does anyone realize that this would happen regardless of who is president??? if McCain had won...the forums would be flooded with him. after all this is the politics and current events forum...unless I made a wrong turn somewhere.

I realize that, and you're right. I am an equal-opportunity basher of the government.

Thank You! I have been trying to get more discussions going on the positive side of President Obama's leadership, and have gotten so tired and disgusted with people just bashing him completely and unequivocally. And as you said there is so much more to be talked about and resolved. If we, as a nation, stand up and put our heads together (everyone must brush their teeth first though I don't want any morning breath in my face thank you kindly) we can fix every single problem we are facing, and we can do so peacefully in the end.



Tell me something positive......didn't like him from the onset or his lies.

Topic man arrested in Japan for kidnapping his kids. International issue: See the following report:


TOKYO, Japan (CNN) -- Had this custody drama played out in the United States, Christopher Savoie might be considered a hero -- snatching his two little children back from an ex-wife who defied the law and ran off with them.


A Tennessee court awarded Christopher Savoie custody of his son, Isaac, and daughter, Rebecca.

But this story unfolds 7,000 miles away in the Japanese city of Fukuoka, where the U.S. legal system holds no sway.

And here, Savoie sits in jail, charged with the abduction of minors. And his Japanese ex-wife -- a fugitive in the United States for taking his children from Tennessee -- is considered the victim.

"Japan is an important partner and friend of the U.S., but on this issue, our points of view differ," the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo said Tuesday. "Our two nations approach divorce and child-rearing differently. Parental child abduction is not considered a crime in Japan."

The story begins in the Nashville suburb of Franklin, Tennessee, with the January divorce of Savoie from his first wife, Noriko, a Japanese native. The ex-wife had agreed to live in Franklin to be close to the children, taking them to Japan for summer vacations.

Savoie in March requested a restraining order to prevent his ex-wife from taking the children to Japan, saying she had threatened to do so, according to court documents obtained by CNN affiliate WTVF and posted on the station's Web site. A temporary order was issued, but then lifted following a hearing.

Don't Miss
WTVF: Dad follows abducted children to Japan
Japan prepares for new prime minister
Long-separated families reunited
"If Mother fails to return to Tennessee [after summer vacation] with the children following her visitation period, she could lose her alimony, child support and education fund, which is added assurance to Father that she is going to return with the children," Circuit Court Judge James G. Martin III noted in his order on the matter.

After that ruling, Christopher Savoie tried to have Martin recuse himself, as he was a mediator in the case prior to becoming a judge, said Marlene Eskind Moses, Noriko Savoie's attorney. But that request was denied, as Savoie earlier said he had no concerns about Martin hearing the matter.

Following the summer trip, Noriko Savoie did return to the United States, and Christopher Savoie then took the children on a vacation, returning them to his ex-wife, his attorney, Paul Bruno, told CNN. Watch latest report on Savoie's situation »

But days later, on the first day of classes for 8-year-old Isaac and 6-year-old Rebecca, the school called Savoie to say his children hadn't arrived, Bruno said. Police checked Noriko Savoie's home and did not find the children.

Concerned, Savoie called his ex-wife's father in Japan, who told him not to worry.

"I said, 'What do you mean -- don't worry? They weren't at school.' 'Oh, don't worry, they are here,' " Savoie recounted the conversation to CNN affiliate WTVF earlier this month. "I said, 'They are what, they are what, they are in Japan?' "

The very thing that Savoie had predicted in court papers had happened -- his wife had taken their children to Japan and showed no signs of returning, Bruno said.

After Noriko Savoie took the children to Japan, Savoie filed for and received full custody of the children, Bruno said. And Franklin police issued an arrest warrant for his ex-wife, the television station reported.

But there was a major hitch: Japan is not a party to the 1980 Hague Convention on international child abduction. The international agreement standardizes laws, but only among participating countries.

So while Japanese civil law stresses that courts resolve custody issues based on the best interest of the children without regard to either parent's nationality, foreign parents have had little success in regaining custody.

Japanese family law follows a tradition of sole custody divorces. When a couple splits, one parent typically makes a complete and lifelong break from the children.

In court documents filed in May, Noriko Savoie denied that she was failing to abide by the terms of the couple's court-approved parenting plan or ignoring court-appointed parent coordinators. She added she was "concerned about the stability of Father, his extreme antagonism towards Mother and the effect of this on the children."

Noriko Savoie could not be reached by CNN for comment.

Bruno said he helped Christopher Savoie pursue legal remedies to recover the children, working with police, the FBI and the State Department.

