ninme

This is getting ridiculous. Every time Bush takes a step outside this country he’s making history. Meanwhile our own stellar government can’t do a bloody thing without behaving like infants and making us look ridiculous in the eyes of the world. It’s enough to make a girl spit. But I shan’t.

BBC - Georgia spruces up for Bush visit, By Natalia Antelava

President George W Bush is already smiling at Georgians from numerous billboards in the capital Tbilisi.

His visit on 9 May will be a landmark for Georgia, which has not hosted many world leaders before.

Alexander the Great is believed to have passed through, Margaret Thatcher was here in the 1980s.

Georgia has made frantic preparations to ensure a top-quality welcome for Mr Bush - the first US president to visit the Caucasus republic.

Isn’t that cute? The caption on the link from the front page was:

George in Georgia
Bush visit sparks frenzied makeover in Georgian capital

Back to the article:

For three weeks, hundreds of workers have been out in the streets, painting houses, repairing the potholed streets and crumbling pavements, planting trees and flower beds.

On television Georgian pop stars and famous actors have constantly been urging people to come out and greet Mr Bush.

It is costing Georgia a lot of money to host the US president and his 700-strong entourage - but officials here say whatever the amount, it is well worth it.

“This visit is enormously historic. A real recognition of the progress that Georgia is making and it shows that the country is on the right path. So we are going to do our best to host Mr Bush,” says Giorgi Arveladze, a ruling party MP and organiser for the Bush visit.

Yay for them! When I’m rich and famous, I’m going to have to go to Georgia and spend a fortune. Help them cover the costs.

Yet Georgians do not seem to mind the fuss.

“It’s great that he is coming. For a man like that, of such political prestige to come to our small country, that’s really outstanding. I and all my friends want to go and hear him speak,” said a student, Avtandil Murvanidze.

“And we are getting a whole new beautiful city!” he added.

The preparations for the visit have already spawned endless jokes.

Georgians say President Bush should come more often and then very soon the government will have no choice but to rebuild their impoverished country anew.

Clever lads. Isn’t it refreshing hearing happy news about happy people?

“When I first heard that George Bush was coming, I thought it was a joke,” says Ghia Nodia, a regional analyst at the Caucasus Democracy and Development Institute.

“For this country, it’s like a dream come true. Russia has played a very destructive role here and it’s a very big deal to have a leader of the superpower come and send a message to Moscow that it is no longer the only player in the region.”

Good for them! Ah, I’m in such a good mood now! Too bad congress is back in session tomorrow…