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Obama effect for the world |
Author: Monte
Date:
5 Nov 2551 19:21
The historic election of Barack Obama will have global implications in a new and positive direction. commitments to a new foreign policy, economic measures, military objectives, stem cell research, and ecological goals will go into effect within months. The years of an unpopular Bush policy shall be relegated to the history books. It is thought that Obama represents a true breath of fresh air for the american people and how they interact with the global community. I can tell you of extreme optimism in the United States post election, but what can this mean for those beyond our borders ? |
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| Reply # 36 | |
Author: Monte
Date: 26 Nov 2551 17:08
OK Guys, heres the new deal for Obama, we save Ford and GM, and let Chrysler go. In yesterdays crash test results, Chrysler could'nt produce one safety winner. If Mercedes could not help them, then who the hell are we ? Call it thinning the herd. They don't make Roadrunners with hemi engines anymore anyway, so who needs them? Who wants another minivan? |
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| Reply # 35 | |
Author: Colin Yai
Date: 21 Nov 2551 11:59
Hi Monte, Saddam had plenty of advance warning to hide his WMD,s{ if he had any}??? in the vast deserts and mountains of Iraq, however this amounts to pure speculation on my behalf either way, and to be candid your guess is probably far better than mine. |
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| Reply # 34 | |
Author: Don Aleman
Date: 21 Nov 2551 11:41
You are right Monte, the Big 3 leders were more than a little embarrassed by the question of chartered jets in lieu of commercial flights. Now, as Bush spent some $50,00,000 on his Inauguation Ball, I await reports on Obama's bash. If he were really, really smart he would announce "everyone invited to the ball, to be held at a public park, and hotdogs and hamburgers would be served" I doubt the food cost would exceed $100,000 a far cry from $50.000,000 which would compell me to do some re thinking.
Ah, dreams ! |
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| Reply # 33 | |
Author: Monte
Date: 21 Nov 2551 08:47
Thanks Colin and Observer, I have an old question that still lingers in my mind, " What did Saddam do with the WMD's?" he would never have given them to Iran, as he hated them. Syria? Perhaps we will never know, we only know that he had them at one time. One thing you should be aware of Observer, Obama has commited to increaseing the forces in Afghanistan, thats where the really bad guys are. Obama will get us outta Iraq, even if we have to moonwalk out. Don, as we were talking about the "Big Three", the CEO's show up in front of the Congressional hearing, having all taken seperate private corporate jets to D.C., hat in hand, ready for their 25 Billion dollar bailout. Some days you don't know whether to laugh or cry. |
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| Reply # 32 | |
Author: Colin Yai
Date: 20 Nov 2551 05:10
HI Monte,#30 as usual your no nonsense truthful post , in regards to the ISRAELI /PALESTINIAN problem , the Palestinians cannot even live at peace with one another and have lived on a virtual civil war footing for the last 18 months or so with Hamas in GAZA and Fattah on the West bank, the big problem is that the Iranians are fighting a war by proxy against the West and Israel , they supply HAMAS in GAZA with money and support , the same with HESBOLLAH in Lebanon , sophisticated roadside bombs to the Taliban in AFGHANISTAN, also in my view and indeed many others who are far better informed than anyone who contributes to this forum Iran is actively seeking WMD,s of course people will say ahh but the Israelis have them!, quite right but Israel has never threatened to wipe Iran off the face of the Map has it, i am well aware that the situation in Gaza is DIRE to say the least and will undoubtedly stay the same until they stop fireing rockets onto civilian areas in southern Israel , one should have a close look at Hamas,s charter if one thinks that it is a peaceable organisation |
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| Reply # 31 | |
Author: observer
Date: 19 Nov 2551 14:01
Reply#Monte
Well ..Monte ..thanks once again for considering somethings which i kno im not wrong .
This shows a bit of honesty , sincereity & good ethics ...which is what the united states politicians or perhaps all over the world politicians are lacking , and this has always linked with Political ideology and fear control within themselves..and this links to the economic instability all over the world because there r good politicians too in this world who would want to do something good but they r bieng ruined by the bad ones .
About ..corporates controlling the military ..i wont talk much as there is noone who would belive it ...but the future will prove ..and than you ull hve to assesss it .
