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Want to play a round with Obama? You might just win

Top 150 golfers in DC.

By Jon Bernstein

This is hardly the “Ping Pong Diplomacy” of the early 1970s but today’s 18 rounds between the US president and Republican House Speaker John Boehner is being hailed, by the Daily Beast for one, as “Obama’s Golf Diplomacy”.

Accordingly,

The long-planned summit has turned into a de facto negotiating session over government spending aimed at trying to strike a deal on raising the U.S. debt limit before America defaults in early August.

The two men will be joined by Vice President Joe Biden and John Kasich, the Republican Governor of Ohio.

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More important, however, is the likely outcome of the contest. Handily, Golf Digest has produced a list of the top 150 golfers from Washington’s political scene.

According to the list Obama (with a 17 handicap) is ranked joint 108th while Boehner is 43rd with a 7.9 rating. Out in front is Biden, 29th on the overall list with a 6.3 handicap.

Which brings us to the last golfing president, George W Bush, who memorably took time out from his busy schedule to comment on matters of grave import before inviting us to marvel at his swing.

 

 

 

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Select and enter your email address Your weekly guide to the best writing on ideas, politics, books and culture every Saturday. The best way to sign up for The Saturday Read is via saturdayread.substack.com The New Statesman's quick and essential guide to the news and politics of the day. The best way to sign up for Morning Call is via morningcall.substack.com Our Thursday ideas newsletter, delving into philosophy, criticism, and intellectual history. The best way to sign up for The Salvo is via thesalvo.substack.com Stay up to date with NS events, subscription offers & updates. Weekly analysis of the shift to a new economy from the New Statesman's Spotlight on Policy team. The best way to sign up for The Green Transition is via spotlightonpolicy.substack.com
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