frank lavin is a former u.s. ambassador to singapore and joins me now. s talking about a lot of domestic politics. >> sure. >> this is job growth and that sort of thing. what is this really about, marines now stationed in australia. >> sure. >> hillary clinton to myanmar. take me 10,000 feet. what's the goal? >> i think we have a few things going on. one, getting the president out of washington is helpful to them. we have intractable issues, a lot of friction and heat, economic unhappiness. just getting him out is great. having a president act like a president, airforce one, the helicopter, speaking to the australian parliament, terrific stuff. so the constitution gives the president far more powers on the international set than domestic. whenever he gets there that's great. that is i think the big picture. the regional picture is stronger u.s. engagement and concern about china's rise and china's role in the region. >> right. i want to go beyond that. you know, the president was in hawaii before he went to australia before he went to indonesia. there was