Post by Ryan Maue:
The British media continues to mock and criticize the President, which has been petty and unfair in some respects. But how do we reconcile this? From the UK Telegraph
Barack Obama snubs British scientists by refusing to receive Royal Society medal
Barack Obama has snubbed Britain’s most eminent scientists by refusing to attend a Royal Society banquet in his honour at which he was to be awarded with a prestigious medal.
Quoting from the UK Telegraph (fair use for discussion and future reference disclaimer):
But Mr Obama’s aides responded to the invitation with a “very short” note in which they said the president would rather spend time at a south London state school. Mr Obama visited The Globe Academy in Southwark with David Cameron, the Prime Minister, on Tuesday. The two leaders swapped a number of high-fives with pupils before rolling up their sleeves for a game of table tennis against two schoolboys.
And the cherry on top of this sundae:
Had Mr Obama accepted the invitation, he would have been greeted by Sir Paul Nurse, President of the Royal Society, who won a Nobel prize in 2001 for advances in genetics and cell biology.
Instead he met pupils at the Globe Academy who had won an award for designing a lunchbox which folds out into a plate.
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I am unsure if Obama took a single science class, much less has an accomplishment in the field.
Why would Obama want to meet a Harry Enfield** impersonator.
Nurse: http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcfour/documentaries/profile/profile_nurse.shtml
Harry Enfield: http://www.list.co.uk/article/13425-harry-enfields-legendary-laughter/
Honestly … I had to check which photo was which.
**Harry Enfield is an impersonator!
Right now I have no truck with any politician. But show me the man who has balls enough to stick 2 fingers up at Sir Paul Nurse, and I am suddenly 0.1% on his side. Cameroon could not dare but SOTUS could*. Bravo, Obama – only 5,000 pips to go and you’d get my vote – if I was not here in the UK staring economic armageddon in the face – that is.
*Caveat: if you believe anything at all these days published in the MSP
After browsing the Globe Academy website, I have to say that going there instead of to the Royal Society thing was a very good call. The Globe Academy still has values.
@Anything is possible @May 26, 2011 at 10:37 am
“Science at its’ best.”
Grammar at its worst.
@Latimer Alder
Maybe some of it is dignity and courtesy, but there is far too much ass kissing from this president.
I don’t understand why they were to honor him – what did he accomplish? Do they just like to meet royalty?
A lunch box that folds out to a plate!
I wonder if the president needed an FOI or a court order to see the student’s notes, plans or designs for this thing. Likely not, people usually share what they are proud of, and hide what they are ashamed of.
I guess climate scientologists and the royal slothciety do have some sense of shame after all.
I’ve heard this latest trip referred to as being more error prone than a typical Griswold family. Between bottoming out the presidential limo, entering the wrong year in the guest book, and the inept toast, I would guess Obama wanted to be in a position that even Homer Simpson couldn’t screw up. The man is inept and is likely wary of making other silly mistakes that would further tarnish his foreign image.
Breaking news: via Instapundit at 9 :41 EDT this morning:
http://washingtonexaminer.com/local/virginia/2011/05/judge-orders-uva-release-climate-documents
Steve says:
“May 26, 2011 at 11:01 am
@Anything is possible @May 26, 2011 at 10:37 am
“Science at its’ best.”
Grammar at its worst.”
Pedantry at its finest…..
Royal Society was just looking for a hand-out — they got their answer.
‘Maybe some of it is dignity and courtesy, but there is far too much ass kissing from this president’
He’s able to say ‘thank you for the dinner’ to HM the Queen in a pleasant way. If that’s ass kissing I’d opine that the world might be a better place if there was more of it.
(Unless its to climatologists, where ass-kicking should be made compulsory)
If you good folks want to know what makes Obama tick, read this from WebMD or look it up in your copy of any good psychology book: http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/narcissistic-personality-disorder .
Partial list of symptoms/behaviors:
[i]What Are the Symptoms of Narcissistic Personality Disorder?
