Obama Cancels Meeting with Putin in Moscow Amid Tensions Over NSA leaker Snowden

[Hissyspit]

Source: Associated Press

@AP: BREAKING: Obama cancels meeting with Putin in Moscow amid tensions over NSA leaker Snowden.

Aug 7, 9:09 AM EDT

OBAMA CANCELS MEETINGS WITH PUTIN AMID TENSIONS

BY JULIE PACE

AP WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- In a rare diplomatic rebuke, President Barack Obama on Wednesday canceled his Moscow summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The decision reflected both U.S. anger over Russia's harboring of National Security Agency leaker Edward Snowden and growing frustration within the Obama administration over what it sees as Moscow's stubbornness on other key issues, including missile defense and human rights.

Obama will still attend the Group of 20 economic summit in St. Petersburg, Russia, but a top White House official said the president had no plans to hold one-on-one talks with Putin while there. Instead of visiting Putin in Moscow, the president will add a stop in Sweden to his early September travel itinerary.

White House deputy national security adviser Ben Rhodes said Russia's decision last week to defy the U.S. and grant Snowden temporary asylum only exacerbated an already troubled relationship. And with few signs that progress would be made during the Moscow summit on other agenda items, Rhodes said the president decided to cancel the talks.

Read more: http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_OBAMA_RUSSIA

[onehandle]

1. Good. nt

[cyclezealot]

2. Ah, gee .

were all crying now. The national security state is having a hissy...
. Guess, Michele won't get to see the Bolshoi Ballet

[Kolesar]

45. You hate her too? eom

[Divernan]

3. He's still going to the G-20 Summit in St. Petersburg.

http://www.nypost.com/p/news/international/president_obama_cancels_plans_putin_H2jPisAVBma2RMojxJz3FP

President Obama cancels plans to meet with Russian leader Vladimir Putin

From ASSOCIATED PRESS
Last Updated: 9:04 AM, August 7, 2013
Posted: 9:04 AM, August 7, 2013

LOS ANGELES — President Barack Obama is canceling plans to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow next month.

The move is in retribution for Russia's decision to grant temporary asylum to National Security Agency leaker Edward Snowden. But it also reflects growing U.S. frustration with Russia on an array of other issues, including missile defense and human rights.

The White House says Obama still attends to plan the Group of 20 economic summit in St. Petersburg, Russia, but has no plans to meet with Putin there one-on-one. Obama will also add a stop in Sweden to his early September travel itinerary.

The U.S. planned to alert Russia of the president's decision Wednesday, though Obama and Putin were not expected to speak directly. Obama is on a two-day trip to California.

[Divernan]

5. NOW he gets tough? Not with Wall Street or GOP leaders in House?

Those guys are honored guests at White House soirees and golf partners.

More Kabuki theatre. Odds are excellent he'll cave on this too, and have super-secret meetings with Putin once he gets there. He'd be grossly irresponsible not to.

[newfie11]

22. Exactly!!!!

[L0oniX]

49. Hey great idea. Make Putin an honorary republican so Obama can cave to him?

[gholtron]

66. I got a couple of questions for you?

How can the President get tough on Wall St.? I mean he can't make laws. If he sends the justices dept after them, Wall st. have lawyers that will make the justice dept lawyers look like first year law students. And as far as the GOP leaders, How can he get even tougher with them? Just asking.

[AppleBottom]

96. Yep, he's helpless alright. Those lawyers are the same reason why his Cabinet

is filled with tax dodging Wall St. fat cats and CEO's?

[Carolina]

72. Touche, Divernan

more Kabuki theater indeed.

[Roland99]

47. Acting tough when caught violating the Constitution. Acting like a schill for Wall St otherwise

Gee...what a great liberal

[RC]

4. This is so childish.

Did he also stomp his feet, or hold his breath, or what? Obama needs to replace his advisers with people closer to the Center, or better yet, a bit Left for Center.

