When It Comes to America's Future, I'm Betting on Queen Rania

Politico asks the question about style over substance, as it applies to President Obama’s China trip. In reality, the questions runs the gamut across his entire presidency.

Unfortunately for POTUS, he’s no longer courting the idealistic Gen-Y crowd, god bless them.  His day job runs around influencing hardcore adults at work throughout America and in governments around the world, as well as Washington D.C.

President Obama taking in the sights in China. via CBS NewsThese grownups are selfishly committed to conflicting ideologies and competing national strategies. Many influential parties prefer a tribal hierarchy and almost all are militaristic in some fashion.  Talking sense to each other is woman’s work, and our influence remains in short supply, except in Europe where women are very active in politics.

In America, politics is the last thing on the minds of most women. With the ladies holding only 10 percent of the seats in Washington, we let our men do the talking.

To be fair at the get go, President Obama didn’t invent the mess he inherited.

Decades of financial and diplomatic strategy —  or lack of it — have America tied up in our underwear at home and abroad. No one could dry this wet laundry quickly, but what kind of green energy is in our clothes dryer?

I’m on edge here, watching this long-term Team Obama marketing and PR strategy unfold.

Goodness knows, it’s refreshing not to hear Republican bluster about how we will huff and puff and blow everyone’s house down if they don’t tow the line with the USA.  But it’s time for a real reality check about what’s up with America, what we actually can and cannot accomplish, besides buying other people’s stuff on credit.

Words mean nothing to me these days. It’s just “promises, promises”. To have patience, you must have confidence in the strategy, and talk is cheap.

- We have no significant leverage over China except the threat of refusing to charge any more merchandise that’s made in China. The latter will threaten to destroy us financially, and we’ll all be getting bailouts to go Christmas shopping.

China has existed for a long time. All I hear is the “they would never do this to us” argument. “They’ll go, too,” people say.

Can I remind us that one day in the not too far future, cutting America’s life line may be worth the pain? It’s a calculated decision in a very complex economic and financial puzzle for a country that’s existed for thousands of years.

Listening to the pundits, I’m happy to hear that nothing too terrible will happen for the next 10 years. The best news of all is that China’s one child policy will quickly produce a nation of old people. And China’s learned from Russia about imperialist ambitions, say the guys.

- Israel has all but told us to take a hike. They’ll do as they damn well please in the Middle East. If we want to accomplish anything at all, could we begin by admitting that America has NO influence over Israel anymore?

The headline reads at Middle East Online: Little behind Obama’s tough Mideast talk. Analysts: Obama has no real power over Israel despite his hard tone against Tel Aviv.

Consistently humiliated by Israel

- We’re nowhere on climate change legislation or even admitting the nature of the problem in Congress.

- Health care, we’ll pass something, pretty much whatever the Pope tells Obama we can have.

- I forgot Iran. They told us to take a hike, too, refusing to send enriched uranium abroad for processing, which would inhibit nuclear weapons.

In business, this foreign policy mess would be considered a Black Friday where the cash registers did not ring. I’m not sure the WH is so much better off than General Motors and all those companies that we’re bailing out.

Politico suggests that China may throw us a bone, being worried that people like me will be writing these words, thereby giving ammo to the shoot-em-up guys just dying to ride into the scene like American mounties salvaging America’s honor in the world.

We like big in America, so big talk, not thought, will commandeer the big screen. You better get some ear plugs cuz it’s gonna be real loud for a few days in pundit land.

“Because the press coverage of his trip is quite bad, it may have caused some heartburn in Beijing,” (Minxin) Pei said. “Chinese leaders know that a good relationship with Obama will be in China’s interest. And a weakened Obama cannot manage U.S.-China ties effectively. So there is a chance that China will do something after the trip is over to show that Obama’s visit is not fruitless after all.”

While I support President Obama’s desire to tone down America’s Bush/Cheney bravura style, I’m concerned that the administration doesn’t read the tea leaves so well, when it comes to pubic presentations.

My first earth quake came watching Michelle at the Vatican. I had no doubt how health care would play out that night. The Pope is calling the shots and pundits can position the matter however they wish.

I continue to find America’s Olympic bid video one of the saddest attempts in persuasion marketing I’ve ever seen. It’s bleak and sad, lonely and grey. No vibrancy to speak of. We were bidding for the Summer Olympics, using footage of mostly winter trees.

