Revealed: What the Tearful President Told the Grieving Relatives

[kskiska]

of Britain's War Dead

It was an unscripted moment in a morning of minutely choreographed state ceremony. It was the moment the three-year-old son of a British soldier killed in Iraq looked President George Bush in the face and said: "My daddy is up in heaven."

Mr Bush's face crumpled, and he stuttered the reply: "Oh, I'm so sorry."

Beck Seymour had, in one short sentence, disarmed the world's most powerful leader and caught the emotions of a room full of war widows and grieving families.

Beck was with his mother, Lianne Seymour, the widow of Commando Ian Seymour, a young soldier killed in a US special forces helicopter crash on the opening day of the Iraq war. And, alone among the 17 other parents, widows and soldiers alongside her, she challenged the President on his policies in Iraq and failure to find Saddam Hussein's alleged stockpile of chemical and biological weapons.

"He came and spoke to me, and he just said: 'I'm so sorry for your loss', and I didn't say anything," she said. "I just looked him straight in the face. He said 'it must be terrible for you', and I just said 'you have no idea how hard it is'."

(snip)

The meeting was ultimately unsatisfactory, she said, since even the US President could not bring her husband back. Yet even she was disarmed by him. "It's really hard, I don't like to say this, but I actually think he was quite genuine. He seemed genuinely quite upset and quite emotional. His wife didn't say anything to me. I don't think I heard her speak once, and to be honest, she looked the disengaged one.

more…
http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/this_britain/story.jsp?story=466408

[FloridaPat]

1. I remember when he chocked up on his first speech for

the 9-11 tragedy. Yet, when he went to visit the site at the Pentagon, he was smiling and not being serious. I figured that since he really wasn't in the armed forces, he can be forgiven for not showing any concern about the pentagon. Then he went to New York to see Ground Zero. He was giving a political speech and laughing with the firemen around there not being serious at all.

My conclusion - he's a good actor when the camera is on him.

[Malva Zebrina]

26. Has no class--clowning at the camera

Someone told her to smile at the cameras all the time--she dutifully does as told, even if it is inappropriate.In this case she is just plain lacking any manners or etiquette. I do not doubt that she was disengaged. No one gave her a script on what to say to the woman. As for him--acting--fancies himself the great comforter and probably posing with tears in his eyes for the camera.





on edit
OOps--hit wrong reply button meant to go to the bottom of the thread

[koopie57]

33. closing my eyes....

but.....can't ..... get.............that ...........picture to go away........................ Damn, but she does look like the Joker from Batman. My husband has always said that and I would just laugh...... gotta go now......gotta blow lunch I fear.....and rip my eyes out....!

[Mikimouse]

2. Gonna Hurl!

I don't think that the POS has the least idea of what a true emotion might be. Let's see how he acts when the cameras and reporters aren't around. What a miserable, empty, hollow, drunken shell of a poor facsimile of a human. Bah!

[virtualobserver]

17. George and Jeb both seem to be able to cry on cue.

I remember when Pat Schroeder cried when she decided not to run for President and she was ridiculed for it.

[slinkerwink]

3. is this an objective source or a right-wing source?

[cosmicdot]

7. you mean The Independent where Robert Fisk works?

I think they're OK.

[Tatiana]

4. What about AMERICAN FAMILIES?

Don't they matter? Why can't Bush say he's sorry to them?

[Gman]

5. I've never known an alcoholic that didn't always appear genuine

It's an alcoholic's nature. It by no means is true that an alcoholic is genuine, it's that they are good at lying.

[Media_Lies_Daily]

13. Bingo. If you've known one, you've known them all.

[baby_bear]

6. No way were these random family members of victims

Hand-picked. So what do we expect? It's like his "public" appearances in this country. Totally staged.

s_m

[kskiska]

8. I'm surprised there was even one out of the 17

who challenged him, and she brought the child, too. What struck me was her remarks about Laura Bush being "disengaged."

