Centrist Pundits

I’m having trouble focusing on any one thing today, so instead I’ll just say various things that are on my mind.  Probably most of it will be cheap shots at people.

Megan McCain was on Colbert the other night talking about being a Pro-Sex Republican Woman.  Rowr!  We’re all pro-Megan McCain talking about her sex life on national TV!  Except maybe her dad.  He’s probably against it.

Sarah Palin says that Obama is as predictable as snow in Alaska.  Of course, she forgot to mention that with global warming, snow in Alaska is less predictable than it used to be…  High-yo…

I’ve decided I’m perfectly willing to give up Nancy Pelosi as “guitly” of knowing about torture if it means we get a verdict of “guilty” on Bush, Cheney, and the rest as well.  Its a small sacrifice.

Michael Steele says that the age of GOP apologies is over.  Hey, Steele, are you sure it ever begun?  Ha ha.

Bill Clinton is the UN’s new special envoy the Haiti.  I hope Haiti is prepared for the sudden jump in chubby kids with great hair.  I predict the wave will start in about 9 months.

JC Uncategorized Clinton, culture, obama, Steele, torture

As a follow up to my post yesterday on the China problem, we have to acknowledge that perhaps Hillary Clinton gets it.  Maybe, maybe not.  But she did do something important: she’s going to Asia.  It is her first trip overseas as Secretary of State and it has raised a few eyebrows because it breaks off the tradition of the SecState going first to Europe.

It is a welcome change.  I have no problem with our strong European ties, but they are, in this tradition’s sense, a victim of their own success.  We are not going to have any significant falling out with Europe.  We may disagree on some things like Iraq or the Death Penalty, but overall, we’re rooted in European roots and we’re tied very strongly to Europe.  While we always need diplomacy, Europe doesn’t need to be our diplomatic focus.  We aren’t going to undermine them, and they aren’t going to undermine us.

Asia is where it is at.  I wrote yesterday about how China has significant influence over the future of the United States.  Japan is one of our biggest trade partners, even if that trade could be a bit more equitable.  India now supports many of our major companies.  Afghanistan and Pakistan are where the Taliban and any major terrorist organizations are likely to resurge.  North Korea is lead by a crazy person who wants missiles and nuclear weapons and is willing to have a global hissy-fit to get America to pay attention to him.  And so on.

Clinton’s first stop may be in Japan, our staunch ally in this day and age, but the money talks are in China.  Clinton has already said she wants the China talks to discuss the environment, the economy, nuclear proliferation, and human rights.  Those are all huge topics, and the Chinese government’s thoughts on all of them except perhaps nukes are vastly different from our own.  (China has no interest more interest in the spread of nuclear weapons than we do.)  Clinton has her work cut out for her.

Obama may go to Europe more often than Asia and bring his star power to bear there, and repair America’s reputation with our allies on that small, increasingly less relevant continent.  But Clinton will probably visit Asia more often than Europe, because that’s where the real diplomatic thorns are.

I really hope she’s ready for it.

JC Foreign Relations China, Clinton, diplomacy