TresSugar

Front Page: World Leaders Arrive in Italy For G8 Summit

TresSugar — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 08:00:53 -0700

World leaders have arrived in Italy for the G8 summit on the economic crisis. Their host, Silvio Berlusconi, led them on a tour of the medieval town of L'Aquila, which was hit by an earthquake in April. - AP
Sarah Palin's popularity has risen among Republicans since she announced her resignation as Alaska's governor. - USA Today
Karl Rove finally testified today, as Congress tries to figure out his role in the Department of Justice attorney-firing scandal. - Politico
Google is taking on Microsoft by launching a PC operating system. - Financial Times
At least 40 people in Pakistan have been killed by suspected US drones. - BBC

First Wives Urged to Stay Away From Sexist Berlusconi's Italy

TresSugar — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 08:30:53 -0700

How do you say "sexist" in Italian? Berlusconi. At least that's what a group of female academics in Italy think. They're urging wives of male G8 leaders to stay home from the G8 conference to be hosted by Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi next month in Italy.

While the Obamas offer Americans at least a picture of marital bliss, Italians are being treated to a messy divorce. Since Berlusconi's wife of 20 years Veronica Lario filed for divorce in April, a colorful series of allegations about his love life and treatment of women have come out. The 72-year-old leader, who has had his fair share of other scandals including countless criminal trials, has been accused of having an affair with an 18-year-old and hiring paid escorts. Of course, he denies any "spicy" relations.

The academics also call into question Berlusconi's attempt to appoint showgirls, actresses, and a Big Brother contestant as candidates in the European elections.

Perhaps the first wives will attend, if only so their husbands have less free time to spend with their Italian host.

Putin Tranquilizes Tiger, Not Concerned About Tranquilizing EU

LibertySugar — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 03:00:18 -0700

Pictures of Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin have surfaced, showing that even a wild beast can't overcome the defiant Russian leader. Putin saved a television crew and a group of scientists from a rare Ussuri tiger that escaped, while he visited a national park to learn how the scientists monitor the endangered animals.

Yesterday Britain urged the EU to stop talks between itself and Russia about building a closer relationship. Britain's PM Gordon Brown went as far to say that Russia's membership in the G8 should be suspended. Attention to forging a stronger East-West relationship began in 1997, but leaders in Russia want a more expansive cooperation agreement. Putin says he's not too concerned with EU threats, since European self-interest will keep the countries from acting rashly toward Russia.

Apparently the US and Russia can agree on one thing - saving the world's remaining 400 Ussuri tigers, "the biggest cat(s) on the planet," according to Putin. Putin has praised the US for its efforts in saving the cats.

Do you have any hope that the West can save good relations with Russia?

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Russia Lectures US: You're in No Position to Give Advice

LibertySugar — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 14:00:30 -0700

Russian President Dmitri A. Medvedev is in no mood to listen to US criticism about the state of human rights or democracy in Russia. This week he said that the US was "essentially in a depression" and thus in no shape to tell other countries what to do.

During an interview with foreign journalists, one reporter asked the president about John McCain's proposal to expel Russia from the G8 for its record on democracy. Medvedev offered a lesson in international relations: "The Group of 8 exists not because someone likes or dislikes it, but because objectively, they are the biggest world economies and the most serious players from the foreign policy point of view." Little more than a decade after communism fell and left Russia in economic shambles, lucrative oil exports have made Russia economically, and geopolitically, confident.

Gas-station-side prayer vigils across America, organized by the Prayer at the Pump movement, might be giving Medvedev the evidence he needs to make such statements. For more on God and gas, read more.

The prayer group's founder, a member of the Seventh Day Adventist Church, said the group is currently in the prayer phase of working for lower-pump prices, but will soon begin activist work. He said: "We are praying that God will touch the hearts of people in power to find a solution quickly."

If money talks, do tough times mean America will soon lose its international influence?

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The Way We Became the G-8 Bunch: The Summit Episode

CitizenSugar — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 03:00:33 -0700

The G-8 Summit gets underway in Hakkaido, Japan today; a three-day meeting of the leaders of the eight countries invited, plus a representative of the European Union.
Grown from the concept of a forum of the major industrialized democracies after the 1973 oil crisis, more have been invited until 1997 when the last member, Russia, was invited at the initiative of then US President Bill Clinton.

The guest list is at the edge of controversy this year, as major climate issues are at hand, and two of the worst polluters (China and India) aren't invited. Here's who is (top to bottom, left to right):

Marcia Brady: United Kingdom, Gordon Brown
Jan Brady: United States, George W Bush
Cindy Brady: Germany, Angela Merkel
Carol Brady: Canada, Stephen Harper
Ann B. Davis as Alice: European Union, Jose Manuel Barroso
Mike Brady: Japan, Yasuo Fukada
Greg Brady (Johnny Bravo): France Nicolas Sarkozy
Peter Brady: Russia, Dmitry Medvedev
Bobby Brady: Italy, Silvio Berlusconi

What's going to happen in this very special episode of the G-8 bunch? Well, no one's going to find a Tiki idol or Vincent Price in a cave, but some other important stuff instead. To find out, read more.

