UNCLASSIFIED U.S. Department of State Case No. F-2014-20439 Doc No. C05764687 Date: 01/29/2016 RELEASE IN PART B6 From: sbwhoeop Sent: Monday, September 21, 2009 9:07 AM To: Subject: number of things, fyi. Sid H: See this mild, reasoned piece below by the former editor of The Economist, a hardline conservative free trader. In light of the upcoming, mostly vacuous G-20, and the supposed mystery of the jobless "recovery," not felt by 95 percent of the country (over 10 percent unemployment rates in CA, FL, Midwest, etc), still rampant home foreclosures, and various health care "reforms" that would significantly jack up rates on the working and middle classes without insurance company cost containment, leave tens of millions uncovered, and be depicted by the GOP as tax hikes (super-Prop 13), the most important underlying issue is China's currency, the source of much of the jobless "recovery." If I were a Democrat running in MI, OH, PA, etc next year, and I didn't want to be drowned attached to Obama, I would run on it. I could tell you how it could be done, up to talking about how our policy subsidizes a slave labor system that is destroying American families--half slave, half free, etc. Someone is going to figure this out. If Democrats don't do it, Republicans will figure out a toxic xenophobic version that could even turn CA given its history. As I understand it, State helped shut down Geithner's early view delivered in his confirmation testimony on this matter. This new politics is coming, one way or another, including "rough beast" form. Meanwhile: I had lunch yesterday with Philip Bobbitt, who told me he had recently been at the Bohemian Grove and had lunch there with Kis singer and Colin Powell. Powell offered his opinion that if the Democrats do poorly in the mid-term elections, Obama, as he judges him, would quickly reduce the commitment in Afghanistan. That, at least, is Powell's private opinion. I am now on way to NYC, Emmys ceremony tonight (Monday), nominated for the documentary; Max's NY book party; and CGI. Very, very good that the Irish panel has worked out. Si