Veteran Reporter Tom Brokaw Has Something to Say About Obama Staying at ‘Baseball Game

[Revmitchell]

Former anchor of NBC’s “Nightly News” Tom Brokaw questioned President Barack Obama’s decision to attend a baseball game in Havana, Cuba, Tuesday after learning of the terror attacks in Brussels, telling MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” that he expected Obama to cancel those plans.

“So much of politics and national security is a combination of symbolism and reality,” Brokaw said Wednesday. “The reality is that we did have that attack yesterday. It was unnerving to us, it was devastating in Europe.”


“But at the same time, the symbolism is that the president stayed at the baseball game all day long where you would have thought he would have said, ‘Look, we’ve got more business that I have to deal with, I wish you well,’ get on the phone,” he continued. “We’ve got to put together some kind of a bulletproof syndicate to deal with all this.”

The former anchor added, “There’s a real urgency about it, and he has got to convey that, not just to the American people but to the world. I think it was Mike Hayden who said he is the leader of the free world, and this is the time to be the leader because this kind of attack can occur again and again and again.”

“This is the time to be the leader,” Brokaw declared.

http://www.theblaze.com/stories/201...all-game-all-day-long-after-brussels-attacks/

 

[HankD]

He is indeed a lame duck.

HankD

 

[Zaac]

In the same vein as folks thinking George Bush should have left the school during 9/11.

 

[Use of Time]

Yes, during a domestic terrorist attack several times larger in scale and magnitude. This is the pettiness of partisan politics that has become so annoying.

 

[Squire Robertsson]

I wrote on another thread. I'd be upset about Mr. Obama's actions if I were Belgian and he was either the Belgian Prime Minister or the King of Belgium. But, I'm not and he isn't.

 

[Revmitchell]

There are many people who are concerned about to include liberals like Brokaw. When the President of the United States is unconcerned about issues like this it is very problematic. in another statement Obama said that Isis is not an existential threat.

The truth is his attitude is about protecting Islam at all costs even if it costs people's lives.

 

[righteousdude2]

In the same vein as folks thinking George Bush should have left the school during 9/11.

Again, troll bait! Not even the same!

 

[Crabtownboy]

Again, troll bait! Not even the same!

You are right. Bush sitting and continuing to read as world of thousands of Americans killed in New York was much worse.

 

[righteousdude2]

Your hatred for Bush is evident, and you love for a very bad president is even more evident. PREDICTABLE.

 

[HankD]

In the same vein as folks thinking George Bush should have left the school during 9/11.

Not a good illustration Zaac.
Obama later went to a baseball game with a communist dictator then later danced with a flamenco dancer.
Not even sure if he has returned yet.

Personally I approve of the new relations with Cuba. Without them nothing can change and the 60+ year cold war would continue unabated.

Now we can legally have Cuban rum and cigars.

Oops, uh, nevermind!

HankD

 

[Crabtownboy]

You are right. Bush sitting and continuing to read as world of thousands of Americans killed in New York was much worse.

I don't hate Bush. I believe he probably would be a fun fellow to be around. I do not like the policies he followed. I do believe he was very badly lead by his advisers and history will judge him very harshly. You do understand that history really does not begin to judge a president impartially until at least 100 years have passed since he left office. You and I will not be around for that, but that is my prediction.

 

[HankD]

... You do understand that history really does not begin to judge a president impartially until at least 100 years have passed since he left office. You and I will not be around for that, but that is my prediction.

Of course we will be around CBT, just not here.

HankD

 

[Zaac]

There are many people who are concerned about to include liberals like Brokaw. When the President of the United States is unconcerned about issues like this it is very problematic. in another statement Obama said that Isis is not an existential threat.

The truth is his attitude is about protecting Islam at all costs even if it costs people's lives.

More partisan politics. I usually think Tom Brokaw is a little bit more measured in his comments. But I believe his comments to be out of line.

Just like with George Bush, I think a sitting President does not need to jump up and start running as though the world is coming to an end unless the Secret Service has grabbed him and said "Mr President, we need to move NOW!".

I believe that part of a President's responsibility in instances like this is to make sure people don't panic. And unless there is an immediate threat, there's no need to start canceling everything.

I seriously doubt that there was any less of a response from the United States than there would have been otherwise.

 

[Zaac]

Again, troll bait! Not even the same!

It's precisely the same. Would you have rather George Bush have thrown down his book, pushed over a couple of little kids and taken off running to Marine One for all the world to see? Presidents need to maintain a degree of calmness and normalcy even when things aren't normal.

 

[Zaac]

Not a good illustration Zaac.
Obama later went to a baseball game with a communist dictator then later danced with a flamenco dancer.
Not even sure if he has returned yet.

Personally I approve of the new relations with Cuba. Without them nothing can change and the 60+ year cold war would continue unabated.

Now we can legally have Cuban rum and cigars.

Oops, uh, nevermind!

HankD

I'm not sure why it's not considered a good illustration. This was not a domestic issue so our response would be limited regardless. I believe this is one of the reasons that the President has pushed for other countries to be involved with the fight against ISIS. He understands that the United States can't take the lead in everything. We can support, but we don't need to be the primary fix for everything. That's what allies are for.

And I seriously doubt there was a moment that the President was not being kept apprised of the situation. There simply was no need to cancel or not take part in the historic events in Cuba, as our response was not going to change either way. And again, it also gives the picture of a confident President who is not gonna be thrown off his game just because terrorists want to dictate how the world responds to their threats.

 

[HankD]

I'm not sure why it's not considered a good illustration. This was not a domestic issue so our response would be limited regardless. I believe this is one of the reasons that the President has pushed for other countries to be involved with the fight against ISIS. He understands that the United States can't take the lead in everything. We can support, but we don't need to be the primary fix for everything. That's what allies are for.

And I seriously doubt there was a moment that the President was not being kept apprised of the situation. There simply was no need to cancel or not take part in the historic events in Cuba, as our response was not going to change either way. And again, it also gives the picture of a confident President who is not gonna be thrown off his game just because terrorists want to dictate how the world responds to their threats.

I do agree wholeheartedly that ALL of NATO become involved on more than a verbal "yes" and yes, such was Obama's response - to paraphrase - I'm going to live life as normal and not live my life according to the fear of terrorist acts.

My wife and I are off to Hawaii next week (Lord willing) to celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary and I'm not sure what would hold me back.

HankD

 

[Zaac]

I do agree wholeheartedly that ALL of NATO become involved on more than a verbal "yes" and yes, such was Obama's response - to paraphrase - I'm going to live life as normal and not live my life according to the fear of terrorist acts.

My wife and I are off to Hawaii next week (Lord willing) to celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary and I'm not sure what would hold me back.

HankD

Shall Jesus Christ dispatch angels of protection to go before you, behind you and all around you so that you and Mrs. Hank can have an incredible 50th anniversary celebration!!!

Your celebration shall be a testimony to the goodness of God.

WOW! 50 years!

I love it!!!

 

[Crabtownboy]

Or for going to a baseball game or dancing. Come on fellows, give him as much of a break as you gave Nixon, Reagan, Bush and Bush.

 

[HankD]

Shall Jesus Christ dispatch angels of protection to go before you, behind you and all around you so that you and Mrs. Hank can have an incredible 50th anniversary celebration!!!

Your celebration shall be a testimony to the goodness of God.

WOW! 50 years!

I love it!!!

Thanks Zaac.

HankD