* hosts Sarkozy, sans 'freedom fries'-"We're going to give him a hamburger or a hot dog, his choice"

[Kadie]

Bush hosts Sarkozy, sans 'freedom fries'
International Herald Tribune,
The Associated PressPublished: August 12, 2007


KENNEBUNKPORT, Maine: The tricolor flag of France flapped in the wind over the craggy seaside promontory known here as Walker's Point. President George Walker Bush greeted his French counterpart, Nicolas Sarkozy, with a hearty clap on the shoulder. Sarkozy, looking relaxed in a blazer and jeans, kissed Barbara Bush's hand.

The menu, for what the White House billed "a casual family lunch," most certainly did not include freedom fries.

"We're going to give him a hamburger or a hot dog, his choice," Bush said Saturday as he waited for Sarkozy to arrive. He was flanked by the first lady, Laura Bush, his parents and members of the extended Bush clan, including grandchildren who had made welcome signs - "Bienvenue Monsieur Le President" - with pictures of lobsters.

Bush went on with the menu, occasionally interrupted by his wife:

"He's got some baked beans," Bush said. "If he likes baked beans he can have that as well." ("Native Maine corn," Laura Bush interjected.) "There's corn on the cob, real fresh this time of year," he continued. ("Salad, fresh tomatoes," the first lady added.) "If he feels like it, he can have him a piece of blueberry pie, fresh blueberries up here in Maine."

more...
http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/08/12/america/sarkozy.1-113318.php

[Bluebear]

1. Because we can't afford to give him a hamburger AND a hot dog.

:crazy:

[smokey nj]

2. Once again the Duke and Duchess of Hazard serve a foreign leader

meals off a kiddie menu. :banghead:

[terrya]

7. No kidding.

I'm surprised they didn't whip up some Manwiches for him. :eyes:

[smokey nj]

11. And Tater Tots.

[TahitiNut]

8. They can't seem to "rise above" even the lowest possible 'standards'

Corn on the cob? In France, that's cattle feed.

These are people who can afford any kind of food preparation and they don't even reach the 'haute' of Burger King. What's wrong with barbecued ribs? How about deviled eggs? Pommmes frites are fine but how about a good potato salad? There's plenty of summertime American foods that can be prepared without seeming like a drive-thru.

[never_get_over_it]

39. Might be cattle feed in France

but fresh picked corn on the cob to my mind is fabulous and seemed like the best thing on the menu except maybe those vine rippened fresh tomatoes - not sure I'd serve it to a head of state - but sure would love to have some right now - I can't get FRESH PICKED corn in this god forsaken place I live in....

[TahitiNut]

40. Imposing one's own tastes (or lack of taste) on others is one of the hallmarks

... of narcissism. :shrug:

[WildEyedLiberal]

56. Shouldn't you expect to eat local cuisine when you travel to a foreign country?

How is it "narcissism" to serve a foreign dignitary local cuisine? I would expect to eat Spanish food in Spain, French food in France, and I would think that visitors would expect to be treated to American food in the United States of America. I would think it narcissism rather for a visitor to insist that he or she be fed only cuisine from his or her home country, rather than deigning to sample the food of the country he or she has come to visit.

That all said, Bush is a fucking idiot and his fakeass "down home" attitude pisses me off beyond ALL belief. I'm from the Midwest, and my family DOES have cookouts and serve food like hamburgers, hot dogs, corn on the cob, and baked beans. George Bush - wealthy, arrogant, privileged snot - has NOTHING in common with the people who actually eat that kind of food, and his attempts to pretend to be just another good ol' boy from the heartland sicken me.

[TahitiNut]

60. Fast food, although culturally distinct, is not "cuisine."

As I said in another post, the options for summertime American food are broad. Barbecued ribs, Maine potato salad, a variety of green salads and other foods rise above the MacDonalds drive-thru. Indeed, in our polycultural society, MANY foods have been adapted from their origins in other cultures.

Instead of serving something that EXISTS in France (but only for feeding livestock), I think I'd opt for something like hush-puppies. Cornbread is perfectly suited as an "American cuisine." Having been to France for nearly four months, I actually encountered such divides. It turned out that the French with whom I worked had never had deviled eggs or potato salad - and they LIKED them - when we prepared American foods to celebrate Independence Day in Paris. We had a party that included Americans, French, and British co-workers ... and combined foods from all three but mostly American.

[Mind_your_head]

50. Eat an orange then ..... and yes, imo FL is a 'god forsaken place'

why do you live there if you hate it so much?

[never_get_over_it]

57. Yep the oranges

here are awesome - but I have trouble with my stomach with them sometimes....

Long story really how I got here and why I stay. I do love my house, the weather and being this close to the ocean - however the people here have been a big disappointment and the racism is shocking. I'm toying with moving to NC because I have family there - BUT right now the housing market sucks - so I have to wait until it gets a bit better....

[Occulus]

48. Not to defend Der Fuhrer, but

I have had some truly awe-inspiring hamburgers in my lifetime.

