Perhaps also known as crazy wisdom in the Buddhist tradition....it's good to see you, Tim...xox

I'm still miffed by all our major solar panel manufacturing moving to China, after the government subsidized this vital environmental program, originally planned to open up thousands of new jobs here. What happened? Why do we keep selling out to off shore labor? Will this further the end to the US as a once thriving industrial nation? Stifling job growth where the promise was there? Can't get too excited about the mixed messages surrounding our dubious relations with China and the resultant continued job loss.

Tim, what's even more ironic is that the host is the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize winner who has been escalating drone attacks upon Pakistan, carrying forward with his wars upon Iraq, Afghanistan, and Yemen, refusing to prosecute war criminals of his predecessor's regime, continuing rendition, ordering the assassination of those on his own say so that are "enemies of the state," etc.

I was very amused to hear an excerpt from Obama's speech while greeting the Chinese leader and how it elevates a nation and the world to honor human rights. Very amused!

Teddy Roosevelt has the Medal of Honor as well as the Nobel Peace Prize. One can be both the lion and the lamb with no contradiction. Although TR was a right-wing imperialist when he began, I think he had a genuine moral sea-change the more involved he became in politics. By the 1912 election, he had been transformed and was very much on the Left.

That said, Obama is no Teddy Roosevelt. TR was a reformer masquerading as a conservative. Obama is a conservative that masquerades as a reformer.

This whole deal with China is basically a modern-day KowTow. We owe them lots of money and they are in union with the financial interests that are bringing this country down. When banks work with China to fleece the American people, the American nation and American worker suffer as a result. TR would agree.

r

Obama is the first Affirmative Action Nobel Laureate along with being the first Affirmative Action president of the United states of America. So…just like everybody else in this Disney World of a country I implore you Timothy not to hold our dear leader up to the previously established standards of neither of those “accomplishments”. Don’t be such a stick in the mud Tim.

@ Rw its close to 900 billion and guess what? Their not getting any of it only dinner with the anointed one.

What has the US ever had to do with peace? It has been at war (or involved in some sort of military action) since its inception.

Very interesting, Tim.

like space....the final irony

Pleasure to see you too Robin. Not up on myBuddist traditions, but I like the sound of "crazy wisdom"

Cathy - I'd be willing to bet the company you reference knew what it was going to do before it too the federal money. They are all pigs at the trough of the public dole.

Yes Dennis, you are spot on. I found it interesting to go back and read the note on the Nobel site that goes with his "winning" of the prize.

Rw - I like the way you put that ~ "TR was a reformer masquerading as a conservative. Obama is a conservative that masquerades as a reformer. "

Jack, I dont buy the Affirmative Action concept as regards Obama. I think he won more on the basis of "anyone but Bush" and McInsane was too much like another Bushie. That being said, I'm not holding Obama up to anything. I am interested to think about how the 2009 winner is treating the guy who is treating the 2010 winner so poorly.

Sky - find a book named Power Faith and Fantasy, a history of the US in the middle east 1776 to the present. Given your comment, you may have already read it. Yes, we have been at war either with the natives, our masters, our competitors or ourselves as long as we have been a people. Sad.

Thank you Elijah! I like how you put that. The essence of irony......

Oh my gosh. That is insane really. Like crazy ironic (I'm not Buddhist enough to say "crazy wisdom".) I'm wincing...a lot. Thanks for this Tim. Enjoy the snow.

Trilogy - I'd rather laugh than cry :)

Hi Mary! One of those uncomfortable moments, yes? BTW, my stepson is now in his 3rd hour of trying to get home from Boulder County..... this one isnt snow, its sheet ice!

Tim,

Thanks so much for asking me over. Please do again as I sometimes miss my favs.

It is truly ironic. I am very glad that President Obama has addressed human rights issues with China. I am hoping that he mentioned this irony in private.

I suppose that anything less than a state dinner would have made the Chinese lose face. Very complex situation.

Yes, I understand this is the most complex relationship on the planet right now in terms of geopolitical import Steph. Much too complex for even a "war and peace" sized blog.
Thanks for coming by!

Take another little peace of my heart Obama

Tim, fine observation, and the press (popular that is)left it alone...as far as I know. It is a supreme irony.

The business of America, as they say, is business. Why else do you suppose Lloyd Blankenfeld, CEO of Goldman Sachs, was invited to dinner? That just about says it all.

A fine post, Tim. Well laid out.

I know Tom. Its 2 steps forward and back to go.

Gary, thank you. And no, I haven't seen this anywhere in the press. But then no one asked me to write for them either.

From the man whose work is always so well put together here I take that as the highest compliment Kent. Thank you.

Yeah. The good ol' Us of A has never arrested peace activists. And it doesn't STILL hold thousands of Cubans in refugee camps; some of which have been interred in those camps for over 20 years!! Heck they have kids who were born in them who are now of college age!

Of course we won't even mention Gitmo and other "dark" facilities that the US operates around the world.

I can't imagine how the President could have induced anyone from China to sit in the same room with him, let alone have dinner at his table.

.