# Why are Albanians giving GWB love? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 12, 2007, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-albanians-giving-gwb-love/407672 "2007-06-12T05:51:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Hippy\_Hollow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hippy_hollow/32/4841_2.png) [@Hippy\_Hollow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hippy_Hollow)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2007, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-albanians-giving-gwb-love/407672/1 "2007-06-12T05:51:57Z")
So I saw this clip of Bush getting mobbed by Albanians from this weekend. [Wow, dude is popular](http://www.suntimes.com/news/politics/422228,CST-NWS-bush11.article). Is it just because he represents America and Albania wants in with NATO, as the article suggests? Or is there something else going on? Are these folks the same ones we see in Michael Jackson concert footage crying? ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2007, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-albanians-giving-gwb-love/407672/2 "2007-06-12T06:12:16Z")
The US has been one of the strongest supporters of former eastern-bloc countries joining NATO (much to the chagrin of Mr. Putin). The Albanians also have an extremely strong interest in the Balkans conflicts which happened right next door. Kosovo is 90% ethnically Albanian and Bush has been a strong proponent of Kosovo’s proper independence for some time. ETA: There’s also the fact that Albania pretty much never gets visits from major world leaders, and has never received a US President. So there’s bound to be some excitement. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2007, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-albanians-giving-gwb-love/407672/3 "2007-06-12T06:21:50Z")
My theory: back when the Turks ruled the region, the Albanians were the Ottomans’ greatest loyalists in the Balkans, converting to Islam _en mass_. Under Soviet domination, they cheerfully adopted - and never really abandoned - a strict form of Stalinism. Now America is the empire _de jour_. There might be something in the Albanian national character that makes them susceptable to the influence of the dominant Great Power. ---
**Author:** ![Hippy\_Hollow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hippy_hollow/32/4841_2.png) [@Hippy\_Hollow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hippy_Hollow)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2007, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-albanians-giving-gwb-love/407672/4 "2007-06-12T06:39:19Z")
Now that’s what I call fighting ignorance. Thanks, all! ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2007, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-albanians-giving-gwb-love/407672/5 "2007-06-12T06:40:46Z")
Where’s the clip? Your link just takes me to a news article _describing_ how he got mobbed like a rock star. I’m sorry but that just doesn’t do it for me. ---
**Author:** ![scotandrsn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a4c791/32.png) [@scotandrsn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scotandrsn)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2007, 6:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-albanians-giving-gwb-love/407672/6 "2007-06-12T06:50:29Z")
[QUOTE=Rigamarole] Where’s the clip? Your link just takes me to a news article _describing_ how he got mobbed like a rock star. I’m sorry but that just doesn’t do it for me. [/QUOTE] I’ve seen a clip. It goes a long way to solidifying a claim that Albania IS the Bizzarro World. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Scrivener](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@The\_Scrivener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Scrivener)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2007, 9:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-albanians-giving-gwb-love/407672/7 "2007-06-12T09:08:07Z")
Speaking of strange Albanians, the only entertainment celebrity of Albanian descent who comes to mind is the late, great John Belushi (I’m not counting his brother Jim). John Belushi was pretty bizarre, if utterly delightful… ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2007, 9:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-albanians-giving-gwb-love/407672/8 "2007-06-12T09:35:41Z")
[QUOTE=scotandrsn] I’ve seen a clip. It goes a long way to solidifying a claim that Albania IS the Bizzarro World. [/QUOTE] Heh, I can’t imagine anything closer to a parallel universe. Have they heard of Paris Hilton? If they haven’t, I think that about seals it. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2007, 11:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-albanians-giving-gwb-love/407672/9 "2007-06-12T11:26:57Z")
[Here’s a clip.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PKDdF6vfjoo) Notice about 55 seconds in that someone in the crowd steals the President’s watch. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2007, 12:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-albanians-giving-gwb-love/407672/10 "2007-06-12T12:02:52Z")
Nice catch, **Struan**. I thought you were kidding but yes, it really does disappear amidst all the arm grabbing. Probably accidental but hilarious nevertheless. ---
**Author:** ![R.P.McMurphy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7993a0/32.png) [@R.P.McMurphy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/R.P.McMurphy)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2007, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-albanians-giving-gwb-love/407672/11 "2007-06-12T13:10:02Z")
Bush is riding on Bill Clinton’s coattails. Milosovic undertook an ethnic cleansing of Kosova which is 90% ethnic Albanian. The ethnic Albanians were driven from their homes and villages were burned by Serbian soldiers. NATO took exception and the US undertook a bombing campaign to stop the ethnic cleansing. The ethnic Albanians have been huge supporters of America ever since. The largest city in Kosova is Prishtina. The main road through Prishtina is named Bill Clinton Blvd. There is a very visible replica of the Statue of Liberty. When Clinton visited he was treated like a god. The Albanians (who are mostly Muslim), remain grateful to the US. Bush therefore decided to visit the one country in the world that would give him a warm welcome. ---
