When president Obama spoke in Cuba earlier today, he dedicated about one minute to address today's tragic events in Europe. He then spent the next several hours attending a baseball exhibition game in Cuba between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Cuban National Team.
Perhaps responding to some righteous public indignation, this is how Obama explained his decision to disregard what is happening in Europe, and to enjoy himself while chaos and tragedy reigned across the Atlantic:
"The whole premise of terrorism is to try to disrupt people's ordinary lives," President Obama said in an interview with ESPN during the game, noting that "it's always a challenge when you have a terrorist attack anywhere in the world."
By that logic Obama should simply never do anything: after all, the "last thing terrorists want" is for Obama to ever stop watching baseball. One thing is certain: U.S. taxpayers would be absolutely delighted if the "terrorists win" on this one.
The president added that one of his "proudest moments as president" was when Boston united in the wake of the attack on the city's marathon, complimenting Red Sox David Ortiz's in particular for declaring that Boston would not be intimidated. "When Ortiz went out and said probably the only time that America didn't have a problem with somebody, a person on live TV, was when he talked about Boston, how strong it was and that it was not going to be intimidated," Obama said.
Ok, then.
In any case, the criticism of Obama's bizarre behavior did not end there and continued with the following pillorying of Obama by Ted Cruz: "President Obama should be back in America keeping this country safe. Or president Obama should be planning to travel to Brussels," Cruz said today at a news conference on Capitol Hill."
At this point, realizing the situation was suddenly slipping out of control, Obama did what he does best - issue if not an executive order, then a presidential proclamation, one which was supposed to mask just how clueless Obama's response so far today has been.
This is what he ordained:
Presidential Proclamation -- Honoring the Victims of the Attack in Brussels, Belgium
HONORING THE VICTIMS OF THE ATTACK IN BRUSSELS, BELGIUM
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BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
A PROCLAMATION
The American people stand with the people of Brussels. We will do whatever it takes, working with nations and peoples around the world, to bring the perpetrators of these attacks to justice, and to go after terrorists who threaten our people
As a mark of respect for the victims of the senseless acts of violence perpetrated on March 22, 2016, in Brussels,Belgium, by the authority vested in me as President of the United States by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, I hereby order that the flag of the United States shall be flown at half-staff at the White House and upon all public buildings and grounds, at all military posts and naval stations, and on all naval vessels of the Federal Government in the District of Columbia and throughout the United States and its Territories and possessions until sunset, March 26, 2016. I also direct that the flag shall be flown at half-staff for the same length of time at all United States embassies, legations, consular offices, and other facilities abroad, including all military facilities and naval vessels and stations.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-second day of March, in the year of our Lord two thousand sixteen, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and fortieth.
And with flags at half-staff, Obama's has washed his hands of all further responsibility.