Saying “Congratulations!” takes a long time for those in a Sulk

President Barack Obama finally got around to congratulating Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on his impressive election win Thursday afternoon. Sorta’, kinda’, that is.

“President Barack Obama spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu by telephone on Thursday afternoon, two days after his party won a sweeping victory in national elections. (Daily Mail, March 19, 2015)

“The White House had said he would wait until Israel's president asked Netanyahu to form a coalition government, in keeping with past practice. “On Wednesday morning as Likud party partisans cheered in Tel Aviv, Obama's political strategy director David Simas stopped short of congratulating Netanyahu in a TV interview, only patting Israelis on the back 'for the democratic process – for the election that they just engaged in.' “Netanyahu spent part of Thursday moving politically in the White House's direction, though, clearing the way for a face-saving call from Obama.

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“The White House shortly after 5:00 p.m. distributed a 'readout' of the phone call, giving reporters a sanitized and muted version of what was said. 'President Obama spoke today by telephone with Prime Minister Netanyahu to congratulate the Prime Minister on his party’s success in winning a plurality of Knesset seats,' the readout said. 'The President emphasized the importance the United States places on our close military, intelligence, and security cooperation with Israel, which reflects the deep and abiding partnership between both countries. The President and the Prime Minister agreed to continue consultations on a range of regional issues, including the difficult path forward to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.' “The statement continued: 'The President reaffirmed the United States’ long-standing commitment to a two-state solution that results in a secure Israel alongside a sovereign and viable Palestine.'” What took Obama so long in extending the same courtesy other world leaders readily offered the handily re-elected Israeli prime minister could not be blamed on golf, shooting hoops, partying, vacationing, or just plain sulking this time. Though, we can’t be too sure about the sulking. Who would have time to place a congratulatory call to a foreign prime minster when they were reportedly buying the estate featured in the Magnum P.I." television series in Waimanalo, Hawaii? (See Update Below) “WAIMANALO, Hawaii —A well-known Waimanalo home has been sold, but the big question is who is the buyer? (KITV, March 19, 2015)

“The talk around town points to President Barack Obama, and there is a connection between the president and the buyer of this multi-million dollar estate.” “According to state records, the home was just bought by Waimanalo Paradise LLC, and the man who purchased it was Seth Madorsky, a Chicago attorney who has ties to President Obama. The property was then sold to another limited liability corporation in Colorado.” “The home was built in 1933 on three acres. It features a tennis court -- and a separate bath house and boat house. It was owned by Eve Anderson and sold for $8.7 million. “The estate accesses a protected beach, one that is hard for other people to reach -- even from neighboring properties. The Pahonu estate has some seclusion, but the neighborhood still has that laid-back Waimanalo atmosphere. “Pahonu is visibly in need of repairs and upkeep. While the estate sold for $8.7-million, the new owner got a mortgage for $9.5 million, which could include the cost of those repairs.”

And as if getting a mortgage for $9.5 million wouldn’t be enough to keep Bibi congratulations off of Obama’s mind, his wife Michelle went off to Japan to curtsey the Emperor without first practicing her curtseys. “Mrs Obama towered over Emperor Akihito and stumbled as she tried to bow, shake his hand and curtsey at once. (Daily Mail, March 19, 2015).

““She” (Michelle, that is) “also grabbed Japan's First Lady in a hug-and-handshake combination while she was mid-bow.”

As can be seen on the video, diminutive Emperor Akihito showed great poise in not flinching before it was known whether Michelle was going to land on him.

“The awkward trip is being described as a 'makeup call' after Mrs Obama failed to accompany the President to Japan last year “Tensions are high after death threats to the U.S. Ambassador to Japan.”

Video and still shots of the stumble-bow, handshake and curtsey show Michelle’s silver stilettos as the probable cause. Even an Obama-beleaguered Bibi would understand that it could take a long time for Barack to work up the nerve to tell Michelle that she shouldn’t be wearing stilettos when trying to curtsey.

White House: Obamas not mystery buyers of 'Magnum, P.I.' home

Mystery solved? The Obamas are not the secret buyers of the beach-front Hawaiian home Tom Selleck once roamed as the star of the 1980s television show "Magnum, P.I.," according to White House spokesman Josh Earnest and an Obama associate who says he and he alone is the proud new owner. More...