"Bush came, Hu conquered" -- conservative Australian newspaper

[baby_bear]

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/10/25/international/asia/25AUST.html

This is rich.

<snips>
CANBERRA, Australia, Oct. 25 — The Chinese president, Hu Jintao, addressed Australia's Parliament on Friday, a privilege accorded to him just one day after President Bush, and a juxtaposition almost inconceivable even a year ago in a nation long fearful of China.
...in his parliamentary appearance, Mr. Hu went beyond economics by painting China as an all-around global player that was reaching out for broad diplomatic and cultural relations, including an increase in the already tens of thousands of Chinese students attending Australian universities.

In contrast, Mr. Bush in his address on Thursday, dwelled on a narrow agenda of the campaign against terrorism, and his gratitude to Australia for sending troops to Iraq.

The biggest difference was in style, with an almost complete role reversal of what might be expected. The Chinese leader was gregarious; the American president, aloof.

Mr. Bush left after 21 hours in Australia, stuck to this sleepy capital, and was whisked around in motorcades on routes swept clear of ordinary people. He declined to hold a news conference, and was criticized in the usually pro-American press here for offering little beyond a pledge to complete the outline of a free trade agreement with Australia soon.

Mr. Hu is lingering for three days. He took the traditional outing for visiting dignitaries — a cruise on Sydney's splendid harbor. He met with Australian business executives at a working lunch, and, in an unusual move for a Chinese leader, held a news conference, albeit a fairly scripted affair.

"Bush came, Hu conquered," headlined the Financial Review, the conservative, business newspaper.

</snips>

WSWS has a good article on the weird and excessive security that surrounded * on his 21-hour trip to Australia:
http://www.wsws.org/articles/2003/oct2003/bush-o25.shtml

I kind of got the creeps just reading about it. There's a sickness here.

s_m

[bandy]

1. That's * -

scared to show his freakin face! What a spectical he is. So embarrising to the people he is supposed to be representing. He has literally made us ashamed.

[J B]

2. Anyone noticing that this is big news for China?

I mean, the last spokesman getting this much press amour wasn't a man but that woman who died the other day at 105 who was married to the Nationalist Party leader. Albeit this head of state doesn't have the ex chairman totally out of the picture but well, Hu had a press conference for god's sake... this is new... seriously new.

[E_Zapata]

3. 3 hour tour, 3 hour tour (gilligan's island)

And bush - thinking it was just going to be a 3 hour tour -- will soon learn that this recent foray out into REALITY (irrespective of the stifled interaction he imposed) will follow him for the rest of his little occupation in Washington. a 3 hour tour......

But, seriously, his world is getting smaller and smaller. I can't wait for the UK reception.

I am sure all along Bush has considered all this security and him being kept under wraps by handlers was a validation of his greatness. But, slowly, he will begin to see that it is because he is a reprehensible slug...... I think he might even get a glimpse of the notion that we all KNOW he is just a poser puppet, and that the puppeteers don't really think he is king. Oh, to learn that you aren't really wearing royal garb. Lord, let that moment be revealed for the world to see when it happens. God, just give us that!@

[baby_bear]

4. I think you hit the nail on the head, E_Zapata

I do think he thinks the security and seclusion are a stamp of personal greatness, but his day will come. He is a scourge on this planet, and eventually he will fall into the into the pond, a la Narcissus.

s_m