Pining For The Gringos

The NY Times tells us China, the new colonialists, and their relationship with Brazil:

China’s Interest in Farmland Makes Brazil Uneasy
By ALEXEI BARRIONUEVO

URUAÇU, Brazil — When the Chinese came looking for more soybeans here last year, they inquired about buying land — lots of it.

Officials in this farming area would not sell the hundreds of thousands of acres needed. Undeterred, the Chinese pursued a different strategy: providing credit to farmers and potentially tripling the soybeans grown here to feed chickens and hogs back in China.

...

“They are moving in,” said Carlo Lovatelli, president of the Brazilian Association of Vegetable Oil Industries. “They are looking for land, looking for reliable partners. But what they would like to do is run the show alone.”

While many welcome the investments, the aggressive push comes as Brazilian officials have begun questioning the “strategic partnership” with China encouraged by former President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. The Chinese have become so important to Brazil’s economy that it cannot do without them — and that is precisely what is making Brazil increasingly uneasy.

“One thing the world can be sure of: there is no going back,” Mr. da Silva said while visiting Beijing in 2009.

China has become Brazil’s biggest trading partner, buying ever increasing volumes of soybeans and iron ore, while investing billions in Brazil’s energy sector. The demand has helped fuel an economic boom here that has lifted more than 20 million Brazilians from extreme poverty and brought economic stability to a country accustomed to periodic crises.

Yet some experts say the partnership has devolved into a classic neo-colonial relationship in which China has the upper hand. Nearly 84 percent of Brazil’s exports to China last year were raw materials, up from 68 percent in 2000. But about 98 percent of China’s exports to Brazil are manufactured products — including the latest, low-priced cars for Brazil’s emerging middle class — that are beating down Brazil’s industrial sector.

“The relationship has been very unbalanced,” said Rubens Ricupero, a former Brazilian diplomat and finance minister. “There has been a clear lack of strategy on the Brazilian side.”

While visiting China last month, Brazil’s new president, Dilma Rousseff, emphasized the need to sell higher-value products to China, and she has edged closer to the United States. “It is not by accident that there is a sort of effort to revalue the relationship with the United States,” said Paulo Sotero, director of the Brazil Institute at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. “China exposes Brazil’s vulnerabilities more than any other country in the world.”

 

Comments

[Thomas Collins]

Among the most nonsensical mentations of the credentialled moronocracy is that China is not an expansive power, but simply wants to build strength in its own area. China wants to be numero uno. That's fine with me; it's natural for a big, strong country to want to be chief honcho. What is not so fine is if we don't clearly come to grips with China's ambitions and take steps to protect our interests (such as modernization of our nuclear arsenal and substantial support for missile defense research). The irony is that if Obama-like US emasculators succeed, and the US loses its numero uno place in world power politics to China, the credentialled moronocracy will get a chance to see how an imperialist bully really acts.

[Threadkiller]

In 1995, Walmart opened two Supercenters and three Sam’s Clubs in Brazil. Many more have opened since, including Todo Dia stores, a neighborhood format designed for our Brazilian customers. In March 2004, we expanded by acquiring 118 Bompreço stores and in December 2005 acquired 140 Sonae stores.

The president and CEO of Walmart Brazil is Marcos Samaha. Our headquarters are located in Sao Paulo.

Total Retail Units on April 30, 2011: 480
Supercenter 49
Sam's Club 25
Todo Dia 130
HyperMarket (Bompreco) 34
SuperMarket (Bompreco) 63
Magazine (Bompreco) 1
Mercadorama (Sonae) 21
BIG (Sonae) 35
Maxxi Atacado (Sonae) 53
Nacional (Sonae) 69

Looks like China is already well established there.

[Dave (in MA)]

"nonsensical mentations of the credentialled moronocracy"

My new mental image of TC:

[sobeit]

Soybeans? What you should be worried about is the push to corner water rights around the planet. Water is the new OIL.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2011/feb/20/arab-nations-water-running-out

http://www.alternet.org/environment/50994

[Extraneus]

I'm sticking with the Mafia hit-man image.

