Back in Canada

[The Smoking Man]

Well, I am back in the land of Hockey, snow and saying 'Eh?' to punctuate the end of sentences.

I thought I'd bring the Forum out of mothballs and upgrade it to the highest level so that we'd be free of the Russian spam artists.

So ... How'yall doin', Eh?

[Polly]

NONOOOOOO!!!!!! I DIDN'T SEE IT!!! GO AWAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Even the freelance work I do for a tv station is seeing contraction as they cut budget.  We just saw the rerun of Die Hard for the (nXn)th time last week.  Luckily I quickly landed another job translating PRC legislations (rules, regulations, laws and "administrative measures") - I provide HK legal expert quality at Shanxi sweatshop price!

Well I guess life has not been too bad for me

I hope Shan will appear soon, got lots of words with PRC idiosyncrasy to ask her. By the way HSBC has plunged to below HKD 59 from HKD 127, just...unbelievable.

[shan]

Hi  glad to see you guys

Actually i just came back from Shanghai and it seems we have a lot of news to talk about

in the past days when the forum was gone, i just sent news to my friends , but most of them in Chinese.

有点毒瘾要发作的感觉,不知道你们两位近来如何?

[Polly]

YEAH!!! Shan is here!!!!

The biggest news is China has been elevated to the status of EVEEEEL and will be controlling the US through its TBill holdings in exchange for political concessions with regard to Taiwan (any wonder why Chen Tsui Bien is captured and tried so smoothily?), Japan, SE Asia, and other parts of the world, for openning the sluicegate of hi-tech acquisition by China (Bush has already made a huge gift to China, sang kill Bush )and for time to upgrade her technology and industry and trail blaze ahead when the US is finally over and done with!  Yeah!

In short, "hyjack the king to order the dukes and lords" 挾天子以令諸候

[The Smoking Man]

It kills me how everyone thinks that things will just get better by wednesday.

It's going to take years before they can fix what Bush did.

[Polly]

After these two months, I actully think Bush is a reasonably competent president who basically had to do what he had to do to shore up the collapsing empire, invasion of Iraq had to be done to stay in command of the world by controlling oil, blazing into Afganistan had to be done to grab China's and Russia's Xalls in central Asia.  His biggest failure is that his plans failed in the execution.  Strategically they were alright.

Buy gold, the time ahead is going to be very turbulent as regional chiefs vys for power in the face of a retreating and collapsing superpower.  Stay away from financial instruments such as stocks, and buy realty - real estate, grains and oil if you can get your hands on them.

[The Smoking Man]

I'm more worried about buying groceries.

 

Anyone seen Driveby???

 

[The Smoking Man]

After these two months, I actully think Bush is a reasonably competent president who basically had to do what he had to do to shore up the collapsing empire, invasion of Iraq had to be done to stay in command of the world by controlling oil, blazing into Afganistan had to be done to grab China's and Russia's Xalls in central Asia.  His biggest failure is that his plans failed in the execution.  Strategically they were alright.

Buy gold, the time ahead is going to be very turbulent as regional chiefs vys for power in the face of a retreating and collapsing superpower.  Stay away from financial instruments such as stocks, and buy realty - real estate, grains and oil if you can get your hands on them.

Stockholm Syndrome???

[shan]

THE PRESIDENT: Fellow citizens: For eight years, it has been my honor to serve as your President. The first decade of this new century has been a period of consequence — a time set apart. Tonight, with a thankful heart, I have asked for a final opportunity to share some thoughts on the journey that we have traveled together, and the future of our nation.

Five days from now, the world will witness the vitality of American democracy. In a tradition dating back to our founding, the presidency will pass to a successor chosen by you, the American people. Standing on the steps of the Capitol will be a man whose history reflects the enduring promise of our land. This is a moment of hope and pride for our whole nation. And I join all Americans in offering best wishes to President-Elect Obama, his wife Michelle, and their two beautiful girls.

Tonight I am filled with gratitude — to Vice President Cheney and members of my administration; to Laura, who brought joy to this house and love to my life; to our wonderful daughters, Barbara and Jenna; to my parents, whose examples have provided strength for a lifetime. And above all, I thank the American people for the trust you have given me. I thank you for the prayers that have lifted my spirits. And I thank you for the countless acts of courage, generosity, and grace that I have witnessed these past eight years.

