Obama too tired to party with Brown

[izzix]

Barack Obama 'too tired' to give proper welcome to Gordon Brown
Barack Obama's offhand approach to Gordon Brown's Washington visit last week came about because the president has facing exhaustion over America's economic crisis and is unable to focus on foreign affairs, the Sunday Telegraph has been told.


By Tim Shipman in Washington
Last Updated: 6:55PM GMT 07 Mar 2009
Barack Obama and Gordon Brown: Has Gordon Brown's meeting with Barack Obama restored his fortunes
President Barack Obama and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown walk down the Colonnade of the White House in Washington, Photo: AP

Sources close to the White House say Mr Obama and his staff have been "overwhelmed" by the economic meltdown and have voiced concerns that the new president is not getting enough rest.

British officials, meanwhile, admit that the White House and US State Department staff were utterly bemused by complaints that the Prime Minister should have been granted full-blown press conference and a formal dinner, as has been customary. They concede that Obama aides seemed unfamiliar with the expectations that surround a major visit by a British prime minister.

But Washington figures with access to Mr Obama's inner circle explained the slight by saying that those high up in the administration have had little time to deal with international matters, let alone the diplomatic niceties of the special relationship.

Allies of Mr Obama say his weary appearance in the Oval Office with Mr Brown illustrates the strain he is now under, and the president's surprise at the sheer volume of business that crosses his desk.

A well-connected Washington figure, who is close to members of Mr Obama's inner circle, expressed concern that Mr Obama had failed so far to "even fake an interest in foreign policy".

A British official conceded that the furore surrounding the apparent snub to Mr Brown had come as a shock to the White House. "I think it's right to say that their focus is elsewhere, on domestic affairs. A number of our US interlocutors said they couldn't quite understand the British concerns and didn't get what that was all about."

The American source said: "Obama is overwhelmed. There is a zero sum tension between his ability to attend to the economic issues and his ability to be a proactive sculptor of the national security agenda.

"That was the gamble these guys made at the front end of this presidency and I think they're finding it a hard thing to do everything."

British diplomats insist the visit was a success, with officials getting the chance to develop closer links with Mr Obama's aides. They point out that the president has agreed to meet the prime minister for further one-to-one talks in London later this month, ahead of the G20 summit on April 2.

But they concede that the mood music of the event was at times strained. Mr Brown handed over carefully selected gifts, including a pen holder made from the wood of a warship that helped stamp out the slave trade - a sister ship of the vessel from which timbers were taken to build Mr Obama's Oval Office desk. Mr Obama's gift in return, a collection of Hollywood film DVDs that could have been bought from any high street store, looked like the kind of thing the White House might hand out to the visiting head of a minor African state.

Mr Obama rang Mr Brown as he flew home, in what many suspected was an attempt to make amends.

The real views of many in Obama administration were laid bare by a State Department official involved in planning the Brown visit, who reacted with fury when questioned by The Sunday Telegraph about why the event was so low-key.

The official dismissed any notion of the special relationship, saying: "There's nothing special about Britain. You're just the same as the other 190 countries in the world. You shouldn't expect special treatment." The apparent lack of attention to detail by the Obama administration is indicative of what many believe to be Mr Obama's determination to do too much too quickly.

In addition to passing the largest stimulus package and the largest budget in US history, Mr Obama is battling a plummeting stock market, the possible bankruptcy of General Motors, and rising unemployment. He has also begun historic efforts to achieve universal healthcare, overhaul education and begin a green energy revolution all in his first 50 days in office.

The Sunday Telegraph understands that one of Mr Obama's most prominent African American backers, whose endorsement he spent two years cultivating, has told friends that he detects a weakness in Mr Obama's character.

"The one real serious flaw I see in Barack Obama is that he thinks he can manage all this," the well-known figure told a Washington official, who spoke to this newspaper. "He's underestimating the flood of things that will hit his desk." A Democratic strategist, who is friends with several senior White House aides, revealed that the president has regularly appeared worn out and drawn during evening work sessions with senior staff in the West Wing and has been forced to make decisions more quickly than he is comfortable.

He said that on several occasions the president has had to hurry back from eating dinner with his family in the residence and then tucking his daughters in to bed, to conduct urgent government business. Matters are not helped by the pledge to give up smoking.

"People say he looks tired more often than they're used to," the strategist said. "He's still calm, but there have been flashes of irritation when he thinks he's being pushed to make a decision sooner than he wants to make it. He looks like he needs a cigarette."

Mr Obama was teased by the New York Times on Thursday in a front page story which claimed to have detected a greater prevalence of grey hairs since he entered the White House.

The Democratic strategist stressed that Mr Obama's plight was nothing new. "He knew it was going to be tough; he said as much throughout the campaign. But there's a difference between knowing it is going to be tough and facing the sheer relentless pressure of it all."

[bumper]

I wouldn't want the job, Brown's or his. Hope he learns to delegate properly, not a function that one person can do. If he doesn't he is going to be in deep trouble, hope he picked the right staff. Some of those comment makes it sound like he may not have. But's early on in the four years, he is just getting his feet wet. Seems to be focused on the biggest of the problems. Might be a good idea to let the wife pick the gifts. I expect him stumble now, He doesn't and everyone knew that he didn't have to experience of others. The idea was a fresh approach well here it is. The entire world wanted change well they have have it and don't seem to be to happy about it.

Let see where he is in two years

The only one that didn't seem to age instantly in that office in recent memory was Bush.

[WBU ALUM]

Seems to be focused on the biggest of the problems.

Wish that was true.

Emphasis isn't on the economy and banking. It's on spending more money on health care, more money on windmills and solar panels, more money on education and not enough emphasis on creating incentives for productive Americans to save in banks, borrow from banks and spend money.

Members of his own party in the House and Senate are starting to doubt him. One Senate Democrat asked the president to veto his own budget bill: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123612545277023901.html

[beer monkey]

Had not been interested in the slightest until the 'gift' thing got mentioned on the forum, now read this one...and what a time to give up smoking... sounds more like a time to start.

[cali4995]

What is the source of this story? The Sunday Telegraph? They come across like a bunch
of whingeing little bitch_s. I'm actually quite impressed with our new president. He seems
to be attempting to focus on problems and solutions not tea party bullsh_t. Other stories
in the telegraph also rag incessantly about Obama's family. This is what a cheap tabloid?
It is a shame for Brown that these irresponsible journalists presume to speak for him.

[Laan Yaa Mo]

The Telegraph along with the Times, the Guardian, the Sunday Times and the Observer, is one of the most respected newspapers in the world.

It is a paper with connections and excellent analysts. They (all of the above mentioned newspapers) are a great source of the news, and provide insight to the viewing public.

Of course, they are not up to the standards of Mrs. Mills and A.A. Gill in providing the most important advice, but you will not go wrong reading any of these newspapers.

The Telegraph is considered on the right of the political spectrum and the Guardian on the left.

[cali4995]

So you say professor. The conclusions they appear to draw on this issue and the other
articles on Obama's family are a bit odd. But, I also don't post my comments in magenta.

[Laan Yaa Mo]

I thought it was purple...55555

[BKKSTAN]

Whether Obamas actions and ability as President are up to stuff or not,this issue of pomp and circumstance is ridiculous and a waste of time!
Just ''gossip'' to sell papers to people that focus on this kind of BS!

Shouldn't this thread go with the UK-US relationship thread,it is about the same dribble!