By Barack Obama, President of the United States - In 1939, President Franklin D Roosevelt offered a toast to King George VI in the White House. “I am persuaded that the greatest single contribution our two countries have been enabled to make to civilisation, and to the welfare of peoples throughout the world,” he said, “is the example we have jointly set by our manner of conducting relations between our two nations.” Read full article
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Disclaimer & comment rulesAt least Hitler had the good grace to stay in Germany when he threatened us.
Apr 23rd, 2016 - 09:00 am - Link - Report abuse 0At least Mr Obama was frank: not saying it from behind closed doors. Perhaps some would rather he said it from America, instead of saying it to our faces.
Apr 23rd, 2016 - 09:58 am - Link - Report abuse 0The interests of both the UK and the United States do coincide in several areas; and staying in or staying out of the EU affects us both. If we stay in, there will be Changes because of the shifts in public and political opinion that has and is taking place.
I'm not displeased that Mr Obama says what he sees, at it is- and he said it from the position of his advisors too. Whether one likes the President is neither here nor there.
It needs a judgement of Solomon to sort this out. It appears we are damned if we stay in and damned if we leave ! We are continually told that we should stay in and effect change from the inside. It doesn't seem to have worked so far.
Apr 23rd, 2016 - 09:59 am - Link - Report abuse 0We are easily outvoted if we do not like the legislation which affects us adversely .
I am ambivalent on the subject of the Brexitand do not feel much in common with some of the newer members in East Europe. However, it has kept a peace between members instead of vying for power and domination.
At my age it doesn't really matter too much but it is the younger generation who will have to live with the consequences.
I'm not sure how good this will transpire to be for the IN camp. Anyone I have spoken to about this is literally seething at his remarks, it is well known he hated the UK and now we all now know where we stand.
Apr 23rd, 2016 - 10:01 am - Link - Report abuse 0I think this will backfire
Obama has been wrong about every foreign policy decision since he's been in office.
Apr 23rd, 2016 - 10:35 am - Link - Report abuse 0Do the opposite of whatever he is suggesting and I am sure it is the right path.
(4) Seething won't help, and if Mr Obama hates the UK or not is beside the point, if what he says about the US interests is true; because if it is, then Mr Obama's successor will have to endorse that Reality
Apr 23rd, 2016 - 11:29 am - Link - Report abuse 0Time will tell.
Did anyone here watch Obama's press conference? All of it? I did. He didn't threaten anyone at all. He made an honest statement that if the UK were looking for trade deals they would not take priority over the EU. Quite right. A smaller trading partner would not have the same clout. That is all he said about it. He went on to say it would not affect the cultural links and information sharing that is the reality of our 'special relationship'.
Apr 23rd, 2016 - 11:37 am - Link - Report abuse 0Obama was asked to comment and he did.
Honest? Get real Elaine.
Apr 23rd, 2016 - 12:10 pm - Link - Report abuse 0He's a politician. Not a very good politician but a politician nonetheless.
There is no special relationship.
Whether you agree with his analysis or not,
Apr 23rd, 2016 - 01:13 pm - Link - Report abuse 0The relationship of the US-UK seems to mean enough to him that he is personal friends with the Royal Family and he made the effort of a visit to the UK to speak, on the eve of an important decision.
I don't see any envoys from EU nations.
Elaine, I never had you down as naive. Americans don't say the back of the queue, they say at the back of the line. His buzz words were prepared for him by his weasel of a sniggering friend stood next to him. The whole thing turned my stomach - my friend dave, my friend barack 'puke' !!
Apr 23rd, 2016 - 01:29 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Obama has no friends, its one of the many weird things about him.
Apr 23rd, 2016 - 01:46 pm - Link - Report abuse 0He is a liar don't believe anything he says.
