Comments on: Guest Post by Miriam Lyons: What does an Obama win mean for Australia? http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/11/05/guest-post-by-miriam-lyons/ Blogging politics, culture, sociology and life from Brisvegas Thu, 18 Mar 2010 15:01:20 +0000 hourly 1 By: Paul Burns http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/11/05/guest-post-by-miriam-lyons/comment-page-1/#comment-550781 Paul Burns Thu, 06 Nov 2008 01:51:34 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/11/05/guest-post-by-miriam-lyons/#comment-550781 A couple of thoughts on foreign policy - they're not mine, but were mentioned by some of the commentators yesterday - don't quite remember which ones as I was channel switching madly. But people might like to discuss them. Democratic orientation towards Europe: however much we might lament the Democrat's lack of interest in our region, the Bush Presidency has so damaged relations with Europe that Obama is going to have to spend a lot of time there mending fences. Afghanistan: Rudd will have more pressure on him to contribute more troops. + its a highly unpopular war with the Europeans.This could cause the ALP some sticky problems, especially if they do decide to go all the way with Bazza. And can you see Rudd's vanity actually resisting the opportunity to become even more of a world player, even if it is at the expense of Aussie lives? I can't. A couple of thoughts on foreign policy – they’re not mine, but were mentioned by some of the commentators yesterday – don’t quite remember which ones as I was channel switching madly. But people might like to discuss them.
Democratic orientation towards Europe: however much we might lament the Democrat’s lack of interest in our region, the Bush Presidency has so damaged relations with Europe that Obama is going to have to spend a lot of time there mending fences.
Afghanistan: Rudd will have more pressure on him to contribute more troops. + its a highly unpopular war with the Europeans.This could cause the ALP some sticky problems, especially if they do decide to go all the way with Bazza. And can you see Rudd’s vanity actually resisting the opportunity to become even more of a world player, even if it is at the expense of Aussie lives? I can’t.

]]> By: Ambigulous http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/11/05/guest-post-by-miriam-lyons/comment-page-1/#comment-550758 Ambigulous Thu, 06 Nov 2008 01:09:16 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/11/05/guest-post-by-miriam-lyons/#comment-550758 We don't know what it'll mean: we'll just have to wait and see. Shaun - did he promise you a puppy? We don’t know what it’ll mean: we’ll just have to wait and see.

Shaun – did he promise you a puppy?

]]> By: Robert Merkel http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/11/05/guest-post-by-miriam-lyons/comment-page-1/#comment-550694 Robert Merkel Wed, 05 Nov 2008 22:01:33 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/11/05/guest-post-by-miriam-lyons/#comment-550694 Tyro Rex: I'm not so sure. Obama spent part of his <a HREF="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama#Early_life_and_career" rel="nofollow">childhood in Indonesia</A>, and his mother spent much of her life working as an anthropologist there. However, given his personal interest in the country, he may be slightly less interested in Australian perspectives on Indonesia. Tyro Rex: I’m not so sure. Obama spent part of his childhood in Indonesia, and his mother spent much of her life working as an anthropologist there.

However, given his personal interest in the country, he may be slightly less interested in Australian perspectives on Indonesia.

]]> By: Tyro Rex http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/11/05/guest-post-by-miriam-lyons/comment-page-1/#comment-550693 Tyro Rex Wed, 05 Nov 2008 21:55:14 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/11/05/guest-post-by-miriam-lyons/#comment-550693 All that is very well and good, but how much will his focus shift away from our region (SE Asia) as is traditional for Democrats? We need to make sure the President stays focussed on our region -- it's the region of the next century, but it has its share of problems. All that is very well and good, but how much will his focus shift away from our region (SE Asia) as is traditional for Democrats? We need to make sure the President stays focussed on our region — it’s the region of the next century, but it has its share of problems.

]]> By: Polyquats http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/11/05/guest-post-by-miriam-lyons/comment-page-1/#comment-550678 Polyquats Wed, 05 Nov 2008 21:12:11 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/11/05/guest-post-by-miriam-lyons/#comment-550678 Fmark, I'm wondering ho long it takes before we get 'Barack the Builder' Fmark,
I’m wondering ho long it takes before we get ‘Barack the Builder’

]]> By: Robert Merkel http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/11/05/guest-post-by-miriam-lyons/comment-page-1/#comment-550658 Robert Merkel Wed, 05 Nov 2008 20:21:34 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/11/05/guest-post-by-miriam-lyons/#comment-550658 We'll see how much Green Keynesianism Obama actually delivers. I'm betting on rather less than some might hope. More questions to consider; will the near-certain forthcoming bailout of the American auto industry kill two-thirds of ours in the process? Secondly, what will happen to some of America's defence programs in which we are a partner? We’ll see how much Green Keynesianism Obama actually delivers. I’m betting on rather less than some might hope.

