Opinion: Lame duck to attend Olympic opening ceremonies
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Here’s how you know your president is truly powerless: when he publicly announces that he’ll show up for the summer Olympics opening ceremonies in a communist country. Guess it isn’t 1980 anymore. Note how the White House press staff snuck in this nugget of juicy info as part of a larger announcement that President Bush and his wife will embark on a brief tour of several Asian nations (emphasis mine):
In South Korea, President Bush and President Lee will discuss regional and global security issues as well as their commitment to getting their respective legislatures to ratify the U.S.-Korea free trade agreement, which will bring important benefits to workers, farmers, ranchers, and entrepreneurs in both the United States and Korea. The President will then travel to Thailand to celebrate 175 years of the U.S.-Thailand relationship and to discuss issues bilateral and regional issues with Prime Minister Samak. In China, the President looks forward to seeing President Hu and other senior Chinese leaders for discussions on a wide range of issues including the way ahead on North Korean denuclearization. The President and Mrs. Bush will attend the Opening Ceremonies of the Summer Olympic Games on August 8.
Talk about burying the lede. Presidential candidates, start your condemnations.