[Rick Ballard]

TC,

The revenue flow has begun from the Tupi fields and the Chicom mercantilist slavers are going to have to up their ante in order to stay at the Brazilian table. Brazil has always been highly protectionist and it's utterly unsurprising that they would start shoving China out the door. It's a shame that the African countries which China is subverting don't have the option of giving them the boot.

[sbw]

"Water is the new oil" is a platitude, not a plausible scenario. It's like "peak oil." There is more oil and more water.

What has to be considered is reducing the effort it takes to make each useable.

[OldTimer]

And with Soros buying grain storage in our Pacific Northwest, what could could wrong?

LUN

[jimmyk]

Or, this, Dave:

[Barack]

Mr Ballard:

I have consulted with my entire staff, and even my wife and no one can tell me the answer:

How many is in a brazilian?

[Thomas Collins]

No on both counts, Dave(in MA) and jimmyk. More like a cross between an aging jihadist and a mobster. See LUN.

[clarice]

Rick beat me to it. I expect the Chinese industries will soon find themselves nationalized in Latam and then in Africa--after they've provided the requisite lagniappes.

[narciso]

Yes, Clarice, would they go 'Gunboat Diplomacy' as Smedley Butler said we did,
to recover their investment.

[Sue]

Good grief. Italy is putting it's seismologists on trial for not predicting an earthquake. Fox News.

[Sue]

I have a great idea. How about Italy put the "scientists" who predicted AGW on trial?

[pagar]

"How many is in a brazilian?"
Since it is Friday, the afternoon propaganda drop from gov.com will announce the appointment of the brazilian czar.

[Threadkiller]

It is time to sit down and negotiate with rational leaders of the world. If you think what those seismologists in Italy did was horrific, you will be glad that Obama’s favorite dictator exposed this crime:

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has accused Western countries of plotting to "cause drought" in Iran by using high tech equipment to drain the clouds of raindrops.

"Western countries have designed plans to cause drought in certain areas of the world, including Iran," Mr Ahmadinejad said in the city of Arak in Markazi province.

"According to reports on climate, whose accuracy has been verified, European countries are using special equipment to force clouds to dump" their water on their continent, he said.

By doing so, "they prevent rain clouds from reaching regional countries, including Iran," Mr Ahmadinejad charged. “

Does he have “a false perception that there are a whole bunch of secret super-effective air assets that are in a warehouse that could just be pulled out.” I mean, come on. That's crazy talk. Even if it were true we would never let him bully us.

”Moments after the Iranian president made the startling claim at the inauguration of a dam in a central province, it started to rain.”

Whoops.

[JM Hanes]

Rick:

Do you know what I have long admired about you, (aside from the cutting edge of your comments, so to speak, and your acidic humor, of course)? You somehow manage to be both resolute cynic and natural optimist simultaneously, without a single note of cognitive dissonance between the two. You must be a great grandfather.

[matt]

greetings from 38,000'. Ain't technology amazing.

The Chinese have been buying up a significant percentage of global production of just about any commodity worth having since they don't think our dollars and euros are worth much anymore, This am's WSJ had an article on exactly which currency is the worst dog at the moment.

Like clarice said, the Chinese make get expropriated, or they may just stop supplying cheap consumer goods.

spent 2 days with some of America's great heroes. Will have to investigate cloud wringing technology while there. Maybe the Japanese have atomic cloud vacuums or something.It's tough keeping up these days with all that's going on.

[Frau Steingehirn]

TK, Somewhere deep in the Dolomite mountains a lever was pulled. The clever Europeans caused it to rain in order discredit Ahmadinejad, the Rodney Dangerfield of the ME.

[Frau Steingehirn]

"...they may just stop supplying cheap consumer goods."

I could do without the cheap consumer goodies. I've been helping clean out closets and the garage with my son. (My own record is severely blemished.) We've become a nation of magpies and packrats. Of course, I thank clarice to this day for steering me to the Fasta Pasta thingy.

[JM Hanes]

LOL, Threadkiller.

It has always amazed me that the concept of a League of Democracies always gets such bad press from the self-styled "realists" among us. Citing Santayana, of course, so many of same write off the Wilsonian experience as definitive, and yet set such store in the United Nations. That institution may be a useful place for monstrous to let off steam and the aggrieved to voice complaints (yet Heaven forfend that we should flex our own muscles). It may occasionally even help the needy, but the illusion that it can keep the peace or police it has long since devolved into a money making, money laundering proposition.

