Obama Snubbed Brown Because He's "Overwhelmed"

Barack Obama is channeling former Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco who melted down in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and stated on TV that the whole thing was overwhelming:

Sources close to the White House say Mr Obama and his staff have been “overwhelmed” by the economic meltdown and have voiced concerns that the new president is not getting enough rest.

British officials, meanwhile, admit that the White House and US State Department staff were utterly bemused by complaints that the Prime Minister should have been granted full-blown press conference and a formal dinner, as has been customary. They concede that Obama aides seemed unfamiliar with the expectations that surround a major visit by a British prime minister. …

Allies of Mr Obama say his weary appearance in the Oval Office with Mr Brown illustrates the strain he is now under, and the president’s surprise at the sheer volume of business that crosses his desk.

A well-connected Washington figure, who is close to members of Mr Obama’s inner circle, expressed concern that Mr Obama had failed so far to “even fake an interest in foreign policy”. …

The American source said: “Obama is overwhelmed. There is a zero sum tension between his ability to attend to the economic issues and his ability to be a proactive sculptor of the national security agenda.

“That was the gamble these guys made at the front end of this presidency and I think they’re finding it a hard thing to do everything.”

I don't doubt he's overwhelmed. There are lots of problems out there that need to be dealt with, but Obama's trying to deal with them while at the same time enacting his amazingly leftist agenda.

At the same time though, he and the Mrs. are holding regular lavish parties with $100 a pound steaks at the White House. Sort of a "Nero fiddles while Rome burns" type of thing.

It's enough to wear anyone out.