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Decline of U.S. foreign policy biggest risk of 2014, not economics: Ian Bremmer
By Aaron Task

Weakness in China's economy is the "major uncertainty" facing the globe in 2014, hedge fund titan George Soros declared last week.

That's wrong, acccording to Ian Bremmer, president of Eurasia Group, who says geopolitics, not economics, pose the biggest risks in 2014.

For the past five years the world has been alternatively -- and sometimes simultaneously -- worried about a meltdown in the eurozone, a hard-landing in China, Japan's debt burden, and America's debt ceiling and political dysfunction, Bremmer notes. "Every single one of those things has receded. Even my buddy Nouriel Roubini, 'Dr. Doom', says the economics are picking up. What remains and we are concerned about is that the geopolitics aren't good."

To be clear, Bremmer does not adhere to the idea that the U.S. is in 'terminal decline', a view that has gathered currency since the 2008 financial crisis. But "the commitment of the U.S. to allies abroad is absolutely in decline," he says. "U.S. foreign policy as a force that drives relationships and orientations of other countries around the world is absolutely in structural decline."

Related: The Myth of America's Decline: Why the 'Declinists' Are Wrong (Again)

While some countries -- like Israel, the U.K., Canada and Japan -- are inexorably linked to the U.S. for economic or security reasons (or both), many more -- including Germany, France, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Brazil, and Indonesia -- "all have governments that consider it unwise to align too closely with the U.S., and they are preparing to shift their international orientation accordingly," according to Bremmer.

There will be "very significant knock-on consequences" from this decline of U.S. foreign policy, he continues. For instance, defense manufacturers such as Lockheed Martin and Raytheon will face new challenges trying to sell arms abroad while tech giants Apple, Google and Yahoo (our corporate parent) will have a harder time doing business in Germany and France, "given concerns of NSA and Snowden," Bremmer says.

SHRINKING DEFICIT: The U.S. trade deficit fell in November to its lowest level in four years, an encouraging sign for the economy. Gains in energy production and stronger sales of American-made airplanes, autos and machinery lifted exports to an all-time high, the Commerce Department said Tuesday.

SUN AUG 01, 2010 AT 02:07 PM PDT
How the GOP saved the auto industry
byblackwaterdogFollow

They have no shame, and why would they. After all, they get away with every lie, so why not keep doing it?

Last year, when president Obama took what was almost a politically-suicidal decision to bailout GM and Chrysler, the RW went out of their already crazy mind. Sen. Bob Corker called Obama's actions "truly breathtaking" and said the government ownership roles at Chrysler and GM "should send a chill through all Americans who believe in free enterprise."
One year later, the lunatics are very quiet about the auto-industry comeback. But Bob Corker never met a lie he didn't like. From The Washington Post:

Corker says the administration's methods were "heavy-handed" but also takes credit for helping to shape the bailout. He prodded the Obama administration to force the companies to lessen their debt and achieve a more favorable union agreement.

"The ideas we laid out there were followed through," Corker said in an interview. "I take some pleasure out of helping make that contribution. . . . I think what we did is we forced a debate and we forced a hard look at these companies."

Yep. Not even a blink.

Winter storm sweeps into U.S. Plains, 10 inches of snow expected
Reuters By Carey Gillam

Winter storm hits East, disrupts Super Bowl travel Associated Press
Snowstorm sweeps across Northeast, trapping Super Bowl fans Reuters
Southerners warned of icy mess in days ahead Associated Press
Winter storm brings 'once in decade' ice, snow to Southern states Reuters
Heavy snow, frigid temps take aim at eastern US Associated Press

KANSAS CITY, Missouri (Reuters) - An unusually heavy winter storm was blanketing Kansas with what forecasters said could be up to 10 inches of snow on Tuesday, and the deluge was expected to make a quick march eastward across the U.S. Midwest and into New England.

The band of heavy, wet snow forced the closing of many state offices and schools throughout the region, as authorities advised people to stay in their homes and the National Weather Service (NWS) warned of "extremely difficult travel conditions."