Should President Bush boycott Olympics opening ceremonies?
Olympic torch lighting ceremony, Monday, March 31, 2008, at Tiananmen Square in Beijing, China. (PHOTO CREDIT: AP)
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
The list of names is growing - That being the number of nations calling for a boycott of this summer's Olympic Games in China. The calls come after what is being called the most violent anti-Chinese protests since 1989 occurred in Tibet two weeks ago.
Tibetan exiles say as many as one hundred forty people were killed. The Chinese government says the numbers are much lower than that.
House speaker Nancy Pelosi, who just returned from a visit with the Dalai Lama, is the latest to suggest the United States join the boycott. She told ABC News that President Bush should consider boycotting the opening ceremonies of the games, saying quote, "I think boycotting the opening ceremony, which really gives respect to the Chinese government, is something that should be kept on the table. I think the president might want to rethink this later, depending on what other heads of state do." unquote. She did not, however, go as far as to call on the United States to boycott the Olympics altogether. The White House says the games should be about the athletes, not about politics, and President Bush says he plans to attend the opening ceremonies.
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown also remains committed to attending.
But German Chancellor Angela Merkel announced last week that she will skip the games entirely. French President Nicholas Sarkozy has suggested a boycott of the opening ceremony. Poland's prime minister has also announced a boycott, as well as the president of the Czech Republic.
In addition to boycotts, protesters are already showing up wherever the Olympic torch goes on its pre-olympic journey across the continents. One of those stops happens to be in Nancy Pelosi's home district of San Francisco.
Here’s my question to you: Should President Bush reconsider and boycott the opening ceremonies at the Summer Olympics in China?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
Erin writes:
No. We've all seen the disaster when we politicize the Olympics. Of course China's human rights record is atrocious but the place to have made that statement was with the committee that awarded the games to them in the first place. The Olympics remind us all that we are truly one people on one planet–the good, the bad and the so very ugly.
Mike from Syracuse, New York writes:
Yes. It's a good compromise between doing nothing and implying consent to Chinese actions in Tibet; and a total boycott, which would hurt the athletes more than anyone.
Brooke writes:
President Bush should not boycott the Olympics or the opening ceremonies. The Olympics are a sporting event, not a political rally. Much good will come and can come from the interactions of the gifted athletes chosen to compete in the name of their country.
Chris from Massachusetts writes:
He should either boycott or wear a “Free Tibet” t-shirt. If he just goes though, I bet the Olympic crowd doesn't boo him with the same fervor that the Washington Nationals fans did. Ah, never mind they'll probably BOO him too.
Eugene from California writes:
Jack, it would be hypocritical, for President Bush to boycott the Olympic opening ceremonies held in communist China. Communist Chinese attacks on Tibet are small in comparison to our war in Iraq. Besides, communist China owns us, so Bush couldn't boycott the Olympics, even if he wanted to. They may counter our boycott with a demand that we repay immediately the trillions in loans we owe them.
Dena from Raleigh, North Carolina writes:
Hmmm…with his record on civil rights, i.e. Guantanamo Bay, illegal wire-tapping, and picking a fight in the Middle East just to please daddy, wouldn't his boycott be a little like the pot calling the kettle black? Let the games begin.
Jerry from Fayetteville, Tennessee writes:
Bush should definitely boycott the opening ceremonies – that sends a political message without impacting the athletes.
@jackcafferty on Twitter
By all means, let's tell our atheletes that they cannot participate in one of the most inspiring and proud moments of their lives. Let's tell the American people that our best young people will not be proudly displaying the American flag in front of the world. Let's show everyone that President Bush still matters on the world stage. Let's show the world that we are truely the idiots that everyone thinks we are. The Olympic games are not the place for diplomacy.
Yes. It's a good compromise between doing nothing and implying consent to Chinese actions in Tibet; and a total boycott, which would hurt the athletes more than anyone.
No boycott...We need to be there so we can continue to speak with the leaders in China about better conitions and human rights....If we all sit home who well speak for us and the poor people of China. This is a knee jeck reaction boycotting. What we should do is ask for a summit while we are there and continue to work on human rights issues.
Absolutely ! At this time the olympic torch is a 'FLAME-of-SHAME' in the hands of a autocratic undemocractic host with no regard to human rights. Hey Prez Bush, put your money where your mouth is and walk the tough talk – – or can you ??
No. Boycotting the Olympics is for sissys. If Tibet was a problem why give China the games? If you want to help Tibet do something more meaningful and with teeth.
He should boycott Washington,D.C. instead go to Texas and stay there.The olympics are for the athletes,not has been baseball team owners,who think they are good politicans.
President Bush should not boycott the Olympics or the Opening Ceremony. The Olympics are a sporting event, not a political rally. Much good will does come and can come from the interactions of the gifted athletes chosen to compete in the name of their country.
