Mitt Romney, Diplomat
Most of us have seen this, but I still find it fantastic that Romney wasn’t adequately prepared for his trip to London. Let’s see, travel to London on the literal eve of the 2012 Olympic games hosted by the same, and make some disparaging remarks about a Great Britain’s ability to organise said games. It really adds to the impact that the UK already has a healthy chip on its shoulder about the United States. Pure comedy gold.
I disagree with The Guardian‘s headline that “Mitt Romney’s Olympics blunder stuns No 10 and hands gift to Obama”. Stunned 10 Downing Street, sure. Make any difference in November? Hardly.
I never thought I’d offer accolades to either, but the best line of this non issue issue either goes to David Cameron:
We are holding an Olympic Games in one of the busiest, most active, bustling cities anywhere in the world. Of course it’s easier if you hold an Olympic Games in the middle of nowhere.
Or The Telegraph:
Mitt Romney is perhaps the only politician who could start a trip that was supposed to be a charm offensive by being utterly devoid of charm and mildly offensive.
When the Olympics gaffe is placed along side this post over at TDS (headline below) we have the makings of a real winner here.
The invasion of Iraq overthrew Iran’s most lethal enemy and replaced it with a regime that is now Iran’s closest and most reliable ally. Depressingly, Mitt Romney has chosen the architects of this massive strategic fiasco as his principal advisors.
It’s a good thing for Romney that foreign policy doesn’t really matter much.
It gets better:
England: not properly part of Europe. This is how that red-meat wingnuttery can be explained away by the Tories.
And proud of it! They’ve accessed the same logic that made Dick Cheney the fourth branch of government.
Romney is hard at work on the “special relationship” between the UK and US. I suppose this interaction is going to involve more “special”, and less “relationship” in it if Romney gets elected.
How bad at this is Mitt Romney? He makes David Cameron look brilliant!
This. I’m also loving the rut ol’ Mitt’s gotten into. Individually, these gaffes might not mean much at the polls, but I think come November, a lot of independents will pick Obama for simply being the less annoying and goofy centrist technocrat.
+1
Foreign policy means nothing, but constantly reminding people you’re a clueless patrician is gold.
Reminds me of Sam Spade explaining all the reasons for turning in Brigid O’Shaughnessy. Maybe they’re not all important, he won’t argue about that: “But look at the number of them.”
Win.
I really hate that because Cameron is a real tosser, but I will say the Romney make G W Bush look like a fucking genius!
He is even being compared unfavorably to Sarah Palin by the Brits now.
No wonder John “America’s Sh*tties Surviving Fighter Pilot” McCain chose “The Whore of Babblin’ On” over this rich, entitled, tax-dodging twit.
Sheesh!
“Sh*ttiest,” not “Shitties” – which is what the thought of a Romney Presidency give me.
y kent oui haz “Edit” lyke tha otha sights dew?
Double Sheesh!!
“Gives,” not ‘give.’
Ah, f*ck-it – I give up!
No, “give” is right. Shitties, like willies, is plural and the noun “give” is objectifying.
No writa da Englese.
I knew John McCain was Muslin, but I didn’t realize he was a Shittes Muslin.
make some disparaging remarks about a Great Britain’s ability to organise said games
To be fair, a Stupendous Britain would probably be doing a much better job of it.
That may be the only thing he has ever said that I sort of actually agree with.
Since Romney’s visit to the U.K. was to give a boost to his foreign policy image and to recall his Olympic experience, his gaffe is mystifying to say the least. Contrast that with Obama’s 2008 visit to Berlin where Obama made a huge splash, and make of that what you will.
You know who else was popular in Berlin?
David Bowie?
If you said “David Bowie,” raise you hand.
David Hasselhoff
Dean Reed?
John F. Kennedy?
The Beatles? OK, Frankfurt and Berlin but still…
That would be Hamburg and not Frankfurt. I don’t think the Beatles got to Frankfurt until much later.
Sally Bowles.
Hegel?
Actually, the NSDAP (Nazi party) were particularly unpopular in Berlin itself (at least, before they grabbed all power). The Party headquarters were in Munich, not Berlin, until after their takeover (and it took some years to bring the majority of the party machinery to Berlin). Berlin itself instead was the biggest SPD and KPD stronghold by far, and was distinctly viewed as a potentially troublesome city, perhaps the most potentially troublesome city.
