AMATEURS, AMATEURS, SEND THEM BACK TO THE FARM TEAM – AT 8:29 A.M. ET:  What is this stuff?  From The Politico:

SEOUL - President Barack Obama failed to reach agreement on two international deals to help spur the U.S. economy, unexpected setbacks on an Asia trip that was supposed to emphasize his stature abroad and change the subject from last week’s electoral drubbing.

Obama was unable to achieve a free trade agreement with South Korea, vowing to keep talking to get a better deal for U.S. auto makers. And after meeting with the leaders of Germany and China, he continued to meet resistance from the two countries about reducing their trade surpluses with the U.S. to give a boost to American manufacturing, putting the best face on a compromise that only calls for the goal of lowering them.

COMMENT:  Wait a second.  Don't I remember, from the time we had real presidents, that these deals were supposed to be sealed before the president arrived?  The president puts on a little act about negotiating, but the deals have already been made.  The president then puts on a freshly pressed suit and signs, creating a victory.

That's the way the pros do it, the kind who play big-league ball in big-league parks.

Then there are the amateurs, who are playing in big-league parks but can't quite make the standard.

Other nations read our election returns, and Mr. Obama is being treated like a guy who looks out the window of the White House and sees the moving van arriving.  Expect more rebuffs like this.  There's no fear of this chap in Tehran.

November 11, 2011