A well-assembled, juicy hamburger with ALL the trimmings (two tomato slices, big, green leaves of lettuce, and a nice, thick slice of onion, perhaps with two slices of pepperjack cheese on a big onion roll)... it's isn't "classy", but it sure as hell tastes pretty damn good.

Served with a nice imported German beer and a side of fresh, hot, crispy fries, such a meal represents an All-Murikan Summer, DAMMIT!!

:P

:sarcasm:

I do like a nice big burger every now and again, though. Really. But if it were up to me, I'd serve a gourmet meal, opening with a salad course and followed by Emeril's Garlicky Bread Soup:

In a large saucepan, over medium heat, add

2 tbsp. olive oil

When the oil is hot, add

2 c. chopped onions
1/4 c. finely chopped garlic
One crushed bay leaf
A pinch of crushed red pepper

Add

A dash of salt

Saute until the onions just begin to caramelize, about six to ten minutes, depending upon heat.

Add

2 quarts chicken stock

Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for forty minutes. After, increase the heat and whisk in

2 c. diced day old French bread

and

1/2 c. heavy cream

Continue whisking until the bread has dissolved into the soup, about 10 minutes.

With a hand-held blender, puree the soup until smooth. (this is very important, as part of the point of this recipe is to taste the garlic, but not feel pieces of it in the soup)

Season with salt and pepper. Ladle into individual soup bowls and serve. Garnish with parsley.

If using as au jus with roast beef sandwiches, omit the heavy cream, and substitute beef stock for the chicken stock. I've tried this recipe both ways, and it's just divine. Best use: served in a mug on a cold winter day. I understand this recipe is also very good for hangovers.

[Mind_your_head]

52. Oh....take you and your recipes to the 'cooking & baking' forum *hint*hint*

We the people shouldn't being giving the chimperor 'cooking & baking hints' when he's out to bankrupt us all.....d*mn.....don't help the enemy!!!! And DEFINITELY DON'T give them recipes!!!! *kapeesch*????? :eyes:


M_Y_H @ theonion.com ;-)

[Mind_your_head]

51. Duke and Duchess of Hazard

:roflmao:

worthy of a DUzy and entrance into the popular vernacular.

[smokey nj]

58. I wish I could take credit, it's Bill Maher's line.

[BlooInBloo]

3. I'm glad we're focussed on the important things that happen in the country.

[Bluebear]

4. Well, it's a Parisian webpage, we can't control what they're reporting on

[smirkymonkey]

46. According to the BBC, Cecilia Sarkozy called in "Sick".

"The French president's wife, Cecilia Sarkozy, was meant to be at the lunch but phoned First Lady Laura Bush to say she and her children were feeling unwell and would not attend."

Bwahahahahahah...:rofl:

[ThatsMyBarack]

42. Me, too!

:crazy:

[Warpy]

5. Yuck.

I once served a visiting friend from France hot dogs and beans, but the beans were home cooked, Boston style, in a bean hole in the back yard. The friend thought my very spicy take on it was exotic as hell. The bread and salads were home made as was the apple pie dessert.

I imagine the Bushes just open a few cans and expect the charcoal to season the meat.

White trash with money is still white trash. Let's hope the fare improved at other meals when their chef was in charge.

[smirkymonkey]

26. That's what I've always called them: White Trash with Money

and Waaaaaayyyy too much power. Their vulgarity stuns me. It's as if they are purposely being defiant and "anti-French" by going out of their way to serve Kiddie Picnic food (I mean they are in Maine, for god's sake, how about a few lobsters or some seafood on the grill?)

I can't believe Sarkozy can even eat anything at all after kissing Bar's hand. :puke:

[Skidmore]

6. After those baked beans, it must have been an interesting meeting. nt

[rodeodance]

9. ""If he feels like it, he can have him a piece of blueberry pie,"--good gawd!

[Bluebear]

10. "If he likes baked beans he can have that as well."-as if they were going to shove all this down him

Why is Bush insisting the man has his "choice" on this menu? Does he think people will accuse him of shoving this all down his throat without asking him what he wants? Truly bizarre.

[Poiuyt]

14. I'd like to have me a new president

[smirkymonkey]

28. Touche!

:thumbsup:

[shanti]

55. ok?!!!

:puke: he's a moran.

[saltpoint]

12. Those Bush folks and their silver tongues.

I'm sure Sarkozy's entourage was duly impressed.

[Neecy]

13. deranged...really deranged

"He's got some baked beans," Bush said. "If he likes baked beans he can have that as well."

Huh? I would expect a more logical, well-constructed sentence from a third grader. This is just babble. God help us.

[SalmonChantedEvening]

15. "We're outta roadkill, or he coulda had that as well"

"Possum or Native Maine skunk, his choice!"

[Obamarama]

17. ROFLMAO....good one Salmon

[saltpoint]

18. LOL!

[Kadie]

32. ROFL!

:rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl:

[Obamarama]

16. "If he feels like it, he can have him a piece of blueberry pie..."

..."have him a piece of blueberry pie"??????

I know it would be inconceivable to expect The Boy King to utter a word of French to Mssr. Sarkozy, but is it so much to ask that he utilize correct English grammar?