[Sue]

Wow. Rick Perry is seriously considering jumping to the fray...how awesome would it be if he went from Governor Good Hair to President Good Hair?

[Porchlight]

Do you think he really is considering it, Sue? From what I read, that rumor got started when Laura Ingraham said something a couple of days ago about how she knows a Perry staffer who insists he's running. But I don't know how credible that is. Do you have any new info?

[Sue]

Porch,

Quote from Perry:

“I’m going to think about it” after the legislative session ends Monday, Perry said. He added, “But I think about a lot of things.” …

I'm listening to Rush, came in late and I'm not sure who the author is, and thought he was doing a parody. Nope. I'll have to look it up to see who wrote the vomit inducing article he was reading, but the gist of it is Obama is so smart he stammers.

[Sue]

Porch,

I think he is going to do it. I've thought so all along. But I'll caution you, I thought Liz Cheney was going to run too. ::sigh::

[Sue]

This is what Rush was reading.

Meghan Daum: Obama's fast brain vs. slow mouth It's not that the president can't speak clearly; he employs the intellectual stammer.

And we are expected to beat this? No mere mortal can beat Obama, or is it now O'Bama?, and his adoring, slobbering, MFM.

[JM Hanes]

Thomas Collins:

"What is not so fine is if we don't clearly come to grips with China's ambitions and take steps to protect our interests (such as modernization of our nuclear arsenal and substantial support for missile defense research)."

This seems to me to strike an odd note. The Chinese may be rattling some noticeable sabers, but I suspect the military build-up which has set so many folks on edge is less designed for active combat than for intimidation and deterrence. I'm not sure it's even all that surprising in light of China's traditionally xenophobic paranoia.

While I'm all for modernizing our own arsenal, it won't be much help against a competitor who intends to tame us economically and who prefers provisioning other aggressors to deploying arms itself. Why would the world's savviest negotiators risk doing otherwise? Alas, this Administration doesn't recognize "smart diplomacy" when it's staring them in the face.

[JM Hanes]

"..... he employs the intellectual stammer."

Somebody has watched The King's Speech once too often.

[Uncle BigBad]

Sue

If we had both Rick Perry and Sarah Palin in the race, I wouldn't know who to root for.

[Threadkiller]

”Ten seconds earlier his brain told his mortal shell to close the umbrella.”

[centralcal]

Uncle BigBad: Maybe they could team up - Palin/Perry or Perry/Palin.

Is Janet around? I see Sarah and her hubby are trying to rent a hog so they can join in the Rolling Thunder ride in DC. Is Janet gonna be riding in that?

[Threadkiller]

Putting lipstick on a hog?

[centralcal]

TK: you betcha!

[JM Hanes]

Thomas Collins:

I should add that I can see China using external conflicts (e.g. India/Pakistan) as an predicate for military deployments really aimed at occupation, but our nuclear arsenal and missile shields still won't figure into the equation. It's Russia that gives me the heebie jeebies. Putin is a gangster with imperial ambitions unrelieved by any capitalist instincts.

[Threadkiller]

A sharpened elbow catches Brainiak mid stammer.

♫♪But you know when I have something on my mind,

I say “uuhhhh” for the longest time

And, before you break my lip in two,

There's something I've been trying to say to you....

But the words get in the way ♫♪

[Porchlight]

Thanks, Sue. I suppose it's possible. But my understanding is that he and Palin are friends; I wouldn't expect them to run against each other.

Or...maybe he is the candidate that Palin said she was waiting for? She said she wanted someone conservative and would get in only if she didn't see anyone she liked.

[Jane]

Anyone know Sarah's itinerary. Surely she is stopping by Central Mass. We are, after all, the conservative bastion of the state.

[centralcal]

ha ha, Jane.

[hit and run]

I'm pulling a "daddy" -- I haven't even tried to catch up on the threads.

(I've read this one though!).

Wish you were here,RalphL. You still have time...

