Berlin Awaits the 'Next JFK'

[CatWoman]

Walking around Berlin recently, the American visitor could be forgiven for thinking Germany was the 51st state in the Union — and that it would vote heavily for Senator Barack Obama on November 4. Joggers in local parks proudly sport Obama T-shirts; the trendy expat hangout White Trash Fast Food was turned into an Obama campaign center for a day; and a city magazine has published instruction on how to craft little American flags to wave in welcoming the junior senator from Illinois, who visits on Thursday.

The city has been buzzing with anticipation over Obama's visit, and his reported request to use the Brandenburg Gate as the backdrop for his only public address in Europe sparked a local media frenzy. Chancellor Angela Merkel reacted with "bewilderment" to the senator's request to speak at this historically charged location, and appeared concerned that approving the request would be interpreted as taking sides in the U.S. presidential race. Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, for his part, welcomed the suggestion that Obama speak at a venue rendered iconic by John F. Kennedy and Ronald Reagan, saying it was "a vital expression of German-American friendship."

The media can barely contain its excitement. "Germany meets the Superstar" read the front page of the weekly Der Spiegel in reference to a popular TV show, while the tabloid Bild called Obama "Berlin's New Kennedy!" and gushed: "It's like 1963," describing the presidential candidate as "just as young, sexy and charismatic" as John F. Kennedy. And that's before he's even set foot here.

http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1825855,00.html

[fed_up_mother]

1. Go, baby, go! :)

[Avalux]

2. 72% of Germans say they'd vote for Obama if they could.

It's gonna be one hell of an event tomorrow! :D

[LSparkle]

3. OMG, El Rushbo's head is gonna EXPLODE!

He's already peeing all over himself about the media coverage ...
He ain't seen NUTHIN' yet!

[JaneQPublic]

5. I pity the Hazmat crew that has to scrape that mess off the walls. (nt)

[otohara]

6. Time to Badmouth Germany & Germans.

because that's what he's good at.

[LSparkle]

9. Joining Tweety ("There's no German primary") Matthews ...

[CatWoman]

7. I hope he's laid in a BIG supply

of Hillbilly heroin :rofl:

[truebrit71]

4. What a difference to the reactions from the rest of the world when the current occupant of the WH...

...drags his entourage out of the West Wing...

Won't it be nice to have the rest of the world HAPPY to see the President when he visits?

[CatWoman]

8. *smooch*

:hi:

:loveya:

[truebrit71]

10. Hiya gorgeous!!

:loveya: x 2