General Discussion

Ruby the Liberal

(26,219 posts) Tue Jul 31, 2012, 01:39 PM Jul 2012

WaPo blames Willard's overseas gaffes on (get this): "a lack of staffing"

Maybe that explains why Obama took 25 questions in 2008 and Willard took only 3 - and all 3 of those in London.

Mitt Romney’s overseas jaunt v. Obama’s 2008 voyage: What a difference staffing makes

Even before he was wheels-up for London, Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney’s overseas trip was drawing comparisons to then-presidential candidate Barack Obama’s 2008 overseas trip.

Both were candidates looking to appear presidential and polish up their foreign-policy credentials.

But where Obama’s trip was smooth sailing (save a kerfuffle about a cancelled visit with wounded troops), Romney’s voyage has been laden with cringe-inducing gaffes.

So what’s the difference — other than four years and two vastly different candidates? Here’s one big distinction:the Obama campaign loaded up on staff firepower while the Romney camp had a relative ghost crew.

More blather at: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/in-the-loop/post/2012/07/30/gJQAbZnCLX_blog.html

22 replies

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Highlight:

WaPo blames Willard's overseas gaffes on (get this): "a lack of staffing" (Original Post) Ruby the Liberal Jul 2012 OP

Jeez, he's got an excuse for EVERYTHING. louis-t Jul 2012 #1

Nah, that excuse was handed to him on a silver platter by the WaPo. DCKit Jul 2012 #8

If Romney gets that call at 3:00 AM, is his staff the ones who will be answering? liberal N proud Jul 2012 #2

Probably outsourced to a call center in India. Fozzledick Jul 2012 #5

That would make a great campaign commercial liberal N proud Jul 2012 #9

MoveOn.org is always looking for ideas. Ruby the Liberal Jul 2012 #11

"Mr. President, Iran just launched a missle attack, how should we respond?" Fozzledick Jul 2012 #17

That's it liberal N proud Jul 2012 #18

! That is perfect. Ruby the Liberal Jul 2012 #20

Even if this is true, it's Romney's fault Lucy Goosey Jul 2012 #3

Yup you got this one I'll bet. dkf Jul 2012 #4

My guess is the guy is a dictatorial boss. His way or the highway. CTyankee Jul 2012 #21

Either way... sadbear Jul 2012 #6

CHOO-CHOO! Here comes the Excuse train! FSogol Jul 2012 #7

I agree.... Bonhomme Richard Jul 2012 #10

What a load. So what's he doing Phlem Jul 2012 #12

On Obama's 2008 world trip, he visited eight countries aint_no_life_nowhere Jul 2012 #13

I would like to point out that Romney runs his own mouth at all times. LiberalAndProud Jul 2012 #14

Rmoney brought Meeka's brother Ian with him to Poland???? winstars Jul 2012 #15

Serious Question: Proud Liberal Dem Jul 2012 #16

I suppose it doesn't occur to the writer that the two men might just be different. yellowcanine Jul 2012 #19

Hey, that's the same excuse they used for the Bush Administration response to Hurricane Katrina. tanyev Jul 2012 #22

louis-t

(23,297 posts)

1. Jeez, he's got an excuse for EVERYTHING.

Reply to Ruby the Liberal (Original post)

Tue Jul 31, 2012, 01:40 PM

Jul 2012

DCKit

(18,541 posts)

8. Nah, that excuse was handed to him on a silver platter by the WaPo.

Reply to louis-t (Reply #1)

Tue Jul 31, 2012, 02:01 PM

Jul 2012

It won't be the last time we see the MSM bend over for Willard between now and November.

liberal N proud

(60,344 posts)

2. If Romney gets that call at 3:00 AM, is his staff the ones who will be answering?

Reply to Ruby the Liberal (Original post)

Tue Jul 31, 2012, 01:43 PM

Jul 2012

We have a right to know!

Fozzledick

(3,860 posts)

5. Probably outsourced to a call center in India.

Reply to liberal N proud (Reply #2)

Tue Jul 31, 2012, 01:52 PM

Jul 2012

liberal N proud

(60,344 posts)

9. That would make a great campaign commercial

Reply to Fozzledick (Reply #5)

Tue Jul 31, 2012, 02:02 PM

Jul 2012

Know any PAC's that need material?

Ruby the Liberal

(26,219 posts)

11. MoveOn.org is always looking for ideas.

Reply to liberal N proud (Reply #9)

Tue Jul 31, 2012, 02:16 PM

Jul 2012

Fozzledick

(3,860 posts)

17. "Mr. President, Iran just launched a missle attack, how should we respond?"

Reply to liberal N proud (Reply #9)

Tue Jul 31, 2012, 04:56 PM

Jul 2012

"Hello, this is Peggy. How may I help you?"

liberal N proud

(60,344 posts)

18. That's it

Reply to Fozzledick (Reply #17)

Tue Jul 31, 2012, 04:57 PM

Jul 2012

Ruby the Liberal

(26,219 posts)

20. ! That is perfect.

