Obama Administration Had No Impact At World Economic Summit

[Better Believe It]

- That's a shame and a mistake -


CNN
Inteview With Fareed Zakaria

CNN: Who has made the most impact?

Zakaria: Russia's Putin and China's Wen Jiabao. Both gave speeches that in some sense scolded the West for its arrogance and its undisciplined policies. It was striking to watch -- a former Third World country and the former Soviet Union chastising the great Western powers. There is a feeling that one is in a "post-American world" to coin a phrase.

CNN: Is that because the Americans haven't shown up?

Zakaria: Well, there are plenty of Americans here. The language you hear most often on the streets is still English, with an American twang. It's that they do not dominate the agenda in the way that they used to. They're on the defensive.

But two absences are noticeable. The big American bankers, who took up a lot of airtime, aren't here. Understandably, they don't want to sit onstage and explain what went wrong. And the Obama team isn't much represented. That's understandable, but it's a shame. There are 41 heads of state here.

If Hillary Clinton or Joe Biden could have found a way to come, they could have done a fair bit of work.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/europe/01/30/zakaria.davos/index.html#cnnSTCText

[Tangerine LaBamba]

1. That's about the dumbest subject line imaginable

The "Obama administration" is less than two weeks old.

Give me a break.

[Better Believe It]

2. You don't think the Obama Administration should talk about economics???!!!!

The "Obama administration" is less than two weeks old."

That certainly hasn't stopped and shouldn't stop the Obama administration from presenting opinions on what needs to be done within the United States to end the economic crisis. So what's your point?

It's a yearly event. It was not a hastily arranged economic summit.

Of course, if you have nothing of importance to say about or to propose regarding the world-wide economic crisis your position in favor of the U.S. boycotting the summit makes absolute sense!

I'm sure Vice-President Biden would have been listened to closely by the world leaders in attendance.

And such meetings with these leaders would have been useful preparation for the G-20 meeting.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

8. Get real

In less than two weeks, the Obama administration has been dealing with domestic matters, which are a real mess, as you might have noticed.

I'm familiar with Davos, having been a guest there once. It's a big blowhard of a place, making lots of noise, giving lots of needy folks a temporary spotlight, accomplishing nothing.

Your comment about it being "a yearly event" is mystifying. Was "the Obama administration" supposed to starting preparing for it a year ago? T

Less than two weeks. Hold on to yourself and try to put a realistic lariat around your expectations.

[MADem]

4. I have to agree. If anyone EXPECTED them to have an impact, they're expecting too much.

If the meeting were a few months from now, the headline might be appropriate. We don't even have a fucking commerce secretary yet. People are still finding their way to the bathroom.

[Better Believe It]

6. We expect a lot from the Obama Administration .... that is true.

"People are still finding their way to the bathroom."

Oh I think Obama and his key aides found the bathrooms on day one.

You make it sound like we have a bunch of incompetent boobs in the White House!

They do have opinions on the world-wide economic crisis and the Obama administration could have and should have exchanged some preliminary views on this crisis with world leaders at Davos.

The non-attendance by U.S. bankers was understandble. The non-attendance by the Obama administration was odd, to say the least.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

13. Check out the real world

We have an administration less than two weeks old. An administration that inherited a country in horrendous shape. Everything is falling down.

And you think these people - some of whom haven't even been installed yet - are supposed to go to a meeting in Davos which is nothing more than a showcase for those hungering for yet another spotlight and which accomplishes nothing, and do something you haven't quite identified - was it "exchange(d) some preliminary views on this crisis with world bankers at Davos"?

What in god's name does THAT mean? "... preliminary views...."?

Get a grip.

[MADem]

21. No, I don't. I've done turnovers and I understand, like most people do, that these things take time

Why do you think that the media gives an incoming President a ninety to a hundred day "Honeymoon Period?" It has nothing to do with "incompetent boobs."

Simply put, it is UNDERSTOOD that people have to settle into their new positions. You can talk about "hitting the ground running" but the truth of the matter is that there's a lot of shakedown that happens in the opening days of any senior leadership job, be it President or Secretary of State or Chairman of the Joint Chiefs.

Send Top Shelf people to Davos, and you end up locking us in to decisions that haven't been fully formulated, or you end up pissing off leaders who expect MORE than we're ready to give. Davos is an intense environment, and "preliminary views" aren't the goal of the meeting--and the Obama crew just weren't ready to make firm commitments.

They can always go back and play a 'one on one' game later, but the timing was just too soon.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

9. What is it with some people?

Is it that they're that ignorant about the realities of how government works?

I mean, do they not have calendars?

[MADem]

23. They expect everyone within the administration to have a government-issue magic wand.

They don't realize that they're human, and these things take time. Many don't quite appreciate the confirmation process, either, I suspect.

I think the administration is proceeding at a decent clip in getting people installed, myself. Not too much agita or drama, but we've got to give them time to get everyone up and running.

[madrchsod]

5. yes it is dumb...but get used to it.

if he does`t rescue the world monday god only knows what they will write.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

11. On Tuesday, they'll be writing

about "the failed Obama administration," I suppose.

:toast:

[madrchsod]

3. the russian people have`t seen any of the money from the oil and gas fields

the chinese keeps their economy going by manipulating their currency and manufacturing knock off goods. they have a police state second only to Orwell's vision of england in 1984.

ya they have a right to lecture us...

[supernova]

7. Isn't there a G8 summit this summer?

Perhaps they were planning on making a bigger splash then.

I don't think not showing up at Davos is the end of the world.

[leftstreet]

25. Sardinia. But the G8 represent about 14% of the world's population

More like an exclusive club meeting really.

[Canuckistanian]

10. That's an unfair characterization

I heard an interview last night with an British journalist. He said that almost everyone was bitterly disappointed that Obama didn't send any high profile representatives there.

He said that everyone wanted to get Obama's opinion of one aspect or another of the economy or politics in general.

It's perfectly understandable that he didn't go this year, but that doesn't mean he's going to be ineffective or ignored on the world stage.

Obama made an impact even though he didn't attend.

[BlooInBloo]

12. You fail.

[jody]

14. Please cite one thing Clinton or Biden could have done to solve the world's economic problem. n/t

[Better Believe It]

15. You're claiming Obama Administration doesn't have a clue?

Well, it seems that you believe the Obama administration lacks any ideas on how to end this world-wide economic crisis.

If that's true, why do you think we elected Obama?

[jody]

17. Again, what could Clinton and Biden have done? n/t

[Better Believe It]

18. Whatever Obama would want them to do

You see, Obama is the President.

[jody]

19. What a brilliant answer. Have a good day and goodbye. n/t

[DCKit]

16. We'd be far better represented by the people who caused the mess.

And Davos is just down the road from the Hague. They could do it on a layover.

[leftstreet]

22. LOL

"And Davos is just down the road from the Hague"

:spray:

[Ikonoklast]

20. So President Obama didn't genuflect in front of Mammon

and it gives you one more reason to take a cheap shot at him. If he went, you would have said "What is Obama doing hobnobbing with billionaires while we are in the crapper back home?".



So predictable.



:eyes:

[ConsAreLiars]

24. Davos, and those who participate, are the problem, not the solution.

If Obama decided (the short time frame makes that uncertain), to pull back from participating in that gathering of world-class thieves, that would be a plus for him in my view.

[BlooInBloo]

26. Congratulations! This thread has officially changed from Tragic, to Comic.