Does it Matter if a President Served?
Ron Paul is blasting Newt Gingrich for his enthusiasm in supporting military engagements in the Middle East after taking advantage of student deferments in his youth. While Gingrich tends to favor an active military presence, Paul, who served as an Air Force flight surgeon, is the most isolationist Republican candidate in generations. This brings up two important questions. Should what a young adult decided to do in their late teens or early/mid twenties impact their moral standing to order troops in to battle decades later? Do presidents with more military background do a better job of making these decisions? Voters have shown no willingness to favor military experience as an end in itself in determining qualifications for Commander-in-Chief. In 1992, draft-avoider Bill Clinton defeated World War II pilot George H.W. Bush. Four years later, he dispatched Bob Dole, seriously wounded in Italy during World War II. George W. Bush was criticized for spending the Vietnam War … [Read More...]
Will China Bury the U.S.?
Apparently, we are doomed to fall inexorably further behind a rising China unless we start acting more like they do. So says Andy Stern, ex-President of the SEIU and frequent Obama White House visitor. Stern is not alone in his sentiments, while his position is a bit more extreme, many mainstream pundits and corporate executives have argued we need a serious government industrial policy to compete in the 21st century. We’ve heard this story before. In the 1980s, Japan was poised to become … [More...]
The Importance of Negotiating from Strength
America's business relationship with China is back under the microscope. The economy is stagnant, China is surging. The only question is whether China will have the world's largest economy sooner, or much sooner. With China holding a large amount of U.S. government debt, America is scared and feels boxed in. It is very tempting to make decisions out of fear, to push for sanctions, tariffs or other retaliatory measures. The U.S. does not have the opportunity to export to China under … [More...]
What is the Role of the Commander-in-Chief?
Future President Andrew Jackson led American troops to victory in the Battle of New Orleans on January 8, 1815. This victory helped propel Jackson to the presidency in 1828, and was considered the biggest land battle success for U.S. forces in the entire War of 1812. It also took place after the war ended, as the Treaty of Ghent signified the supposed end of hostitlities two weeks prior. More than another month would pass before President Madison saw the treaty his … [More...]
Middle East: The World Intrudes
Hillary Clinton and John McCain were on our TV screens Sunday morning, and it wasn’t a retrospective on the 2008 primary season. Apparently, foreign policy, the Middle East in particular, is making a bit of a comeback. To say this upsets the applecart is putting it mildly. Several things are happening at once, raising/reminding us of three unanswered questions about American foreign policy priorities and goals. Neither President Obama, nor the leading Republican challengers have clearly … [More...]
Where Does Foreign Policy Experience Come From?
The economy is issue #1 through issue #9 in the 2012 campaign, but eventually foreign policy always becomes an issue. Whether during the primaries or the general election, one or more major events will force candidates to weigh in on what they would do, if they approve of the President’s strategy, etc. Even if voters want to choose a president based on their economic positions/record, etc., there is still a minimum comfort requirement. For many, the decision revolves around finding a … [More...]
The Bush-Obama Administration
When Candidate Obama was running for president in 2007 and 2008, he drew a distinct contrast with the Bush Administration. Agree or disagree with his platform, it was clear to all that electing Obama would represent a clear change in direction. The transition of administrations is a monumental task. Thousands of jobs change hands and policies change over a few short months. There is always at least a partial mandate for the new leadership to push in a new direction, but 2008 was thought of … [More...]
