Comments on: From Salvador to Rio. http://fistfulofeuros.net/afoe/europe-and-the-world/from-salvador-to-rio/ European Opinion Thu, 08 Jan 2009 09:28:41 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: garym http://fistfulofeuros.net/afoe/europe-and-the-world/from-salvador-to-rio/#comment-7369 garym Tue, 22 Feb 2005 05:50:42 +0000 http://fistfulofeuros.net/wordpress/?p=1170#comment-7369 It's particularly disturbing that residents of certain areas in Mainz will, according to a German friend of mine, be subject to warrantless searches of their garages. Both the Bush administration and the German government share in the blame; the US government undoubtedly demanded the measures in question, but the German government could have refused. It’s particularly disturbing that residents of certain areas in Mainz will, according to a German friend of mine, be subject to warrantless searches of their garages. Both the Bush administration and the German government share in the blame; the US government undoubtedly demanded the measures in question, but the German government could have refused.

]]> By: Tobias http://fistfulofeuros.net/afoe/europe-and-the-world/from-salvador-to-rio/#comment-7368 Tobias Sun, 20 Feb 2005 05:13:50 +0000 http://fistfulofeuros.net/wordpress/?p=1170#comment-7368 "The goal here is for Bush, and by extension, the American people to tell the world just how much longer their penises are than anyone else's, nothing else." LOL, I thought I had hidden that thesis well enough in 'strange impression management' ;). “The goal here is for Bush, and by extension, the American people to tell the world just how much longer their penises are than anyone else’s, nothing else.”

LOL, I thought I had hidden that thesis well enough in ’strange impression management’ ;).

]]> By: Maynard Handley http://fistfulofeuros.net/afoe/europe-and-the-world/from-salvador-to-rio/#comment-7367 Maynard Handley Sun, 20 Feb 2005 02:03:34 +0000 http://fistfulofeuros.net/wordpress/?p=1170#comment-7367 Where, oh where is Thorstein Veblen when you need him? Come on, isn't it obvious that this all falls into the conspicuous consumption category? The goal here is for Bush, and by extension, the American people to tell the world just how much longer their penises are than anyone else's, nothing else. Where, oh where is Thorstein Veblen when you need him?
Come on, isn’t it obvious that this all falls into the conspicuous consumption category? The goal here is for Bush, and by extension, the American people to tell the world just how much longer their penises are than anyone else’s, nothing else.

]]> By: Europeon http://fistfulofeuros.net/afoe/europe-and-the-world/from-salvador-to-rio/#comment-7366 Europeon Sun, 20 Feb 2005 00:13:06 +0000 http://fistfulofeuros.net/wordpress/?p=1170#comment-7366 I know from a friend who works in my country's protocol department, that in the case of Bush and other US government figures, it is in fact not the host country, but the Bush people who manage and decide everything - e.g., in meetings, they will even bring their own pencils and mineral water. Remember how this sort of high-handedness caused problems in London (wanting to reinforce Buckingham palace walls and the right to shoot at protesters without reprisal) and Chile (a formal dinner scrapped at short notice, and a security scuffle). If I were a European government I would be very relieved to NOT have to host Bush and his court. I know from a friend who works in my country’s protocol department, that in the case of Bush and other US government figures, it is in fact not the host country, but the Bush people who manage and decide everything - e.g., in meetings, they will even bring their own pencils and mineral water.

Remember how this sort of high-handedness caused problems in London (wanting to reinforce Buckingham palace walls and the right to shoot at protesters without reprisal) and Chile (a formal dinner scrapped at short notice, and a security scuffle). If I were a European government I would be very relieved to NOT have to host Bush and his court.

]]> By: RSN http://fistfulofeuros.net/afoe/europe-and-the-world/from-salvador-to-rio/#comment-7365 RSN Sat, 19 Feb 2005 22:17:47 +0000 http://fistfulofeuros.net/wordpress/?p=1170#comment-7365 Keep in mind that the security precautions are taken by the Germans themselves. Don't blame the visitor: blame the host country that is home for all the hatred. Keep in mind that the security precautions are taken by the Germans themselves. Don’t blame the visitor: blame the host country that is home for all the hatred.

