Sarkozy has made clear that he is determined to keep the initiative on what the French regard as a long-overdue discussion of American-style capitalism and its excesses.
After the meeting concluded on Saturday, he was not shy about proclaiming that the era of American hegemony in world finance was over. "America is the No. 1 power in the world," he declared. "Is it the only power? No, it isn't. We are in a new world."
...
Sarkozy was the first to propose the summit meeting to Bush. American officials said that it was Bush's idea to expand the guest list to the G-20, which includes China, Brazil, India and other emerging countries, rather than limit it to the usual gathering of seven industrialized countries, plus, at times, Russia.
The two leaders also had differing interpretations of what happened at the meeting. Sarkozy portrayed it as a landmark gathering, saying, "Europe for the first time expressed its clear determination."
"Never ever," he added, had the Americans been willing to negotiate on the kinds of radical regulatory changes that were on the table in Washington.
By contrast, Bush noted that the leaders had reaffirmed the importance of free markets, free trade and the primacy of national regulation.
http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/11/19/business/global.php
We have seen in our own lifetimes how well massive debt and failed economics worked for the Soviet Union.
With every federal bailout and the increasing nationalization of our economy, we are reaffirming the beliefs of anti-American, anti-free market socialists.
As our leaders continue taking us down this road, the emerging countries will continue to purchase our debt and industries. Our political power will wither with our economic power.
I will leave you with a summary of my thesis: Hippies smell. French people smell. And all the chicks got hairy armpits.
And perhaps that is my biggest problem with Obama. I think he honestly believes (wants) America to not be the greatest country in the world. I think he feels guilty for being American. Some people may say he wants to have better 'dialog' with foreign countries, I think he sees America as equal to France or Germany or Russia.
ReplyDeleteSorry, call me an a$$hole, call me a cocky dumb American, but America is better and I want our President to go to every international summit believing that he is the leader of the free world and the President of the best nation on earth. I don't think Obama feels that way.
Good point that Jay makes: Every bail-out makes us more and more dependent on the world. The funny money we are printing to bail-out our economy is backed by foreign currency, not greebacks.
There is absolutely no way to counter a qualitative argument.
ReplyDeleteSince Obama's election France, Russia, Iran, Cuba and Venezuela have all publicly challenged American leadership. Not to mention Wall Street has tanked, tanked, tanked, which shows investors have serious doubts about American companies being profitable under the Obama Administration.
ReplyDeleteI hope Barack proves me wrong. I will be the first to give him credit when credit is due.
These are my doubts, that is all. I doubt Obama rises to the challenge. Unlike 54% of America, I'm setting the bar low for Barack... good luck fvcker!
OK, thinking more about this "Obama doesn't think America rules thing."
ReplyDelete1.) The best leader in a room is not necessarily the cockiest person in the room, nor is the cockiest person in the room the best leader (ie- massaging the shoulders of the German chancellor and being shrugged away).
2.) After 9/11/01, we had unprecedented levels of international support. But now, 7 years, 2 months and 8 days after Le Monde published a headline that read "We Are All Americans," we have a hard time finding anyone who wants to dance with us. Now, we can argue forever why that's so, but you said yourself Mike that Bush was perhaps a bit too much of a cowboy on the international stage, or something like that. Regardless, though, we are not thought of as highly as we were 7 years ago. Our reputation abroad is damaged. It needs to be fixed. Simply walking into a room and just thinking we're the best isn't going to fix that. It hasn't worked these past seven years. Time to give someone else a shot.
3.) You're basically questioning Obama's patriotism, right? That's particularly amusing. Did you "stare into his eyes and see his soul" like Bush did with Putin? How you could even begin to form that opinion, I don't know. Look at where he came from and the position he got elected to? He worked his ass off and just got elected president. No matter what your politics, that's pretty damn cool. How he could think poorly of his own country... I just don't understand.
4.) "France, Russia, Iran, Venezuela, Cuba." Really? Did these countries just start being douches to us this week? (Except for France, our oldest ally, and who we've always had a complicated relationship with.) Putin's been rearing his head in Alaska for years, your veep candidate said so herself.
I understand you have your doubts about how well Obama will do. Believe me, so do I. But your criticisms seem to stem from anger more than anything else. You say history will judge Bush kindly? Fine. Why can't you at least wait until history actually happens before you judge Obama?
