Obama and Rudd have 'excellent' meeting

[depakid]

Is it my imagination? or does Hillary look smitten with the most successful leader in the western world? (sorry just had to add that).


Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd speaks as US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton looks on.
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US President Barack Obama and Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd had an excellent meeting at the White House, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said.

The three leaders met at the White House.

"Prime Minister Rudd just had an excellent, comprehensive meeting with President Obama in The Oval Office where we discussed a wide range of issues from climate change to Afghanistan," Clinton told reporters at the State Department.

Mr Rudd flies back to Australia on Monday.

http://www.smh.com.au/world/obama-and-rudd-have-excellent-meeting-20091201-k1id.html

[Clio the Leo]

1. They're getting their climate ducks in a row no doubt. NT

[depakid]

2. I'm hoping Rudd also gave some advice on economics and financial regulation

It would pay to listen to the guy- seeing as how he steered Australia away from (not out of) a recession- both by helping the large companies as needed- as well as the very smallest retail and service shops.

Last year's sizable Christmas bonus to pensioners (meaning basically everyone on public assistance) was not only the compassionate thing to do- but brilliant economic policy. He followed that with a smaller rebate to wage earners in the February doldrums. Shored up the auto industry- exacting promises of greener cars. And more.

In short, Rudd listened to all the right people and made all the right moves at just the right time.

I hope President Obama recognizes what keen asset and valuable ally Rudd's government is.

[Clio the Leo]

3. Was he dealing with a budget deficit?

(that's a serious question, not an argument lol)

[depakid]

6. Nope- there was a budget surplus- which made life easier

Also- for a variety of reasons- no Australian banks failed. Not one- though some of that had to do with actions the government and the RBA took to shore up confidence.

In addition, at the time, the opposition party was mostly amenable to avoiding a total crash. That has, however changed as of today.

There was just a leadership spill over climate change in the opposition- their version of the hard right took over, which means they're DONE in the next election. We reckon they'll call it some time this spring.

[Clio the Leo]

8. Yeah, that does make a difference....

..... it would have been interesting to see what President Obama could have done if he came into office in 2001 and not 2009.

But then again, history has a way of not putting the Millard Filmores into a slot worthy of Lincoln. ;)

[depakid]

9. My guess is that he- like Gore would have largely continued on with the previous policies

There still would have been a tax cut (structured differently) and the projected surplus would have been gone- thanks to the recession (which was in no small part due to or made worse by the deregulatory policies of the 1990's).

Might have been nice to have gotten the Senate and House back though- which would have been possible with a more charismatic candidate at the top of the ticket.

[stevedeshazer]

4. It sure beats having that idiot Howard as PM.

I'd be smiling, too.

[Cha]

5. Right..how lucky Australia is and

the whole world, actually, that howard finally got outta there.

[depakid]

7. Howard was the Aussie version of Reagan

He hit the working class one too many times- and that was enough to boot him- literally- out of office (only the second PM in history to actually lose his seat in Parliament).