Miscalculations like this, especially when Valerie Jarrett assured everyone that people would be crying on viewing the film, don’t inspire confidence in the Obama folks’ tea leaf readings. I did cry but for a different reason.

Nobody wept in Copenhagen over that video, and yes, Brazil was going to get the games. Sorry, the video does not tell a good story about America. They are crying over America in Copenhagen but for a different reason called environmental action.

Queen Rania runs circles around most women in the world, but I just posted photos of Queen Rania in meetings with King Abdullah and Jewish leaders the past two days. The folks above are from the American Jewish Congress and Kind Abdullah laid out a very precise directive for what must happen in the Middle East.

Personally, I’m so disgusted with the Israeli/Palestinian situation — and remember that I wish I was Jewish and most people assume that I am — that not only did I write a big-read article last night about the new Palestinian city of Rawabi, but I’m now committed to tracking this new green city as if Rawabi was Queen Rania herself.

Sorry Israel, I need a jolt of hope, and if you refuse to deliver it, I’m going with Queen Rania and Rawabi. We are beyond the point of ridiculousness here.

Back to Queen Rania, the woman is such a breath of fresh air: modern, articulate, sophisticated, smart, candid, appears alone and without Jordanian government handlers. Queen Rania speaks on important global topics, cohosting a dinner in New York last Sept. for the world’s most important women.

Michelle Obama hands fruit to students at Hollin Meadows Elementary School in Alexandria, Va., Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2009, during a visit to highlight the USDA’s Healthier Schools Challenge. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)I Googled Michelle Obama just now, and the top story is Michelle Obama visits Va. school, tours garden. It reads First Lady Michelle Obama received a few gardening tips from students Wednesday as she toured a Virginia elementary school’s vegetable garden.

Hmmm. I don’t know. I hope these Chicago people know what they’re doing in the brand positioning department.

I meant it when I wrote last week: Michelle O and Mamie E: Reinventing America’s Traditional Women. I almost wrote that Michelle is not competing with Sarah Palin, but hey, Sarah’s Gone Rogue. Can you imagine Michelle Obama going rogue now versus before the campaign? Never.

Would Queen Rania go rogue? Oh yes she does, and I love her for it! I will walk on water for that woman, she has me so inspired.

After she finished meetings with Jewish leaders, Queen Rania addressed Jordan’s school leaders, tacking the problem of child abuse in Jordanian families and the school system. She also attended a meeting last night at which The King Abdullah II Design and Development Buread (KADDB) signed five agreements on joint cooperation with major European and US defence companies. Unless I’m reading wrong, BAE is the American company, one of the five.

In the second Google feed under “Michelle Obama”, CBS reports that the First Lady got too much coverage for hula hooping. Ah yes, here’s our beloved POTUS, under the new brain reserve in the East Wing.

Personally, I’ve tracked American women for years, and I find this brand positioning real dicey. True, we’ve established that American women are way behind the curve in women’s rights, and we’re going backwards, according to the World’s Economic Forum.

I do know that this Donna Reed, Ozzie and Harriet positioning for Michelle has a downside and it’s a big one. Of course her poll numbers will fall in the first year … I guess. It was a big drop recently. I gave up Michelle-Style for not enough news; the Mrs-O style book is 20,000 at Amazon. That’s a yawn.

In my playbook, Big Bird and brussel sprouts won’t cut it for Michelle. And yes, my story When It Comes to Eating Whale Meat and Monkey Brains, Count Me Out is the top A of C story this moment.

Frankly, I was faced with my own diplomatic crisis in China, which was killing a monkey before my very eyes and having him for dinner. This minor diplomatic crisis didn’t happen in Podunk, Iowa. (There is no such place, but you get my drift.) The event happened on the world stage, where Queen Rania hangs out.

I love Michelle Obama. She’s the best. Like America’s First Lady, I’m devoted to curing our obesity problem in America. I write about the subject every week, doing what I can. I totally support Michelle’s emphasis on changing our diets and being good mothers.

However, American mothers are already totally neurotic over worrying that they are not good mothers. In truth, statistics say that American parents don’t neglect their children at all in the aggregate. Parents spend more time with kids than ever. Books are written about helicopter parenting and over-parenting.

