Comments on: Marmot’s Thoughts on the Election http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/12/20/marmots-thoughts-on-the-election/ Korea... in Blog Format Sat, 17 May 2008 04:28:54 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: OneFreeKorea » Experts predict Lee Myung Bak’s behavior; Still no comment from Miss Cleo, Nostradamus, or KCNA http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/12/20/marmots-thoughts-on-the-election/#comment-125239 OneFreeKorea » Experts predict Lee Myung Bak’s behavior; Still no comment from Miss Cleo, Nostradamus, or KCNA Sat, 22 Dec 2007 17:29:15 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/12/20/marmots-thoughts-on-the-election/#comment-125239 [...] The Marmot’s view, though colored by an understandable desire to give Lee a chance to be a statesman, also seems realistic.  If you’re interested, here’s the International Crisis Group’s take on what a Lee presidency will bring. Personally, however, I’m most interested in what KCNA thinks about Lee and his latest statements promising more scrutiny of North Korea on human rights.  Unfortunately, KCNA is now on its fifth day of official silence.  Odd. [...] [...] The Marmot’s view, though colored by an understandable desire to give Lee a chance to be a statesman, also seems realistic.  If you’re interested, here’s the International Crisis Group’s take on what a Lee presidency will bring. Personally, however, I’m most interested in what KCNA thinks about Lee and his latest statements promising more scrutiny of North Korea on human rights.  Unfortunately, KCNA is now on its fifth day of official silence.  Odd. [...]

]]> By: Unification policy under Lee Myung Bak | korean unification studies http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/12/20/marmots-thoughts-on-the-election/#comment-124989 Unification policy under Lee Myung Bak | korean unification studies Fri, 21 Dec 2007 10:41:41 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/12/20/marmots-thoughts-on-the-election/#comment-124989 [...] be in for a more significant change than many thought… Read some interesting views on Lee at Marmot’s Hole. Share This Sphere: Related [...] [...] be in for a more significant change than many thought… Read some interesting views on Lee at Marmot’s Hole. Share This Sphere: Related [...]

]]> By: Global Voices Online » South Korea: Thoughts on Lee Myung-bak http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/12/20/marmots-thoughts-on-the-election/#comment-124976 Global Voices Online » South Korea: Thoughts on Lee Myung-bak Fri, 21 Dec 2007 08:45:53 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/12/20/marmots-thoughts-on-the-election/#comment-124976 [...] Koehler from Marmot's Hole blogs his thoughts on the new president, Lee Myung-bak: There’s just something about him that says, “I’m going to get shit done.” Share [...] [...] Koehler from Marmot's Hole blogs his thoughts on the new president, Lee Myung-bak: There’s just something about him that says, “I’m going to get shit done.” Share [...]

]]> By: Bradley http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/12/20/marmots-thoughts-on-the-election/#comment-124857 Bradley Fri, 21 Dec 2007 01:16:16 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/12/20/marmots-thoughts-on-the-election/#comment-124857 Robert, although Chung is a tool and none too bright he was probably the best chance the progressives had after Goh Kun pulled out. He had the smarts at least to try and distance himself from Roh which is why he got a way too high 25%. Han Myung-suk, Rhu Si-min and Lee Hae-chan were the pro-Roh guys. Lee even said in the primaries that a vote for him is a vote for five more years of Roh. Needless to say he came in third out of three. Robert, although Chung is a tool and none too bright he was probably the best chance
the progressives had after Goh Kun pulled out. He had the smarts at least to try and distance himself from Roh which is why he got a way too
high 25%. Han Myung-suk, Rhu Si-min and Lee Hae-chan were the pro-Roh guys. Lee even said in the primaries that a vote for him is a vote for five more years of Roh. Needless to say he came in third out of three.

]]> By: WangKon936 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/12/20/marmots-thoughts-on-the-election/#comment-124814 WangKon936 Thu, 20 Dec 2007 20:51:14 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/12/20/marmots-thoughts-on-the-election/#comment-124814 747 baby! Okay, in all seriousness, 747 is a fantasy. 7% GNP growth, $40k per capita, and 7th place in GNP size vs. other nations all within his term, uh... ain't gonna happen. Hey, I'm as optimistic as the next guy, but my realistic (not to mention economically savvy) bones ache at the thought of it. 747 baby!

Okay, in all seriousness, 747 is a fantasy. 7% GNP growth, $40k per capita, and 7th place in GNP size vs. other nations all within his term, uh… ain’t gonna happen.

Hey, I’m as optimistic as the next guy, but my realistic (not to mention economically savvy) bones ache at the thought of it.

