Bush ratchets up international charm offensive with eye on November

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle.asp?xfile=data/theworld/2004/March/theworld_March147.xml§ion=theworld

CRAWFORD, Texas - US President George W. Bush ratcheted up an international charm offensive on Saturday attempting to heal rifts that opened over the Iraq war, but also in a bid to silence critics who accuse the president of isolating the United States.


Bush is putting the charm offensive into overdrive as campaigning for November’s US presidential election heats up.

In receiving Mexican President Vicente Fox at his Texan ranch here this weekend, Bush signalled he is ready to renew a relationship stretched by Mexico’s opposition to the Iraq war, launched last year by Washington and London against the former regime of Saddam Hussein.

However, analysts had doubted Bush would let his relationship with Fox get too cold, mainly because of the key importance Mexicans play in the US economy. An estimated 20 million Mexicans live in the United States, or some six percent of the total population, the two countries also share a 3,000 kilometer (1,864 miles) border.

But Vicente Fox is not the only world leader opposed to the Iraq war to have received the Republican president’s undivided attention of late. German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder stopped by the White House on February 27.

<snip>

[Mountainman]

1. Bush is a snake in the grass

Screwing over people for 3 years then tries to kiss and make up to get elected. I sure hope people see him as the snake he is before they get bit.

[burrowowl]

2. Well, if they all get

charmed by this snake (sorry to insult snakes), they will deserve to get bit.

[opihimoimoi]

5. How to PICK Winners from Losers: 108:: Presidential Level.

108.3 Never Trust a Snake

108.6 Who has highest Bull Shit Level.

108.9 Track Record. Over View. If reelection; Health and Welfare of the Nation, start and finish of term. Other History or trend.

108.5 Losers ducks/rejects DEBATES. Agrees only when its in his/hers favor. Prefers the "rigged debates", ones where a flawed mind can avoid detection by "Sheep"(those easily fooled).

From the Opihi Guide Book

[ClintonTyree]

3. Bush has all the charm.................

of a dead, bloated opossum in the road. You can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear. The man doesn't have it in him. Anyone who can't see through his feeble attempts is more stupid than he.

[daleo]

4. It is a 'harm offensive'

I wish these reporters would listen a little closer.

[Dover]

6. Yeah, I thought that coup in Haiti was just charming! Whatta guy...

And Zimbabwe has sent it's regards for the sanctions. That's the spirit!

[tobius]

13. the UN and France were right alongside. nt

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

7. He might be able to charm the average white trash redneck.....

but given the world's reaction to our adventure in Iraq he's going to find the rest of the world a lot harder.

[Benhurst]

8. Just another example of putting lipstick on a pig n/t

[Hekate]

9. Bush's charm is offensive, all right

He'll probably be able to bribe some of the disaffected, the way he bribed small nations to form the "coalition of the willing." Some of the other governments may just be afraid to piss off this lunatic in charge of the world's hyper-power. But all in all, I doubt that very many leaders or their countrymen are going to be very "charmed" with He-Who-Sacked-Baghdad.

Hekate

[PurityOfEssence]

10. Typo, folks: it's a "smarm offensive"

and offensive it is, too.

He'll do anything to get elected, and unfortunately, if he does, it may be the last real time we have any say-so in the issue.

[Norquist Nemesis]

11. He's probably bribing or blackmailing

them with these little get togethers. If Fox (and others) has any sense at all, they had better get it in writing.

[NEOBuckeye]

12. I think most of the world leaders will do the intelligent thing...

...And withold any possible "forgiveness" and support of the Bush regime until after January 20, 2005. If Bush loses, then big deal any of this is. Mucho congrats goes to Kerry, and they will probably almost instantly re-open the doors to diplomacy and international cooperation. Kerry has already publicly stated that he would visit the UN within weeks of his inauguration and ask that the U.S. be allowed to rejoin the community of nations.

[Manix]

14. Most leaders are wise to the imbecile. Only the naive would be fooled.

nt