Come on Jack, this question is moot. Even if everyone in the world thought he should boycott the Olympic opening ceremonies, he wouldn't listen. He would check with Chenney and Chenney would say, "so".
Lori from Battle Creek, MI
Should President Bush reconsider and boycott the opening ceremonies at the Summer Olympics in China?
Moot question, Jack.
George doesn't have the guts to boycott the China Olympics, especially when his rich buddies are getting richer with their Chinese Gov't deals, while our Bush led Gov't continues to mortgage our children and grandchildren's future with Chinese loans.
Absolutely! Of course he won't because he doesn't have the testicular fortitude to stand against anyone who benefist his fat rat friends. The History International channel has a slogan, "What happens over there matters over here." Bush's slogan seems to be, "What happens over there needs st stay over there." I'm glad he won't be representing this country & me for very much longer on the world stage.
President Bush should not do anymore he's already done to much!!
No. We've all seen the disaster when we politicize the Olympics.
Of course China's human rights record is atrocious but the place to have made that statement was with the committee that awarded the games to them in the first place.
The olympics remind us all that we are truly one people on one planet–the good, the bad and the so very ugly.
He wouldn't do that unless his handlers, the neocons, tell him to do it. Hope that Bush does nothing to anger the Chinese. As much money as his administration has borroed from them they could demand Hawaii and Alaska for payment. I still have a flag with 48 stars.
No. But if he goes they should agree to keep him. That would solve all our problems.
Let's see – the question is, should our own illegetimately elected president boycott olympics held by another country, because that country illegally invaded and is occupying another country. As much as I sympathize with the People of Tibet, I can hardly overlook the seeming parallel here. GWB is not the person to protest the invasion of Tibet. Many Americans might not see the irony here, but much of the rest of the world will.
By the way, I am in no way comparing the manner in which our soldiers are comporting themselves in Iraq, to the behavior of the Chinese soldiers in Tibet. But invasions are invasions, and occupations are occupations.
No. He should go and volunteer as Javelin Catcher.
Yes. I have no doubt that the Chinese will read His presence there as an active support of their Bully tactics. His stubbornness and unwillingness to defer to sound judgement has caused us so much pain but he is determined to be impevious to reason. If he won't, who else can send a powerful enough message to the Chinese that human life is worth preserving. I believe that the biggest problem is that after seven and one half years, Bush still does not understand the power of the office he occupies and how he can use his presence to send the right message. He still believes that you dine with your friends and fight your enemies. He needs to be reminded that you can send a very powerful message in very subtle ways and still achieve results.
When have boycotts of sporting events ever been an effective political statement? When has refusals to have constructive dialogue ever been an effective weapon?
Let the kids play!
I think it will send a strong message to China that we don't like their human rights violations, but we really, really like winning at sports. We also like cheap products, and the billions of dollars they are lending us. But showing up to the Opening Ceremonies? Nope, that's where we draw the line!
Yes he should Because we want a free Tibet. China should change alot of it laws and the time is now while the national spotlight is on them and if they don't we the American people will!
As much as I would like to see Tibet gain its freedom, boycotting the Olympics would tarnish one of the very few universal symbols for peace, fairness and understanding. In ancient Greece, parts at war would stop the fighting and compete peacefully against each other at the games, and this has been the Olympic spirit ever since, even though the boycotting that took place at the Moscow and LA editions brought politics into play. I believe in the Olympic spirit and would like to see it being preserved; economic sanctions would seem more appropriate to me, but much more difficult to implement, of course.
Actually, I think Bush should go to China and stay there ....
At this point, no. after the past 7 years, I'd rather believe that the entire administration has a collective psychological defect preventing them from exercising moral judgment. Boycotting the Olympics would demonstrate that all this time they have in fact had the ability to "do the right thing," but have neglected to do so.
How else will bush plead insanity when he is on trial at the Hague?
HOW CAN WE JACK? COUNTRIES IN GLASS HOUSES CAN NOT THROW STONES.
Here’s my question to you: Should President Bush reconsider and boycott the opening ceremonies at the Summer Olympics in China?
Jack,
President Bush can’t boycott the Olympics in China , even he knows not to anger the country holding our countries mortgage.
Mike C.
Wethersfield, CT
After that resounding booing at the Washington Nationals game, Bush's unfavorability at home and abroad may actually benefit China at the opening ceremony as a snarling crowd may focus on Bush and forget about China's human rights problems for the moment.
Isn't it a tad awkward, if not downright dangerous, to socially snub one's creditors?
Hey Jack,
No I think he should go! Make a grand trip out of it!
You know take Chenny,Rummy,Rove,Rice hell even take Scooter.
We can all watch them on TV and have a good laugh!
Ray,Florida
Yes but Bush never reconsiders anything.
Didn't the Americans boycott the 1980 Olympics to protest the Soviet invasion of Afganistan? Then arm the mujadeen against the Soviets?
Bush should stay away, but he selod does th right thing.