Well the American Presidents have done so well in the past. They sat on the fence during the last world war and since have done exceedingly well in the Middle East and Asia. You only have to look at Iraq, Afganistan, Libya, Syria, Egypt, and lets not forget Vietnam, all thriving communities now. Obama f**ck off and sort your ever growing gun problem out in the US and leave us alone. His speech did not do himself any favours all he did was make the UK say ” we will do what is best for the UK, can you imagine the US giving away their sovereignty, don't think so. How about the US and their common market Cuba and Mexico.We should leave the EU and stuff the USA.
Apr 23rd, 2016 - 03:08 pm - Link - Report abuse 0(7) Elaine: Don't bother if I were you; you are wasting your time; some just don't understand that the President is Briefed and he may overstep the language, but the Policy meaning was clear.
Apr 23rd, 2016 - 03:46 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Just don't feed those Spleens!
Troy
Apr 23rd, 2016 - 03:47 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Perhaps Obama wanted a few more photos for the family album before he hands over to a new and hopefully more competent President. Unfortunately the Queen was only too willing to oblige which is to be regretted.
I say.....here here, Britain should exit and exit quickly. Then there can be two insignificant lonely islands in the Atlantic. A small one in the north and a tiny one in the south.
Apr 23rd, 2016 - 04:01 pm - Link - Report abuse 0If one thinks the UK is insignificant on the world block now, just wait until they are a trading bloc of what, 63 million versus the EU at 508 million? But go ahead, cut off your nose to spite your face, no one cares....really at the end of the day, no one does care. Afterall, you won WWII and are the best society on earth.
@15
Apr 23rd, 2016 - 04:31 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Oh, look, another disembodied voice, whereabouts unknown, political associations unknown and unspecified, motives unknown...
We'll take your opinions for what they are worth..,
15
Apr 23rd, 2016 - 06:10 pm - Link - Report abuse 0You started badly with a hilarious spelling mistake and then got worse.
Still it's good to see you so interested in what you suggest are lonely islands with the best culture in the World. Hardly insignificant though perhaps you have your words mixed up again.
I think its funny some on here think the lowlife Obama family is friends with the Queen.
Apr 23rd, 2016 - 07:25 pm - Link - Report abuse 0These people are guttersnipes and have been a plague on the USA.
I was very optimistic when Obama was elected president that things were moving forward in the American way of looking at society, then I read his history.
Apr 23rd, 2016 - 07:29 pm - Link - Report abuse 0The first thing he did about 'the special relationship' was to remove the statue of Churchill from the Whitehouse, not sideline it, remove it.
Then his spokesperson, in response to a question by a UK reporter about this action and the special relationship, said it was time that the UK grew up and dealt with the new reality!
Now we have Camoron getting his 'buddy' Obuma (because that is what he has turned out to be) to travel to the UK to threaten us about being 'the back of the queue' in trade deals.
Threats don't need to be shouted to be threats and I have read the actual words and I have no doubt this disgraceful president DID threaten the UK in an attempt to ensure Remain wins the vote and that is unforgivable of a 'friend'.
Still, he will be gone in January and I really hope that Trump gets it, that will heal the obvious cracks in the special relationship in double quick time as well as put the two faced establishment where they belong: doing what they are supposed to do and support America, not line their own pockets.
The American Banks are already clamouring to have the restrictions on who they can lend to, imposed to stop them defrauding lenders and foreclosing on mortgages which caused the last world financial crisis, removed. These people just don't give a damn as long as they can bloat their own bonuses for creating 'profits'. We saw how viable their profits were: NOT.
Barack Obama's views betray a 'woeful ignorance' on the impact of the EU on Britain's security, says Armed Forces minister
Apr 23rd, 2016 - 08:02 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Leave campaigners claimed that an American would never use the word “queue” in this context because the usual term in the United States is “line”.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/04/23/barack-obamas-views-betray-a-woeful-ignorance-on-the-impact-of-t/
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Cameron's dirty tactics in the EU referendum are digging his political grave
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/04/23/barack-obamas-views-betray-a-woeful-ignorance-on-the-impact-of-t/
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Last in the queue, was we last when they were asking for help in Iraq, Libya, afghan,
America puts America first,
Something we should learn to heed and follow.
l did like Barak when l first heard of him, l don't like him now.
