(One in an occasional series provided during the run-up to the ’08 Summer Games in Beijing, China. Other updates can be found here and here).
As noted before, we don’t know what is going on with President Bush. Something seemed amiss last week when he vetoed further expansion of the welfare state because it ran afoul of freedom of choice and sound market economics (as of this writing, it does not appear that the Democrats have enough votes to overturn the veto).
And this week he is thumbing his nose at his future Olympic Chi-com hosts by honoring the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader, Dalai-Lama, by awarding him the Congressional Gold Medal. No word on whether Bush will ask the Dalai to submit to a urine sample for performance enhancing drugs (kidding!). Story from cnn.com here.
His behavior of late is reminiscent of someone who is a short-timer at work. A person who isn’t going to be malicious and burn any bridges but is going to get a few things off his chest and if he ruffles a few feathers, so be it.
Don’t mistake us. We like this new-old cantankerous coot who has taken up residence in the Oval Office. Its as if he realizes that his 2nd term (at least domestically) hasn't been what we all hoped and he is only now getting back to the themes that he campaigned on back in ‘04: a commitment to freedom and liberty abroad and the “ownership society” here at home. Too little too late, perhaps? Yeah, but we will take these small victories any way we can.
But back to his Dalai-ness for a moment... Its always seemed a curious phenomena that it takes a cuddly little Buddhist to be the exclusive freedom-in-the-face-of-tyranny poster child for the Volvo set because they certainly don’t seem to give a damn about Latino Roman Catholics languishing in tropical socialist paradises like Cuba. And if Prius drivers are miffed that Bush has co-opted their boy for a nice photo-op then too bad – cry us a river. As noted here, the Liberal-Left’s track record of late concerning real human rights and liberty for peoples abroad living in dictatorships and thugocracies has been less than stellar.
Either way, our interest in the Beijing ’08 Olympics is off the charts, right now (…giggling like a little school girl…).
As noted before, we don’t know what is going on with President Bush. Something seemed amiss last week when he vetoed further expansion of the welfare state because it ran afoul of freedom of choice and sound market economics (as of this writing, it does not appear that the Democrats have enough votes to overturn the veto).
And this week he is thumbing his nose at his future Olympic Chi-com hosts by honoring the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader, Dalai-Lama, by awarding him the Congressional Gold Medal. No word on whether Bush will ask the Dalai to submit to a urine sample for performance enhancing drugs (kidding!). Story from cnn.com here.
His behavior of late is reminiscent of someone who is a short-timer at work. A person who isn’t going to be malicious and burn any bridges but is going to get a few things off his chest and if he ruffles a few feathers, so be it.
Don’t mistake us. We like this new-old cantankerous coot who has taken up residence in the Oval Office. Its as if he realizes that his 2nd term (at least domestically) hasn't been what we all hoped and he is only now getting back to the themes that he campaigned on back in ‘04: a commitment to freedom and liberty abroad and the “ownership society” here at home. Too little too late, perhaps? Yeah, but we will take these small victories any way we can.
But back to his Dalai-ness for a moment... Its always seemed a curious phenomena that it takes a cuddly little Buddhist to be the exclusive freedom-in-the-face-of-tyranny poster child for the Volvo set because they certainly don’t seem to give a damn about Latino Roman Catholics languishing in tropical socialist paradises like Cuba. And if Prius drivers are miffed that Bush has co-opted their boy for a nice photo-op then too bad – cry us a river. As noted here, the Liberal-Left’s track record of late concerning real human rights and liberty for peoples abroad living in dictatorships and thugocracies has been less than stellar.
Either way, our interest in the Beijing ’08 Olympics is off the charts, right now (…giggling like a little school girl…).
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3 comments:
I always thought that the left doesn't like papists like me 'cause our guys have all the cool hats.
To build up good will for the upcoming Olympics, the Chinese gov't is subsidizing a 9-day trip to China for $1500. Airfare, hotels, meals, everything. Talked to a lady who just came back who said that everything is first-class but you go only where they want you to go and see what they want you see. Still a great deal. Dad
$1500 bucks...? As long as I could wear my beret and "Viva La Reagan Revolucion" T-shirt, I'd do it.
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