The swear word got the press, but *'s boredom at G8 more upsetting...

[marmar]

The author of this article read my mind:


Published on Wednesday, July 19, 2006 by the Progressive
Knucklehead Diplomacy, Bush-Style
by Ruth Conniff

News about Bush's foul language at the G-8 Summit got disproportionate coverage, of course. If you want to get the US press buzzing, get the President to swear, or fool around with an intern. Never mind the conflagration in Iraq. The more alarming part of the story was Bush's apparent boredom with the meeting of international leaders, his eagerness to go home, where he has "got something to do," and his apparent confusion about geography.

Here's the leader of the free world speaking to President Hu Jintao of China: "Where you going? Home? This is your neighborhood; it won't take you long to get home. . . . You get home in 8 hours? Me too! Russia is a big country, and you're a big country."

The era of cowboy diplomacy may be over, but we have two and a half more years of knucklehead diplomacy to go.

It would be funny if it weren't so terrifying. Remember, right after 9-11 when the big Republican talking point was "thank god the grown-ups are in charge?"

Doesn't have quite the same ring today.

But as terrorist violence and military reprisals worsen in Israel and Lebanon, and Americans feel less safe, a certain skepticism of the political motivations on all sides is some comfort.

Check out Al Jazeera and the poll question "Who do you think is mainly to blame for the current Middle East crisis?" Israel wins the race with 33% (no surprise, especially given the political leanings of Al Jazeera's readership). Hezbollah comes in second with 21%. Iran and Syria together get 19%, and the United States is tied with "all of the above" at 13%.

What's interesting is that 40% blame Hezbollah, Iran, and Syria, with a comparable 46% placing the blame on the usual fall guys, Israel and the United States....

The rest is at: http://www.commondreams.org/views06/0719-30.htm

[senseandsensibility]

1. Mareen Dowd (love her or hate her) made the same point

today in her column. He seems to RESENT being "president." He brags about "making up" his speech and complains about having to listen to others talk.
As she said, even after Katrina and the debacle in Iraq, he doesn't care about governing at all.

[Lindacooks]

2. The grownups left the White House in January 2001.

and that structure has been occupied by childish goons.

[Maccagirl]

3. My Gawd that's hard to read

<Russia's a big country and you're a big country.>

I've always gotten the impression that he hates the job, but will destroy anyone who challenges his "right" to live in the WH.

[marmar]

5. I know...

I almost feel embarassed for him. And people from other countries, who learn English very literally and not always the nuanced versions (such as Bushspeak), must have no clue what the hell he's talking about. "You're a big country." Yikes! :yoiks:

[DELUSIONAL]

4. he seems to like all the "pomp and circumstance" surrounding

the kingship of the US.

But he wants none of the work -- none of the care for the inhabitants. He couldn't be bothered about the Katrina tragedy -- only when his puppet masters decided that they had to pull a few votes out of that mess.

He wants only to be in front of fawning crowds. He only wants to talk about his interests.

Malignant Narcissism -- someone has a thread on this subject as it relates to his Majesty.

[Bad Penny]

6. At least W gave the photographer his attention

for the group photo

[Stardust]

7. But some of those guys talk too much! It's hard work!