The Candidates and The World

Transition 2012

A guide to foreign policy and the 2012 U.S. presidential transition.

Weekly Video: China

by Toni Johnson Wednesday, August 22, 2012

China’s trade practices and its growing prominence as a major economy have been a major focus for voters and presidential candidates. In the week’s video, CFR’s Elizabeth C. Economy, who sat down for us back in January, discusses China’s rising global influence, increasing assertiveness, and upcoming leadership transition, which she says may pose significant challenges for the next U.S. president. Watch below:

 

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Midday Update: Romney to Detail Energy Plans Soon

by Newsteam Staff Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Photo of the Day: Supporters cheer for President Barack Obama at Capital University in Columbus, Ohio August 21, 2012 (Kevin Lamarque/Courtesy Reuters). Photo of the Day: Obama supporters at Capital University in Columbus, Ohio August 21, 2012 (Kevin Lamarque/Courtesy Reuters).

GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney plans to lay out a comprehensive energy proposal this week (Reuters) aimed at increasing U.S. energy production and creating jobs. Read more »

Immigration Update: GOP’s Platform Takes a Tough Stance

by Newsteam Staff Wednesday, August 22, 2012
A man tries to climb the wall separating the Mexican city of Nogales Sonora and Nogales Arizona May 1, 2010 (Alonso Castillo/Courtesy Reuters). A man tries to climb the wall separating the Mexican city of Nogales Sonora and Nogales Arizona May 1, 2010 (Alonso Castillo/Courtesy Reuters).

The Republican Party is officially endorsing a strong stance against illegal immigration with changes to the party platform agreed to days before the national party convention begins in Tampa. Read more »

Midday Update: Obama Touts Education’s Economic Role

by Newsteam Staff Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Photo of the Day: Supporters wait for Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney and vice-presidential candidate, Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI), in Manchester, New Hampshire August 20, 2012 (Brian Snyder/Courtesy Reuters). Photo of the Day: Supporters wait for Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney in Manchester, New Hampshire August 20, 2012 (Brian Snyder/Courtesy Reuters).

President Barack Obama is expected use a two-day campaign trip to Ohio and Nevada to outline his differences with Mitt Romney on education and its role in U.S. competitiveness (WSJ). Read more »

Afghanistan Update: Ryan Criticizes the Withdrawal Plan

by Newsteam Staff Tuesday, August 21, 2012
An Afghan boy peeks out of his home to watch a U.S. paratrooper walking past near the town of Ahmad Khel in Afghanistan's Paktiya Province July 16, 2012 (Lucas Jackson/Courtesy Reuters). An Afghan boy and a U.S. paratrooper in Afghanistan's Paktiya Province July 16, 2012 (Lucas Jackson/Courtesy Reuters).

At a New Hampshire town hall Monday, Republican vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan answered several questions about foreign policy, including making several remarks critical about U.S. plans for leaving Afghanistan (ABC). Read more »

Midday Update: Is Romney Losing Focus on the Economy?

by Newsteam Staff Monday, August 20, 2012
Photo of the Day: Betty Douglas, mother of Republican vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan, at a campaign event at The Villages in Lady Lake, Florida August 18, 2012 (Scott Audette/Courtesy Reuters). Photo of the Day: Betty Douglas, mother of Republican vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan, in Lady Lake, Florida August 18, 2012 (Scott Audette/Courtesy Reuters).

As U.S. fiscal health remain at the forefront of the election debate, some analysts are asking whether GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney’s campaign is muddying focus by shifting trail talk from his plans for the overall economy to more specific topics such as welfare and Medicare (LAT). Read more »

Economy Update: Medicare Taking Campaign Center Stage

by Newsteam Staff Monday, August 20, 2012
A kidney transplant patient listens to a doctor's instructions in New York, August 1, 2012 (Keith Bedford/Courtesy Reuters). A kidney transplant patient listens to a doctor's instructions in New York, August 1, 2012 (Keith Bedford/Courtesy Reuters).

The political battle over Medicare shows no signs of slowing down as both presidential campaigns double down (NYT) on touting their plans for the government-run health insurance plan for seniors, which could have a huge impact on the future of the U.S. economy. Read more »

China Update: Ryan Echoes Romney on Trade Issues

by Newsteam Staff Friday, August 17, 2012
A worker at a textile mill in Huaibei, Anhui province, China August 1, 2012 (Courtesy Reuters). A worker at a textile mill in Huaibei, Anhui province, China August 1, 2012 (Courtesy Reuters).

Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) made his first foreign policy pronouncement since becoming GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney’s running mate, hitting China on intellectual property theft and currency manipulation as questions begin to surface about his record on trade issues. Read more »

Weekly Video: Immigration

by Toni Johnson Thursday, August 16, 2012

Given the furor over the Supreme Court’s ruling on the Arizona immigration law and a recent change in rules to allow Homeland Security to issue temporary work permits to some young undocumented immigrants, immigration remains a divisive issue. In this week’s video, we have CFR’s Edward Alden, who back in January said a major overhaul of U.S. immigration laws is not realistic in the current political climate, yet the winner of the 2012 presidential election still must confront the issue of millions of illegal immigrants.  Watch below:

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Midday Update: Candidates Still Sparring on Medicare

by Newsteam Staff Thursday, August 16, 2012
Photo of the Day: President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama arrive by bus in Dubuque, Iowa, August 15, 2012 (Larry Downing/Courtesy Reuters). Photo of the Day: President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama arrive by bus in Dubuque, Iowa, August 15, 2012 (Larry Downing/Courtesy Reuters).

Candidates continue to make Medicare a campaign trail issue as voters worry about the future of the program (NYT) in an economy-focused race. Read more »