[Thomas Collins]

JMH, I think military dominance is a necessary condition for keeping the sea lanes open for trade and being the world's economic powerhouse. China may not expect to have a nuclear war with us, but if our nukes degrade and our ballistic missile defense are not top notch, that will be reflected in the economic sphere. As far as the sea lanes go, we can have a strong navy, but if we can be bullied by another power with nukes, our navy won't be particularly effective. One reason nukes haven't been much of an issue, I think, is because we have always had either a credible deterrent or overwhelming nuclear superiority. As far as Russia goes, the Big Bear is always to be watched, but I think our main challenge will come from China.

[Porchlight]

Say, has anyone seen Cap'n Hate? Is he on vacation?

[JM Hanes]

I am ROTFL, Threadkiller!

Clarice:

"I expect the Chinese industries will soon find themselves nationalized in Latam and then in Africa--after they've provided the requisite lagniappes."

Brazil wants to play in the big leagues too much to start nationalizing foreign enterprises. That will be left to despotic regimes, and the "lagniappes" (which I had to look up) accruing to their benefit will be nontrivial investments in infrastructure and resource development. The most dangerous of them, however, like Chavez, seem the least likely to risk losing the patronage which props them up. If Obama somehow secures a second term, the collection of Chinese and/or Russian client states in our backyard will be something to behold.

Despite my jaundiced view of presidential rhetoric on "investment," Obama's attempt to cultivate a potential "partnership" with Brazil may be the only bright spot in the fumbling train wreck of his foreign policy.

[Neo]

Picture Worth a Thousand Words LUN

[cathyf]

Just wanted to point something out to you, threadkiller -- of the 4 threads active or recently active, TWO have as their last comment something by me. Ha! I am the thread killer here and you can only dream of having my talents!

[Threadkiller]

I was trying to win a caption contest on that pic yesterday, Neo.

[Extraneus]

Obama's attempt to cultivate a potential "partnership" with Brazil may be the only bright spot in the fumbling train wreck of his foreign policy.

American businesses have been actively working on this for quite some time, without any need for his help.

[Threadkiller]

I will take that bet, cathyf. Ready for some talent?

Obama does not meet the Natural Born requirement to serve as POTUS due to being born...

[JM Hanes]

Thomas Collins:

The Chinese have a considerable interest in keeping sea lanes open themselves. They are, however, perfectly delighted to let us devote our resources to making the world safe for capitalism, while they devote their own to buying up global resources and abetting other provocateurs to keep us occupied. We're even subsidizing the North Korean regime which keeps a potentially disastrous flood of neighborhood refugees under lock and key. What's not to like about that?

I don't dismiss the value of nuclear deterrence, and top dog status, but the actual usefulness of nukes themselves is extremely, if not prohibitively, limited in the global challenges we are facing. What interested me was that nuclear readiness was your first response to the question of protecting American international interests from Chinese expansion.

[Dave (in MA)]

Say, has anyone seen Cap'n Hate? Is he on vacation?

I saw a post from him in the jazzcorner.com forum Wednesday night.

[Danube of Thought]

Unexpected:

The number of Americans signing contracts to buy previously owned homes plunged more than forecast in April, a sign the industry that triggered the recession continues to struggle. The index of pending home resales declined 12 percent after a revised 3.5 percent increase the prior month, the National Association of Realtors said today in Washington. The median forecast in a Bloomberg News survey called for a 1 percent decline.

[Thomas Collins]

I agree, JMH, that the Chinese, and others, benefit from the resources we devote to keeping the global trading system secure (although pirates appear to at times make a mockery of the notion of open sea lanes). On balance, I think it is in our best interest to continue to do this. As far as the NoKos go, I think the NoKO people would have been better off if everyone stopped propping up that regime.

It was my first response because I think being the top nuke dog is the most significant necessary (certainly not sufficient) condition to top dog status in the power politics world. I realize there are other factors (such as the technological improvements in non-nuke weaponry, and fiscal and monetary continence), but a modernized military without modernized nukes and strategic defense doesn't, I think, bode well for our future. And a solid economic base with a top notch military won't sustain a big country. Switzerland couldn't be Switzerland if it were our size.

To look at it from another persepective, I think it may not be first on the list of most people because it is now taken for granted.

By the way, Derek Leebaert, in his book on the Cold War, does a good job of discussing the importance of our technological superiority in facing down the Soviets. One of the threads of his book is that the Sovs had better military strategists, but we had the better technology.