About mexico ...what u have said ..than i think ..US should have invaded full of mexico instead of invading Iraq n Afghanistan..when they cant take care of their own nieghbours ..how can they be a world policeman ..
Certainly there is lot of double standarads in their foriegn policy ..which is another lack of trust between the world leaders ..a simple example of Georgia invasion of their nieghbours.
Well monte..i wont argue with u much ..but u kno it ..very well there r lot of things ..anyway things do go wrong as u mention ..there is no system which is correct ..but instead of changing the system to be better ..it is becoming worst ..ofcourse not materialistic way but ethically and morally and logically the world is goin in a totally wrong direction ..this shows that communism or anarchy or dictatorship was and is better ..atleast they r learning and changing for the good but where is the democracy goin ..instead of good ..going worst.
About the answer for Israel n palestian ...there is nothing which cannot be solved but there is niether side which is ready to sacrifice..which is a shame ...if u ask me about uneducated people cant solve or cant do much ..or cant talk much ..so how about highly educated people ....cant they do something? As this is the root cause of our world problems..as u kno it links with terrorism and all things .
So anyway i wish u goodluck for your good thinking ..i hope one day perhaps you could be a good help or be a good adviser to those who really need it .
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| Reply # 30 | |
Author: Monte
Date: 18 Nov 2551 14:59
Observer, i agree with you on only some things. This economic mess the whole world is in may not be solved by Barack Obama or anyone within the US. It has gotten too large. I don't believe corporations run military decisions. Political ideaology and fear control much of what countries do to one another. I do agree that sometimes corporate pressure may have some influence, but only to a small effect. Also, no one political party, in any system i can think of, has been correct for the long term, Can you name one? The Tories or Labour in Britian? PPP or PAD in Thailand ? Barack and the democrats now get their time in the sunshine, we can only hope they always do the "right thing". Unfortunatly Mexico has always been a mess, built on crime and corruption, much like alot of central and south america, africa, and it seems southeast asia. I don't feel we, as americans are responsible for the poverty in Mexico. Their poor leadership has led them down this path, much like Philippines and many countries we could name. I don't agree in government bailouts as such, they are too discriminatory. This is an area where politics and corporations may be in collusion, in that who decides who gets bailed out? Do you continue to save a dying corporate giant? I don't feel either answer is completely correct for that dilemma.......As you see, I have no answer for Isreal and Palestine either, they may have to learn a way to coexist. |
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| Reply # 29 | |
Author: observer
Date: 18 Nov 2551 03:00
Reply#monte
Dear Monte , i wish and hope your thinkings , sayings and feelings would be right one day for sure but presently im still not convinced and i would love to see it too .and lets hope too for good. But i still doubt it and not convinced yet ..due to past mistakes created by both Democrats and Republicans or the corporated power.
Unfortunately ..with the foriegn policy ..democrats were the ones too who voted and pushed Bush to go for a proxy gulf war ...
Economically ...no government ...either Mc or Ob would be able to solve the problems ...because the world has lost trust in american leadership ..i mean the real world ..not the politicians world ..the reason behind is ..first ...noone until now could solve the Israeli -Palestian problems.. all talk ...just the way they talk differently when they go for voting ..ofcourse they all promise but the people s dreams never comes true . Just the way people protested for anti war but no there was no democracy ..my friend this is business and serious business ..oil and many other motives .
Third....militarily...no president of unitedstates have any power to control the military ..that is because it is controlled by corporations and not by the government...states military is like a partnership company owned by corporates not by the poeple ..
Fourth...regarding bailing out the corporate companies was another serious mistake ...either agreed by both ..or not ..HEy how about ..if they would have seriously bailed out people who were loosing their homes ..wouldnt it be cheaper ..but it wont happen ..for sure.
How about mexico which is a border country to states ..i couldnt belive when i visited that it was so poor that ..crimes and people living below poverty ....Im sorry Monte to say that ..but that is the truth ..and it is a white truth ...u cant change white to black ....moon will be moon and the sun will be sun . I have great respect for americans and the british but no trust.
