CNN

Mr. Obama is correct and the sanator is wrong.

President Obama engaging in talks with Chavez is productive in the sense that it shows America is open to discussion. What did this country concede? Chavez is most likely sending someone to represent his country which he wouldn't do while Bush was in office, and I don't blame him. Obama is sticking to the principles he preached while campaigning to be president, that should be applauded. Often, political leaders have no principles, and if they do their principles are appalling. On a final note, to those who demonize Chavez I suggest you disregard our American media's slanted view of him and do some of your own research.

Thank you Mr. President. It is refreshing to have leadership that has a clue...and a vision...for the best non-partisan future for our country. This President is American first... partisan politics will hopefully become a thing of the past.

I am so impressed with our President. Finally, someone who actually is a peace maker. Great work Mr. Obama!

Well done Mr. President; you did what you wanted to do; get closer to Chavez. By the way did you take any tips from him on how to rule your country since you didn't defend her?????

Finding a position today, is like adding a new part to your system/computer. If it slows it down, what use is it?

If you can't keep up with changes in the world we live in, then join the GOP and let them take you back to the stoneage. For me and my family we chose to move forward with the rest of the world.

It seems to me many of the people making negative comments on here never actually listen to the president speak.

Feel free to offer evidence to the contrary, but from everything I've read and heard about Chavez his issue was with Bush specifically, not the U.S. in general. Hardly a unique sentiment even in the U.S., where Bush enjoyed approval ratings at or near the bottom of those of any former president. Let's not confuse despising Bush with hating the U.S., because the former line is considerably longer than the latter.

Thank GOD! Finally a President who is willing to dialog & not dictate to everybody else in the world what they should & shouldn't do!!
A breath of fresh air.
GO OBAMA...(& your little dog too!)

I love reading this site, because it is the reason why America is "rotten from the core." If White Presidents can shake hands with their enemies (China, Russia, etc), the first African American President can't do the same. Let's get honest here, people are mad that the President is BLACK! Stop with the crazy tea parties and call this for what it is. The GOP is dead. If you don't have a solution to the problem then shut up and let those who do work it. I appreciate this man's hard work to restore the economy, and the prestige and MORAL authority of America.

Get out of the country and you'll find out that there are other citizens of the world! We are not the only humans living on this planet. It's better to make an enemy your friend. As a veteran, I appreciated it when diplomacy WORK! Otherwise, some young man and woman in the military will have to go FIGHT over something that could have been talked out by CIVILIAN leadership. Support the President and support our troops! They are tired and should be given a break from stupid folks who don't know how hard it is behind the scene.

I'm happy with you Mr. President. Thrilled that you released the "Bush-Era-Memos," and decided not to prosecute CIA agents. Let those who feel they must 'go there.' There's too much on your plate. You are a wise and prudent leader. You show it by the manner in which you handle all leaders. Some who hate you today will love you tomorrow, and visa versa. "If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs and blaming it on you. If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you....Yours is the earth...my son......(R. Kipling).

You know what? Stuff it, you republican obstructionist with NOTHING productive to do or say. You people are losers...you have done nothing but fight this country for years. Well, here's some good advice my grandma taught me, "if you can't think of anything good to say, don't say anything at all."

You and your worthless, America hating, republican party would do well to figure out everything you say and everything you do is WRONG. The people rejected you. shut up.

look GOP, I feel your pain,alright? It is really hard to be the minority......

It's funny how the same republican individuals that supported policies and proceedures that got us into this mess internationally condemn Obama for his concerted efforts to undo all that crap. YES! The old ways of diplomacy and U.S. against the world are over.

It's even more funny that a 10 second video clip can be mulled over and turned into a huge ordeal when it's but a drop in the bucket to an over all situation or scenerio. Obama is able to communicate and get people and nations that had no interest in cooperating to open up. 10 fold of anything the Bush administration accomplished internationally.

