Hell, write him a pass on this one. GeeDubya’s handlers have been diligent in crafting an image of easy, down home humor, the kind that befits a man who just come in from clearing brush on the south 2. GeeDubya just ain’t a witty guy.
So its entirely possible that he thinks these jokes are funny and maybe even a wee bit daring. Being tone deaf, he can’t hear the sour notes but sings with gusto and a sincere desire to please.
Of course, it goes without saying, if the whole issue of WMD’s became something to shrug and chuckle over, he would be a very much happier guy, sense of humor notwithstanding.
Hey, they’re politicians, they lie about everything. Wag the dog was Clinton’s deal. He got us in the crap too, all the while depleting military resources. Every politican enriches their buddies, abuses their power, lies about what they do, and effects the economy (not immediately, but…) ain’t nothin new under the sun. They all believe we’re idiots (ok, by all, I mean 90%).
Why the “quotes” around blowjob? He got one, from Monica, in the Oval Office, again, no secret. That don’t make him a bad guy, just a bad President, one ought have more decorum than the average thug, being the Leader of the Free World and all.
As far as the law goes, let’s just call it Reeders’ Law.
Point taken.
Ok, I’ll go with you on this, if you can cite actual reactions from actual sources, rather than a best guess scenario, or what you think ought to happen. The people and countries who opposed this war will, and rightly so, use any appearance of impropreity to make their case “stronger” as it were, no matter real or percieved.
Frankly, I don’t think he’s antagonizing anyone, it’s just how you (or anyone else) choose to see it. It’s either a poor attempt at comedy, or an amusing look at the missteps of the administration, in any case, you find what you look for.
Further, although I like the fact that Spain is an ally, I personally couldn’t care less about what the Spanish Government has to do, they’ve got to look out for their interests, we’ve got to look out for ours, it really is that simple.
Let’s be fair here: these dinners have always involved innappropriate humor, in which major figures have made some seriously black jokes about otherwise serious issues.
You didn’t read the part where he basically links European leaders to the famous card deck of Iraqi most wanted criminals? You don’t think that could rub them the wrong way maybe?
To be fair, or at least to foster the impression, the joke was he was using them to remember thier names, an obvioius reference to the minor embarassment he suffered as a candidate when the smart ass interviewer asked him if he knew who a bunch of foriegn leaders were.
Droll as a bowling ball, maybe, but there you are.
Now, I’m certainly no Bush-backer, but I have to say that I don’t think this was particularly offensive or horrifying at all. It’s just a little self-deprecating humor, played for a crowd that’s used to self-deprecation from the POTUS – I’ve got a video from the twilight days of the Clinton Administration, showing Bill putzing about the White House, washing cars, bored as hell, waiting for 1/20/2001 to roll by.
There are many legitimate reasons to ding Bush and toss him out come November, but this isn’t one of them.
The problem in this case is that these WMDs were the overriding justification for sending thousands of young men and women to Iraq. A lot of people believed that this war was a just one because of what they’d been told about Hussein’s WMDs. And now it’s just a fundraising joke for his re-election campaign.
I don’t find it horrifying or offensive, just very tasteless and not a little depressing.
I am in Spain right now and you should see how it is playing here. It is being played over and over without need for much commentary as the people find it in outrageously low taste. To give you an example, last night in a late night program (think Late Night with David Letterman) the host played it without comment several times during the show with huge boos from the audience. Then, near the end, he played it one last time and then said something to the effect of “What I am going to say are my own words and in no way endorsed by the TV network. I take full responsibility for these words: Mr Bush, es usted un hijo de puta” and the crowd roared with applause and approval. He did this knowing it could have serious consequences for him.
The fact is that the people and countries who opposed the war are offended. What was the need for this? What was gained? Nothing. It plays into the hands of those who do not want their countries to cooperate with the USA.
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Frankly, I don’t think he’s antagonizing anyone, it’s just how you (or anyone else) choose to see it.
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Come to Spain and tell them that.
Yep, and it is in the interests of the USA to have Spain on their side and that is why they are pleading with Spain not to withdraw their troops. What is the purpose of sending Colin Powell to Spain if instead of talking about Iraq he is going to have to apologize for Bush the clown? It is just silly to say “we couldn’t care less about other countries and our president can be as insensitive and as insulting as he wishes” when at the same time you are asking for those countries to help out. Bush is not helping in getting other countries to cooperate but rather he is antagonizing them for no good reason and that is harmful to the interests of America.
Right now there is a big debate in Spain regarding the rotation of the troops in Iraq which was (is) due for April 21. Those saying we should withdraw the troops are saying there should be no rotation and just keep the present troops until June 30. The issue of whether the troops should return no matter what or should stay if certain conditions are met is a big topic of discussion here. Colin Powell has already talked with the prime minister elect Zapatero and is trying to work out a way for Spain to keep the troops in Iraq. This type of thing by Bush just makes it more difficult for Zapatero to find a way to do it and it makes it easier for him to say “Spanish public opinion is dead set against it and I have no choice”.
And if the USA does not care about what Spain does then I don’t understand why they are putting so much pressure on Spain about this. The fact is they do care and it is important to try to maintain a semblance of international support. And Bush is not helping.
Now, if Clinton got a blow job in front of the Radio and Television Correspondents’ Association annual dinner, you may have a point on discretion. If Bush had made that joke in the white house, in relative assumed privacy, I wouldn’t have anything to say about it.
But the leader of the free world doesn’t get to go “Whoospy” and then expect people to be able to laugh it off.
And, IMHO, he shouldn’t be doing self-effacing humor while he’s still in office. People shouldn’t be given reason to laugh at the President of the United States.
And finally stood up to the United States the agressors of Iraq. Colin Powell should stop begging for Spanish support. It’s very unbecoming. It’s quite laughable to see the USA saying they don’t care about the rest of the world and will do anything they want and then go around begging for help and support. So what is it? Why doesn’t the USA just ask the Spanish troops to leave Iraq and say “good riddance” to them?
Good riddance to Aznar, the puppet who capitulated to the USA against the wishes of the Spanish people. May he burn in hell for having supported the agression to the people of Iraq with whom the Spanish people had no quarrel. May he burn in hell for not having the guts to do his duty and not submit to the American pressure. Finally the will of the people will be done. And if Bush wishes to alienate the Spanish people further with this type of thing I say let him. He is his own worst enemy. No one could make him lose support like he does every time he opens his mouth. I just wish he would stop demanding support from other countries if his country is so great that it need not count on any other country’s help. What a fool.