This evening, my thoughts return to the first night I addressed you from this house — September the 11th, 2001. That morning, terrorists took nearly 3,000 lives in the worst attack on America since Pearl Harbor. I remember standing in the rubble of the World Trade Center three days later, surrounded by rescuers who had been working around the clock. I remember talking to brave souls who charged through smoke-filled corridors at the Pentagon, and to husbands and wives whose loved ones became heroes aboard Flight 93. I remember Arlene Howard, who gave me her fallen son’s police shield as a reminder of all that was lost. And I still carry his badge.

As the years passed, most Americans were able to return to life much as it had been before 9/11. But I never did. Every morning, I received a briefing on the threats to our nation. I vowed to do everything in my power to keep us safe.

Over the past seven years, a new Department of Homeland Security has been created. The military, the intelligence community, and the FBI have been transformed. Our nation is equipped with new tools to monitor the terrorists’ movements, freeze their finances, and break up their plots. And with strong allies at our side, we have taken the fight to the terrorists and those who support them. Afghanistan has gone from a nation where the Taliban harbored al Qaeda and stoned women in the streets to a young democracy that is fighting terror and encouraging girls to go to school. Iraq has gone from a brutal dictatorship and a sworn enemy of America to an Arab democracy at the heart of the Middle East and a friend of the United States.

There is legitimate debate about many of these decisions. But there can be little debate about the results. America has gone more than seven years without another terrorist attack on our soil. This is a tribute to those who toil night and day to keep us safe — law enforcement officers, intelligence analysts, homeland security and diplomatic personnel, and the men and women of the United States Armed Forces.

Our nation is blessed to have citizens who volunteer to defend us in this time of danger. I have cherished meeting these selfless patriots and their families. And America owes you a debt of gratitude. And to all our men and women in uniform listening tonight: There has been no higher honor than serving as your Commander-in-Chief.

The battles waged by our troops are part of a broader struggle between two dramatically different systems. Under one, a small band of fanatics demands total obedience to an oppressive ideology, condemns women to subservience, and marks unbelievers for murder. The other system is based on the conviction that freedom is the universal gift of Almighty God, and that liberty and justice light the path to peace.

This is the belief that gave birth to our nation. And in the long run, advancing this belief is the only practical way to protect our citizens. When people live in freedom, they do not willingly choose leaders who pursue campaigns of terror. When people have hope in the future, they will not cede their lives to violence and extremism. So around the world, America is promoting human liberty, human rights, and human dignity. We’re standing with dissidents and young democracies, providing AIDS medicine to dying patients — to bring dying patients back to life, and sparing mothers and babies from malaria. And this great republic born alone in liberty is leading the world toward a new age when freedom belongs to all nations.

For eight years, we’ve also strived to expand opportunity and hope here at home. Across our country, students are rising to meet higher standards in public schools. A new Medicare prescription drug benefit is bringing peace of mind to seniors and the disabled. Every taxpayer pays lower income taxes. The addicted and suffering are finding new hope through faith-based programs. Vulnerable human life is better protected. Funding for our veterans has nearly doubled. America’s air and water and lands are measurably cleaner. And the federal bench includes wise new members like Justice Sam Alito and Chief Justice John Roberts.

When challenges to our prosperity emerged, we rose to meet them. Facing the prospect of a financial collapse, we took decisive measures to safeguard our economy. These are very tough times for hardworking families, but the toll would be far worse if we had not acted. All Americans are in this together. And together, with determination and hard work, we will restore our economy to the path of growth. We will show the world once again the resilience of America’s free enterprise system.

Like all who have held this office before me, I have experienced setbacks. There are things I would do differently if given the chance. Yet I’ve always acted with the best interests of our country in mind. I have followed my conscience and done what I thought was right. You may not agree with some of the tough decisions I have made. But I hope you can agree that I was willing to make the tough decisions.

The decades ahead will bring more hard choices for our country, and there are some guiding principles that should shape our course.

While our nation is safer than it was seven years ago, the gravest threat to our people remains another terrorist attack. Our enemies are patient, and determined to strike again. America did nothing to seek or deserve this conflict. But we have been given solemn responsibilities, and we must meet them. We must resist complacency. We must keep our resolve. And we must never let down our guard.

