Friday, June 6, 2008
For much of the world, Obama's victory was a moment to admire United States
For much of the world, Sen. Barack Obama's victory in the Democratic primaries was a moment to admire the United States, at a time when the nation's image abroad is in tatters.
From hundreds of supporters crowded around televisions in rural Kenya, Obama's ancestral homeland, to jubilant Britons writing "WE DID IT!" on the "Brits for Barack" site on Face book, people celebrated what they called an important racial and generational milestone for the United States.
"This is close to a miracle. I was certain that some things will not happen in my lifetime," said Sunila Patel, 62, encountered on the streets of New Delhi. "A black president of the U.S. will mean that there will be more American tolerance for people around the world who are different."
The primary elections generated unprecedented interest around the world, as people in distant parliament buildings and that ched roof huts followed the political ups and downs as if they were watching a Hollywood thriller.
Much of the interest simply reflects hunger for change from President Bush, who is deeply unpopular in much of the world.
At the same time, many people abroad seemed impressed - sometimes even shocked - by the wide-open nature of U.S. democracy and the history-making race between a woman and a black man.
"The primaries showed that the U.S. is actually the nation we had believed it to be, a place that is open-minded enough to have a woman or an African-American as its president," said Minoru Morita, a Tokyo political analyst.
"I think it will be put down as a shining, historical moment in the history of America," said Fumiaki Kubo, a professor at Tokyo University.
While Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton has admirers around the world, especially from her days as first lady, interviews on four continents suggested that Obama's candidacy has most captured the world's imagination.
"Obama is the exciting image of what we always hoped America was," said Robin Niblett, director of Chatham House, a London think tank. "We have immensely enjoyed the ride and can't wait for the next phase."
The presumptive Republican nominee, Sen. John McCain, who has extensive overseas experience, is known and respected in much of the world. In interviews, McCain seemed more popular than Obama in countries such as Israel, where he is particularly admired for his hard line against Iran.
To read the full article, click here...
To read the ePaper, visit: http://www.newsindia-times.com
From hundreds of supporters crowded around televisions in rural Kenya, Obama's ancestral homeland, to jubilant Britons writing "WE DID IT!" on the "Brits for Barack" site on Face book, people celebrated what they called an important racial and generational milestone for the United States.
"This is close to a miracle. I was certain that some things will not happen in my lifetime," said Sunila Patel, 62, encountered on the streets of New Delhi. "A black president of the U.S. will mean that there will be more American tolerance for people around the world who are different."
The primary elections generated unprecedented interest around the world, as people in distant parliament buildings and that ched roof huts followed the political ups and downs as if they were watching a Hollywood thriller.
Much of the interest simply reflects hunger for change from President Bush, who is deeply unpopular in much of the world.
At the same time, many people abroad seemed impressed - sometimes even shocked - by the wide-open nature of U.S. democracy and the history-making race between a woman and a black man.
"The primaries showed that the U.S. is actually the nation we had believed it to be, a place that is open-minded enough to have a woman or an African-American as its president," said Minoru Morita, a Tokyo political analyst.
"I think it will be put down as a shining, historical moment in the history of America," said Fumiaki Kubo, a professor at Tokyo University.
While Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton has admirers around the world, especially from her days as first lady, interviews on four continents suggested that Obama's candidacy has most captured the world's imagination.
"Obama is the exciting image of what we always hoped America was," said Robin Niblett, director of Chatham House, a London think tank. "We have immensely enjoyed the ride and can't wait for the next phase."
The presumptive Republican nominee, Sen. John McCain, who has extensive overseas experience, is known and respected in much of the world. In interviews, McCain seemed more popular than Obama in countries such as Israel, where he is particularly admired for his hard line against Iran.
To read the full article, click here...
To read the ePaper, visit: http://www.newsindia-times.com
Labels: America, Barack Obama, Black President, China, Democratic administration, Hillary Rodham Clinton, historical moment, John McCain, President Bush, Republican nominee, United states, Victory
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Patel named Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications
President Bush on March 5, nominated Neil Suryakant Patel, currently Assistant to Vice President Dick Cheney, for the position of Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information.
If confirmed by the U.S. Senate, Patel automatically also heads the National Telecommunications and Information administration, a key body that is overseeing the transformation from analog to digital technology nationwide.
Telecommunications giants like US Telecom are welcoming his nomination.
Patel, a resident of Washington, D.C., is one of 5 nominations that go to the U.S. Senate which will have to confirm his appointment before he can take over.