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| Reply # 28 | |
Author: Monte
Date: 17 Nov 2551 17:01
Observer, there were real differences between Obama and McCain, different philosophies on handleing the wars and economy. McCain kept talking about winning in Iraq and that was definately something we americans did'nt want to hear, as it sounded too much like "W". McCain also said that the fundamentals of our economy were sound, right in the middle of the shitstorm. Just to be old, is one thing, but to be outta touch is something all together different. I truly respect John McCain and feel the senate shall be his ceiling in US politics. By the way, i prefer Coke over Pepsi, and Burger King over McDonalds. And, if you feel corporations run everything, we should not have to bailout the big three ? Maybe Walmart could buy them ??? |
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| Reply # 27 | |
Author: observer
Date: 16 Nov 2551 15:40
Hey ..doesnt matter who ever takes side of anyone .whether Ob or Mc..they are both the same ..group of corporates companies...whether you drink pepsi or cola , mac or burger king ..is all the same corporates who control .
US politics is like a hollywood movie ..which can send a person to the moon ..so the elections or voting thru the exaagerated media s ..is all the same ..to fool the normal civilians...its like ...if there is a hero ..there should be villian ...
Last 10 yrs ...US media ..made Bush as a villian ...so this coming ..5 yrs they want to make Obama as Jesus ...what a bible .... |
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| Reply # 26 | |
Author: Colin Yai
Date: 13 Nov 2551 20:41
Good post Neutral,#22 i can see you have put some thought into it , i,m a McCain man myself, but i wish Obama all the luck in the world to sort this mess out and by the look of others posters are are far better qualified than myself to make a comment he,s going to need all he can get ,and i really think its high time to put country before party and all pull together, ok when the country,s back on an even keel again they can carry on tearing each other to pieces , which i would add is quite the norm here in Thailand under any circumstances. |
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| Reply # 25 | |
Author: Monte
Date: 13 Nov 2551 08:09
What an economic storm, also two wars he will inherit from W. Today the dow dropped another 411 points, its like a snowball effect now. But, if Obama can right this ship at all, he will certainly get a second term. Where does that leave Hilary...2016 againest Palin? Hopefully the republicans can come up with somebody more tuned in than Sarah Palin. I've changed my stance on the big three's bailout, even tho they make shitty cars, there are to many jobs involved and Obama has pretty much commited to do it. As the world turns/ If its this bad in the states, i can't imagine whats in store for the rest of the world. |
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| Reply # 24 | |
Author: Hilary's fan
Date: 12 Nov 2551 14:24
Congratulations to Obama, I am not surprised at Obama's victory.
If he can come from behind to deny USA first woman president there is no way John Mcclain can win the President election.
I would have thought since he is only 45 years old, Democrats should let Hilary Clinton be the nominee and become the first Lady President instead and maybe Obama can wait for another few years. If nothing serious is to happen to affect Hilary Clinton's reputation I am sure She will be the next USA president.
Hope Obama will choose a very outstanding secretary of state.
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| Reply # 23 | |
Author: Monte
Date: 11 Nov 2551 19:39
I have good friends in Atlanta and Palm Beach who sell Mercedes, or who i should say used to sell Mercedes. Reports are business is deader than dead. People coming off leases will have to lease again. Palm Beach market will be insulated only by the fact it has a huge snowbird population of wealth from the north. Neutral is correct, Obama has advocated a bailout already in his meeting with "W" yesterday. My suggestion is, find a Honda or Toyota, built in Japan. The seriel or V.I.N. number will start with a "J", and ride out the storm. |
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| Reply # 22 | |
Author: Neutral
Date: 11 Nov 2551 15:18
It will be a tough call by the government to bail out GM or let them go through the bankruptcy process. A moral or business decision. I am eagerly waiting for this one. Just how much is the bail out is changing every day like the AIG bailout which is now twice the original amount at a staggering USD150 B. Just how much of tax payers money will be used to bail out an in-efficient company. Government dug deep to bail out few finance institutions already and there will be more in months to come. Even with the bail out, there will be massive restructuring and retrenchments to right size the behemoth organisation. The unions will have to role a key role in this. GM is now rated as a worthless company with no suitor. At the end of the day, I think the government really have no choice but to bail out GM. Obama will be the kind of leader who will advocate a bail out. |
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| Reply # 21 | |
Author: Don Aleman
Date: 11 Nov 2551 04:20
Monte,
My past post suggests that the auto industry is not at fault and if that is the impression I gave then I apologize. The US auto industry is the number 1 culprit in the present crisis. They should have seen what was on the drawing board, downsized, closed plants, began hybrid production long, long ago. I was only trying to say that had not other influences been at work, they might have been able to save themselves.
