WP: For President Under Duress, Body Language Speaks Volumes

[deminks]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/10/11/AR2005101101577.html

It's only 6:17 a.m. Central time, and President Bush is already facing his second question of the day about Karl Rove's legal troubles.

Bush blinks twice. He touches his tongue to his lips. He blinks twice more. He starts to answer, but he stops himself.

The fidgeting clearly corresponded to the questioning. When Lauer asked if Bush, after a slow response to Katrina, was "trying to get a second chance to make a good first impression," Bush blinked 24 times in his answer. When asked why Gulf Coast residents would have to pay back funds but Iraqis would not, Bush blinked 23 times and hitched his trousers up by the belt.

Bush joked about his state of mind when Lauer asked Laura Bush about the strain on her husband. "He can barely stand!" the president said, interrupting. "He's about to drop on the spot." But the first lady had a calming influence on the presidential wiggles. When Laura Bush spoke about her husband's "broad shoulders," the president put his arm around her -- and the swaying and shifting subsided.

(emphasis mine)

[GCP]

1. Wow, I just read the article

It sounds like he's seriously out of control - barely holding himself together - he must have been jonesing big-time for a belt of scotch.
If anyone has a video clip I'd love to see it :evilgrin:

[deminks]

4. Crooks and Liars has the video

at this link (scroll down to find)

http://www.crooksandliars.com/

There is a transcript here:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/10/20051011.html

[crispini]

16. Permalink to video here

http://www.crooksandliars.com/2005/10/11.html#a5323

[Cronus Protagonist]

26. Here's the Readers Digest version

http://bushspeaks.com/home.asp?did=183

[liveoaktx]

29. MSNBC video link

MSNBC Video

[liberal N proud]

2. Isn't blinking a sign of lying?

[kanrok]

7. For Chimpy, breathing is a sign of lying.

n/t

[cynatnite]

9. I believe it's a sign of stress and lack of sleep...

Usually lying is when the eyes move away or the person doesn't make eye contact with who they are lying to.

bush believes his own spin. :crazy:

on edit: I could be wrong, but this is what I recall reading some time ago.

[AuntiBush]

25. Yup!

[Roland99]

3. Hammering in a few nails is such hard work. It's incredibly hard.

[Skittles]

5. HE is under duress?

imagine how a lot of US feel

[Hubert Flottz]

14. duress HELL .

He's been on vacation for 59 freakin' years!

[Gman]

6. recommended

[henslee]

8. Just watched the vid. Boy, Lauer was A smart ass when he said "so if

you're coming out here and building houses yourself inspires others to pitch in, would you say it was MISSION ACCOMPLISHED?" My jaw dropped.

[Lucille]

10. Contact Millbank and ask why no mention of coke jaw

Here's mine. Recommendations for edits welcome.

[e-mail]

Dear Mr. Millbank:

Your article today described the President's fidgeting, blinking, swaying and shifting. However, you made no mention of a tic that has recently emerged--in which the President moves his jaw back and forth, usually after he makes a point during his press conferences or speeches. This tic is commonly known as "coke jaw," because long-time cocaine abuse is known to be a cause, although there are a number of neurological disorders and psychotropic medications that can also cause this symptom.

Bush's ticing deserves serious scrutiny by yourself and other members of the press. While your article focused on Mr. Bush's physical mannerisms as an indicator of his emotional state, his physical health, specifically his neurological well being, deserves scrutiny also, and your reporting--and your readers--would benefit from the insights of a neurologist who specializes in movement disorders.

Some may may mock Bush because of his odd behavior. In fact, you should be able to find, without too much effort, video files on the internet devoted to Bush's "coke jaw." However, those of us who have experience with Tourettes or other movement disorders know that his behavior likely reflects other health issues, and it deserves further scrutiny from the press as a matter vital to the public interest.

[zbdent]

11. Yeah, where are all those RW nuts who would sit there and analyze

Clinton's body language on every speech during the impeachment times saying "Look - Clinton blinked right there! That means he not only did it, but he forced her to abort the love child they conceived together in 1995!!!!"?

[KG]

12. duress? that would imply that he might give a shit what happens to

the citizenry, which anybody with a working brain can clearly see he does not.

[liberal N proud]

13. He i sunder duress because his own ass is hanging out there

with all the fuck-ups piling up and KKKarl, his saviour is under the rubble of many of those fuck-ups. Yes he is under duress, but not because the American people are suffering.

[crispini]

15. They're just now noticing this?

His body language during the debates was extremely revealing.

[elehhhhna]

17. He blinks constantly because even his thoughts are lies.

[qanda]

19. Maybe since they're not so busy kissing his behind

They now have time to notice how insane he is.

[Arkansas Granny]

28. For a fact. I've been watching his body language for years now

and it has never said the same thing that his words do. I've encouraged friends to watch him speak with no volume and then decide if they would even buy a used car from him. You might lie with your mouth, but your body language will give you away.

[qanda]

18. This made me laugh out loud

"Lauer's query about whether conservatives "are feeling let down by you" appeared to provoke furious jiggling of the right leg."

[smoogatz]

20. It's all just Bush trying to control his temper.

What he really wants to do is tell the press to fuck off and leave him the fuck alone. The guy HATES being president--as least he hates the part of it that involves answering questions.

[wryter2000]

23. I suspect you're right

He can't stand anyone not acting like a perfect ass-kissing toady. I hope someday he blows up and shows them what he's really like -- his mother, the Queen B.

[okieinpain]

24. yes exactly. remember this would be so much easier if he was a dictator.

[Stephanie]

21. Very interesting!

So he spent all day photo-opping but refused to speak to the press? WTF?

[wryter2000]

22. Ye gods

Imagine being the poor schmuck whose job it is to count all of *asshat's blinks.

[Neil Lisst]

27. he's definitely got some serious negative body language

The shifty eyes are hard to watch.

Anyone remember that CNN Bobbie Batista? Had that same weird eye thing going on.


see my shout out to the DU and DU crew!
http://www.webcomicsnation.com/neillisst/

[Hissyspit]

31. Self-delete

[renate]

30. the article makes it sounds like he was about to wig out

I'm sorry I missed that interview. I thought Lauer would just be giving * free PR, so I skipped it (not that I ever watch Today anyway).

Thanks for the links to the video--I'm going to make myself a nice hot cup of tea and ENJOY.