More questions to consider; will the near-certain forthcoming bailout of the American auto industry kill two-thirds of ours in the process? Secondly, what will happen to some of America’s defence programs in which we are a partner?

]]> By: Fmark http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/11/05/guest-post-by-miriam-lyons/comment-page-1/#comment-550556 Fmark Wed, 05 Nov 2008 12:05:11 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/11/05/guest-post-by-miriam-lyons/#comment-550556 Polyquats @ 3: Land of <strike>Joe the Plumber</strike> Bob the Builder? Polyquats @ 3:
Land of Joe the Plumber Bob the Builder?

]]> By: RobV http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/11/05/guest-post-by-miriam-lyons/comment-page-1/#comment-550555 RobV Wed, 05 Nov 2008 12:01:24 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/11/05/guest-post-by-miriam-lyons/#comment-550555 Australia has the chance to carve out a nice niche for itself in the Green economy with sustainable energy systems - if it wants to! Money pumped into CCS is literally going to poured down the drain and there simply is no long term future for coal sales. We have it all and it is all going to waste! Australia has the chance to carve out a nice niche for itself in the Green economy with sustainable energy systems – if it wants to! Money pumped into CCS is literally going to poured down the drain and there simply is no long term future for coal sales. We have it all and it is all going to waste!

]]> By: Shaun http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/11/05/guest-post-by-miriam-lyons/comment-page-1/#comment-550554 Shaun Wed, 05 Nov 2008 11:56:27 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/11/05/guest-post-by-miriam-lyons/#comment-550554 Do we all get a puppy as well? Do we all get a puppy as well?

]]> By: Polyquats http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/11/05/guest-post-by-miriam-lyons/comment-page-1/#comment-550551 Polyquats Wed, 05 Nov 2008 11:49:17 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/11/05/guest-post-by-miriam-lyons/#comment-550551 Well, personally, I guess I'll have to stop calling the US 'land of the formerly free, home of the once brave'. What to replace it with? Land of hope and 'yes we can'? Well, personally, I guess I’ll have to stop calling the US ‘land of the formerly free, home of the once brave’.

What to replace it with? Land of hope and ‘yes we can’?

]]> By: Lefty E http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/11/05/guest-post-by-miriam-lyons/comment-page-1/#comment-550550 Lefty E Wed, 05 Nov 2008 11:46:29 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/11/05/guest-post-by-miriam-lyons/#comment-550550 “there is no better potential driver that pervades all aspects of our economy than a new energy economy … That’s going to be my No. 1 priority when I get into office.” Hallelujah. Whoever does this first wins in 2050. Economic conservatives and coal-eating surrender monkeys are W-R-O-N-G. And I mean wrong on the economics. “there is no better potential driver that pervades all aspects of our economy than a new energy economy … That’s going to be my No. 1 priority when I get into office.”

Hallelujah.

Whoever does this first wins in 2050. Economic conservatives and coal-eating surrender monkeys are W-R-O-N-G.

And I mean wrong on the economics.

]]> By: glen http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/11/05/guest-post-by-miriam-lyons/comment-page-1/#comment-550533 glen Wed, 05 Nov 2008 11:04:00 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/11/05/guest-post-by-miriam-lyons/#comment-550533 From a hoon eye, electric cars are awesome for daily commuting, so much torque and potentially in a chasis that can be fun. Bring on electric cars!!! Seriously, the big car companies are currently routed. New car sales are down across the board by very large amounts from 15% (Honda) to 45% (GM light truck). GM and Chrysler are looking to merge and as I read somewhere, it is unclear how two businesses losing money are going to make one good one. In terms of the intersection of the global economic crisis and the question of alternative energy sources, a massive rejuvenation of the US automotive industry organised around sustainable energy sources would definitely be a fruitful site for such an Apollo-like project. From a hoon eye, electric cars are awesome for daily commuting, so much torque and potentially in a chasis that can be fun. Bring on electric cars!!!

Seriously, the big car companies are currently routed. New car sales are down across the board by very large amounts from 15% (Honda) to 45% (GM light truck). GM and Chrysler are looking to merge and as I read somewhere, it is unclear how two businesses losing money are going to make one good one. In terms of the intersection of the global economic crisis and the question of alternative energy sources, a massive rejuvenation of the US automotive industry organised around sustainable energy sources would definitely be a fruitful site for such an Apollo-like project.

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