DISQUS

fostert · 1 year ago

Bush is doing the right thing (and I don't defend Bush very often). Yes, China's human rights record is appalling. But it's improving (scary as that may seem). We should reward improvements. If we only punish improvements, we should not expect improvements to happen in the future. The issue here is simple: it's not where a country is, it's where they're going. China isn't in a great place right now, but they are certainly going in the right direction. We used to be in a good place, but we're trying to become worse than China. So who really deserves criticism?

lucky hussein · 1 year ago

We both do, but mainly they do. They want the benefit of markets and investment without any democracy and we're giving it to them. They're not improving, they're getting more entrenched. They have been going in the wrong direction since they opened the doors to Freedmanites and slammed the door on Tienamen protestors. You couldn't even read this blog post in China.

On the other hand, I am looking foward in a sick way to Bush hopefully embarassing himself at the olympics. Remember when the right called them 'commies'? Now that's only reserved for socialists.

zavlin · 1 year ago

Im not defending bush here....but have to admit, if he was sitting out the olympics we'd probably be talking about how hes destroying diplomatic efforts with china. This is kind of a no win situation for him.
That said, his presidency has been an "affront" to human rights.

unrepentant_expat · 1 year ago

"This is kind of a no win situation for him. "

He turns every situation into that.

Soundboy_jeff_meanie · 1 year ago

if it were just him sitting out the Olympics... yeah, it'd be like we were attacking him.

but when a LOT of other world leaders aren't going to go? I suppose it doesn't suprise me that he's all for it.

he's kinda the 'contrary presnit' that way.

unrepentant_expat · 1 year ago

Chris I'm you're not referring to the same Ronald Reagan who used to be the president. The one who traded arms with the Iranians in order to illegal fund a war against the Sandinistas. The one who had the CIA train death squads and torturers through out Central America. The one who helped the South Africans maintain proxy states in Angola and Mozambique. Because if you are, that was a bastard who never suffered from integrity. He like most Republican presidents had to pardon a good share of his staff so they didn't have to to jail time. But you seem like so many who were not keeping a close eye on him at the time to have had the wool pulled over your eyes. No offence I hope, you seem like a nice guy.

cosanostradamus · 1 year ago

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Come on, Chris! Have a heart. The little bastard is going to be out of a job in January (Gawd Willin'). He's just renewing some contacts, doing some interviews, getting his resume out there, priming the cash-flow pump. Just like his Poppy and the boys did when B-1 was on his last legs. And it brought them cash and contracts and jobs and bidniz's In Kuwait, China and, Hell, Slim, all over! What's the point of bein' Prez if ya cain't CAPITALIZE awn it, Hoss? Jes' ask Slick Willie!

If Poppy could lick Chi-Com anus while the blood was still wet on the ground in Tiananmen Square, why would it surprise you that Dubya puts profits before the people of China, Tibet, Burma, Darfur, Zimbabwe, North Korea and all the other places the new "World's Only Superpower" is showing ignorance and contempt for 6,000 years of Western civilization, and all accepted standards of human rights, never mind humanity?

Then there was old Prescott Bush and his clients in the Nazi government. This IS the Bushco/ Republican corporatist platform, their whole bloody raison d'etre: Money, power, and keepin the "n*ggers" down. BTW, if you weren't born with a membership in an elite country club, you're a "n*gger," bro. So, hold your simon-pure nose and vote for a black man this year, and fight to keep him from going corporate.

Oh, and boycott the stupid freakin' Olympics: In the modern era, it's never been anything but a nationalistic political freak show. This year especially: Turn off NBC, don't buy Olympic tickets or merchandise, boycott the Olympics and all Chinese products. While you still can.
.

chandler_in_lasvegas · 1 year ago

♦
He knows that his time is limited and he is opting to maximize his frequent despot miles before 1-20-09. Give a war criminal a break. He's probably doing a little Carlyle negotiating on the side.

Soundboy_jeff_meanie · 1 year ago

can we put him in a zoo as an endangered species when his term is over?

neoconicus erectus... a dying breed (hopefully)

I can see the exibit at the San Diego Zoo now, complete with a sign "please do not give the animals cocaine or bourbon"

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orange_enfant · 1 year ago

I think everyone gives Bush much more credit than he really deserves, especially when it comes to things like this. I think he just really wanted to see the Olympics in person, so he's gonna do it. Simple people think simple thoughts.

vkobaya · 1 year ago

people ... thoughts

You are giving him far too much credit.

Soundboy_jeff_meanie · 1 year ago

on the other hand... he heard that "team funneling" was going to be a sport this year.... so you can't blame him, he's still got his funnel and a case of Old Mil from his Yale days.

he's hoping to compete I hear... it'lll be the first time an American President won a gold medal.

if cow tipping were an Olympic sport, he'd bring a gold home in that as well I'm sure.

unrepentant_expat · 1 year ago

"if cow tipping were an Olympic sport, he'd bring a gold home in that as well I'm sure."

But then he'd be busted for doping

Bostonian_Queer_in_Dallas · 1 year ago

I think everyone is reading way too much into this China trip for Chimpy. He is dedicating daycare centers, opening swimming pools, and other candy fluff ceremonial crap. He has totally fucked up his presidency and now the GOP wants him out of sight. So they are putting him in Queen Elizabeth type activities. Or even worse Queen Mother activities. This is merely "pimp and circumcision".

Smarmy · 1 year ago

It is very important with China because Chimpy borrowed money from them and they are insistent we pay them not only the money but homage also. WE OWE THEM MONEY.

coolcatdaddy · 1 year ago

My guess is that he's going so he can announce some new agreement with China, hoping he can look relevant in the waning months of his predidentiary.

BionicBlonde · 1 year ago

Perhaps it's because China now owns us due to all the money borrowed for the endless wars. Bush mustt be deferent to a country that could call in its note. It will take decades to recover from this failed presidency.

ron071 · 1 year ago

BionicBlonde has it exactly right. This is just more revealing of what the Bush/McCain crowd has done to our country.

Indigo · 1 year ago

This is the most transgressive Olympics since Berlin, 1936. Bush is going because he wants to be part of the transgression. Shame!

ShirleyGoodnessanMercy · 1 year ago

China now owns us and China is fucked up, but I do think it's good to support these Beijing Olympics. Fucked up as China is, now is the first time in many decades that the Chinese have been somewhat proud of being Chinese, instead of ashamed. They as a people desperately want to show that they are capable of doing something good. And after the earthquakes, the people there need something positive to happen. Bush going or not going is inconsequential.

jr · 1 year ago

"good boy"-Wal Mart ceo Lee Scott to 43

ron071 · 1 year ago

The urgent need for Bush to attend the China Olympics could not be more clear. China, due to the Bush economic disasters, now holds the power ( our loans from them ) to further destroy our economy and thusly we cannot afford to "affront" our lenders of last resort. Just another nail in the legacy of George W. Bush and his heir apparent, John McSame.

kl8n · 1 year ago

Perhaps he is going so he can take more notes on how the Chinese government conducts interrogations.

bobbyjoe · 1 year ago

When has Bush ever done anything to support "human rights"? Obviously, he's wired to do the opposite of whatever might actually support "human rights." Bush probably wasn't planning on going to the Olympics until he heard someone say that people were asking him not to go as a protest act against China's many human rights violations. Once he heard the phrase "human rights," Bush likely said "I'll show them damn activists; book me a flight, Condi!" and then he let out one of his famous laughs: "HEH HEH! HEH HEH HEH HEH!"