Meanwhile, Patel continues to serve as Assistant to the Vice President for Domestic and Economic Policy. Prior to taking up that position, he served as Staff Secretary to the Vice President.
Before joining the Republican administration, Patel was Assistant General Counsel at UUNET Technologies, Inc. He has a bachelor's degree from Trinity College and his JD from Georgetown University.
"Let us congratulate Neil on his nomination and his continued public service, on behalf of the American people and as part of the President's Administration," said the Office of Public Liaison at the White House, when it distributed the press release from the White House.
To read the full article, click here..
To read the ePaper, visit: http://www.newsindia-times.com
If confirmed by the U.S. Senate, Patel automatically also heads the National Telecommunications and Information administration, a key body that is overseeing the transformation from analog to digital technology nationwide.
Telecommunications giants like US Telecom are welcoming his nomination.
Patel, a resident of Washington, D.C., is one of 5 nominations that go to the U.S. Senate which will have to confirm his appointment before he can take over.
Meanwhile, Patel continues to serve as Assistant to the Vice President for Domestic and Economic Policy. Prior to taking up that position, he served as Staff Secretary to the Vice President.
Before joining the Republican administration, Patel was Assistant General Counsel at UUNET Technologies, Inc. He has a bachelor's degree from Trinity College and his JD from Georgetown University.
"Let us congratulate Neil on his nomination and his continued public service, on behalf of the American people and as part of the President's Administration," said the Office of Public Liaison at the White House, when it distributed the press release from the White House.
To read the full article, click here..
To read the ePaper, visit: http://www.newsindia-times.com
Labels: Federal Communications Commission, Neil Suryakant Patel, NTIA t, President Bush, U.S. Senate, Washington
Sunday, March 9, 2008
President Bush and McCain stress their unity, and so do the Democrats
President Bush usually does not like to be kept waiting, but he appeared to be in a giddy mood on March 5 when he emerged from the North Portico of the White House, only to find that Sen. John McCain, (R-AZ), was not there.
"So, anyway," Bush said to the reporters who had assembled there to see the two men shake hands. "As I was saying ..." He smiled a bit, but no McCain. He did a mock soft-shoe dance.
"I'm just going to tap-dance a little," the leader of the free world said. Finally, he disappeared into the White House, telling onlookers: "Pretend like it never happened."
After McCain and his wife, Cindy, finally arrived, Bush and the senator lunched in the small dining room next to the Oval Office, then emerged for the long-anticipated endorsement by the president in the Rose Garden. Bush promised to campaign for his onetime rival and occasional legislative critic as both men seek to keep Democrats from taking over the White House.
McCain said he was "honored and humbled" to have the president's support going into a tough general-election campaign. But campaigning arm-in-arm with Bush may prove troublesome as the senator woos independents and moderate Democrats, among whom the president remains unpopular.
"I appreciate his endorsement," McCain told reporters, indicating he does not intend to distance himself - at least not too much. "I intend to have as much possible campaigning events together as is in keeping with the president's heavy schedule." Democrats seized the opportunity to link McCain and Bush, who has the job approval of only about 32 percent of Americans.
To read the full article, click here.....
To read the ePaper, visit: http://www.newsindia-times.com
"So, anyway," Bush said to the reporters who had assembled there to see the two men shake hands. "As I was saying ..." He smiled a bit, but no McCain. He did a mock soft-shoe dance.
"I'm just going to tap-dance a little," the leader of the free world said. Finally, he disappeared into the White House, telling onlookers: "Pretend like it never happened."
After McCain and his wife, Cindy, finally arrived, Bush and the senator lunched in the small dining room next to the Oval Office, then emerged for the long-anticipated endorsement by the president in the Rose Garden. Bush promised to campaign for his onetime rival and occasional legislative critic as both men seek to keep Democrats from taking over the White House.
McCain said he was "honored and humbled" to have the president's support going into a tough general-election campaign. But campaigning arm-in-arm with Bush may prove troublesome as the senator woos independents and moderate Democrats, among whom the president remains unpopular.
"I appreciate his endorsement," McCain told reporters, indicating he does not intend to distance himself - at least not too much. "I intend to have as much possible campaigning events together as is in keeping with the president's heavy schedule." Democrats seized the opportunity to link McCain and Bush, who has the job approval of only about 32 percent of Americans.
To read the full article, click here.....
To read the ePaper, visit: http://www.newsindia-times.com
Labels: Democratic National Committee, North Portico, President Bush, White House
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