[The_Casual_Observer]

9. The expression

"Thinks their shit doesn't stink" applies to Laura Bush more than anyone else in history.

The expression on her snoot while being kissed on the hand said it all.

[DivinBreuvage]

10. What will the tearful "president"...

tell the Almighty when he stands naked and trembling before the Throne of Judgment?

Françoise

[Minstrel Boy]

11. "My daddy is up in heaven"

Please proceed straight to fucking hell, Bush.

[truthseeker1]

16. or, as Jim Hightower would say,

where am I going, and why do I have this handbasket?

[moondust]

18. Bush: "Yes little boy, but I'm not. I don't have anthrax either."

Smirk.

[Media_Lies_Daily]

12. Definition of a sociopath...see if the shoe fits Mr. Bunnypants...

Profile of a Sociopath
<http://home.datawest.net/esn-recovery/artcls/socio.htm>

Excerpts:

"Glibness/Superficial Charm:

Language can be used without effort by them to confuse and convince their audience. Captivating storytellers that exude self-confidence, they can spin a web that intrigues others. Since they are persuasive, they have the capacity to destroy their critics verbally or emotionally."

...snip...

"Grandiose Sense of Self:

Feels entitled to certain things as "their right." Craves adulation and attendance. Must be the center of attention with their own fantasies as the "spokesman for God," "enlightened," "leader of humankind," etc. Creates an us-versus-them mentality"

...snip...

"Shallow Emotions:

When they show what seems to be warmth, joy, love and compassion, it is more feigned than experienced and serves an ulterior motive. Outraged by insignificant matters, yet remaining unmoved and cold by what would upset a normal person. Since they are not genuine, neither are their promises."


There's quite a bit more and, IMHO, scores a direct hit on the Squatter-in-Chief.

[DivinBreuvage]

14. Interesting post, and I agree, except for the part

about language being used without effort. That whole paragraph has no relevance whatsover to the sociopath-in-chief:

"Captivating storytellers that exude self-confidence, they can spin a web that intrigues others."

This is a description of Bush? What was that noise? Oh, it was my gut busting.

Françoise

[baby_bear]

15. I think it's spooky, it's so right on

I even think the language thing works, because so many people say they can relate to him as a regular guy because of the way he talks.

I think the sociopath description is so perfect that it scares me.

s_m

[Media_Lies_Daily]

25. From all reports, Mr. Junta is very charming behind the scenes...

...and apparently displays fairly decent language skills. What we see in public may be very different from what people see privately.

If seen in that way, that paragraph has quite a bit of relevance.

[colorado_ufo]

20. Seems more like a combo of Adult ADD, alcoholic syndrome,

and total lack of empathy. In short, the man is completely wrapped up in himself and is simply incapable of understanding what anyone else is upset about. The only things that truly affect him are the things that - well - affect HIM.

[Panda1]

19. Low expectations again?

It seems that if he doesn't accidentally impale himself with a fork during a meal or vomit on the queen he gets a pass.

These were hand picked people....probably nice people who WANT to believe that their family members didn't die in vain. All he had to do was NOT gloat, NOT be insulting and NOT riducule them in any way. Mission accomplished.

Mrs Seymour was still reluctant to say negative things about him, he didn't slap her son across the face or anything truly vile.

She also isn't aware Pickles is on Xanax 24/7 and is so zonked out she doesn't seem to know where the hell she is.

The look of a medicated woman:

[Malva Zebrina]

29. Looks like the eye lift was a little too tight on that right eye

[IndianaGreen]

21. Reagan cried too

but he was responsible for the deaths of those he sent to Beirut. Bush cried, so what? Hitler cried after he poisoned his dog Blondie.

[0007]

30. I cried when I heard that the Supreme Court announce that junior was prez.

The rats even had to choose which victims of death junior would cast his eyes upon. Wouldn't want to have any real unfeigned pissed off guileless person in present of the holy one would we? Wouldn't make for a genuine tear jerkering story for the world to hear, 'eh?