I am listening to Susan again, CNN. When you have no talent yourself.
You ignore Super-Stars. Some who can do. Others just talk about it.

productive???

yes, he went there and heard Ortega and Chavez trash America and he kept his silent ...that's productive? Instead of defending America, he only defended himself by saying he was only 3 months old when America was doing all that stuff??? that's was his reply to Ortega...just amazing

Excuse me, didn't he use the same excuse when he was questioned about his association with terrorist Ayers?

I hate to say it that Sarah Palin was right when she said "Obama palling around with terrorists??? what Obama is doing now , "palling around with dictators and America haters"

President-elect of the the United States of America, the honorable Barack Obama, I congratulate you in your ongoing and extraordinary efforts to bring this country back to what it should be. God bless you.

If "productive" means "blame everything on Bush," then the summit was a SMASHING SUCCESS. If, however, "productive" refers to anything advancing socio-economic or political objectives, then, like Europe, it was probably a failure.

Once again – well done Mr. President. Restoring our integrity and opening new doors.

Those of us who believe in Mr. Obama and his completely new, in tune attitude towards the world must make sure he gets enough time to complete the great work he has started.
To let a bunch of overgrown bullies back into the White House would be tragic and disastrous. Those who have tea parties and criticize endlessly are surely dying of jealousy. They must never be allowed to put America back in the hole they dug.

Obama is actually engaging the world, better than the ostrich in the sand approach of the last 8 years

I don't think we would talking about this if Hillary Clinton became the President. This is refreshing!

Thank you, Mr. President!
I am smiling and have a great deal of joy and hope that my little 6 month old grandson will have a great new world in which to grow!!
Thank you!

I'm just thankful he didn't bow to him.

Scared little republicans,always barking and nipping at our ankles.Lets use our steel toes on them.

Congratulations President Obama, you are doing exactly what the majority that voted for you want.

Re-establishing diplomacy by the use of intelligence and actually listening to the other side without having them capitulate to our view even before we sit down to talk to them.

Now, that is leadership!

Money in the Bank: is just Cocoa Beans. If I own all the Chocolate in the World.

The GOP would like us all to believe that the rest of the world hating us isn't such a big deal, this is view I find greatly flawed in todays world. We live in a globel world with globel problems, our problems do not just effect us but the rest of the planet as well. If we are going to maintain our standing in the world, we must be open to that simple truth. We as a nation have been to a very dark place over the last 8 years, it's nice to see the light of day and not be looked apon as the big bullys in the playground anymore. Mr. Obama this American ex-Republican is behind you 100%. My husband serves proudly in your military and will you go were you tell him with pride. We salute you!

Obama and his supporters are just confused. They think if the world likes us, they'll also respect us. The Obama Doctrine of apologizing to the world and kissing the butts of people like Chavez and Castro will accomplish about as much as Camberlain's diplomacy with Hitler. Does anyone think Castro will suddenly throw open the doors of his prisons and let political prisoners out? Will Chavez stop blatantly socialist wealth redistributions by seizing private property and giving it to those who haven't worked to earn it? Unfortunately, just like Britain in the 1930's we will probably realize our grave error too late.

Mr Obama has taken the false choices and boogey men off of the table for the GOP with his recent travels abroad.

It won't be long before the right wing radio talk show host and fox corporate news here at home try to drum up fear and insecurity within the weak minded and easily manipulated.

those conservatists do not have problems with spending. they have problems with obama being a blck president.

Of course it was productive for him... He got his mug on TV the entire time. That's all he wants, should have tried out for the movies and left politics to someone with a brain.

obama COULD HAVE gone to the summit armed with facts on poverty levels and economic numbers of south american countries over the past two decades. he COULD HAVE talked about media shut downs and political prisoners if he had prepared himself, but then again, he probably agrees with these thug leaders, so why would he?

nearly all of south america is led by thugs. i guess we're in support of that now? obama's silence only strengthens their positions, and hurts democratic movements. appeasement has never worked.

