Barack Obama Archive

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  Obama and Greens encourage support for small business - by David Clendon

  
  
  
  I’m not suggesting that Barack Obama has been keeping an eye on our Green party policy, but his recent highlighting of the economic and social value of small business certainly rings some familiar bells! read more
  August 19, 2010 5:35 pm - 20 Comments
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  Obama’s support for solar power challenges New Zealand - by Kennedy Graham

  
  
  
  The US$2 billion fiscal stimulus package to kick-start the solar energy industry announced by US President Obama yesterday is good news for the world, and a direct challenge for New Zealand. read more
  July 5, 2010 3:37 pm - 34 Comments
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  Afghanistan’s Agony: What in the world to do? - by Kennedy Graham

  
  
  
  Afghanistan gets progressively worse.  The US President is caught in a vice-like grip between personal judgment and political constraint.  Having characterised Afghanistan as a war of necessity to escape a war of choice (Iraq), he cannot exit early.  Yet a late exit becomes a quagmire.  He thus equivocates over the military’s request for another surge, [...] read more
  November 6, 2009 12:25 pm - 29 Comments
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  Open Letter to President Barack Obama - by Kennedy Graham

  
  
  
  Dear Mr President, Congratulations on the award of the Nobel Peace Prize for 2009. Many around the world will welcome the award and be inspired by the tribute accorded to you. read more
  October 12, 2009 4:39 pm - 31 Comments
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  Denial is no longer an acceptable response - by frog

  
  
  
  Greenpeace ironically notes that New Zealanders should be seriously alarmed at the prospect of the National-led government damaging the country’s relationship with the United States. “New Zealand is at serious risk of becoming an international Pariah over climate, and jeopardising its international standing and trade relations. The last thing we want is to become the [...] read more
  November 19, 2008 12:10 pm - 51 Comments
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  Oratory - by frog

  
  
  
  From one of the companies that helped with the Green election campaign: read more
  November 17, 2008 2:09 pm - 1 Comment
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  Does John Key read Michael Pollan? - by frog

  
  
  
  With new MPs in our caucus and a general parliamentary reshuffle underway we Greens are on the move out of our offices.  While it’s still not certain where we are off to, this time it looks like we’re big enough to warrant two rather than one floor of Bowen House. Gerry Brownlee was wandering about [...] read more
  November 12, 2008 2:12 pm - 25 Comments
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  It has to be done now - by frog

  
  
  
  A thought-provoking opinion piece from New Scientist: Before long we will know whether Barack Obama meant it – when he said that, whatever the financial traumas, a national surge to equip America with home-grown, green sources of energy was his number one economic priority. Even as the votes were being cast, some said going green [...] read more
  November 7, 2008 2:32 pm - 18 Comments
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  A new lens for US trade relations - by frog

  
  
  
  Pundits are about the call the election for Barack Obama by the looks of it.  For the planet this is probably a good thing, with Obama having a  better platform on climate change, environmental standards and peace. The big story for little Aotearoa, is what this means for trade.  And Obama has been equivocal.  But [...] read more
  November 5, 2008 4:06 pm - 14 Comments
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  People vs the Bomb - by frog

  
  
  
  While we are on the topic of defence here’s a link to a youtube promo of the programme People vs the Bomb, starring US Presidential Candidates Barack Obama and John McCain, together with Michal Gorbachev, Christie Brinkley and Ted Turner and of course the Green Party’s high ranking Ilam candidate Kennedy Graham. (You can see [...] read more
  September 4, 2008 9:26 am - No Comments
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  Obama - by frog

  
  
  
  John Key fancies that he’s a bit like Barack Obama.  Goodo. (Although I’m not sure that’s what Obama had in mind when he talked about change). Meanwhile Russel thinks he’s a bit of an Usain Bolt.  I can see that: Nice smiles, nice shoes, nice islands (Waiheke and Jamaica). Photo Credit: Rich115 read more
  September 1, 2008 5:11 pm - 33 Comments
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  Mother Coke and Father Pepsi - by frog

  
  
  
   It looks like someone at the LA Weekly has been reading Russel’s Mother Coke and Father Pepsi speech about the National and Labour Parties. So here’s a discussion point the cartoon raises: which set has more in common – the Labour and National parties, or Barack Obama and John McCain? I reckon MMP has an [...] read more
  July 8, 2008 8:25 am - 5 Comments
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  Clinton’s mistake - by frog

  
  
  
  The Nation has an interesting article on Hillary Clinton’s floundering nomination campaign, arguing that the mistake she made was not a tactical or strategic one. It wasn’t that she picked the wrong states to focus on, or threw everything into her knock-out punch or fundraised poorly. It was a policy mistake: The biggest factor that [...] read more
  May 12, 2008 9:45 pm - 9 Comments
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  Showdown Day - by frog

  
  
  
  There should be some good viewing today. Clinton takes on Obama, Drysdale matches up with Waddell, and Copeland versus the Government in Question Time.  If you have any suggested questions for Gordon to ask feel free to post them.  He might appreciate the help. read more
  March 5, 2008 8:10 am - 5 Comments
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  No obvious successor to the Oil President - by frog

  
  
  
  While we are on the topic of US politics, check out this Follow the Oil link which shows how much donations each presidential candidate has received from big oil companies in the US.  It looks like the oil companies picked it wrong to start with, making their biggest donations to Rudi Giuliani (US$634,858) and Mitt [...] read more
  March 3, 2008 12:23 pm - 8 Comments