 President Obama held a press conference with Australian Prime Minister Julia Gilliard Wednesday.
November 16th, 2011
08:25 AM ET
Obama in Australia: What day is it?CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA (CNN) - President Obama might be surrounded by an army of secret service agents, but on his trip to Canberra, Australia he got no protection from a crushing time zone change that left him a bit confused. “I’m trying to figure out what, what time zone I’m in here,” the president joked during a joint news conference with Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard. Flying from Honolulu, Hawaii to Australia took the president forward in time, virtually skipping Tuesday all together and jumping to Wednesday. Canberra is 16 hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time. The fast forward left the president looking a bit tired as he attended an arrival ceremony and news conference. At the closing event of the day, the parliamentary dinner, the time zone change once again took its toll. “I am going to be brief, for we have had a busy day,” Mr. Obama said. “I’m not sure what day it is.” |
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Obama 2012!!!
not orineted to time, person or place mmmmmmmm
Well, at least he kept his composure.
Unlike, senior Bush, who threw up on the Japanese prime minister upon landing in Narita. Abd then you had GW Bush massaging the German Chancellor's shoulders. She was definitely shocked.
Apparently, neither are you.
no one can possibly be oriented in your world – hahaha
obama's current trip is another slippery obama attempt to run away, and temporarily take the heat off himself, for massive screw ups, like Solyndra, and Fast n' Furious. Claiming that his trip will open foreign markets, and thus create more American jobs is a joke. Thanks to obama, unions are already over paying American workers to a level that makes them uncompetative with their Asia Pacific counterparts ... and, makes the propects of under paid Asian workers buying over priced American goods a pipe dream ... not to mention adding in the cost of freight to get the American made goods thousands of miles away, to their Asian sales outlets. But, like with most of obama's sweeping promises and platitudes, obama hopes that enough suckers will once again buy into his B.S., in order to get himself relected ... because a biased mainstream media, and a BILLION dollars, may not be enough to buy the Presidency this time.
It is sad that we are so polarized that what was clearing a joke is spun into callousness towards our President. The extremes of our two party system has done their job in turning Americans again Americans; red vs. blue, conservatives vs. progressives, democrats vs. republicans. It is up to us, you and I to change the tone in America, not our politicians. Let’s start today, here and now. . .thoughts?
Obama is just trying to get us out of the wars that Bush himself set into motion. Obama is doing everything in his power to get us out of the Middle East and to raise our economy. Not the rich people economy, the lower class economy. The economy that actually needs help.
At least he tells the truth, and doesn't make up nobel laureate or talk about imaginary grieving mothers.
Or have the 'lie of the year' about the govt. takeover of healthcare, or other such nonsense.
I know that is expected for Republicans, but I personally don't like it.
I can't believe you people have the time and energy to KEEP going at Obama at every turn. I'm right of center and the guy has been the best republican president since Clinton (yeah, I said it). You people are just... well... not very bright.
While all of you right wingers are getting your jollies over a simple joke. I'd like to point out a little detail.
A few days ago, President Obama tried to get China to stop devaluing the yuan. They refused.
Now, they will have a US military presence in their back yard. Now their activities in one of the world's largest markets will be under our surveillance.
This is a brilliant signal of American strength.
When our President speaks, world leaders should listen.
He should fall back to Commander in Chief, and when in doubt, or when not in doubt, use UTC, just like everyone else who has a genuine need to synchronize time does.
truindep,
I am going to cut the President a little slack here. As a member of the U.S. military, I have traveled across the Atlantic AND the Pacific on several occasions. It takes DAYS if not a good week to get adjusted to adifferent time zone . Your sleep cycle is off and everything is realy fuzzy and the trip itself is draining! I don't know how long this trip is but if it is round trip within the same week, it is worse! In the interest of fairness, call the dogs off on this one!
Don't be silly, he know were he was, only what day he was not sure of. The same thing happen to a lot of people
that travel the time zone. Stop complainig, if you think you are that smart, then why are you not president ?
That's baloney. I travel all over and never have a problem.
Exactly. I went to Australia a few months ago – left Friday afternoon and stepped off plane in Sydney Sunday morning. Missed Saturday but got it back 2 weeks later when we left Melbourne Saturday morning and landed in Los Angeles earlier the same day! So after almost 14 hours of flight we got to live Saturday all over again!
republicans do not know fairness. like sharks – they just attack!