[daddy]

"How many is in a brazilian?"

Twang twang, bob-be-dop, Too many Reals!
Twang twang, bob-be-dop, Too many Reals!
Twang twang, bob-be-dop, Too many Reals!
Twang twang, bob-be-dop, Too many Reals!
Twang twang, bob-be-dop,
Or maybe there ain't enuff Yuan
be-doo, be-doo, be-doo, be-doo, be de Boop, Boom........

[JM Hanes]

Extraneus:

"American businesses have been actively working on this for quite some time, without any need for his help."

Political partnerships have a significant impact on our strategic interests, where private business relationships, in and of themselves, do not suffice. That said, however, I would completely agree that displacing private business with government "investments" and "partnerships" as Obama clearly conceives it is not just a monumental mistake, it is an abnegation of the role which government ought to be playing. I'm afraid I didn't make that point though, did I?

[Danube of Thought]

"Water is the new OIL."

Lemme know when oil starts dropping out of the sky.

[daddy]

"Meghan Daum: Obama's fast brain vs. slow mouth It's not that the president can't speak clearly; he employs the intellectual stammer."

Anyone know if this is the same reporterette who wanted to give Bill Clinton a BlowJob on Air Force 1? Sure sounds like her.

[Threadkiller]

Obama’s brain:

” Christian, say Christian…PLEASE SAY CHRISTIAN!!”

Obama’s mouth:

” you’re absolutely right that John McCain has not talked about my Muslim faith.”

”Stephanopoulos’s brain:

” This stupid Muslim is never going to win without help.”

Stephanopoulos’s Mouth:

“Christian faith.”

Obama’s mouth:

“My Christian faith.”

Obama’s brain:

”I hope my mouth never says 'shellacking'.”

[Porchlight]

Thanks, Dave (in MA)!

[maryrose]

I decided to try and be the real TK on this thread.

[daddy]

"I'm pulling a "daddy" -- I haven't even tried to catch up on the threads."

Hit,

It's a great ploy. It allows me the cover of not having to reveal how ignorant I am amongst all our exceptionally smart commenters by pretending I just haven't got thru the thread yet. But shhhh, don't tell anyone.

[daddy]

So what did you guys do on your summer vacation from College?

Student Discovers the Universe's Missing Mass

KayyyyyyyRoooooooo...

[Threadkiller]

This is the technique I employ when people count me out on killing a thread.

[clarice]

jmh, the Brazilians might not jump in and nationalize right off, but the history of South America is that the idiots keep blaming everyone else for what their cultural history and social values condemn them to. That means as soon as the going gets tough or the Chinese profits become obvious, these deals will be re-calculated. When one country does it, the others will follow . IMO, of course.

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

Aussie student finds universe's 'missing mass'

It is always nice to know something has been found that I didn't even know was missing. I am so physics-challenged, but I still love to read about the discoveries.

[Rick Ballard]

JMH,

My cynicism (the recognition that the stated interest may not coincide with the actual interest) and optimism flow from the certainty that human ingenuity hasn't come across any true limit as yet while the romantic idiocy underlying the cesspool of leftist ideology has run out of the OPM necessary for its survival.

I certainly enjoy my grandchildren and I've had a lot of fun teaching them to think about, plan and design whatever they would like to have roughed out in my shop, prior to their finishing it. We've gone through rolling toys and dollhouses to shields, swords, bows and arrow and now gun replicas and jewelry boxes and they know that no tool will touch wood until the object to be made has been drawn and dimensioned (the dimensioning is a recent addition). This weekend it's going to be finish sanding and staining and painting of assault rifles. This group lives near woods and specializes in interminable mock battle.

Why shouldn't I be optimistic when my baseball team plus relief pitcher all give evidence that they will be able to support themselves and have the desire to do so? My biggest problem at the moment is working out how to present the NPV equation regarding a college diploma in a manner which will allow those of my grandchildren who would not benefit from exposure to indoctrination to feel good about other choices.

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

Pay up Obama: President made to cough up C-charge for 'The Beast'

Barack Obama has been ordered to pay the congestion charge for his security vehicle "The Beast", Boris Johnson revealed today.

