She says a fence-mending trip is great, but the president is not proposing any real changes.

NPR: Bush and Chavez Compete for Economic Influence

As soon as Shinzo Abe became prime minister last September, he made a fence-mending trip to Beijing.

ECONOMIST: Heavenly dynasty

Only days earlier Charles Prince, boss of Citigroup, had paid a fence-mending visit to Carlo Ciampi, Italy's president.

ECONOMIST: Parmalat

He has taken to fence-mending as well, initiating a rapprochement with his former police chief, William Bratton, who is now running the L.A.P.

NEWYORKER: Mayberry Man

Now, business owners have to hope these organizations can accomplish some record-speed fence-mending in time to get lawmakers to lessen their 2013 tax burden.

FORBES: Awkward Moment as Pro-Romney Business Groups Plead With Obama for Quick Tax Breaks

As fence-mending exercises go, Mr Powell's trip to Turkey went well.

ECONOMIST: Mending fences | The