Hmmm...What your quoting about " Beautiful city...people to avoid..etc..Isn't that life in general..The Obama thing was me be sarcastic ( in my typical sense of humour ) An old Scottish saying I like is.." Where ever you go in life,never take an idiot with you..You'll always meet one when you get there."
I took it as sarcastic, and got your joke. Yet, the state of the nation, and therefore his use as a joke, really isn't quite as "jovial" as you think it may be.
Obama has been a massive disappointment nationally. He walked into the office, and we thought...FDR, a leader who would take charge! And he's proved to be nothing more than another mewling politician.
I am not sure either of his opponents would have been much better...but that's aside the point.
The 2016 presidential cycle for us should be very interesting...if you are into that sort of thing.
As far as your cute saying...It is...and it's a great saying. Except that idiot is out to kill you for $50 bucks to get his next crack fix, and city services are so corrupt that it takes the cops 3 to 4 hours (give or take) to respond due to poor funding (but NOT due to lack of funds...chew on that).
Lets look at some facts about NOLA, eh? That "life in general" you mention...didn't involve being one of the highest murder rates in the country (and holding that record for more than one year in the last few decades, trading off with Detroit, NYC (which was cleaned up by a strongarm mayor) and DC).
If you actually live there for a period of time, rather than visiting on a thousand of dollar tourist budget, your friend would probably paint a very different picture of the city.
NOLA is not a "wonderful city"...unless you have a wish to be a victim of a crime (mortal and property) or at least be so well aware of it that you know how to avoid it, or (as with any city) have enough money to avoid it.
Since your friend obviously traveled in the latter category, I'd say he stayed in the self contained "tourist" area, which even the criminals (which have family/friends who work in the area, hence #3 of my previous comment stay away from)...but travel outside of it?
As I said, it's changed since Katrina, but not all that much.
Also, if I commented on your political leaders, or the state of your country (which I couldn't with any degree of accuracy, even though I do keep up with international politics)...
It's all a happy drink to you, it's a real thing for us. The decisions this government makes is something that impacts my daily life.
Just like I laugh at your parliament fighting, I'd imagine you laugh at our politics (especially since everyone in the world seems to feel they are experts on our politics...mostly our fault for being so politically visible)...
.A wedding.
.A big birthday..
.Your last one.
..So how far would you push the boat out to achieve your goal..$$$$
$$$$...We always have a target in our heads how much we are willing to spend on a Disney trip..Yes it's probably our most expensive vacation that we ever do..But how far would you go,money wise,to fulfil your dream holiday..?
..No..Not Venice...It was New Orleans..He said the music on the streets..The people...The food...There hoping to go back soon ( they have twin girls 8 months old ) And stay there for at least one month..
..Now to all you wonderful citizens of New Orleans,I'am sure @
( I made that up )
..???Oh you mean England...Wrong country...