I guess I didn't realize that most of the world was so racist against us having a white President.

And guess the number one reason the trip was "productive?"

You got it: we engaged directly and as equals with other heads of state. We did not play the bully card.

You do not get anywhere by being pompous and above everyone else, as we learned from 8 years of "unproductive" international relations under Bush.

It was very productive. Finally the finally of the Americas don't feel like they are a doormat on which we North Americans wipe our feet. This will BENEFIT the United States.

Somali teenagers laugh at Obama as they continue thier hijacking--Obama is the Commander in Chief of the largest Navy in the world and yet is pathetically helpless against 16 year old Somailis in rowboats. We need a real president.

Obama did it again. Said all the right things. he rocks even here in canada. I will feel safe again now that he's on his way home

Good job by our President. We have had failed policies with foreign countries for a lot more than 50 years.

Keep up the good work President Obama.

If Republicans can ever get beyond Obama's skin color, they might eventually be forced to admit that he knows what he's doing...well, I can dream.

I wonder what will be done about american owned assets which have been seized by the Chaves government? Surely that will be a stumbling block in normalizing relations right? Or will Obama bow and kiss his "ring" too?

What would you dems have said if Bush would have buddied up with all of these shady people? All of a sudden this is good for America? You are not satisifed that America is great but you want to drag it down with some other countries. Just go live there if you love their government so much.

He's been made a fool of, again, on an international stage. The First Buffoon.

It seems to this viewer, that your program and other CNN hosts always seem to push the negative rather than the positive in anything that Obama does or says. Ditto with Meet the Press. The positives of Obama's Americas' conference far outweigh the fact that he chortled a bit with Chavez. Our Latin American foreign policy since, at least the Nixon era have been less than stellar insofar as relation-building is concerned and the last eight years have been abysmal there and in the rest of the world. Sen. Ensign exemplifies his party's worst, not the U.S. best effort to restore our pride and world trust toward us.

Gary Shuck

Beats the heck out of the "my way or the highway" of bush/cheney/rumsfeld/rove/limbaugh, etc.

Much better !!

Perhaps he shouid hve given him a map of our country with all the wasy to sneak in.

Your news media is critical of the success of President Obama's efforts to unify all nations. You think that the Republican philosophy that we are better than other countries is the right view point.
How can we make this a better world with that warped sense of superiority that you obviously have. You and the republican party have done nothing but criticize the president since he won the election. You are so radical to the point that your governors want to cede from the union. The news media has the power to unite this country or destroy it. I think that you have made your choice.

Once again Obama has proved that he is not only incompetent he is also naive.

I wonder where Obama would fly off to this coming week on his 'Bad mouth the USA tour.?

God bless pres Obama, there is a saying coated like this: “Keep your friends close, but keep your enemies even closer”
Obama indeed a man of common sense, repubz can go to sleep if they have nothing good to contribute.
Repubz pls. come again in 36 years when you might have lean your lesson.

Very insightful comment, Bill, about the Chinese. I agree with all who believe that President Obama will indeed have the last laugh on those who criticize his every word and move. I believe that he knows exactly what he is doing and now even when I disagree with him (and I do, I like to think that I am a critical consumer of information) I try to figure out what he might be doing that I'm not seeing. I believe he is one step ahead of all of us.

I'm just thankful he didn't bow.

Productive?? Nothing was agreed on, ask Obama to give one example.

OMG, what will the republicans do now that their "straw men" and "boogey men" are being taken off of the table by Mr Obama.

The republican naysayers are being thrown into disarray by the deployement reason and thoughfulness, not reactionary fear and false pride and hubris.

Just wait the republicans will have something horrible to say during the coming week to try and frighten the public..

Go Mr Obama !

It's easy to disagree respectfully on human rights when you don't appreciate the value of a human life.

