Thoughts on President Obama: The Republican Round-Up

Well, it looks like some of the possible-2012-Republican-presidential-nominee-wannabes are classy enough to not only congratulate President Obama on yesterday’s military mission killing Osama Bin Laden, but are actually willing to mention the President by name. Others, not so much. My emphasis throughout.

The clear winner is Donald Trump, who not only mentioned President Obama by name, but also sends his personal congratulations.

"I want to personally congratulate President Obama and the men and women of the Armed Forces for a job well done," Trump said in a statement to ABC News.

Former Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty, close runner up. And classy, if I may add:

This is terrific news for freedom and justice. In the hours after the 9/11 attacks, President Bush promised that America would bring Osama bin Laden to justice — and we did. I want to congratulate America's armed forces and President Obama for a job well done. Let history show that the perseverance of the US military and the American people never wavered. America will never shrink from the fight and ultimately those who seek to harm us face only defeat. Today, justice is done, but the fight against radical Islamic terrorism is not yet over.

In third place, a bronze medal to former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, who also praises President Bush and President Obama, both by name:

"This victory is a tribute to the patient endurance of American justice," Gingrich said in a statement. "I commend both President George W. Bush who led the campaign against our enemies through seven long years and President Obama who continued and intensified the campaign in both Afghanistan and Pakistan.

It's downhill from there, folks.

Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney can’t seem to mention the President by name, and uses Facebook rather than his website for  posting:

This is a great victory for lovers of freedom and justice everywhere. Congratulations to our intelligence community, our military and the president. My thoughts are with the families of Osama bin Laden's many thousands of victims, and the brave servicemen and women who have laid down their lives in pursuit of this murderous terrorist.

From former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, we get nothing less than the conservative pastor’s rendition:

It has taken a long time for this monster to be brought to justice. Welcome to hell, bin Laden. Let us all hope that his demise will serve notice to Islamic radicals the world over that the United States will be relentless is tracking down and terminating those who would inflict terror, mayhem and death on any of our citizens."

From Minnesota Representative Michele Bachmann, who can’t even pay respect to the President, never mind mention him by name. A bit strange, too, by the way:

“I want to express my deepest gratitude to the men and women of the U.S. military and intelligence community. Their persistence and dedicated service has yielded success in a mission that has gripped our nation since the terrible events of 9/11. Tonight’s news does not bring back the lives of the thousands of innocent people who were killed that day by Osama bin Laden’s horrific plan, and it does not end the threat posed by terrorists, but it is my hope that this is the beginning of the end of Sharia-compliant terrorism.”

From former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum, who seems to subsume the personhood of President Obama under the category of “all”:

"This is extraordinary news for all freedom loving people of the world, and I commend all those involved for this historic triumph. Americans have waited nearly ten years for the news of Osama bin Laden's death. And while this is a very significant objective that cannot be minimized, the threat from Jihadism does not die with bin Laden. As we were vigilant in taking him out we need to demonstrate we will continue to be vigilant until the enemy has been subdued."

And finally, there is former Alaska Governor Sara Palin, who seems to believe President Obama is the only one not worthy of God’s blessings:

Americans tonight are united in celebration and gratitude. God bless all the brave men and women in our military and our intelligence services who contributed to carrying out the successful mission to bring Bin Laden to justice and who laid the groundwork over the years to make this victory possible. It’s a testament to the hard work and dedication of these brave Americans who relentlessly hunted down our enemy.

This is a victory for the American people, for the victims who were heartlessly murdered on September 11 and in Al Qaeda’s other numerous attacks, and for all the peace-loving people of the world.

May God bless our troops and our intelligence services, and God bless America!

How many times can I say “former” when listing these folks? For another time….