Although an utter failure as president, Obama can take some comfort in the fact that he is adored by America’s enemies overseas.
He needs to move over there then. He’s not welcomed in his own country.
Really! I have seen no statements to that effect.
ugh, my dinner just came up.
I think somebody has been hittin’ the happy smoke.
Editorializing under the influence.
Yup! Any nation that has 'em will gladly give them all up. I also believe in the Easter Bunny, Santa Claus and honest politicians.
Some of that love is going away
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/8008836c-a935-11de-9b7f-00144feabdc0.html
European differences with the Obama administration threaten to overshadow Fridays G20 summit in Pittsburgh, with Britain and France resisting US plans to overhaul the International Monetary Fund.
UK and French officials were exasperated on Thursday by US proposals that could threaten both countries seats on the IMF board of directors, the Financial Times has learnt. Under the US plans, the IMF board would be cut from 24 seats to 20 with fewer European representatives.
The UK and France publicly support the reweighting of the IMFs shareholding structure to give a greater voice to the larger developing countries including China and India but not at the expense of their permanent board seats.
The sweep of the US proposal took Britain and France by surprise. They have argued in response that all issues about reform of the institution should be on the table, including whether the US should retain its de facto veto at the IMF.
The US believes it has already made a concession by keeping its IMF shareholding at 17 per cent, well below its share of global GDP. Since IMF board decisions require a super-majority of 85 per cent the US retains effective veto powers.
White House officials declined to comment. One European official said the US had decided not to press the matter further in Pittsburgh. But the dispute added to the growing sense of irritation between the major European countries and the Obama administration.
Angela Merkel, Germanys chancellor, who faces a general election on Sunday, said the fight against global economic imbalances should not become the central issue at the summit in contradiction of Barack Obamas stated objectives.
Speaking in Berlin before boarding her flight, Ms Merkel came close to accusing the US and Britain of backtracking on financial market regulation and global limits on bankers bonuses by shining the spotlight on the export-oriented economic policies of Germany and China: We should not start looking for ersatz issues and forget the topic of financial market regulation. We cannot afford to neglect this issue now.
Ms Merkel turned on Washington, saying: Imbalances are an issue, but we must look at all the factors...We must talk about imbalances and name the reasons why they came into being.