That is the approach I've come to expect from president Obama and applaud him for not changing his strategy. Sometimes the right thing to do is the hardest; he knows he will be criticized by the Republican party but does not allow that to prevent him from reaching out. I respect his focus of diplomacy and look forward to a more peaceful world in 4-5 years down the line. Mr. Obama understand the art of communication and is willing to play the role as psychologist-in-chief. He allows these leaders to vent so that they can move on to more constructive dialogue down the road. Give one to the grown up (Obama).

GOP confuses "fear" with "respect". No one in their crazy minds doubts Americas military might, but that wont earn the US new markets for their manufactured goods if other countries dont want to deal with us.

Obama is working for new markets for the next round of manufacturing, and I guess China which always benefits from anti-Americanism isnt smiling with this new offensive.
Go BO we still have your back

These Republicans are not working on the American people's interest. They only seem to be criticizing everything the president do like taking a book from Chavez making it seem to be a big deal when it is not. They are just playing the same old Washington politics when here at home in the US the republicans are refused to vote for anything that the new government is working on to help our economy when our people are losing their homes, jobs, and saving. This is very irresponsible of the republicans part. I think that these republicans tend to forget that we have the saying when it come to election day. They may be in Washington now try to mask the nation by lying to us about the new administration, but we the people are still their bosses. If these republicans do not want to coorparate with the new government on our economy, they can forget about getting reelected next election.

Throughout the primaries I was a staunch supporter of Senator Clinton. During the Presidential election I became a reserved supporter of Obama; In his speech to the nation after the election results were in, Obama made me feel like an American for the first time; I was proud of the United States and all those things that I was told about the meaning of being American actually felt true. All this to say that in his remarks about the importance of socio-historical and cultural issues and perspectives Obama once again made me feel proud to call myself American. Democracy does not exist in a vacuum, and the United Stated cannot presume to understand everything about democracy outside of the United States; we can promote our own interests while trying to more objectively shape our relationship with developing economies in Latin America. Common sense from American politicians; we'll just have to see where it takes us. I can honestly say now that I have complete faith in President Obama and I have an ever deepening respect for his administration.

By shaking his hand Obama has just rent Chavez crazy rants mute. How does that compromise the US interests?

When you are a master you dont have to be a bully unless you are insecure.

I agree with you President Obama. Life is not about winning all the time. We disagree to agree and sometimes we agree to disagree. In each situation, we must do it with a sense of responsibility and respect. This is a dawn of a new diplomatic relation with other nations around the world, both our enemies and friends. The summit will definitely brings a fruitfull results in the future.

Wow finally a grown up approach! How refreshing.

.... and when will Pres. Obama take care of his job here ????? He does not know about tea parties, etc.... but jets around the world and trashes the USA, campaigning for what?????

Respecting other communities and cultures. President Obama understands this all too well!!

Ha! For all of u dumb obama critics on the moron john kings stotu show the president just shut u up again! Cnn ur dumb panel thought the picture of chavez was a big deal once, again the presidnt made u look stupid!

If you don't like improving relationships between countries that were formerly unfriendly to each other, there's something wrong with you.

Obama is a great man ...

It feels so nice to actually have a LEADER in the White House

You can 'disagree respectfully', unless of course you're a citizen of Venezuela. But that's an inconvenient detail, no?

President Obama is a breath of fresh air. When it comes to the Obama doctrine, first should be listen. I, as well as the rest of the world appreciates his willingness to listen. To say President Obama is irresponsible for appearing or talking to Chavez, is very telling of the senator's own character flaw. I would ask does the senator listen to his constituents or does he say what they want to hear and does as he wants once elected?

Well I just listened to Suan again. Her dream is coming true. She's Fantastic. This Guy and his months of Dreams, go nowhere.

Nice article. I guess for sure, CNN and Rep Ensign would know what "irresponsible" means.

policies of 50years ago don't work. It is a new world!!

America, isn't it nice to have an intelligent dimplomat in the White House for a change instead of a man who turned the WORLD against us? Its not called weak it's called diplomacy, something most republicans know nothing about.