Jack, let's place human rights first before sports. I want our country to boycott the Olympics in China, but President Bush does not have the backbone to do this. American Corporate sponsors need to pull out as well. And Americans can do their part by not making purchases with coporations who are sponsors of the Beijing Olympics.
Of course he should. Aside from being a Communist country, they have no regard for human life or liberty. They are lacing the products they sell to us with lead, they spy on, beat and torture their own people and jail them without due process. But then I guess Bush would do the same thing if he could get away with it.
The sad part of this question Jack? Is that it even needs to be ask.
No, Bush absolutely needs to go. It would leave a huge diplomatic scar in Chinese/U.S. relations if he didn't. Bush needs to be working hard at improving relations with China every chance he gets. When the U.S. boycotted Moscow, what good ever came of that? We were deep in the middle of the Cold War then. Not going to China could easily escalate into something far worse. The Sleeping Dragon has awoken and we definitely don't want to make it mad.
Yes, he – and we – should boycott the Olympics. It would make a strong statement and would be a noble thing to do. That said, I imagine we'll be watching Dear Leader (ours, not theirs) live on camera from Beijing.
I personally don't think that our countries leaders have the brass to tell China that they are going to boycott, more likely go to the ceremonies, and ask for another loan to bail out the money lenders who have caused all of the trouble that the housing industry is in .
...He should either boycott or wear a free Tibel T shirt. If he Just goes though I bet the Olympic crowd doesn't boo him with the same fervor
that the Washington Nationals fans did. Ah nevermind they'll probably BOO him too.
Jack;
I'm sure GWB sees nothing wrong in what the Chinese do to their citizens, as long as our multi-national companies and their CEO's are making money, all is well.
In OUR...(excuse me)...his, GWB's country, HE is the DECIDER! HE decides what's best for the U.S.A. Didn't he once make the comment "Quit throwing the Constitution in my face!....it's just a G** D**M piece of PAPER!?"
Chuck OH
Bush should only boycott the olympics in China if he wants to walk-the-walk.. In the past he was very eager to scold China for their policies on human rights....
Or is he just too willing to look the other way while we taxpayers pay for another one of his meaningless vacations..
He should not reconsider. In fact, he should get a jump on everyone else by going now...... and taking Cheney with him.
Both of them can take an extended holiday. They have earned it!!!
If nothing else, maybe they can give the Chinese some pointers on how to grow their economy!!!
Harry
Ky.
YEAH, STAY HOME BUSH. NOBODY WANTS YOU AROUND ANYWAY!
do the world a favor and keep both your faces at home. we bomb countries and kill thousands of people (innocent or not), invade countries and kill more, occupy countries causing more deaths and refugees while condemning others for doing far less. boycott? please DO, the world is sick of your lies anyway.
No. Why penalize athletes that have trained for years to compete just because of Tibet. I mean for Christ's sake, China shipped us poison toys that could have killed our children and we didn't boycott them. I think going to China should be a personal choice. The president can not Ban anyone from going to China like it or not. A whole lot of people in this country don't like president Bush or some of the things he has done either but what good would it do to boycott him. He will still be there tomorrow. Same with China. How about helping to fix the problem in Tibet diplomatically instead of using a sporting event as a venue to vent frustration. It will serve no useful purpose especially with the expense already put into it by sponsors in this country as well as abroad.
P.S. Don't forget who is loaning us the money for the war in Iraq!!
I will be boycotting. That's the same as not watching, right? I will boycott the entire affair.
Yes, I think he should. I don't think you would want to P off the country you're borrowing billions of dollars from to finance the Iraq war. After all the president has us on bad terms with just about the whole world, and China is already upset with us because we sent Taiwan missile parts by mistake. But when he goes he should wear a gas mask to protect his longs.
Yes, Bush should boycott the opening ceremony.
Doubt if he will or if he can due to our debt to them.
However, I do not think our dedictated, hard working people
who have trained for the Olympics should be denied the
opportunity to compete.
The world has known forever what China is, how they
stifle their people, their injustice. My question to you is
why were they ever picked in the first place.
Thanks Jack,
Kathlene
Jack I disagree with your question Bush should not boycott China he should move to China and BOYCOTT AMERICA because we won't miss the idoit when he is gone.
Bush does not have the courage to stand up to China, they own us and him, our country is running on borrowed money from the Chinese.
Joan North Carolina
Jack, it's a waste of tax payers money to send Bush for no more than photo opportunities to China! Bush doesn't care about Tibetans any more than he cares about us! Sad to say!
Hi Jack:
WHO WOULD CARE??
Ron K. San Diego
Yes the president should stay at home. The WORLD hates him !
Jack, here's an idea. Let's boycott Bush and the Beijing Olympics. Both Bush and China have track records of disregard for human rights and believing they are destined to rule, at home and abroad (Iraq/Tibet) by decree. Actually, can we give Bush to China, in exchange for...hmm, anything? Or nothing? 1/20/2009 seems so far away!