[BeyondGeography]

6. Did you call Putin childish when he made Kerry wait three hours for a meeting in May

and then showed more interest in playing with his pen when he finally showed up?

[pocoloco]

19. My God!

Who in hell would be in a hurry to meet with him?

[RC]

26. Depends on what Kerry wanted.

[BeyondGeography]

29. An adult conversation...he was apparently in the wrong place

http://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/middle-east/kerry-advises-russian-co-operation-on-syria-despite-frosty-putin-meeting-1.1385409

[Beacool]

59. That was a power play.

Putin wanted to insult the US through its SOS. Kerry should have left. Screw Putin.

[Bodhi BloodWave]

30. what is so childish by standing by what you said earlier?

unless i remember wrongly Obama did say that he'd cancel depending on how the snowden thing went didn't he?

so i fail to see whats so childish about standing by your word(isn't that something people in general want him to do?)

[RC]

31. And the earlier statement was mature?

Snowden embarrassed this administration - big time. Face up to it and try some damage control, not denial. The whole rest of the world knows. Don't refuse to see another world leader that got the problem dumped in his lap, whether he wanted it or not. That is what is childish.

[Bodhi BloodWave]

35. Not going to judge it i think

mature or childish or something in between, I'm not going to disparage somebody for standing by their word(at its core, one of the only thing of worth a person has is their word. Its one reason I rarely make promises and such I know I can't keep since the more I break my word the less my word is worth/trusted)

and as a Norwegian i don't really consider it my task to do damage control(or denials), While i commend Snowden for the revelation of the domestic information(which technically is legal unless i understand things wrongly(though since i support a change to the ownership/privacy rights of the metadata I will commend it)), I have little respect for him on the international aspect regarding the information Snowden/Greenwald threatens to reveal tho since its two very separate matters in my mind

[wtmusic]

40. +1

[L0oniX]

46. Now imagine how Hillary would handle this.

[RC]

87. Nuke Moscow? Or at least threaten to.

I don't even want to contemplate what that war hawk would do.

[Mojorabbit]

75. I think it makes us look bad also

No matter how bad the relationship is they are both heads of state and should meet on a professional level.

[RC]

88. That is the way it should be. But this is the United States.

Just look at the conflicts and wars that could be avoided by doing that.

[Tarheel_Dem]

84. I know you guys are in love with Putin all of a sudden, but for the reality based, there is this...

A real peach, this guy.

Putin signs 'gay propaganda' ban and law criminalizing insult of religious feelings
Published time: June 30, 2013 20:04



http://rt.com/politics/putin-law-gay-religious-457/

Russia’s Putin signs draconian anti-gay law banning speech, rainbows, holding hands
7/1/2013 8:30am by John Aravosis



http://americablog.com/2013/07/russia-olympics-sochi-gay-law-putin.html

Comrade Snowden was just one of a string of things Russia has already signaled they won't budge on.

Syria's war splits nation into 3 distinct regions
ZEINA KARAM August 4, 2013



http://news.yahoo.com/syrias-war-splits-nation-3-distinct-regions-183654954.html

If Pooty Poot has said he won't be lectured by the US on any of these issues, what's the point of a one-on-one meeting now?

Syria’s Air-Defense Arsenal: The Russian Missiles Keeping Assad in Power
By Vivienne Walt@vivwalt June 03, 2013



A Russian S-300 antiaircraft missile system in an undisclosed location in Russia

Read more: http://world.time.com/2013/06/03/syrias-air-defense-arsenal-the-russian-missiles-keeping-assad-in-power/#ixzz2bKepj556

But according to the Snowden contingent, Obama's the one who's behaving badly.

[RC]

89. Posted like a true conservative.

[Tarheel_Dem]

100. Yeah, somebody's "conservative", your misdirection, notwithstanding.

[davidn3600]

7. Im sure Putin will be absolutely devastated to hear this news

Seriously...can we act anymore childish and embarrassing over this?