Yes, steel production in the US is way down but, many people, even Poland for example, depend on a strong auto market to survive. In a nutshell I just think a shut down of the auto plants would be a global problem so it is to late for finger pointing and past time for fixing the problem themselves.
I think that "Murphy's Law" applies here - "if something bad can happen, it will" and Law #2 "if several bad things can happen simoultaneously, count on it."
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| Reply # 20 | |
Author: Monte
Date: 10 Nov 2551 16:41
Don, you are probably correct and as ever, the voice of reason,an envyable attribute much like Obama...ha! I do think much of our steel is outsourced. The steel mill i worked at in Chicago Heights,Ill., in 1969 is outta business as is youngstown and much of pennslyvanias plants...eh? It just bothers me that they {auto mfgrs) continue to be so disfunctional and once again the taxpayer shall bail them out. Nobody has suggested that the UAW cut back on dues and payscales to say 1980 levels. Perhaps ford could scale back to pickups, vans, and only cars that get 30 mpg or better ? If they all had to meet fuel mileage limits in order to have something to sell, could they live with the consequences? The whole system of governments, selectively bailing out private sector industries, will not fly in the new world. Thats my main point. |
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| Reply # 19 | |
Author: Chaiyo Thailand
Date: 10 Nov 2551 14:33
Indeed, like millions of people around the world, I'm happy Obama is elected as the 44th USA President.
Our expectations are high especially after hearing his campaign speeches for the last 21 months making so many promises and building up one hope after another.
Like any other politician, I would think it will be very difficult for him to keep all his promises. Sometimes you have to make sweet promises during the campaign to make the litseners happy and win their hearts and their votes but difficult to keep them once you are elected for all sorts of reasons. Eg blame others for not co-operating to see it through.
My gut feelings says Obama is Hard Working, Sincere, Transparent and Compromising but in decision making he cannot have the final say at all times even though he is the President. He has to litsen to his advisers from time to time or else they will call him stubborn and leave. Alot will depend on what type of advisers he will choose. So far so good.
Based on his up bringing, I think he will understand the problems facing the world better but the question is, will he be able to solve them. He is taking the right step to fix USA economic first as that would help to fix world economies after that. Did you notice when US show positive data Dow goes up and the Stock indices around the world also go up.
I just hope the wars US is fighting currently does not take up too much of his time to solve them and he can put more time and effort to solve the Financial meltdown. Those who have benefitted from the wars should now help him to extinguish them. Enough is enough.
I pray that no evil man harms him.
GOD Bless Thailand, USA and the World.
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| Reply # 18 | |
Author: Don Aleman
Date: 9 Nov 2551 22:52
Monte,
You write about the US auto industry as though there were no workers involved, just fat cat corporations. If the industry is allowed to fail the layoffs will equal the 1929 depression ! The corporations, workers, businesses, ( steel mills for one ), asociated with the auto companies employe some 700,000 workers worldwide and pay billions of dollars in taxes.
Many companies make nothing else but tires, batteries, seats, etc., only for the auto industry so production cannot be changed to another line. Add to that the car dealers, repair shops, insurance companies, auto transport trucks and trains and you have a catastrophic, almost unimaginable total collapse, and not just in the US. A US parts manufacturer just announced a new parts plant to be built in Rayong in 2009 -this would be cancelled along with many other future production plans and plants. Auto & steel workers enjoy company paid medical & retirement plans - who will take up this financial gap if they are not working ?
While I agree that under the capitalistic system corporations should be self supporting this, present, situation was brought about from many circumstances - oil prices, home mortgage failures, inflation, banking problems and a tightening of credit. Even foreign auto makers are announcing cut backs in production and lay offs already.
Ford, GM, & Chrysler all have foreign suppliers, ( my Dodge Caravan had a Mitsuibishi engine ), and I didn't include their unemployment figures.
