Bush heads to Mideast amid low expectations

[rodeodance]

Source: mcclatchy



Bush heads to Mideast amid low expectations

By Warren P. Strobel, McClatchy Newspapers Mon Jan 7, 6:00 AM ET

WASHINGTON — President Bush , who once had grand ambitions to transform the Middle East through democratic reform, begins his first extended presidential visit to the region Tuesday with his sights lowered and his ability to influence events fading fast.

From the Israeli prime minister's modest house in Jerusalem to the palace of King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia , Bush can expect a polite welcome during the nine-day trip. But with the U.S. presidential campaign under way, governments in the region already appear to be looking past Bush to his successor. They're expecting no major breakthroughs.

The official Arab view of Bush was summed up inadvertently by a diplomat from a major Arab state, who indicated disbelief that the president will use the trip to renew his drive for Middle East democracy.

"Is that still on?" the Arab official replied sarcastically. He spoke on condition of anonymity because of diplomatic sensitivities.

The contrast between today and the months afte

Read more: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=post&forum=102

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millions spent to protect him--for a few photoops.
also, many lives at risk during this media visit

[Solly Mack]

1. Oh, the soft bigotry

of low expectations...


snicker

[dkofos]

2. Why should that change after 7 years. He is, and will always be, the master of low expectations

[Doctor_J]

9. You mean after 55 years?

He hasn't succeeded at anything in his entire life.

[MotorCityMan]

3. Nice to see some truth in the headlines in this new year

*, the king of low expectations.

[chelsea0011]

4. real truth would have read "no" expectations

[Demeter]

5. Bush Expects to Return to the US Alive and Unharmed

That seems pretty optimistic to me....

[JBoy]

6. Low expectations are Bush's friends.

They're his posse.

[stillcool]

7. Remember him?

Remember him? Bush begins Middle East tour
He is the forgotten leader, scorned by his people, disowned by his party. This week George Bush has a last chance to undo the damage done by his presidency as he begins a Middle East tour
By Leonard Doyle in New Hampshire and Andrew Buncombe in Islamabad
Published: 07 January 2008

Voters in the United States may have switched their attention to the contest to find his successor, but George Bush will embark on an ambitious nine-day tour of the Middle East tomorrow in a last desperate effort to salvage a legacy from two terms in office overshadowed by a catastrophic foreign policy that has earned him the distinction of being one of the worst presidents in the country's history.

The Bush legacy will not be peace in the Middle East nor an end to conflict in Iraq, but it could be a political earthquake among voters so dismayed by the mess he has made of America's foreign policy and fearful of economic recession that they are deserting his party in droves.

As he prepares to board a plane for Israel and wrap himself in the tattered flag of victory in Iraq, Mr Bush's real legacy to the American people is evident in the disillusionment on display in New Hampshire. Enraged Republicans are switching sides to support the Democrat Barack Obama. Others are backing Mike Huckabee, the maverick Christian conservative hopeful. Both triumphed in the Iowa caucuses on a platform of "change"
http://news.independent.co.uk/world/americas/article3315020.ece

[Doctor_J]

8. The story of his life

Made it through HS, barely
Got into Yale on a legacy set-aside
Barely made it through
Failed to find oil in Texas
Was arrested at least five times, had record expunged
Was given a baseball team, got taxpayers to build him $300M stadium, was declared "successful businessman"
Lost election, but was given White House
ruined economy, US standing in the world, environment. Was more corrupt than Nixon (by a mile). Still is "most admired man in US"

:puke:

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

10. ...blew up frogs as a child...

[lisainmilo]

11. Very interesting and should be closely watched