President Obama, Chinese President Hu Meet in Beijing (Video)

The President and President Hu Jintao of China make a joint statement to the media after their extended bilateral meeting in Beijing. November 17, 2009.


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President Obama's town hall meeting with Chinese Students in Shanghai (video)

President Obama in China: Photos, Videos and all that jazz....

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Obama's Asia trip, next month

The President will not stop in Indonesia.

Gibbs said Obama's first stop will be in Japan Nov. 12-13, where he will have two meetings with new Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama. Gibbs said the visit with "this key ally" will cover economic, security and other issues.

After Tokyo, Obama flies to Singapore to attend the annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting Nov. 13-15, a major forum for economies around the Pacific Rim. In Singapore, he also will become the first U.S. president to sit in on the annual meeting of leaders of ASEAN, the 10-nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

From Singapore, Obama will fly to China, where he will visit both Beijing and Shanghai Nov. 15-18. While in China, Obama and President Hu Jintao will hold their third meeting to discuss regional and world issues including security, nuclear nonproliferation, energy and climate change.

Obama's final stop will be in South Korea Nov. 18-19. There he and South Korean President Lee Myung-bak will have their third face-to-face meeting. North Korea will be among the items on their agenda, Gibbs said.

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Sarah Palin is unpatriotic

One thing about politics is this, you can disagree and argue all you want, but a POLITICIAN, a KNOWN POLITICIAN don't go to Hong Kong (territory of China) and slam the current sitting U.S. President. Sorry, I have not liked a lot of politicians, but going overseas to slam a sitting president to a communist territory is only one thing, "unpatriotic". This is why Palin won't be President of the United States.

Former U.S. vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin, criticized for her lack of foreign policy experience, emerged in Asia on Wednesday to share her views from "Main Street U.S.A." with a group of high-flying global investors.
In her first trip to the region, the former Alaska governor addressed an annual conference of investors in Hong Kong in what was billed as a wide-ranging talk about governance, economics and U.S. and Asian affairs.

Two US delegates left early, according to AFP, with one saying "it was awful, we couldn't stand it any longer." He declined to be identified.

"I'm going to call it like I see it and I will share with you candidly a view right from Main Street, Main Street U.S.A.," Palin told a room full of asset managers and other finance professionals, according to a video of part of the speech obtained by The Associated Press. "And how perhaps my view of Main Street ... how that affects you and your business."

Palin spoke out against government intervention in the economy. "We got into this mess because of government interference in the first place," Palin said, according to the Wall Street Journal. "We're not interested in government fixes, we're interested in freedom," she added.

OK, did you get all this? Then she talks about health care to foreign nationals, but again she does not do her homework, most of these countries already have universal health care and look at our country as idiots in not having it.

So, this is what Palin does give anti-American rhetoric on foreign soil. Is this patriotic? No, it is dumb just as she is. I am sure there will be a YouTube video floating around here soon on her speech.

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h/t Daily Kos

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In case you missed it: President Obama's statement at the U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue (Video and Transcript)

President Obama addresses the opening session of the first U.S-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue, saying the relationship between the two countries will shape the 21st century. The President called for deeper cooperation on issues like financial regulation and clean energy. July 27, 2009.



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Obama announces Governor Jon Huntsman (R-UT), Ambassador of China (Video & Transcript)

Damn, smart move.....

Remarks of Obama and Huntsman

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Obama to name Utah's Governor Jon Huntsman, Jr., Ambassador to China

WHOA!!! Who saw this one coming?

President Barack Obama plans to name Utah Gov. Jon M. Huntsman Jr., a rapidly rising star in the Republican Party, as ambassador to China, a senior administration official said.

The move is freighted with political intrigue. Huntsman, who speaks fluent Mandarin Chinese, quickly emerged after November as one of the leading moderate GOP voices.

Huntsman is often mentioned as a potential Republican presidential candidate in 2012, although some of his advisers think the party primary voters will be more prepared to accept his moderate views on the environment and gay rights in 2016.

Huntsman, who met with Obama’s transition team to discuss energy policy, was in Washington on Friday night, ahead of a planned Saturday announcement by the White House, The Salt Lake Tribune reported. Several Utah news organizations said the governor will resign and accept the appointment.

Huntsman, 49, served a Mormon mission in Taiwan. The governor and his wife, Mary Kaye, adopted a daughter, Gracie Mei, from China in 1999. In 2006, he led a trade mission to China "because of their prominence on the world stage and the way in which they are growing so rapidly," he told the Deseret Morning News of Salt Lake City.

During last year's Republican primaries, he endorsed Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), while his father — businessman Jon M. Huntsman Sr. — endorsed former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney. It was a politically shrewd move by the son, because the family was covered regardless of which candidate went on to be the nominee. And Huntsman advisers calculated that Romney would be unlikely to install a fellow Mormon in his Cabinet.

The move has political ripple effects for both parties, giving Democrats one less potential challenger to worry about, and elevating the prospects for Romney and Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R).

Ambassador to China is a more substantive job than many postings because of the national-security issues. George H.W. Bush, the future president, held the job from 1974 to 1975.

The Salt Lake Tribune

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Takes Obama to smooth things over with France and China

Can anyone imagine or see former President Bush doing the following?

The exchange between Sarkozy and Hu got so heated, said a source -- who is not a member of the Obama administration -- it was threatening the unity of the G-20 leaders' meeting.

