What Obama should do RIGHT NOW: go overseas

[mw]

Obama should make an overseas trip to get some international press.

Now. Tomorrow.

Just up and leave, head to Europe or ?. Get lots of photo ops in semi-formal looking diplomatic environments.

Benefits:

- It's Presidential
- It says "I'm assuming the nomination" without actually assuming the nomination
- Hillary can't touch it.
- It's a break from being a sitting duck while Hillary pecks away at him until Pennsylvania.
- Properly done, it will create lots of adulating crowds of people to see Obama. Obama can play the "return of US prestige" card.
- It puts Hillary on the defensive. And might even piss her off.

Downsides:

- I don't see any.

[pkz]

1. one BIG downside~ not enough time

heard during the passport-gate coverage that "THEY" have a problem with Obama's international travel.
Seems the State Dept. held up a trip he wanted to make to Indonesia for seven months.
Election would be over before "THEY" gave him permission.

[Jawja]

2. But he's a

U.S. Senator. He should not have to wait for permission.

[mmonk]

3. So is Ted Kennedy but he was on the terrorism watch list

(as 900K+ Americans are now).

[pkz]

7. US Senator is not enough

the State Dept. held up his briefing before he could leave the country, and then when they granted permission they required he take another Senator with him, one with a (R) after his name.

[RBInMaine]

4. He's doing a bus tour across PA. THAT is what he needs to do.

[BklynChick]

5. yes he needs to close the gap in PA as much as possible.

[ColbertWatcher]

6. Downside...

...he must visit strong allies only

Safe bets:

Canada

England

Places to avoid:

Venezuela or Mexico

anywhere in the Middle East--the GOP just visited it will be spun to look as if he is following them around

anywhere Nancy Pelosi has been recently-- same reason

anywhere in Africa-- remind the most hateful, ignorant Americans about that picture

anywhere in Asia-- too many U.S. military raping the locals stories, also Tibet, and Burma-Myanmar are a mess

Place that will piss people off:

Germany-- they are an ally, and their work between the Israelis and Palestinians before 9/11 was derailed by the GOP. Plus, Merkel has not been exactly the GOP's favorite.

[JimGinPA]

8. Hell No!

I want to see him a couple times this weekend.


:P