Obama’s Great Expectations and Modest Objective
By Charles Lemos on July 22, 2008 at 8:30 AM in Barack Obama, Commander in Chief, German politics, Germany, Obamaisms, Qualifications
I am beginning to wonder if Obama actually went to law school and taught Constitutional law. In fact, I wonder if he went to grade school. Back in May, Obama referenced having visited 57 states; today on Face the Nation, the very junior Senator from Illinois said this:
“[T]he objective of this trip was to have substantive discussions with people like President Karzai or Prime Minister Maliki or President Sarkozy or others who I expect to be dealing with over the next eight to 10 years.”
Surely he knows that two terms is eight years or is he hoping for a repeal of the Twenty-second Amendment. I wouldn’t put it pass him. Talk about great expectations. And I was under the impression that the objective of this trip, other than the glorification of the He who we have been waiting for, was a fact-finding mission. You’re not President, you’re a half-term very junior Senator from Illinois. You’re not even the nominee yet, only a presumptive (he doth presume much methinks) one.
And I must ask who is going to pick up the tab for this event. It had better the Obama campaign that pays for the police, the security, the conveniences and the clean-up.
Why are Earth should the city of Berlin be saddled with the cost of an Obama campaign event? This is the theatre of the absurd with Obama as the master of deception but Europeans will see what they want to see and hear the glowing eloquence of a meaningless banter. There is no there there in Obama.
Here is ABC Jack Tapper on Obama’s latest gaffe in article entitled The Butterfly Effect:
Today on CBS’s Face the Nation, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., in Afghanistan, told the paparazzi-pursued correspondent Lara Logan that “the objective of this trip was to have substantive discussions with people like President Karzai or Prime Minister Maliki or President Sarkozy or others who I expect to be dealing with over the next eight to 10 years.
“And it’s important for me to have a relationship with them early, that I start listening to them now, getting a sense of what their interests and concerns are.”
The notion that Obama will be dealing with world leaders for eight-to-ten years, possibly up through July 2018, suggests that either (a) he believes that not only will he be elected and re-elected, but the 22nd amendment will be repealed and he will be elected for a third term, OR (b) he was speaking casually and just meant two terms.
(I’m guessing b.)
There is a term in chaos theory describing the how infinitesmal variations of the initial condition of a dynamical system may produce large variations in the long term behavior of the system.
Most of us are more familiar with the more common name for it: the butterfly effect.
The butterfly effect was introduced in Ray Bradbury’s 1952 short story “A Sound of Thunder,” when time travelers change the world beyond measure by accidentally killing a butterfly in prehistoric times.
Similarly, international diplomacy can be impacted by careless or glibly-chosen words. (Cue President Bush’s “crusade” remarks.)
Some Democratic allies of Obama’s are — off the record — concerned that the senator too often doesn’t consider the potential butterfly effect of his diction.
Take his support for an “undivided Jerusalem,” or his remarks about women seeking abortions when they’re “feeling blue,” which upset feminist leaders.
Or the media kerfuffle after his “refine my policies” presser.
On his press plane on July 5, after that incident, Obama said, “I’m surprised at how finely calibrated every single word was measured.”
A reporter noted that that is precisely what happens with the president, he can change world affairs with one word, finely calibrating your words is what happens.
“Well, of course, no, I understand,” Obama said. “But for me to say that I’m going to refine my policies, you know, I don’t think in anyway is inconsistent with prior statements and doesn’t change my strategic view that this war has to end and that I am going to end it as president.”
This week Obama will have his words picked apart like never before, and it will be an international audience of not just opponents but actual enemies.
They will be watching and waiting to see if he kills any butterflies.
Had your fill yet?
From my blog, By The Fault.
This morons stupidity and ignorance about the most BASIC facts about America and how our form of Government works is truely breathtaking!
(long low key groan)
please stop the “punishment”
abort the mission!
I think part of his problem is that he is intellectually lazy. If he really wanted a relationship with Karzai especially, you would think as Chairman of a subcommittee that affects Afghanistan, he would have already developed it. His little globe-trotting venture is nothing more than a “meet and greet” photo op; deep thought is not required.
