Seeing how the administration thinks those phrases, when applied to places like Iraq and the U.S., mean mostly "maximizing the corruption potential for the rich cronies of the government", it might well be that the president's statement is, thus understood, plausibly true.

And he tries to tell us he's not on drugs since he found the Lord. Either he's lying about that too or he needs to be on some drugs for whatever condition he has that produces delusions.

Actually, this statement could apply to pretty much any time in China after Mao.

It doesn't even imply that the progress is currently being made.

Ba-a-a-a-a-a-arf.

Have we really come a long way, baby, since Tiananmen Square circa 1989? I think not.

Talk to most Chinese and they will tell you that Bush is stating the truth. Things are better and more relaxed, that’s not to say more progress isn't necessary, that's just saying that progress has been made, and should be recognized. Especially is your on a diplomatic push for those greater freedoms that you have just stated China is moving (slowly) toward.

Actually according to at least one Chinese writer writing on the subject (Sorry, while it's been in the last week I can't remember anything but the name Liu.) progress has pretty much frozen since the current Chinese President took office.