I don't believe this combination has ever happened before. Chrysler Corp., some years ago, had a competitive problem, ( lousy cars ), the gov. made a 1 & 1/2 billion dollar loan to be paid in 10 years, was paid in 4 years and with hefty interest. The taxpayers actually made money !
Keep in mind that just 2 industries, auto & steel, have been the
back bone of the US economy for the last 75 + years and then, Monte, maybe reconsider your thought on the massive repercussions of a US auto manufacturers shut down. Personally I believe a 3rd World War wouldn't be as bad. |
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| Reply # 17 | |
Author: Colin Yai
Date: 9 Nov 2551 14:45
Get a Clue, #15 i,ve always admired a guy who is prepared to put his money were his mouth is , although i confess i have no knowledge of such matters , evidently you do!!, good post , i for one am looking forward to return fire!!. |
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| Reply # 16 | |
Author: Monte
Date: 8 Nov 2551 22:23
Colin, you are correct about Obama will inherit the whole legacy of issues from "W". One will be coming to the aid of US auto industry,whether he should or not is debatable. Part of his campaign was assuring Michigan voters a remedy to their unemployment figures. Tho i am happy to have President-elect Obama, i do not agree that the US automakers should be bailed out by federal tax dollars. There poor engineering, quality control, and the collusion of United Auto Workers union, have led to products few americans have an appetite for. I think the time has come that the governments of all countries should bite the bullit and end the subsidys to industries and business's that can't compete. Sorry, as i am on the soapbox about this right now, with the evil Walmart on the horizon.......HA!! |
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| Reply # 15 | |
Author: Get a Clue
Date: 8 Nov 2551 04:18
You have no idea what you are talking about. Every since the US signed the WTO and NAFTA, America's trade deficit has exploded exponentially. So much for your unsubstantiated theory that the US rigs trade agreements in its favor.
By the way, Thailand has been running a trade surplus with the US for decades as well, usually between $7-10 billion a year. Thailand signed FTAs with Japan and China. Guess who is on the losing end of that stick?
Before you spout your misinformation, you should do a Google search to verify what you are talking about. I dare you to go dig up the trade statistics/empirical evidence and prove that the US rigs trade agreements in its favor. I know facts are not your cup of tea, but they may help you with your delusions in the long run.
Moonoi wrote:
"I do not think that a free trade agreement with the US would benefit Thailand in the long run, possibly the short term. One thing with US trade agreements and you mention Nafta is that they normally are weighted heavily in the US favor. Ask the Canadians about softwood lumber tariffs imposed by the US to keep softwoods out of the US thus protecting their softwood lumber pricing. I can see the same thing happening with Thai rice and shrimp - trade agreement or not and Thailand does not have nearly as much political clout as Canada does with it's neighbour."
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| Reply # 14 | |
Author: Colin Yai
Date: 7 Nov 2551 20:46
Hi Monte , as i ain,t an American i,m not really qualified to speak on these matters, however race is a universal subject and not just an American thing, Obama for the last 6 months or so has talked the talk, pretty soon he,s going to have to walk the walk, and hard decisions will confront him of which there is no quick fix or magic wand, we have seen it all before when the euphoria die,s away and the dawn of truth suddenly hits the electorate that this guy is only human after all , i saw OPRAH WINERIES sickening display of what i viewed as outright racism on TV when she was rejoicing that Obama had won the presidency, the next 2 years or so is going to be interesting , as for me as an outsider looking in i tend to lean towards my good friend Don,s summing up of the situation, and being i think i know his mindset as a true patriot i,m certain he hopes he is wrong , as for me i have my reservations. |
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| Reply # 13 | |
Author: Steven
Date: 7 Nov 2551 21:13
Just remember, the 44th President of America won`t be Barack Hussein Obama.
It will Joe Biden |
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| Reply # 12 | |
Author:
Date: 7 Nov 2551 18:57
As usual Monte you are right about Andrew Young in that he has, not yet, been indicted for anything but, Atlanta is still, a scary place to be past sundown. Major construction came to a stand still years ago and no leading corporations, due to employee reluctance have headquartered in Atlanta - want a nice promotion and pay raise & relocate to Atlanta ? Nooooooo !
UPS has their main "hub' in Altanta and if lost, Atlanta will become another Detroit. |
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