100,000 expected for Obama Berlin speech »
Posted By smithichie 2 months, 2 weeks ago in News
More than 100,000 people are expected to attend a speech by Barack Obama in Berlin today as he starts the European leg of his foreign tour.
Read Full Story at guardian.co.uk »
Submitted By:
smithichie
Human, advocator of critical thought, stirrer of the pot, rocker of boats, smart-ass.
Related Articles:
Join the Discussion 
+ Add Comment
Comments So Far: 309
-
100%
smithichie2 months, 2 weeks ago
Keep in mind 100K is the LOW estimate, according to this article. Reports are calling for excellent weather today in Berlin.
Reply-
84%
Neophile2 months, 2 weeks ago
We're going to be watching a live feed of the speech and chatting about it here at 1pm EST:
http://www.propeller.com/groups/politics/conversations/1602487/
Judging by those crowd shots, 100K is a WAY low estimate.
Reply -
32%
BB642 months, 2 weeks ago
Did anyone explain to Barack, Germans can't vote in an American election? This isn't the south side of Chicago or San Diego. Why would he go to Germany? This is a terrible campaign stunt that will back fire. He's doing the same thing Hillary did, assume he's won the election.
Reply-
57%
BB642 months, 2 weeks ago
I agree but I didn't see Hillary in Germany. Actually doing one of these stunts, I've never seen anyone do it before. Then again, I've never seen any of the candidates willfully alter the Presidential Seal but Barry's team did. Again, double standards. Had Reagan done that, the press would have gone nuts. Bush 41 or 43, you bet. Double standards. Then again, I've never seen three "top" anchors fly with a jr. senator whose running for president and acting like his press secretaries either. If he wins, I hope you're ready for the steep job losses and declines in all sectors.
Reply -
50%
BB642 months, 2 weeks ago
Thought I commented before, our allies are fine, for the President or the President elect. This guy is neither at this time. He's doing a world win stunt, kind of like the old Hitler rallies called "Hitler over Germany". while I wouldn't call him Hitler, he's using that play book. Lots of fluff, hyperbole and pageantry without any substance.
He's pitched we should pull all our troops out. That would include Germany. How many of those German citizens would celebrate if they realized they'd have to pay for their own army and loose somewhere around $ 15 billion. That's taking into account the entire economic impact we have on their nation. I suspect most haven't actually read anything he's written. I understand. I can't find much on him either.
Reply
-
-
-
50%
Daylight2 months, 2 weeks ago
Did anyone explain to Barack, Germans can't vote in an American election? This isn't the south side of Chicago or San Diego. Why would he go to Germany? This is a terrible campaign stunt that will back fire. He's doing the same thing Hillary did, assume he's won the election.
You need allies and friends, around the world for your foreign policy, that the reason he is there. Does that make sense to you?
Reply -
33%
tiredofwhiners2 months, 2 weeks ago
Exactly, a pure and simple campaign stunt. A pitiful attempt at trying to copy JFK and Reagan. They were great Presidents who spoke in times of real crisis, the cold war and separation of Berlin. Merkel is a conservative and, if Germans could vote in our election, she wouldn't vote for him.
Reply
-
-
100%
Mdiar2 months, 2 weeks ago
Indeed, smithichie! I have to wonder about where it actually WILL fall, ultimately. Obama is popular in Germany and France but at the same time its just an American candidate! However, something like 70% of Germans feel the US election will be effecting them! In addition this is nice timing for Obama as well, in that local German politics are less likely to overshadow Obama's visit. I think we could see up to 200k people considering the high level of publicity this is receiving. The million estimate seems way to high... but 100k seems a tad low to me.
Reply-
88%
Mdiar2 months, 2 weeks ago
I agree McCain wouldn't but I think he'd manage over 10k. We must also include protesters to the Iraq war! By the same token this is the Obama phenomenon... but really, would a charismatic politician from the UK who held a seat in Parliament for only a couple of years get this kind of response? The world is watching the US elections... very closely. I think the fact that he is an American candidate for President and the likely winner is going to bring a significant number of people so they can gauge him.
Reply-
100%
Candida2 months, 2 weeks ago
I'm surprised that only 70% of the Germans feel the US election results will affect them. The way I see it, the US election results will affect the whole world, and that's why it is watched so closely. It affects everybody even under normal circumstances, and now, with two wars going on and the possibility of a third one, the effect is magnified.
I've seen some comments above from skeptics who claim that it was the rock bands that drew the crowds. I don't think so. I think he could attract similar crowds in almost any country because the world is just tentatively starting to hope after eight year of darkness.
Reply
-
-
81%
Aidenag2 months, 2 weeks ago
McCain can't even draw 10,000 people in a major US city when he speaks, even in his homestate. Oversea's i would doubt he could clear 1,000.
Reply -
PretkoComment removed: User banned.13 Replies
-
-
86%
fsev412 months, 2 weeks ago
What I found interesting was Merkels comment that OBama was "physically, mentally, and politically able to be president." Could that be a little swipe at John McCain?
Reply-
80%
RickyDawkins2 months, 2 weeks ago
It isn't a swipe if it is true.
"During a CBS interview on Tuesday, John McCain made a stone cold error on a subject about which he claims expert knowledge: the "surge" strategy in Iraq. In an interview with anchor Katie Couric, the Arizona Republican said, inaccurately, that the surge strategy was responsible for the much-touted "Anbar Awakening," in which Sunni sheiks turned against Al Qaeda, helping in turn to reduce violence in the country.