[WillyT]

8. LOL !!! -They Want Snowden Baaaad...

But it wasn't as if we didn't already know all this stuff... right ???

RIGHT ???

[n2doc]

9. ...

[dipsydoodle]

13. Nice one.

[Purveyor]

28. LOL. Thanks for posting this!

[ProSense]

36. Look who else is whining like a baby

What’s the Point of a Summit?

By THE EDITORIAL BOARD

President Obama is expected to decide soon whether to proceed with a planned summit meeting with President Vladimir Putin of Russia in Moscow next month. At the moment, the answer should be no.

On top of all the other legitimate grievances with Mr. Putin’s policies came his decision to essentially stick a thumb in Mr. Obama’s eye by granting asylum to Edward Snowden, the man who disclosed to the world the National Security Agency sweeps of Americans’ telephone records. The Obama administration had urged Mr. Putin not to grant Mr. Snowden asylum.

<...>

Russia’s decision was provocative. Asylum is for people who are afraid to return to their own country because they fear persecution, unlawful imprisonment or even death because of their race, their ethnicity, their religion, their membership in particular social or political groups, or their political beliefs.

Mr. Snowden undoubtedly fears returning home because he would be arrested and prosecuted. But those fears do not qualify him for asylum. And does he really feel safer in a country where Mr. Putin, an increasingly authoritarian leader, has jailed and persecuted his critics?

- more -

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/07/opinion/whats-the-point-of-a-summit.html

Blumenthal: Let's re-evaluate Russia

Ken Dixon

HARTFORD -- Edward Snowden, the controversial former security contractor who won sanctuary in Russia after leaking intelligence secrets, is a lawbreaker who should be prosecuted, U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal charged on Monday.

He also called for a major re-evaluation of U.S.-Russian relations and recommended that President Barack Obama cancel a scheduled meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin set for next month in Moscow.

Blumenthal, D-Conn., stopped short of calling for a boycott of the Winter Olympics.

Speaking in the state Capitol complex on proposals to make the nation's secret intelligence court more transparent, Blumenthal said it's "an outrage" that Russia granted Snowden asylum.

- more -

http://www.ctpost.com/default/article/Blumenthal-Let-s-re-evaluate-Russia-4707618.php

[Cha]

77. Thank you, ProSense.. highlights from your ariticles..

"Mr. Snowden undoubtedly fears returning home because he would be arrested and prosecuted. But those fears do not qualify him for asylum. And does he really feel safer in a country where Mr. Putin, an increasingly authoritarian leader, has jailed and persecuted his critics?"

And, on DU it's PBO who's portrayed as the immature one because they love putin so much and all his wonderful stances on Gay rights and just civil rights. yeah, they can have putin.. I'll take President Obama. Really too bad they can't live in Russia.. they could be so much closer to snowden and putin.

"He also called for a major re-evaluation of U.S.-Russian relations and recommended that President Barack Obama cancel a scheduled meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin set for next month in Moscow."

Yeah, sometimes you just have to say.. no, it's not right what you're doing and fuck it all, putinshite.

[L0oniX]

44. Wambulance time. n/t

[Cha]

76. You can have your stupid fucking Putin and your stupid cartoon.

I'll take President Obama and his maturity on Gay Rights and Civil Rights any day of the damn century.

Mr. Snowden undoubtedly fears returning home because he would be arrested and prosecuted. But those fears do not qualify him for asylum. And does he really feel safer in a country where Mr. Putin, an increasingly authoritarian leader, has jailed and persecuted his critics?

h/t PS http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/07/opinion/whats-the-point-of-a-summit.html

He also called for a major re-evaluation of U.S.-Russian relations and recommended that President Barack Obama cancel a scheduled meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin set for next month in Moscow.

Blumenthal, D-Conn., stopped short of calling for a boycott of the Winter Olympics.