Can’t wait until he gets to Poland.
Don’t forget Poland!
Cameron’s line is kind of funny, but it seems like a big diplomatic error of its own. After all, Romeny has about a 50/50 chance of becoming President and Cameron just dissed his big achievement/insulted the Mormon homeland.
Romney started it! Welcome to British politics Romney.
This is the relevant point. If you go there, you take your lumps.
Yeah, if Mitt can’t handle a remark like that, he’s not going to make it through his first Question Time in the House.
Are you being serious? I’m pretty sure Cameron doesn’t give a rat’s ass about Utah, Mormonism and how that would play into a hypothetical President Romney’s relations with GB.
WELL YOU CAN JUST KEEP YOUR CHURCHILL BUST THEN
Anglo-Saxon Huns!
Maybe. But the UK has already had a number of highly visible screwups before the Olympics have even officially begun and it’s the Cameron government that is looking stupid because of it. I’m guessing the last thing he needs is some US politician coming over and taking potshots at him.
Also where are the stories about the notorious bribery of the IOC over Salt Lake City?
I thought that “IOC” and “notorious bribery” were synonyms.
This is the best thing that’s happened to Cameron in some time. The tabloids have all forgotten about attacking his government for fucking up the Olympics, and switched over to attacking Mitt Romney for attacking Cameron’s government for fucking up the Olympics.
It’s good to put Romney on notice that if he plans on being an absolute jackass, he won’t even be supported by conservative allied governments. I’m sure the English have no desire to invade Iran. Letting Romney know you’re willing to call him an idiot in front of the whole world seems prudent.
This is the funny that keeps on giving, too: he talked in public about meeting the head of MI6–which is apparently Not Done–and then mentioned looking out “the backside” of No. 10.
Also, his trip to Israel may not start well. Bibi has categorically denied that he and Mitt were ever friends, let alone the BFF’s Mitt’s been claiming they are.
Does this spell the doom of Romney’s “Anglo-Saxon uber alles” talking point?
No, the people that are voting for him will buy it anyways. It doesn’t really matter what he does – Republicans are suckers for stupid leaders.
I disagree that this is meaningless in November. This – or, I should say, “these” – don’t just tell us about Mitt Romney and foreign policy; they tell us something about Mitt Romney, the man. He’s made himself look like a clown again. Hatred isn’t fatal is politics; laughter is fatal.
Also, foreign policy won’t matter in this election…unless something happens between now and November. But what could possibly happen?
Agreed. “This” might not make any difference in November, at least by itself, but Mitt is a perpetual “this”-producing machine. It’s as if Mitt’s staff packed Mitt on the earliest possible flight overseas so that Mitt could do “this” where “this” hopefully might not do so much harm.
Hard to imagine a swing voter in Ohio caring about this. Obama is way ahead on foreign policy anyway, but that’s not what decides elections.
This isn’t about foreign policy, actually. This is trivial stupidity.
Trivial stupidity is what a sizeable chunk of swing voters are all about. Which candidate looks stupid in a tank? Which candidate said something out of touch about supermarket grocery scanners? Which candidate claims to have invented the Internet? Which candidate acts like a robot made out of wood? Which candidate would you like to have a beer with?
“Haw haw, Romney’s a moron” sways more people than it should. People don’t like to vote for losers, they like to vote for winners.
I’m old enough to be having flashbacks of Chevy Chase as Gerald Ford…
I defer to Scott, but isnt the social science evidence that this stuff -Dukakis in a tank, Ford unaware that Poland was in the Warsaw Pact, the Swiftboating – actually didnt matter? Journalists and political junkies just create narratives that retrospectively explain voting results that were actually economically determined?
It might matter to 512 voters.
never underestimate the power of two.
Social science evidence? Isn’t that an oxymoron? Political scientists certainly put a lot of stock in very limited data sets.
It’s easy to see a swing voter in Iowa caring about whether or not she can take Mitt Romney seriously as a President, if enough of “these” accumulate.
It’s particularly unhelpful on his first real appearance on the world stage.
Well, I think these things have a greater impact if they feed into an ongoing narrative; if Obama can tie this into the “clueless rich guy” meme, it could help him.