Jack
If we did boycott the Olympics what would this accomplish ? The Olympics should not be used to make political statements. What are they doing in the UN except parking illegally on the streets of New York.
Hi Jack,
Of course President Bush should attend the opening ceremonies in China. If he doesn't go, China won't supply Walmart with their merchandise and our economy will collapse BIG TIME.
Boycotting the opening ceremonies won't do anything... The Chinese government already fawns all over itself, why should they need the leaders of other nations to serve as witnesses? If you're going to boycott the Olympics, step up and boycott the whole thing.
No. Who really cares if Bush is there or not? We only care if he comes back. Besides, boycotts tend to hurt only a handful of kids who've spent their lives achieving a dream and made no difference to the country we boycotted.
Ignore Pelosi; she's useless. Please encourage Bush to attend the Olympics. Maybe he can give President Hu Jintao tips on how to manage the Chinese economy. In fact, he should take FEMA with him to help manage any problems China's having. That way Bush can claim he destroyed two nations instead of just ours.
No we should not boycott the opening ceromonies. The Olympics are the last place to press another country for reforms. Even when countries have boycotted the entire games in the past, it never changed the host countries behaviors one bit.
The games are for the world class athletes who spend many years training and sacrificing for their sport and for a chance to compete in the Olympic games, including the opening ceromonies. The athletes should not be punished.
If we want to "punish" China we should stop buying products made in China.
He should, but he want. Anywhere where justice is denied, where poverty is enforced, where ignorance prevails, and where any one class is made to feel that there is an organized conspiracy to oppress, rob, and degrade individuals, neither persons nor property will be safe. We cannot change the culture of China and their inhumane actions against Tibet, and bycotting the Olympics games will only serve to throw the baby out with the wash. It is the world we live in.
I sure as hell don't want Bush representing me anywhere, anytime, at anything, let alone at an Olympics in a nation with a horrible human rights record. But then Bush could give a rat's rear about what anybody but himself thinks so your question is meaningless.
Hah, remember the last time we tried that. We looked like idiots. This isn't a political meeting, it's just a game. Sports and politics do Not mix.
Well since the Dem's will be running things soon...he should probably listen to Pelosi.
Dear Jack,
I'm afraid that George Bush is going to be an embarrassment to the last. Until then we will have to take moral leadership from Germany and France, two great nations that haven't sold their souls to the communist devil.
The Olympics should be boycotted, but Bush is living in a fantasy world and doesn't even know what is going on. He has allowed all the China trash to be imported, so why would he care for the safety of our athletes over there or try to make a statement to China. He is spineless as the dragon they use at their parades.
You bet.
Absolutely he should. But knowing him, he won't. What we should do is let him know how excited we are about the olympics. Then he'll boycott them..............he usually does the opposite of what the American people want!
Jack, do you have any delusion that George W. Bush gives a rip what the public thinks? He will fit right in with the Chinese – no respect for law, no reguard for human rights, illegal imprisonment. Heck, if he decides NOT to go, maybe he can have it beamed over to Guantanimo and he can watch it from there!
What would that accomplish? Do you see China as a sorority girl sobbing into her pillow because President Bush boycotted her party? Wake up and smell the coffee, Jack! China will own the US in 10 years if we don't get smart.
Bush should definitely boycott the opening ceremony – that sends a political message without impacting the athletes.
Jack, It would be hypocritical, for Predident Bush, to boycott the Olympic Opening Ceremonies held, in Communist China. Communist Chinese attacks, on Tibet are small, in comparison, to our war, in Iraq. Besides, Communist China owns us, so Bush couldn't boycott the Olympics, even if he wanted to. They may counter our boycott, with a demand that we repay immediately the $Trillions, in loans we owe them.
How can he do that Jack. The guy needs China to find money to fund his pet project, the Iraq war.
Nuwan from Houston, TX
Let him go and experience the glorious air quality of China in the summer.
Yes, he should boycott. China should leave Tibet to its own people. Leave them in peace.
No, sports has no place in politics. That would be more of the non speaking to countries that we don't agree with. Like the democrats say thats no way to run a country.
Hmmm.. with his record on civil rights, ie. Guantanmo Bay, illegal wire tapping, picking a fight in the Middle East just to please Daddy, wouldn't his boycot be a little like the pot calling the kettle black? Let the games begin.
Why boycott? So the Chineese can get mad at us and foreclose on our national debt. Not me! I pay my bills. I say go! Have a great time Mr. President. Wear your cowboy hat. Why your at it.... If you have time... send me one of those lead encrusted Charlie Brown Souvenir(sp)dolls...or better yet some of that poisioned cat food...I cannt stand my neighbors.
Bush should not go to the Olympics,but he will. Bush sold us out to Beijing long ago and he actually admires the Chinese government because it is a dictatorship. If you remember,early in Bush's presidency he said he wished he was a dictator so he wouldn't have to deal with Congress and then could do whatever he wished to do.I hope the athletes decide to boycott on their own.
