Empire! An Al Jazeera Series
February 6, 2011 12:57 PM Subscribe
The show Empire on Al Jazeera collects experts on various subjects and holds a roundtable discussion. This week was Obama 2.0, on the President's first two years, with focus on foreign policy. Guests this week are Ralph Nader, Roger Hodge, Stefan Halper, and As'ad Abu Khalil. Earlier weeks include:
The UN - Tower of Babel: Is the United Nations outdated and can it be successful in the 21st century?
Europe - A Fast tracked superpower?: Can the EU pull together and be a superpower in the 21st century?
'War on Terror' through Muslim Eyes: Caught in the crossfire, how do the world's Muslims view al-Qaeda?
Running on Empty: What happens when the world runs out of oil?
Superclass: A new breed of global aristocrats are using their money to establish new global rules.
Media Wars: Empire asks what the real purpose behind a raft of new national news channels is.
The UN - Tower of Babel: Is the United Nations outdated and can it be successful in the 21st century?
Europe - A Fast tracked superpower?: Can the EU pull together and be a superpower in the 21st century?
'War on Terror' through Muslim Eyes: Caught in the crossfire, how do the world's Muslims view al-Qaeda?
Running on Empty: What happens when the world runs out of oil?
Superclass: A new breed of global aristocrats are using their money to establish new global rules.
Media Wars: Empire asks what the real purpose behind a raft of new national news channels is.
Actually the interesting part was that Stefan Halper, supposedly the arch conservative, ends up supporting and defending Obama more often than not.
posted by Glibpaxman at 1:26 PM on February 6, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by Glibpaxman at 1:26 PM on February 6, 2011 [1 favorite]
the interesting part was that Stefan Halper, supposedly the arch conservative, ends up supporting and defending Obama more often than not
He's not the first.
posted by Joe Beese at 2:25 PM on February 6, 2011 [1 favorite]
He's not the first.
posted by Joe Beese at 2:25 PM on February 6, 2011 [1 favorite]
Sigh more Bush = Obama nonsense. Cheney is a dangerous lunatic who has been talking nonsense. First Obama was going to get us all killed, well it's been two years and we arnt dead Mr.Cheney so whats up with that. His retort is that Obama has adopted his master strategy.
posted by humanfont at 2:33 PM on February 6, 2011
posted by humanfont at 2:33 PM on February 6, 2011
"The Obama/O’Reilly Super Bowl Interview With No Questions Out Of Bounds"
posted by finite at 2:45 PM on February 6, 2011
posted by finite at 2:45 PM on February 6, 2011
Cheney's retort seems to ring a bit true. While the right criticize the heck of Obama's domestic policy, by and large the 'serious' right seems to back up his foreign policy quite a bit.
Given his actions regarding Guantanamo, Pakistan, Yemen, Iraq; all of that seems pretty consistent with a Bush foreign policy.
And yes, Cheney is a dangerous lunatic. I don't dispute that (and while Obama hasn't bombed Iran, neither did Bush).
I think Cheney expected Obama to have a 'left-wing' foreign policy objective. When he realized that Obama's rhetoric was largely that (specifically in regards to Guantanamo, domestic surveillance, and other topics he had great passion for as a Senator.
No, Bush does not equal Obama. Obama has a much more palatable domestic policy, and that stuff is real important (he could get behind gay marriage though, his domestic policy still leaves a bit to be desires).
posted by el io at 2:45 PM on February 6, 2011
Given his actions regarding Guantanamo, Pakistan, Yemen, Iraq; all of that seems pretty consistent with a Bush foreign policy.
And yes, Cheney is a dangerous lunatic. I don't dispute that (and while Obama hasn't bombed Iran, neither did Bush).
I think Cheney expected Obama to have a 'left-wing' foreign policy objective. When he realized that Obama's rhetoric was largely that (specifically in regards to Guantanamo, domestic surveillance, and other topics he had great passion for as a Senator.
No, Bush does not equal Obama. Obama has a much more palatable domestic policy, and that stuff is real important (he could get behind gay marriage though, his domestic policy still leaves a bit to be desires).
posted by el io at 2:45 PM on February 6, 2011
Sorry Humanfont, but none of the above guys are haters. Obama protected GOP 'War on Terror' ridiculous apparatus as well as Big Capital. He seems to be content with it. Supporting Mubarak/Suleiman continuity sort of seals the deal for this for me. I just watched the most beautiful successful revolution of my lifetime get brutally repressed by our regime.
By the way, Obama would never do a sit down interview with anyone serious on the left. Yes, that's an O'Reilly reference.
posted by lslelel at 2:46 PM on February 6, 2011 [3 favorites]
By the way, Obama would never do a sit down interview with anyone serious on the left. Yes, that's an O'Reilly reference.
posted by lslelel at 2:46 PM on February 6, 2011 [3 favorites]
I've got an over-abundance of interesting podcasts to catch up on, (obviously) a backlog of TED Talks, plus the BBC Start The Week and ABC Australia's Big Ideas set.
My cup is already full.
Is this just more 'US-partisan-bickering' or 'Middle-East-quagmire-squabbling'?
posted by panaceanot at 3:00 PM on February 6, 2011
My cup is already full.
Is this just more 'US-partisan-bickering' or 'Middle-East-quagmire-squabbling'?
posted by panaceanot at 3:00 PM on February 6, 2011
Wow a panel of the lunatic fringe Of Obama haters assess Obama.
Wow. Seriously?
That right there is why the US needed someone like Nader so much, and why it's such a tragedy he was basically run out of town. It's terrifying to see "democrats" outdo right-wingers in terms of contempt for critical reflection.
