"Emmanuel Gustin" wrote in message
...
"BUFDRVR" wrote in message
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Or Chirac's attempt to "put under his thumb" any eastern European nation
who
supported the US against Iraq.

I agree that Chirac should have shut up, too. On the other hand
he had a point: Members of the EU should at least try to speak
with one voice when dealing with the US.

Why? The world certainly DOES NOT hear one voice from the United States. In
fact I would say some of the most corrosive, disrespectful criticism comes
from other elected US officials. Go read the remarks of Sen. Byrd or Sen.
Kennedy or Gov. Dean. That is the whole point of a free and open society.
The chance to voice your views without being told to shut up by people who
disagree with you.



Such opinions were formed over such things as his Texas accent, his
and Cheney's work in the oil buisness and the fact he had a ranch in
Texas. Universally most of Europe knows Bush as a "cowboy". Talk
about intellectual laziness.

His cowboy reputation has less to do with his accent (I wouldn't
recognize a Texas accent anyway) than with the geeky, unworldly
style of his rethoric. To most Europeans the notion that someone
could give speeches like that and take himself seriously is past
belief. European leaders who have met George W. actually praise
him as an intelligent and charming interlocutor, so one must assume
that he does it on purpose...

His public speaking makes me cringe also.


--
Emmanuel Gustin
Emmanuel.Gustin -rem@ve- skynet dot be
Flying Guns Page: http://users.skynet.be/Emmanuel.Gustin/