For the first time I agree with bush (small b -he lost the right to a captial a long time ago). Sports is, and should remain, a way to bring peoples of different nations together. For the leaders of those nations to be negative about the games defeats the purpose of them. I just wish that we had a leader to represent us that was worthy of the honor.
Boy, um my question to that question is. When has Bush ever done anything right?
And who cares if he goes. Let him go over and spread his democracy and maybe they will sling his butt out of the country. I don't care. They are just games. Why does boycotting the Olympics matter. The American people should be boycotting American games, Football, Baseball and the rest of the games. The owners and players get richer and the average family can't afford to even pay to park much less go inside and watch a game. Rise up Americans and wake up. We are being squeezed.
Jack wasn't it "W" that said to Obama, that a US president meeting with bad leaders is giving validation to that leader? He also said that the office of the president was not to casually give anyone an air of its support. It's not verbatim, but he implied it. So, why then is he going to China for the Olympics to meet with a leader that has so many human rights issues to his credit? This would not be the first time America thought of possibly boycotting an olympics so, why is his going to this one so important? He knows the world is watching his actions. Does he want to add one more blunder to his record when he could avert it?
Boycott! It is a great compromise between making an uneffective symbolic gesture by boycotting the entire games and humiliating the Chinese for their horrendous human rights record.
this question is not going to fill my tank or fix my mortage rate.
I say boycott the government here not the chineses.
my dad is crying his eyes in heaven since he told me to eat all my veggies cause there are starving people in china and they own us now. glad he is not here to see the mess we made of his country!
we took our eyes off the prize and now they can feed themselves and we got people on food stamps.
No, he should go there and stay till they host another olympics, or better yet longer.
Of course he should Jack. The problem is he can't.. he has already hocked the American economy to the Chinese.
I don't think anyone cares what Bush does or says anymore. We need to boycott the Olympics ourselves, turning off the boob tube to get outside and burn some calories of our own. Might as well kill two birds with one stone.
Boise, Idaho
No... he should go. And stay there.
Maybe in can run for Chairman there. Get elected by cheating. Then screw China's economy so America's can get back on track (n' field).
Honestly I dont think we should, in 1980 we boycotted the
Moscow Olympics because they invaded Afghanistan and we had the entire free world on our side and it seemed to make somewhat of a difference as the fall of comunism came not long after that, Now! 28 years later, with most countries from eastern and western europe against us it seems a boycott of these games wont mean anything because other countries may not care!
no, boycotting the games is only punishment on the athletes. if you want to punish china stop big business from building factories and stop importing goods from china. see how many countries in the world would join us in this boycott. the answer is zero. the boycott of the games in the ussr ( russia ) did nothing and we and all the other countries of the world were doing business as usual two weeks later. llook at our boycott of cuba and look at who in the world is doing business in cuba, so are suppose to be our friends;;;;????
He should go. boycott is childish . If thats our solution to a problem, WOW are we in trouble
Who really cares what George Bush does? Ten more months to go – and he is outta there.
Morgantown, West Virginia
Talk about a red herring. Let the Chinese run their own internal affairs just like they let us run ours. We should be worried about Gitmo, the Bush administration using torture, and the unlawful occupation of Iraq, not what the Chinese are doing in Tibet. Until we fix the human rights abuses perpetrated by our own country, we shouldn't worry about the abuses of others.
Absolutely not. This is the Olympics, a traditional sports event that has been going on every leap year for years. Yes a sports event not a political event. Although I would like for the Olympics to relocate to Phoenix, Arizona.
Dan
Goodyear, Arizona
We should all boycott the olympics, for China's undeserving status and for the games loss of amateur standing. Those of us who can't afford to travel can make our point by boycotting WalMart, driving home the point to both China and Bush,
Simply put..NO! What our government needs to do though is talk to the Chineese Government. You can not isolate and walk away from political issues you must sit down and talk regardless of how we view that country. But we should never take our anger and frustration of another country on the people or things such as the Olympics.
Jack
Should he consider it? Yes! Will he consider it? No! In the words of his vice president, "So?" He doesn't care about human rights, he only cares about the flow of the money and he knows he has put us in debt to the Chinese up to our eyeballs and knows he can't irritate them as a result. Besides the people paying his bills would be pissed that it might hurt their efforts to find more cheap labor and sell out Americans even more. Our illustrious leader wouldn't want to stop selling out Americans, he has been doing such a good job of that for 7 1/2 years, why stop now?
The Tibetian spiritual leader wants it to hold, so, why boycott it?
He should, but he won't. Human rights abuses no longer create a blip on the White House radar. They are interested in trade agreements and opening Chinese markets. He may pay it some lip service, but the Corporate President is not interested in offending a potential business partner.