Personally, I do not find this Team Obama message inspiring. Humility is important and I detest cowboys, except that I’ll be going to Tucson for Thanksgiving and spending one night in Tombstone.

Indeed, I’m so committed to understanding America’s cowboy mentality that I’m going to the land of Wyatt Earp for a few days.

So I’m not an East Coast elitist, but I am a globalist looking for sophisticated, effective, educated leadership and communication from the White House.  This is the digital age and as these folks know, we have no patience.

On the subject of Israel, my patience pail is empty. Gone. Nada. There is nothing left in there but respect for the culture, the achievements, and the brilliance of a truly great people.

As a highly competent businesswoman, I know when somebody’s not dealing in good faith at all. So let’s get the cards on table, assess the damage and move on. I will not support destroying the world over Israel. Other parties are involved like the futures of America’s children and Palestinian children and France’s, too.

You cannot out argue Israelis on television. They are brilliant. Let’s stop this stupidity now. It’s worse than listening to the US Congress and I cannot take it any more.

The world needs hope, for goodness sake. People are really scared about the future. Nothing works. Americans have no faith in our institutions and we’re tired of all the talk.

What’s a smart person to do? Look for visionaries to get us out of this mess.

We all attach ourselves to people we can believe in. In my case, they must be doers not just sweet talkers. My money is on Queen Rania. I’m also very fond of Hillary Clinton, as you may have noticed. She did blow my skirt high in the wind, when she complimented Netanyahu about stopping work on the settlements in early November. I know that Hillary is very pro-Israel. So am I, but not at all costs to the future of civilization as we know it.

Alright, I have Queen Rania and Hillary and Dr. Muhammad Yunus, too in my new world order. I’m liking Bill and Melinda Gates, even though I’m a Mac person. And I do trust Warren Buffett, too. I’m studying Angela Merkel. You can yell at me, but Tony Blair is “in” for his leadership in trying to help the economy of Palestine. And Nelson Mandela. Please, please Mr. Mandela. Don’t leave town now.

Sorry everyone, Madonna’s on board, but I must speak to her about the Israeli conflict. I’m interested in Kabbala myself but not if I must lost my resolve on movement in Israel. Brad and Angie. Yes, I trust them. Howard Buffett and Shakira. How in the world can I forget them!

Bill and Warren did a big show on CNBC earlier in the week about betting on America long-term. I felt a little better about our situation, but there was too much instant applause from the Columbia Executive MBA students.

Every word out of Bill and Warren’s mouths got instant applause. I thought I was in China. Oh dear, do you think it could be possible … Anne

Update on Fri, November 20, 2009 by Anne

When I wrote last evening that over-parenting is a problem in America, I didn’t know TIME was about to focus on the subject. Read Can these Parents Be Saved: The Growing Backlash Against Over-Parenting.

First Lady Michelle Obama’s Mamie E, Donna Reed, Ozzie & Harriett daily photo ops are playing right into a growing concern that American parents have made kids their projects to a fault.

Personally, I want Michelle to grow up and play with the big kids like Sarah Brown, Queen Rania, Carla Bruni and the legions of grownup women who are devoted to combatting terrible problems around the world.

As feminism loses ground in America (it’s nowhere in my opinion) and we have 10% of our national officials women, I suggest that the First Lady look for ways to engage women more fully in the political process.

Our international position at 61 in political gender equality should give her cause for grave equal concern, beyond getting the nation to eat our veggies. I restate, that I totally support her in health-related efforts. Anne

Update on Wed, November 25, 2009 by Anne

I’ve been very critical of the Chicago/Obama Administration video that was part of America’s failed Olympic bid.

Writing just now Queen Rania and Princess Haya Join Kofi Annan in Tck Tck Tck campaign about global warming, I want to share an example of a superbly well-done, high-impact, persuasive message video:

Beds Are Burning - TckTckTck Campaign (time4climatejustice)

We’re going into Copenhagen with a regrettable amount of new confusion about the facts of global warming . Global leaders and scientists must agree on a set of scientific realities that will survive the US Congress.

As closely as I track this issue, I admit confusion in my own hed.

Politicians need to shut their mouths for once. The media must insist on thoughtful commentary and stop handing over the world’s airwaves for soapbox bravura.  Citizens of the world must understand the scientific realities of this issue.

What do we actually know for sure about climate change and the future of our planet, that any thinking person of either party will embrace? Anne