World Sends Leaders to World Economic Forum, Bush Sends Labor Secretar

[Tsiyu]

By Edith M. Lederer Associated Press Writer
Published: Jan 28, 2005


DAVOS, Switzerland (AP) - British Prime Minister Tony Blair gave the keynote address. French President Jacques Chirac spoke by video link. The leaders of Germany, Ukraine, Australia, Nigeria, South Africa and Brazil all have prime speaking slots.
But the highest-ranking member of the Bush administration at the World Economic Forum is Labor Secretary Elaine Chao, just one of many panelists.

The absence of a Republican heavy-hitter has frustrated some participants trying to get new insight into U.S. policy over the next four years. And it's made former President Bill Clinton the American star at the annual gabfest, along with Microsoft founder Bill Gates.

Admittedly, the timing of this year's forum wasn't the best for the Bush administration. The five-day meeting of 2,500 top business executives, politicians and social leaders comes only a week after President Bush's inauguration.

Bush has a Cabinet with many new faces and he is preparing his State of the Union address. Forum officials had hoped Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice would attend but she was just confirmed by the Senate on Wednesday.

more:
http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGBW69V2I4E.html

[bluestateguy]

1. Washington D.C.'s most famous excuse

The old "scheduling conflict".

[Tsiyu]

2. Yeah, that

Must be nice to NOT GIVE A SHIT!


But are we surprised? Why don't we have international help in Iraq? Gee, maybe because the world realizes the whole affair is being run by incompetent asswipes who don't even have the decency to address the world's issues in a serious way?

[NYC]

3. What does that mean? He's hungover?

Too many parties?

...Admittedly, the timing of this year's forum wasn't the best for the Bush administration. The five-day meeting of 2,500 top business executives, politicians and social leaders comes only a week after President Bush's inauguration...

No excuse. If it's important, you go. If you don't consider it important, well, just send the labor secretary.

[Dover]

4. You don't suppose that the Dems purposely tied Condi up on Wednesday?

Hmmmmm........something a little fishy about all that. Can't imagine that anyone would miss such an important meeting unless they wanted to. They could have rescheduled her confirmation hearings.
Of course Bush couldn't go without a heavy hitter at his side to feed him his lines.

[amandabeech]

5. I thought that Robert Zoelick (sp) the trade representative and

nominee for Assistant Secretary of State went, too. I suspect that he knows more about Davos-type subjects than does Chao.

Where is Snow, our wonderful Treasury Secretary? You'd think he'd go only to tell everyone that the U.S. has a strong dollar policy.

[ticapnews]

6. Let's be honest here, folks: Do we really want Shrub...

going to these international meetings himself and representing us there? All he'll manage to do is make us look bad. At least if he stays away he can't completely screw everything up :)

[notadmblnd]

7. I want him to travel overseas as much as he can

maybe one of these countries will arrest him.

[llmart]

8. Anyone else watch C-Span this morning....

with the interview from Davos of President Clinton? It was amazing, as usual, and I just couldn't help but notice the HUGE difference in having an articulate, well-read, worldly leader like Clinton compared to having this uneducated, stupid, ignorant Bush in the WH. I'm glad Bush didn't go. He's a freakin' embarrassment.