Kinda like Dems hammering Bush. All Presidents get hammered by the opposing party! Sometimes deserved, sometime just politics!
Both parties do it. Sarah Palin got hammered all the time. Sometimes it was fair, sometimes it was bashing. About time the President started gettign some of it.
Bill not true.....NOT all republicans...see my response to this
I salute you for re-interating my point. I think you need to have made the trip to understand how readily this can happen. I also thank you for your service because without you, we wouldn't be enjoying the liberties we take for granted.
Thank you!
Having flown internationally for work alot, I totally understand what the POTUS is dealing with. Those zone changes can be horrible...
"What day is it and what continent am I on?"
Again, in the interest of fairness, and per the article, he lost almost all of Tuesday! I have been there! It is hard on the body and mind! That is a struggle that takes several days to a week to recovery from! Add to that Presidentail appearances after touchdown. To reasoanble folk, this is fully understandable!
lost almost all of tuesday??? blah blah blah, just be honest with yourself and admit he is STUPID
GOP'ers don't understand about time-zones and are not even sure about the earth is round – (Michelle Bachman disputes this) so they don't get the President's joking about it.
Regarding Bushes bushisms – the joke is on *him* because he had no idea of how stupid he sounded:
->
-I'll be long gone before some smart person ever figures out what happened inside this Oval Office."
-"Rarely is the question asked: Is our children learning?
-"Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we."
-"Families is where our nation finds hope, where wings take dream.
-"See, in my line of work you got to keep repeating things over and over and over again for the truth to sink in, to kind of catapult the propaganda."
-"I know how hard it is for you to put food on your family."
-You teach a child to read, and he or her will be able to pass a literacy test."
Mike,
Reading is FUNdamental! Read the article. It says:
"Flying from Honolulu, Hawaii to Australia took the president forward in time, virtually skipping Tuesday all together and jumping to Wednesday"
"just be honest with yourself and admit he is STUPID"
Sorry Mike, My parents raised me better that. I may not often agree with him politically but he is HARDLY a stupid man!
that's a good question you should ask people like Palin, Bachman, Cain, Bush, and many more.......but to do that, you would have to have at least 1/100 of Obama's brain
He probably thinks Austrailia is one of the 57 states.
It is obvious truedip has not traveled outside his parents basement let alone overseas....and I doubt very much if he has ever worked swing-shift, or he would know what either situations does to the body.
A flight from Honolulu, Hawaii to Brisbane, Australia is about 14 -15 hours...add to that you change time zones.
Great points Jean2009. Its even more hard if you're "chasing the sun" towards your destination, only to find out that it is another day AND another time altogether.
This is news? It's funny, but sorry, it's not 'news.' Meh.
Pretty funny, but I'll bet he still knows what Libya's about without an Oops moment.
You can bet he does, and he wouldn't need to shift side to side, cross his legs, repeat the question, and mutter...."Libya?"...while looking from the floor to the ceiling.
are soetoro's ears getting bigger?
...yep, just like your Grandmothers.
Clouds live in the sky. Sometimes they rain. Pancakes do not generally come from a cow.
Cow pies do though.
Can they keep him? Or take him swimming with the sharks?? Either one . . . or both would work.
Yeah, lets get rid of all intelligent people and stick with idiots – that will really make America great – lol
...better yet, why dont they take your "non-contributing-to-society" BUT (wanted to use the other word).
Wishing death on the President of the United States? Pretty sure that's still a federal crime.
I am sure that the media outlets would have cut George W. Bush some slack for this sort of comment, too. Just a brief mention and then left it at that. Didn't his teleprompter tell him what day it is?
Obama comes out with remarks that are equally as ridiculous as Pres. Bush, yet it doesn't get picked up. Interesting how that happens.
I think losing a day would confuse anyone, especially since it's such a quick trip in and out.
My question is why are we there? More military presence which equals more money going to more governments? Wouldn't it just be easier to let China give money directly to Australia?
Sure they can keep him. How about in 2016?
I love Australia! He is going to ruin it .....Sad. Gilliard will probably teach him how to do the Carbon Tax.
American... now a permanent resident in Australia... I can say one thing, you don't want the carbon tax that Gillard is trying to put through... costs in Australia already are through the roof, and the carbon tax, which won't help reduce carbon AT ALL is being charged already through companies to customers, even though it's not even in force yet...