Apr 23rd, 2016 - 08:52 pm - Link - Report abuse 0ln my global travels, l have not met ANY Americans who like him, yet he was voted in twice. Go figure, as my cousins say.
Brexit, now.
#15
Apr 23rd, 2016 - 10:37 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Congratulations Dany you got something write at last in your last sentence.
@15 dani
Apr 23rd, 2016 - 10:46 pm - Link - Report abuse 0You write that no one cares but obviously you care or you wouldn't bother to write that no one cares - logic can be such a bugger.
A very measured and thought out response to Brexit. If people are to make an informed choice then listening to many different opinions is the right way to go.
Apr 24th, 2016 - 01:28 am - Link - Report abuse 0As for Dany.... oh how we haven't missed your intelligence (LOL) on his logic of UK's importance. First off, he just supported the notion that every Latin American country, bar 2, are unimportant in the world economy. Yeah didn't think that logic out very well now did you Dany.
Also Dany if you are going to quote the EU population after Brexit, then at least deduct the UK's population you idiot. 507 million.... down to 443 million.
While the UK's population will continue to grow, the EU's is forecast to shrink.
But if the EU doesn't want to deal with the world's 4th largest non-EU economy.... then so be it.
However the fact that it has been trying to cut a deal with Mercosur for the last 2 decades when Mercosur's economy isn't bigger than the UK's.... yeah didn't think that one out too well now did you Dany.
Because an exit of the UK from the EU would add momentum to the push to get the US out of NATO we support 'Brexit'.
Apr 24th, 2016 - 03:44 am - Link - Report abuse 025 hippy
Apr 24th, 2016 - 05:13 am - Link - Report abuse 0Who's we?
Russia??
Oh God, Hepatia is a Trumpet!!!!
Apr 24th, 2016 - 08:52 am - Link - Report abuse 0You can always tell when Obama lies - not always when his mouth moves but watch his eyebrows.
Apr 24th, 2016 - 10:14 am - Link - Report abuse 0#25
Apr 24th, 2016 - 10:58 am - Link - Report abuse 0Putin's mouthpiece straight from the propaganda station RT
I'd love to see the USA exit NATO and the UN.
Apr 24th, 2016 - 12:13 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Bloated bureaucracies, money pits that do nothing for the interests of the USA.
Let EU defend itself.
If they feel like they can't they should pay more than the full cost of the USA portion since we're putting up the people.
The world is changing, the USA will become more insular, we don't need the world as much as you need the USA.
That's one of the reasons why Trump is so popular.
USA first.
As is should be.
Some facts You little devil.
Apr 24th, 2016 - 12:24 pm - Link - Report abuse 0The USA is promoting conflict between Russia and EU.
EU trade with Russa has collapsed at USA insistence. USA trade with Russia has increased. Funny that.
USA is changing beyond recognition.
USA is becoming more insular because it got its ass whipped in Iraq, Afghanistan and Iran.
Trump is great but won't win. If it looks like he might .... Well let's just say he won't become President.
Whether Trump wins or not is irrelevant. The mood of the people is to withdraw from the world. Stop funding countries defense when they can clearly do it themselves. Stop sending U$ all over for nothing. We're tired of being the world police and its major benefactor. Do we really need to provide all the support for every disaster everywhere in the world? No we don't.
Apr 24th, 2016 - 12:42 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Hillary has about a 50/50 chance of being Prez or ending up in jail.
It's a coin toss.
That leaves a crazy Socialist against a self-made Multi-Billionaire that loves America and understands its values.
Easy choice for most.
Interesting what a real billionaire thinks of the candidates.