He is lazy, period. (Remember when Karl Rove said this about him?) Read this article about Obama taking credit for an agreement that other people had hammered out while he was sleeping in - or exercising. This happened well before he started running for president, so there is nothing else he was doing. He even got chewed out by Kennedy for showing up late to one meeting he did bother to attend. I also heard recently that he exercised THREE TIMES in one day for a total of about 3 hours. He is almost as self-obsessed as Bush.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/23/AR2008032301706_pf.html
(I love the way this article describes Obama and Clinton’s behavior as if they are equivalent.)
I forgot to add that he clearly doesn’t think that experience matters - his head speech writer is all fo 26 years old! If he had a more seasoned person writing for him he might avoid some of his more stupid statements, like speaking of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. (Juan Williams is the only person on television that I have heard bring this up. He is really getting gutsy.)
This total hopless bumb is trying to get credit by mixing up with those who do have!
President of 57 states for 10 years? Obama does realize he’s in the United States, right?
Just going to change the RULZ when necessary.
nop, he thinks he is in africa!
Could he possibly a product of area 51 and not a human at all? He claims to be surprised by everything. Has no knowladge of America’s history.
He’s like the animatronic Linclon they had at Disneyland. It looked like linciln, gave his speeches,but when it was done, sank into a little heap of clothing. hmmm
Actually, Reverend Manning says obama is not human at all- and he does not say it in jest. A major conservative pub (forget which one)portrayed him recently with a head full of programmed machinery and wires- instead of a human brain.
It should be noted that numerous different sources are picking up on this same theme- including the comment above. Frankly, I think it’s all an intuitive recognition of some kind- we’re just not clear of exactly what.
I heard that that last night too, and wondered…Today Politico is running a BIG headline on McCain’s gaffes…hmmm: what about all of O’s?
well Politico being the ‘mainstream’ arm of Drudge, and Drudge apparently tankin it for Uhhhbama it doesnt surprise me anymore…..
pathetic
my local news had a poll this morning do you think media is trying to help Uhhbama, mccain or be fair
over 83% said they are helping Uhhbama
only 5% thought they were helping Big Mac
And Rasmussen was on and said latest polling shows now BIG MAC and Uhhbama are in a statistical tie..
seems Uhhbamalaooza isnt having they effect they intended..
Yep Americans DONT LIKE A FIX or a Bully, not AT ALL, and this is a FIX and the media has been bullying first Hill and now MAC
and those who may have taken perverse joy when it was done to Hillary are now seeing it done to BIG MAC and they dont like it.
It is backfiring..
PRIDE GOETH BEFORE THE FALL
and Uhhbamapalooza is just getting started with the press in tow, LOVES IT!!!!!
WooT!!
He’s the Kato Kaelin of Democratic Politics. Or one of the Hilton sisters. He will be soooo last week’s news by time November comes that his base won’t support him. As for traditional voters, they will start to push back against this nonsense. Ennui thy name is Barack.
Greta Wire had a poll last night that was overwhelmed. Did they ever get it fixed?
When I was there 95% said the MSM was in the tank for I-bama (that’s an even better name than BO).
The gaffes that I have seen from McCain seem like simple slips of the tongue, for the most part. But for Obama to give a prepared speech to AIPAC and say that Jerusalem must remain the capital of Israel was a huge blunder. First Tel Aviv is the capital, something he should have known as a Senator. At the very least he should have done his homework before meeting with such a powerful lobbying group. Even worse, by supporting Jerusalem as the capital he inflamed an already dangerous situation and undermined the two-state peace process. If a president had done this it would have caused a huge diplomatic crisis. As it was, it outraged the Palestinians.
Aaaah, Jerusalem the capital of Israel, huh? Sure sounds like Tapper’s “Butterfly Effect”.
I wonder how much time Obama has actually spent in the US. He didn’t grow up on the mainland and spent some of his youth in Indonesia (which of course, gives him “foreign policy experience,” LOL!).
Seriously, is this guy dumber than dirt? I keep hearing how incredibly bright he is, but I thought that even small children knew there were 50 states in the Union, and that the President’s term is 4 years, not 5.
WTF???
Everything about him is a lie and a fabrication. The MSM constantly goes on about what a great speaker he is. If you listen to the words he just plain sucks.
