Opinion Talk

By tom

April 8, 2008 8:00 AM | Link to this

In this case Sen. Clinton is correct and Sen. Obama is wrong. We should not condone the actions of the Chinese government. Their history of human rights abuses is well known and documented.

By Road Scholar

April 8, 2008 8:00 AM | Link to this

Yes, he should at least boycott the openning ceremony, but he will probably attend since he is on his “victory” tour!

By jess

April 8, 2008 8:11 AM | Link to this

YES!! Ande after he goes to Beijing, he should continue on to Hanoi, then Sydney, then Antarctica and remain there. He’s totally useless here.

By Red

April 8, 2008 8:17 AM | Link to this

No, he should not, but, given his record for foreign policy blunders, he probably doesn’t understand or even know the reasons why he shouldn’t be there.

By ron

April 8, 2008 8:20 AM | Link to this

Not only should Bush boycott the opening,the U.S. needs to boycott the entire farce.Not only because of Tibet either.

By Stewart

April 8, 2008 8:21 AM | Link to this

Hillary has known like you and I that China would be hosting the olympics. It is simply a political ploy.

By Red

April 8, 2008 8:22 AM | Link to this

Sonny, would be there with bells on because he’s working on his business deals with the Chinese. I can’t wait to see what kind of personal deals, “Mr. Ethics” has made.

By joyce

April 8, 2008 8:35 AM | Link to this

A snub to an Asian is considered a personal insult and could cause severe diplomatic repercussions later. The president boycotting won’t allievate the Tibet situation, but add fuel to the fire. Diplomatic discussions between America, European nations and China will come closer to assisting in obtaining Tibets self rule. Let the olympics stay clear of politics so these athletes can compete free of stress. The Tibetian situation should have been of world-wide concern when it first occured.

By John Tackett

April 8, 2008 8:36 AM | Link to this

The Olympics should be about the athletes, not the world political situation.

By tanya fry

April 8, 2008 8:38 AM | Link to this

Funny how the government dosen,t support our Olympic athletes but we use them for pawns on the political front. Yes the Olympics have always been political but it isn’t fair to force the inability of governments on athletes who are not being supported by their government.

By scarey

April 8, 2008 8:51 AM | Link to this

Bush boycotting the Olympics would be like me boycotting the bank that has the mortgage on my home. They are funding his war and tax stimulus package.

By JackLeg

April 8, 2008 9:00 AM | Link to this

Bush should not go; we should stop buying massive amounts of cheap products from China. We are propagating slave labor in China. We get inferior products, and drugs from them, but we will continue to do business with them because our public demands cheap products. How short sighted and arrogant we are!

By GaConservative

April 8, 2008 9:09 AM | Link to this

We can’t boycott the Olympics. Because of the policies of the Clinton Administration, China owns us. They can and would destroy our economy in retribution merely by dumping all U.S. currency and restricting trade.

When you vote Democrat, you vote against your own self interest.

By Mel

April 8, 2008 9:11 AM | Link to this

Any type of boycott or political action does nothing to help a situation and only punishes the athletes (see 1980). If people had issues—which they rightly should—there should have been intense lobbying of the IOC BEFORE China was selected to host. This was not a surprise decision.

By tony

April 8, 2008 9:20 AM | Link to this

WHY NOT?! HE HAS DONE WHAT THE F* HE HAS WANTED TO DO FOR 7 YEARS…GOING TO WAR TO AVENGE HIS DAD ISSUES, GIVING “NO BID” CONTRACTS TO DICK’S COMPANY…I CAN GO ON BUT WHY SHOULD I…EVERYONE KNOWS AND HAS DONE NOTHING ABOUT IT…SO WHY MAKE A BIG DEAL ABOUT THE OLYMPICS WHEN WE HAVE ALLOWED HIM TO BE THE REASON BEHIND OVER 4000 SOLDIERS AND 100000+ IRAQ MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN KILLED…HE IS A MURDER AND WILL SEE IS HORRIBLE DEEDS IN HIS HORRIBLE DEATH…THE BIBLE SAYS YOU DIE AS YOU HAVE LIVED!!

By james Green

April 8, 2008 9:28 AM | Link to this

You can’t Fix Stupid. And George W. is stupid as they come.

By LilZ

April 8, 2008 9:29 AM | Link to this

The president should absolutely boycott the opening ceremonies of the Olympics. Admittedly, a lot of us are a little late to the dance because we really should have been protesting before China was awarded the Olympics. However, I say better late than never.

Boycotting the opening ceremonies is different from boycotting the Games themselves. The opening is more about the host country, while the Games are about the athletes and the spirit of international competition.

