GERMANY DISSES OBAMA – AT 11:43 A.M. ET:  Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel appears to be the latest world leader to specialize in ignoring Barack Obama.  The two will meet at the upcoming G20 conference, in Canada, another country for which our current president has shown little use:

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Saturday spending cutbacks are needed following the spate of throwing money at the global economic crisis, in a direct counter to US President Barack Obama.

Referring to the G20 summit in Canada next weekend, Merkel said in a videotaped message that "we are going to discuss when to quit the phase of short-term measures and go on to lasting budget consolidation."

Such a move was "urgently necessary, in the view of the Europeans and particularly of Germany," she said.

Obama's message:  Spend, baby, spend.

Obama urged the world's leading economies Friday to avoid scaling back government spending too quickly or risk derailing the global recovery.

"We worked exceptionally hard to restore growth; we cannot falter or lose strength now," Obama said in a letter to G20 leaders ahead of a June 26-27 summit in Toronto.

No, just when we're on the verge of spending ourselves into bankruptcy, we must have the courage to go all the way.

Merkel retorted on Saturday, "We know of course that the European Union must make its contribution to ensure lasting world economic growth," but added, "We believe we have put the stresses on the right spot."

"Europe will make its point of view clear at the G20," she warned.

COMMENT:  Question:  Is Obama becoming the Rodney Dangerfield of world politics?  Like Rodney, he don't get no respect, no respect. 

Difference is, Rodney was funny intentionally.

June 19, 2010