America keeps throwing itself behind a black-or-white political system while everything else in the world is getting downright gray.
posted by regicide is good for you at 4:25 PM on February 6, 2011 [2 favorites]
Wow. Seriously?
That right there is why the US needed someone like Nader so much, and why it's such a tragedy he was basically run out of town. It's terrifying to see "democrats" outdo right-wingers in terms of contempt for critical reflection.
America keeps throwing itself behind a black-or-white political system while everything else in the world is getting downright gray.
posted by regicide is good for you at 4:25 PM on February 6, 2011 [2 favorites]
Wow a panel of the lunatic fringe Of Obama haters assess Obama. Al Jazeera should get a better booker for their show. What exactly are these guys experts on anyway? Book tours? where is Orly Taitz the Birther queen?
Because obviously anyone who doesn't love Obama is a lunatic.
posted by delmoi at 5:01 PM on February 6, 2011 [1 favorite]
Because obviously anyone who doesn't love Obama is a lunatic.
posted by delmoi at 5:01 PM on February 6, 2011 [1 favorite]
Seconding lslelel. The abandonment of the Egyptian people was the last straw for me believing he was anything more than Bush Lite on foreign policy.
posted by notion at 5:14 PM on February 6, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by notion at 5:14 PM on February 6, 2011 [2 favorites]
Ralph Nader the union buster who takes checks from billionaires who underwrote the Bush campaign.
Ralph Nader has been shown to be nothing more than a vain old man with a contempt for any real progress or hard work.
posted by humanfont at 5:24 PM on February 6, 2011
Ralph Nader has been shown to be nothing more than a vain old man with a contempt for any real progress or hard work.
posted by humanfont at 5:24 PM on February 6, 2011
Ralph Nader the union buster
TL;DR: Ralph Nader once fired 3 whole people.
posted by delmoi at 7:21 PM on February 6, 2011 [1 favorite]
TL;DR: Ralph Nader once fired 3 whole people.
posted by delmoi at 7:21 PM on February 6, 2011 [1 favorite]
I worked for the PIRG organization. From the inside of the sausage factory it was clear boss Nader's staff was perfectly willing to tell you to say whatever nonesense generates the most loot as they sent you out to beg door to door to fund more press releases. They promised high wages and purpose and a job, but it was all a lie. It was like living in a Dickens novel, with Nader as Fagan.
posted by humanfont at 8:22 PM on February 6, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by humanfont at 8:22 PM on February 6, 2011 [1 favorite]
Have we reached the ad hominem limit for the thread yet?
posted by pompomtom at 8:30 PM on February 6, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by pompomtom at 8:30 PM on February 6, 2011 [1 favorite]
Having worked for the PIRGs, Greenpeace, League of Conservation Voters, Obama for America, the Democratic Party and a couple other local organizations in Seattle I can say humanfront is right. The people at the ground level are treated like shit. But that has nothing to do with it being Nader, Obama, Bush, McCain, Global Warming, Save the Children, etc. Its everywhere. Any organization promoting social change treats its foot soldiers to daily doses of indoctrination, artificial camaraderie, and little to no pay.
posted by Glibpaxman at 8:47 PM on February 6, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by Glibpaxman at 8:47 PM on February 6, 2011 [2 favorites]
@humanfont and Glibpaxman, my Mama always said 'Any good cause in America always turns into a racket.' She was sooo right! I remember the PIRG coming to my University and even though I agreed with their agenda, I did not agree theyvshould just get Student Union money. They really were in people's faces. Then the people who opposed PIRG getting the Student Union money were aweful people as well. Years ago and the bad taste remains...
Now back to the real discussion. I was watching Al Jazeera well ahead of a lot of non-Middle Eastern folks because it was available to watch on cable in Sarajevo when I lived there.
I had heard all the horrible things said about it on FOX and other places so you know I had to check it out.
Al Jazeera doesn't have just one opinion, there is a lot of variety.
They take chances, literally.. So I like them. Do I agree every time? Are they even right all the time?No, but that's cool, it's a change and I am glad more Americans are checking it out.
posted by Katjusa Roquette at 11:31 PM on February 6, 2011
Now back to the real discussion. I was watching Al Jazeera well ahead of a lot of non-Middle Eastern folks because it was available to watch on cable in Sarajevo when I lived there.
I had heard all the horrible things said about it on FOX and other places so you know I had to check it out.
Al Jazeera doesn't have just one opinion, there is a lot of variety.
They take chances, literally.. So I like them. Do I agree every time? Are they even right all the time?No, but that's cool, it's a change and I am glad more Americans are checking it out.
posted by Katjusa Roquette at 11:31 PM on February 6, 2011
Ralph Nader the union buster who takes checks from billionaires who underwrote the Bush campaign.
Ralph Nader has been shown to be nothing more than a vain old man with a contempt for any real progress or hard work.
Maybe you could address some of the points he makes instead of engaging in ad hominem argumentation.
posted by AElfwine Evenstar at 6:00 AM on February 7, 2011 [1 favorite]
Ralph Nader has been shown to be nothing more than a vain old man with a contempt for any real progress or hard work.
Maybe you could address some of the points he makes instead of engaging in ad hominem argumentation.
posted by AElfwine Evenstar at 6:00 AM on February 7, 2011 [1 favorite]
I, for (the only!) one, enjoyed hearing these perspectives, thanks.
posted by brightghost at 12:53 PM on February 7, 2011
posted by brightghost at 12:53 PM on February 7, 2011
Betrayed by technology... the new "new posts" thing was telling me only two people had replied to this.
posted by brightghost at 12:58 PM on February 7, 2011
posted by brightghost at 12:58 PM on February 7, 2011
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posted by humanfont at 1:19 PM on February 6, 2011 [2 favorites]