Soaring food and energy costs will be at the top of the list, especially after oil prices rose to $145 a barrel last week. Global climate change is on the table too, following last year's agreement to cut emissions by 50 percent by 2050.

G-8 action on the world's food situation will be broached, probably by Germany's Angela Merkel who wrote a recent editorial in which she said, "The aggravation of the global food situation is increasing hunger in the world and threatens the political stability of many developing countries. At the summit, a comprehensive package of measures to secure global food supplies should be adopted." And aid to Africa is up there too, with seven heads of African nations invited to the opening ceremonies of the summit.

Anti-globalization, global warming, and poverty activists were on hand for the arrivals of the leaders amid heavy security. Banners reading, "Down with imperialism" among other slogans were displayed.

G-8 Summit 2008: It may be no trip to the Grand Canyon or race through a theme park, but it's worth a watch.

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Front Page: UN Chief Offers Emergency G-8, Poll Finds 15% Happy With Country's Direction, China's Growth Rate Slows

CitizenSugar — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 06:56:14 -0700

UN Chief On Emergency G-8:
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has offered to host an emergency G-8 summit at the UN to discuss the global financial crisis. Backing Sarkozy's appeal for world leaders to act together and meet by December, Ban said, "Such a format will allow us to more effectively act upon this crisis which requires a global solution through cohesive international partnership."

15% Happy With Country's Direction:
An AP/Yahoo poll just released found the number of people who believe the country is moving in the right direction has fallen from 28 percent last month to 15 percent this month. Respondents gave President Bush a 25 percent approval rating and nearly half of those in their 30s and 40s are worried about losing their jobs.

China's Growth Rate Slows:
The growth rate of China's economy has fallen for the third straight quarter to 9 percent, down from 10.1 percent in the previous quarter. A spokesman for the statistics department said of the trend, "The growth rate of the world economy has slowed down noticeably. There are more uncertain and volatile factors in the international economic climate. All these factors have started to release their negative impact on China's economy."

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Front Page: G-8 on Energy, Climate, and Africa, Women Bishops Allowed, Free Gas For Life

CitizenSugar — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 06:56:55 -0700

G-8 on Energy, Climate, and Africa:
Amid protests, the leaders of the G-8 economic powers acknowledged today that rising food and oil prices will affect world growth, but they're optimistic that the global economy will snap back. Calling on petroleum suppliers to boost production, they expressed their "strong concern" over commodity prices. Then the G-8 confirmed a goal to cut global greenhouse gases by 50 percent by 2050, with additional goals for developing countries. Divisions came during a meeting with African leaders over the situation in Zimbabwe, with the US and Britain proposing an arms embargo and the African leaders promoting a power-sharing agreement.

Women Bishops Allowed:
The governing body of the Anglican Church in Britain voted yesterday to approve the appointment of women as bishops in the church. It's a step that could risk a schism in the church while still battling the most serious threat to its unity over allowing gay clergy members. The vote in favor of women came 16 years after similar debate to approve the ordination of women as ministers within the British church.
Free Gas For Life:
The Florida Lottery has instituted an attractive second place prize in response to climbing oil prices - free gas for life. Players consider the prize more attractive than the cash grand prize. With the average price over $4 a gallon, one Floridian said we've hit a tipping point where, "gas has become more precious than cash now."

George W. Bush Is Getting Results, Even If No One Notices

CitizenSugar — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 06:00:11 -0700

I'm sending around an apology card for everyone to sign - it seems a lot of us have been selling Bush short. In an editorial opinion from the Wall Street Journal (newly purchased by Rupert Murdoch) Bush’s commitment to helping the poor and sick abroad has been largely ignored. The piece asserts that once the G-8 summit, now wrapping up, completes its country tally on who is providing the most money to combat disease and hunger, the US will emerge as the conclusive leader - thanks in large part to Bush.

According to the piece, AIDS relief is booming. Before President Bush launched his Emergency Program for AIDS Relief in 2003, only about 50,000 afflicted in sub-Saharan Africa were getting medical treatments. Since the implementation of his plan, the program has expanded to $15 billion reaching an estimated 1.5 million people. And then there's this big rock we call home. To see how Bush's environmental leadership has been overlooked, read more.

The WSJ piece says that Bush is actually much more environmentally friendly than his opponents give him credit for - as shown by his attempt to toughen the standards set at the Kyoto Agreement, hailed as a pivotal climate change accord. President Bush’s contention was that no agreement regarding the environment would be viable without the cooperation of China and India while costing developed nations untold sums. As a result, the G-8 is bringing China and India into the summit to discuss greenhouse emissions, a feat that would not have happened without Bush’s insistence.

