Hope and Change baby, Hope and Change

In the Audacity of Hope, Obama notes:

that in foreign policy “our record is mixed” and calls for the U.S. to be more multilateral in dealing with other countries. He favors U.S. policies that “move the international system in the direction of greater equity, justice and prosperity.” Furthermore, when we follow the “international rules of the road,” he says, we send a message that “robs terrorists and dictators of the argument that these rules are simply tools of American imperialism.”

One of the problems the left has had with this country is our double standards. We had to attack Iraq but we let Darfur slide. We push for democracy but let Saudi Arabia into our inner circle.

On that note today we get an article in the Washington Post about toughening our standards for trade.

The Obama administration is aggressively reworking U.S. trade policy to more strongly emphasize domestic and social issues, from the displacement of American workers to climate change.

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…the administration vowed to make tougher labor and environmental standards prerequisites for trade deals.

So in order to

“move the international system in the direction of greater equity, justice and prosperity.”

……

The trade representative’s office also stated that trade policy must now contain a new element of “social accountability,” including on issues such as climate change. “We should aim to make trade a part of the tool kit of solutions for addressing international environmental challenges,” the statement said.

however the Chinese, who’s money we need get a pass on all the new “standards”.

Hillary Clinton: Chinese human rights secondary to economic survival

This is either a sign that human rights are also secondary to global warming, or it’s a sign that Hillary Clinton has so little say so that the administration is searching for ways to make her look like an ass.

Ah, leadership

I believe I’ll buy our new President a book to read.

The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Leadership (2nd Edition) (Paperback)

He clearly needs it as Brutally Honest shares a few scenarios.

Imagine sitting in a board meeting of a once successful company, one focused on an abysmal income statement, and the chairman reveals he’s overwhelmed.

Or it’s half-time in the locker room of a football team with a storied past, one down by about 3 touchdowns, and the head coach looks at each of you players and states that he’s overwhelmed.

Or you’re the patriarch of a large and usually propsperous family farm, one that’s coming out of a dreadful growing season, one where family members are looking to you for wisdom and you state that you’re simply overwhelmed.

Great.

Perhaps if he would quit worrying so much about what reporters think of him that he feels the need to call them up and explain.

Unbelievable.

And for todays’ decision. In the midst of a big ol overwhelming spending spree, Obama lifts the ban on federal dollars for embryonic stem cell research.

Yes, the government can now take even more imaginary money to spend on something it wants.

The BBC is kind enough to note that

Correspondents say the policy change is part of President Obama’s pledge to make clear that his administration wants scientific research to be free from political interference.

Yes, somehow, by using Federal money vs private money this is going keep research FREE of POLITICAL interference. Huh???

Bush’s “evil” decisions – right up until they are Obama’s

Yes, friends, Obama’s administration finds, once again, that the decisions made during those Bush years made some sense.

Outlaw

Jeff Goldstein aims high.

I was serious last night. I want out of the ridiculousness that the conservative blogosphere is becoming. I want to evolve into something more useful. Last night’s surreal encounter hammered that point home to me even more forcefully.
I have no desire any longer to debate people like Patterico, who can somehow get away with not having to answer a single point — and yet still have defenders worried about my tone rather than his inability to muster a cogent rebuttal.

From the comments:

BE PREPARED. Most especially, be prepared to look ‘em straight in the eye and say, “you lying [*]“, with the blank filled according to context and audience. They are. It’s what they do.

and even Malcom Reynolds comments.

This record here’s about twelve years old. Parliament buried it and it stayed buried until River here dug it up. This is what they were afraid she knew. And they were right to fear. There’s a universe of folk who’re gonna know it, too. Someone *has to* speak for these people. Y’all got on this boat for different reasons, but y’all come to the same place. So now I’m asking more of you than I have before. Maybe all. Sure as I know anything, I know this – they will try again. Maybe on another world, maybe on this very ground swept clean. A year from now, ten? They’ll swing back to the belief that they can make people… better. And I do not hold to that. So no more runnin’. I aim to misbehave.

You go Jeff!!!

Rush

I’ve stayed out of the Rush/Steele/GOP fray.
It turns out Jeff Goldstein says it better than I would anyway noting the bigotry of low expectations and once again bowing to the left because the right “sounds mean”.

I’m not fond of Rush – but not because of his beliefs. He’s annoying on a point to the point of gagging and his name calling and bragging do nothing for me. I’m a girl. I suspect that most of his audience is male though of course there are many women that listen to him too. I’m just saying.

But the one thing I do like about Rush is he doesn’t back down. (remember Reid and the phony soldiers))

Someone can call him a meanie or unpatriotic or treasoness and he laughs out loud and points out how that someone is wrong, not him.

The GOP would be smart to listen to Mr. Limbaugh.

The Administration

Here’s a question for you.

Do you suppose the Obama administration will give Mr. Krauthammer a call and explain as “sophisticated and fact-based” as possible without being “chastizing” their policies on pork and budgeting –

like they gave Mr. Brooks a call after he had spit up the Kool-Aid and so that he ended up giving this administration an entire column in the NYTimes, named after himself?

Ed Morrissey tries to explain who works for who to Mr. Brooks.

Does Brooks even think it’s their job to chasten him? They’re supposed to work for us, David, not the other way around. Remember that when you talk to them the next time. It might keep those pesky scales from reattaching themselves to your corneas.

Links

He’s just no who we thought he was, seems to be the normal refrain these days as the British press “discover” that President Obama is not into being questioned.
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The head of the NIC gets vetted, now.
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Diplomacy front and center, hah!
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Improving relations with Russia by kissing their tushies while farting on friends.

Sure, we want better relations with Russia – but not at the expense of our allies, our friends or our own interests. And that makes any strategic realignment with Moscow more of a far-off hope than a near-term reality.

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Beer commercials for guys. Enjoy!
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A video link filled with memories,
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And one that’s just hilarious.

Still Laughing

I’m still laughing between the tears as Der Spiegel headlines:

Obama Brings Toughness and Modesty to Foreign Policy

While Obama himself states that as a President he’s very good at it:

When Barack Obama met with TV anchors at a White House lunch last week, he assured them he likes being president. “And it turns out I’m very good at it,” he added.

?? ROFLMAO

In the meantime, others are looking for a President vs a campaigner.

bama’s political advisors may have told him that dealing with the banking system will be politically difficult. I’m told almost every theme in Obama’s speech last Tuesday night was focus-group tested – and the speech played pretty well politically. But the markets weren’t impressed. Isn’t it time for Obama and his team to get up the nerve to stop playing politics and to govern?

I’m with that guy (William Kristol)

Busting a Gut

I am busting a gut laughing/crying this morning as the administration, which is filled with tax cheats goes after those who move their money off shore legitimately.

Afghanistan Agriculture

In January, I suggested again that we, the US, buy up Afghan opium with all the money that we grow on our trees rather than spend it burning up farms and making enemies.

Today, Tai Chi Policy notes that Afghanistan has a new crop. Saffron! Apparently it grows well in Afghanistan.

Worldwide demand for Afghan saffron is rising, and the price has doubled in the past year to an average of $1,360 per pound – or roughly 38 times what poppy farmers in the southern part of the country earn.

Cool.