Boycott the opening ceremonies! Boycott China!! Free Tibet!!!

By Greg

April 8, 2008 9:40 AM | Link to this

Tony, Caps lock, lay off the caffeine, and take a chill pill. You went so far off topic and went left wing nut-job that you posted it 3 times w/o knowing it. Luckily most people who are inline w/ you act equally rational, and prove that the left and right are equally flawwed.

The question remains, should Bush go? No way. The olympics are about athletes who may have worked their whole life to attend, and attempt to show their best. When politics get involved, and people start backing out, it ruins the whole point of the games. To all come together in a controlled environment for competition. Bush being there (since he is not an athlete or trainer) will only create turmoil. There can be no good from him going. BTW, Beijing 08 BMX Supercross will be thrilling to watch. America, these guys we are sending to represent us in the event are amazing.

By Bob

April 8, 2008 9:42 AM | Link to this

Tony, you ignorant wimp. You obviously no not of which you speak. You are probably some young guy of the ‘me’ generation who could care less about working with your government and serving your country. My guess is that you have never been in the Military and apparently don’t know a lot about the Bible. Sounds like you are just shooting off the top of your head which appears to be mostly empty. I suppose you have never heard of Hitler either.

By GaConservative

April 8, 2008 9:49 AM | Link to this

If you really want to see what is sooooo funny about Mrs. C pushing this, check out this article - [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1996UnitedStatescampaignfinance_controversy]

I love the pictures of Hill and Bill with Johnny Chung and the really cozy picture of Bill with John Wang and James Riady. Not that there is anything wrong with our President hanging out with Chinese government agents trying to influence the electoral process but dumping cash into the DNC.

When you vote Democrat, you vote against your own self interest.

By GaConservative

April 8, 2008 9:53 AM | Link to this

Greg and Bob,

Tony can’t respond to you immediately because he is mopping up the puddle under his chair.

When you vote Democrat, you vote against your own self interest.

By Kiki

April 8, 2008 9:55 AM | Link to this

Seems to me if American politicians have such a problem with China’s human rights abuses, perhaps they should hit China where it really hurts and stop doing business with the country. Oh wait, that would mean no more cheap Chinese labor and cheap Chinese goods that Americans have no problems buying in abundance. The people saying we should boycott these Olympics are all a bunch of hyprocrites. The games are supposed to be about the athletes, not political ploys.

By The Truth

April 8, 2008 10:14 AM | Link to this

China is a bigger threat to the world than Radical Islam. Hillary and her husband are responsible for China gaining access to our technology. I’m a bit surprised that Hillary is saying this when her biggest campaign contributer is Norman Hsu from China. He’s now in federal prison. America should not participate in the Olympics nor should we have anything to do with China. We’re selling our country to them everyday.

By GaConservative

April 8, 2008 10:22 AM | Link to this

Google this -

“1996 campaign finance scandal”

The first hit will tell you everything you need to know about why radical leftists like Hill and Obamarama should be sent packing. They are all the same.

When you vote Democrat, you vote against your own self interest.

By davey

April 8, 2008 10:26 AM | Link to this

If Sonny Perdue weren’t concerned with human rights when he went courting to China, why should Bush.

By BetterIdea

April 8, 2008 10:41 AM | Link to this

He should go to the front lines in Iraq and fight alongside the soldiers (and keep a video blog)

By howard chapman

April 8, 2008 10:53 AM | Link to this

george bush should attend the chinese olympic games and stay there in china PLEASE, hes helped destroy to much of this country, please leave

By GaLiberal

April 8, 2008 10:55 AM | Link to this

While Bush is a complete embarrassment to this country, he should attend the opening ceremonies. He is the “elected” head of state and the US needs to be represented at the Olympics. While some what to politicize this event, it is in fact non-political. I do not believe his absence is going to do a lot to push China in a different direction. Besides, it will be a good opportunity for Bush to learn some new way to abuse and torture people and educate Chinese politicians in the art of lying while making it appear to be the truth. He’s so good at that. Maybe he can even export the Rethuglicon method of political intimidation and lies. It continues to work well in the US so why not try a larger market like China or even Russia.

When you vote Rethuglicon, you vote against your own best interests. And having Bush represent the US at the Olympics is living proof.

By John Q. Public

April 8, 2008 11:05 AM | Link to this

OMG!!! We’re writing these blogs…to who?? The Idiot in the White House does not care what any of us “citizens” think. He does not understand human rights, just look at how he lead Texas and look at us now, in Iraq, in financial trouble, in complete disarray. Can we at least move to let him leave now?? I’m sure the country can make it without him, we sure as hell won’t make it with him. Stay your dumb behind home Bush, show some class.