Speaking in the state Capitol complex on proposals to make the nation's secret intelligence court more transparent, Blumenthal said it's "an outrage" that Russia granted Snowden asylum.

h/t PS http://www.ctpost.com/default/article/Blumenthal-Let-s-re-evaluate-Russia-4707618.php

[840high]

78. heehe - spot on

[Cha]

79. Your cartoon looks even more stupid when part of the reason PBO Cancelled Putin's ass

is Because of Gay Rights and Civil Rights.

Obama: 'No patience' for anti-LGBT laws in Russia

"Given our lack of progress on issues such as missile defense and arms control, trade and commercial relations, global security issues, and human rights and civil society in the last 12 months, we have informed the Russian government that we believe it would be more constructive to postpone the summit until we have more results from our shared agenda," the White House said.

http://www.cnn.com/2013/08/07/politics/obama-putin/

snip//

President Barack Obama said Tuesday he has “no patience for countries that try to treat gays or lesbians or transgender persons in ways that intimidate them or are harmful to them.”

Speaking to “Tonight Show” host Jay Leno, the president was asked by the host about recent legislation in Russia that cracks down on gay rights.

“Do you think it will affect the Olympics?” Leno asked the President, whose own views on the subject have evolved in the course of his presidency. Russia is slated to host the Winter Olympics in 2014, in the city of Sochi.

Obama was adamant. “Every judgment should be made on the track, or in the swimming pool, or on the balance beam, and people’s sexual orientation shouldn’t have anything to do with it.”

He also noted Russia’s eagerness for a successful Olympic games, saying "I think they understand that for most of the countries that participate in the Olympics, we wouldn't tolerate gays and lesbians being treated differently.”

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2013/08/07/president-obama-no-patience-for-anti-lgbt-laws-in-russia/

It's not all about fucking snowden.

[davidpdx]

85. I think people are willing to over look Putin's anti-gay laws

Despite the games being almost exactly 6 months away because they are too busy hero-worshiping Putin, Snowden, and Greenwald.

My take is the Olympics will go on despite the laws and people will ignore the irony of Russia trampling on human rights.

[Cha]

86. People are making asses out themselves to make PBO look like

the immature one when it is Putin who needs to grow the fuck up.

There are many many people who are not ignoring the reality of Putin's stance on Gay Rights.. just because some clowns do.

"New York Irish bars join LGBT community in boycotting Russian vodka"

http://media.irishcentral.com/images/419*279/Russian_Vodka_NYC_Protest_SWIFF.jpg

New York's Irish bars have a message for President Vladimir Putin: target Russia's gay community with draconian new laws and we'll target your vodka in payback.

On Monday some of the city's most prominent Irish bar owners freely poured bottles of Russian vodka into the Manhattan drains in protest over shocking scenes of violence and abuse that have been captured on video since the passing of the controversial 'gay propaganda' law.

According to SFGate, Paul Hurley, the well known president of the United Restaurant and Tavern Owners Association, held up a bottle of the popular Russian brand Stolichnaya, then shook his head and called for a city-wide boycott of all Russian spirits and liquor.

'All these vodkas here, we're going to throw them out,' Hurley told the press. 'We feel enough is enough.'

h/t William http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023423699

In the link, davidpdx, you'll see New York isn't the only town that's boycotting Russian Vodka..

[davidpdx]

90. Unfortunately it is going to take a larger scale boycott

either of Russian products or the games themselves.

This is kind of like the investigation of the subcontract Snowden worked at. Most of DU was obsessed on the other factors when myself and others were saying they needed to be investigated.

People are so short sighted they won't wake up until it's too late. These are the same people running around calling people the "b" word. No, no, not Putin. Rah rah rah he's DU's hero.

[DeSwiss]

82. +1000

[earthside]

10. The Decline of Obama

Yet another example of Pres. Obama's complete capture by the national security state apparatus.

In 2008, candidate Obama said he would meet without preconditions with Iran's leaders over that country's nuclear program.