[Rebel_with_a_cause]

22. Laura was disengaged because she knows what her hubbie is saying backstage

that he couldn't wait to get out of the UK and back to TX.

[mw]

23. Bush is "sorry" that his soul is destined for eternal damnation nt

nt

[calimary]

38. I doubt that. He's probably expecting a nice comfortable fancy seat

with a nice Imperial view, way up high, close to the Right Hand of God.

[arikara]

24. Someone has these Brit papers by the short hairs

This article is totally out of character.

And that ridiculously unbelievable poll by the Guardian that made the front page during the "royal" visit.

[The Zanti Regent]

27. She should have slapped Der Führer in the face

now THAT may have sunk a message into his rancid brain!

[Benhurst]

28. "I only ever judge people

when I meet them. And although I don't like his politics or what he's done, as the person I saw stood opposite me, I actually think I would get on well with him if I met him at a dinner party. I think he would be easy to get on with, he's very personable. But that's different from his politics."

Jessica Mitford's sister Lady Diana Mosley said much the same of Hitler in her memoirs.

On another note, poor Pickles must be on some pretty strong medication.

[lumpy]

36. Interesting reading about Jessica Mitford

and others of the Brit aristocracy. She really had a thing for Hitler as did many others of that ilk. The Duke & Duchess of Winsor were entranced with the beast. Self absorbed scatter brains. So many people are bowled over in the company of power. Even the serfs down below the ranks. My politically challenged daughter-in-law thinks George W. would be fun company, etc. But then all she thinks about is fun and decorating her finger nails. And meddling in the lives of other family members. I do love her, I guess, but boy, everyone shudders when she comes in the door. One in every family thing. Oh man.

[liberalmuse]

31. I knew it!

He does look 100% genuine. I hate to admit this, but when I heard his speech about compassion at the RNC in 2000, I almost had tears in my eyes. Then I reminded myself that he is in fact an effing liar. That is what is so scary about this man--he will look like he feels your pain, then after his display of sincerity, he inflicts double the pain and smirks about it. Hitler had charisma, and I guess this despot does too.

[Gin]

32. Puppets cry?

gin

[amazona]

34. sociopaths are good at that, aren't they? NT

.

[saigon68]

39. This is why Rove will never let him visit Gold Star Families

WHAT A CHIMPANZEE

[koopie57]

35. I think that the reason

Bush showed some emotion is that he can relate to life on the level of a three year old. If you put things simply enough, he can understand. I don't even mean this sarcasticly. I am serious, he is so simple that only a three year old can make sense to him.

[Selwynn]

37. I think you guys "misunderestimate" Bush :)

I have always maintained that Bush is a puppet, not an evil mastermind. I believe the biggest problem with George Bush is that he is ignorant, arrogant and immature. However, I believe that he sincerely believes the bulk of what he says. I think he even believes the lies he says when he says them, if not earnestly then as the product of manipulation and convincing by his handlers. I think he honestly believes he is doing the right thing, however he is motivated by some insane mixture of off-kilter christianity and personal pride.

So its not that I believe things like this are an act - I just believe that when he walks away from the crowd and gets in the limo surrounded by the people who are in fact evil and actively subverting America, he is re-indoctrinized and spoon fed what he should think and feel and how he should act.

I am not excusing Bush - even though I believe he's being used and manipulated while his own mind is far, far less complex and more naieve, that doesn't change the fact that he ought to know better. But I don't believe he is an evil mastermind. He is just a stubborn, arrogant idiot who has the intellectual and emotional maturity of a middle schooler.

[lostnfound]

40. Agreed. And hence he strikes a chord among some of America.

If he were a mailman or some similar occupation, I think he would be just fine.

But born into that family, in his father's dark shadow..a different story altogether.

We ought to spend ten times as much time discussing Cheney as we do the puppet.

[Rex]

41. Lemme guess, Bush said, "tough shit - I need dat oil!!!!"

Now get out there and die for capitalism!