News-Record.com

The Olympics are sort of about world unity and the celebration of sport and human achievement. While Bush might have some fun in China, I think he should go and I'd count it as a diplomatic trip.

The LTE queue at the N&R must be mighty short. Yesterday it was "uppity N word" today it's "King George". Everyone must be on vacation save a few BDS sufferers.

Bush is paying homage to our Chinese masters so we can continue to enjoy low, low prices at the local WalMart.

Having him out of the country is definitely worth something.

"Everyone must be on vacation save a few BDS sufferers."

Dan,

I look forward to your ODS miniseries.

Can you beleive the nerve of Bush, flying somewhere at taxpayers expense?
When your Democrats in public office never do this, right?
Did you ever wonder how much Clinton's haircut on board Air Force One at L.A. X really cost?
Dumb letter in my opinion.
If he's(or she's) a politican, he/she abuses the taxpayer, no matter which party he/she claims.

While I agree that Bush's trip to China is likely unnecessary at this point in his presidency, the fact remains that he is still president. If we consider that Hillary claims that she visited "over eighty countries" when she was First Lady, this pales in comparison. If Hillary can take that many international trips and not even be president, then Bush's trip, while still president, is a non-issue.

Did Rodna write a letter to the editor complaining about Mike Easley and his wife's trips to Europe? Their trips had zero value to North Carolina and the U.S., but Rodna helped pay for them, along with the rest of us. If she wrote a letter, did she call Easley, King Mike and his wife, First Lady?

Rodna, just get over your bad case of BDS. Bush will be gone soon enough.

Dan,

I agree with you, the letters being published right now have no redeeming value whatsoever. And, calling Bush's trip a pleasure trip to China is ridiculous. If you are going to take a pleasure trip, would you go to China with all of its "mist".

I've got no problem with Bush flying to China to observe the opening of the Olympics. Falls quite nicely in line with his role as goodwill ambassador and all that.

But I have a VERY serious problem with Bush's planned visit to a state-approved church while he's there in Beijing.

China is one of the most repressive countries on Earth so far as Christianity goes. And by visiting a "government-run" church, Bush IS definitely thumbing his nose at the millions of Chinese Christians who must worship in "underground" churches. He's showing them his implied approval of the state churches and that the Christians who aren't part of it don't matter.

C'mon admit it. Anyone anywhere the mainstream of American politics (left or right) has got to see this as a really dumb letter. Fess up. Doesnt this trip sorta fall in line with the presidential job description? Huh? Short of Olympics we boycotted has any President not attended? Anyone...... ?

BDS exists and this is proof. Right? Howie, Yvonne, Conundrum?

By this acknowledgement you are not denying the existance of an equally silly extreme Right.

Yikes! Was I ever wrong about The Olympics and POTUS. Bush will be the first President to attend The GAmes on foreign soil. #$%^ internet.

Honestly, I do understand there are legit reasons not to go. I believe there are legit reasons to go as well. Probably wouldnt have bothered me either way.

Doesnt change my mind about the Rant LTE. But sure makes me look like a dummy :)

“BDS exists and this is proof. Right? Howie, Yvonne, Conundrum?” I don’t think that this LTE proves BDS exists. Especially since I’ve found out that Charles Krauthammer coined the term. If it had been David Brooks who came up with the term, I could lend some credence to it. But, Krauthammer doesn’t know the meaning of fair or unbiased. The LTE writer mentions the expense of the trip and I agree with her. Though, his trip won’t add The Triad’s economy is not exactly humming along.

I think that Bush is a decent man. I just don’t think that his skill set is commensurate with the office that he currently holds.

Though, his trip won’t add that much to the deficit. The Triad’s economy is not exactly humming along. My skill set is showing.

It appears conudrum isn't infected with BDS.

BTW, Bush is working whilst in Asia, talks in S. Korea, including the progress of nuclear disarmament in N. Korea, and a trip to Thailand before visiting China.

http://news.aol.com/political-machine/2008/08/05/bush-arrives-for-last-asia-visit/

Presidents travel, it's a fact.

Where was the outcry, when the WESEL wife went to Italy?

Dog--"Where was the outcry?"

Do you not recall the kabillion letters screaming at the Governor for wasting taxpayer dollars? I'm not sure I ever saw one in support of his trip and I almost cut my the screen outta my laptop so I wouldn't have to read the ones that were showing up anymore.

I have no issue with Bush going to China or anywhere else. Truth be known, I have no issue with Bush living elsewhere.

The President of the United States has two roles in our constitutional system: head of government (as Chief Executive), and head of state (ie, the public face of our government as a whole). Most governments split these two roles (Britain's Prime Minister is head of government, while the Queen is head of state).

I may not like the fact Bush gets to enjoy the Olympics on the public dime, but he is in fact doing his duty as head of state by attending. It would be a major diplomatic gaffe for him not to attend (not that he's not made a few of those).

Of course, a lot of times these kinds of trips are purely junkets, and I don't approve of those at all. But this trip is not one of them.