On another note, remember Paul Wolfowitz? He was the US Deputy Secretary of Defense and major architect of the Iraq war who then went on to head the World Bank. It seems that some remarks he made during a speech are echoed and perhaps reaffirmed in another opinion piece - this time from the less conservatively-owned LA Times - warning against aid money, which is then used to prop up corrupt African leaders.

The piece asserts that all financial assistance to corrupt African governments should be cut off so that they collapse allowing “organic African political structures [to] emerge”. Saying that corruption is so endemic to countries like Kenya and Nigeria that police extort bribes, soldiers murder and rape, and teachers merely collect salaries while rarely visiting their classrooms. This 2008 piece suggests that Wolfowitz had the right idea in 2006 when he made the then controversial statement:

We simply can’t afford to turn a blind eye when we do encounter corruption in our projects. In fact, sometimes it’s not just a waste of money; it sometimes leads to buildings that collapse or to medicines that are harmful being given to pregnant women. These are not hypothetical examples; these are real ones.

Could it be that Wolfowitz's call to action is finally being taken up by the mainstream? Is it possible that President Bush’s approach to global warming and AIDS relief will actually earn him the compassionate conservative ribbon he’s been aiming for, silencing detractors? Or as the WSJ piece concludes, "Maybe one day we will all wake up to a world willing to give [Bush] some credit for it." Will this happen?

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Bush Says "Yo Harper. . . Medvedev's a 'Smart Guy'" Well Said?

CitizenSugar — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 15:45:09 -0700

The G-8 Summit is well under way - the dominant stories heading out of the talks settle around the speaking style of the Decider in Chief, George W. Bush. Known for his colloquial folksiness and rampant nicknamery, a few such quotes have surfaced today.

Bush sat down to meet with Dmitry Medvedev on the occasion of the Russian leader's first face-to-face meeting with Bush. At the conclusion of the hour meeting, the two had agreed on the need for Iran and North Korea to dump their nuclear ambitions - though stopped short of bridging their differences on Bush's proposal to build a missile-defense system in Europe. But the money quote circulating after the diplomatic meeting is this:

“You know, I’m not going to sit here and psychoanalyze the man, but I will tell you that he’s very comfortable, he’s confident, and that I believe that when he tells me something, he means it. . . . I found him to be a smart guy who understood the issues very well.”

And then there's the second "yo" heard 'round the world. Reporters are tittering after President Bush slung an arm around the shoulders of the Nigerian President and called out to get the attention of the Canadian Prime Minister, "Yo, Harper. The president of Nigeria." It's not the first time such casual lingo seeped into high-level talks (the first caused quite a stir) but does it make a bigger statement about the perception of the US on the world stage? Do two "yo"s make a right?

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"Is This Thing On?" Live-Mic Oops Crank Up Bush and Jackson

CitizenSugar — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 08:01:38 -0700

Live microphones are turning controversial remarks up to an "11" this week. Jesse Jackson used the N-word - the one for the dangly part of the male anatomy - when dishing about Obama during a break from taping a segment on Fox & Friends on Sunday. Jackson was, he thought secretly, gossiping with his co-guest about Obama's position on black churches and his support for faith-based charities. Jackson made the rude (and puzzling) remark, "I want to cut his n**ts off," into his live mic, moments before going on air.

Jackson didn't know his words had been picked up at the time, but by yesterday the clip was ready to air on The O'Reilly Factor and Jackson was in full damage-control mode, apologizing at a news conference in Chicago and releasing a statement saying:

For any harm or hurt that this hot mic private conversation may have caused, I apologize. My support for Senator Obama's campaign is wide, deep and unequivocal.

Barack Obama has accepted his apology. His spokesman said, "[Obama] will continue to speak out about our responsibilities to ourselves and each other, and he of course accepts Rev. Jackson's apology."

Not all hot-mic trouble results in hot water. George W. Bush had an uncharacteristically endearing private/public address series of moments at the G-8 Summit this week. To see what everyone heard him say, read more.

At an unintended broadcast lunchtime chitchat Bush said:

“Amigo! Amigo!” cheerily in Spanish to Italian prime minister Berlusconi. “How you doing, Silvio? Good to see you!” And later, “I read the courts are after you again. it’s unbelievable. I’ve never seen anything like it. Constantly after you.”
On his parents' recent joint replacement surgeries to Angela Merkel on his dad, "yeah, I’m worried about him,” and mom “two knee operations, two knees at the same time, because she didn’t want to rehab but once.”
On the hilly bike ride in Japan, “so I got on my bicycle this morning and got to the bottom of the hill and realized it was really tough to get up. When you’re older, as you know. . . "
And my favorite, on the Fourth of July celebration, “big party at the White House, and they had fireworks. My little girls were there.”

Aw! Though at the next day's lunch, the mics were conspicuously turned off.

What do you make of the Jackson remark? Should it have been broadcast on The O'Reilly Factor given that it was clearly off the record - or has that concept disappeared with technology? Is everything now on the record? Should it be?

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