Albania (hearts) Bush, U.S.

There's no shortage of hatred for President Bush, and unfortunately much of it is right on our shores. So it was nice, particularly after a week of clownish protesters raising hell in Germany at the G-8 summit and rioters in Rome, to see Bush get a warm reception in Albania on Sunday. "Warm" is actually an understatement: It was a cuddly, passionate, ecstatic lovefest. Crowds waved Albanian and American flags, donned Uncle Sam hats, and even tried to rub Bush's mane as people pushed to try to touch our president or shake his hand. Prime Minister Sali Berisha called Bush “the greatest and most distinguished guest we have ever had in all times.” Albania has issued postage stamps bearing Bush's likeness -- a move that would probably make some Americans riot at the post office -- and named a street in the capital Tirana after G.W. And Bush isn't the only focus of Albanians' love -- they generally love America, from how Woodrow Wilson kept their county intact after World War I to Bill Clinton's intercession in Kosovo.

Now, Bush-haters will probably write off the Albanian Bush-lovers as Balkan yokels uneducated in the ways of their object of disdain. Writing off quotes such as this:

"The U.S. holds the key to the balance of power in the world, and for a small country like us, this is marvelous," said Tirana resident Lufti Zeneli. "They helped us in the liberation of Kosovo. America is fantastic."

For them, it's pretty simple: They've forged their democracy after decades of totalitarian rule, and think democracy is a pretty good thing. Unlike foreign aid that rarely makes it to the pocketbooks of ordinary citizens, many Albanians have benefited from U.S. loans for small businesses, and think entrepreneurship and capitalism are pretty good things. No matter how many Americans hate Bush, surely we can all feel a bit of pride at one small country's outpouring for America and its present leader. Now go back to the all-consuming Bush-hating.