]]> By: Jack http://fistfulofeuros.net/afoe/europe-and-the-world/from-salvador-to-rio/#comment-7364 Jack Sat, 19 Feb 2005 15:32:50 +0000 http://fistfulofeuros.net/wordpress/?p=1170#comment-7364 It was almost like this last year with the trips to Rome and Istanbul. President Bush was kept as far away from the people as possible at great inconvenience to the city involved. Such visits could not possibly be to improve relations with the people they are inflicted upon. It was almost like this last year with the trips to Rome and Istanbul. President Bush was kept as far away from the people as possible at great inconvenience to the city involved. Such visits could not possibly be to improve relations with the people they are inflicted upon.

]]> By: Doug http://fistfulofeuros.net/afoe/europe-and-the-world/from-salvador-to-rio/#comment-7363 Doug Sat, 19 Feb 2005 15:22:34 +0000 http://fistfulofeuros.net/wordpress/?p=1170#comment-7363 It's even gotten worse over the course of the Bush administration. A friend who was then at the embassy in Slovenia described some of the absurdities involved, but this really does seem to be taking the cake. (And I don't even think he's staying overnight. Bratislava has that privilege.) It's the natural tendency of security bureaucracies, of course, but the only one who can put a brake on it is the guy at the top. But this one either likes it that way or isn't bright enough to insist on contact with ordinary people. It’s even gotten worse over the course of the Bush administration. A friend who was then at the embassy in Slovenia described some of the absurdities involved, but this really does seem to be taking the cake. (And I don’t even think he’s staying overnight. Bratislava has that privilege.) It’s the natural tendency of security bureaucracies, of course, but the only one who can put a brake on it is the guy at the top. But this one either likes it that way or isn’t bright enough to insist on contact with ordinary people.

]]> By: Factory http://fistfulofeuros.net/afoe/europe-and-the-world/from-salvador-to-rio/#comment-7362 Factory Sat, 19 Feb 2005 15:01:40 +0000 http://fistfulofeuros.net/wordpress/?p=1170#comment-7362 Hmm I hate to be practical here, but would it be a better idea to move Bush away from the ppl, rather than moving the ppl away from Bush? He could stay at some town house on the outskirts of town, or something. Hmm I hate to be practical here, but would it be a better idea to move Bush away from the ppl, rather than moving the ppl away from Bush?
He could stay at some town house on the outskirts of town, or something.

]]> By: Florian http://fistfulofeuros.net/afoe/europe-and-the-world/from-salvador-to-rio/#comment-7361 Florian Sat, 19 Feb 2005 14:27:15 +0000 http://fistfulofeuros.net/wordpress/?p=1170#comment-7361 "But having met British Cabinet members on Whitehall without any security staff" A few years a ago when I was more regularly in Switzerland, it was a rather common experience to meet Swiss Cabinet members in an ordinary compartment in an ordinary train from Zurich to Bern. Probably that is still the case, as "aloofness" is not well received by the Swiss electorate. “But having met British Cabinet members on Whitehall without any security staff”

A few years a ago when I was more regularly in Switzerland, it was a rather common experience to meet Swiss Cabinet members in an ordinary compartment in an ordinary train from Zurich to Bern. Probably that is still the case, as “aloofness” is not well received by the Swiss electorate.

]]> By: RSN http://fistfulofeuros.net/afoe/europe-and-the-world/from-salvador-to-rio/#comment-7360 RSN Sat, 19 Feb 2005 13:12:22 +0000 http://fistfulofeuros.net/wordpress/?p=1170#comment-7360 "...is worth the apparently significant additional direct as well as external costs..." Well, here I agree with you. Bush's visit to anti-American Europe is a waste of time. Nothing will be accomplished, except that the administration will be able to point out the attempt at rapprochement to domestic critics, which will make it easier to justify unilateral moves later on. “…is worth the apparently significant additional direct as well as external costs…”

Well, here I agree with you. Bush’s visit to anti-American Europe is a waste of time. Nothing will be accomplished, except that the administration will be able to point out the attempt at rapprochement to domestic critics, which will make it easier to justify unilateral moves later on.

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