Meanwhile, Bush today greeted member of the U.S. Olympics team.

In one of the oddest transcription errors ever, the White House’s original version of his comments had him saying: “Congratulations for representing the finest nation on the face of the Eingarth.” That was later corrected to say “Earth.”

An error? Or did Cheney decree that the earth be renamed?

In what may be his last major address in Asia, Mr Bush said yesterday that the US spoke out for a free press, free assembly and labour rights not to antagonise China’s leaders, but because it was the only path the potent US rival could take to reach its full potential.

”America stands in firm opposition to China’s detention of political dissidents and human rights advocates and religious activists,” Mr Bush said.

”We press for openness and justice not to impose our beliefs, but to allow the Chinese people to express theirs.”

A blatant spit in the eye of his hosts. This stuff should have been sorted out 12 years ago when the games were awarded, and even Bush has said that:

Having publicly promised that he would not “politicize” the Olympic Games, President George W. Bush caught Chinese officials off guard here today, using his opening of a new U.S. embassy to drive home the importance of free speech and freedom of religion in all societies

IMO the press were just pawns in the game of politics which the Chinese won IMO, because all the baggage and electronics are probably now bugged.

First, this happened on an NWA plane. NWA is famous, of course, for having people sit on the tarmac in Detroit for hours and hours and hours after a snowstorm in 1999.

Second, assuming the plane was staffed by an NWA crew, then as soon as they landed, the NWA crew was bound, by union rules, to stop serving people and take a break. (They’re only allowed 12 hour shifts that can stretch some, but DC to China would be a full shift. I learned this when I discovered I’d have to sleep on teh floor of the Nagoya airport when diverted there one night on account of a typhoon.) So I’m curious–did the flight attendants stop serving booze?

I’d like to see the athletes decide that medals aren’t worth the real risk of health damage, and say ‘we’re going home now’.

Foot-Dragging to the Finish

Exposé of Peasants’ Plight Is Suppressed by China

Twisting Along China’s Sharp Curves

Chinese Lessons

The WH Press Corpse may now better understand the visceral side of autocracy rather than treat it as stagecraft conjured by filthy bloggers.

It’s a wake up call when the royal court realizes even 3 dark hours of powerlessness…