Bush and Blair's candid discussion

Great Debates
1

Hmm interesting quite a few articles on this “private conversation” go on about George’s use of teh venacular and few grasp onto the actual significenece of What George was saying.

Specifiically:
from this transcript http://adamboulton.typepad.com/my_weblog/2006/07/bush_blair_unpl.html

So I think the papers should be screaming about the fact that Bush is pointing his finger squarely at Syria in this case. He is giving Lebanon a free pass on responsibility.

Now that is very interesting and does not seem very promissing for the future of the region. Will this give Israel a nod to strike Syrian targets?

So The question for debate is, if this should escalate will The US/UK take action on Syria or not?

2

I heard this clip. Interesting discussion (not really). All I could hear afterwards was the replay in my head of the smaking of Bush’s lips as he chewed his food with his mouth open.

The man is reprihensible on so many levels.

As to the OP… So all Syria has to do is to exercise control of Hezbolah and this entire issue with Lebanon goes away. Talk about the most blatantly obvious conclusions being drawn by the heads of state. Wonder where they stand on the Pope being Catholic and bears shitting in the woods… <sigh>

3

Here’s my feelings on the matter.

4

Here’s the transcript from the Washington Post:

They may have cleaned up the language a little (yo!). It also contains some additional nonsubstantive material, which may shed light on the President’s thought patterns.

Bush: No. Just gonna make it up. I’m not going to talk too damn long like the rest of them. Some of these guys talk too long.

and

The camera is focused elsewhere and it is not clear whom Bush is talking to, but possibly Chinese President Hu Jintao, a guest at the summit.

Bush : Gotta go home. Got something to do tonight. Go to the airport, get on the airplane and go home. How about you? Where are you going? Home?

Bush : This is your neighborhood. It doesn’t take you long to get home. How long does it take you to get home?

Reply is inaudible.

Bush : “Eight hours? Me too. Russia’s a big country and you’re a big country.”

The G8 summit took place in St. Petersburg, Russia. That’s pretty far from the east coast of China, though I guess not everyone knows that.

Here’s a picture of George Bush approaching German Chancellor Angela Merkel, giving her an unrequested shoulder massage (to her apparent horror), then walking off.
http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/009086.php
Link to video, I’m not sure what’s happening here:

All is sunshine and daisies over at the Houston Chronical though, their headline reads, "G8 SUMMIT
Bush displays more statecraft during meeting
Observers note his previous tough rhetoric is missing

I’m not sure what less statecraft would involve. It seems to me that W is at best delaying statecraft. Any other US President would have one of his envoys busy with shuttle diplomacy at the moment.

NYT/ International Herald Tribune article on those 4 unscripted minutes:
http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/07/17/news/bush.php

5

I actually thought that the vid was illuminating. I’ve seen Bush do his Hollywood cowboy shtick many times, but I’ve wondered how much of it extended behind the curtain, as it were.

Now we know something about how he conducts himself during diplomatic functions. He’s an impatient, petulant lout who tells dumb jokes.