I am a great believer in the Olympics as a power for peace. It represents fair competition in personal human achievement. The original aims of the Olympic movement were to break down national and ethnic barriers and the use of boycott defeats those aims. It would be far more harmful to America than many would suppose for President Bush to change his plans in apparent support of Tibet. His visit to the Games is not a political one and should not be seen as such as long as he goes as a guest of the Olympic Committee. Any issues he may have with the Chinese government must be kept quite separate.
Governments should not decide whether to boycott the opening ceremony. There should be areferendum in every country and let the people decide. I bet there will be a unanimous decision: boycott the opening ceremony!!
Shaking hands with the Chinese officials there should be shameful.
No, the Olympics is necessary, so China will not foreclose on our loans.
No way!!
The President has already issued a statement demostrating his disagreement with their current policy towards Tibet–and has outlined what we as Americans– believe to be an acceptable manner in resolving the conflicts between Tibet and China.
Our athletes have trained too long to represent our nation.
We knew about China's abysmal civil rights record when we granted "most favored" nation–and opened this bucket of worms.
Denying our athletes a chance to compete–because of their recent actions in Tibet seems absurd==when compared to the multitude of other civil rights issues we otherwise ignore every single day.
No, he should go. Keep him out of the country and occupied so he can't start a new war. And take Cheney with him.
Bush should boycott the Olympics but he won't because the dummy borrowed so much money from China. There is just no end to his stupidity.
Bush boycotting the Olympics is about as likely as me paying off my student loans in 5 years. As in, not gonna happen.
Jessica
Lexington, KY
We borrow from them, we buy from them, we take from them, we depend on them..... What is that saying about a beggar not having a choice?
President Bush should do whatever he wants to do. He is a lame duck so it doesn't matter whether he boycotts the Olmpics opening or not. The United States Olympic team is the one needs to decide if they will boycott the games or not. Supposedly, games such as these transcend politics. But then, isn't everything connected to politics now a days?
Bush boycott the China olympics? For what? Tibet? Wouldn't that be like protesting ourselves? I mean.....China is just trying to show Tibet democracy...right? No wait, there's something about a pot calling a kettle.....no, I think it might be do as I say not as I do...no, damn. What was the question again?
Let's go to the Olympics, but boycott their products. We have been supplying tecnology and manufacturing capability to the very country that will become our conquerors if we don't change things now.
Communist China has a criminal government and everyone should boycott anything occurring there. Bush is so deep in their pockets that he couldn't stay away if he wanted to. I am astounded that a country which is against any form of freedom is hosting the games which began in the birthplace of democracy. It makes no sense at all!
Based upon President Bush's recent reasoning and logic for boycotting all things Cuban, he should definitely skip the Olympic Ceremonies in China.
YES! Pictures of him will be used totally for propaganda purposes that we certainly don't need right now!
Jack, everyone should and "Bush" doesn't have the *&%$ to boycott.
Asking President Bush not to attend the Olympics is like asking VP Cheney to stop hunting. It will never happen as this President has no back bone. China is too deep in his back pocket to decline.
Best answer is from Jim Galvin.
At this point, does it really matter what Bush does? Unfortunately, he has no street cred!
I do not believe that we should boycott the Olympics. They represent all the countries and not just the country that host the Olympics. Our being there discussing our concerns with the people would be more effective.
Why should Bush start doing the right thing now. It would be approriate that he attend.
Colleen Brooks
Charlotte, NC
ABSOLUTELTY NOT – we must not cut off dialogue with the Chinese or we will never be able to convince them of the brutality of their current regeime.
Rather, we should all go with our cameras, recorders, interpreters and swamp the country, talking to everyone and anyone and expose the Chinese atrocious situation as much as possible.
Brenda
Suggesting Pres Bush boycott the Olympics would be erecting a statue to hypocrisy. He would be boycotting at least half of any products sold in the USA. He can't do that, he has given US corporatons tax breaks and credits for shipping jobs over there.
Of course he should. Let him go. He is of no use to us anyway. Maybe there will be a new category for the reading of My Pet Goat. I"m sure he will not bring home any medals for that either.
George Bush should not boycott the olympics. Any excuse to get him out of the country is fine with me. Maybe he'll like China so much he won't come back. Maybe the Chinese will hold him hostage for US debt payments. I'd like to see the Los Vegas odds on his return if that happened!
Hey Jack,
I would be more concerned that the rest of the world will boycott us because of Bush.
No Jack we should not
The games are about the athletes not about politics so the US Athletes should go but Bush should go and stay at gitmo that is where he belongs
I wish he would boycott the White House and never show up again.
Boycott the opening ceremonies? Are you kidding? That would mean he is boycotting “Big Business” Thats just not going to happen!
NO, nobody cares about Bush and I don't think anyone views him as a poster child for human rights.
NO BOYCOTT! How about making Bush a javelin and Cheney the target. As gas prices peaks $5 a gallon this summer we could really look forward to this event huh!