In many cases, people with narcissistic personality disorder:
* Are self-centered and boastful
* Seek constant attention and admiration
* Consider themselves better than others
* Exaggerate their talents and achievements
* Believe that they are entitled to special treatment
* Are easily hurt but may not show it
* Set unrealistic goals
* May take advantage of others to achieve their goals
Other common traits of narcissistic personality disorder include the following:
* Preoccupation with fantasies that focus on unlimited success, power, intelligence, beauty, or love
* Belief that he or she is “special” and unique, and can only be understood by other special people
* Expectation that others will automatically go along with what he or she wants
* Inability to recognize or identify with the feelings, needs, and viewpoints of others
* Envy of others or a belief that others are envious of him or her
* Hypersensitivity to insults (real or imagined), criticism, or defeat, possibly reacting with rage, shame, and humiliation
* Arrogant behavior and/or attitude[/i]
If he had gone for the Royal Society shindig, he would not have been the “smartest guy in the room”, and his ego would have had a meltdown. Much better to go someplace where he is the smartest guy in the room.
Putting Obama in the Oval Office was the worst mistake the US has ever made.
Petty and Unfair? Perhaps. I really have not followed it close enough to make that value judgement. However given the US press attitude towards him, I find it refreshing to find some actual criticism of him based upon his shortcomings.
The only place you can find them is in the Uk Press (and I am talking about his gaffs outside of GB, not necessarily inside of it).
Or maybe he didn’t wish to be associated with the Royal Society and the ability of Sir Paul Nurse to align himself with the foot-in-mouth brigade. Bear in mind that the subject of climate – at least from what I’ve seen and heard – did not intrude on this visit.
BTW, where can I get one of those lunchboxes? They sound like a great idea.
I see too many people, giving our POTUS way too much credit.
He’s not that bright……………
“I suspect that he might be annoyed if we referred to him as the ‘President of Maine'”
Feel free to refer to him as President of the Blue States and the Swing States, because that is how he thinks of himself.
Typical of the Socialist Theoritician mentality. We all know any good Marxist-Leninist can “Think” a better solution to the world’s problems than scientists and engineers can with hands on experience and practical applications. Worked great for the Soviet Union.
No win situation for Obama, 1/2 the people think he snubbed the Royal Society, but the other 1/2 would have harangued him for accepting yet another unearned medal.
As to the England thing, it’s a little messy when you call yourselves England, Wales, Scotland, N. Ireland, Great Britain and the United Kingdom, oh yea, and the Commonwealth Countries. You really need a score card to know when to call who what. 🙂
Great Britian is the island right? The United Kingdom is the nation.
“If he had gone for the Royal Society shindig, he would not have been the ‘smartest guy in the room’,”
He probably wasn’t the smartest guy in the room in a room full of table tennis playing schoolboys.
BHO has been covering himself with glory on this trip. First he forgets what year it is when signing the guestbook after a tour of Westminster Abbey. Then he completely bungles his toast to the Queen at the State dinner. Not to mention that after he and his comrades heaped untold venom on Bush because he wasn’t on the ground in New Orleans hours after Katrina struck, why he didn’t cancel this whole worthless photo-op trip to begin with to be on hand to lend leadership and solace after large portions of the south and midwest have been devastated by some of the most destructive and deadly weather disasters in decades.
As to the Royal Society, they should be less embarrassed that he didn’t show up to collect their award than they should be that they chose to award a scientific medal to a politician who has repeatedly demonstrated that he views science as just a convenient tool to be used as necessary to advance his agenda, and any damage that accrues to the reputation of science as a result is just an inconsequential afterthought.
Sorry, but I must disagree with the overall idea that the President was continually belittled- Quite the opposite, it was embarassing to witness the fawning that went on over both the President and his wife. The BBC were worst but even the papers you cited had loads of favourable coverage. The British Press also had a go at various on the British side-especially the dresses-but what was Michelle thinking with some of her outfits 🙂
What is true however is that Obama doesn’t perform well on the big stage without a script and an autocue, but he undoubtedly connects well at people level (as does Michelle) and has charisma. But then again so did Tony Blair….
tonyb
It is worth pointing out that according to Radio Scotland, climate change has been booted off the agenda for the G8 summit.
Typical headline clickbait. Just read the article, it’s a storm in a teacup.
Obama’s avoidance of the Royal Society ties nicely with his inaugural speech where he said
“With old friends and former foes, we’ll work tirelessly to lessen the nuclear threat and roll back the specter of a warming planet. We will not apologize for our way of life nor will we waver in its defense.”
ie nuclear power is good and not a threat and the warming planet is a phantom (as in not real) and he’s having nothing to do with it.
Or at least that’s how I read it (;>)