He stutters and stammers around every issue…
http://nativeamericansagainstobama.wordpress.com/
You need to factor in the 60 states he will be presiding over too.
dont forget he wants to ‘move awau from electionocracy” per Sam Power, uhhmm WTF is that about and why doesnt the American media report it, ugh
http://www.newstatesman.com/world-affairs/2008/03/barack-obama-interview-power
“Obama has talked a lot about the importance of moving away from electocracy,” she says, trying to move on to more comfortable territory, and suggesting that the way people actually live is more important than the “reification of elections”.
“In terms of how radical the shift will be, I think it’s very hard. There’s going to be a huge foreign service and civil service that he will inherit, senators and congressmen who have already been elected. So I think he is one guy, trying to steer this ship of cacophonous agendas into a new place.”
I repost it b/c I care :0)
scary frakker
b/w 10 yrs
secret police
and eliminating elections
well I am uncomfortable to say the least…
Sounds like a plan to make him Dictator for Life. If he gets to be President (oh my god), can you see him going off into the sunset?
Thanks for the link and quotes from that nut’s interview, ginaswo.
Here’s more of her ‘brilliance’ from that linked piece:
“States don’t cease to be states overnight just because they get a great visionary as their new president.”
and later:
“Can we afford to do without a global figure, a global leader?”
These obamanites are stark raving dangerously crazy! Their bozo has never even fulfilled ONE single smaller job he’s had, says he voted Present in IL because he “pushed the wrong button”, can’t count the states, doesn’t know the capital of Israel, etc. etc. - and they think the job of President isn’t enough for him - he should rule the world!
By contrast to these idiots mesmerized in their own trances, a former student of bozo’s in IL U. wrote a long post about him, based on first hand experience- and, in sum, says even as a lecturer bozo was totally incompetent and not fully present.
Worth reading, it’s at jewsagainstobama
Hmmm…..perhaps History is so biased as to prove irrelevant….Kinda like the design of the Presidential Seal ( hopelessly outdated and well ho hum tired ) or that completely unnecessary flag-allegiance-anthem custom which simply must be replaced with something easier and more inclusive to the real American Experience and to reflect the New America and The new millenia of global healing….All that tradition is well….sooooo way over 30, white imperialist and well ho-hum traditional…..and facts are so tiresome and well a lot of work to remember and who except bitter old people even care about that stuff…..etc…..etc….etc….
Obama’s even admitted that he is not a detail oriented person. He admits to losing papers and that his staff has to give him something right before he needs it or he will lose it. (Good thing for him that apparently he’s always had a “staff” around taking care of him). I think he made a comment too that he wouldn’t run the WH like a CEO or something like that.
I’m just sitting here shaking my head - HOW is this guy the presumptive nominee?? He is a Bush CLONE! I thought we couldn’t stand Bush and his policies, and now the DNC has gotten someone just LIKE him!! This is insanity - pure insanity.
Thanks for the great post!
Did you see the movie “Idiocracy?”
We need to get used to idiot candidates the idiot majority want to drink beer with, smoke hopium with, etc.
This country moves closer to an Idiocracy every day. No wonder that movie didn’t do well - it was far too dead-on, and made people uncomfortable.
Maybe the new DNC mantra is “if you can’t beat them, join them”–as in becoming more Republican than the Republicans.
No, I think Bush appears dumb, and does not try to hide the fact that the blank expression on his face is real. Obama wants everyone to think hes smart, when he is not….
http://nativeamericansagainstobama.wordpress.com/
absoluely
Obama cannot help himself, can he? Like Narcissus, he’s so fascinated by his own image, he cannot think straight. That’s why he keeps making such goofy gaffes. There is something seriously wrong with this man; he has a personality disorder. A Narcissistic Personality Disorder.
And the voters so in loooooove with him will waste away just as Echo did: no substance.
He always seems to say this when he changes positions… (in bold)
Can we get him to lean over a pool of water?
The BHO camp wants you all to believe that he is winning so your group would become frustrated and give up. Keep up the fight. As long as we stay united and continue to fight the cause our battle will be won.
That’s true, and it bears repeating.
The more Obama is on his own, the more obvious it is how completely unready he is to deal with the real problems of this nation.
I hope Hillary hangs in there and does NOT release her delegates. We need her NOW. PUMA!