No,
Using to Olymipic as a tool to change Public policy is just wrong.
There are for more effective ways of dealing with China abuse of Human right and other offenses.
1. Suspend trade.
2. File grivience with the US.
3. Envoke trade right infringements laws
4. Refuse to broadcast the olympics
5. Suspend travel to China.
Make the foreign affair and their marry band of freeloaders do there job and stop punishing the olympics particpants.
The President is his own person he can do anything he wants to do. This is not new people remember 9/11? I would not represent the US at the olympics, but I am a regular Joe who pays $3.29 at the pump. Shame on China! Joe-Tennessee
George Bush to boycott the Beijing Olympics? it is like telling Raul to abandon Fidel,Satan to vote against adultery,Chavez to go against Manmoud,and you Jack to Leave your spot.
Alfred
YES! China lusted for the Olympics for political reasons. They want to be seen by the world as arriving on the world stage. We are naive if we think this is not a world politcal event for China, therefore Bush should stay home. If Bush really believes that freedom is a value than he should stand up for it in every aspect of global affairs, including sports.
President Bush cannot boycott the olympics in China. He owes them too much money.
If GW was a man of integrity and cared about human decency he would boycott; however, he'll go with his signature smirk on his face. And why do the Europeans always seem to do the right thing before we even consider it? We used to be the pioneers on the frontline doing the right thing; what happened?
The president should boycott himself and his own administration's policies. People in glass houses should not throw stones. He is hardly in a position to condemn the Chinese when his own military has done similar things in Iraq and Afghanistan. Leave politics out of the Olympics. Let the athletes with the better performance enhancing drugs take the stage during the games.
Yes, Bush should boycott the opening ceremony,
But I can see why he won’t.
Bush loves China and all the money he’s making from them.
He is doing the same with the oil. I just want to know what we can do to charge
Bush for crimes on this country.
I think he should be forced to make minimum wage and live on it for a year,
With no help from anyone. This would make him understand, what poverty really is.
Jack,
Of course he should, but he won't. To boycott the country where the majority of our imports are made and most of our debt is to might make the poor guy look bad in the eyes of the Chinese leadership. But heaven forbid he would make a move that shows he's got character. It's all about keeping good relations with the country that keeps us afloat.
Meredith,
Florida
Yes, America should boycott the 2008 olympics altogether. If we go then we are only endorsing their totalitarian brand government and all the crimes against humanity it comes with.
Every ethical world leader SHOULD boycot the opening ceremonies as a minimum. But a leader who justifies torture, I mean "enhanced interrogation", would probably not be impressive and or even have the ethics to boycot.
The Olympic Committee created this situation by giving the Games to China in the first place, knowing their human rights stand. Everyone of integrity, including the athletes, should boycott the event and let the committee know the Games should not be held in places that are in direct opposition to the spirit of the Olympics.
Sure. Maybe the international community should ban the US team for also invading and occupying another country. Doesn't anyone see the irony?
When the U.S. led a boycott on the 1980 Olympics, China joined us because they stood more to gain as a friend of the U.S. than a friend of the U.S.S.R. Now China has the upper hand over the U.S., and we're the ones trotting submissively along. There will be no boycott from the U.S.
I think the President George W. Bush should boycott the Olympics all together. The way China has been acting in Tibet is unacceptable. If George Bush attends the Olympics he is supporting the actions of the Chinese Government.
The Olympics is about sport and should be allowed to rise above international political differences. When Jimmy Carter boycotted the Olympics the only people that suffered were the athletes – those that were not allowed to compete and those that were disallowed a higher level of competition because of the boycott. I remember when the Chinese came to our Olympics. Lets give them the same consideration that they gave us. Tell Nancy Pelosi and her group that there are a lot more important things to be done here in our country than interupting international sport.
This is a sacred tradition enjoyed by everyone and free competitors all over the world, the next thing we need is to darken it with the filth of politics. The Olympics symbolizes the respect and commitment of different countries, leave it alone. We as Americans should fix our own problems before telling other countries on what's right and wrong. Doubt that GW will do anything rash to jeopardize the top elite and their investments in China.
Jack did you notice Peter Ueberroth, the President of the US Olympic Committee and savior of the Modern Games in 1984, weighed in with intelligent words on this subject and I quote.
“Boycotts do one thing very well and only one thing: they punish athletes.”
Mr. Ueberroth went on to say that the Peoples Republic of China followed President Carters Boycotting the Moscow 1980 and then came to Los Angeles 1984 . Mr Uberroth is very grateful to the Chinese as they premiered in the 1984 despite the presence of Taiwan and a retaliation by the Communist Countries at the time.
Britain is not going to Boycott as the new IOC rules take a boycotting country out of the next games. London 2012 would be without the home team or anyone who makes the boycott stand. The IOC has sent up a great poison pill for boycotts
Paul Taylor , New Glasgow, Nova Scotia, Canada
Yes Jack! We should let George Bush go to the Olympics in China, but only if he signs an agreement stating he will stay in China... in fact I'll pay for his flight!
