The world is watching, with optimism

[babylonsister]

Abroad, fresh image of U.S.
Many see Obama, Clinton successes as fitting the ideals of US democracy and diversity.



By Robert Marquand | Staff writer of The Christian Science Monitor

from the January 10, 2008 edition


Paris - Regardless of which Democrat pulls ahead as the candidates race toward Nevada and South Carolina, the rapid political rise of a Harvard-educated Illinois senator with a Kenyan father is bringing ripples and some tides of excitement in the near and far corners of a weary world.

It's clear that the buzz around America's first realistic black candidate has fed the imagination of many non-US observers, who see the controversial superpower as offering something different.

The image of a young, lanky African-American who combines charisma and a sense of nobility vying with a high-powered woman senator for the planet's most powerful office lends a feeling of history and symbolizes the democracy and diversity that many abroad want to see as America's significant contribution.

"Whether it is Hillary or Obama, what the world is seeing is a new America in these candidates," says James Hooper, a former US diplomat now at the Public International Law and Policy Group in Washington.

"{Barack Obama is} what the rest of the world dreams America can be," says JacquesMistral, a transatlantic specialist and director of economic studies at the French Institute for International Relations in Paris. "He looks like a Kennedy type, and that he's black is very new. In Europe, the idea that a woman can win is accepted. But for a black person to win would represent a radical change – for the US, and the world."

It is too early to say that "Obama-mania" is sweeping the planet, particularly after the junior senator's second place showing in New Hampshire. The public in Europe and Asia have only recently focused on Mr. Obama, though in Africa he's been news for some time.

But in a world where nearly every poll shows America's image seriously dragging after the Iraq war onset, and scant interest in Republicans, Obama has made a significant splash, especially among the young. In Germany, which still swoons over JFK, he's been called a "black Kennedy" – though as in much of Europe, German opinion is divided between the "experience" brought by Sen. Hillary Clinton, and the "charisma" of the newcomer who won the Iowa caucus.

more...

http://www.csmonitor.com/2008/0110/p01s02-wogn.html

[bpeale]

1. you see optimism & i see turmoil everywhere i look

people are desperate and are feeling worse by the day.

[Dr. Strange]

2. We can't have false optimism.

We've got to have a person who can walk into that Oval office on day one and start doing the hard work that it takes to deliver change.

[killbotfactory]

7. Any of our candidates can walk in and do work on day one

Did Clinton not move out or something? Is that her edge?

[bdamomma]

3. yea, the world was watching back in 2004 and we disappointed

them, we live in a very small community.

[ixion]

4. the world is setting itself up to be very disappointed

we're on the road to fascism, and there doesn't seem to be much that anyone can, or will, do about it.

[Egnever]

6. If you want to stop it get behind Obama

This will stop fascism in its tracks.


http://www.barackobama.com/issues/technology/

Create a Transparent and Connected Democracy
Open Up Government to its Citizens: The Bush Administration has been one of the most secretive, closed administrations in American history. Our nation’s progress has been stifled by a system corrupted by millions of lobbying dollars contributed to political campaigns, the revolving door between government and industry, and privileged access to inside information-all of which have led to policies that favor the few against the public interest. An Obama presidency will use cutting-edge technologies to reverse this dynamic, creating a new level of transparency, accountability and participation for America’s citizens. Technology-enabled citizen participation has already produced ideas driving Obama’s campaign and its vision for how technology can help connect government to its citizens and engage citizens in a democracy. Barack Obama will use the most current technological tools available to make government less beholden to special interest groups and lobbyists and promote citizen participation in government decision-making. Obama will integrate citizens into the actual business of government by:

Making government data available online in universally accessible formats to allow citizens to make use of that data to comment, derive value, and take action in their own communities. Greater access to environmental data, for example, will help citizens learn about pollution in their communities, provide information about local conditions back to government and empower people to protect themselves.