I always feared it would be Bush who got us in a war with nukes, but now I fear what Obama would do even more. He has always had either someone to clean up his messes or someone to blame for his mistakes. As a world leader, he’s not going to have the time to cover up mistakes of world-wide magnitude. And his skills as a negotiator or debater are clearly lacking–as Hillary proved beyond any doubt in their debates.
Oh yeah totally
he wants to do a strike in Pockestahhn and doesnt get that Afghanisthan perhaps should be handled with bribes to war lords, not sending in massive troops
who said it here the other night so well:
“the mountain passes of Afghanistahn where world powers go to die……”
and where is the lefty antiwar crowd? he is using front on the war on terror, every time I see him? thought they didnt like that lingo
are they ready to trade Iraq for Afghanistahn?
I’m afraid he would ‘push the wrong button’ once again…
Lets not forget all the threats those of us have received who do not want Obama. I keep getting emails from Democrats DEMANDING respect..
Respect is earned and Obama, his campaign, the DNC, the bullyBots have not earned MY respect. They’ve earned my complete DISDAIN. They should all just get over it. They lost, disenfranchised and disrespected us over and over and over again.
NOBAMA!
Right ON I totally agree!
I got a call from a DCCC rep the other day, naturally wanting money. I told him I will give no more money to any Democratic organization because of the way Hillary was treated in the primary. He then told me than the Democrats had fully supported Hillary’s effort. I then laughed at him and hung up. I’m beginning to think they are as arrogant and/or delusional as Obama and his band of merry bots.
Obama is the great pretender. He pretends to know what he’s talking about and big media is playing along with it. I hope history is watching and recording this bias media because they’re the ones who put this inexperienced passive agressive on the map. It has to be about money because who would give this fool a la Bush a platform to stand on. The guy is not that smart and has the biggest ego I’ve ever seen. You might even call him Obushama.
America is being asked to vote for “Chance, the Gardiner”. The nation is having a nightmare Peter Sellers moment with “the Bobo”.
HAD MY FILL
NOW I”LL TAKE HILL
nobama ever
Good article Charles….You know when Obama began to audition for the role of Global Healer and build his new party….The eventual began to happen. It’s so hard staying in the initial phase of the plan when there is so much to do…If Only America would get rid of that old Constituition….opposing political candidates, critics etc….Election rules and all that old fashioned stuff that created the old Politics….Obama is a man in a hurry and since he got rid of Hillary and 3/4 of the traditional Democratic Party base it is gettin harder to maintain the phony persona. Afterall, spoon feeding followers while trying to dodge those Republicans has really slowed progress for a New America.
Every time the mask slips….America gets to see a glimpse of the real candidate and it is downright scary the way things are lining up.
BullyBots: There are millions of people who you will never identify in order to threaten and harass into submission. PUMA!
You know, i’ve come to accept media picking on gaffes, misstatements and from either side of the aisle, but I cannot stand media being activists regardless if it’s conservative or liberal.
Wonder if CNN or MSNBC will report on BO’s stupid comments or his “open” sparring with Gen. Petraus…. doubtful.
Anyways, TaylorMarsh.com has an ax to grind with PUMAs, JSND, W.Bower, D.Murphy, Heidi Li….. what a has-been she turned out to be. maybe she should stick to porn.
Taylor Marsh turned out to be something completely different than what she led people to believe didn’t she?? Either she has no principles and will sell out to the highest bidder for blog money or she just has no use for Democracy.
It’s all about who corporate America wants to be in charge. I hope the Left Blogosphere enjoys being bought and paid for, just like the tote bags for the Democratic Convention.
The Leftosphere wants to feel powerful. They don’t care what methods are used. Obama is Bush all over again. It’s OK that he be fascist because the Leftosphere feels like winners, goddam it! What shallow, short-sighted people kos and his ilk turned out to be.
PUMA
Many of us complained because Bush and the GOP was doing the same thing in 2000. They wanted to move the country further to the right. It was a uber conservative coup…
Now the far uber left elite liberals are trying to do the same thing, but move to the far left (move to the wright).
They want to move so far left that we’ll ending, basically, becoming France II.
Respectfully…I am getting very sick of this meme. And frankly, as a leftie, I am a bit insulted by it!
Obama is not a left-winger and neither are his followers. What leftie votes AGAINST the Fourth Amendment? Hello????
Dennis Kucinich is a leftie. Compare his positions with Obama’s. There is absolutely no parity whatsoever.
