News Nuggets 524

A baby giraffe at the Planckendael Zoo in Antwerp, Belgium.  From Zooborns.

China's 19th Century Agenda from The Diplomat
"China’s leadership seems divided, United States Institute of Peace President Richard Solomon tells The Diplomat. If it's to rise peacefully it will have to rethink its recent assertiveness."

China Goes to Nixon (Paul Krugman) form the New York Times
"The root cause of China’s muddle is its weak-currency policy, which is feeding an artificially large trade surplus. As I’ve emphasized in the past, this policy hurts the rest of the world, increasing unemployment in many other countries, America included."

Amid the Wining and Dining of Hu Jintao, a Display of American 'Smart Power' (David Ignatius) from the Washington Post
"The black-tie event said something about the familiarization of the U.S.-China relationship. Strategic cooperation is in part a habit, built on frequent meetings, careful protocol and the bunting of mutual respect.  Put another way, the grand reception of Hu was an example of what Harvard's Joe Nye likes to call "smart power.""

A Final State Dinner Note (James Fallows) from the Atlantic
"What the foot-tapping music at the White House state dinner said about America—and China"

Tunisian Dominoes? (Roger Cohen) from the New York Times
"Liberated Tunisia has done away with its Ministry of Communications, really the Ministry of Censorship, and also seems to have dispensed with all but the most cursory immigration controls, to judge by the relaxed, wave-you-on-your-way scene at the airport. These are heady days in the Arab world’s fragile democratic bridgehead."

Tunisians Bask in Newfound Freedom from Der Spiegel [of Germany in English]
"With the dictatorship gone, Tunisians can finally say what they think. Many are optimistic that, after decades of living under an autocratic kleptocracy, the future is bright. But the new government in Tunis has gotten off to a rocky start."

Tunisia's Sudden Press Freedom from Der Spiegel [of Germany in English]
"Tunisian media have witnessed an abrupt and jarring change: After years of oppressive censorship, all restrictions have vanished. Newspapers report freely, journalists work through the night -- and it seems as if every Tunisian wants to talk politics."

Grading Obama: The Progress Report After Two Years (David Rothkopf) from Foreign Policy Magazine
"We are two years into the Obama administration and judging by the president's progress to date, assessments being made on this the second anniversary of his time in office are likely to be viewed not as midterm grades but as his first quarter report card. With an increasingly confident, experienced president at the helm of a country that seems to be gradually creeping toward economic recovery and with a divided opposition in search of a leader, Obama's re-election prospects are looking better and better."

This related item:
Around the Halls: The Obama Administration's First Two Years (William Galston) from the Brookings Institution
"January 20, 2011 marks the second anniversary of President Obama's inauguration. On this date, William Galston examines the Obama administration's performance over its first two years in the area of domestic policy, and Steven Pifer looks at the administration's efforts to date in the areas of arms control and non-proliferation."

A Path Is Sought for States to Escape Their Debt Burdens from New York Times
"Policy makers are working behind the scenes to come up with a way to let states declare bankruptcy and get out from under crushing debts, including the pensions they have promised to retired public workers."
No matter how you cut it, the financial situation for the states looks bleak and the pathway to recovery VERY painful.

12 Reasons Obama Wins in 2012 (Mark McKinnon) from the Daily Beast
"The economy’s rebounding, his approval ratings are ticking up, and the GOP field is a mess. Mark McKinnon and Myra Adams on the president’s odds of a return ticket to the White House."
This from a GOP talking head.

GOP Presidential Possibilities: A First-Line-Up for 2012 (Larry Sabato) from the University of Virginia Center for Politics
"No one can be rated as having an “excellent” chance at winning the nomination (yet someone will eventually win). Mitt Romney, widely considered to be leading the early pack, starts out as a weak frontrunner. Six actual or possible contenders are placed in the First Tier; four more in the Second Tier: four in the Third Tier; and five in the Fourth Tier. Obviously, the nominee is likely to be found in Tiers 1 and 2."

Some further commentary on this subject:
Decision Time (Ed Kilgore) from the Democratic Strategist
"The Republican Party--and indeed much of the media establishment--is living in a fantasy world when it comes to 2012. To hear most of the pundits and soothsayers tell it, the presidential nominating contest is still a long way off. … To which I say, look at the calendar. The truth is that if the Republicans' Galahad is going to save the day, he needs to announce before midnight, and midnight is fast approaching."

TEDDY ROOSEVELT NUGGET!!
Macho Pointy-Head: A Review of Theodore Roosevelt’s History of the United States: His Own Words by Daniel Ruddy from the New Republic
"When Roosevelt wasn’t damning effeminate, cosmopolitan mollycoddle, he could be downright effete. If Woodrow Wilson ranks as our most academic president, Teddy Roosevelt was perhaps, despite his efforts to brand himself as a warrior, our most intellectual commander-in-chief."

CLASSICAL MUSIC NUGGET!!
The Greatest (Anthony Tommasini) from the New York Times
"HERE goes. This article completes my two-week project to select the top 10 classical music composers in history, not including those still with us. The argument, laid out in a series of articles, online videos and blog posts, was enlivened by the more than 1,500 informed, challenging, passionate and inspiring comments from readers of The New York Times. As often as I could, I answered direct questions online and jumped into the discussion."