Establishing pilot programs to open up government decision-making and involve the public in the work of agencies, not simply by soliciting opinions, but by tapping into the vast and distributed expertise of the American citizenry to help government make more informed decisions.

Requiring his appointees who lead Executive Branch departments and rulemaking agencies to conduct the significant business of the agency in public, so that any citizen can watch a live feed on the Internet as the agencies debate and deliberate the issues that affect American society. He will ensure that these proceedings are archived for all Americans to review, discuss and respond. He will require his appointees to employ all the technological tools available to allow citizens not just to observe, but also to participate and be heard in these meetings.

Restoring the basic principle that government decisions should be based on the best-available, scientifically-valid evidence and not on the ideological predispositions of agency officials.

Lifting the veil from secret deals in Washington with a web site, a search engine, and other web tools that enable citizens easily to track online federal grants, contracts, earmarks, and lobbyist contacts with government officials.

Giving the American public an opportunity to review and comment on the White House website for five days before signing any non-emergency legislation.

Bringing democracy and policy deliberations directly to the people by requiring his Cabinet officials to have periodic national online town hall meetings to answer questions and discuss issues before their agencies.

Employing technologies, including blogs, wikis and social networking tools, to modernize internal, cross-agency, and public communication and information sharing to improve government decision-making.

[ixion]

9. spare me the wonk lecture

he's just like rest. The only ones who might have done something are Kucinich and perhaps Richardson, IMO.

[Egnever]

13. so you discount the idea that those policies will reshape american politics?

Thanks for tuning out.

[ixion]

18. I discount the notion that he'll do anyting different

he's already shown his eagerness to be friendly to the status quo.

[Egnever]

19. yea right this is pretty status quo stuff here

http://usaspending.gov/

Obama made it happen and its just the first step. Your candidate blinders aside, thats a real step to avoiding what you are complaining about.

[ixion]

20. I don't see a word in anything you've posted about the things that really matter

what good is transparency in government and government blogs if we're all living in concentration camps or cardboard boxes?

What good is government accountability when all the citizens are in prison?

What good is open government when there is no one in government who is held accountable?

The things you site are political jargon meant to sound like 'change'. They are, in fact, mumbo jumbo sound bytes that will do nothing to repair our international standing or restore our civil liberties.

[Egnever]

21. riiight

mumbo jumbo. Got it.

so nothing matters cause we will all be in concentration camps soon. Might as well get my pruno ready now I guess.

:silly:

[ixion]

22. yeah, you might as well... you may remember what I said

the day someone drops a hood over your head and whisks you off to GITMO.

[cmaff05]

5. Let's not dissapoint them this time around

It's amazing how much of the world follows U.S politics...

[OneGrassRoot]

8. Geez, people. This was a very inspiring article...

We've gotta turn things around - WAYYYYYYY AROUND - but I don't see how the defeatist pessimism can help. :shrug:

I'm not trying to be mean or shitty, but I just don't understand why when there is something positive or encouraging posted (even if it is merely others' positivity rather than a concrete event), naysayers jump on so quickly.

If everything is hopeless, why are you here? To keep a minute-by-minute check on the inevitable demise of our democracy?

[Muttocracy]

10. agreed

I think the world will be thrilled with any Dem. candidates. Heck, they're probably just glad we have presidential term limits!

[babylonsister]

16. Thank you so much. . There's so little good news, people used to

embrace something positive. No more, let's all just bitch and moan.

[BringBigDogBack]

11. I have a feeling we'll blow it

and nominate the most divisive candidate possible. Will we ever learn?

Will we learn before it's too late...?

[Muttocracy]

12. I hope we learn...

Maybe Kerry's endorsement was for this reason.

[BringBigDogBack]

14. Hope so too.

[BeyondGeography]

15. "Obama-san is great."

Fantastic...thanks for posting, BabS.

[redqueen]

17. Every non-US-ian I talk to prefers Edwards.

But for reasons that would get them tagged as racists or sexists.