The Mayor told the Standard each car in the President's motorcade will be billed for £10 - including the bomb-proof Cadillac. Mr Johnson also said he had a discussion with Mr Obama about the US embassy's refusal to pay £5.3 million in C-charge fines. ... More

[Jane]

Rick,

Amy told me she and a bunch of parents of grade school kids are talking about home schooling college - collectively, so if one kid wants to go into retail you find a parent in retail and on and on. It's not only the issue of money, it is also the issue that college today is a bit stupid.

[centralcal]

Earlier today, I read another puff piece on Michelle Obama. I see Ann Althouse has a blog post on the same article. She has several quotes and suggests we read between the lines. Sometimes you don't have to read between them, just read what is actually on them.

“The first lady is a lovely woman, but she’s tough as nails, and that can be hard for some people,” said a source familiar with the office.

Oh, the many times I have used the phrase, "so and so is a lovely woman, but . . ."

Rick B: you grandchildren are immensely blessed to have you in their lives (and so are we).

And, I see Jim DeMint is speaking out about the union thugs that have taken over the NLRB. Go Jim!

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

"Less than three years into the job, first lady Michelle Obama is on her third chief of staff and third social secretary."

But why? Politico delves:

Sources familiar with the East Wing, who asked not to be named discussing internal dynamics, described the first lady’s office as a challenging workplace, where grueling hours and the expectations of a formidable boss intensify the demands of managing a popular first lady’s schedule, image and agenda.

“The first lady is a lovely woman, but she’s tough as nails, and that can be hard for some people,” said a source familiar with the office. “She has really high expectations.”...

“For whatever reason,” said one source familiar with the office, the first lady’s staff just hasn’t “gelled.”

“You don’t take these sorts of jobs unless you love the principal [figure],” the source said. “And you can deal with a principal who has high expectations when you’re all gelling as a group, but that just wasn’t happening.”

Hmmm, challenging workplace? I'm thinking this is like the "quaint little cottage, all original, waiting for your vision," kind of phrase.

[Army of Davids]

Democrats want to play Mediscare.

Maybe they should remember that the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB) is their creation.

[Rick Ballard]

Jane,

If a kid is in the top quintile and interested in a field where the ability to perform arithmetic counts, then a diploma may be worth the money and effort. If a kid is outside the top quintile and does well only in 'language arts' (AKA BS) then the probability of acquiring the diploma becomes problematic and the recuperation of all costs (to include opportunity costs) becomes very problematic.

The great governmental carp pump on education is designed to pay off the commissars responsible for dumbing down and indoctrinating the serf of the future. It's truly amazing that people load themselves with nondischargeable debt in order to buy a serf collar.

[Danube of Thought]

Insty has had a long-running theme of how cost-ineffective college has become. Just about every day he has one or more items on the "higher education bubble."

[narciso]

No, that was Nina Burleigh, Obama doesn't stutter, because there are no competing notions that get in way, for Mrs. Daum however, there is no such excuse:

http://sarahpalininformation.wordpress.com/2011/04/18/say-what-meghan/

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

Canada Defends Israel From Obama Administration – Blocks 1967 Line From G8 Statement.

and

LECH WALESA SNUBS OBAMA: “Lech Walesa, Poland’s Solidarity-era legend, ex-president and 1983 Nobel Peace Prize winner said Friday he would not accept an invitation to meet with fellow Nobel winner US President Barack Obama.”

Where are all those foreign leaders that would flock to Bambi's feet, so happy to be rid of Bush?

[Rick Ballard]

Walesa has probably reached his life limit on voluntary contact with commies.

[Extraneus]

I'm afraid I didn't make that point though, did I?

You made your point just fine, JM, as always. I'm peripherally involved in a number of high-tech deals with Brazil and China, and the only thing the gov't has ever done to help is to get out of the way.

[rse]

In a recent presentation on higher ed, I finally discovered who currently has the greatest percentage of its population with college degrees.

You know that finish line that BO wants us to aim for?

Russia

We know it has become primarily an indoctrination mechanism but how telling is that?

[Extraneus]

“The first lady is a lovely woman, but she’s tough as nails, and that can be hard for some people,” said a source familiar with the office. “She has really high expectations.”...

cc, my better half is a product of a SC and NC upbringing, and would never trash an enemy as brutally. Those people would read this as it was apparently intended.