The government here has been even said as saying "it's a big thing for the ECONOMIC outlook, bringing our budget to surplus in 2013"... nothing ever about the ENVIRONMENTAL outlook... just ECONOMIC... it's making electricity go up EVEN more, and electricity now is barely affordable since they made it privatized...
So if she does teach him anything – god forbid – lets hope it's how to do the carbon tax right, not ruining American lives as she has Australian lives...
Steveo, having been in the US Military stationed in Australia for two years, I know what it's like, but I didn't have the benefit of flying there on Air Force One either. I'd imagine it was more an attempt at humor than a serious comment.
You may be right Dan!
I agree with giving a little slack to Pres. Obama in this situation. However, I can only imagine the critique and week-long international incident this gaffe would have generated in the media had Bush or Reagan done something similar.
Of all the things these two discussed, things like stregthening Asia-Pacific trade and partnering up security forces – the take away from the media in attendance was that... Obama noticed the time zone difference and experienced some jet lag? For any American that's visited Australia that is really not news. It won't be news the next time he visits either. I think what these two had to say had more substance than concern of how much sleep the president got.
That's his MO....the country is falling apart so he jets around the globe.......now that's hope, change and effective leadership!!!!!
Don't say I didn't tell you so! I told you before he was clueless.
Oh well...
@Jerry. The doors to your ward will be locked if you dont behave.
What immature little children – all of YOU CLUELESS!!!!!
Not going to give this goon any slack after you lib sheep continue to attack.. This goon for a president thinks hawaii is asia. Losers
Where do you think it is.... two blocks from LAX?
That's why they call him Commander-in-Chief and leader of the free world? Clueless? Hahahahaha!
Are you just a complete idiot? I suppose for the sake of not making you look even more foolish, we'll just ignore Bush's much more embarassing gaffes with timezones and the Dateline... not to mention the English language.
Obama doesn't know what day it is when he is in Washington, which isn't that often.
I support Steveo's comments. Unless you have travelled and suffered jetlag one should not make hateful comments. No matter who you are, to subject your body to that type of challenge is very energy draining. I am suprised that the President is subjected to that type of strenuous schedule. Give him a break.
What a clueless little boy...Some were frustrated with Cain's response to Libya...at least he knew what day it was! As an American I am ashamed for who Obama is and for what he has done to belittle our country as the world's contempt and distrust for our nation has never worse.
Frankly, not knowing the exact date when you have just crossed the international date line is excusable for anyone, including the president. To obviously not know anything relevant and functioning about Libya, that is a OOPS! moment.
Like this is a big deal or something the time changes and so did the day.. So what that could be a little confusing for anyone no big deal.
You got to admire... no, actually, you don't. The President's critics, having likely supported the worst president of modern times, must tag Obama as being every bit as bad as Bush. You have only to look at his potential rivals to understand just how false this image is.
Don't be fooled by the negative nellies of the right. They can never admit that the Democrats elected a better president than they did, lest they open up a can of worms regarding what else they've gotten wrong.
A correction–Australian time in Canberra is 14 hours later than ET right now. Time on this trip can be very confusing. He was 5 hours behind ET when in Hawaii and within 10 hours (flight to Australia from Hawaii) was 14 hours ahead. When he gets to Darwin, the gap will close slightly and a little more in Bali. He should regain some of that time on his trip back home.
I think it would do Americans a lot of good if the welcoming ceremonies were given more play. Have to go to foreign sources to get that. It should make a citizen's heart swell with pride when the "Star-Spangled Banner" is played in far off lands and our president is shown great respect and honor. Would be a good idea no matter who is president for these events to be shown in our cloassrooms throughout the nation. Perhaps help those children to grow up to be less cynical.
It's very common to be unsure of the day when you cross the International Date Line depending upon the time of day of your flight.
.
I can sympathize completely. He is 16 hours out of his normal time, has crossed the international dateline and the equator. He has been propelled into the next day and another season where it is not fall but spring!
Stephen Dougherty–You make an excellent point: Rightwing critics have to equate the horrid mistakes made by Bush to be on equal par with Obama, which , of course, is ludicrous. They even use identical attacks that were used, rightly, on Bush, but do not fit with Obama. Often wondered if they were just not very creative to come up with their own ideas, but this idea of yours explains it better.
The monkey is a moron.