By Concerned Citizen

April 8, 2008 11:16 AM | Link to this

Of course he should. Haven’t we learned anything from meddling in another country’s affairs? We don’t run the world, let’s mind our own business once in a while.

By The Truth

April 8, 2008 11:17 AM | Link to this

John Q. Public, Did you graduate from a Clayton County school? Please go and take some remedial English classes.

By james

April 8, 2008 11:21 AM | Link to this

Bush needs not to go anywhere anymore. He has already messed up enough overseas relationships. He is an embarrassment to this country. And should not be alllowed to make a fool out of himself anymore.

What he needs to do is to keep his butt right here in the USA and address the serious economy issues in THIS country, and not go off somewhere else to “mix and mingle”

This country is on its way to hell in a hatbox.

By Blind Homer

April 8, 2008 11:25 AM | Link to this

Considering G’tmo and Abu Ghraib he has about the same human rights record as they do.

By CommonSenseRules

April 8, 2008 11:31 AM | Link to this

I don’t care where George Bush goes. Wherever it is, his presence diminishes the stature and status of this country. The only place that I care about his going is out of 1600 Pennsylvania Ave, Washington, D.C. in January 2009. Not a moment too soon! Even then, he gets to be on the public dole (your taxes pay for Secret Service and pension, you know)for the next 30-odd years.

By james

April 8, 2008 11:33 AM | Link to this

Bush should not be going anywhere anymore. This county is going to HE-LL in a hatbox. He needs to keep his butt right here in this country, and deal with the serious economic issues that this contry is facing.

He is an embarrassment as this country’s President, and has messed up enough overseas relationships, that will effect this country for the next 50 plus years.

He needs to deal with the issues of THIS country, and the plight of the people HERE. Not going somewhere else, to “party, mix and mingle”. This country is in a crisis. This is no time to party.

By guy

April 8, 2008 11:47 AM | Link to this

All of this bickering back and forth is disgusting.It will not change no matter who is President and Iraq doesn’t help either. When a nation begins to lose it’s morals and principles the end is approaching quickly.That’s where we are and we haven’t seen anything yet. The higher power in Heaven will show us just how stupid and greedy we are. We asked for it!!!

By GaConservative

April 8, 2008 11:59 AM | Link to this

Hey CommonSenceRules,

You don’t like Bush getting Secret Service protection but you seem to mind giving Democrat politicians tax payer provided lackeys to score them prostitutes. How do you think Hill keeps her hubby from running his mouth. The only ones embarrassing this country are the scumbag Democrats that thinks it’s a badge of honor to pick up hookers and sell out their own country to the Chinese Government for campaign cash. Business as usual for the Democrat party.

When you vote Democrat, you vote against your own self interest. Unless you like spending taxpayer money picking up hookers!

By Charles

April 8, 2008 12:06 PM | Link to this

Why not send Bill Clinton instead? He’s made so many friends from there (selling military secrets and supplies, taking donations, etc.) he’d be welcomed with open arms! It’s like he’s one of their own (a Communist at heart). Besides, I’m sure he has getting some Chinese is on his ‘bucket list’ (and I’m not talking about food).

By Consul General, People's Republic of China

April 8, 2008 12:12 PM | Link to this

The Chinese People receive with great sadness the illegal news of unhappiness in other nations with policy of Chinese government. The Olympic Games have no logical connection to illegal Buddhists in lands belonging to China, or to illegal Christians made fortunate wards of the People’s Republic, or to illegal democrats in illegal Taiwan, or to ungrateful graduate students who return from foreign lands with illegal ideas, or to improper conduct in far distant Darfur or Iran.

It is to be hoped that the happy citizens of the once Olympic city Atlanta will follow in footsteps of Governor Sonny Perdue and come to glorious Olympic City Beijing for celebration of friendship and peace. For there the Olympic flame once brought here will be carried in honor through the now clean Tiananmen Square to light a real torch, and not artificial one made by criminal influence ruinous of harmony.

Please be sensible and come be our welcome guests with your President who knows on which side of the won-ton lies his father’s butter!

By Glenn

April 8, 2008 12:23 PM | Link to this

Anyone who attends the Games or their opening while serving in an official federal capacity on behalf of the American People is, as far as I am concerned, tantamount to a traitor. And that includes President Bush, whom I’ve supported through thick and thicker, but whom I simply never will forgive if he bends over for those murderous totalitarians the way his father does for a living.

