Bush seeks to pass baton on his "Freedom Agenda"

[IDemo]

Source: Reuters

By Tabassum Zakaria

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President George W. Bush on Thursday urged his successor to carry on what he called his "freedom agenda" of promoting human rights, democracy, and free trade around the world.

Bush, with six months left in office, peppered a speech to mark "Captive Nations Week" with the phrases "in the years ahead" and "the challenge for future presidents and future Congresses" -- a nod to his waning White House days.

He spoke just hours before Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama made a speech in Germany during a trip to Europe and the Middle East seen as an effort to burnish his foreign policy credentials before the November U.S. elections.

"Over the past seven years, we've spoken out against human rights abuses by tyrannical regimes* like those in Iran, Sudan, and Syria and Zimbabwe," Bush said.



Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSN2450595120080724

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[sinkingfeeling]

1. Didn't he mean his 'Freedom Agenda at the Point of a Gun'?

[damntexdem]

8. Well, he wants to pass on the baton, so McSame can use it to continue to beat up on freedom.

[billybob537]

2. Yeah right

Would that be the freedom to spy, torture and imprison without warrant?

[Tab]

3. I hope to hell we don't continue his "agenda"

Do you remember early on in his administration - it's probably been forgotten in the wake of a zillion other failures - but for the first time ever, the United States had been kicked off the UN's Human Right's Council.

We were always automatically assumed to be on it, and I believe we've been on it since day 1.

Bush is living in his own private Idaho.

[kay1864]

4. Hey chimpy, I got yer baton. Right here.

Pass this on, why doncha.

[struggle4progress]

5. Kids will enjoy collecting Freedom Agenda™ action figures!

http://projectorhead.files.wordpress.com.nyud.net:8090/2008/04/abu-ghraib-torture-715244.jpg
http://ch.indymedia.org.nyud.net:8090/images/2004/05/22916.jpg
http://image.guardian.co.uk.nyud.net:8090/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/gallery/2006/02/15/ghraib_1.jpg
http://www.phawker.com.nyud.net:8090/wp-content/uploads/2007/01/abu-ghraib-dog-attack.jpg
http://www.heyokamagazine.com.nyud.net:8090/abu.jpg

And music lovers will want the Freedom Agenda™ soundtrack album, with its beautiful faux-Pollack cover
http://static.flickr.com.nyud.net:8090/26/99927654_e12f3a983d.jpg

[DebbieCDC]

6. Can he PLEASE just STFU and go away already?

I am SO sick of this annoying child and his meaningless drivel. Just go away already.

[IDemo]

7. "There's a saying in Texas, I know there's a saying,"

"Freedom's just another word for nothing but losers."

[grytpype]

9. It's amazing how he gives freedom and democracy a bad name.

[struggle4progress]

10. Freedom Agenda™ is working to bring a Free Speech Zone® to every community

So the next time you're arrested for wearing the wrong T-shirt at the local mall, or for supporting the wrong candidate on the Fourth of July, or for calling the Secretary of State a war criminal, remember: American soldiers died to bring you your Free Speech Zone® -- so why not use it?

http://www.minnpost.com.nyud.net:8090/client_files/alternate_images/911/mp_main_wide_2004DemConventionProtests.jpg
http://simonbillenness.blogspot.com.nyud.net:8090/DNC%20pen%20restrictions.jpg
http://www.deanesmay.com.nyud.net:8090/files/deanesmay-freespeech2.jpg
http://www.plug-in.to.nyud.net:8090/pix_e/free-speech-zone_f.jpg

[Tarc]

11. Bushie can shove the baton up his cornhole, sideways

[SalmonChantedEvening]

12. Take as many freedoms away from us as possible.

That's the agenda.

[Jefferson23]

13. Yea, he passes the baton to wack Americans freedom away.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

14. Human Rights?

WTF does he know about human rights? :wtf:

[Javaman]

15. I can think of a few places I would love to put that "baton"...

maybe up his...ASS!

The fading barking pig* squeals out another sentence.

[llmart]

16. Well, others here have already said it but......

let me reiterate - Bush can put that baton where the sun don't shine!

[sofa king]

17. Um, a few questions, Mr. President

1) Is there any single country in the world which has improved its human rights record with the help of the United States since you took office? That, of course, includes the United States.

2) Are there any countries in the world which have changed their form of government to a democracy with the non-military "assistance" of the United States since you took office? If there are, does that number counterbalance the attempted government overthrows and installation of military dictatorships with American "assistance" in countries like Sao Tome and Principe, Venezuela, and Palestine since you took office? That, of course, also includes the United States.

3) Are any of the Bush-negotiated "free trade" agreements not fronts for exploitation of other nations' resources, as was the attempted "free trade" of the the Amazon rain forests in Peru in 2006?



You can keep this damned baton, you asshole.