Bush's Vietnam coffee break

Yea, I'm way behind in my blogging, so tonight and tomorrow where will be some quick hits a bout a few things that are a bit older, then I will be coming on with lots of ferocity between now and this weekend.

It was awfully interesting to read about and see President Bush's visit to Vietnam in late November. (Above, reviewing Vietnamese soldiers in Hanoi during his arrival.) Am I the only one who saw an overwhelming irony in his visit to the country he avoided going to in the 60s, yet we are mired in a war in the Middle East that resembles our disastrous foray into Southeast Asia.

Bush's visit to Vietnam could not have been more different than President Clinton's in 2000.

For instance...

In 2000, the Clintons mingled with thousands of Vietnamese in the streets. Hillary Clinton even stopped into a silk shop in Hanoi to great fanfare. The Bushes failed to do the same or even anything like it. Take a read on this story from the New York Times during their visit:

The Hadong Silk shop in this city's Old Quarter is the first port of call for well-heeled visitors on the hunt for the tailor-made silkwares for which Vietnam has become famous. This weekend, with heads of state from 21 countries in town for the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation, a parade of dignitaries streamed in for fittings of made-to-order shirts, dresses and suits.

Laureen Harper, the wife of Canada's prime minister, Stephen Harper, showed up on Friday, made a few purchases and signed the guestbook for Dang Thi Thu Thuy, the petite, exquisitely dressed owner. Ditto for Australia's first lady, Janette Howard.

But Mrs. Thuy was searching for more. "We really hope that Mrs. Bush will come into our store," she says. "We are waiting for her, but she hasn't come."

The walls of Hadong Silk are lined with giant framed photos of Hillary Rodham Clinton, who came to the shop during Mr. Clinton's visit in 2000. There is a photo of Mrs. Clinton towering over three saleswomen, another of her standing next to Mrs. Thuy, both clad in silk suits, and one upstairs of her, surrounded by Secret Service agents, perusing silk blouses.

Vu Thi Thu Huong, a saleswoman, said the shop was so excited after Mrs. Clinton left, having bought 10 raw silk shirts for her husband, that the distinctive square collar on their men's silk shirts was renamed the "Bill Clinton Collar."

So, will there be a "George Bush Collar"?

Mrs. Thuy shrugged. "I'm not sure," she said. She gestured to her camera, and said, "If she comes we will take her picture, too."

In many ways, Bush's visit typified his presidency - the superficial, photo-op, highly staged event so we can tell the American people he visited a country and that "we're making progress" on Viet-raq. Yite!

Simply more Bush boilerplate.