But, oh, it's lovely to see Bush back down on the steel tariffs. Listening to the self-aggrandising crap he spouted was laughable, because he knows and we know that he was beaten by the EU.
Take that, Bush. So, you impose an illegal steel tariff with your usual 'fuck you, we rule the world and the rest of you can just lump it'. But. It's an election year and the rest of the world knows how to hit you where it hurts. We'll impose tariffs of our own in return. Only we won't put it on steel, no, we'll impose tariffs on, oh, I don't know, maybe orange growers in Florida, for example. Because if you don't win Florida then you probably won't win the Presidential election...
What's interesting is that, sans the bad language, this is pretty much how the BBC, who strives to at least appear to be reasonably impartial has just explained the Bush back down. Complete with comments about Bush's 'we rule the world' attitude. Gosh, he really is unpopular everywhere except (parts of) the US, isn't he.
ETA: yes, the illegal steel tariff that Bush slapped on to protect American steel is something I feel strongly about. It's not just that tariffs are an incredibly bad idea in any event but that's my father's pension you're mucking around with, you cretin. My father worked in the steel industry all his life and saw the industry shrink drastically during that time. If it shrinks any more, his pension could met away. If that's due to market forces that's one thing, but being due to the actions of a reactionary, right-wing, privileged spoilt brat of a US president is quite another.
Take that, Bush. So, you impose an illegal steel tariff with your usual 'fuck you, we rule the world and the rest of you can just lump it'. But. It's an election year and the rest of the world knows how to hit you where it hurts. We'll impose tariffs of our own in return. Only we won't put it on steel, no, we'll impose tariffs on, oh, I don't know, maybe orange growers in Florida, for example. Because if you don't win Florida then you probably won't win the Presidential election...
What's interesting is that, sans the bad language, this is pretty much how the BBC, who strives to at least appear to be reasonably impartial has just explained the Bush back down. Complete with comments about Bush's 'we rule the world' attitude. Gosh, he really is unpopular everywhere except (parts of) the US, isn't he.
ETA: yes, the illegal steel tariff that Bush slapped on to protect American steel is something I feel strongly about. It's not just that tariffs are an incredibly bad idea in any event but that's my father's pension you're mucking around with, you cretin. My father worked in the steel industry all his life and saw the industry shrink drastically during that time. If it shrinks any more, his pension could met away. If that's due to market forces that's one thing, but being due to the actions of a reactionary, right-wing, privileged spoilt brat of a US president is quite another.
no subject
Date: 4 December 2003 14:26 (UTC)