Reply to Fozzledick (Reply #17)

Tue Jul 31, 2012, 05:22 PM

Jul 2012

Lucy Goosey

(2,940 posts)

3. Even if this is true, it's Romney's fault

Reply to Ruby the Liberal (Original post)

Tue Jul 31, 2012, 01:45 PM

Jul 2012

Romney can certainly afford a whole staff full of professionals; I bet he's arrogant enough to believe that he doesn't need them, though.

dkf

(37,305 posts)

4. Yup you got this one I'll bet.

Reply to Lucy Goosey (Reply #3)

Tue Jul 31, 2012, 01:51 PM

Jul 2012

He doesn't know how to handle the sensitivity of diplomacy and doesn't know better than to ask for help.

CTyankee

(63,912 posts)

21. My guess is the guy is a dictatorial boss. His way or the highway.

Reply to dkf (Reply #4)

Tue Jul 31, 2012, 05:34 PM

Jul 2012

It's attitudes like this that can sink a candidate. It ain't smart. In business, maybe. In politics, it ain't.

sadbear

(4,340 posts)

6. Either way...

Reply to Ruby the Liberal (Original post)

Tue Jul 31, 2012, 01:53 PM

Jul 2012

It still proves he's unprepared for prime time.

FSogol

(45,525 posts)

7. CHOO-CHOO! Here comes the Excuse train!

Reply to Ruby the Liberal (Original post)

Tue Jul 31, 2012, 01:58 PM

Jul 2012

Wonder what RNC genius wrote and handed that "analysis" to Emily Heil?

Bonhomme Richard

(9,000 posts)

10. I agree....

Reply to Ruby the Liberal (Original post)

Tue Jul 31, 2012, 02:08 PM

Jul 2012

He was lacking that staffer whose job it is to smack him on the back of the head every time he opened his mouth.

Phlem

(6,323 posts)

12. What a load. So what's he doing

Reply to Ruby the Liberal (Original post)

Tue Jul 31, 2012, 02:21 PM

Jul 2012

with all the Super PAC money he getting?

-p

aint_no_life_nowhere

(21,925 posts)

13. On Obama's 2008 world trip, he visited eight countries

Reply to Ruby the Liberal (Original post)

Tue Jul 31, 2012, 02:23 PM

Jul 2012

Romney couldn't even handle three.

LiberalAndProud

(12,799 posts)

14. I would like to point out that Romney runs his own mouth at all times.

Reply to Ruby the Liberal (Original post)

Tue Jul 31, 2012, 02:25 PM

Jul 2012

Staff just hand him cliff notes.

The gaffes are Romney's and his alone. WaPo can't polish this rotten apple with "ghost crew" excuses.

winstars

(4,220 posts)

15. Rmoney brought Meeka's brother Ian with him to Poland????

Reply to Ruby the Liberal (Original post)

Tue Jul 31, 2012, 02:33 PM

Jul 2012

Romney supplemented the trio at various stops along the way: in London, former senator Jim Talent (R-Mo.)and former Massachusetts lieutenant governor Kerry Healey met the gang; in Israel, Council on Foreign Relations senior fellow Dan Senor hopped on board; chief strategist Stuart Stevens joined for the Israel and Poland legs; and former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Ian Brezinski came to Poland.

Proud Liberal Dem

(24,437 posts)

16. Serious Question:

Reply to Ruby the Liberal (Original post)

Tue Jul 31, 2012, 02:41 PM

Jul 2012

Were he to be elected POTUS, isn't a "lack of staffing", particularly in regards to foreign policy, something we might need to be worried about?

yellowcanine

(35,701 posts)

19. I suppose it doesn't occur to the writer that the two men might just be different.

Reply to Ruby the Liberal (Original post)

Tue Jul 31, 2012, 05:07 PM

Jul 2012

That would be too easy I guess. I really don't see how good staffing is going to save Romney from himself when he is in a one on one interview.

tanyev

(42,610 posts)

22. Hey, that's the same excuse they used for the Bush Administration response to Hurricane Katrina.

Reply to Ruby the Liberal (Original post)

Tue Jul 31, 2012, 06:46 PM

Jul 2012

FormerCalifornian and current White House communications director Nicolle Devenish
got hitched over Labor Day weekend to longtime beau Michael Wallace in
Greece. The Washington Post report blamed the wedding, for the slow Bush
Administration response to Hurricane Katrina. Even on your wedding day, a
communications director can't get a break from the press.

http://capitolweekly.net/article.php?_c=zsrxkeu8e4dn89&xid=wnom4270674t6b&done=.zsrxkfhctidn8c

I guess that's an excuse that never goes out of style.

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