Bush's Asia Trip Meets Low Expectations

[UpInArms]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/20/AR2005112000827.html?referrer=email

BEIJING, Nov. 20 -- When President Bush was flying toward Asia a week ago, his national security adviser, Stephen J. Hadley, predicted to reporters in the back of the plane that the four-nation trip would yield no "headline breakthroughs." He turned out to be right.

As Bush wrapped up his stay in Beijing on Sunday and prepared to head home Monday after a brief stop in Mongolia, the trip has produced no real breakthroughs of any sort. On a wide variety of issues, from trade to security to human rights, Bush won no concrete agreements from any of his summit partners.

White House officials said that did not mean the trip was unsuccessful, because they never expected to bring home any major agreements in the first place. Such trips, they said, reflect a more mature diplomacy aimed at building relationships and achieving steady progress that will produce gains at some later date. Yet at the same time, it means that a politically weakened Bush returns home without anything high-profile to brag about when he could use some good news.

<snip>

Bush wanted Japan to drop its two-year ban on U.S. beef imports, but although Japan seems likely to do so soon, it did not declare its readiness while the president was in town. Bush wanted to propel free trade during an economic summit in South Korea, but the general statement drafted by Pacific Rim leaders drops no tariffs and merely sets the stage for further talks.

In another setback, South Korea's cabinet on Monday backed a proposal to withdraw one-third of the country's 3,200 troops from Iraq.

...more...

One cannot "underestimate" dimson too much :eyes:

[sonofliberty]

1. not withdaw ..."adjust" LOL

[Sabriel]

2. Such a fascinating outcome of a truly important trip

Zzzzzzzz.

I'm glad I paid for it, because it sounds well worth the money. (What am I saying? That door picture was worth A LOT!!!)

[Ilsa]

3. Yeah, isn't he the master of low expectations?

I think he just wanted to get out of the country and look like he was doing something important. His trust fund should get billed for these junkets.

[afdip]

4. the repukes are successful when the keep the bar low. . .very low

[daleanime]

7. Low bar?

floor board.

[C_U_L8R]

5. What a waste....

why did he bother going (on our nickel)

you'd think republicans would be howling
about the foolishness of this boondogle....
oh that's right... they USED to be the
party of fiscal responsibility.... now they are
the party of GINORMOUS NATIONAL DEBT.

Good going there PUKES.

[UpInArms]

10. are you referring to this ginormous national debt?

The estimated population of the United States is 297,767,797
so each citizen's share of this debt is $27,189.60.

The National Debt has continued to increase an average of
$3.14 billion per day since September 30, 2005

and for a refresher on what it was prior to the dimson's fiscal policies:

09/28/2001 $5,807,463,412,200.06
09/29/2000 $5,674,178,209,886.86

[C_U_L8R]

11. Yup - that's the one

Thank you republican party
for throwing our nation into
the worst dismal debt ever.

Bah...What a bunch of hacks.

[UpInArms]

12. the Congress snuck an additional $781 BILLION in borrowing

authority on Friday.

http://today.reuters.com/PrinterFriendlyPopup.aspx?type=bondsNews&storyID=uri:2005-11-18T070628Z_01_N18732825_RTRIDST_0_CONGRESS-FUNDING.XML

excerpt:

Rep. John Spratt of South Carolina, the senior Democrat on the House Budget Committee, said: "After the tax cuts are passed, there won't be a dime to pay for (hurricanes) Katrina or Rita." He noted that the Republican budget calls for a $781 billion increase in U.S. borrowing authority.

...more...

No other news organization has even picked up this little bitty piece of information that affects everyone.

:banghead:

[donkeyotay]

14. Don't think of it as a blackhole for your grandchildren

with every man, woman and binkie owing a share of $27K+. Think of it as a conveyor belt. Every borrowed dollar has gone somewhere! Bush's base is doing quite well, thank you. But, as Sen. Dorgan quoted a constituent: "Trickle down economics? Hell, I'm not even damp yet."

[54anickel]

16. Well, he might have scored a few points with his "Fundie" base with

that trip to church - lots of photo-ops with him accepting copies of the Bible and all from what I saw on the TeeVee. He's a true "Evangelist" now. :eyes:

[opihimoimoi]

6. He went and spent another $7568969.67 for the trip and got stuck in a door

every leader he met was polite...end of story.

[psychopomp]

13. So true..but not the end of the story... The real story is

our loss diplomatic clout. Really, how can you deal with a nation who has such inept leadership and seemingly approves of it by a democratic process?

[Inland]

18. I'd buy any paper you wrote for.

That's finally a byline that's true, to the point and worth my subscription dollar.

[opihimoimoi]

27. LOL

[ixion]

8. what a business man, what a 'uniter'

yeah. right. whatever. :rofl: :crazy: :dunce: :rofl:

He is, was, and always will be a loser, IMO.

[spindrifter]

9. Ah, and this follows

an even worse trip to South America--where he contributed to the falling out between Chavez and Fox, coming away with no trade agreement--which regarding the latter, we knew would happen.

[smb]

15. Such An Inspiring Vision

[UpInArms]

17. Caption for your picture:

The Horror! The Horror! The Great Unwashed Godless Commies are asking me questions!

[Betty]

19. how the fuck could anyone vote for this moron????

what a pathetic idiot puppet. If you have two working brain cells, you should be able to see this is asshole shouldn't be trusted with a paper route, let alone being in charge of the US.

[6000eliot]

20. Has anyone in the media noticed that this has been the

yardstick for success in this government for five years now? I wonder when they will?

[upi402]

21. masterfully meets low expectations -victory declared

* sucks warm mayonnaise

[Judi Lynn]

22. Bush has little to show for Asia trip

November 22, 2005
Tuesday

Bush has little to show for Asia trip

ULAN BATOR, Mongolia (AFP) - US President George W. Bush on Monday wrapped up a week-long trip to Asia, where he trumpeted shows of unity on Iran and North Korea and made little concrete progress on trade disputes.

Even before Bush left Washington, White House national security adviser Stephen Hadley had made no secret that the president's trip to Japan, South Korea, China and Mongolia would yield few tangible benefits.
(snip)

Bush came home with at least one US victory: A four-billion-dollar deal Chinese deal with Boeing to buy 70 737 aircraft between 2006 and 2008 as part of a broader arrangement to eventually supply 150 737s.

But he also suffered one diplomatic embarrassment, when South Korean officials unveiled plans to cut its troop level in Iraq by one-third -- one day after Bush praised the deployment after talks with President Roh Moo-Hyun.
(snip/...)

http://www.brunet.bn/news/bb/tue/nov22w18.htm

[raysr]

23. Got him out of town

when the shit hit the fan!

[ugarte]

24. That's not true. He went to church.

Be fair now.

[sofa king]

25. Last time at least he got a clown suit.

[Lautremont]

26. He's got an excellent set of photographs of him trying to open a door.

That's more than I for one was expecting.

[Inland]

29. Not true. There's the complimentary Beijing snowglobe, Korea t-shirt.

[Thom Little]

28. Bush = Low Expectations, PERIOD

[Javaman]

30. Read my tag line, it says it all....