**Author:** ![tagos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@tagos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tagos)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2007, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-albanians-giving-gwb-love/407672/12 "2007-06-12T14:01:51Z")
They mistook him for [Norman Wisdom](http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/1251406.stm). What with Iraq, Katrina and all it was an understandable mistake so cut them some slack. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2007, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-albanians-giving-gwb-love/407672/13 "2007-06-12T14:06:00Z")
[QUOTE=scotandrsn] I’ve seen a clip. It goes a long way to solidifying a claim that Albania IS the Bizzarro World. [/QUOTE] As the duly-appointed representative of ex-King Zog of Albania, I resemble that remark. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2007, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-albanians-giving-gwb-love/407672/14 "2007-06-12T14:17:21Z")
[QUOTE=Spartydog] When Clinton visited he was treated like a god. [/QUOTE] I thought Bush was the first US Prez to ever have visited Albania? ---
**Author:** ![CrankyAsAnOldMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crankyasanoldman/32/11670_2.png) [@CrankyAsAnOldMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrankyAsAnOldMan)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2007, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-albanians-giving-gwb-love/407672/15 "2007-06-12T14:25:42Z")
I think friedo is probably right about recognition being a factor, along with whatever other political things are at play. I say this as a Nebraska native, and I’ve seen something similar at home. Nebraska is one of those states frequently laughed at, mocked, complained about, or gazed down at with utter boredom by “important people” as they fly from one coast to the next. It gets old. So when someone IMPORTANT comes to Nebraska, many people go apeshit. Even if the “important” person is someone whose work or platform or whatever isn’t something they generally admire or agree with. ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2007, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-albanians-giving-gwb-love/407672/16 "2007-06-12T14:32:13Z")
[QUOTE=Leaffan] I thought Bush was the first US Prez to ever have visited Albania? [/QUOTE] Clinton visited Kosovo. ---
**Author:** ![R.P.McMurphy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7993a0/32.png) [@R.P.McMurphy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/R.P.McMurphy)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2007, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-albanians-giving-gwb-love/407672/17 "2007-06-12T16:35:30Z")
[QUOTE=CrankyAsAnOldMan] I think friedo is probably right about recognition being a factor, along with whatever other political things are at play. I say this as a Nebraska native, and I’ve seen something similar at home. Nebraska is one of those states frequently laughed at, mocked, complained about, or gazed down at with utter boredom by “important people” as they fly from one coast to the next. It gets old. So when someone IMPORTANT comes to Nebraska, many people go apeshit. Even if the “important” person is someone whose work or platform or whatever isn’t something they generally admire or agree with. [/QUOTE] Your Nebraska analogy has some validity but there is a flaw. Bush had no reason to go to Albania other than to get a warm welcome. He can support independence for Kosovo without going to the trouble and expense of making a stop in Albania. The visit had to have been an expensive security headache. Everybody dumps on the Albanians. They are not well received or well treated in other countries. They are not about to forget that the US protected a lot of Albanian people. While the ethnic Albanians are mostly Muslims they reject Islamic fundamentalism. During the ethnic cleansing they were much happier getting aid from NATO than turning to countries like Saudi Arabia. They didn’t want the Islamic fundamentalists to have too much influence over them. Bush is an unpopular president, particularly oversees. However, he is an American and to most Albanians that is good. ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2007, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-albanians-giving-gwb-love/407672/18 "2007-06-12T16:38:23Z")
[QUOTE=The Scrivener] Speaking of strange Albanians, the only entertainment celebrity of Albanian descent who comes to mind is the late, great John Belushi (I’m not counting his brother Jim). John Belushi was pretty bizarre, if utterly delightful… [/QUOTE] Well there was that kid who stayed with The Simpsons when Bart did an exchange and went to France. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2007, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-albanians-giving-gwb-love/407672/19 "2007-06-12T18:02:39Z")
[QUOTE=Struan] …Notice about 55 seconds in that someone in the crowd steals the President’s watch. [/QUOTE] FWIW, the White House denies that the President’s watch was ripped off: [http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2007/06/12/mystery-surrounding-bushs-watch-solved/](http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2007/06/12/mystery-surrounding-bushs-watch-solved/) ---
**Author:** ![Rayne\_Man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/df705f/32.png) [@Rayne\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rayne_Man)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2007, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-albanians-giving-gwb-love/407672/20 "2007-06-12T18:21:42Z")
I bet Bush thought he was in Alabama. He did once famously confuse Slovakia with Slovenia. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-albanians-giving-gwb-love/407672.md?page=2)