World Leaders Await Obama -- no point in actions until Obama sworn in.

[DCBob]

World Leaders at APEC Anxiously Await Obama Administration
By Dan Eggen
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, November 23, 2008; 12:45 PM

LIMA, Peru, Nov. 23 -- George W. Bush was the U.S. president at an economic summit here this weekend, but many foreign leaders were focused on President-elect Barack Obama instead. Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper cautioned Obama against plans to rework the North American Free Trade Agreement, saying it would worsen a global financial crisis. Chinese President Hu Jintao said he hoped Obama would recognize the importance of U.S.-China ties while treading carefully on the thorny issue of Taiwan.

And Mexican President Felipe Calderon, in an impassioned speech to delegates at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum on Saturday, warned Obama that any tightening of trade restrictions would send a flood of illegal immigrants into the United States. "The next U.S. administration must assume leadership in a very firm manner--not just for Americans but for the whole world," Calderon said. The stern words for Obama came during an annual APEC gathering dominated by fears over the ongoing financial crisis, and underscored the difficult balance that Obama must strike if he intends to forge a new economic path for the United States.

Bush was returning to Washington from Peru on Sunday after securing an agreement from the 21-member group to keep trade barriers low along the Pacific Rim as leaders fashion responses to the global financial storm. The APEC statement closely mirrors a pledge signed in Washington on Nov. 15 by a group of the world's 20 major economies, nine of which were represented in Lima. Many delegates to the APEC summit, however, said there was little point in considering additional actions until Obama gets involved. The president-elect did not send any representatives to APEC, although transition officials said Obama's team was briefed by the Bush administration prior to the summit.

more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/23/AR2008112300355.html
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Bush is totally irrelevant now -- the lamest of lame ducks.

[FrenchieCat]

1. Everyone wants a little piece of him....or rather, wants him to do for them.....

With all of that weight on his shoulder, after 8 years of disaster, I hope that there will be something left of Barack, after everyone has gotten their pound of flesh.

[DCBob]

2. It will be a challenge but I think Obama can handle it.

He has an amazing way of excelling beyond expectations.

[FrenchieCat]

3. Well Geeze, I hope so.....

cause the expectations this time are miles high!

[Withywindle]

4. Can I just say that part of me is delighted

at the thought of * trying to make his smirky little voice heard at these meetings, and all anyone wants to talk about is Obama?


Ducks just don't get any lamer. :rofl: