Obama Avoids Olympic Boycott Discussions

Old news, Views of his and hers are the same on this issue but then again...

This story does bring me to the real issue of the Olympic games.

They are a total disgrace this year. First, it was the deadly pollution of Beijin forcing the best of the best to stay away from the games since they don't want to ge sick , contaminated or die of thirst because apparently there is not even reliable water to drink. Second, it was the Tibetian monks and citizens of that vast land protesting but getting CHINATIZE by the communist power that controls them. The total information blackout of deaths and arrest was so swift much the world didn't even have time to blink twice...or did they?
The icing on the cake is this third one, The invisible torch, now you see it, now you don't. That big joke had me laughing this morning when they said on TV that the whole torch visit had no incident and was succcessful. SF couldn't get a glimpse of the idiotic torch and then calling their actions of hiding it on a wearehouse "successful" ? Give me a break. Of course is not like London or Paris where people actually got to touch it ...and blow it off . The whole thing is such a shambles, les't see what scandal happens next in this Olympic nonsense.

AS a UK resident, let me try and explain Gordon Brown to you. He is a Presbyterian authoritarian prude who lost all credibility because he chickened out of calling an election he himself started to campaign for. He is also a left wing politician that has actually increased taxes for the very poorest in the Country. A kind of reverse Robin Hood. He is the worst elements of George Bush Snr merged with worst elements of Jimmy Carter. The UK government is going to China, the Government will be fully represented. Brown is going to make sure he is at the handover as the games are going to London next and there is no way he is going to allow the Mayor of London to get all the picture credit.

Boycott the olmpics?

On what grounds?

That they tortured their people the wrong way?

Their indescriminant killing of innocents was coordinated properly?

America is basically a subsidiary of China in terms of balance sheet.

When they fart we better say we like the aroma.

If we boycott the olympics things are going to get ugly.

YOU MIGHT BE AN IDIOT:-) If you think Barack Obama with little or no experience would be better than Hillary Clinton with 35 years experience. You Might Be An Idiot! If you think that Obama with no experience can fix an economy on the verge of collapse better than Hillary Clinton. Whose ;-) husband (Bill Clinton) led the greatest economic expansion, and prosperity in American history. You Might Be An Idiot! If you think that Obama with no experience fighting for universal health care can get it for you better than Hillary Clinton. Who anticipated this current health care crisis back in 1993, and fought a pitched battle against overwhelming odds to get universal health care for all the American people. You Might Be An Idiot! If you think that Obama with no experience can manage, and get us out of two wars better than Hillary Clinton. Whose ;-) husband (Bill Clinton) went to war only when he was convinced that he absolutely had to. Then completed the mission in record time against a nuclear power. AND DID NOT LOSE THE LIFE OF A SINGLE AMERICAN SOLDIER. NOT ONE!

This boycott business is really NONSENSE!

1) Did our eyes just open to the injustice in Tibet?
2) How many times has the Tibetan leader visited our country in the past?
3) What did we do about his concerns?

The Olympics is an apolitical event and needs to remain so. You know, they might as well have OLIVE BRANCHES going through those interlocking circles. This and the Soccer woeld cup are the only two occasions when warring countries get to paticipate without shooting at each other. It is a time to put differences aside and entertain the world. WE HAVE THE REST OF THE YEAR TO PRESSURE THE CHINESE. Using the Olympics as a political football is what is spineless and distasteful.

Its NOT smart to do. we are BROKE thanks to George W Bush. You dont anger the country that you OWE HUGE SUMS of money to. This is what the Villiage Idiot has done to this country we are POWERLESS. Countries can treat us like crap and we cant do anything cause we OWE them our children's future. Petraeous can't get us out of Iraq we are stuck there who do you think is going to loan us the money to continue our this diastrous war.

If Bush has an ounce of brain he would take his sorry self and go to that Opening ceremony.

Carol

Anyone who has a grain of knowledge about Chinese culture and Chinese politics knows that you do not disparage or rebuke the Chinese publicly. To do so does not allow the Chinese to save face, which is paramount in the culture (http://www.chinese-forums.com/archive/index.php/t-2509.html & http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Face_(social_custom)).

Obama understands this infinitely better than the Clown in Chief we have now and is exercising excellent judgment in not jumping on the band wagon, which is the obvious and easy thing to do from the western perspective. And it would be precisely the wrong thing. Notice how the Chinese stance gets more firmly entrenched the more flak they get? This is not a coincidence. Now they are talking about "severely dealing with demonstrators" in Tibet (as though they have not already) and claiming the Dalai Lama is a terrorist leader. This seems foolish to those in the US, but it is the Chinese perspective that dictates this response and it will only get worse if we try to force their hand.

Additionally, China is in fact lending the US huge sums of money to finance the war in Iraq, and holds a very favorable position with the US in trade. Added together- the prudent thing is to go easy on the Chinese publicly, and bring some heat in private.

This requires diplomacy; something the current administration has none of, and Clinton only in short supply. She doesn't get it.

Have we ever boycoted the olympics before ? I guess I should go look it up.

The Obama supporter consensus in this tread avoids the issue of the article. Using the old Texas side step, they argue the merits of a boycott. That would be find if Barack had said he didn't think a boycott would work.

But he didn't. He is avoiding an issue because it wouldn't be safe. He has spent his short career moving ahead by playing it safe. If he thinks a boycott wouldn't work, why doesn't he say so. Because that would cost him the fawning support of the extreme left and many of his celebrity supporters.

Calling for a nonsensical and ultimately ineffective boycott of the olympic opening ceremony is not exercising leadership, it is political grandstanding. If you really want to initiate an effective boycott, then boycott all goods (imports) from China. I am willing to say with 100% surety, that no one has the political will to do this, nor does the American public have the will to execute such an act of moral virtue over their perceived right to have their goods sold to them at a cheap price.

That's right folks, we are partly to blame for China's audacity and our dying economy. They are not separate and apart from one another. Tell Sen. Clinton the boldly propose this, and see what happens.

i'm thinking Obama is just not into using this as a political moment. personally, i dont think all boycotts work. someone mentioned Rosa Parks and MLK--they werent boycotters, they engaged in civil disobedience--big difference. boycotts DONT work as well, otherwise Cuba would be the casino capital of the western hemisphere, North Korea would be making our Nike gear, and gas would be $.40 a gallon.

i DO think bringing the western media and our values into that country may be more productive.

so let Hillary turn her boycott into a self-serving promotion. Obama may think there are more important tyings than being pissy about an international tradition.

So our current President and a current candidate (Hillary) running for President who invaded another country telling China how they should treat people? I think it's going to be a very long time before a US President is able to tell any country what their policies should be in regards to human rights. That saying you should practice what you preach comes to mind. I think it was very wise that Sen. Obama not make himself look like a hypocrite.

I thought Obama supporters were supposed to be the optimists and not CYNICS. Most of the responses of Obama backers on his stance (or lack of it) seems to be that boycotts don't work. Tell that to Ghandi, Rosa Parks or MLK. People around the world are expressing their anger and frustration over the Chinese govt and we have a rare opportunity to pressure our leaders to represent our voice. A number of European leaders had already expressed their opinion about boycotting the opening ceremonies. That sends a powerful symbolic message. It may not significantly change China's position, but it certainly taints the prestige of the Olympic events in the eyes of the world. It will become an issue, people will talk about it. If anything, people will become more aware or interested of the situation regarding Tibet, Darfur, or Myanmar. If more people are aware then it's much more likely that things will change. I'm not certain that it will, that's why they call it HOPE. Obama supporters should be acquainted with that notion, especially since it's written on their signs.