No. let China have it's day in the sun. After our invasion of Iraq and the damage , horror and torture we we have inflicted on the population of Iraq we are in no position to tell other countrys how they should act.
In all honesty, it doesn't matter what America wishes to be done about the boycott of the games. The Bush Administration doesn't do what the American People want anyway. Why should he change now! Maybe while he is over there he can successfully negotiate and sell off more America jobs too!
President Bush shouldn't go to the olympic opening ceremonies.
I agree with President Bush and I hope he does not change his mind – he should go to the Olympics. His presence there will be in support of US athletes. Since he can't attend every event, the opening ceremonies is the place to be. As our president, he will represent those of us who will not be able to make the trip to China to show our support for our athletes.
Obviously, there are many pressing and serious issues to discuss and resolve with China but boycotting the Olympics is not the way to make them more receptive.
How can America say anything about human rights when we are the biggest abusers with our secret CIA and Gitmo torture prisons.
Jack,
America should totally boycott the Olympic Games in China, especially since President Bush says he'll be there for the opening ceremonies. I hope he's as alone there as he is here.
Jack.
Thanks so much for asking this Questions.
China made human rights promises in order to obtain the 2008 Olympic Games. These promises have not been kept and as a matter of fact things have gotten worse.
Both the Tibetan people and the Chinese people have the freedom to: -Speak their minds when they want and have peaceful protests
-Have labor laws that protect them
-Be able to have free and open trials that are not government run
– Go on-line and pull up anything they want with out censorship by the government
-Practice the religion of their choice
And last be not least elect their own leaders
The communist Government of China in no way display behavior conducive to a country awarded the Olympic Games.
The “Peoples Games, that yesterday morning “The People” were not able to attend when they lit the torch in Tiananmen due to the complete closed off and sealed square. How friendly is that? And those are THEIR PEOPLE!
Just think what they have planed for the rest of us when we travel to Beijing in August!
I think a boycott is in order.
ONE WORLD ONE DREAM FREEDOM FOR ALL PEOPLE!
Thanks Diane
YES he should go Jack, otherwise china may recind the USA letter of credit
Not only should the opening of the Olympics be boycotted, but also, the entire games. The so polluted air in Beijing should be taken into consideration, as well. It could be very damaging for the athletes health.
That is a very important concern.
Pelosi is worried about our moral standing?Too late,we lost it with our brutal invasion and occupation of Iraq,she lost it when she refused to put impeachment on the table.Not even Bush is stupid enough to not see that,although I may be giving him too much credit
Previously, I stated not to boycott the Olympics as it would be totally unfair to the hardworking, dedicated athletes and I stand by that comment.......however, I recently saw on t.v. many homes were being torn down to make room for buildings for the Olympics. I saw an old man, disabled and in a wheelchair with tears running down his cheeks as he sobbed openly. He had a blanket on him and it appeared that everything they owned from their home was piled on top. His wife was standing at his side in tears as well......they had no place to go and were left homeless and that government doesn't even care.
I was crushed at the sight and wished there was something I could do to help all those Chinese citizens having their homes torn down for a 2 week event. If I thought boycotting the Olympics would stop such horrible acts I would say....... BOYCOTT....but, I know that would not change a thing. The Chinese will continue to build for whomever will attend.
Patricia/NH
I would hope he won't as this disagreement between China and Tibet over the its autonomy is very much like Goliath and David without a slingshot. He'll probably go after all, if only because the likelihood of being booed and jeered or burned in effigy is pretty remote.
Why is it that whats happening in China, would not be the same as it happenning here? If it happened here it would be considered a riot. Tibet is just an area of China, something like a state. All you see is looting. Thats a crime, and the criminals should be apprehended. They are apart of China and have to obey the laws. We put rioters in jail. Lets not make it our mess. We should be working on our relationship with countries like China. A good relationship is a heck of alot better than a bad one.
Do we really want to offend the folks who hold our mortgage?
Bush should boycott himself. The Chinese have killed what 150 Tibetans...Bush and those who have funded his misadventure are responsible for the death of some 60,000 in Iraq.
Here's my analogy......
Let's say you know your neighbor beats their child. Boycotting the opening ceremonies is like not RSVPing your neighbors invite but showing up for the barbecue any way, putting an arm around that same neighbor, sharing a smile and a soda and ignoring the child crying behind a closed door.
Instead, let us learn from the inscrutable Chinese: they started a crackdown on Tibet five months in advance of the Olympics opening day so that we would forget about the brutality when the Olympic torch is lit. They know our news attention span limit is only five months at the outside. What if we learn to concentrate our power and financial strength, eliminate Chinese imports for the next five months and then go to the Olympics pretending it didn’t happen?