Now, Pres. Obama is playing some kind of little tit-for-tat game with the Russians over something as inconsequential as where this fellow Snowden is located, or that the long-arm of the U.S. is not getting the deference it thinks it deserves to get him in its clutches.

Where has the 'change' of Obama gone?

Everyday it seems more and more as if Pres. Obama is/has become the run-of-the-mill, conventional leader that so many of us wanted to be rid of ... it is sad for the nation.

[lamp_shade]

16. ofercrissake..

[grantcart]

56. lol coming up next "the asscension of Putin and how the KGB wasn't really that bad".

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

74. Well, people like to excuse other cultures for their abuse of women and homosexuals

"You just don't understand...."

Add Russia to the list.

[emulatorloo]

80. I think I saw that clip on DU, from yesterday's "Putin Today"

[marshall]

68. He needs to get Rahm Emmanuel back

That's where he got some good advice. Unfortunately the most trusted advisors tend to leave during the second term so they can feather their nest with the credentials they got in the first term, so they will be ready for the shift in power when their ally's out of office.

[TwilightGardener]

11. It's the right thing to do.

[dipsydoodle]

12. He still going to the G20 meeting though.

Obama to Attend G20 Summit in St. Petersburg http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014559094

What's he going to do - ignore Putin ?

When did petulance ever help a situation ?

Might have been better if he'd ignored the G20 too and it be renamed the G19.

[Kelvin Mace]

14. Cancelling meeting because of Putin treatments

of LGBTs and threats to arrest and jail LGBT Olympic athletes and their supporters, not a priority.

[Heddi]

15. I thought the same thing

[FreepFryer]

23. Yup. (n/t)

[forestpath]

52. +1000

[BrotherIvan]

55. ^^This!^^

[VWolf]

65. I so WISH that was the reason. n/t

[lynne]

17. That's certainly one way to guarantee that no progress will be made on any of the issues -

- rather counterproductive, IMO.

[branford]

18. It makes Obama look petulant and weak.

It also highlights his lack of outrage and action concerning Russian discrimination against LGBT Olympic athletes.

[newfie11]

24. +1

[madrchsod]

20. big deal...obama won`t meet with putin

99.9% of the world could care less if he does or does`t.

they'll meet again

[AtheistCrusader]

21. Well, that'll teach him...

[darkangel218]

25. lmao how stupid!!

[Botany]

27. President Obama is the best President of my lifetime and knows more about this then me ...

.... so if this is President Obama and his team's thinking that this way to go I have no problem
with this course of action.

[darkangel218]

33. lulz!!

[L0oniX]

42. LMFAO

[Kolesar]

48. And you get hated on and mocked for it...eom

[Botany]

50. I wear that hatred as a badge of honor

Last edited Wed Aug 7, 2013, 10:42 PM - Edit history (1)

The President and his staff thought this was the right move and they have earned
my trust. Now I didn't say I'm happy w/every move the POTUS has made but over
all he has done a damn fine job and if he thinks this is the right move then I am
fine w/it. Putin has shown the President up front and in your face disrespect.
End of story.

BTW Obama's interview w/Jay Leno last night really made me think better about him.

[theHandpuppet]

93. You must be young

That's a mighty short lifespan.

I detest Putin but let's not carried away with the Obama worship.

[Botany]

95. I am 56

I don't agree w/everything President Obama has done but he has done a really
good job considering the shit sandwich he was given when he came into office.

You know nothing about me, what I have done, or what I have seen or what I have
lived through so I find your posting that I must be young and worshipful of President
Obama really short sighted and offensive.

Putin is a thug and the President's decision not to meet w/him is the right thing to do.

[dbackjon]

32. It is sickening that anyone on DU has ANYTHING nice to say about Putin

The anti-gay, anti-Jew bigot.



Supporting Putin in anyway is supporting these crimes against humanity.

[darkangel218]

34. .