At the same time, we must continue to engage the world with confidence and clear purpose. In the face of threats from abroad, it can be tempting to seek comfort by turning inward. But we must reject isolationism and its companion, protectionism. Retreating behind our borders would only invite danger. In the 21st century, security and prosperity at home depend on the expansion of liberty abroad. If America does not lead the cause of freedom, that cause will not be led.

As we address these challenges — and others we cannot foresee tonight — America must maintain our moral clarity. I’ve often spoken to you about good and evil, and this has made some uncomfortable. But good and evil are present in this world, and between the two of them there can be no compromise. Murdering the innocent to advance an ideology is wrong every time, everywhere. Freeing people from oppression and despair is eternally right. This nation must continue to speak out for justice and truth. We must always be willing to act in their defense — and to advance the cause of peace.

President Thomas Jefferson once wrote, “I like the dreams of the future better than the history of the past.” As I leave the house he occupied two centuries ago, I share that optimism. America is a young country, full of vitality, constantly growing and renewing itself. And even in the toughest times, we lift our eyes to the broad horizon ahead.

I have confidence in the promise of America because I know the character of our people. This is a nation that inspires immigrants to risk everything for the dream of freedom. This is a nation where citizens show calm in times of danger, and compassion in the face of suffering. We see examples of America’s character all around us. And Laura and I have invited some of them to join us in the White House this evening.

We see America’s character in Dr. Tony Recasner, a principal who opened a new charter school from the ruins of Hurricane Katrina. We see it in Julio Medina, a former inmate who leads a faith-based program to help prisoners returning to society. We’ve seen it in Staff Sergeant Aubrey McDade, who charged into an ambush in Iraq and rescued three of his fellow Marines.

We see America’s character in Bill Krissoff — a surgeon from California. His son, Nathan — a Marine — gave his life in Iraq. When I met Dr. Krissoff and his family, he delivered some surprising news: He told me he wanted to join the Navy Medical Corps in honor of his son. This good man was 60 years old — 18 years above the age limit. But his petition for a waiver was granted, and for the past year he has trained in battlefield medicine. Lieutenant Commander Krissoff could not be here tonight, because he will soon deploy to Iraq, where he will help save America’s wounded warriors — and uphold the legacy of his fallen son.

In citizens like these, we see the best of our country - resilient and hopeful, caring and strong. These virtues give me an unshakable faith in America. We have faced danger and trial, and there’s more ahead. But with the courage of our people and confidence in our ideals, this great nation will never tire, never falter, and never fail.

It has been the privilege of a lifetime to serve as your President. There have been good days and tough days. But every day I have been inspired by the greatness of our country, and uplifted by the goodness of our people. I have been blessed to represent this nation we love. And I will always be honored to carry a title that means more to me than any other - citizen of the United States of America.

And so, my fellow Americans, for the final time: Good night. May God bless this house and our next President. And may God bless you and our wonderful country. Thank you. (Applause.)

[shan]

Obama is imitating Abraham Lincoln by retracing his train route to Washington DC. This is absurd! Again the comparisons to past presidents never end. Raising false hopes so that people will not be allowed to criticize Barack Obama.

These comparisons need to stop.

[shan]

THIS ARTICLE IS WONDERFUL ,BUT ONLY IN CHINESE ,SORRY

我们如何从演讲中去认识奥巴马？他的上台是否能够挽救美国经济?他的经济政策对中国有着什么样的影响? 在奥巴马的执政纲要中他强调的是改变，而他发表的《更完美的联邦》演讲和林肯的就职宣言是一样的伟大！

    奥巴马是一个什么样的人？

    奥巴马是一个非常深奥的一个人,我们把他看的太简单了,我举个例子, 他从竟选的第一天到他当选总统值得欢呼的那一天,我没有看他笑过,我也没有看他哭过,也就是他的喜怒不形于色,随时随地都是非常稳定的个性,当他受到别人攻击的时候,包括别人攻击他的牧师,他的反映简直让我感到震惊,像他这种冷酷的性格,如果他选不上总统话,他做基金经理最适合.尤其在中国做基金经理最适合.而且这个人很幽默,上次他去美国南达科他州,有四个总统雕像在那里,记者问他:你想不想当第五个雕像呀?他想了半天说:不行,我的耳朵太大,可能挂不住.