Oh, and as for the caption contest on the Obama-DSK arm press, the SC/NC entry was: "Hey, even *I* can't hit that."

[narciso]

More sterling scholarship,

http://www.bizzyblog.com/2011/05/27/nyt-op-ed-writer-rick-perlstein-botches-reagans-birth-month/

[Charlie (Colorado)]

I hate to find myself in the position of defending Obama on anything, but this "intellectual stammer" thing is real, and affects people with large vocabularies; it takes them longer to "search" for the right word.

It turns out that this was the subject of some rather elegant experiments in cognitive neuroscience.

I'll note, however, that having a big vocabulary doesn't necessarily mean what you're saying makes any damn sense.

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

Have we become a nation of Turncoats? Bill and Dr. Victor Davis Hansen say yes.

BILL WHITTLE: Turncoat Nation (Video)

[peter]

Great book on stammers and other mislocutions: Um. . .: Slips, Stumbles, and Verbal Blunders, and What They Mean, by Michael Erard

[RichatUF]

Chaco-

But in Obama's case, I'm pretty sure it is because he's just not that smart. Or he's been doubling up on his morning eye-opener...

[PD]

Greetings from Door County. My sweetie and I came up for the long weekend. Beautiful drive up, though the forecast is for rain Sat/Sun.

We had rib-eye at the Sister Bay Bowl for supper. My stomach is happy.

[PD]

Catching up on last couple of days of threads and ran across this:

Van Hollen, honestly I forgot his name.

I think that comment should be bronzed, to commemorate The Day Narciso Forgot Something.

[Extraneus]

Did you guys see that this was a $2000 dress?

[Jane]

Sara,

The last time I saw him I asked VDH when history began. He gave me a fascinating answer that I'm not sure, to this day I understand.

[Jack is Back!]

Catching up late but I was once qouted in regards to Sao Paulo being "a city of numbers" including the fact it has the largest population of Japanese ethinicity outside of Japan. Sort of like Chicago and Poles.

Now you know the affinity Japan has for China and vice versa.

[Jack is Back!]

Hey PD,

Its Friday in Wisconsin and you had rib eye and not a perch fry?

[Extraneus]

How cool is it that Jane knows VDH?

Very.

[PD]

I suspect the military build-up which has set so many folks on edge is less designed for active combat than for intimidation and deterrence.

Well, they are the country that gave us Sun Tzu:

"Therefore, to gain a hundred victories in a hundred battles is not the highest excellence; to subjugate the enemy's army without doing battle is the highest of excellence."

[PD]

I hate to find myself in the position of defending Obama on anything, but this "intellectual stammer" thing is real, and affects people with large vocabularies; it takes them longer to "search" for the right word.

It might be real, but that doesn't mean Obama suffers from it.

[PD]

Its Friday in Wisconsin and you had rib eye and not a perch fry?

Darn right. Fish doesn't make my stomach happy. :-)

[Jack is Back!]

Forewarned all strict JOM originalists but I am writing this comment with an auto- typepad.

Did you see where Canada suceeded in getting the G8 from including the 1967 borders in a statement on Israel and the Paleos? So now Canada is now their BFF while we are still trying to find that elusive moderate Muzzie.

[Extraneus]

Well, they are the country that gave us Sun Tzu

Hopefully that's a part of our Ivy League curriculum.

Oh wait.

[Janet]

I see Sarah and her hubby are trying to rent a hog so they can join in the Rolling Thunder ride in DC. Is Janet gonna be riding in that?

No, but I'm sure gonna try to get to a good viewing spot & see them come by. It is mostly BIG motorcycles...Brummmmmmm, Brummmm. My little 250 would be trailing with a Neeeeeeee sound! hah!

[Jane]

I wouldn't go that far Ex, but when you go on a bunch of NRO cruises you see the same people over and over, and you think you know them.

[cathyf]

Chaco, I was going to say something in reply to that, but I forgot the word...

(Seriously, one of the symptoms of hypothyroidism in me is the inability to retrieve nouns. Every other kind of word comes immediately to hand, but I can't remember the names of things.)

[Extraneus]

But you rembered "hypothyroidism"?

[bgates]

it takes them longer to "search" for the right word

"wee-wee'd up".