Apr 24th, 2016 - 01:53 pm - Link - Report abuse 0http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/charles-koch-%E2%80%98it%E2%80%99s-possible%E2%80%99-clinton-would-be-better-president-than-a-republican/ar-BBsaqT6?ocid=mailsignout
http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/charles-koch-%E2%80%98it%E2%80%99s-possible%E2%80%99-clinton-would-be-better-president-than-a-republican/ar-BBsaqT6?ocid=mailsignout
I just wonder what new name that you will appear under after this election and your world is unceremoniously flushed away?
I admire the Koch brothers tremendously! They're deliberately transforming the USA through selective elections throughout each state. It is a good use of their vast fortune. I applaud their efforts.
Apr 24th, 2016 - 02:02 pm - Link - Report abuse 0The rags you read are very biased. If you really want to be informed and look like you know what you're talking about you should try reading a more varied selection of news sites. I only read those rags to get a clue on what the looney liberals are thinking.
You have more excuses than Zika mosquito's on their way to the USA.
Apr 24th, 2016 - 02:19 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Ahhhh.....I see, read only the articles that you find worthy? Why when you know absolutely everything that there is to know, can't I just buy a gun, confederate flag, talk about niggers and spics and kikes and camel jockey's taking over the USA and hope the police killing minorities is a growing trend and be accepted by like you and your kind?
Your kind of American.
No I read lots of different sources so I can get a diverse view. Its people like you who are in a feedback loop that supports their nuttiness that have the problem.
Apr 24th, 2016 - 02:27 pm - Link - Report abuse 0If you think that's the America I want you are sorely mistaken.
I have traveled and lived a lot of different places, most of them are much more racist and hostile than anywhere I've ever been in the USA and that includes LatAm/Europe/UK. The open hostility to the other doesn't exist here.
I see and you say that you have lived in Latin America. Puerto Rico hardly qualifies as Latin America.
Apr 24th, 2016 - 02:49 pm - Link - Report abuse 0I enjoyed watching the KKK rally in Georgia. Hows the skinheads going?
Why is it mainly the USA who treats black people as they do? Oh I know, it's because they bring it on themselves.....right?
How are blacks treated in LatAm?
Apr 24th, 2016 - 02:56 pm - Link - Report abuse 0How are they treated in the UK?
EU?
Then let's compare to the USA. Which I will remind you has a black Prez.
@36 Fred Bates, DC Realtor/YB/Luci
Apr 24th, 2016 - 02:59 pm - Link - Report abuse 0The open hostility to the “other” doesn't exist here.
That's not the reality.
America welcomed the huddled masses at one time.
Today, Republican, Donald Trump resonates with the people by identifying others who should be shunned and expelled - Mexicans and Muslims.
Cruz is better of course, he just wants to take away the rights of 1/2 of American citizens, women.
What other groups do these Republican front-runners discriminate against as part of their election platforms?
Your own bigotry against groups and ethnicities belies your claim.
None of what you posted is true
Apr 24th, 2016 - 03:10 pm - Link - Report abuse 0It all looney lefty talking points.
Stupid Canuck1
Still living up to the name
Having a black president in the USA is meaningless when the politicians refuse to accept him because is is black or born in Kenya.
Apr 24th, 2016 - 03:17 pm - Link - Report abuse 0The USA was to be the bacon of hope, now it's an incubator of hate.
Your response to the hate and racism in the usa is basically........
Others are doing it.
Is that you educated American response to the unending murdering of blacks?
Give everyone guns and end the usa once and for all. God knows you have enough doomsdayers waiting for the day.
No matter wait you say, there will always be a white america and a black america. I would quote articles, but, unless they are approved by you they are liberal, biased rages.
Can you provide a list of pre-approved (conservatively biased) entities to quote from?
Interesting quote from an Immigrant to the usa:
When I came to the U.S. I found myself taking on a new identity, or rather I found a new identity thrust on me, Adichie said. I became black. I hadn’t thought of myself as black. In Nigeria, she noted, social divisions are about ethnicity and religion, not skin color.
#32
Apr 24th, 2016 - 03:19 pm - Link - Report abuse 0If Trump stands for American values, God help America.