    另外他曾经遭到一个最大的挫败.那就是他的一个黑人牧师,像疯子一样的说"911事件是上帝对于美国的诅咒！"这个牧师与奥巴马的关系非常好,他的两个女儿信基督教的时候也是这个牧师替他洗礼的.但是这个牧师非常痛恨美国白人的牧师,天天在骂,说非洲的爱滋病是美国人带进去的. 911事件是上帝对于美国的诅咒!等等之类的话, 等到奥巴马出来竞选总统的时候,就被对方给突然宣布出来,奥巴马是如何来处理这个问题的?按照我们一般人的做法,就会说"我错了, 对不起.....!我本来就讨厌那个牧师…..!切断关系,划清界线!"。全世界的人都期望他会开个记者招待会,进行道歉。可是他没有,奥巴马3月18号在费城,就是我读书的那个地方,奥巴马发表一篇文章叫做《更完美的联邦》.他开头的第一名话就是"对不起,我不能跟那个黑人牧师切断关系"。这话讲出来之后,全场愣了他说"正如我不能切断我和我白人外祖母的关系是一样的,从小我父母离异.我爸爸是黑人,我妈妈是白人,所以我的外祖母从小把我带大,她是个白人,她将一生的爱都放在我身上,可是我的外祖母也告诉过我,她最害怕上街的时候,有黑人在她旁边走过,她怕黑人抢他,而且我的外祖母也常常告诉我她有多痛恨黑人,因此我要接受我的外祖母,我就要接受我的牧师,因为那就是美国的一部分,我不可能脱离的.但是这个牧师最大的错误不是非常偏激的种族言论,而是他忘了美国是一个不断进步的国家,因此美国是一个会改变的国家"。而改变这个字就是他的竞选纲要。这个话讲完之后获得全世界的赞赏,而且大家把他比拟为和林肯的就职宣言是一样的伟大.就这一篇宣言完全吸引了美国人的心，用他处理问题的态度,你可想像到他将来是一个什么样的总统。


    奥巴马对中国意味什么?

    奥巴马上台对中国的经济会不会造成影响,我想和大家做一个更深入的沟通,大家太不了解奥巴马这个人,他会怎么做, 我们当然不会知道.可是你要了解美国总统下一部要做什么,你就要了解他的意识形态思想,重要的他是怎么看问题的.我记的有一次他和麦肯恩的美国总统辩论赛,主持人问他们要如何对付邪恶, 麦肯恩桌子一拍说:我要打败他,轮到奥巴马,他说:我们应该对抗邪恶,但是很多邪恶的产生正是由于过去我们历史上,我们自以为是的对抗邪恶,因此产生了诸多的问题,因此在我们对抗邪恶的过程当中,首先要反省自己.这句话的意思是说,包括小布什在内., 麦肯恩在内的共和党的总统他们都有非黑即白一个毛病,你不然就是美国的盟友,不然就是美国的敌人,没有中间.甚至在他们辩论的时候主持人问对伊朗什么态度时, 麦肯恩一拍桌子说:伊朗是一个邪恶的国家,因此我要对抗他，因此我要和美国的友邦要组成一个民主同盟来对抗伊朗.奥巴马却说:我不能赞同你这么做,因为你这种思想很明显的把中国与俄罗斯排除在外了,你只要把中国与俄罗斯排除在外,你对付伊朗的工作就不可能会有成效,你要联合中国与俄罗斯,你不能非黑即白, 你要联合到其它意识形态不一样的国家一起运作才有可能成功. 他这么一讲完你会发现这位新任美国总统,他打破了共和党过去的传统,他根本就不接受非黑即白,他承认中间是灰色地带,所以他会用最大的弹性来处理灰色地带。绝对不像过去一样,你不是美国的朋友就是美国的敌人.而当他承认有灰色地带的时候,他对中国关系一定是非常有弹性的,他会以解决的问题态度来谈问题, 我相信他会坐下跟中国人协商解决问题.这种一反过去共和党非黑即白理念的人,承认中间灰色地带的人,他必将是中国的朋友,因为他非常清楚中国的重要性.如果是这种情况,你就可以想像得到,他绝对不会因为汇率事件单独对中国施压.如果叫奥巴马列出十件最想做的事的话,我敢保证中国的事情一定不在上面.



