What are these two guys up to?

[ElsewheresDaughter]

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/politics/wire/sns-ap-bush-abu-dhabi,1,6781712.story

WASHINGTON — Fresh off presiding over a global financial summit, President George W. Bush on Sunday conferred privately about the world's economic downturn with the leader of a wealthy Persian Gulf emirate.

Bush was hosting Sheik Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the crown prince of Abu Dhabi, at the president's wooded retreat at Camp David, Md. The visit marked the second time in just five months that the crown prince received a coveted invitation to the secluded compound.

"They always have a good time meeting with each other," White House national security spokesman Gordon Johndroe said Sunday.

The two leaders were scheduled to discuss the world's deteriorating financial stability, as well as Middle East security. On Saturday in Washington, Bush presided over a gathering of leaders from the world's richest nations and developing economies, who pledged steps to revamp the global financial markets.

Bush's government is prodding leaders in the oil-rich Gulf to invest in the staggering U.S. economy. Deputy Treasury Secretary Robert Kimmitt offered that message in a visit to Dubai last month. Johndroe declined comment on whether Bush would urge the crown prince to funnel more money into U.S. interests, but said, "Secretary Kimmitt's comments made in the Gulf stand: We encourage investment in the United States."

The visit on Sunday was decidedly low-key. There was no press coverage permitted at Bush's retreat.

In January, Bush visited Abu Dhabi and traveled to the crown prince's remote desert encampment, where he raises horses and prize falcons.

The sheik was expected to stay overnight at Camp David. Bush returns to the White House Monday morning.

Your thoughts,

[HeraldSquare212]

1. "Please pay me millions for a speech after I leave office. Please?"

[ben_meyers]

2. Now that Bush is on the way out of the White House

the Sheik was probably just collecting the oil price remote control device with the up/down buttons. I wonder who will get it next?

[snappyturtle]

3. I can't help but think that * wants to screw us every chance he gets, therefore,

they were talking manipulating oil prices. They can let it fall to 1) hurt the green industry efforts for alternative fuels and products like the electric car and 2) once again, push smaller oil companies, I'm thinking ND oil producers, et. al. out of business. To hell with the jobs and future jobs and good luck to even higher profits in the future to his friends in 'big' oil companies. imho

[Sal Minella]

4. "They always have a good time meeting with each other,"

and, as everyone knows, with the whole world economy melting down at breathtaking speed, "Having a good time" should be the primary concern of the President of the United States of America.

They're trying to figure out how to get oil back to $140/bbl, would be my guess. Those were the good old days. (Hint to the Good-Times Boys: the people having jobs would help.)

[Orsino]

5. Nothing good can possibly come of a meeting with *.

With a political leader of an oil-rich country? Disaster.

[BluePatriot21]

6. am I understanding what * is correctly?

because if I am, then i am loving that.

Is * = to dubyah?

if so then * makes my * pucker.

[mnhtnbb]

7. Welcome to DU, Blue Patriot21. And yes, you get it.

[Sal Minella]

8. called * (if I understand correctly) because his "presidency" was not a result of vote-counting,

but was awarded to him by the U.S. Supreme Court, which horned in on a State of Florida matter.

The Supremes knew they were messing their pants when they did this, and stated at the time that this case was never to be used as precedent. An unprecedented statement, that.

So it's Bush* because he's our only appointed (not elected) president. The Precedent.

Somebody please correct me if I'm off-base here.