We have had examples of his American values here. Enough said. .independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/donald-trump-fails-to-deliver-on-golf-resort-jobs-pledge-8693854.html
You could replace 'black” with anything when you're coming from an almost completely homogeneous country to one with many races. An Indian coming from India probably doesn't consider themselves Indian either until they move to a place that doesn't have many of them.
Apr 24th, 2016 - 03:34 pm - Link - Report abuse 0So many people here have problems with logic.
42. So what? Your lucky anyone wants to do business there. You should be happy with what you got not whining about what it could have been.
How long have you been egocentric and angry at the world? More so, how long have you been dumb? Do you understand the difference in race and nationality? Do you understand apples and oranges? One can change black with white, brown, yellow.....that was referring to race. Do you know that Indian is a nationality?
Apr 24th, 2016 - 03:46 pm - Link - Report abuse 0You should get a real world social network. Using your voice to internet is much better than using your hands. You are by far an angry nobody. For one you claims to have lived around the world........quite ignorant.
As I said, one who idolizes the concept of evil for humanity, that speaks a lot of exactly what your purpose is in life.
Aww have I confused you?
Apr 24th, 2016 - 04:25 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Shall I use smaller words?
I am quite magnanimous to those educationally challenged as you Americans, so please do. I fell bad of your chronic use of the dictionary and thesaurus. But than I am assuming you did get a higher education in the USA.
Apr 24th, 2016 - 04:39 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Big fat words are scary anyway, but then everything American seems big and fat now doesn't it? Unfortunately mostly just the people.
,Well people from what I have read and listened to,
Apr 24th, 2016 - 07:46 pm - Link - Report abuse 0I conclude the following,
1, Europe has never had a trade deal with the EU,
They are trying to get one, very very slowly and getting nowhere,
TTIP is getting in the way, [the private secret deal between the EU and the USA that we are not allowed to see,
Trade= exchange of goods, we have been trading with Europe and the USA and the world for over 2,000 years some for as little time as 200 years, but trade will continue ,
2, the 5 president’s agreement formatting the unification of a united states of Europe is already being played out, with Britain marginalised to one side, if we REMAIN, we will eventually be a part of something we have no say unless we join this unification, Osborn’s own words last year.
America’s interests are for the Americans, Europe’s interests are for Europeans, and Britain’s interest is ours,
What the presidents fails to see, and Clinton, or its anti-British stance, that some say does not exist,
But when calling for help, back up and support the British stand side by side,
But by remaining IN it will eventually be Europe’s decision , as the British military just won’t exist and will be assimilated into a Euro force,
The question is then, will a united Europe put America’s interests before theirs, will a Europe support and send troops to fight at Americas behest,
Vote to leave, and it will be a British decision full stop.
its just an opinion, so you can laugh or cry but its interesting, ?
Dany Berger has much better English than before.
Apr 24th, 2016 - 09:07 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Has he/she become more educated or is it someone else using his/her screen name?
Maybe they have a roster system at the Argentine Ministry for Disinformation?
@41 Dany
Apr 24th, 2016 - 11:03 pm - Link - Report abuse 0America is still great. It still adheres to most of its best attributes that made it that way.
Fred Bates, Washington DC Realtor/ Yankeeboy/Lucifer is not 'America'.
He is not one of those Americans who share those qualities of freedom of thought, freedom of religion, freedom from fear, and equal representation.
Like Trump and Cruz and the Koch Bros. he will use defamation of character, racial and ethnic discrimination, fear-mongering, and outright lies to manipulate and intimidate rivals, in order to suppress their rights and legitimate aspirations.
YB is a hateful individual, that's all. The policies of Exclusion, of the Republican hopefuls, simply appeal to him.
I love the Uneducated! - D. Trump
The majority of educated Americans are open and free thinkers - they elected Obama twice.
#43
Apr 25th, 2016 - 08:16 am - Link - Report abuse 0So that is the business ethics of which you approve and is the American way ?