Remember that the so-called “progressive” blogosphere is made up almost exclusively of “ex”-Republicans. They all went nuts for Barack. That should give you a clue as to where Obama’s allegiances lie along the left-right spectrum.
I disagree. I think he and his ilk are far left. He only moved to the center after he thought he had is base.
Super elite liberals hijacked the word “progessive”.
If you think about it, DLC, really pushed “the third way”, “New Democrats” and “progressive dems”. Then the movie stars and elites ate it up and now we’re here.
the dlc wasn’t far left, btw. HC and H.Ford are part of the DLC.
With even more respect….research Kucinich the way we’ve done Obama.
Narcissism compounded by short man syndrome. Start with the LOCAL news reports of his early years in office.
Complete parallel with Obama. He used race-baiting against his original opponent. He’s locked out serious recent opponents (women, who takes them seriously, huh?) from debate all the while traipsing around doing silly photo ops on Colbert and whining about not getting in the big boy debates.
And don’t get me started on his third wife, the child bride who hangs out with BREATHARIANS (look them up).
The problem with ALL the “antiwar” zealots is that instead of becoming star-struck with losers like Kucinich, Hagel, and the worst of the bunch, Ron Paul, they SHOULD’VE known that buying Nader’s bullshit that there was no difference between Bush and Gore would inevitably end up with THEIR having blood on their own hands.
No amount of freakishly championing “loner-heros” who “speak out” against “Bush’s war” will absolve them.
Um, what?
I was talking about Kucinich’s policy positions, with which I agree almost entirely.
And sorry, but do you really think that left-wingers wanted Ron Paul or Chuck Hagel? LOL! Maybe some freaks at the Daily Kos were enamored, but again, I do not consider them lefties. They are simply authoritarian followers of Overlord Markos.
Kucinich stands up for his principles. Obama has none. It’s as simple as that.
The left doesn’t want him. We’ll take Hillary, thanks.
You have GOT to be kidding.
Hagel, Hagel, Hagel. I can’t even COUNT the times the left wing blogosphere posted love notes to Hagel — and Obama is adding him to the roster, for sure.
Every single time I try to remind them that Hagel OWNED those electronic hacking machines which gave him the “unprecendented” victory over a popular Dem incumbent, including 80-90 per cent of the black vote.
Kuchinich stands up for Kucinich. Not only does he pander to the antiwar crowd because it gives him a “following” (and got him his arm candy flaky as shit child bride) he panders to ANY following, including the 9/11 conspiracy nut crowd.
I lmao at one of the conspiracists who had a few more brain cells and follow up than the rest. After the 2004 election he called up the Kucinich office and asked how Kook was coming along in his campaign promise to “investigate” 9/11. He was told “it’s not a priority.”
lololol—-what a fucking surprise!
Here’s the thing: the woman running against him in Ohio was a GOLD STAR MOM who was an original supporter of his until she quit drinking THAT koolaid and realized Kucinich is an ELITIST SNOB who is divisive and therefore would NOT further the goals of anyone against this disgusting war. Sound like anyone else we know?
And SHE had the backing of the IRAQI VET who tried to run for Senate from Ohio, too.
There are people of SUBSTANCE AND PRINCIPAL and then there are NARCISSISTIC POSEURS.
I wasted a lot of time researching Kucinich. Wasted, because he was never a threat. But these are all the leads you’ll get from me.
Do your own research if you want to post tired untrue memes about Kucinich and not have them challenged.
I should clarify. I mean to say that kos & co. were bamboozled by Obama. I thought kos & co. took media criticism seriously. I guess bullying and lying are OK, as long as “your side” does it.
I can’t get over how uncomfortable things became after Obama came on the scene. It was if bloggers and commenters I knew had been body-snatched away. I’m still reeling from it. What happpened?
That I can agree with.
I thought you were suggesting that KOS was housing rightwing bloggers.
Not a fan of Kucinich, but I respect the guy for standing tall and putting his neck out even when it doesn’t seem popular etc etc.
Mr. SO NOT TALL relishes being the ONLY ONE who “gets” it….all cult leaders do.
I agree, madamab. The word “left” is being used to mean so many things it has lost all meaning. Those of us who weren’t happy with Reagan and have supported the Dems all the years since in the futile hope that they’d work on things like making bribery illegal again have reason to be appalled at Obama’s version of “left.”