[John2]

41. Why do you

say he hate Jews? I can see why, he is anti-gay when he is the Preident of an entire nation. that have the same problem. It would put him in a political bind. Minds would have to be changed in Russia, like it did in this country. So can you explain, a little about his issues with Jews?

[dbackjon]

58. The anit-gay laws are in the process of being replicated with Jews.

[branford]

62. I, sadly, would not be surprised.

Putin is a relic of the Cold War, and the USSR's treatment of Jews was abominable.

[dbackjon]

63. Yet some on DU defend him

[theHandpuppet]

94. Not this DUer

Oh, some are falling all over themselves to defend this ridiculous poser for underarm testosterone gel, but tomorrow he'll fall out of favor for something or other, perhaps for texting a nude photo of himself while clubbing a baby seal. You'd think his propping up of the murderous Syrian regime and his vicious oppression of GLBTs might be enough, but you know those minor distractions are nothing compared to the little Putin-Snowden bromance thang.

[PaulKersey]

102. The "rebels" in Syria

are probably worse than the regime.

[grantcart]

91. Well there is a certain knid of symmetry that is appealing to some here

Putin is, above all else, a thug.

As the leader of the worlds largest thugocracy there is a certain admiration by some here because he doesn't bother with the niceties of comity, debate and other niceties of democratic culture.

On the other hand they equally despise a President who not only pursues liberal policies but also tries to rehabilitate the democratic spirit with comity, debate and engaging in ideological opponents.

[Kolesar]

92. "thugocracy "

Clever.
Expect the thugs here to overlook your thoughtful comment

[millennialmax]

37. Some people think we should live in a world in which Obama says:

"Aw, shucks Russia. I guess you guys win this time. Golly gee, maybe next time! Anyway, Vlad, you still up for that burger and beer next month?"

I shudder to think the mess the world would be in if they had their way.

[pmorlan1]

38. Gross Incompetence

I can't' say that I'm surprised. Our government has totally mishandled the Snowden episode from the beginning and they haven't figured it out yet. The "snub" to Putin is just the opposite. They are handing Putin yet another in a long string of propaganda victories. Their pique over the Snowden revelations about the secret spying that Obama pretends he wants debated says all you need to know about their determination to nail Snowden to the wall. We used to be a country that took the high ground. Now we give away the high ground to of all countries, Russia. The people running our government are totally incompetent. You've really got work hard to make Russia look like a country that protects dissidents but somehow the gang that couldn't shoot straight has managed to do it by out Russia-ing Russia. LOL

[dipsydoodle]

39. The Kremlin has expressed disappointment.

Nothing else.

[L0oniX]

43. WTF ...don't they know we are exceptional?

[SoapBox]

51. Good!

Fuck off Putin and fuck off Traitor Snowden.

[MicaelS]

53. Good, Fuck Putin.

He's just a nasty Authoritarian POS Chekist.

[dman85]

54. ...could be other reasons

Our proxy war with Russia going on right now in Syria may have something to do with this as well.

[Ash_F]

57. Now if Obama could just stand up to Rightwingers in the US. /nt

[go west young man]

60. Obama's Krushchev moment...................

what a dud.

[Sancho]

61. Maybe he needs to have a vodka with Snowden while he's in Russia....

and then someone can show the President what the NSA is really doing. I'm not convinced the NSA has been truthful with the President.

Obama knows the talking points (just like on Leno last night) and he is a good politician, but just like he made a speech without blinking while the Seals were flying into Pakistan, he's quite capable of hiding a secret.

I don't think it does anything to Putin to miss a meeting except boost his reputation in Russia. He's the President of a nation with it's own laws and rules. As it happens Snowden got away and the stuff he took is in the hands of journalists, so it's over and done.

Prosecutions of Manning and Snowden are just teaching whistle blowers how to avoid punishment, not preventing more whistle blowers. You can be assured that the next one who downloads a bunch of stuff will be even more sophisticated at hiding the trail and going overseas before it's revealed. Since no one apparently internally listens to whistle blowers and the laws/courts are secret, you can bet there will be more and more revelations. It's a bad set up from the start for a growing system with lots of employees.

