I have never bought into the cult of Barry Obama, much to Billy Flynn for my liking. Which is appropriate considering he was the Senator for Illinois, he also worked and taught in Chicago.
No, it is the fact that he has been lauded before he has really done anything. He was given a Nobel Peace Prize when he had only been President ten days. Even he had the decency to look a little embarrassed when he received it.
His handling of the oil spillage in the Gulf of Mexico has not been impressive more a photo opportunity. He blamed BP for everything, ignoring the fact that several American companies were also responsible.
Like every bully, Barry had found a target to divert attention away from his failings and he ruthlessly exploited it. Using the very emotive “British Petroleum” at every opportunity, without once mentioning the American companies involved or that it has been the policies of his Democratic party that oil companies are forced to take greater and greater risks drilling further and further out at sea.
Let me give you an example of this. The Greens and the environmental zealots have pressurised the Democrats not to allow drilling for oil in Antarctica. It is regarded by the Environmental lobby as the last great wilderness. I am the most travelled man I know I have been to over a hundred countries, but I have never been to Antarctica and I suspect if we had a meeting of people who have, we could not fill a bus.
There are vast reserves of oil under Antarctica and it would take a lot of work but it could be extracted, without too much danger of pollution.
But we have to protect the last great wilderness and the Penguins who live in Antarctica and this according to the Sentimentalists and Barry’s Democratic party.
Is Barry anti British? His Great Great Grandfather, Thomas Kearney left Ireland in 1852 to escape the Famine, a catastrophe that was blamed on the British. His Grandmother is of German deseent. His Kenyan Grandfather, Hussein Onyango Obama, was anti British as a result of allegedly being tortured to extract information about the insurgency in the early 1950s. In his memoirs President Obama describes this in detail. When asked if this affected his view of the British, President Obama answered that “I love the Brits and I think I have shown that affection every time I have visited there” Which has been twice.
When Mr. Obama went into politics he reverted to his given name Barack and asked people to stop calling him Barry, this was to engage with the African American voters and his heritage. Barack looks towards Africa to his heritage not Europe.
During his recent, less than successful Washington visit, David Cameron, on behalf of The Queen, invited President to make a State Visit to Britain. This may be President Obama’s only opportunity to meet The Queen; his White House tenure may not be that long.
A State Visit is the Highest form of Diplomatic contact between two nations. It is a formal visit involving 21 gun salutes, Black Tie Dinners, The President and his wife Michelle staying at Windsor Castle. The laying of Wreaths at National Memorials and the exchange of gifts.
The visit of President Obama will attract large crowds and I am sure that there will be no repeat of the violent scenes that marred President Bush’s State Visit.
The BBC, which has long since ceased to be the British Broadcasting Corporation, the Bangladesh or Botswana would suit it better these days, will clear the schedules and give blanket coverage to President Obamas visit from children’s “Newsround” to “Newsnight” and every programme in between.
Hundreds of presenters and broadcasters were sent to the United States to cover the American election of Barry Obama at a cost of millions of pounds to the British liesence payer. Why? We do not send hundreds of people to cover any other election, so why the United States?
You can search the BBC schedules and the only American programmes that you will find, apart from the occasional American film, are “Madmen” and endless repeats of “Murder she wrote” The BBC hate what the United States stands for, unrestrained Capitalism.
Would the BBC have cancelled the most popular show on BBC2 “Top Gear” to show a documentary about Republican John McCain, had he been elected, you can bet the house they wouldn’t. Yet that’s what happened when Barry was elected.
His visit will be an excuse for every BBC commentator to show his or her undying support for the most anti-British President since Washington.
On the 16th of September Pope Benedict will start a State Visit to Britain were he will be received by The Queen at Holyrood House in Edinburgh. Let’s be honest, The Queen has more in common with the Pope than she does with President Obama, for a start they are both Head of their respective churches, there is also the German connection as well as the fact both are in a job for life.
The visit of Pope Benedict should be a time of great rejoicing at a time when there are so many problems in the world, not least with religious extremism. This is the first visit by a Pontiff since the very successful visit of Pope John Paul the Second in 1982. Thousands turned out to welcome Pope John Paul to Liverpool, were he visited both Cathedrals, saying Mass in the Catholic Cathedral.
Pope John Paul was a hard line Pope, not given to supporting change in the Catholic Church. Pope Benedict who is known as the church’s “Rottweiler” does not support popular causes, such as women priests.
I had a Catholic upbringing; I went to several Catholic schools as well as being a regular churchgoer. My first photographic job was as a trainee with the “Catholic Pictorial” Like many of my generation I became what the Catholic Church describes a lapsed Catholic in my late teens. I prefer to describe myself as a lapsed Atheist.
The Catholic Priests and Teachers that I knew were fine and dedicated men, I was never abused, either sexually or mentally, as far as I know neither were any of my friends. The fact that some children were when the Catholic Church should have been protecting them is criminal and those surviving offenders should be punished.
The entire membership of the Catholic Church should not be held responsible for the sins of the minority.
Yet the visit of Pope Benedict will be an opportunity for extremists of all persuasions to demonise the Catholic Church.
That odious Australian Peter Tatchall will be screaming his venom from every available outlet, this is a man who since his arrival here in 1971 he has been an “activist” usually supported by state handouts.
Rent a Mob will be disrupting every event attended by the Pope; it will be the complete opposite to President Obama’s visit. The BBC will extensively cover all the negative aspects of The Popes State Visit, while the positives will be ignored.
The BBC has already stated that “strikes” may disrupt coverage of the Popes visit, now there’s a surprise. That will not stop the BBC giving a platform to all the usual suspects to trumpet their anti Catholic views across the airways and our television screens, without a thought for the feelings Britain’s four million Catholics.
The BBC will use the Popes visit to pedal it’s own agenda of anti Christian rhetoric. Would the BBC do that with a Muslim leader?
There will be personal attacks on Pope Benedict, particularly his wartime membership of the Hitler Youth. This was compulsory in Germany at that time, so there is nothing to answer there. I always raise “Godwin Law” If your best argument is to mention the Nazi’s then the discussion is over.
Strange, is it not, that a Politician will be treated like a religious leader while a religious leader will be treated like a politician. President Obama's visit will be met with almost religious fervour, while Pope Benedict's visit will not.
"It's a Wonderful Life"
(Thu 02/12)
TURN IT DOWN.
(Thu 11/11)
Do we need another Beatles book.
(Mon 11/10)
President or Pope, who is most welcome?
(Mon 16/08)
