Roland Soong of EastSouthWestNorth writes that the reception of Charter 08 hinged on timing, with special regards to the Internet and the presidency of George W. Bush.
If George W. Bush were not around and the American president was someone like John Kerry instead, then there could have been some hope for Charter 08.
Instead, George W. Bush was president and such is the reality. Anyone who has paid any attention over the past eight years could not have hoped for someone like George W. Bush to lead China. George W. Bush had been elected by a majority of voters in the world’s greatest democracy. Twice. How do you explain or justify that? How could any Chinese person wish for a George W. Bush as the own leader of their nation?
Now that is the real marketing problem for Charter 08.