Probably not, but it makes a good title.
Anyway, I figured that since this blog used to be all over making fun of the president, and we just don’t do much of that anymore, I had to chime in now that the world is on fire over the president’s gawky G8 visit.
Ok, we know the guy curses. Classy! But I’ve been known to use a naughty word or two when I talk to Tony Blair or talk about terrorist organizations. I’m willing to let that go. Blair seems cool with it anyhow. They had a weird conversation that just doesn’t sounds like what you’d expect two world leaders to sound like at a summit of powerful countries. That just makes him all the more endearing, doesn’t it? He’s like a little kid with all these grownups. That’s cool!
Our president is unique. He’s all ours.
Then there’s this awkward moment when he grabs (gropes) German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Save the back rubs for Laura, POTUS. Ms. Merkel doesn’t want a massage, and she shrugs him off, dashing the chances of a happy ending. Some say he grabbed her. Some say he’s pulling one of those “I’m-going-to-carelessly-rub-your-back-because-you’re-a-woman” gropes. I say he’s trying to give her the Vulcan nerve pinch, and it just didn’t come off right. Apparently, the White House doesn’t have an HR department and the G8 conference doesn’t have a harassment policy, which is (as we say in Mass.) “wicked lucky.”
Our randy president. He’s the best!
Posted by James at July 18, 2006 1:19 PMIs it just me, or is making fun of the President's speech patterns infinitely more important for some people than, oh, let's say destroying Hezbollah?
Posted by: Northbound at July 18, 2006 2:35 PMMaybe, but that's only because there are some people who don't know that there are so many other things about the president to make fun of than just this speech patterns. And I really don't have any excuses for those unimaginative, unobservant people.
We should probably leave the president be, as he's got more important things on his plate like planning to veto legislation that supports groundbreaking medical research.
Posted by: James at July 18, 2006 2:59 PMYes, Northbound, it IS just you.
Posted by: George W. Bush at July 18, 2006 3:20 PM"Hulk Smash!"
Or maybe Dubya would come up with an endearing name for DB --
"Green Giant Smash!"
"Shortshirt Smash!"
heh
Let's go smash some Hezbollah ash.
Posted by: Maggie at July 18, 2006 4:32 PMMy own ambivalence to the Hezbollah problem became apparent when I cancelled my plans to destroy Hezbollah after lunch and did some programming for work instead.
JP has the right to defend his income!
Posted by: James at July 18, 2006 5:11 PMWork is over, now! Saddle up, cowboy!
Oh, wait, we're not doing this one. Put on your Dallas Cowboys cheerleader outfit, fluff up your pom-poms, and cheer on Israel.
Posted by: Maggie at July 18, 2006 6:56 PMI liked Maureen Dowd's summary of this incident:
"Catching W. off-guard, the really weird thing is his sense of victimization. He’s strangely resentful about the actual core of his job. Even after the debacles of Iraq and Katrina, he continues to treat the presidency as a colossal interference with his desire to mountain bike and clear brush."
Posted by: Greg at July 19, 2006 8:25 AMDon't you just love his "why does everything happen to ME" attitude?
Posted by: Julie at July 19, 2006 9:15 AMDuring overseas meetings he often acts indignant and confused about why other nations don't share American values. To him the world must seem like a collection of fringe Texas counties that aren't worth visiting.
Posted by: Mike at July 19, 2006 10:23 AMLOL Julie.
But Bush's version of "murican" values is a little different from mine.
Posted by: Maggie at July 19, 2006 10:55 AMWho would think that a world leader wouldn't want to share an awkwardly condescending moment?
Posted by: James at July 19, 2006 11:45 AMPerhaps he's unaware that books and webpages have been written about international communication, including rules of personal space and etiquette.
Sheesh, I just found some that would have come in handy for him, such as:
a) Germans keep a larger personal space around them, approximately 6 inches MORE than North Americans do.
b) Germans do not like surprises.
c) When being introduced to a woman, wait to see if she extends her hand.
Hmm, perhaps he would need the Cliffs Notes...
A comment on Crooks and Liars refers to Bush's touch as a casual grope; it struck me as something akin to patting a toddler on the head -but I don't know the context of the massage.
Posted by: Sharon at July 19, 2006 5:22 PMOh, it struck me the same way. Condescending in the guise of "just being friendly."