[Paul Ross]

I can make them quiver with a smile on my face.

Too bad we can't wake up the Administration to appoint Americanist pragmatists such as yourself to the USTR.

Where do they get these Quislings and weaklings? [That's a rhetorical question, we already know the answer...]

[maui_hawaii]

The problem I feel is that they are caught in between extremely powerful lobbyists and the general population who is getting ticked off.

Basically they are trying to go to heaven without offending the devil.

In order to get something really done, there will have to be an outright smackdown of certain corporate interests--who by the way are extremely powerful.

There are also many interests in the State Department and in the Intel Community that fear what would happen...hell it even extends somewhat to the military.

I would say most of the reasons aren't economic at all.

As for the USTR I think there are surprisingly a lot of people that feel the same way...but they get caught in the crossfire mentioned above.

Seriously, how do you turn the screws on China without cutting off contact and being seen as antagonizing China and possibly sparking some violence?

China vigorously exploits the situation.