While He Works On the Catchphrase
In his press conference following the second day of the G-20 summit today, Obama told a Chinese journalist he wasn't very good at coming up with catchphrases to describe his approach to foreign affairs. But if you were listening for some sign that the Obama era is going to involve a new orientation on the global stage, you couldn't do much better than these few paragraphs that followed in his answer:
But in an era of integration and interdependence, it is also my responsibility to lead America into recognizing that its interests, its fate is tied up with the larger world; that if we neglect or abandon those who are suffering in poverty, that not only are we depriving ourselves of potential opportunities for markets and economic growth, but ultimately that despair may turn to violence that turns on us; that unless we are concerned about the education of all children and not just our children, not only may we be depriving ourselves of the next great scientist who's going to find the next new energy source that saves the planet, but we also may make people around the world much more vulnerable to anti-American propaganda.
So if I'm effective as America's President right now, part of that effectiveness involves holding a -- providing Americans insight into how their self-interest is tied up with yours. And that's an ongoing project because it's not always obvious.
And there are going to be times where short-term interests are going to differ; there's no doubt about it. And protectionism is the classic example. You can make arguments that if you can get away with protecting your markets, as long as the other folks don't protect theirs, then in the short term you may benefit. And it then becomes important not only for me to try to give people a sense of why, over the long term, that's counterproductive, but also it becomes important for me to put policies in place in the United States that provide a cushion, provide support for those people who may suffer local dislocations because of globalization. And that's something that I think every government has to think about.
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1
The first step will be to persuade Republicans that we should be concerned about educating our own children.
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2
The next step will be convincing Republicans that they should be concerned about the interest of others outside the US.
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3
How about "I'll bend over, just respect me in the morning."
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4
FlownOver, you know, this twit has already yapped at us about making our kids learn Spanish. He doesn't speak a lick. Jerk. He can keep his yap shut about educating our kids, since he's already unleashed Bill Ayers on captive schoolkids.
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5
spob, yer dumber than a warm rock on a windowsill.
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And beleive me, that's after our little scientific debate.
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What a bunch of sheist, spob. Eveone knows that they were on the same board. There was no "unleashing" of anything, idjit! -
6
Like I said spob:
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Thump-thump Thump-thump -
7
Go ahead and bend over. I'll lie about the respect thing.
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8
Despite Chairman Steele's suggestion that Republicans become more unpredictable, in the face of intelligent engagement on the world stage is anyone expecting a GOP response that will be anything other than a full speed, flying head first dive return to first principles: Revere stupidity, reject reality, respond vitriolically!
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9
It's gonna happen, spob. Like you guys have told us so succinctly:
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Get over it. -
10
Chairman Steele claimed that the brouhaha with the Great White Whale was all planned, you know, Dee.
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http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/03/25/steele-open-to-running-fo_n_179258.html -
11
Have the republicans really become more upredictable, or just more unstable? Look at their four main contenders for 2012. Bobby (I performed and exorcism) Jindal. Sarah (I had one performed on me!) Palin. Mitt (Magic underwear anyone?) Romney and last, but certainly not least, Newt Family Values (I dumped my wife while she was getting treated for cancer) Gingrich. Maybe the republicans should adopt Bill Mahr's new catchphrase. How F#@!ed Are We?
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12
Sponge Bob (spob) - The more you speak, the more you show your ignorance. That is real patriotic, calling the president, your president, names. And what exactly does Bill Ayers have to do with anything? I love watching the Republican Party going down the toilet.
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13
Poor poor Amy Sullivan. I'll bet your hands got tired typing this post.
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14
This little talk is all right, but for my taste I like "you're either for us or against us."
or
"Bring it on."
Bellicosity is the way to go!
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Seriously, I understand opposing viewpoints and sour grapes and all that...but how can you not like what this guy is saying? You got the feeling other world leaders laughed at Bush...I think they're blushing around Obama. -
15
53_3 -- I heard that, I say that Steele's claim of having a stealth Limbaugh strategic plan is proof that he is divorced from reality and therefore is a full fledge member of the conservative wing or better yet the Bachmman wing of the Republican party.
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16
Don't blame these Republicans too much now.
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After all, their very livlihood and future is totally dependent on being able to sell dead skunks to the top chefs... -
17
Interesting link about Steele and Limbaugh. Making yourself grovel before a drug addict and have to publicly humiliate yourself is a strategic plan? I must be dumber than I thought. That wouldn't have occurred to me. I've always wondered if my first wife left me because I filed for a divorce on her birthday too.
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18
Dee, what happened to their self respect? I mean, how can Steele so willingly be arfed in the arse by stupid bigot like Rush?
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It's a level never before seen in either poligics or psychology! -
19
Wow sacredh. What lawyer did you hire?
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I can't believe it either. It's so embarrassing it's almost in Palin Thanksgiving Greetings territory... -
20
Hello, Amy "Never Interacts With Commenters" Sullivan!
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21
Mad as Hell,
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I give AS as much trouble as anyone on these boards. But I don't criticize her when she actually manages to do something right. You might want to look into that idea. -
22
Slightly OT but nevertheless important.
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I noticed that no one posted on how deftly our President diffused the race baiting of the chinese journalists. He accused the President of giving American and British journalists preferential treatment. Now of course the American press corps will come first because just like every other leader there how this plays at home is what matters. Moreover, the British come next because this is their home turf.
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But the President was able to sooth the Chinese journalists because as a minority he could recognize the look of someone who is feeling they are being treated like they are of second class status because they don't belong to the dominant culture and he took the extra time to make him feel like he was the most important person in the room. Obama handled this so beautifully that I am sure there will be no more talk of dropping the dollar.
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And for the trolls who think Obama doesn't matter, If this had been John McCain China would now be calling in our loans. -
23
sacredh, nice summary @11.
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Republican politicians are going batsh!t crazy because they represent so many key players who put our economy in the tank via bundled mortgages, ponzi hedge funds and a war in Iraq. They all know the party is over both literally and figuratively, yet they continue to claw like drowning rats in a bucket to pull themselves up. Meanwhile President Obama remains cool as a cucumber, moving forward with intelligent, logical plans for domestic and international policy. It's killing them! -
24
Hard not to give Obama glowing reviews for his performance at G-20. The swings in storyline from the way in to going out of London are nothing short of remarkable.
Anyone talking about shots from Merkel or Sarkozy now?
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25
53_3: Believe it or not, we had the same laywer handle both of us. We dated for 5 years after the divorce even though she tried to blackmail me with photos (I thought they were good advertisements). My wife now was suing me at the time. I don't hold grudges. Ex-MIL and current MIL are sisters. I am one white trash MF'er.
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