Let's talk about replacing GWBush in 2004.

Logic suggests the someone seeking African-American votes at a coming Presidential election could do worse than visit Africa and issue warm words likely to appeal to those back home.

It is to be hoped that no one is fooled!

words withouts deeds are duly noted (I hope)

Judy Woodruff (don't forget, she was a star of PBS's Newshour) oughta know better as "senior correspondent" for CNN. Look at this reporting. Except it's not reporting, it's editorializing (my italics):

Fleischer maintains that the president's overall contention that Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction has not been undermined. "I see nothing that goes broader that would indicate that there was no basis for the president's broader statement," he said.

The White House also got support from Republican Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania, who said, "The administration I think has been very forthright...I think they had the best information that they thought was reliable at the time the president said it."

But the Democratic piling-on has just begun.

Democratic National Committee Chairman Terry McAuliffe thundered, "This may be the first time in recent history that a president knowingly misled the American people during the State of the Union...It was not a mistake. It was no oversight and it was no error."

And Democratic presidential contenders released a series of smirking statements:

Congressman Richard Gephardt of Missouri declared that Bush needs to rein in his rhetoric. "This president has a pattern of using excessive language in his speeches and off-the-cuff remarks. This continued recklessness represents a failure of presidential leadership," he said.

Sen. Bob Graham of Florida, a relentless critic of the administration's intelligence operation, says the whole thing begs one question: "Mr. President, what else don't we know?"

Judy Woodruff sold out to the GOP decades ago. Too cheaply. Cheaper than a $2 crack whore, in fact.

I can't believe this woman, married to Al Hunt, endured an drunken tirade from Dubya in a DC restaurant when his Poppy was President. Remember that?

She covers for the Republicans at every turn. She needs to go work at Fox.

When a president uses bad intelligence and stretches the truth to justify a preemptive attack on another country, it goes beyond criminal acts against humanity and ethics. Why do so many in this country continue to support this president? Do they not understand the consequences of such action? c.i.

Unconscionable!!!!!!! Downright EVIL, in fact!!!!!!!!!!!

CNN does not do reporting, Tart - it always editorializes. And I can tolerate Woodruff a lot better than some of the others there.

As for a reaction to the Bush trip and other affairs, check into the Black Commentator:

http://www.blackcommentator.com/

It's an online pub, and they have some very interesting things to say.

This trip was a bust, and I should think it's obvious. And I'm glad to see the press seems to be changing its outlook and reporting. There was a shot of Laura Bush (with the mighty one beside her) poking her head in and out of a doorway quickly, and the comment was that the Bushes were inspecting the premises of a notorious slave hold. Satire and ridicule are beginning to make thier voices heard. Now, if only our candidates prove to be as smart and observant as we are.

I don't think I'd tolerate Woodruff after that one.

I am now re-reading a piece by Didion from the June 24, 1999 NY Review of Books titled 'Uncovered Washington' (unfortunately no longer available for free on line, but her book 'Political Fictions' addresses many of the same themes). No one around writes about US politics with the intelligence and clear-sightedness of this lady, she's your brightest star by a country mile. In this piece, she documents so many examples identical to Woodruff's sentences above, where the media spokespeople fall into an unreflective narrative.

Love her stuff too, Blatham! I'm firmly wedded to the notion that ya gotta watch out for the company you keep -- your company affects your standards (god, what an old fashioned word) after a while. The really good commentators, reporters, critics, writers and thinkers are wonderful to hang out with. I get into trouble when I read, watch, listen to crap. They do pull one down...

Looks like he has won their hearts and souls!

he has such a way with words

They may not like Bush and call the US a rogue state. However, I am sure they will not refuse the American green. Which no doubt there leadership will find a way to steal.

"I am sure they will not refuse the American green."

Au, that has become such a cliche. Cheesy talk show hosts say that kind of thing, not exactly acknowledging that we in America are much less needy but no better about accepting our "green" where we can get it. We have corporations which use cheap and often child labor in places like Africa affording us money-saving goods; we have little conscience about selling them back the goods they have made at such personal cost. For years we contributed to the UN pool of economic support for the needy, and then (thank you, compassionate Republicans!, we pared back our membership fees as much as we could. Meanwhile, no leaders of a poor countries SHOULD refuse assistance -- they'd be irresponsible to do so. I hope that's the last time I read or hear a dead-end, cynical comment like yours.

Tartarin
All I can say to you is just keep hoping. There is much that you screech about on your soap box that I think is uncalled for. However, I do not presume to tell you to stop. I normally scroll you out. You have my permission to do the same.

Tartarin, it is true though. There has been a history here and a lot of the African nations have the despots of the current time period. We have got to come up with a way to get aid directly to people - action and not rhetoric! But, we can't lash out at someone who points it out. Clinton did a lot of good - we need followup. I'm afraid that Bush aid will benefit a lot of American organizations first, so at least most of it won't get to the despots.

Bill, I'd only disagree slightly in that, rather than American organizations, I think it will likely be American corporations...

PRETORIA, South Africa -
I do believe Powell has been boxed, gift wrapped and hand delivered to the "TEAM"

Yes, I suffered my final disappointment with Powell. Heard him say that on the radio, and heard him stumble slightly as he made the statement.

US creates African enemies where none were before

By David Gutelius

PALO ALTO, CALIF. – President Bush repeatedly highlighted the importance of democracy, peace, and security during his African tour this week. But, administration mismanagement of the war on terror has deeply undermined stability across Africa in the past year. In its African incarnation, that war has managed to produce almost exactly the opposite of what was intended. The administration has allowed African partner regimes to crack down on a wide range of Muslim groups over the past 18 months, creating enemies where they previously didn't exist. The majority of Muslim leaders in Africa abhor violence as a response to government repression and coercion. They have little or nothing in common with Al Qaeda. Yet US foreign policy in Africa has inspired radicalism, discredited moderate African Muslims, and fomented political instability in key nations.
Complete article
Bush Diplomacy at work.