Barack Obama

...his motivation. I think.

And I agree with what I think his motivation is: the U.S. has to get the upper hand on Pacific-Asian trade because if we don't the Chinese will. They already are. The Chinese are not waiting around for the dysfunctional US Congress to get its shit together. They are behaving most aggressively in the Pacific -- almost as if they are trying to provoke war, because of the way they are pushing territorial boundaries and establishing hegemony among the Pacific islands. How many citizens and politicians in the U.S. are even aware of this, and if they are, do they even care or perceive it as a threat? China is a threat, take my word for it.

If I understand correctly, there are a dozen nations involved in negotiations. Do we want them for partners or don't we? Do we want them looking to us to be the leader, or do we want to cede that position to China? Do we want to have a say in environmental regulations or don't we? We already know the environment means a lot to Obama, but he is balked continuously by Congress. What you may not remember is that at an international environmental conference early in Obama's administration, the Chinese delegation went out of its way to humiliate and exclude the US delegation. Do we want to have a say in formulating business regulations as regards workers themselves?

We won't have a say unless we move forward with something.

TPP does not have to be like NAFTA -- clearly there must be lessons learned from that experience. Yet the people who object to TPP conflate it with NAFTA, especially here. But an absolutely enormous amount of the objections are based on conjecture and supposition.

In addition, there are a number of public figures whom I respect who are coming out against the proposed TPP quite strongly. Their stated opinions are based on something other than what Obama is telling us. Because I respect them, I don't think they are lying, any more than I think Obama himself is lying or attempting to mislead us. So I have to ask: where are these various folks getting the info that is upsetting them so much? And what do they propose as an alternative? And which part is accurate?

I do understand why President Obama is getting frustrated with the attacks on his baby coming from people he thought were his allies, even his friends. But I myself am pretty confused.