Obama v the World

[JoeP]

Obama didn't have to try to annoy the Republicans over the past 8 years; it's how they define themselves. Likewise Trump in the past few months. And I think his snub to Duterte (the Trump of the Phillipines) was before the election.

But now we have: not vetoing a UN resolution that might hurt Netanyahu's feelings; Kerry giving a speech that might hurt Netanyahu's feelings (and which seems to have hurt Theresa May's feelings too); and now booting out 35 Russian diplomats.

Interestingly he seems not bothered about pissing off the Chinese - Trump is doing that instead.

Most recently, Putin has declined to do the usual tit-for-tat expulsion of US diplomats, in spite of foreign minister Lavrov recommending it (which my cynicism says he was told to do by Putin so Putin could magnanimously decline).


What's going on? Is the Obama administration poisoning the well before the Trump "administration" comes in? Or is he catching up with things that he should have done consistently over his 2 terms, and if so, why only now? Which other strongman/neo-fascist premiers (there are plenty) has he run up against?

[Watser?]

Theresa May is a total ziowhore, excusez le mot.

And Obama is just pissed as fuck about Netanyahu dissing him for 8 years, while building settlements and demanding more money. He finally doesn't have anything to lose anymore. Theresa May obviously does. The good thing about all this, is that support for Israel is getting more and more identified with the (extreme) right.

[JoeP]

Originally Posted by JoeP

Most recently, Putin has declined to do the usual tit-for-tat expulsion of US diplomats, in spite of foreign minister Lavrov recommending it (which my cynicism says he was told to do by Putin so Putin could magnanimously decline).

Poo-tin gets no benefit from retaliating against Obama. He's saving this up as leverage on Rump: if he doesn't at least make loudly obedient noises about reversing the expulsion in his first days in office, tits will be tatted.

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/1...125349964.html

... a statement which added that he would consider the actions of President-elect Donald Trump, who takes office next month, when deciding on further steps in Russia-US relations.

[Zehava]

Of course Putin is going to hold off on any decision until the LoserPresident takes office. Drumpf is much more receptive to Russia, and eminently more susceptible to manipulation.

Retaliating now only has down sides for Putin, while waiting for the Cheeto Face Shit Gibbon only has an upside.

[SR71]

Originally Posted by Watser?

Theresa May is a total ziowhore, excusez le mot.

And Obama is just pissed as fuck about Netanyahu dissing him for 8 years, while building settlements and demanding more money. He finally doesn't have anything to lose anymore. Theresa May obviously does. The good thing about all this, is that support for Israel is getting more and more identified with the (extreme) right.

...lose by passively recognizing the obvious...

[erimir]

I guess Obama looked in his bag of fucks, realized there were, in fact, a couple left in there and dumped them out.