Obama Intelligencer 2008 November 13

Environment and Foreign Affairs: Canada, Cuba, Iran, Israel, Russia
Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon announced that, with the coming of the Obama administration, his government will place a renewed emphasis on reaching a climate and emissions deal with the U.S. The agreement would focus on creating a common carbon market (Canada eyes climate deal with Obama). American environmentalists hope Obama will act as check against movements in Congress to ease the way for drilling in what are now protected areas (Rascoe).

Some have speculated that Obama’s promise to ease relations with Cuba could weaken the position of its Communist dictator, Raul Castro. Much of the Castro regime’s power and influence, beginning with Castro’s brother and predecessor, Fidel, has been fueled by its defiant stance toward the U.S. (Snow).

Israeli leaders have expressed concern over Obama’s suggestion that he will open relations with Iran. Israel was one of the few countries where McCain was viewed more favorably during the campaign (Defner).

Russia is carefully eyeing an Obama presidency. There aren’t signals of major policy changes toward Russia, but Obama’s worldwide popularity could signal a more sympathetic reception of America’s opinion on issues of interest to Russia (Cornwell).

Unusual
Fanciers of the Peruvian Hairless, Peru’s national dog, have offered a pup to the Obamas. One of the president-elect’s daughters is allergic to dogs, so the hairless (and sometimes toothless) dog, may be a good fit (Wade). The Obama’s have expressed an interest in adopting a shelter dog if they can find one that is suitable.

Sources
Canada eyes climate deal with Obama. (2008 Nov. 6). Associated Press on CBS. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/11/06/tech/livinggreen/main4577673.shtml?source=RSSattr=SciTech_4577673, accessed 2008 Nov. 13.

Cornwell, S. (2008 Nov. 10). Obama careful in response to mixed Kremlin signals. Reuters. http://www.reuters.com/article/reutersEdge/idUSTRE4A97PN20081110, accessed 2008 Nov. 13.

Defner, L. (2008 Nov. 7). In Israel, some anxious about Obama. U.S. News & World Report. http://www.usnews.com/articles/news/world/2008/11/07/in-israel-some-anxieties-about-obama.html, accessed 2008 Nov. 13.

Rascoe, A. (2008 Nov. 10). Environmentalists look to Obama to limit drilling. Reuters. http://www.reuters.com/article/environmentNews/idUSTRE4A97OB20081110, accessed 2008 Nov. 13.

Snow, A. (2008 Nov. 9). Analysis: Obama changes could test Castros' grip. Associated Press. http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5j5E57Ht_Oz6aUvha4i_xGwM_HbDgD94ASGMO2, accessed 2008 Nov. 13.

Wade, T. (2008 Nov. 10). Peru offers bald dog of Incas to Obama family. Reuters UK. http://uk.reuters.com/article/lifestyleMolt/idUKTRE4A97H820081110, accessed 2008 Nov. 13.

Obama Intelligencer 2008 September 11

Taxes
Obama has suggested he would delay reversing what are called the “Bush tax cuts” because it might somehow be harmful to the economy, though he has no plans to extend them beyond their scheduled expiration (Barack Obama says he would delay rescinding Bush tax cuts if economy slips into recession).

Vice-Presidential Candidate: Joe Biden, Comments on Israel
Biden affirmed Israel’s right to self-defense and self-governance, saying it needed no permission from the U.S. to take action against nuclear facilities in Iran. (US Democratic vice presidential candidate Joe Biden says Israel free to attack).

Sources
Barack Obama says he would delay rescinding Bush tax cuts if economy slips into recession. (2008 Sept. 7). Associated Press in Minneapolis Star-Times. http://www.startribune.com/politics/national/president/27970719.html?elr=KArksLckD8EQDUoaEyqyP4O:DW3ckUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUUJ, accessed 2008 Sept. 11.

US Democratic vice presidential candidate Joe Biden says Israel free to attack. (2008 Sept.6). Pakistan Daily. http://www.daily.pk/world/worldnews/7160-us-democratic-vice-presidential-candidate-joe-biden-says-israel-free-to-attack-iran.html, accessed 2008 Sept. 11.

McCain Intelligencer 2008 August 21

Israel
In a recent visit to Jerusalem, former Arkansas governor and presidential candidate Mike Huckabee stated that McCain has a stronger vision of Israeli self-defense than his opponent (Lefkovits).

Polls
McCain has slipped passed Obama, gaining a 5 point lead, according to a recent Reuters/Zogby poll. When asked who was better prepared to lead the country, McCain’s lead jumped to 9 points (McCain takes lead over Obama). A Los Angeles Times-Bloomberg poll should the two major candidates to be statistically even (Harnden).

Sources
Harnden, T. (2008 August 20). John McCain topples Barack Obama’s poll lead. Telegraph. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/uselection2008/johnmccain/2592093/John-McCain-topples-Barack-Obamas-poll-lead.html, accessed 2008 August 20.

Lefkovits, E. (2008 August 18). Huckabee: McCain stronger on Israeli security. Jerusalem Post. http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1218710395015&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull, accessed 2008 August 20.

McCain takes lead over Obama. (2008 August 20). AOL News. http://news.aol.com/elections/article/mccain-takes-lead-over-obama/141577?icid=200100397x1207639031x1200429890, accessed 2008 August 20.

McCain Intelligencer 2008 August 5

China
China spoke out against McCain when he recent met with the Dalai Lama when the Tibetan leader was visiting the United States. McCain has been a critic of China’s human rights record in Tibet (China says concerned, China swipes).

Polls and Israel
Some recent polls show McCain running almost even with Obama in several states. McCain was seen as stronger in leadership skills (Marinnuci). While Obama is favored in many foreign nations, one where McCain is favored is Israel (Keinon).

Vice-Presidential Speculation
Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty is still spoken of as a potential running mate (Kranish).

Resources
China says concerned by McCain, Dalai Lama meeting. (2008 July 28). SwissInfo. http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/news/international/China_says_concerned_by_McCain_Dalai_Lama_meeting.html?siteSect=143&sid=9383566&cKey=1217230685000&ty=ti, accessed 2008 August 4.

China swipes at McCain over Dalai Lama visit. (2008 July 27). AFP. http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5j8R7rtB4yRRAO2yLlURjw407Am9Q, accessed 2008 August 4.

Keinon, H. (2008 August 4). McCain still leads Obama…in Israel. Jerusalem Post. http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1215331181183&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull, accessed 2008 August 5.

Kranish, M. (2008 July 28). Minn. governor rides his rapport with McCain. Boston Globe. http://www.boston.com/news/politics/2008/articles/2008/07/28/minn_governor_rides_his_rapport_with_mccain/, accessed 2008 August 4.

Marinnuci, C. (2008 July 28). McCain has reason to smile as he visits state. San Francisco Chronicle. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/07/28/MN4111VKKQ.DTL&type=politics, accessed 2008 August 4.