[Dialogue] The Nobel Peace Prize

[frank bremner]

A helpful dialogue folks, which we're watching with interest, and a good comment, Randy.

 

Down Under, PM Kevin Rudd has appointed Kym Beazley as ambassador to Washington.  "Bomber" Beazley has been a minister for defence (Hawke/Keating ALP governments), and in other portfolios, and was Opposition Leader (at times during the Howard years ofd Coalition government) until Rudd successfully challenged him for the ALP leadership.  Beazley never quite made it to PM.  Like former NSW Premier Bob Carr, he has a long-held interest in USA history and politics.  

 

Rudd also appointed his former opponent, former Opposition Leader for the Liberal/National Coalition, Brendan Nelson, as ambassador to the EU.  Nelson also has a ministerial background (defence and education) and before entering parliament was head of the Australian Medical Association (AMA).

 

There are rumours that Peter Costello, Treasurer under the previous Coalition government, might be offered something. He's in the process of resigning from parliament.

 

Meanwhile Gareth "Biggles" Evans, former Foreign Minister in the Hawke/Keating days of ALP government, works with the International Crisis Group based, I think, in Brussels or Geneva.

 

It may not be quite "consensus" as we have understood it, or cross-partisanship as we have observed in the USA from time to time, but it is weaving something new.  (Didn't Adlai Stevenson get appointed to the UN by a Republican administration?)  

 

Also echoes of how the incoming Democrat president (Jimmy Smits) talked his Republican opponent and foreign affairs "policy wonk" into taking the Secretary of State role - "The West Wing" final series.

 

By the way, Brian Howe, minister in the Hawke/Keating years, has been back in Fitzroy Uniting Church territory dealing with community issues.  He gave a recent talk on "Obama and the Niebuhrs", and is writing a book about the sixties.

 

Best wishes

 

Frank Bremner


Date: Sat, 10 Oct 2009 03:42:30 -0700
From: rcwmbw at yahoo.com
To: dialogue at wedgeblade.net
Subject: Re: [Dialogue] The Nobel Peace Prize






An insightful comment made around the edges at the Oklahoma City University meeting this week--one reason, perhaps the primary one, that Obama's approval ratings in this country have fallen since the inauguration is, many in the US are still looking for the strong, take charge leader.  Obama's leadership approach is to build consensus.  This grates on the right and those on the far left of his own party.  The Nobel confirms that the world approves of this new approach from an American president.
 
Randy Williams

--- On Sat, 10/10/09, jlepps at pc.jaring.my <jlepps at pc.jaring.my> wrote:


From: jlepps at pc.jaring.my <jlepps at pc.jaring.my>
Subject: Re: [Dialogue] The Nobel Peace Prize
To: "Colleague Dialogue" <dialogue at wedgeblade.net>
Date: Saturday, October 10, 2009, 1:24 AM


Thanks Mary

That's a very thoughtful and welcome word. After 
the last 8 years, it's a real relief to have 
someone in office who represents the best of what 
the nation stands for. Of course he still needs 
lots of support to bring it off.

I hope you received and will pass along the note 
I sent to Cyprian about the December event in 
Washington. Will you be coming? It sounds like a fine event.

We're in Malaysia now, but will be headed back to 
Denver in November.  How're you and the family doing? Let us hear from you.

John

At 11:35 AM 10/10/2009, you wrote:
>Congratulations to all of you who are American 
>citizens.  Some how I see a connection in the 
>award given to Obama and the work that all of 
>you are engaged in.  The peace prize is really 
>yours. . . For the big questions you raise in 
>your own lives, for the answers you seek in your 
>life and in the lives of those around you.
>
>Thank you for being global in your 
>resposibility.  Thank you for being patient in discovering the answers.
>
>Mary D'Souza
>Sent from BlackBerry® on Airtel
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Karen Sims <ksims at ica-usa.org>
>Date: Fri, 9 Oct 2009 06:54:39
>To: Colleague Dialogue<dialogue at wedgeblade.net>
>Subject: Re: [Dialogue] Have you written a book?
>
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