By Brendan McLaughlin

Bob Costa's seemingly impromptu interview of President George Bush in Beijing aired live at 3:00 a.m. eastern time Monday morning, but that's not the only reason it seemed a bit surreal.  Mr. Bush appeared uncomfortable and tired and not at all anxious to take up the weighty subjects of Tibet, Darfur and our new geography lesson- South Ossetia.(how bout that Michael Phelps!) But Costas was relentless, asking the president if our gleeful participation in China's Olympic coming out party doesn't serve to legitimize the communist party's iron fisted rule. 

"The Olympics are going to serve as a chance for people to come and see China the way it is and let China see the world and interface and (have) the opportunity to converse with people from around the world."

Well said, Mr. President, but if that kind of engagement is good for 1.2 billion people under communist rule in China, why wouldn't it be good for the 11 million people who live under communist rule just 90 miles south of Key West?  Could it be because there's no Chinese exile community in South Florida with sway over 27 electoral votes?

Without prompting, President Bush also brought up religion in a way that likely triggered a spit take from Hu Jintao.

"Well, first of all, if you are a religious person you understand that once religion takes hold in a society it can't be stopped."

While it's right and proper for the President to call for universal religious freedom, invoking the specter of a Christian Middle Kingdom doesn't seem like the slickest way to soften atheist hearts. It also might actually bring more heat down on Christian Churches in China