Help Wanted: Minister Of Basic Competence*

Team Obama used the phrase "smart diplomacy" a lot during the campaign. Apparently it does not mean what they think it means.

Fresh from presenting the Prime Minister of the UK with insulting gifts and an inability to translate 'reset' into Russian, the Smaterest Administration Evah! hits another couple of foul balls in the meeting with Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

Brazil has become a major U.S. trading partner, with cautious economic policies that have helped it weather the crisis better than almost all other major economies. With huge new offshore oil finds and abundant ethanol, Brazil could be key to helping wean the U.S. off Venezuelan crude and shift to cleaner energies.

Still, the White House made several moves interpreted as snubs by the Brazilian media.

Silva aides said the trip was pushed forward from Tuesday because of the St. Patrick's Day holiday - making Latin America once again look like an afterthought. Then, the White House announcement misspelled his name as "Luis Ignacio" and put "Lula" - a nickname that decades ago became a legal part of the Brazilian leader's name - in quotes.

Yeah, St. Patrick's Day really sneaks up on you, what with it being the same day every year and all. Plus the tradition of doing something with representatives of Ireland has only been going on for approximately forever.

These morons can't even manage to run meetings with two friendly countries and yet they claimed only The One could bring our enemies to heel through sheer force of his personal diplomatic efforts. Yeah, that's going to work well.

To celebrate the holiday, Obama avoided any questions by asking reporters, "Guys, can't I just finish my Lucky Charms?"

*Thanks to Russ from Winterset for the Ministry of Basic Competence snark which reminded me I wanted to post this story.

posted by DrewM. at 12:58 PM

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