Cristiano

President Bush has announced he won't boycott the opening ceremonies of the Olympics because it would be 'an affront to the Chinese people'. I suppose it's a good thing he at least recognizes that he has no room to talk about human rights violations.

Bush: Boycotting Olympics would be 'affront' to Chinese - USATODAY.com

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"At least he died doing what he loved most - blogging on the Huffington Post" - 30 Rock

* slu stuff *

Siobhan OFlynn

Bush is so into being "Mr President" that he wouldn't boycott an opening of a McDonald's drive through if it presented a photo-op.

God, I can't wait for 1-20-09.

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Persephone Milk

All other criticisms of Bush aside, I agree with this decision. Boycotting the opening ceremonies would be a hollow gesture and a vain attempt to embarrass the Chinese government at the expense of the athletes. I think the administration is correct. There are far better ways to apply pressure to the Chinese government than a showy symbolic move which one could easily argue has more to do with making yourself look good than the other side bad.

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Surreal

Don't forget that the Chinese hold a huge pile of US debt... to say nothing about our trade imbalance with them. Maybe not the best folks to piss off right now.

Lucifer Baphomet

An opening ceremony boycott doesn't hurt the athletes.

But lets face it.. Bush ain't gonna do a thing to annoy China..

And as long as Guantanamo, and other similar locations exist.. chiding China over human rights is pretty hypocritical

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Malachi

Well it would politicize an event that is supposed to transcend politics, but the bigger concern facing the athletes is the farking air.

Lucifer Baphomet

The Olympics ... transcend politics... LOL..

And yeah... running in that air can't be good for you.

Cristiano

Indeed, if the Chinese government doesn't get you, the air will.

Atia

Except the arrival of the dead soldiers from Iraq and Afganistan.

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Men are all alike in their promises. It is only in their deeds that they differ. Moliere

Asher Bertrand

LOLspam

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Briana Dawson

Yes it does. Many of these Athletes work for years to get to the Olympics and look forward to seeing the leader of their nation in attendance. And if i were competing in the Olympics for the United States I would be fairly upset that my President chose not to attend to show is his support of me and what i wish to do for my country because of his political gripe with China.

Wishing Americans bring home the Gold and seeing them kick off the Olympics has nothing to do with how many tanks China has rolled over protesters with and I for one am glad Bush made the distinction and is attending.

Envoy Costagravas

Life is easier when you compartmentalize.

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"When Men differ in Opinion, both Sides ought equally to have the Advantage of being heard by the Publick;
and that when Truth and Error have fair Play, the former is always an overmatch for the latter."
~ Benjamin Franklin

Asher Bertrand

To take the pragmatic stand, one could say that there is so much irritation any one person/group/nation will endure before communication breaks down. Therefore, it's important to choose your irritants carefully - otherwise known as "choosing your battles wisely." Could nations and their leaders make a point by not attending the ceremony? Sure. How likely will China then be to talk with them about the actual meat of the issue (human rights) when the irritant was directed at something superfluous (the ceremony)? As far as I can tell, boycotting would only build up ill will and make China more resistant to discussion later.

Merovigan

Well, wait...this is apples and oranges. Lest we forget the mobile deathmobile?
USATODAY.com - China makes ultimate punishment mobile
Ya know, the thing they have in China so that they can organ harvest better? Gitmo was the suck and yeah, we torture some people, but I defy you to show me a story about the police harvesting organs.

Still, yeah best not to piss them off since they do hold a lot of our debt and pretty much keep our poor people clothed.

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“I prefer to be true to myself, even at the hazard of incurring the ridicule of others, rather than to be false, and to incur my own abhorrence.”

Frederick Douglas

CrossingStyx

Wow, that's just creepy.