Making an international fuss simply generates resistance and opposition that costs the US overseas business. Little South American countries and traditional adversaries relish giving amnesty to people like Snowden simply to embarrass the US.

I don't think Obama likes Putin (and vice versa) anyway, but I think Obama would be better served to meet Putin. Not meeting appears childish to me.

[AngryAmish]

64. I bet Putin is feeling really sad right now.

I bet Obama is talking about Putin (and his ugly shoes) to Sarkozy right now. Next he is going to ask Harper not to go over to Putin's house after the G20.

Putin is going to be crying his eyes out when he realizes that he has no friends anymore.

That will show him.

[shawn703]

67. Good

Putin is anti-gay and pro-criminal. Why should he go out of his way to go to meetings with someone like that?

[Mojorabbit]

97. Because they are both heads of state and that is what they are supposed to do? nt

[shawn703]

98. No

Meeting with Putin implies mutual respect. Why should Obama respect a man with that kind of record on LGBT and crime issues?

[Mojorabbit]

99. It does not imply that. It is part of both of their jobs IMO nt

[shawn703]

101. They can still have dialogue to do their jobs

A private meeting with the President is a different thing altogether.

[Dawson Leery]

69. There are other reasons too.

Putin does NOT want to discuss further arms reductions and human rights.
Meeting with Putin would not be worth while.

[AverageJoe90]

70. Can't help but be reminded of what happened between Ike & Khrushchev back in '60......

Gotta wonder if Snowden mighta been the equivalent of Francis Gary Powers.....with the damage done to Obama's credibility, it's a possibility we can't ignore.

[stonecutter357]

71. Shit I thought it was a Comrade Eddie thread.

Just More Obama hate.

[Poll_Blind]

73. Bwa-ha-ha! Fail a doodle do. Mr. No screaming jets, Mr. No Wheeling And Dealing. Empty. nt

PB

[DeSwiss]

81. Barack ''Cartman'' Obama: ''Screw you guys, I'm going home.....''

- K&R

[Cha]

83. PBO canceled putin's ass for a variety of

of reasons and many Americans would actually approve of them..

"Given our lack of progress on issues such as missile defense and arms control, trade and commercial relations, global security issues, and human rights and civil society in the last 12 months, we have informed the Russian government that we believe it would be more constructive to postpone the summit until we have more results from our shared agenda," the White House said.

"We're not in the business of doing summits just to do summits," the official told CNN."

Despite canceling the Moscow talks with Putin, the White House said a meeting set for Friday between Secretary of State John Kerry and Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel with their Russian counterparts would proceed "to discuss how we can best make progress moving forward on the full range of issues in our bilateral relationship."

http://www.cnn.com/2013/08/07/politics/obama-putin/

snip//

"President Barack Obama said Tuesday he has “no patience for countries that try to treat gays or lesbians or transgender persons in ways that intimidate them or are harmful to them.”

Speaking to “Tonight Show” host Jay Leno, the president was asked by the host about recent legislation in Russia that cracks down on gay rights.

“Do you think it will affect the Olympics?” Leno asked the President, whose own views on the subject have evolved in the course of his presidency. Russia is slated to host the Winter Olympics in 2014, in the city of Sochi.

Obama was adamant. “Every judgment should be made on the track, or in the swimming pool, or on the balance beam, and people’s sexual orientation shouldn’t have anything to do with it.”

He also noted Russia’s eagerness for a successful Olympic games, saying "I think they understand that for most of the countries that participate in the Olympics, we wouldn't tolerate gays and lesbians being treated differently.”

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2013/08/07/president-obama-no-patience-for-anti-lgbt-laws-in-russia/

[PaulKersey]

103. Not really a good idea

to further alienate Russia.

[yurbud]

104. which of the things Snowden has leaked are worth this? Or are there bigger cats yet to get out of

the bag?