The fact remains, however, that the military official cited by McCain, then-Colonel Sean MacFarland, described the Anbar Awakening in September 2006 -- four months before the "surge" was even announced -- noting that tribal leaders were "stepping forward and cooperating with the Iraqi security forces against Al Qaeda." Moreover, a military review written by MacFarland notes that his unit actually left Anbar before most of the surge troops arrived; his success in the region came between June 2006 and February 2007."
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/07/22/mccain-gets-history-of-th_n_114419.html
Reply-
25%
normallysilent2 months, 2 weeks ago
Just what I want to do. decide who gets my vote on how much he will improve the lives of the French and Germans.
As you pointed out, Obama is there guy because they see him helping them the most not because they see him as doing the most for us.Whats that tell ya?
Reply
-
-
74%
RickyDawkins2 months, 2 weeks ago
Is it still a swipe if its true?
"McCain gets it wrong about Iraq timeline"
During a CBS interview on Tuesday, John McCain made a stone cold error on a subject about which he claims expert knowledge: the "surge" strategy in Iraq. In an interview with anchor Katie Couric, the Arizona Republican said, inaccurately, that the surge strategy was responsible for the much-touted "Anbar Awakening," in which Sunni sheiks turned against Al Qaeda, helping in turn to reduce violence in the country.
In fact, as Spencer Ackerman and Ilan Goldenberg have reported, the record firmly establishes the opposite: instead of being caused by the surge, the key signs of the Anbar Awakening occurred not only before that strategy was implemented, but before it was ever conceived.
Yet McCain's error was not seen by any CBS Evening News viewers. As MSNBC's Keith Olbermann noted (video below), "CBS curiously, to say the least, left it on the edit room floor. It aired Katie Couric's question, but in response, it aired part of McCain's answer to the other question instead." (Ironically, this edit came on the same day that McCain's campaign released a video mocking the media's "love affair" with Obama.)
The fact remains, however, that the military official cited by McCain, then-Colonel Sean MacFarland, described the Anbar Awakening in September 2006 -- four months before the "surge" was even announced -- noting that tribal leaders were "stepping forward and cooperating with the Iraqi security forces against Al Qaeda."
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/07/22/mccain-gets-history-of-th_n_114419.html
Reply-
100%
Blackacereturn2 months, 2 weeks ago
Obama is popular through out the world! It is not about obama as much as it is about this current administration and the it's attitude on the global stage. I hope all Americans see this for what it was and not buy into the spin. I see where people are already crying about his coverage, and how much of the media is there with him...I say good for them. At this point we are not the most love nation in the world but there he was getting more love from a global standpoint than Bush has ever garnered as president. This has send a message i hope we got it. I doubt that we did and i pray that we do!
Reply -
57%
Klarissa2 months, 2 weeks ago
What are the Germans cheering about? They cheered Hitler too.
In case we find ourselves starting to believe all the Anti-American sentiment and negativity, we should remember England 's Prime Minister Tony Blair's words during a recent interview. When asked by one of his Parliament members why he believes so much in America , he said: 'A simple way to take measure of a country is to look at how many want in.. And how many want out.'
Reply
-
-
-
60%
nightcrawlerX2 months, 2 weeks ago
Ich Bin Ein Riding coat tales. Why are Americans obsessed with the image of that mediocre president. Wouldn't it be better if Obama could surpass him or at least do a better job.
Reply-
70%
Dionys2 months, 2 weeks ago
Ooopsie. Accidentally gave you a positive.
People are obsessed with Kennedy because for many he represents an idealized picture of the presidency -- with a president who actually loves his country and cares for the people as opposed to one who tries to figure out the best way to drain the treasury into the pockets of the corporations. Add to that the romance of a solidly-connected family (sorely lacking in American society today) and the challenge of an underdog fighting against bigotry (anti-Catholic) of the time. Add to that the solution of the Cuban missile crisis. Add to that the curiosity of people concerning how our country might have looked if he hadn't been murdered (in direct opposition to people today who wonder how much better our country might be if some leaders *were* murdered).
Sure it'd be great if Obama could surpass expectations and the example of Kennedy. Let's see, shall we.
Reply-
43%
DropkickaLib2 months, 2 weeks ago
You mean a President who was nearly court martialed for his role in the PT 109 disaster? You mean a President who nearly started a nuclear war and was outright defeated at the Bay of Pigs? You mean a President whose staff smuggled Marilyn Monroe out of the back door of the White House when Jackie came home? You mean a President born to a bootlegger and sibling to a line of famous falanderers and alcoholics? You mean a President who really didn't support any meaningful legislative agenda? Yeah, I can see the resemblence with Obamanation.
Reply -
60%
BB642 months, 2 weeks ago
You know I'm just about finished with the ********* at propeller. 99% of what I post fails to make it. I find it interesting that it seems to plague mainly the GOP folks.
On this topic, no one really wants anything to do with the slim that is the Kennedy's. The press fell in love with them but the truth is they were dirty. Joe made all his money playing with booze and the Irish mob. He like his son had multiple mistresses. Why do people forget what they did to Rose Marie Kennedy. A lobotomy and then dumped her in a hospital in Wisconsin. They live in Massachusetts. JFK & RFK boinked anything that would hold still. They were almost as bad as Clinton. But the press never mentioned it. Just another example of the media protecting a Dem.
Reply
-
-