It tells us a lot about your morals. Lie, cheat and grab everything for yourself. What a charmer you are !
48
Apr 25th, 2016 - 01:04 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Did you mean....DanyBerger...with no space between the y and B or the current copy....Dany Berger....for example...
http://en.mercopress.com/2015/02/07/democracy-in-argentina-dented-by-mysterious-murder-says-ft#comment379299
Got to keep a sharp eye out...for these imitations....
......the one and only truly original Voicey Voice from head to toe....;-))))))
I am both.
Apr 25th, 2016 - 01:23 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Display the proof and refute me otherwise?
Damned importers. This really diminishes the integrity of our work here. They are making us look like clowns!!!
Apr 25th, 2016 - 01:35 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Oh yes, those damn importers, eh?
Apr 25th, 2016 - 04:00 pm - Link - Report abuse 0What larks!
However, I am still enjoying this classic from upthread:
41 Dany Berger (#)
Apr 24th, 2016 - 03:17 pm
... The USA was to be the bacon of hope, ...
Man, gotta get me some of dat bacon, sounds mighty tasty!
Clyde, I am assuming the Scottish gov't, or whomever signed the contract with Trump didn't know how to read. Either what he was required to do was not there or they should sue him for non-compliance or default.
Apr 25th, 2016 - 05:34 pm - Link - Report abuse 0I bet he's living up to what he signed.
Poor Troy is so butthurt. He just can't get over YB besting him time and again.
Living up to the nick Stupid Canuck1
@ 54 ilsen
Apr 25th, 2016 - 06:50 pm - Link - Report abuse 0You know the Yanks, always high on the hog!
:o)
Anger as Obama claims EU is one of the 'greatest achievements of modern times'
Apr 25th, 2016 - 07:54 pm - Link - Report abuse 0BARACK Obama risked provoking further anger from anti-Brussels campaigners tonight by describing the EU as one of the greatest achievements of modern times.
http://www.express.co.uk/news/world/664309/EU-greatest-achievements-Obama-Germany
.
57. Please keep him. We don't want him either.
Apr 25th, 2016 - 08:29 pm - Link - Report abuse 0My greatest fear is he's going to be prancing around the world meddling where he's not wanted. Just like Carter has done for 40 years. Another pissed off, bitter, failed Prez.
52
Apr 25th, 2016 - 10:46 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Huh...?
Easy one...post as DanyBerger and not Dany Berger if you are both....
Prove me wrong....;-)
@56 ChrisR
Apr 26th, 2016 - 12:15 pm - Link - Report abuse 0More 'pork-barrel' politics, mebee?
;-)
@ 60 ilsen
Apr 26th, 2016 - 05:36 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Now that's just hitting below the 'pork bellies'!
:o)
One thinks that obarmy will wish he had stayed at home. lol
Apr 26th, 2016 - 07:31 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Interesting YouGov poll came out today, the first since the US president's intervention:
Apr 28th, 2016 - 02:51 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Leave: 42% (+2 since previous poll 2 weeks ago)
Remain: 41% (+1)
Undecided: 13% (-3)
Loving the Obama Effect so far, he should come round more often!
Shit or get off the pot. Always such theatrics with your Brits. Christ almighty already.......really now.
Apr 28th, 2016 - 03:34 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Chances are ....no balls to leave.
#64
Apr 28th, 2016 - 04:38 pm - Link - Report abuse 0What are you talking about ! You already know what every British voter will do?
Do you think it will be 100% either way. People's lives and that of their children will be irrevocably changed...maybe for the better, maybe for the worse.
I see you have used the name of an American comedian...an apt choice.
64
Apr 28th, 2016 - 05:15 pm - Link - Report abuse 0I'm not really sure how the UK...can..shit or get off the pot..until the referendum...
Always such theatrics with your Brits
Apr 28th, 2016 - 06:42 pm - Link - Report abuse 0A bit like your own elections and future referendum.
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