Lame duck to attend Olympic opening ceremonies
Here's how you know your president is truly powerless: when he publicly announces that he'll show up for the summer Olympics opening ceremonies in a communist country. Guess it isn't 1980 anymore. Note how the White House press staff snuck in this nugget of juicy info as part of a larger announcement that President Bush and his wife will embark on a brief tour of several Asian nations (emphasis mine):
In South Korea, President Bush and President Lee will discuss regional and global security issues as well as their commitment to getting their respective legislatures to ratify the U.S.-Korea free trade agreement, which will bring important benefits to workers, farmers, ranchers, and entrepreneurs in both the United States and Korea. The President will then travel to Thailand to celebrate 175 years of the U.S.-Thailand relationship and to discuss issues bilateral and regional issues with Prime Minister Samak. In China, the President looks forward to seeing President Hu and other senior Chinese leaders for discussions on a wide range of issues including the way ahead on North Korean denuclearization. The President and Mrs. Bush will attend the Opening Ceremonies of the Summer Olympic Games on August 8.
Talk about burying the lede. Presidential candidates, start your condemnations.
We cannot blame the president, he has to do what he has to do, that is representing the declining world's only superpower, meeting a developing & rising soon-to-be superpower of the world. If you really understanding what China is today, you would not make such comment. There is really nothing communist about today's communist China, the only communist about it is the ruling party, other than that, it is actually more capitalistic than many western countries. I strongly advice you to take a trip with the president, you might open your eyes. (or ask the many multi-national companies that do business there!)
Posted by: tom | July 05, 2008 at 02:48 PM
If you're over 13 years old, you won't want to participate in commenting on this inane commentary.
Posted by: Christopher Swan | July 04, 2008 at 05:52 AM
I do not remember why I read this. This is not important. It isn't a real issue here, people.
Posted by: Jlulu | July 03, 2008 at 05:47 PM
I can't understand why LA Times feels it is necessary to demean our president . . . and you're wondering why you have to downsize!
Posted by: VicN | July 03, 2008 at 04:47 PM