I do care what Putin thinks, what Iran thinks, and what anti-western terrorists think. They only respect/respond to strength. The EU, China and the rest of the world will conduct commerce with the US, and consider our position globally because to be successful the have to, not because of military power or will, because of economics.

Iran, N. Korea, Putin, and terrorists will only consider our position if they have to, not because of economics but because of power and political will.

Runner – While Obama will get the majority of the black vote, I think a substantial portion of southern democrats (wrong as this may be) will get in the booth, draw the curtain, and be unable to vote for a black man. And, by November many democrats or undecided will see that the shiny new finish on Obama has worn off, and he has no depth or experience to lead.

I hope.

TAHL

For me personally, not intending to vote for McCain anyway and knowing lots of other conservatives/libertarians of the same mind… this was just way too calculated on McCain’s part. A woman – bordering on gorgeous – who is at least as good a speaker as Obama – with impeccable pro-life credentials. I can’t be manipulated that easily. NOW – if she were on the top of the ticket, I would definitely vote for her.

If she runs in 2012 or later, I will vote for her. It was never about Hillary being a woman – it was about character deficits & questionable behavior of long standing. It is refreshing to see that there are women in politics with unquestioned morals.

“Toyota rewards Japanese workers
Posted by: Ian Rowley on March 15

Much is made of how Toyota benefits from its non-union employees in the United States, but it’s a bit different back home. In Japan, Toyota Motor Workers’ Union has 58,000 members. What’s more, with the financial year ending later this month in Japan, pay negotiation is in full flow.

Still, union membership doesn’t mean Japanese Toyota workers can expect huge rises. According to reports in the Japanese media, Toyota rebuffed union demands for a rise of $12.77 in the monthly base wage. Instead, a wage rise of $8.51 was agreed earlier this week—the same rise as last year. That may seem harsh given that Toyota’s Japanese workforce still makes over half of all its cars and, last year, raised exports by over 20%.”

http://www.businessweek.com/autos/autobeat/archives/2007/03/toyota_pays_up.html

“GM Daewoo, South Korea union head off strike with wage deal
By In-Soo Nam
EOUL (MarketWatch) — GM Daewoo Auto & Technology Co., the South Korean unit of General Motors Corp. (GM:
General Motors Corporation
has reached a tentative wage deal with its labor union that could bring a series of partial strikes to an end.
The union has accepted an offer of a 6% monthly wage increase, or an average of KRW82,000 ($76) a month, the company said.
Also, GM Daewoo will pay workers a two-month salary bonus and a lump-sum of KRW2.2 million ($2,03 designed to encourage them to boost productivity.
The union will put the deal to vote Wednesday to ask its members if they will accept the management’s proposal, said GM Daewoo union spokesman Kim Yun-Bog.
“I expect our union members to accept the company proposal,” he said. ”

http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/gm-daewoo-south-korea-union/story.aspx?guid={808AD333-4929-4389-9495-399E1D46EC68}