Looking in the mirror, are you, sir? 🙂
no kidding-anybody that could have said all of this stuff....
-I'll be long gone before some smart person ever figures out what happened inside this Oval Office."
-"Rarely is the question asked: Is our children learning?
-"Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we."
-"Families is where our nation finds hope, where wings take dream.
-"See, in my line of work you got to keep repeating things over and over and over again for the truth to sink in, to kind of catapult the propaganda."
-"I know how hard it is for you to put food on your family."
-You teach a child to read, and he or her will be able to pass a literacy test."
Oh, wait....never mind.
Awesome Bush quotes.
All said on national television.
All Presidents have flubbed at one time or another. A few years ago Obama claimed to have visited "57" states. Everybody does it! I guess it's just funnier when the "other guy" does it!
Thanks....on that first quote he was wrong...we are all paying for what he did in that Oval office.
To John: I am not sure if I should laugh at your ignorance and stupidity or cry that people like you exist.
The racist is an idiot.
Obama what are you doing there? Spreading more war? There is no campaign money there is there?
You seem to be confused. The article is about President Obama, not former President Bush. To help you make the distinction: Bush started the wars that we are still fighting and running ourselves billions of dollars in debt every day for. Obama is the one ending them. It's more likely that he was there to spread goodwill.
obama said he was ending the war........ nope i dont think so.
what about change? nope dont think so.......
obama.......... hes a goooood motivational speaker and spender ill give you that much..........
how long is obama going to blame bush???? maybe into his next term?
dont think sooo.......this will be his last term.........
its funny how noone ever blames clinton fro the fair housing act.....where anyone could get a home.....u make 40k? thats great lets put you in a 200k house! super.......
blah blah blahhhhhhh...
why is he so concerned with allliances? who know......... obama can do no wrong in the eyes of the sheepole!
or is there??? maybe he just wanted to take air force 1 for a spin!!!
dont worry, its on us! ;D
Campaign dollars NO, but there are numerous trade deals there that will bring jobs to American workers, and income to American businesses. How's that for doing the job he was hired to do?
It was a joke. It's beyond me why anyone would make a big deal of it.
Obama didn't have his teleprompter handy. no worries.
Clearly those who have a problem with President Obama also have a problem with reading comprehension. It was made very clear in the article that the President was joking. Incidentally, losing a day and suddenly jumping ahead 16 hours is very hard on the human mind and body. I doubt very many of you would have been able to hop right off the airplane and immediately carry on with the business of being the most powerful person in the world.
No big deal. Bush Jr never knew what day it was and sometimes he never left the White House or his ranch in Crawford.
This is certainly no biggie considering the GOP doesn't know what century it is.
Silly tea party hillbillies.
"Stupid president don't even know what day it is". (say this with a nice southern drawl)
I bet most of the people complaining about this have never left their own state.
Right? The comments on articles about President Obama further deepen my concerns for the future of the human genepool sometimes.
Some of us have to live with them, you know...
NObamamites, the truth sometimes bites. Watch out. Ouch!!!
Love our Prez.
Alzheimer bailout all the way to Australia to forget the impoverished economy. The now scapegoat and blamegame of that infamous I dont recall, Prex Reagan, or Bill said, I didnt have sex. its how horseplay politics is defined by Sandusky!. Ooooops ask Cain, Perry!
OOh...I have done that route pretty much, Honolulu to Auckland...the pilot thought he was funny because we left HNL on Friday and landed in NZ on Sunday..the said..."if your birthday is tomorrow, Saturday, happy NO birthday this year"...there was one person on the plane whose birthday was that next day, which we whipped through...it is deadly jetlag. I think Eastern time was 17 hours behind Auckland..ouch, and I did not have to address any parliament!!
if palin or cain had been in this situation the liberal media would had gone into tailspin...
If Palin or Cain were in that situation we would definitely be in a heap of it.
America is Banrupt, Gold in Ft Knox is missing and the remainder counterfeited, OWS are being abused by cops, bank fraud goes unpunished with CEOs laughing.... and Obama is traveling the globe? He's become as lame as puppet Bush Jr. Time for all the WH, Congress and Governors to resign and end this Corporate Nazism in USA. Will they man-up?