]]> By: Sperwer http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/12/20/marmots-thoughts-on-the-election/#comment-124783 Sperwer Thu, 20 Dec 2007 14:45:47 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/12/20/marmots-thoughts-on-the-election/#comment-124783 Elgin and the Bangkok Diddler are both right. The Great Pretender and his Know-Nothings did employ the media to ratchet up the volume of anti_Americanism in Korea, and played off the buzz, albeit in part as a means of distracting their supporters from the distasteful fact that they continued more or less to do business as usual with Uncle Sam for thoroughly cynical calculations. On the other hand, that is a tactic that in fact was first perfected by Syngman Rhee and indulged in by both Park Chung Hee and Chun Doo Hwan. That's not likely to continue in the future with a GNP administration because the Know-Nothings have blunted the instrument, which in any event is less effective because Uncle Sucker is less susceptible. The fact remains, though, that Korean conservatives are no less nationalistic, and are indeed even more crypto-mercantilist than the left, being the principal beneficiaries of the mercantilist dispensation and its opportunities for rentier/comprador skim-offs. Thus, as I've ocommented in another thread, Although The GNP will not beoutspokenly anti-American - because they understand, even if they don’t appreciate, where their guns and butter come from — they are generally only fair-weather friends of Uncle Sam, who for them is no more than the proprietor of the BIG PX. There are some notable exceptions in LMB’s inner circle, but I’m not betting that LMB is going to be the TR of Korea when it comes to taming Big Business or adopting a principled stance in foreign policy. Elgin and the Bangkok Diddler are both right. The Great Pretender and his Know-Nothings did employ the media to ratchet up the volume of anti_Americanism in Korea, and played off the buzz, albeit in part as a means of distracting their supporters from the distasteful fact that they continued more or less to do business as usual with Uncle Sam for thoroughly cynical calculations.

On the other hand, that is a tactic that in fact was first perfected by Syngman Rhee and indulged in by both Park Chung Hee and Chun Doo Hwan. That’s not likely to continue in the future with a GNP administration because the Know-Nothings have blunted the instrument, which in any event is less effective because Uncle Sucker is less susceptible. The fact remains, though, that Korean conservatives are no less nationalistic, and are indeed even more crypto-mercantilist than the left, being the principal beneficiaries of the mercantilist dispensation and its opportunities for rentier/comprador skim-offs.

Thus, as I’ve ocommented in another thread, Although The GNP will not beoutspokenly anti-American - because they understand, even if they don’t appreciate, where their guns and butter come from — they are generally only fair-weather friends of Uncle Sam, who for them is no more than the proprietor of the BIG PX. There are some notable exceptions in LMB’s inner circle, but I’m not betting that LMB is going to be the TR of Korea when it comes to taming Big Business or adopting a principled stance in foreign policy.

]]> By: Congratulations Mr. President! | East Windup Chronicle http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/12/20/marmots-thoughts-on-the-election/#comment-124779 Congratulations Mr. President! | East Windup Chronicle Thu, 20 Dec 2007 13:29:46 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/12/20/marmots-thoughts-on-the-election/#comment-124779 [...] not everyone in Korea was thrilled with Lee Myung-bak’s landslide victory last night. I spotted this while waiting for a bus this [...] [...] not everyone in Korea was thrilled with Lee Myung-bak’s landslide victory last night. I spotted this while waiting for a bus this [...]

]]> By: aaronm http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/12/20/marmots-thoughts-on-the-election/#comment-124775 aaronm Thu, 20 Dec 2007 12:35:43 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/12/20/marmots-thoughts-on-the-election/#comment-124775 Business would be a good litmus test to see if the overall anti-foreigner climate will prevail (like I suspect it might) or if another Lonestar-type debacle will be avoided and proper foreign competition brought in. However, as a 'Chaebolist', and with the majority of Koreans still of the nation-building mindset that big Korean companies are here to serve the national interest, I doubt whether we will see any shift. Business would be a good litmus test to see if the overall anti-foreigner climate will prevail (like I suspect it might) or if another Lonestar-type debacle will be avoided and proper foreign competition brought in. However, as a ‘Chaebolist’, and with the majority of Koreans still of the nation-building mindset that big Korean companies are here to serve the national interest, I doubt whether we will see any shift.

]]> By: R. Elgin http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/12/20/marmots-thoughts-on-the-election/#comment-124774 R. Elgin Thu, 20 Dec 2007 11:50:30 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/12/20/marmots-thoughts-on-the-election/#comment-124774 "aaronm", if you would review the anti-American rhetoric since 2001 and the attempts at history revision by the KTU and consider the bias in KBS reporting as well as what they and other PDs put out regarding the "criminal foreigner", it implies a wider campaign of misinformation that seems to suggest an "us versus them" mindset. There has been a war of ideas and a deliberate attempt at the shaping of minds and public opinion on the part of certain quasi-political organizations and this would benefit no one but North Korea. I would surmise that much of this will stop due to the influence of people who see no virtue or need to do this sort of thing. If anything, LMB will promote educational opportunities in the South without the propaganda from the last ten years of leftist nonsense. “aaronm”, if you would review the anti-American rhetoric since 2001 and the attempts at history revision by the KTU and consider the bias in KBS reporting as well as what they and other PDs put out regarding the “criminal foreigner”, it implies a wider campaign of misinformation that seems to suggest an “us versus them” mindset. There has been a war of ideas and a deliberate attempt at the shaping of minds and public opinion on the part of certain quasi-political organizations and this would benefit no one but North Korea.

I would surmise that much of this will stop due to the influence of people who see no virtue or need to do this sort of thing. If anything, LMB will promote educational opportunities in the South without the propaganda from the last ten years of leftist nonsense.

]]> By: Lee Myung-bak at Lost Nomad http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/12/20/marmots-thoughts-on-the-election/#comment-124769 Lee Myung-bak at Lost Nomad Thu, 20 Dec 2007 10:31:35 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/12/20/marmots-thoughts-on-the-election/#comment-124769 [...] Also, be sure to read Robert’s thoughts on the election over at The Marmot’s Hole. [...] [...] Also, be sure to read Robert’s thoughts on the election over at The Marmot’s Hole. [...]

]]>