"We tried to do what we could to get the kids back," Bruno said. "There was not a whole lot we can do."

"Our court system failed him," said Diane Marshall, a court-appointed parent coordinator who helped Savoie make decisions about the children. "It's just a mess."

But Moses, Noriko Savoie's attorney, told CNN that the children's father had other legal options.

The International Association for Parent-Child Reunion, formed in Japan this year, claims to know of more than 100 cases of children abducted by non-custodial Japanese parents.

And the U.S. State Department says it is not aware of a single case in which a child taken from the United States to Japan has been ordered returned by Japanese courts -- even when the left-behind parent has a U.S. custody decree.

Facing such statistics and the possibility of never seeing his kids again, Savoie took matters into his own hands.

He flew to Fukuoka. And as his ex-wife walked the two children to school Monday morning, Savoie drove alongside them.

He grabbed the kids, forced them into his car, and drove off, said police in Fukuoka. Watch CNN panel discuss Savoie's legal options »

He headed for the U.S. consulate in that city to try to obtain passports for Isaac and Rebecca.

But Japanese police, alerted by Savoie's ex-wife, were waiting.

Consulate spokeswoman Tracy Taylor said she heard a scuffle outside the doors of the consulate. She ran up and saw a little girl and a man, whom police were trying to talk to.

Eventually, police took Savoie away, charging him with the abduction of minors -- a charge that carries a jail sentence of up to five years.

Bruno said if the situation were reversed and a Japanese parent had abducted a Japanese child and fled to America, U.S. courts would "correct that problem, because it's a crime."

He said he has "concerns about Japan ... providing a place for people to abduct children and go to. The parent left behind does not have recourse." He added, "the president and his administration should do something to correct this."

The consulate met with Savoie on Monday and Tuesday, Taylor said. It has provided him with a list of local lawyers and said it will continue to assist.


Meanwhile, the international diplomacy continues. During the first official talks between the United States and Japan's new government, the issue of parental abductions was raised.

But it is anybody's guess what happens next to Savoie, who sits in a jail cell.

Almost every single post in this forum is all about Obama and either how bad of a president he is, what he's doing wrong or what he isn't doing right.

Jesus, the president is sworn in and as long as your an "American" you're going to have live with it.

How about some of the other MORE IMPORTANT issues that are going on around here that people can actually change?

How about, for example....schools are now teaching kindergartners what drugs and alcohol are? How about any local city issues going on? Uhm...what about the cows being treated unlawfully, visiously and hate on by Land'O'Lake employees?

What about natural resources and national parks that are being destroyed to build more roads, buildings, used for it's gas?

Is there anything in this world that is better or worth talking about than Obama?

Just a suggestion....Say what you want.

Almost every single post in this forum is all about Obama and either how bad of a president he is, what he's doing wrong or what he isn't doing right.

Jesus, the president is sworn in and as long as your an "American" you're going to have live with it.

How about some of the other MORE IMPORTANT issues that are going on around here that people can actually change?

How about, for example....schools are now teaching kindergartners what drugs and alcohol are? How about any local city issues going on? Uhm...what about the cows being treated unlawfully, visiously and hate on by Land'O'Lake employees?

What about natural resources and national parks that are being destroyed to build more roads, buildings, used for it's gas?

Is there anything in this world that is better or worth talking about than Obama?

Just a suggestion....Say what you want.

You know what, I will do my best to focus on issues instead of the people behind them.

I agree with the OP.

that is like treating the symptoms and not worrying about the cause

it does no good to bail the water out of the boat if ya do not fix where it is leaking in (the boat will eventually sink)

that is like treating the symptoms and not worrying about the cause

it does no good to bail the water out of the boat if ya do not fix where it is leaking in (the boat will eventually sink)

Actually, i have to agree with Msharmony on this. I think there are too many people with their hands in the cookie jar.

I believe whole heartedly, if people focused more on certain issues, like foreign policy, economics, civil liberties, etc. Then we would know where the corruption is. Because people think more about the figurehead in front of the mess, they either agree with him from the beginning, or disagree from the beginning. It's taking the attention off WHY we disagree or WHY we agree.

Trust me my friend, i am all about treating the disease over the symptoms.

Stupid spending = high taxes = rough economy = problems with things like healthcare = the "need" for more stupid spending.

It is very clear and very simple : Obama did not keep his promises .
Where are the millions of jobs he promised.....etc ?.

poor right wingers...they're so bitter a white man's not in office and they're now the minority. i say let them have their fun. 90 percent of the stuff they post is drivel.