Shelby Steele in the WSJ–Why Jesse Jackson Hates Obama–identifies Obama’s central character issue:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121668579909472083.html?mod=opinion_main_commentaries
Obama is an NPD, there is no doubt about it:
http://bodylanguagelady.com/2008/03/02/obamas-revealing-body-language/
Change of Subject
Obama is giving a policy speech and taking policy questions. Did I miss something? When did he become President? Or has a Middle Eastern country selected him as their head of state?
He won the quickfire challenge.
This is what GW BUSH has done.
He has turned Mr. Stinky into a ROCK STAR all over the WORLD!
WHy?
Because he is NOT GW DISASTER!
(what they don’t realize is he could be worse)
as they say, all blow and no show…that’s Obama.
http://dyn.politico.com/printstory.cfm?uuid=4A670F03-3048-5C12-002034DF88C14E66
Wow…
:-O gawwwwwwwwwwwwwwd
ughhhhhhhhhhhhhh! WTF? ugh I have no words (cough, gag, wheeze, pass out)
I wonder if that senior foreign policy advisor was Susan Rice:
Here she talks to Der Spiegel:
He bows to nobody in his understanding of this world.
http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,567066,00.html
I’d be willing to bet that everyone on his entire campaign staff already refers to him as Mr. President. He already believes he is president and they all do as well. There is something seriously wrong with these people. Not only should he never, ever be president but he should be recalled as Senator. The only place this moron should be is in a mental institution.
These people are drunk with power they don’t even have yet. Talk about scary! God help us if Obama steals this election. I worry about that because he’s becoming more like Bush every day.
Make no mistake. He is much worse than bush.
Andrea Mitchell: Obama gave fake interviews in the Middle East
http://countusout.wordpress.com/
He’s completely controlling the message. Giving fake, staged interviews. This guy is worse than Bush. I remember someone in the Bush Admin. did a fake press conference with fake reporters. Sorry, I can’t recall any other details except it was exposed as fake and the Bush admin. took a lot of heat for it. Of course Barry does the same and nothing will come of it. Good to see Andrea Mitchell at least bringing it up.
Will someone please come up with an explanation for why Obama said 8-10 years that shows that he cannot possibly be that ignorant? There is no way it could be 10 years. A candidate only becomes president when he is inaugurated. I thought Obama was good at math when he was a kid. Of course, I also thought he had principles.
Maybe Obama really does think he is already president. Maybe he got confused and thought he already got elected. Lack of sleep and other things can do that to you.
20 yrs at trinity has taken over what little schooling he actually participated in apparently
just by the osmosis factor alone with Wright after that many years
also
which Preacher?Pastor?Rev? went with them on the trip? just curious? has he found a new religion? (choking as I say that)
even if he starts counting by today, it still only gives him 8 1/2 years
Here’s the explanation.
As explained in the very article where Obambi whined that “every single word” of his was scrutinized…he used the PAST TENSE to describe when he “was” a Senator.
So, in his own mind, Obama’s ALREADY prezzie-dent.
He said we have too many elections. It confuses people. You know us ignorant Americans who have been doing this for a couple of hundred years. But oh, we need puff the magic glass pipe to explain all to us.
Last week all I heard about from the Obama supporters on TV was that the media was giving McCain a pass on all his gaffes such as referring to Czeckoslovakia instead ofthe Czech Republic. (yes, I know I probably spelled it wrong. But, remember, it doesn’t exist, so it doesn’t matter)
So, will those pundits/supporters be all over TV now talking about Obama’s lack of knowledge of the length of the term of a president?
did you see the Andrea Mitchell clip?
She was plenty miffed! (lol po po Andrea) I wonder if they will kick her off the plane too? WHAT? NO ACCESS to the WONDER BOY?
wahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! I’ll ruin my make up!
I guess you think it was just a name change and that the Country of Slovakia does not count either?
What matters more in a presidential race, the country of Slovakia or BOBO wanting two more years then he can have in the oval office?
Slovakia is rural and Czech republic is industrialized. Very peaceful and agreeable people. When the country of Czechoslovkia split back to their own countries, it was known as the velvet divorce. No war, no bombs. Slovaks are a mostly happy people and there is an old saying “see a Slovak, hear a song”