Obama to Russia: wrong

A short while back there was a discussion of president Obama’s off the record comments in a microphone to the Russian president that the Prime Minister should ‘cut him some slack until he is reelected’.

Most of the commentaries on the subject were about the subterfuge involved in the president's comments.

My view is that his comments show clear ignorance of the workings of the American government.

If he is re-elected he will be a lame duck president. Probably the lamest duck in a long time... but that is a separate issue. The most interesting part of being a lame duck for four years. Is that the State Department during that four-year period will go its merry way.

I don't know what the State Department's interests are in its dealings with Russia but I know that the State Department will pursue his own interests and strategies in total disregard for the president.

The last president, G.W. Bush, fully understood this lame duck State Department problem. So he appointed his closest advisor and intimate friend to be Secretary of State.

It didn't do any good. The State Department set out on its own policy specifically in regard to Iraq and Israel and ignored the president’s established policies.

This is the history of the State Department and a lame duck president regardless of how knowledgeable, skilled and determined the president is.

I wish this had been part of the discussion about the president's off-mike comments.