Personally, I look at it more in the angle of his campaign strategy. Now he is once again on the defensive. After being shoved into the label of “vulture capitalist” by Obama this month, he followed it up by gaffes on foreign policy.
The foreign policy doesn’t help, but now he has nothing to distract us from his Bain record. What’s he going to say? “Look at what I’m doing now – insulting the UK and such while in London – instead of what Obama told you I did 10 years ago!”
Look, he’s on on this tour for a reason–he’s trying to emphasize his differences from Obama on foriegn policy–supposedly closer to our traditional European allies and less likely to take shit from Mooslums and orientals. His handlers wouldn’t have him doing this if they didn’t think it was important, maybe not to the masses of voters, but certainly to the elites to whom a Republican ordinarily looks for support. Day 1 of the trip, he attacks Obama for supposedly not appreciating the historic “Anglo-Saxon” alliance. Day 2 of the trip, he starts fights with every British politician in sight.
Whatever this trip was supposed to accomplish, it’s not accomplishing it, due to Romney’s incompetence.
Whatever this trip was supposed to accomplish, it’s not accomplishing it, due to Romney’s incompetence.
Well, that’s one interpretation. The other is that this is the NAACP speech writ large — he went there to get booed, because having foreigners hate him proves he’s more American. Screw foreigners anyway, that’s what Real Americans think.
…I hope it would take a serious kool-aid overdose to make him think that’s a winning strategy, but low-information voters never fail to disappoint.
London Mayor Boris Johnson got in a little dig as well. Referring to Mitt as “some guy called Mitt Romney”.
Mitt Romney is going to become a stereotype for Americans before this trip is over.
When people in other countries want to tell an American joke, it’s going to start “So Mitt Romney walks into a pub…”
As long as Mittster doesn’t profess his love of football, the real kind.
I already have to overcome being a footie fan from America to begin with, when it comes to Britons, Continentals, and South Americans.
…and can’t drink anything, but he does fire all the patrons.”
Barack Obama wants to surrender to terrorists!
While Mitt Romney pulls up next to them, gets out of the car, hands them his keys, and tells them to put on their name tags like the rest of the staff.
I got this off the Political Wire site below, but in his campaign book he apparently dissed England as a small place that doesn’t make anything anybody wants. Grace and tact don’t seem to be his strong points.
http://politicalwire.com/archives/2012/07/26/romney_once_called_england_just_a_small_island.html
“England is just a small island. Its roads and houses are small.”
“Its trees are the wrong height. I do not like England.”
Also, of course, England isn’t an island.
Not an island?
This royal throne of kings, this scepter’d isle,
This earth of majesty, this seat of Mars,
This other Eden, demi-paradise,
This fortress built by Nature for herself
Against infection and the hand of war,
This happy breed of men, this little world,
This precious stone set in the silver sea,
Which serves it in the office of a wall
Or as a moat defensive to a house
Against the envy of less happier lands,
This blessed plot, this earth, this realm, this England.
Well, yes, calling England an island is a bit disrespectful of Scotland and Wales, but there is ample precedent.
Win.
[...] someone who will tell the rest of the world to fuck off, I’m not sure this counts as a gaffe (via): In a move that astonished Downing Street, hours before it laid on a special reception for Romney [...]
You have to admit it’s impressive: only a day or so after accusing Obama of insufficient sensitivity to the historic alliance of Anglo-Saxon countries, he’s got himself into a slagging match with the Prime Minister of Great Britain.
And that’s what his friends are saying about him.
Oh, I think someone at Romney HQ will rue the day they clained the Telegraph was lying about that whole “Anglo-Saxon” story.
Mr. Brockington,
I think it’s great that you are able to bring your perspective to this issue since you are from across the pond and it’s very welcome.
When you post on issues that are American issues…..not so much.
That is some weak sauce trolling
He could’ve at last made fun of Plymouth.
Isn’t that kind of redundant, like mocking Belgium?
I mean … Plymouth.
Not even aware that Dave is American. Fucking clueless trolling.
Also, “across the pond”? Who the fuck says that?
I do! Sometimes “across the puddle,” too.
A not so secret shame? Is “across the pond” to be thrown under the bus?