By Jeff

April 8, 2008 12:42 PM | Link to this

He should NOT go. The Olympics are not important enough. The Chinese government is even less important. I hope that someday soon the billion Chinese peoples rise up and take their country over and end their dictatorial murderous nightmare. Better yet, let’s keep the entire Olympic team home as well. Every free nation should.

By GaConservative

April 8, 2008 12:47 PM | Link to this

Johnny Chung made forty-nine separate visits to the White House between February 1994 and February 1996. During one of the Commerce Department trade missions to China, Chung became friends with former Chinese Lt. Col. Liu Chaoying, an employee of China Aerospace Holdings (China’s main satellite company) and daughter of former Chinese General Liu Huaqing. Between 1994 and 1996, Chung donated $366,000 U.S. dollars to the DNC. Eventually, all of the money was returned. Chung told U.S. government investigators that $35,000 of the money he donated came from Liu Chaoying and China’s military. Specifically, Chung told a U.S. House of Representatives Committee in May 1999 that he was introduced to Chinese Gen. Ji Shengde, then the head of Chinese military intelligence, by Liu Chaoying. Chung said that Ji told him: “We like your president very much. We would like to see him reelect (sic). I will give you 300,000 U.S. dollars. You can give it to the president and the Democrat Party.” Both Liu and the Chinese government denied the claims. Chung was eventually convicted by a U.S. court for bank fraud, not paying his taxes, and violating election law.

Democrats….it’s what’s for dinner.

By James

April 8, 2008 12:52 PM | Link to this

Nazi Germany hosted the 1936 Olympics and Communist China is hosting 2008. President Roosevelt did not attend in 1936 and President Bush shouldn’t attend this one.

By Kiki

April 8, 2008 12:54 PM | Link to this

I have a question for all of you people advocating a boycott of the opening ceremonies: Are you going to go home and throw out everything in your possession that was made in China? Are you going to make a conscious effort not to buy any goods or products imported from China? If not, then you are hypocrites. Put your money where you mouth is. If you are soooooo concerned with China’s history of human rights abuses, then quit buying their cheap, sh*tty goods manufactured in sweat shops!

By DB

April 8, 2008 12:56 PM | Link to this

Why on earth would the President of the United States go ANYWHERE for the opening of the Olympic games, unless they happened to be in the U.S.? (And even then, security concerns would tend to negate that.)

They’re JUST GAMES, folks. Yes, they’ve taken on political overtones, but they do not warrant a personal visit.

Stay home, George!

By Jen

April 8, 2008 1:02 PM | Link to this

Quite frankly, Bush doesn’t have much of a choice. He has to go. It wouldn’t be a very good idea to tick off a contry that provides you with cheap goods, and that you owe billions of dollars to on top of that.

And for those saying Bush shouldn’t go becuase of China’s horrible record with, well, pretty much everything, remember that when you get that stimulus check in the mail. I don’t see anyone b*** about where that money is coming from.

By GaConservative

April 8, 2008 1:04 PM | Link to this

Kiki’s right. Christmas at my house took a little more work last year because we made a conscious effort to avoid anything made in China. Legos rock.

By CJ

April 8, 2008 1:09 PM | Link to this

He should attend only if he promises to stay over there and never come back to America!

Hillary is correct again! Obama is an elitist who is too afraid to offend anyone and therefore has no backbone. I hope that jellyfish loses, Hillary wins, and restores America to its former prestigious stature in the world.

By Netta

April 8, 2008 1:18 PM | Link to this

Of course Bush should go to China, along with Bush senior and the whole family…and never return.

By GaConservative

April 8, 2008 1:39 PM | Link to this

“I hope that jellyfish loses, Hillary wins, and restores America to its former prestigious stature in the world.”

What stature is that? The one with the intern in the oval office or the one where the vice president keeps leaving the meeting because he had too much iced tea? Or how about the one where the first lady has subpoenaed files that she can’t find but that show up in her personal quarters with her finger prints on them? Or maybe it’s the stature attained by incinerating cult members and their screaming children. Or how about selling America’s strategic oil reserves to Occidental Petrolium even though your family are shareholders. Yeah! Let’s send Bush to China! He can sit with all his Democrat friends who were bought and payed for long ago by the Chinese and many other enemies of this country. Democrat clowns. This is too much fun.

When you vote Democrat, you vote against your own self interest. Unless you are a duplicitous self loathing hypocrite…

By Glenn

April 8, 2008 1:49 PM | Link to this

I haven’t bought Chinese goods since Tiananmen (which to me is not “history”), and regret not having boycotted China earlier. I do mistakenly buy Chinese-made products on occasion. Recently, for example, I was appalled to discover that a Greek New Testament I’d bought was made by Zondervan in China. I returned it the next day, have lodged a formal complaint against that venerable American publisher of Bibles, and have begun a boycott of Zondervan in U.S. seminaries.

