Its
amazing after all we've done to save Europe over
the years, that we are supposedly hated by them,
but bet your bottom dollar, next time they need
rescuing, guess who will do the job. Sam
Donaldson should just retire. He's a has been.
I didn't even know Sam
April 4, 2009 - 08:11 ET by EugeniaI didn't even know Sam Donaldson was still around. I guess he's going to lie around as long as his rug. :P
On a side note
April 4, 2009 - 10:54 ET by Adam_METhis was the first episode of Real Time with Bill Maher in a very long time that I watched almost from beginning to end(I flipped the channel during Carol Liefer's segment since I don't give a rat's ass about a washed-up comedienne). The debate among Maher and the panelists was interesting, mostly non-partisan, and shockingly cordial. Hell, even Joe the Plumber got a warm reception from Maher and the audience.
I know David Frum's gotten some heat from the right recently for his remarks, but he said a lot of things that I agreed with and he was very tough on Obama. If Maher does more episodes like this, I might tune in more regularly.
Adam-ME
April 5, 2009 - 10:24 ET by adamsmithAdam, it's too bad you didn't watch the segment with Carol Liefer. That was the most telling section of the whole show. Her and Maher going on and on about her "tits" and her lezbo switch had Sam Donaldson almost ready to stand and walk out. When this dinosaur of the Democratic party saw the levels that the neo-libs have sunk to as far as repect for other human beings and being generally classless a-holes on a third grade level, he may have thought for a moment, "My God, the righties are right"....
Definately not the first time Maher and his dirty mouth have made an embarrassment to himself. If I were ever to be on that show, and Maher was to drop F-bombs in front of women like he always does, I would simply say,"Look man, I swear like a sailor, but there's a time and place. What you're doing is just more misogynistic garbage. Who raised you to be a punk third grader for the rest of your life?" The guy is a classless, shallow thinking punk.
On a side note, ever notice that the discourse on that show goes up in intelligence value when there is an equal amount of conservatives on the show, and all Maher says is, "great conversation" as he is left speechless as his commie talking points don't work in any true debate?
Do you ever get the feeling
April 4, 2009 - 12:39 ET by Corny_McPooDo you ever get the feeling that if the MSM had a photo of B. Hussein Obama punching a little old lady in the face, they would find a way to lambaste the woman for headbutting him in the fist?
Signed,
Corny McPoo
"To be is to do." - Plato
"To do is to be." - Aristotle
"Do be do be do." - Sinatra
Sam Dumbleson
April 4, 2009 - 13:39 ET by Edward CropperIs there really anyone in the world that gives a rat's behind what Sam thinks about anything. He made his fame shouting at the Gipper when he was going to the Presidential helicopter, and repeating ad nauseum liberal talking points when he was active on ABC.
The man has happily retired and I say good riddance.
Results? We don't need no stinking results!
April 4, 2009 - 13:58 ET by OxyConJust as long as the President looks good and puts on a good show, who needs results?
The "Obama Show" is the highest rated prime time show in American history! Don't miss it!
Yes Sam, the tone has been changed all right
April 4, 2009 - 19:49 ET by jefflebowskiYes Sam, a US President playing the role of doormat always makes the Eurotrash, Russians and Chinese happy. Look what it did for Carter!
Angry White Dude
www.angrywhitedude.c...
They could have just set up
April 5, 2009 - 18:00 ET by RR GOPThey could have just set up screens and projected Carter upon them giving speeches and no one would have noticed any difference.
One of the 34% who thinks George W. Bush was a great President. One of the 61% who wants to bring back the stock and pillory (yep...approval for Congress now at 39%...do you believe that!?).
To Much Talking Rhetoric next nothing, Bla, Bla, Bla>>!
April 7, 2009 - 19:21 ET by Charles H. GarridoHello!4/07/09. 4/7/09. 8:20 PM
During (1942/43) our high School baseball we allways new some guys that new that really had muscle and brains but clean pants....never hit or catch .- by the way they always talk and talk but nothing did.....Thats is exactly what Administration Presidential President Mr. Obama just BLA, BLA, BLA .(RHETORIC) remember soon Press will show "Nothing" INCOMPETENCE legally qualified, will be "GROUNDS FOR IMPEACHMENT" Items: Stimulus $$, Nationalization Banks, Moneys to Hamas, others countries CUBA, VENEZUELA, PALESTINIA, BOLIVIA new friend enemy of ours .Medicaid, Medicare, ABORTION, Fairnes Doctrine, Amendment One Speech, 2nd Amendment{ Pistol water} in my House.- Corruption, Intimidation, Harrasment.Socialism. We always be capitalism & conservatives.
Thanks & Cooperation
Charles H. Garrido, Miami Fla