Bush Bashes Clinton (and Obama)

[Joanne98]

Source: WP

President Bush waded further into the presidential race today, slamming Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama for "empty, hollow political rhetoric" on trade and warning that they would make "a reckless mistake" by retreating from agreements to lower barriers with other countries.

Although he did not name Clinton or Obama, he left little doubt who he was talking about, at one point even mocking Clinton's promise to take a "timeout" from free trade agreements if she becomes president. "You know, some have called for a 'timeout' from trade," he told the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce shortly after Clinton addressed the group. "I guess that's probably popular with the focus group. You know, they toss out the word 'timeout' from trade -- it's got this kind of catchy little title to it. In the 21st century, a timeout from trade would be a timeout from growth, a timeout from jobs and a timeout from good results."

Bush, who used his speech to push Congress to pass a pending free trade agreement with Colombia, noted pointedly that Clinton's husband, Bill Clinton, was a strong supporter of opening markets when he was president and quoted from his predecessor's remarks when signing legislation to implement the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) 14 years ago. Hillary Clinton, seconded by Obama, has abandoned NAFTA, saying she would threaten to opt out of the pact if Mexico and Canada did not agree to renegotiate it. "Listen, NAFTA has worked," Bush said. "People shouldn't back away from NAFTA. It's been a positive development for a lot of people."

Congress in December passed a free trade agreement Bush struck with Peru, but his efforts to push three others through before leaving office have stalled. In addition to the Colombia pact, agreements with Panama and South Korea remain in limbo. And the anti-trade talk on the presidential campaign trail complicates chances of pushing any of the three through a Democratic Congress in an election year. Administration officials view the Colombia agreement as the likeliest to pass.



Read more: http://blog.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2008/03/12/bus...

[bluestateguy]

1. I'm proud to be a protectionist

I apologize to no one for wanting to protect American jobs.

[Demeter]

2. Let's See How Fast Bush Can Sink the US McCain

ball bearings, anyone?

[The Wizard]

3. "a timeout from good results."

Can the republicans cite anything good that's come from their reign of (t)error?

[yellerpup]

4. Well, he is the expert on "empty, hollow political rhetoric." n/t

[cureautismnow]

5. We desperately need a timeout from King Midas in Reverse.

Everything this chimpanzee touches turns to manure.

[Doctor_J]

6. Bush is to the economy what the iceberg was to the Titanic

If he thinks our candidates are wrong, that's a ringing endorsement.

[elehhhhna]

7. Professor Backwards is giving advice? LMAO!!1!!

[forintegrity]

8. Does he even know what he's talking about...NOT!!!

He's an idiot!

He needs to keep his idiot mouth shut and stay out of the presidential race. Any race for that matter! Except maybe a fast race back to Crawford in January 2009!!!

[OhioChick]

9. The Decider is talking about

"empty, hollow political rhetoric?"

Oh, The Irony.....

[MotorCityMan]

11. That phrase jumped out at me, too

Pot, meet kettle.

[santamargarita]

10. At 19% (100% asshole), he should keep his mouth shut!

K&R