GREAT MOMENTS IN SELECTIVE OUTRAGE

Peggy Noonan today:

Excuse me, but it is embarrassing -- really, embarrassing to our country -- that the president of the United States has again put off a state visit to Australia and Indonesia because he's having trouble passing a piece of domestic legislation he's been promising for a year will be passed next week. What an air of chaos this signals to the world.

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New York Times, October 4, 1983:

The White House today announced the indefinite postponement of President Reagan's planned visits next month to the Philippines, Indonesia and Thailand, citing the need for Mr. Reagan to be in Washington to deal with Congress on the budget and other issues.