The gasbag cometh. President Obama is to visit India next month and preparations are well underway. Seems that the entire 547 rooms as well as all the restaurants and dance halls at Taj Mahal Palace Hotel in Mumbai has been reserved for security reasons. 80-90 rooms at the ITC Maratha Hotel near the airport have also been booked for accompanying airline staff. 45 cars including the presidential armor plated Lincoln Continental, weighing in at 3 tons and capable of withstanding a tank shell will be coming with him. This is hubris at its most exorbitant, egotistical and arrogant best. Who is paying for this shameless waste? If it is the US then it is shameful at a time when 9.6% of people are unemployed and an entire class of people called the 99ers have been created. If it is India then it is a criminal waste of public money because this visit is not going to benefit our country in any way whatsoever. The mid term elections in November will see a Republican majority in the House and possibly also the Senate. Any agreement signed by Obama will not be ratified by the Republicans buoyed by their victory. If he could not impose his will on the Congress when the Democrats controlled both chambers he is going to be a useless lame duck now. If he is coming to sell defence equipment and to negotiate a way to protect suppliers of nuclear equipment in case of accidents then we should drive a hard bargain. No arms supply to Pakistan and favorable trade conditions for India. Sadly our lot will be bending and scraping as is their wont. A useless Commonwealth Games followed by a useless state visit presided over by a useless government. Brilliant.