Fox Struggles for Relevance as Summit Is Set to Open

[kskiska]

Monday, January 12, 2004; Page A01

MONTERREY, Mexico, Jan. 11 -- In February 2001, George W. Bush, a just-elected U.S. president with few foreign policy credentials, came to Mexico to rub shoulders with Latin America's hottest political star: President Vicente Fox. Bush hung out in shirtsleeves on Fox's ranch and showed skeptics that he had experience and a respected friend outside the United States.

Three years later the roles have reversed. Bush comes to Mexico this week as the most dominant political leader in the world, while Fox is struggling for relevance halfway through a lackluster presidency. Instead of warming himself on Fox's glow, Bush arrives this time bearing an immigration reform proposal that Fox desperately needs approved to bolster his sagging fortunes.

"Bush needed Fox, but right now Fox is not really relevant," said Jose Luis Garcia Aguilar, head of the international relations department at the University of the Americas in Puebla. "Quite frankly, Fox is not even a leader in Latin America. His stature is very low, and he needs Bush."

(snip)

"With his charisma, he could inspire Mexicans, but he has not," said Luis de la Calle, a former top government economic official who is now in private business. "Where is the vision for Mexico?"

"My sense is that he's alone, with no idea how to finish, and he's just floating," Garcia Aguilar said. "I think he just wants to go back to his ranch and forget all this."

more…
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A8433-2004Jan11.html

Too bad his counterpart doesn't feel the same way.

[rooboy]

1. "the most dominant political leader in the world..."

that's a joke. The fool is pulled every which way by Cheney, Rove and big business.

[yellowcanine]

2. Damn. I thought the "Fox" was Fox News

I already knew they were irrelevant. It was just nice to hear someone else say so as well.