What we do know is somewhat reassuring, even if there are significant gaps in his international economic policy resume.

Otherwise a spend-prone fiscal policy teamed with a pro-growth monetary policy could be problematic for the U.S. economy and currency ahead.

Good environmental policy is good economic policy.

The reserves are of significant importance to upgrade the China image in the international economic arena, strengthen the nation's macro-control capabilities and guard against financial risks.

The United States had a long bipartisan tradition of negotiating with even its worst enemies, from John Kennedy--'Let us never negotiate out of fear. But let us never fear to negotiate"--to Richard Nixon's opening with China, to Ronald Reagan's famous 'walk in the woods' with MIkhail Gorbachev. Obama's position was firmly in line with longstanding diplomatic practice. George W. Bush's post-9/11 policy--'You are either for us or against us'--was the exception, and a bad one. It removed subtlety from international affairs.

There is nothing so cleansing or reassuring as a vicarious sadness.