Obama to honor India with his first state dinner

[babylonsister]

Obama to honor India with his first state dinner

By DARLENE SUPERVILLE
Associated Press Writer


WASHINGTON (AP) -- And the first state dinner of President Barack Obama's administration goes to ... India.

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is coming to America for a state visit Nov. 24, just before Thanksgiving. Such visits include an elaborate arrival ceremony on the White House South Lawn, one-on-one time with the president and, in the evening, a state dinner.

It's a plum presidential nod of recognition for the world's largest democracy and most stable U.S. ally in a hostile corner of the world.

But why India first?

It was just four years ago that President George W. Bush and Singh raised their glasses and toasted the U.S.-India relationship at the start of a July 2005 state dinner.

Indian officials, however, have watched warily since then as the U.S. has become more engaged with its archrival, Pakistan, focusing on greater military cooperation in dealing with Islamist extremists there and in neighboring Afghanistan. Honoring Singh with what is considered one of the grandest and most glamorous of White House affairs 10 months into Obama's presidency may allay some of those concerns, along with perceptions that Pakistan has surpassed India as America's best friend in South Asia.

It also may be Obama's way of closing the loop with all the major U.S. allies as his freshman year in office draws to a fast close.

more...

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_OBAMA_STATE_DINNER?SITE=CONGRA&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

[Barack_America]

1. If Pakistan falls, we'd better hope we're on good terms with India. nt

[Deja Q]

3. Maybe I'm out of it, but

I think the President is trying to engender good will between all nations. "Moving forward", like he once said...

[thunder rising]

2. Honor by raising the H1-B limit to 125K from 65K since there are no Americans that can

perform those jobs.

[thunder rising]

4. Ya'know our Dem Congress has no problem fucking the base (or the American people in general)

[invictus]

25. +1

[Deja Q]

5. Please! Now is not the time nor the place.

That issue is irrelevant, right now. It's about the Pakistan issue, as mentioned in the article.

And moving forward.

[babylonsister]

6. What's up with you? We shouldn't try some diplomacy?

Maybe through better relations things will improve here. And who exactly are you blaming for the fact that Americans (supposedly) can't perform certain jobs?

Got a link?

[peacebird]

9. hi Babylonsister - no link but I do know my company is working to move my job to India

NOT because it can't be done here but because it can be done for a LOT less $$$ in India. Their cost of living is much lower than ours. I have a college degree and 30 years experience so I am a little more expensive than a "fresh out" of college, but even an American fresh out is over twice the cost of a worker in India.

This issue annoys the crap out of me - not for me, I will be ok. I am under ten years to retirement. It annoys me because of the reversal of the American Dream. Used to be (especially with a college education) that we could count on our children being able to do better than we did. Now I look at my son and realize that even with his degree, his future is much less secure than mine was at his age. And that is in great part because corporations value their bottom line more than their work force. And politicians value their corporate buddies more than their constituents.

It amazes me when I hear politicians say all Americans need is more training to succeed in the new workplace. I have a 4 year degree plus 30 years - I kept up with my field and learned the new programs etc. Yet *I* am in serious jeopardy of losing MY job to people in India simply because workers there COST LESS.

[babylonsister]

15. Thank you for your thoughtful post.

I knew American jobs were going to India, but didn't know about the lack of knowledge of American workers.

I think it stinks that American jobs have been going to India; I can only hope that trend reverses and that there will be Americans to fill the bill.

And I also think American diplomacy can help. Couldn't hurt and it's been so long.

[invictus]

33. +1

[thunder rising]

11. You mean, we could beg for our jobs and maybe cut the grass of our old homes now occupied by H1-Bs

[invictus]

32. +1

[thunder rising]

12. Here's a law firm confirming 2009 and 2010 has and will have 65K H1-B visa issuances

http://usavisanow.com/h1bnewsquota.html

[babylonsister]

19. Maybe it's just you, since you haven't provided a source

regarding Americans who are unqualified.

[Starbucks Anarchist]

30. Oh, there you are.

:eyes:

[Clio the Leo]

7. Putting in my wish in to Santa that Michelle wears a Saree to the dinner.

An outside chance I know, but anything could happen. Sarees are, without question, the BEST article of clothing womankind ever invented. Beautiful, comfortable, flattering and modest, all in one outfit.






Michelle and the First Lady of India...

[thunder rising]

13. I wish for a cow head on the table

[Clio the Leo]

14. Sorry, Santa is a vegetarian .......

.... or didn't you know?

(all that fat is from the cookies)

He isn't gonna be down with the cow head.

[JI7]

22. the Indian PM is Sikh so he might be wishing for it also

[Posteritatis]

24. Aren't we mature. (nt)

[Starbucks Anarchist]

31. They could use one of yours, but then you'd be dateless.

[babylonsister]

16. Haha! You're a fashion maven, definitely! And I could see Michelle

going there!

[Beacool]

18. I think that Michelle would look stunning in the pink one.

;)

[JI7]

20. the Choli outfits are much better than Sarees but probably too revealing

even a saree can be too revealing but i think she can wrap it around so the stomach isn't showing.

but i love these, and she would look great in it. but i can see a lot of controversy over it.

[Clio the Leo]

21. Yeah, that is lovely.........

..... but that ain't happenin.

Shakira maybe. :)

[AspenRose]

28. These people freak out over BARE ARMS and WALKING SHORTS

They'd DIE with a bare midsection!!!

[TuxedoKat]

26. Yes!!!

I totally agree with you. I think sarees are the most beautiful and flattering garments for
women also. Have you ever been to India? If not, if you go, do go saree shopping. It is the
most amazing experience. They bring you into a special room where you sit down on the carpet and
depending on what color sarees and fabrics you are interested in seeing they bring them out. Then
standing 6-8 feet away from you the saree fabric is flicked out and unfurled full length in front
of you so you can see the pattern, etc. It is a wonderful experience even if you don't buy a saree.

[Clio the Leo]

35. While I have not been to India......

.... the Dr. my mother worked for is Indian and his late wife would always bring us goodies back when they would go home. I wore toe rings LONG before they were fashionable.

I never had a Saree, but I have more salwars and kurtas than I know what to do with.

[TuxedoKat]

36. Bangles...

I wore those before they became popular over here!

[Captain Hilts]

8. Canada used to get it, but India is a good choice. nt

[BeyondGeography]

10. D-Punjab?

[Beacool]

17. Isn't that what someone in Obama's campaign called Hillary?

Senator D-Punjab

:eyes:

[BeyondGeography]

23. Of course, you remember

You and Draft_Mario_Cuomo.

Well, the "fear" at the time was that Obama's campaign harbored anti-Indian sentiments or was clueless about the importance of good relations with India. I guess we can all rest easy.

[Beacool]

27. Yeah, I'm resting so much easier............

:eyes:

[scheming daemons]

29. Still reliving the primaries, I see....

..

:eyes:

[Beacool]

34. There was a lot to be learned from the last primaries.

One lesson I learned is to never again vote for anyone just because they have a "D" after their name. To think of all the dweebs I voted for only because they were Democrats and were the lesser of two evils.....

What a waste of time and money.

:(