I think Barack is patriotic. I don't think he hates America. I think he is willing to relinquish the title "Leader of the Free World". I don't think he sees himself as that.
ReplyDeleteAs for our international image. I would say that is all it is, its "image". I'm not trying to dumb this down, but if everyone jumped off a bridge does that mean we should? Just because the UN doesn't think we are cool, does that mean we should try to be cool? I'm seriously not trying to be simplistic here. I saw Bush standing up for principles I agree with, he just happened to be a really poor salesman, that doesn't mean what he was selling was bad. I don't think its fair to blame our state in the world on Bush's positions... blame it on his approach (I do).
I don't think Bush was selling anything different internationally than Reagan. Two differences though. 1) Reagan was the great communicator. 2) The "free" world was scared of Russia and stood with America. This time around the world wasn't as scared of terrorism and hung us out to dry. Same America, same message, same values... bad salesman, bad timing.
Why can't you at least wait until history actually happens before you judge Obama?
One basic reason. The majority of America has already judged him for success that hasn't happened. Need proof? Since his election I have seen the media christen him: The next Lincoln, JFK, FDR. The hoopla over Obama has built him up to something so big based on nothing except 'hope' and 'change'. So I would ask the opposite question: Why have we anointed him our savior? (btw, don't bother picking that last sentence apart... the love-fest is thick and not worth debating)
"France, Russia, Iran, Venezuela, Cuba." Really? Did these countries just start being douches to us this week?
ReplyDeleteNo but they all made public aggressive or anti-american actions since the election. Barack has been silent. I'm curious to see how we will respond. I have a feeling he will be a push over. I don't think any world leader wants to work with Obama... they want to use him. Sarkozy said as much on Wednesday... and France is an ally!
Jimmy, don't you see world leaders lining up waiting to take a piece of America, to chip us down a notch? I believe they see Obama willing to give away America in return for international friendship. I really see it this simple: America, we'll let you back in the club if you abandon everything we don't like about you.
I'll give Barack credit for one thing: He is a sneaky manipulative expert politician who obviously knows how to get what he wants. Since I completely believe he loves America maybe he can manipulate the UN and Co. ... who knows.
If you want to play nice and be "fair" and make Frenchmen happy, then you better be ready to give up your $30,000 Audi and $5 cups of Starbucks coffee because those luxuries that you hypocritically embrace are possible because of generations of self-interested, warring Americans before you.
ReplyDeleteWe need to keep our needs above any other nation's needs and use aid, sanctions, threats, bombs and bullets to protect our interests.
Maybe that's not "fair" enough for liberals to understand, but that's the REAL WORLD. So drop the hookah pipe and bongo drum and get a fuckin job and pay your own damn bills instead of waiting for Obama to help you with my money. PAY YO DAMN BILL AND YOU WON'T FREEZE YO ASS OFF!
Re: Media love fest for Barack
ReplyDeleteEvery president gets a honeymoon. Yes, even poor beleaguered George W. "Gil from The Simpsons" Bush.
Re: Countries that don't like us; Barack remains silent
Well, I say again, those countries have been assholes for years. Obama's not president yet. As he's said many times, we only have one president at a time.
Re: Leader of the Free World
I know that's been part of our lexicon for so long... But stop and think about that phrase for a minute. Is there anything about it that doesn't sound like it was made up by a 7th grader? WTF does it even mean? It sounds like an advertising term. "Free World"? Pakistan and Afghanistan are pretty fucking free - They've devolved into a loose confederation of tribal territories with zero control by Karzai and whoever succeeded Musharraf. I know you're into states rights, but should we go that far?
"I saw Bush standing up for principles I agree with..."
Please clarify exactly what those principles are. DIFFICULTY: No use of the term "Free World."
Every President gets a honeymoon... yeah, you are right. But that doesn't mean I personally have to give him one. I didn't say there shouldn't be a love-fest, I said I'm taking the opposing and equally unsubstantiated position which is doubt.
ReplyDelete"I saw Bush standing up for principles I agree with..."
See Part I of my Bush Legacy. My very first post was about some of the principles I agreed with Bush on.
Also, Bush had principles, I said I agreed with some of them... are you going to try and convince I don't agree with them? You had it right in your first post "There is absolutely no way to counter a qualitative argument."
And it wasn't an argument.
Alrighty then.
ReplyDeletePuppies are cute. Ice cream tastes good. Unicorns are awesome.
All irrefutable principles behind which I stand.