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So that's why Blair is Bush's poodle.
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“Now we declare… that the law-making power or the first and real effective source of law is the people or the body of citizens or the prevailing part of the people according to its election or its will expressed in general convention by vote, commanding or deciding that something be done or omitted in regard to human civil acts under penalty or temporal punishment….” (Marsilius of Padua, „Defensor Pacis“, AD 1324) -
If he said, "I'm really sorry, I seem to have accidently spilt some water on you" we'd all be happy 'cos we're all (the majority of the public) basically too disinterested in what's really going on to care about anything much deeper than appearances.
I think the whole concept of being nice to people to get your way is called diplomacy or something.
It's not a very American way of doing things though.
Jon Miller: MikeH speaks the truth
Jon Miller: MikeH is a shockingly revolting dolt and a masturbatory urine-reeking sideshow freak whose word is as valuable as an aging cow paddy.
We've got both kindsComment
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Clinton gave incorrect information about the US to Europe. For instance, he signed up to Kyoto knowing full well that in the foreseeable future it would not be ratified by the Senate. But Europe read it (rightly) that we're on board with the program.Absolutely. Clinton was quite popular here because he understood how to say stuff to the international community, his international policies weren't really all that different to Bush's (pre 9/11).
Once Bush starts giving the correct information--that hell will freeze over before Kyoto is ratified--Europeans feel betrayed. But instead of being angry at the one who sold you that line of goods, you get angry at the person in front of you--Bush.I came upon a barroom full of bad Salon pictures in which men with hats on the backs of their heads were wolfing food from a counter. It was the institution of the "free lunch" I had struck. You paid for a drink and got as much as you wanted to eat. For something less than a rupee a day a man can feed himself sumptuously in San Francisco, even though he be a bankrupt. Remember this if ever you are stranded in these parts. ~ Rudyard Kipling, 1891Comment
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Yeah, that's the example I had in mind when I said it.
The point is still valid that Bush has absolutely no idea how to talk to the rest of the international community.Jon Miller: MikeH speaks the truth
Jon Miller: MikeH is a shockingly revolting dolt and a masturbatory urine-reeking sideshow freak whose word is as valuable as an aging cow paddy.
We've got both kindsComment
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coming from someone who knows jack**** about the region...The Balkans are pretty much always up to no good unless someone is putting the smackdown on them.
To us, it is the BEAST.Comment
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I don't think that's true. He has been clear about what he was doing and why he was doing it. There is a high value in that. For instance, on Kyoto, knowing clearly that the US was opting out of the treaty and going more toward the basic science of climate change helped y'all plan accordingly.The point is still valid that Bush has absolutely no idea how to talk to the rest of the international community.I came upon a barroom full of bad Salon pictures in which men with hats on the backs of their heads were wolfing food from a counter. It was the institution of the "free lunch" I had struck. You paid for a drink and got as much as you wanted to eat. For something less than a rupee a day a man can feed himself sumptuously in San Francisco, even though he be a bankrupt. Remember this if ever you are stranded in these parts. ~ Rudyard Kipling, 1891Comment
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"going more toward the basic science of climate change"
“Now we declare… that the law-making power or the first and real effective source of law is the people or the body of citizens or the prevailing part of the people according to its election or its will expressed in general convention by vote, commanding or deciding that something be done or omitted in regard to human civil acts under penalty or temporal punishment….” (Marsilius of Padua, „Defensor Pacis“, AD 1324)Comment
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You are still missing the point. It's not that WHAT he said was wrong it's HOW he said it that was bad.Originally posted by DanS I don't think that's true. He has been clear about what he was doing and why he was doing it. There is a high value in that. For instance, on Kyoto, knowing clearly that the US was opting out of the treaty and going more toward the basic science of climate change helped y'all plan accordingly.Jon Miller: MikeH speaks the truth
Jon Miller: MikeH is a shockingly revolting dolt and a masturbatory urine-reeking sideshow freak whose word is as valuable as an aging cow paddy.
We've got both kindsComment
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I'm not missing the point at all. The way that he said it communicated clearly to y'all that the treaty was toast. It wasn't on his agenda. It might have pissed you off, but now you're under no illusions.
If you're going to argue this point, then give me a specific example that sticks in your mind of how he said it that could have been done more diplomatically.I came upon a barroom full of bad Salon pictures in which men with hats on the backs of their heads were wolfing food from a counter. It was the institution of the "free lunch" I had struck. You paid for a drink and got as much as you wanted to eat. For something less than a rupee a day a man can feed himself sumptuously in San Francisco, even though he be a bankrupt. Remember this if ever you are stranded in these parts. ~ Rudyard Kipling, 1891Comment
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Bush makes those French knights in "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" seem like skilled diplomats
The enemy cannot push a button if you disable his hand.Comment
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damn "KANIGETTS!"Originally posted by Combat Ingrid
Bush makes those French knights in "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" seem like skilled diplomats
To us, it is the BEAST.Comment
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Urgh...
not sure I can be arsed trawling through news archives from 2 years ago to find quotes. Basically the tone from the White House changed from "let's work together to make the world better" to "we're going to make sure that Americas interests are protected and if that makes things worse for you then tough."
Now as you've said that isn't a change in policy but it makes it hard for politicians from other countries not to protest if their electorates are now going to percieve them as weak for not 'standing up' to America.
It's just the same in life, you get away with a lot more by being polite to people than you do if you are rude about it. If you turn up late for work and say, "Yeah, I was late so, what are you going to do about it?" in front of your boss he'll have no choice but to dicipline you. If you go and apologise you'll probably be Ok.
I know there is a strong feeling in the US that you don't need to be nice because you are so powerful but then you end up in situations like Iraq currently where no-one wants to help you (us), even though it would benefit them to do so because you've pissed them off so much in the past.Jon Miller: MikeH speaks the truth
Jon Miller: MikeH is a shockingly revolting dolt and a masturbatory urine-reeking sideshow freak whose word is as valuable as an aging cow paddy.
We've got both kindsComment
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Well, I know it's frustrating. But if there aren't even any "old Europe" moments to hang your hat on, then how am I to know on what Bush needs to work? Sounds to me like Europe is punishing the messenger.
If it's any consolation, there is a subset of the American electorate that also didn't want to be told the truth about the issue and hates Bush because he was pretty clear about it.I came upon a barroom full of bad Salon pictures in which men with hats on the backs of their heads were wolfing food from a counter. It was the institution of the "free lunch" I had struck. You paid for a drink and got as much as you wanted to eat. For something less than a rupee a day a man can feed himself sumptuously in San Francisco, even though he be a bankrupt. Remember this if ever you are stranded in these parts. ~ Rudyard Kipling, 1891Comment
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comming from soeone who could not find his ass with both hands.Originally posted by Sava
coming from someone who knows jack**** about the region...
Gaius Mucius Scaevola Sinistra
Japher: "crap, did I just post in this thread?"
"Bloody hell, Lefty.....number one in my list of persons I have no intention of annoying, ever." Bugs ****ing Bunny
From a 6th grader who readily adpated to internet culture: "Pay attention now, because your opinions suck"Comment
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I suggest we arm europe with old rifles and tanks, give part of the troops grey pointy hats and zeppelins and the other part silly wide army pants and a fake moustaches, and then America can go on with it's bussines peacefully for some four or five years without Europe meddling in world important affairs
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