Speaker Pelosi calls on Bush to boycott Olympic opening ceremonies

[DeepModem Mom]

Source: CNN

(CNN) -- U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says President Bush should consider boycotting the opening ceremony of the Olympics Games in Beijing this summer to protest China's human rights record.

"I think boycotting the opening ceremony, which really gives respect to the Chinese government, is something that should be kept on the table," Pelosi told "Good Morning America" co-anchor Robin Roberts in an interview to air Tuesday morning, according to the ABC News Web site. "I think the president might want to rethink this later, depending on what other heads of state do."

Pelosi said she does not think U.S. athletes should boycott the games themselves. "I believe a boycott of the Beijing Olympics would unfairly harm our athletes who have worked so hard to prepare for the competition," she said in a statement last week.

President Bush has said he intends to meet with China's president during a trip to see the Olympic Games in Beijing, which start on August 8. Bush didn't elaborate on what issues he might bring up, but his administration has accused China, a major U.S. trade partner, of human rights abuses.

Other world leaders have wrestled with whether to attend the Olympics. French President Nicolas Sarkozy has said he may skip the opening ceremonies. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said she will skip the Olympics. Britain's Prince Charles said in January he has "no plans to attend the ceremony."...

Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/04/01/pelosi.olympics/index.html

[Cant trust em]

1. Finally, something that will appeal to her constituency.

This has plenty of buzz in San Francisco.

[Donnachaidh]

2. Actually -- I'd like to see the WORLD have a chance at BOOING Bush

He needs to know he's hated worldwide.

[David__77]

3. Absolutely not. I disagree.

This would be hypocrisy to be the degree of total ridiculousness: the US, posing as guardian of human rights while it commits the acts it does. This action would not be conducive to progress on human rights, peace, or development.

[Massachusetts]

9. Bingo!

[frylock]

12. somebody should bring nancy up to speed..

does she even know what the fuck is happening in OUR name?! she's an idiot.

[LynnTheDem]

27. Hypocrisy is the American Way.

[librechik]

Didn't Bush put China on the Axis of Evil yesterday?

good time to ask, I suppose, Nancy...

Hmmph, never mind. I must have heard something wrong on the tube.

[no_hypocrisy]

4. Won't happen.

And if he did stay home, China would simply exercise passive-aggressive tendencies such as stop buying our debt and selling what it does hold.

[Johonny]

5. Please send him

just don't let him come back. There a lot of jobs over there I'm sure he's more than qualified for.

[Renew Deal]

6. Even talking about this is a bad idea.

We shouldn't be so confrontational with the Chinese on this one. They are too emotionally invested in the games.

[aquart]

7. LOL. Like a debtor nation could be so bold.

[redqueen]

23. Yup!

We can't afford to do this.

[snooper2]

8. Fuck China..

and Fuck Bush...they are close to the same...

[Demeter]

10. One Trip, and Suddenly She's a Stateman of the World?

Stateswoman? Diplomat? How about talking through hat?

Nancy, set the table. Your children are starving for justice and human rights, right here in this country.

[Turbineguy]

11. Animal House:

Time for a stupid and meaningless gesture.

[frylock]

13. considering nancy has been an enabler to human rights violations..

perhaps she would enjoy a steaming cup of gourmet shut the fuck up.

[Virginia Dare]

14. Better idea, boycott Bush...n/t

[David__77]

15. Yeah, I guess Bush'd be doing China a favor.

They could then say that at least one major human rights violator wasn't present.

[libodem]

16. Are they still considered Communists?

How can we stand against ANY human rights violators with our current record. If we had a "LIBERAL NEWS" bias like we are accused of having the press would be having a field day with what happened to the Tibetan Monks. Not only that, but what happened to the judges and lawyers, in Pakistan. Some place else the Monks were slaughtered while demonstrating for Democracy, lately. Where? See it got so little coverage I can't remember what other country recently slaughtered it's Monks? Yes, China, is violating the autonomy of Tibet. But since Cheneybushitler knows China owns us they will turn the usual blind eye to doing the correct action of protesting human rights abuses. This administration has ruined the whole world. I should do the Zen thing and love my enemies to over come this evil. I'm not strong enough not to hate these bastards and wish they would drop dead. I tried praying for peace and love but how far can an aging hippie go with these beliefs.