Me too, although across the pond is usually reserved for trans-Pacific, while the Big Ditch is used for the Atlantic
Really? Is that a West Coas thing? I’ve never heard Big Ditch.
Aussie/Kiwi thing :)
I, a resident of the eastern seaboard, usually hear “across the pond” in reference to transatlantic relations.
Is “across the pond” to be thrown under the bus?
Just stop ramming it down our throats.
Sounds like a game changer to me.
Lane Pryce.
Before or after hanging himself?
Not only RTIQ (room temperature IQ) but room temperature in the Hebrides.
At Ice Station Zebra, I think.
In fact that trolling is almost as horrible and gaffe-filled as Mitt Romney’s trip thus far
[...] you wait Posted at 3:49 on July 26, 2012 by CathiefromCanada The Telegraph says Mitt Romney is perhaps the only politician who could start a trip that was supposed to be a charm [...]
[...] you wait Posted at 4:00 on July 26, 2012 by CathiefromCanada The Telegraph says Mitt Romney is perhaps the only politician who could start a trip that was supposed to be a charm [...]
Romney adviser: You need to go somewhere to highlight your foreign policy.
Romney: Where?
Adviser: I dunno. London? They’ve got the Olympics and you did that.
(Romney goes to London)
Romney: OK I’m here. Now what?
Adviser: Everyone I’ve called is busy with the Olympics and won’t do a photo op.
Romney: SO I’M NOT IMPORTANT TO THEM?! SCREW YOU STUPID ENGLAND! I AM THE GREAT MITT ROMNEY! I HAVE MONEY! YOU WILL RUE THE DAY YOU DIDN’T DO A PHOTO OP WITH ME!
Naw. Romney is there to visit his money. Photo ops and political talk are incidental.
I’m actually wondering if Romney is seething in his hotel room now shaking his fist and insisting that they’ll all rue the day that they mocked him.
Demand to see London’s manager! Make London rue the day it thought it could give Mitt Romney attitude! Do you know who he is? He’s the man who’s gonna burn your economy down! With the derivatives!
He’s going to get his accountants to invent a financial derivative that burns your economy down!
win
You mock, but if Romney loses this election he’s going to try to figure out a way to acquire London and make them pay. Possibly literally if he can acquire it via a leveraged buyout.
Maybe he will rename the town to Bikinis like this banker.
The capital of England will be Bikini, which I find very ironic.
Only slightly off-target is this bit of Onion win: http://www.theonion.com/articles/romney-spends-most-of-factory-visit-yelling-at-emp,28508/
There’s a Twitter hashtag now, #romneyshambles, and the tweets are laugh-out-loud funny. Sample:
“London hasn’t seen this big a bombing since World War II”
Also #AmericanBorat
Also #MittsterBean after Podhoretz (!) called him that on the twooters.
Why do they hate us?
Mitt Romney, Diplomat
You’re thinking of the old unreformed LDS. Mitt’s only a monoplomat.
Oh priceless!
In that case, “anonymous” was me.
I saw – what, 80,000 people? – cheer the Mayor’s jab at Willard, and it was wonderful.
Please, some rich liberal, use that in a commercial over and over and over until next Xmas!!
And Mr. Rommoney – please don’t stop doing what you have been doing.
And whoever said Willard’s advisers were responsible for the greatest foreign policy disaster since Chamberlain’s visit to the Sudentland, WIN!!! That was wonderful.
Please, FSM, don’t let this cretin become the leader of the “free world”! Please!
the greatest foreign policy disaster since Chamberlain’s visit to the Sudentland
Chamberlain didn’t visit the Sudetenland.
Not even retroactively?
Dear World:
We apologize for Mitt Romney.
Sincerely,
America
[...] of campaign rhetoric. (Which assumes this statement is intentional, being that this is part of his charm offensive and all—but of course it isn’t. This is just garden-variety faux-machismo that [...]
http://www.breitbart.com/Breitbart-TV/2012/07/26/CNNs-Morgan-Romney-Was-Just-Speaking-The-Truth-About-Olympics-Security
Liberal Piers Morgan, no fan of Romney had this to say.
EvenTheLiberal Piers Morgan? Via the scrupulous video editors employed by the dead cokehead? By Jove, that exonerates Mittens completely!