Second Presidential Debate

The format for the second Presidential debate is the town hall. The town hall format allows everyday voters an opportunity to ask questions of the two major party candidates. The moderator in this format is there to ensure that the two candidates do answer the question without trying to sidestep the question. Unfortunately the cynic in me doesn't believe that the questions being asked by the undecided voters of Hoffstra University will be that tough. I suspect a lot of softball's will be thrown up.

Now the debate is to focus on foreign policy which unfortunately is not on the top five issues on the minds of Ameicans. The last Presidential debate President Obama allowed Governor Romney to rule the debate despite talking for an additional 4 minutes. During the Vice Presidential debate, Vice President Biden was more on the offensive although some of the Biden bite was lost on his snickering, smiling and overall condescending demeanor. The question is will President Obama come out "swinging"?

Both candidates need to be cautious in the town hall format as they attempt to make their points and counter their opponents as to not alienate the audience. In the past two the debates the moderator played the role of directing the conversation but in the town hall it will be the audience that will be setting the stage via the questions they ask. With the race a virtual tie and Governor Romney closing the gaps in the swing states it will be critical to the re-election of President Obama that he have a strong showing.

What will constitute a strong showing for President Obama? At the same time, Governor Romney cannot sit back and allow President Obama to dictate the tone and tenor of the debate while not looking stiff and lacking apathy for the audience. What will Governor Romney need to do for a strong showing tonight?

Unfortunately I won't be able to catch the majority of the debate and will have to rely on replays and pundits to help determine the outcome. If I were in the room and was chosen to ask a question, I'd ask:

Are you going to continue the imperialistic agenda that the United States has undertaken since participating in World War II?

China continues to defend North Korea

China, South Korea and Japan just wrapped up a two-day summit to which they discussed North Korea and the sinking of South Korean ship called Cheonan. The hope of South Korean President Lee Myung-bak and Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama that Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao would approve more sanctions on North Korea but that did not happen. Prime Minister Jiabao did say, "Most urgent is to dispel the impact of the Cheonan incident, gradually ease tension and especially avoid a clash." North Korean leader Kim Jong Il strongly believes that the sinking of the Cheonan was the collaboration of South Korea and United State governments to pressure China into imposing further sanctions on North Korea. Why does China continue to safeguard Kim Jong Il?

In 2008 trade between China and North Korea totaled $2.79 billion which was up 41.3 percent from 2007. CFR Senior Fellow Adam Segal stated, "The idea that the Chinese would turn their backs on the North Koreans is clearly wrong" (http://www.cfr.org/publication/11097/chinanorth_korea_relationship.html). To which Selig S. Harrison, Asia program director at the Center for International Policy, stated, the Chinese are "doing just what they have to do and no more" in terms of punishing North Korea (http://www.cfr.org/publication/11097/chinanorth_korea_relationship.html). Even though Pyongyang is heavily dependent on exports of food and energy from China many feel that North Korea understands that serves a greater good for China because they provide a buffer zone. The buffer zone North Korea provides is between China's northeastern border and the democratically led South Korea. By not having to deploy troops to their northeastern boarder, China can focus their military might to dealing with Taiwan's quest for independence.

Combining the economic and buffer zone one can understand why China allows North Korea's antics of nuclear missile testing and defiance of responsibility of the sinking of Cheonan. Kim Jong Il understands that North Korea does aide China thus does not fear sanctions. As Harrison pointed out, see above, China will only do so much as they are heavily invested in the relationship with North Korea. For countries, like the United States, to attempt to impose sanctions or influence onto China to reign in North Korea is no more right than China demanding that the United States allow amnesty for all Mexican illegal immigrants that live within the United States. Do we need to be aware of what is taking place in North Korea? Yes. An unstable Korean peninsula does nothing but create trouble for the Western world. That being said, the Western World has little ground to stand on by demanding that China impose further sanctions on North Korea that puts their $2.79 billion trade in jeopardy.