Posted on 07/06/2008 6:17:46 AM PDT by DemonDeac
"President Bush on Sunday defended his decision to attend next month's Olympics opening ceremony in Beijing, saying that to boycott "would be an affront to the Chinese people.""
"Speaking to reporters ahead of this week's summit of the Group of Eight industrialized nations in Japan, Bush said he did not need to skip the ceremony to show his position on religious freedom and human rights in China. "
(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...
Right.
No, they might do something like poison our pets and kids.
What an a$$.
Bush refuses to insult the Democrats. No difference here.
> saying that to boycott “would be an affront to the Chinese people.”
So?
And since when is telling the truth an “insult”?
It is physically impossible to insult the ChiComs.
And the Chinese Communists’ persecution of Christians is an affront to U.S. Christians, Mr. President. I guess we can see which group merits your consideration.
I agree with his position.
i’ve been around a lot of chinese immigrants all of my life.
they’re hard-working.
i expect china to transcend the same road as other industrialized nations
and hopefully someday they will have more freedom.
in this context i don’t think using their opportunity for world attention to protest makes sense, nor is would it be productive.
so, i agree with the president.
Hey,leave the Chinese alone! I may need a new liver,someday!
Boycotting Olympics is a waste of time. It accomplishes nothing. Besides, the Chinese appreciate Capitalism more than the DNC does anyway.
Pray for W and Our Troops
ML/NJ
Shhhhh... There are no fortune cookies in China. They were invented in America.
ML/NJ
Only when they want to suck up.
Bush rejection of Carteresque diplomacy. Oh yes, quite the blunder. No doubt boycotting the Olympics would bring the Chicoms to their knees just as it did the Soviets...snicker. Well those that can’t do... issue pointless insults. If it feels good, do it.
This is about the Olympics ... not using the Olympic venue to make a point, one that is totally removed from the spirit of the Olympics. Good move by GWB.
I think it would be more of an insult to our own athletes. The guys/gals have trained hard for an opportunity that comes only comes around every four years. They may not even make the team next time. Besides, politics are supposed to be pushed aside for the Olympics.
I think the Olympics in China is turning out to be a very positive event.
At the very least, China’s polution problem has been highlighted in a very embassassing way.
Their spying has been highlighted.
Tibet has been highlighted.
That is for dam sure.
Actually I don't believe in boycotting the Olympics, I simply no longer support them at all. Ever since they banned South Africa while allowing every single terrorist state, I can't abide them.
Gota keep them’there $12 toasters a’roll’en! Were would we be without the Chicoms? Don’t boycott, but Bush shouldn’t attend.
True. With leftists it’s all about the “message” and “feeling” behind everything. There isn’t a damn thing we can do about a country that has 1.35 billion people and their military the size of our country.
Play nice...hope for the best...and be realistic while speaking and trying to make sure conditions in their backyard improve. There is nothing else to do here...enjoy the games and be happy that we are fielding incredible athletes this time around. There is a good chance we could win the total medal count this go-round and that would do wonders for this country which faces doom and gloom for the Fall.
I think it would be more of an insult to our own athletes. The guys/gals have trained hard for an opportunity that comes only comes around every four years. They may not even make the team next time. Besides, politics are supposed to be pushed aside for the Olympics.
This is a very good point.
I am looking foward to it myself and hope they play our national anthem many times.
I say insult them, and then insult them some more. Who care what the Chinese people think?
President Bush continues to be an honorable and dignified man. He has stayed out of the gutter politics initiated by the Demokrats, Clintoons et al.
Sad to say that has been his downfall, a failure to speak more forcefully over these past eight years. His advisors and the GOP in general have failed us all in not stepping up and slapping down the ignorant hate America crowd.
From the borders to the War on Terror, to the economy and glowbull warming, President Bush could have said and done much more aggressive speaking to combat the lies from the left, but sadly he chose to just let the MSM beat him senseless for seven years.
Going to the Olympics will show support for our Team, that’s pretty much all he can do.
Yep, the best stance on this issue is to root for our competitors to take the gold in every event.
I didn’t realize that it is the President’s duty to attend Olympic events.
LOL
Mustn’t offend our Chicom masters.
Nice to know that GW Bush has his priorities straight /sarc
LOL....who cares what you think? For some reason, the many recent n00bs like you seem to think that your pro-Chicom/troll-like behavior is somehow special and worthy of attention.
‘morning, VR. How are you, FRiend?
The Chicoms are an insult to the world. Why worry about us insulting them?
He is such a rocket scientist. Insulting the Chinese would be the INTENT of boycotting.
Why cant politics be kept out of the Olympics and the athletes be allowed to do what they do best? It’s like telling Hollywood to shut up and act. Id like to tell the politicians to shut up and let them compete.
Bush refuses to insult the Democrats. No difference here.
Yet he has no problem insulting the people who worked so hard to put and then keep him in office, a clear sign of some sort of personality disorder.
so whatski
As an American with many relatives in China, I’m with you. In addition, what a lot of people here don’t seem to realize, either through lack of travel or interaction, dealing publicly and then privately with Chinese officials can, in fact, accomplish quite a lot.
One Wisconsin-based company used that strategy for over 10 years. Their pleasant public statements masked some bare-knuckled negotiations. However, by allowing the Chinese to save “face”, they were able to build “guangxi” or influence among the Chinese company’s junior managers and employees. The Americans were able to get a foothold in the Asian market from South Korea to Australia and have done fairly well.
As you stated, the Chinese (the vast majority of whom aren’t Party members) are slowly treading the road to greater freedom. The recent rioting over the death of a teenager in southern China and the firing of the county offcials, as well as frank discussions in the local papers about the cause of his death, exemplify that. Chinese bloggers, whose xenophobia can be a bit much at times, were key in generating interest in the case.
Remember Poland; a little more candor and freedom eventually meant the doom of the Communist military dictatorship there. So, in fits and starts, China will hopefully head in the direction of South Korea and Taiwan.
Did he say affront or insult? Makes a difference.
The president can do what he wants to now, he’s leaving in January.
He shouldn’t grace China with his presence for their propaganda Olympics.
I know Franklin Roosevelt wouldn’t have treked to Berlin in 1936.
Communist (capitalist) China has done so much starting with forced abortions, jailing followers of various religions, Tibet, etc.
They will end up being a military adversary 20 years or less down the road.
The Chinese will probably give W some money after he leaves office.
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