The Standard » obama

Teetering on the brink

Anthony R0bins — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 20:23:25 +0000

Over the last couple of months two potential crises have been unfolding in two very different countries. Greece and America both looked to be in danger of defaulting on their huge debts and triggering a cascade of disastrous consequences. The situation is still unfolding...

No victory in Iraq

r0b — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 22:02:59 +0000

Barack Obama declared the U.S. combat mission in Iraq officially over on Tuesday but said he would not take a "victory lap". No victory? That's quite an understatement...

Key: Obama’s my pen pal

Zetetic — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 00:33:46 +0000

Key says his personal relationship with Obama (met the guy twice) means he can call him. Don't think it's your winning grin mate. Think it's because you're PM of New Zealand. Anyway, this ain't a game of collecting phone numbers, John. You've got to deliver something concrete. How's that free trade deal coming?

The ground zero mosque

r0b — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 23:03:07 +0000

"The ground zero mosque" is the latest focus of and flash-point for deranged American right wing anger. The Guardian's Charlie Brooker explains.

Let’s not rush things

Marty G — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 23:01:49 +0000

President Obama has just come out and said the US and the world needs to get off its oil addiction. But, just as we've been talking about climate change for nearly two centuries, before it was even a problem, and done nothing about it, Presidents have been declaring its time to end the oil age for 40 years and nothing has changed. Why can't we get serious about saving ourselves?

Obama delivers change

Marty G — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 21:30:57 +0000

It has taken nearly a year and cost President Obama a lot of his popularity, thanks to the spineless behaviour of many House Democrats, but the final barrier has been passed to the US getting universal health-care. Obama’s health reform bill passed the House yesterday by a narrow margin. It now needs to win a ...

A knife edge and an open letter

r0b — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 19:37:35 +0000

As the final stages of diplomatic chaos play out in Copenhagen, and with at least the possibility of some truly significant goals emerging, the world is teetering on a knife edge this morning. I hope that Obama has had plenty of time to think about this letter – reposted from SignOn: Kumi Naidoo, Executive Director ...

Yes he can

r0b — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 21:45:49 +0000

In America the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has just ruled that greenhouse gases “threaten the public health and welfare of the American people”, and that they are pollutants that can be regulated under the Clean Air Act. Ho hum, so what? Quite the opposite. It isn’t clearly spelled out in much of the media coverage, ...

Obama – war president

r0b — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 18:03:42 +0000

Well, any lingering hopes that Obama was something different can now be out of their misery. He’s just another American establishment politician after all. Drawing on the rhetoric of 9/11 Obama has committed to an escalation in Afghanistan: WASHINGTON – President Obama unveiled his plan Tuesday night to send 30,000 more troops to Afghanistan, declaring ...

Key must bite the bullet over Copenhagen

Demeter — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 22:03:04 +0000

Another instalment of “John Key’s” video diary from talented impersonator PlumedeKiwi; this time taking a comedic stab at the PM’s refusal to attend the UN climate talks in Copenhagen. Key has come under an increasing amount of pressure in recent weeks over the summit, widely dubbed one of the most important meetings in history. It’s ...

Anyone remember this guy?

the sprout — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 01:28:52 +0000

With all the noise around Obama you don’t hear much about this guy now. He was politically naive but knowingly and willingly acted as a front for much more machiavellian minds. He came to politics with lots of money and was promoted very quickly, but he wasn’t too good at inspiring confidence by way of ...

Truly ambitious for America

Eddie — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 19:22:31 +0000

America faces a hell of a lot of problems at the moment, but if there’s one man with the ability to inspire and lead them through, it’s Obama. “when I see the young men on the corners [of the ghettos] I say there but for the grace of God go I. They are no less ...

The power of images in politics

all_your_base — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 03:15:29 +0000

The shots above are small versions from this site where you can find other great images from Obama’s first 167 days in office. The official Whitehouse Flickr photostream is pretty impressive too. [UPDATE] Not to be outdone, as of yesterday, National’s photostream features Kate Wilkinson with a giant lump of earwax block of cheese.

Greenpeace to Obama: Show some leadership

The Standard — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 23:55:45 +0000

From Greenpeace USA: Greenpeace climbers hung a banner on Mount Rushmore challenging President Obama to show real leadership on global warming. The banner read “America honors leaders not politicians: Stop Global Warming.” The demonstration comes as President Obama meets other G8 leaders in L’Aquila, Italy to discuss the global warming crisis in the lead-up to ...

“I got the sucker”

The Standard — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 05:24:24 +0000

Obama kills a fly with his bare hands. Awesome.