The Candidates and The World

Transition 2012

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

Fiscal Cliff Update: Twenty-five Days and Counting

by Newsteam Staff Friday, December 7, 2012
U.S. President Barack Obama shakes hands at the Business Roundtable in Washington December 5, 2012. (Larry Downing/Courtesy Reuters) U.S. President Barack Obama shakes hands at the Business Roundtable in Washington December 5, 2012. (Larry Downing/Courtesy Reuters)

With twenty-five days to go until the fiscal cliff and a November jobs report showing that unemployment decreased to 7.7 percent (ABC), House Speaker John Boehner has conceded that the wealthy will pay more in taxes (CNN) and some Republicans are falling in line behind him (CBS). Read more »

What They’re Saying: Second-Term Engagement

by Newsteam Staff Wednesday, December 5, 2012
Secretary of Defense Panetta introduces President Barack Obama at the Nunn-Lugar Cooperative Threat Reduction symposium December 3, 2012. (Larry Downing/Courtesy Reuters) Secretary of Defense Panetta introduces President Barack Obama at the Nunn-Lugar Cooperative Threat Reduction symposium December 3, 2012. (Larry Downing/Courtesy Reuters)
On Foreign Policy

The Economist’s Lexington blog notes that typically American presidents look abroad to create their legacy during a second term, but that President Obama may be an exception: Read more »

Congress Update: Lieberman’s Retirement and Polarization

by Newsteam Staff Monday, December 3, 2012
U.S. Senator Graham, Senator McCain and Senator Lieberman attend a news conference in Kabul July 3, 2011. (Mohammad Ismail/Courtesy Reuters) U.S. Senator Graham, Senator McCain and Senator Lieberman attend a news conference in Kabul July 3, 2011. (Mohammad Ismail/Courtesy Reuters)

Sen. Joseph Lieberman’s (I-CT) retirement will not only break up “the three amigos,” a group comprised of Sens. John McCain (R-AZ), Lindsay Graham (R-SC), and himself, the loss of the bipartisan group’s Democrat-turned-Independent member could also “profoundly affect their ability to influence foreign policy,” reports the New York Times. Read more »

Fiscal Cliff Update: Obama’s Case and Boehner’s Response

by Newsteam Staff Friday, November 30, 2012
President Obama looks at a toy roller coaster at the Rodon Group, a manufacturer of toys in Hatfield, PA November 30, 2012. (Jason Reed/Courtesy Reuters) President Obama looks at a toy roller coaster at the Rodon Group, a manufacturer of toys in Hatfield, PA November 30, 2012. (Jason Reed/Courtesy Reuters)

President Obama spoke at a toy factory in Pennsylvania Friday as part of his tour to gain public support(WaPo) in the negotiations over the fiscal cliff, where he emphasized his demand that Congress extend the middle-class tax cuts immediately even if an agreement other parts of the budget take longer to hammer out. Read more »

What They’re Saying: Clinton’s Successor and Immigration

by Newsteam Staff Wednesday, November 28, 2012
U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice speaks to the media after Security Council consultations at the United Nations April 13, 2012. (Allison Joyce/Courtesy Reuters) U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice speaks to the media after Security Council consultations at the United Nations April 13, 2012. (Allison Joyce/Courtesy Reuters)
On the Secretary of State

In the Washington Post, Stephanie McCrummen speculates what Hillary Clinton will do after leaving the Obama administration, and reflects on  her time as secretary of state: Read more »

Congress Update: Outgoing Leaders Discuss Foreign Policy

by Newsteam Staff Monday, November 26, 2012
Sens. Kerry (D-MA) and Lugar (R-IN) depart together after a news conference after the Senate ratified the START nuclear arms reduction treaty December 22, 2010. (Jonathan Ernst /Courtesy Reuters). Sens. Lugar (R-IN) and Kerry (D-MA) depart together after a news conference after the Senate ratified the START nuclear arms reduction treaty December 22, 2010. (Jonathan Ernst /Courtesy Reuters).

Richard Lugar (R-IN), outgoing ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, writes in The National Interest that there needs to be more cooperation between the president and Congress on foreign policy and national security issues. Read more »

What They’re Saying: The Fiscal Cliff and Obama’s Second Term

by Newsteam Staff Monday, November 19, 2012
U.S. President Obama hosts a bipartisan meeting with Congressional leaders to discuss the economy November 16, 2012. (Larry Downing /Courtesy Reuters) U.S. President Obama hosts a bipartisan meeting with Congressional leaders to discuss the economy November 16, 2012. (Larry Downing /Courtesy Reuters)
The Fiscal Cliff

In Forbes, John Tamny writes that the United States won’t actually reach the point of going over the so-called fiscal cliff because politicians have incentives to reach a deal: Read more »

Views From Abroad: Obama’s Upcoming Visit to Myanmar

by Newsteam Staff Friday, November 16, 2012
Soe Moe, a supporter of President Obama, and a man hold T-shirts with images of Obama in their office in Yangon November 16, 2012. (Soe Zeya Tun/Courtesy Reuters) Soe Moe, a supporter of President Obama, and a man hold T-shirts with images of Obama in their office in Yangon November 16, 2012. (Soe Zeya Tun/Courtesy Reuters)

In this week’s Views, we head to Myanmar, where President Obama will be making a historic visit next week. In the Democratic Voice of Burma, Zaw Nay Aung writes that it’s a disgrace for Obama to visit while hundreds of political prisoners remain jailed: Read more »

Congress Update: Bob Corker on Foreign Relations

by Newsteam Staff Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Republican Senator Bob Corker makes a statement following a closed session about the new START treaty on Capitol Hill December 20, 2012. (Kevin Lamarque/Courtesy Reuters) Republican Senator Bob Corker makes a statement following a closed session about the new START treaty on Capitol Hill December 20, 2012. (Kevin Lamarque/Courtesy Reuters)

Although neither the House nor the Senate switched hands in the recent election, the chairpersons, along with many other influential members, of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations and the House Committee on Foreign Affairs will be changing. In Foreign Policy, Josh Rogin writes, “Several key committee leadership posts are changing hands, influential leaders are exiting Washington, and a new crop of national security lawmakers is looking to fill their void. Read more »

What They’re Saying: Obama’s Foreign Policy To-Do List

by Newsteam Staff Monday, November 12, 2012
U.S. President Obama places a Veterans Day wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery November 11, 2012. (Jonathan Ernst /Courtesy Reuters) U.S. President Obama places a Veterans Day wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery November 11, 2012. (Jonathan Ernst /Courtesy Reuters)
Foreign Policy

In the Washington Post, David Ignatius details the decisions President Obama will have to make on China, Iran, Afghanistan, and the Middle East in his second term. He writes: Read more »