US Mid Terms; Obama Enters the Ring
America gets ready to rumble in the November mid terms, as Barack Obama enters the ring. At stake is control of both houses and the fate of the Trump presidency.
barack obama
Remember President Obama?
The world has changed dramatically since Barak Obama was President of the United States.
The Democrats and Russia
The Trump presidency appears to be in a death spiral because of the Russia issue. But the Democrats are not taking advantage. Why?
New Zealand folds and apologises to Israel
New Zealand has completely backed down from its original position of opposing the illegal occupation by Israel of Palestinian land and apologised to Israel for damaging the relationship.
The first 100 Global Trump days
Donald Trump’s had his first 100 days ruling his big chunk of the world. Things have changed dramatically from Barack Obama’s time.
Keep it in the ground
In the last days of the Obama presidency the current President is taking steps to protect the Arctic from oil drilling.
America’s broken democratic system
Through partisan control of the electoral system and continuing attempts to suppress votes America’s electoral system is in clear need of an overhaul.
Was Obama a good President?
How will history judge Barack Obama as president?
The good ones get it
A recent interview with Barack Obama displayed an understanding of the problems offered by globalisation but also understands the complex relationship between trade, elites, workers, and redistribution.
Obama calls for international tax reform – what will Key do now?
Key has made it clear that he doesn’t care that NZ is operating as an international tax haven. When The Greens called for action he called them “barking mad”. But last night President Obama called for international action on tax reform. What will Key do now?
National admits the ETS is broken
Paula Bennett has conceded that the Emissions Trading Scheme is not working and that the two for one scheme which halves the cost of carbon credits for major polluters will be phased out. But when?
Amazing Grace
Barack Obama sings the spiritual Amazing Grace during the eulogy for Clementa Pinckney, one of those killed by a racist gunman in Charleston. Not completely in tune, but he hits the right note. As his Presidency winds down, Obama has one last opportunity to move the American mindset. The rule of the gun must end.
The NRA is a terrorist organisation
In the land of the free and the brave the NRA is trying to say that the way to stop incidents such as the Charleston Church massacre is to have more guns. And the right are trying to dispute the reality that the incident was caused by racism.
The state of the union
American commentator William Rivers Pitt on Obama’s state of the union.
The United States mid term Elections
Some brief thoughts on what happened in the United States election this week combined with a guest post by Ad on the challenges that progressive parties are facing in the Western World.
Kennedy Graham: Key’s UN speech “B-“
Good on Kennedy Graham for posting a good critique of Key’s UN speech, while the MSM largely report the speech in uncritical and glowing terms., Graham focuses on Errors of Omission. [Update: Key’s Omission of Kampala non-aggression Agreement, implicitly supports Obama’s UN speech for US military aggression.]
Sequester USA
As the result of their political deadlock, automatic sequestration (budget cuts) have been triggered in America. This won’t end well for the economy – or the Republicans.
Obama talks the talk on climate change
The first State of the Union of Obama’s second term was widely anticipated. As many hoped, Obama made a strong statement on climate change. Good start – now let’s see words become actions – please…
US election: live
Obama wins.
Stuck in a hotel room in the US, with cable TV, fast internet and not a lot else – I’ll keep you up to date with what’s happening. It’s been an incredibly negative campaign – $2.5 billion spent on the presidential race at last count, mostly on deriding the other guy. Still, the Oracle, Nate Silver has Obama at 91% odds to win. I’ll try and keep an eye on all the close races – because who controls the Senate and the House matter very much too.
Gay marriage – what is wrong with us
Gay marriage looks set to become a “key election issue” in the Obama vs Romney presidential contest. How utterly depressing.
Romney vs. Obama
With the effective withdrawal of Rick Santorum from the Republican primary process, Mitt Romney is now all but certain to be the Republican nominee to go up against Barack Obama in the Presidential election this year.
No byline
Gotta love the piece in the Herald today about Key[s]’s meeting with Obama. No mention of what was discussed or achieved (nothing). Just ‘oh they got along. And Key would have made Obama laugh. If Obama wasn’t busy with important stuff’. Best part in this non-bylined article is the list of what makes them such good buddies.
Obama comes up Trumps
Watch Obama do Donald Trump like a dinner at the White House Correspondents’ party.
Trump didn’t like it. Crybaby.
Giffords shooting fall-out
Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords survived the assassination attempt but the political fall-out has just begun. In the US’s strange post-modern politics, Obama’s speech is the most popular thing he’s done, while Sarah Palin screwed up badly. Meanwhile, guns like the one used are flying off the shelves and Arizona is relaxing gun laws further.
Write your own headline
“PM plays power games with President Obama” reads the headline! Sounds exciting doesn’t it? Alas. The actual events described are somewhat pathetic. Key went personally begging for a photo op but the President of the US was too busy doing stuff that mattered. I think I could have written a much more accurate headline. I’m sure you can too…
Hollow man on the world stage
Judged by his own terms, what has John Key actually achieved on trade? He talked big about Japan’s trade barriers – no-one paid him any attention. Russian FTA talks were announced – it’ll be worth just $27 million. Key’s meeting with ‘good mate’ Obama – actually sitting “pretty much next to” him during a play. And still no White House invite.
Focused on what matters
John Key has been on holiday in Japan for the last few days ahead of APEC while the real international leaders are in Korea for the G20. Key is keen to have a ‘pull-aside’ with Obama but, now, disaster: the US has limited the number of Kiwi media that can cover the smiling and waving. Key has leaped into action.
Where’s the White House invite, John?
John Key proved one thing this week. When it comes to international affairs, he’s full of s**t. Despite all his claims about being best buds with Barack Obama, he didn’t even get an invite to meet him from top U.S. diplomat Hillary Clinton. He probably didn’t help future chances either by referring to Hillary as “President Clinton”. You sure are a class act John.
Key to get White House invite?
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is on her way to New Zealand this week, bringing the customary promises of good will and better relations between our two countries.
The big question is however: Will Clinton be bringing the overdue White House invite for our Prime Minister? John Key has claimed after all he and Obama are best pals… and he can pick up the phone anytime. Now’s the test.
Stewart interviews some guy called Obama
It’s a strange world we live in when comedians step out of the box and become the best political interviewers that America has to offer. But so it goes! Here is Jon Stewart interviewing President Obama. It will be interesting to see how the Stewart / Colbert Rally to Restore Sanity goes this weekend.
Good luck I say
It seems Sarah Palin is stepping up her campaign to be the Republican’s candidate to run against President Obama in 2012. The world couldn’t ask for a better candidate to oppose Obama: She won’t have a show in hell.
The Obama of the South Seas
The bizarre project to try to portray John Key as the Obama of the South Seas continues. Garth George today writes: “The new […]
Imagine
I grew up in the long shadow of the Cuban Missile Crisis (you youngsters can go look it up). I have never quite […]
X-rated
There’s a lot of fuss about at the moment over Ayman al-Zawahri’s labelling of Barack Obama as the kind of “house negro” described […]
No one likes McCain
Ever wondered what would happen if the whole world could vote for the President of the United States? According to The Economist’s online […]
Key, leadership, and the audacity of hope
Perhaps Mr Key is feeling a little regretful about comparing himself to Barack Obama. Certainly the chutzpah inherent in such a comparison has […]