Any good website on Tibetan oppression will provide links to sites designed specifically to help those avoiding Chinese goods. There’s even a fun new memoir entitled A Year Without “Made in China”: One Family’s True-Life Adventure in the Global Economy. http://www.amazon.com/Year-Without-Made-China-Adventure/dp/0470116137/ref=pdbbssr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1207676744&sr=1-1

By LilZ

April 8, 2008 2:24 PM | Link to this

I agree with Kiki! The real way to hurt China is to boycott their goods and services. It will take some extra work and effort on your part but it’s worth it.

Free Tibet!!

By doorknob

April 8, 2008 2:24 PM | Link to this

What choice does he have? China owns about one trillion dollars of our debt.

By Mike

April 8, 2008 2:26 PM | Link to this

He should not attend, and I would ask our athletes to skip the opening ceremony too. Until China grants civil and human rights to its citizens and agrees to play by the rules of the civilized democracies, they should be treated liked the thugs they are.

By Rupert

April 8, 2008 2:33 PM | Link to this

What differnce does it make? China is going to do whatever they want to do, and the rest of the world be damned. Don’t forget, China is that big sleeping bear you don’t want to wake up.

By ebeth

April 8, 2008 2:44 PM | Link to this

He absolutely should be boycotting the opening ceremonies, infact I feel that we should have boycotted the games itself. China has proven time and time again that they have no interest in human rights.
I personally try very hard not to buy products made in China. It is not easy, but I do make a conscious effort.

By dino

April 8, 2008 2:47 PM | Link to this

should your dumbass put president in front of his name he has been president for 8 years what kind of writer are you oh i am sorry i forgot your an ajc writer what was i thinking

By dino

April 8, 2008 2:51 PM | Link to this

zup u boyz dont like my views ajc?

By catlady

April 8, 2008 3:14 PM | Link to this

Lord, no, he should not go. If he does and something happens to him, we are stuck with Cheney.

By Jonny

April 8, 2008 3:18 PM | Link to this

Wait a minute here: We have the Olympics with their spirit of nations setting differences aside and coming together every 4 years to battle it out in athletics. Contrast that with the day to day trade agreements, most favored nation status, China threatening to ruin our dollar (they have us by the short ones now… thanks Nixon!) China products flooding our markets, toy recalls, food recalls… and it’s all going to be solved with Bush boycotting the opening ceremony?

Give me a break. A boycott is mere window dressing employed by these politicians that haven’t the guts to face the real issue of China emerging as a threat.

By WakeUpAmerica!

April 8, 2008 3:43 PM | Link to this

“Skull&Bones” Bush is a Globalist pawn, and Red China is a proven enemy of our Constitutional Republic who undermines us at every turn. We should boycott the entire Olympics, but the Red Chinese hold billions of (fiat, de-valued) U.S. dollars, they could sink us financially. The traitors on “Crapitol sHill” have totally sold out the American people to advance the Globalist Elite agenda. We Americans need to do our homework & understand that Red China is no friend of ours!

http://www.northernvoicebookstore.com/viewproduct.asp?ID={70501DAC-5DA7-4167-9C19-F950A1E26AD3}

By Kiljoy

April 8, 2008 3:43 PM | Link to this

Yes, Bush should go. He would be in good company with brutal Chinese dictators.

By Just another thought

April 8, 2008 4:13 PM | Link to this

It is difficult to know how best to assist Tibet. That certainly should be part of the concern here. But there has long been suppression of the Chinese people as well.

Would we do more good by peacefully particiating in the Olympics or do more harm?

The fact is, I’m divided on all points concering China. If we stop buying their goods, we bring more poverty to the Chinese people. If we boycott the Olympics, we loose an opportunity to visit and potentially influence future decisions. But it is a great time to bring focus on some serious issues.

Of course, as a peaceful nation as us, who would never invade another country to impress upon the native people our ideals, maybe we should stay out of it altogether.

By Thinking

April 8, 2008 4:16 PM | Link to this

Yes… He should go and stay

By GA PEACH

April 8, 2008 5:00 PM | Link to this

We condone what China does when we buy products that they manufacture and ship over here. Don’t just boycott the Olympics. Boycott China altogether.

By LiberalLoser

April 8, 2008 5:05 PM | Link to this

I am a mindless partisan who can’t resist any opportunity to attack Bush. Bush bad. Me good.