"They were going through the revised draft," a senior Obama administration official said.

The issue: Sarko wanted "a list of non-compliant jurisdictions," tones that allow tax havens, he senior official said. "Other countries wanted it too, but (Sarkozy) was the most outspoken."

Sarkozy specifically was pushing for a list from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) to be included in the G-20 Leaders' Statement.

Headquartered in Paris, the OECD has 30 member countries -- all capitalist democracies.

China opposed any such list being included in the final Leaders' Statement.

"China tends to have a problem endorsing the documents of organizations like the OECD that they're not a party to," the senior administration official said.

But Mr. Obama, according to this account, stepped between the two men, urging them to try to find consensus, and giving them a "pep talk" about the importance of working together.

The senior adminstration official said that Mr. Obama pulled Mr. Sarkozy aside, took him to a corner, "and discussed possible alternatives," the senior official said.

Once they arrived at one, President Obama "sent a message to the Chinese" that a counter-offer was on the table. The Chinese spent some time considering the offer. But they took a few minutes.

So Mr. Obama, with the assistance of translators, suggested that he and Mr. Hu have a conversation as well. They, too went to the corner to talk. After a few minutes, Mr. Obama called upon Mr. Sarkozy to join them.

"Translators and sherpas in tow, they reached an agreement," the official said. "There was a multiple shaking of hands."

President Bush just was not that into foreign affairs, unless it was about the Iraq or Afghanistan Wars. He never tried consensus or tried to find that one something to bring folks together, sorry he just did not. And after seeing the mastery of Obama, one wonders how in the hell did George W. Bush ever get elected president? It is damn refreshing to have someone of intellect, one who understands people in the White House. President George W. Bush is a reminder of what we never should have as a leader in charge of this country ever again.

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Obama Accepts Invitation to Visit China in the Fall (Video)

President Barack Obama will visit China this year after being invited by Chinese President Hu Jintao today, and both leaders agreed to set up regular talks.

Obama and Hu agreed to establish a “U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue” to discuss financial, trade and other issues between the two countries, the White House said in a statement. Both sides vowed to combat protectionism that may be arising amid the global recession.

“The relationship between the U.S. and China has become extremely constructive,” Obama said. “Our economic relationships are very strong.”

Obama and Hu met at Winfield House, the residence of the U.S. ambassador to the U.K., where Obama is staying. Obama, Hu and other leaders of the Group of 20 developed and emerging economies are in London to discuss a unified response to the global financial crisis.

“Good relations with the U.S. are not only in the interests of the two peoples, but also beneficial to peace, stability and prosperity of the Asia-Pacific region, and the world at large,” Hu said, according to the official Xinhua News Agency.

Bloomberg

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Why are we purchasing drywall from China? It is killing us.

h/t to Christian Dem in NC

This is an outrageous story, but true. The realm of the ill equipt, manufactured, poorly made Chinese products running rampant in this country is unbelievable. Now, you can't even have a decent night sleep without the following.

Officials are looking into claims that Chinese-made drywall installed in some Florida homes is emitting smelly, corrosive gases and ruining household systems such as air conditioners, the Consumer Product Safety Commission says.

The Florida Health Department, which is investigating whether the drywall poses any health risks, said it has received more than 140 homeowner complaints. And class-action lawsuits allege defective drywall has caused problems in at least three states -- Florida, Louisiana and Alabama -- while some attorneys involved claim such drywall may have been used in tens of thousands of U.S. homes.

Homeowners' lawsuits contend the drywall has caused them to suffer health problems such as headaches and sore throats and face huge repair expenses.

The drywall is alleged to have high levels of sulfur and, according to homeowners' complaints, the sulfur-based gases smell of rotten eggs and corrode piping and wiring, causing electronics and appliances to fail.

"It's economically devastating, and it's emotionally devastating," said Florida attorney Ervin A. Gonzalez, who filed one of the lawsuits. It would cost a third of an affected home's value to fix the dwelling, Gonzalez said.

"The interior has to be gutted, the homeowners have to continue paying mortgages, and they have to pay for a [temporary] place to live," Gonzalez said.

[snip]

Dick and Nancy Nelson, who say the Florida retirement home they bought new in 2006 has Chinese-manufactured drywall, contend all their appliances with copper are failing, according to CNN affiliate WFTS-TV.

"The washing machine, the dryer, the microwave, a refrigerator -- these are all brand-new appliances, and they're breaking down," Nancy Nelson of Palmetto told the Tampa station. The Nelsons are among those who have complained to the state health department.

In a neighborhood in Homestead, Florida, owners of homes with Chinese-manufactured drywall say the dwellings smell like rotten eggs, especially on humid days, according to CNN affiliate WPLG-TV.

Electronics and appliances with copper components stopped working in short order, and copper pipes and wiring turned black, homeowners told the Miami station.

"My dream has turned into a nightmare," one of the homeowners, Felix Martinez, told WPLG-TV. He said he closed on the home in August 2006.

Wow, the elected officials of this country really care about us, the constituents. There have been millions of complaints about everything China and in some instances horrific side effects because of their products, China is still allowed to pimp, push, prod and get their products into this country. We, the taxpayer end up holding the bag repeatedly.

When is this country going to say enough to China? Oh, that's right, they own too much of our paper, debt, so we talk with a big stick but walk softly around China.

Source
Time Magazine

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