Replies

Ok, I'll answer one more time but then I'm on to the next thread.

The government doesn't control public opinion anywhere near as much as you seem to give it credit for doing.

I assure you, thinking Americans have duly noted Mexico's behavior. However, even a Republican can look far enough ahead to realize that there is a general election year beginning in about 8 months. Comprende hermano???

I further assure you, nobody was expecting huge favors from China. As it turned out, they weren't even forced to abstain after 1441. As usual, they played their cards carefully and last. China is a large, long-term rival. It would do Bush no good to tangle with them, even politically, at this time. He's got quite a few fires going right now thank you very much. There's Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Iran and the deconstruction of the United Nations to contend with, not to mention North Korea (where China does finally become relevant).

But France is getting the Administration's very public attention at this time for very good reasons:

U.N. (veto, oil-for-food)

transChannel relations

U.S./German relations

NorthAfrica/Arabia

al Queda, WoT

NATO

These are the reasons France's perfidy is being addressed so loudly and urgently. Because right now, they happen to be more relevant than the other (admitted) knuckleheads.

Why isn't Canada on your list? Anyways, sounds like Baghdad is starting to blow up real good. I'm gone.

Peace! (smirk)

You are always running away----
You bet I realize there is an election 8 months away - anyone who doesn't factor that into the entire equation is not thinking.

Why weren't we expecting huge favors from China - I think we sorta did them a favor in WWII also. But they are getting great favors in the trade department - shouldn't that buy us something? Guess not.

Why in the world did we expect France to vote with us, they didn't even let us fly over them in Gulf War I?

And yes, the government does control the dialogue in this country - if you don't think so - you aren't paying attention. One well-placed call to Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, and nice word to a columnist, a few 'friends' posting on these threads, and few shameless politicians making speeches to get their name in the paper - and there you have it.

No France is not the bogey man - but hey, it's so much fun and they are harmless. What can they do? They have one vote and President Bush had to know how it would go before he started. They don't have the hold on America China does. If we make China mad, every sweatshop owned by American campaign contributors will be taken over and that is how it will affect the election. So America is for sale -

As to Mexico - I am totally in the dark there. There is some reason President Bush is so determined to have the illegals here - well, of course, for his contributors here, but why else when it is so detrimental and most of the country wants it stopped. There must be some other reason and it is not because the Mexicans won't vote for him. The ones who voted for him last time will be very happy to have the borders closed and the illegals sent home. The others never did and never will vote Republican.

Excuses can be made right and left - bottom line - it comes down to the bottom line and we had to have someone to be mad at because we got almost no support and France was chosen - they are an easy target and cost us nothing.