I think we should try some cyber experiment and do the love and light positive vibe for God's will to be done. Yeah, right if I could stop hating for one single second. I saved that Skinner post of 'Do you ever get tired of hating'. Yeah, I'm fucking tired of hating and I even know logically and spiritually that it's only bad for me. Self destructive more or less. Do we have an underground group for 'haters' to vent and to become enlightened? Set me free from hate, baby, set me free. Go Nancy. Let's peacefully send our disapproval of China's violations and boycott the ceremony. It is at least sending a message without a bomb!

[Chulanowa]

32. Tibet's a sticky issue when you look at the history.

Here in the states, we're fed a steady stream of Tibet having been a peaceful, perfect utopia living in perfect harmony until the big evil COMMUNISTS took over. Fact of the matter is, for the majority of Tibet's population, there wasn't any sort of huge shift between the Lamaic despots and the PRC despots. Meet the new leader, same as the old leader. An argument could be made that the majority of Tibet is actually better-off under Chinese rule than they would be under the Theocracy of Tibet.

This of course, does not excuse China's occupation. I'm simply making the point that, really? Neither option is really that dissimilar from one another.

Should we boycott the opening ceremony? Why, because China's doing the same thing we did to Iraq and Afghanistan?

[stimbox]

17. Pelosi is such a panderbear.

Time for some change in District 8.
Let's bring Pelosi home and send Shirley Golub to DC.

http://www.shirley08.com

[Grinchie]

18. Piss off more People in the World..

Pelosi, the woman most guilty of inaction, recomends that Boycotting the Olympics be "Kept on the Table".

I'd like to know why impeachment was "Kept Off the Table", and none of my phone calls, or letters asking Pelosi for clarification on her stand on Impeachment were ever answered.

She is nothing more than an empty windbag, who has no policy worth listening to. Poor Pelosi, a Pariah in the face of History.

[Kelvin Mace]

19. Speaking of China and the Olympics

My father-in-law runs a machine shop and was telling me that US companies buying cheap Chinese steel are getting a nasty surprise. For 90 days prior to the Olympics, all the steel foundries in China are being shut down in order to make the air breathable in time for the Olympics. If your main supplier of steel is China you are SOL for three months.

[HuffleClaw]

20. she should shut the hell up

she'll whine about this while giving bush a free pass?

[aggiesal]

21. And I'm sure China won't use Gitmo against us. n/t

[onehandle]

22. Boycott our future masters? Nonsense.

Bush should apologize to them (again) for this very suggestion.

Do Not Make China Mad! They'll call up our debt and then we'll be sorry.

[lebkuchen]

24. After the Nationals Park experience

Bush is probably paying Pelosi to make this pronouncement.

[TBF]

25. Finally something we can all agree on -

Nancy Pelosi is an idiot. Get back to work, Nancy, and see if you can figure out Iraq before you take on China, mmm-k?

[LynnTheDem]

26. Right after the world boycotts America.

Little things like "supreme crime" wars of aggression, torture; extraordinary renditions; #1 for number of own citizens jailed; etc etc etc...kinda fucks up America's "human rights record" just a wee fucking bit.

[Neshanic]

28. Half-assed and typical of her. "Boycott the parade! Oh, the other stuff is ok I guess. "

Any wonder she is completely irrelevant now? A boycott means the whole thing Nancy dear, not just the opening ceremonies.

[Middle finga]

29. I guess all of our leaders, dems and repubs, really believe

america should enjoy a sense of entitlement or an exception to the rules. How else can you explain the so called liberal Nancy Pelosi condemning China on the international stage but will not even acknowledge George Bush, the most blatant War Criminal of this century, has even broken a law.

[katty]

30. good for her...but China w/be back at us with GITMO

[Zachstar]

31. Meaningless.

China is master of Spin. Unless we actually start calling for nations to boycott such a rotten game arena.. Any talk of boycotting just the start is nothing but BS.

I gave China a chance at regaining my respect. I had thought they were done with the whole total power thing to help build their bank accounts. Yet it looks like they have discovered that if they hold the world hostage they can have it all.

I am 100 percent boycotting the Olympics on TV, Net or whatever, (Not even going to check the metal counts) and I am likely to boycott companies that have decided to continue showing their support despite the horror.

This is one of the sickest and blood soaked Olympics I have heard of. I am boycotting so that the Olympic committee will be urged to never award it to a country known to violate human rights.

Fuck the 2008 Olympics!!