Weakened Bush heads to Latin America

[leftchick]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20051103/pl_afp/argentinasummitus_051103174444

WASHINGTON - President Bush and the thousands of demonstrators protesting his visit to Argentina that will begin Thursday have a common goal of reducing poverty, but the test for Bush will be whether he can convince others in the hemisphere to support his solution.

Bush says nations can band together to create jobs through free trade but he needs to overcome tough resistance from other nations in the Americas. Working to resolve their differences will be a major thrust of his first trip to Argentina, Brazil and Panama.

It'll be a tough sell. He hasn't been able to achieve a Western Hemisphere trade agreement, thousands of anti-American demonstrators have gathered for his arrival Thursday and leftist Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is waiting to challenge him on the issue at the Summit of the Americas.

Bush, Chavez and leaders of 32 other nations are gathering in the seaside resort of Mar del Plata, Argentina, for the summit that begins Friday. Chavez has indicated he plans to lead a "final burial" of Bush's plan for a giant free trade area that would include all countries in the Western Hemisphere except Cuba.

[NNadir]

1. Bush has a solution to poverty?

He still thinks that Halliburton is deprived?

What a putz.

[adigal]

2. Can you believe he will talk to them about solving poverty

the same damn week the republicans voted to take millions and millions of dollars out of the food stamp program??

I hope he enjoys the welcome from the people of South America. From what I understand, major protests are planned.

[SoCalDem]

3. Here's hoping he STAYS there...

Hey, a girl can dream, can't she?

[400Years]

4. who writes this crap?

common goal? what kind of kook writes this stuff?

[IChing]

5. Another related headline and story I was going to post from AFP

Weakened by domestic blows, Bush seeks validation abroad

A year after his triumphant re-election, US President George W. Bush has suffered a number of domestic blows to his standing and is now trying to use foreign diplomacy to improve his image, analysts say.

>>>snip

The wounds of more than two years of conflict in Iraq, the damage from Hurricane Katrina and now a political scandal at the White House have undermined Bush's opinion poll standings.

Bush's tour to Latin America this week is seen as typical of his efforts to divert attention by heading abroad, even though his image remains poor in many other countries.
"Often in second terms, presidents concentrate more on foreign policy because what seems to happen is that their domestic authority tends to get undermined," said Russell Mead, a specialist at the Council on Foreign Relations.

"They become more of a lame duck, the people in Congress and the Senate realize they are running for re-election but the president is not, so the political fortunes start to diverge," he added.
Besides his imminent visits to Argentina, Brazil and Panama, Bush has also lined up a tour of Asia from 17-21 November, that includes Japan, South Korea, China and Mongolia. http://www.breitbart.com/news/2005/11/03/051103141611.c9q9ietm.html

Sorta like the drunk that lost his keys in the dark alleyway
and goes over to the streetlight on the corner
because it has better light. No fucking clue

[hatrack]

6. Yeah, and this after pissing in the world's face for four years

Lots of luck "changing the subject" through traveling. Sorry, Chimpy, no refuge abroad for you.

[Amonester]

16. "A year after his triumphant re-election" (WHAT??)

barely over 50% of (now challengeable) "votes" is triumphant (??)

Wow... Who's the nut who writes this crap??

Also from the OP: "Bush says nations can band together to create jobs through free trade" Oh yeah?? Last time I looked, we already have "Free Trade" between Canada and the United States, and since ** lying maladministration "took" office, the free trade tribunal has "only" judged the case over illegal taxes on softwood lumber three times & how many times out of those did it ruled in favor of Canada??

Three times!! Yep. What else is new with that idiot?

Anyone thinks they'll believe just one word he'll spit out in there?

[JoFerret]

19. Seeks validation abroad

Wonder how that will work out for him.

[jazzjunkysue]

7. Experienced Oilman/Ball Team Owner for sale: 38% Off.

Only cash offers considered. No Layaways. Cannot be combined with any other offers.

If you take him when we're not looking, we won't come after him.

[jsamuel]

8. "Weakened Bush..." That title sounds like the Dems wrote it :D

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

14. Chimp wrote it all by hisself.

[0007]

9. I hope they smack junior with rotten tomatoes and dog feces. n/t

Give him the Nixon treatment.

[geek tragedy]

10. Sounds like a Hurricane story.

"Tropical Storm Bush, having been downgraded from a hurricane, made its way to Central America overnight . . "

[twaddler01]

11. haha

:rofl:

[Rockholm]

12. I was thinking the same thing!

[donkeyotay]

21. That's how I read it, too. A weakened bush, downgraded from a

Category 5 Disaster to a Continued Dismal Failure Tropical Storm.

[MetaTrope]

13. No doubt Bush will spend a nice evening in one of the German Beer Halls

that have been traditional in Argentina for over half a century now.

[mtnester]

15. Latin America - where he is SO popular

watch out for that _________ fill in the blank

[ninkasi]

17. If the idiot has any worthwhile ideas

about how to eliminate or reduce poverty for average Americans, why hasn't he shared them? Poverty in this country has INCREASED under Bush. Fewer Americans have health insurance. More and more benefits for the poor, the elderly, veterans, and children are being cut. And he's going to lecture to Chavez, who has improved conditions in his country?

The only people Bush has managed to help are his cronies. They are doing great, but most of us would be facing prison time for the kinds of thieving they do. I hope he finds out first hand what the rest of the world thinks of him. I somehow don't think they'll be throwing roses in front of his motorcade.

[goforit]

18. Keep him there ...we don't want him.

[Say_What]

20. .."honesty and open government"... WTF??

:wtf:


"The message is one of jobs and democracy and honesty and open government," the president said Tuesday. "Good foreign policy starts in your neighborhood."

...He hoped to promote goals like curbing drug trafficking and illegal immigration; putting pressure on Cuba; and isolating Chavez, a frequent and outspoken critic of his policies, US officials said privately.


Anti riot policemen guard a MacDonalds' restaurant in downtown Mar del Plata two days before the arrival of US President George W. Bush to attend the IV Summit of the Americas in Argentina. Bush admitted that his dream of a free-trade zone stretching from Alaska to Antarctica is all but dead.(AFP/Miguel Rojo)

[Judi Lynn]

22. What a mah-vellous idea! Go to Argentina, tell Kirchner and other

Latin American leaders to shun Chavez.

I hope they tell him where he can put his meddling.

[Say_What]

23. Argentina update...

DU reader wrote an update about Argentina from what he heard on Argentine radio the other day. This was from yesterday:

I was listening (here in the office) to Radio Mitre in Buenos Aires earlier
tonight as Chimpy arrived. Mar del Plata's center is virtually deserted with
250 blocks closed off to the public. Argentines who live and work there are
seething. They are even prohibited from going to their own beach. Four Black
Hawk helicopters are protecting the Chimp and his delegation. U.S. Embassy
rented the entire 192 rooms of the Sheraton. The Tren del Alba (Dawn train or
Train of Dawn) left Buenos Aires about an hour ago for Mar del Plata. It is
carrying Diego Maradona and scores of anti-bushie celebrities. They will join
the demonstration against bushie at a soccer stadium. Hugo Chavez may be there
too, depending on his security team. Ivo Morales will be there too.