A M E R I C A N A U T U M N - Take heart, those of Occupy Wall Street. You are on a noble course. Your voices have been heard and joined by countless others. Like the first Americans who could no longer endure the tyranny of a British rule, you are making your concerns heard. Your worthy actions have spread like a wildfire, bringing a light and direction for real Change, for no more will Americans accept the empty rhetoric of bought and owned politicians.
There are some who call your actions 'unorganized'. They do this in an attempt to minimize your efforts; but their devices are known and their days, as they well know, are near an end. Let their words not affect your spirit nor cloud your thinking. This event is like a melding of many elements which will come together and be forged into one mighty sword. For, as in this country's origins, those Colonists were deemed 'disorganized'. But from among those struggling Patriots arose those who became our Founding Fathers, the originators of the Declaration of Independence; and by their brave actions this Great America of the People was born.
Your actions are a new wind that finally brings Hope to the People. But take caution. Some of those who oppose you are desperate and without conscience. The many crimes of government officials, bankers, Wall Street, Federal Reserve (not a government agency), and other corporate thievery – they may try to hide their actions by wiping clean all computer records. Protect yourselves. Keep current paper statements of your bank accounts and deposits, and proof of mortgages and other ownership of property. Trust nothing to electronic files. This will reduce any chaos of their actions, as well as effects of solar activities, now increasing.
Be encouraged by the numbers joining your ranks. Soon, perhaps those of the Police and other agencies, who will find their invested retirement funds and pensions reduced or vanished, will join your ranks. The military too, for their lives have been spent in two wars founded on lies, and their valiant labors have been barely rewarded.
To the students and young people: Know many of you are the children of those who resisted the Draft of the Vietnam years. They are the generation of those men and women who died in the horrors of WW2 and came back immediately to claim: No More War Ever! Through their genetics, you have inherited their bravery and other ennobling qualities. When you see parents and older ones among you, know you are in great and bold company.
As in the days when this Country was forged – Trust in God. There is a Source (a Force, if you will), of which you are part, and which connects all living beings. When needed, ask for help to strengthen your efforts, or the inspiration to move your plans forward. And know your thoughts radiate out to others, equally strengthening and inspiring them. The Founding Fathers knew this. Follow their example and make this land a shining place once again. So be it.
Reprints, in any media, are allowed if not edited or altered: Copyright S/T – NYC, Oct 7, 2011
It is sad that we are so polarized that what was clearly a joke is spun into callousness towards our President. The extremes of our two party system has done their job in turning Americans again Americans; red vs. blue, conservatives vs. progressives, democrats vs. republicans. It is up to us, you and I to change the tone in America, not our politicians. Let’s start today, here and now. . .thoughts?
LOL I barely know what day it is without traveling! He has my sympathy.
I am not sure how many of you guys ever travelled to Australia or New Zealand from USA, but if you haven't then I forgive your ignorance because it's on the OTHER side of the world!!. So politics aside, but if you must know I am a Republican. The trip itself is brutal, long, disorienting and definitely confusing!! I remember skipping a day into Australia and then on the way to Tahiti leaving from Auckland, I had a weird experience where I left on a Tuesday and arrived on a Monday!! So trust me I spent the next couple of days wondering what day it was. You REALLY do need a couple of days to adjust! So wondering what day it is, isn't uncommon to say the least, what is uncommon is NOONE does it round trip in the same week! So lighten up guys and don't make us look so ignorant!
Thank you GetReal! That's why He hadn't so far, had to worry about shoes being thrown at him. LOL! The only stinking sneekers and 'flip-flops' he has to worry about are the ones being thrown by the beligerent trolls here at home! LOL! I truly hope he doesn't take up too much of his time worrying about them, because I believe we still have enough SANE AMERICANS to see through and offset that perpetual conspiracy of social and poliitical sabatoge, being strategically waged against him. Obama/Biden 2012!
I'm Australian. Reading your comments worries me. It seems you are all so uniformed and insular. I wont labour any particular issues as this would be argumentative – but the ignorance on display in most comments is just astonishing! Please just dont LISTEN to your local news or the USA perspective – make it your business to KNOW – not to think you know. The inhabitants of your country are greatly liked abroad but your knowledge of what is happening ANYWHERE is limtied to a red, white and blue perspective, HEY that is not even UNIQUE to your flag you know – but I doubt the majority of you even know that! PLEASE LOOK MORE BROADLY AND YOU WILL FIND THE ANSWERS YOU ARE MISSING!
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