    共和党与民主党执政背后的玄机



    奥巴马是一个非常聪明、灵活、有弹性的一个人，他的竞选团队是非常优秀的，他最近选拔的财经班子非常杰出，他现在的这个财政部长盖特纳是美国中央银行的行长。我1994年离开美国，当时我存了4万块钱退休金，刚好是克林顿上任的第一年，等到2000年的时候也就是他快要下台的时候，我的4万美金变成20 万美金，所以我太爱这个政府了。我太喜欢萨默斯、太喜欢盖特纳了。等到他们下台之后，我就忘记把钱拿出来了，最近把它拿出来只剩下16万美金了。从 1929年到2009年总共80年间共和党与民主党各主政40年，如果你今年有一万块做投资的话，全投在民主党执政期间，你可以得到30万美元的回报，如果全投在共和党主政的40年期间，你的回报是1773块，所以这次金融海啸又是共和党搞的，1929的金融海啸胡弗总统也是共和党，因为共和党是一个非常讲究自由经济的党，而且他认为自由经济对有钱人是最有利的，所以他们不太监管，也比较放任，而且也比较倾向于利益团体，对老百姓的股票市场，我觉的他也不太关注，所以我个人也受到很大的损失。克林顿是我认为最伟大的总统之一，在20世纪很少有人超过他，这个能力极强，口才极佳。美国媒体问克林顿：你在年轻时有没有抽过大麻？他说我没有抽大麻，但是我吸过大麻！他就是这样的一个人！他也跟奥巴马一样，也是承认黑与白之间还有一个灰色地带的总统。所以他的意识形态与奥巴马是有传承的。我认为奥巴马与他非常类似，而克林顿总统时代和中国的关系是最好的，在他那个时代他提出中国是他的战略盟友，而不是战略竞争者，到了共和党才变的。奥巴马从克林顿时代找到有经验的财经班子，我认为是有必要的。如果是我，我也会这么做，因为时间太危急，处理不好的话，那就要付出非常大的成本，最好找一批意识形态相同而且又非常富有能力和经验的一批人是非常重要的，所以他会自然而然的找到每二梯队。

    目前最现实的一个问题摆在奥巴马眼前，美国三大汽车工厂马上宣告破产。这三个汽车公司雇佣的员工人数高达24万人，相关产业的雇佣人数高达400万人，只要这三个汽车工厂倒闭一两家的话失业人口就是250万人，所以解决这个问题是最重要的，这也是为什么他对于中国的汇率问题这么在意，他说中国的汇率低估了，大量产品出口到美国让美国造成失业。因为民主党本身对于失业这样的问题是非常在意的，因为他们这个党基本上都是蓝领的代表。他会像克林顿总统时代一样手段非常圆通，非常有技巧的来和中国周旋是一定的

[Polly]

I think your article gives too much credit to Obama,  what he said can be expected from any right thinking individuals, you have these thought and can perfectly articulate it in your own tongue, so can I.  So what is the big deal about it?  Especially given the embarrassing situation American now finds itself in?

Anyway I must say seeing a black guy leading the strongest country makes me cringe.  There is no successful country in the world that has been led by a black guy, even S Africa is falling to pieces after Mandela.

[Polly]

Obama is imitating Abraham Lincoln by retracing his train route to Washington DC. This is absurd! Again the comparisons to past presidents never end. Raising false hopes so that people will not be allowed to criticize Barack Obama.

These comparisons need to stop.

  The Oscar goes to....Obama in "POUSA"!!!!!

[shan]

I saw it from Chinadaily , LOL

America should give black a chance to be in power for these years white in power ruining their lives and enrich themselves. black would make it worse, america will be a third world country for sure at the end of his term, the best like brazil, many poors, high crimes and dirty. blacks work hard to get power with good speach, dress and act but little good substance or great program and policies. just look at all major american cities by black mayors, become so poor and dirty and chaos. blacks can't even know how to live let alone manage a big city or country. if hawaii majority blacks not asians, it would be dirty and ghettoes like Haiti not paradise. may be next time americans so desperate to vote asians dispite racist to be president to straighten all the mess and madness america has become.

[Polly]

Shan, what is 備案表?