What a fucktard we have for a president. Complete and utter fucktard.

[Bluebear]

19. Why should our young students strive for gooder English?

"After all, the President says all the things you tell us not to say in class, Miss Plumtree!"

[Lisa]

41. "Yeah, you got a graduate degree in English, but he's setting educational policy"

"Explain that, Miss Plumtree!"



By the way, starting October 1st -- we have a timetable, we got a calendar. And I've got my man, McClellan, with us. He's a doctor, and a -- PhD. See, every government has got to have a PhD, but you notice who -- the PhD is not the President. (Aug. 29, 2005)

DUBYA: I put a good man in charge of this program, and that's Dr. Mark McClellan. He's from Texas -- which means he knows how to get something done. He's got him a PhD --
AUDIENCE: Oooh!
DUBYA: Now, wait a minute. If I had said, California, he'd have got things done, too. I'm just telling you he can get it done. That's why he's sitting where he's sitting. He's a PhD. Here you got on stage a C-student and a PhD, and look who's President. (Aug. 29, 2005)

And many more examples ...
http://www.dubyaspeak.com/repeatoffender.phtml?offense=phd

[earthboundmisfit]

20. For some reason there's a veiled hostility there, even in Shrub's

talking about lunch, for crissakes.

[Bluebear]

21. 'welcome signs - "Bienvenue Monsieur Le President" - with pictures of lobsters'

Mmmmm lobsters . . .

Only you get a hot dog, Monsieur Le President. OR a hamburger.

[Neecy]

23. good catch!

[Kadie]

34. Sailboats and Lobsters - pic

Who would want some Maine Lobster when you can have a ball park frank?


Bush familiy members hold up signs greeting French President Nicolas Sarkozy at the Bush family seaside compound at Walker’s Point in Kennebunkport, Maine. Bush and Sarkozy affirmed their countries' friendship Saturday ahead of a casual lunch, a "heart-to-heart talk" and a brisk boat ride that could signal a new era of closer ties.(AFP/Mandel Ngan)

[smirkymonkey]

29. Exactly what I thought. I get the impression they know that

the French Sarkozy crew will look down upon them no matter what they do, so thier defense is to act like total Hilbillies on purpose. It's like their "F-You" to what they probably perceive as French snobbishness. However proper food, acceptable grammar and manners befitting members of their class should not be too much to ask.

[Ishoutandscream2]

22. When the King and his wife visited Roosevelt in 1939

FDR served hot dogs at Hyde Park. Just saying.

[Bluebear]

24. It's not that he was serving hot dogs, not at all.

Read some of the replies.

[KiraBS]

25. A hotdog....for a French President.....

Do the Bush family always eat kids food?

When * and Laura visit Sarkozy, they would be offered the best, freshest, most expertly cooked food that France has to offer and * offers a hot dog or a humburger and some baked beans and salad with "Fresh Tomatoes". And to the French corn is animal feed, not for dinner, but at least the blueberries are local. That is embarrassing.

It always bothers me when a world leader goes to meet Bush and meets the whole family, something unnerving about Bush Snr being present, it is like having dinner with the head of Mafia.

[Buns_of_Fire]

27. Here's hoping chucklenuts has learned to chew with his mouth closed

And with any luck he's been taught that wiping his mouth on his sleeve is not the thing to do after havin' him somma dat good ol' blueberry pie. Yee haw.

[Kadie]

35. .

:spray:

:rofl:

[uppityperson]

30. In France, corn is pig food. They don't eat corn on the cob.Another insult.

Insult him by giving him pig food, baked beans, and beef pate on a bun.

[Bluebear]

47. Indeed. nt

[Virginian]

49. It will cause intestinal discomfort if you are not accustomed to eating it. n/t

[Mind_your_head]

31. At least the shrub finally admitted it

The very last line of the article:

"No I can't," the president said, asked by a journalist if he could say something in French. "I can barely speak English."

What an embarrassing moran :eyes:

[Kadie]

36. Wow. We can finally agree with him on something.

:rofl:

[OzarkDem]

33. Why does he insist on insulting foreign leaders?

That's completely unacceptable, even for a dumbass cracker GOP president.

The news media should be calling him out on this behavior.

[Giant Robot]

37. Cletus and Brandine are greeting the French President

I like a burger and hot dog as much as the next person, I do love some blueberry pie, but well, this really just seems like white trash-y to me. Or maybe disrespectful.

[peaches2003]

38. Headed to Crawford

and happy as a pig in slop. He's in his relaxed country boy downhome ignoramus mood and proud of it. They mentioned it in some interview after his press conference the other day that he was relaxed and ready for his vacation- laughing, slouching on the stand, joking like with that 'put up your dooks' stuff about Maliki. In other words acting and speaking inappropriately. I don't like any of the Bushes, but Poppy must die when he listens to him and watches him misbehave.

[Coexist]

43. and the grand national embarrassment lumbers on...

if this 8 year sentence of continual humiliation on the world stage doesn't teach us to take voting seriously, nothing will.

[DFW]

44. If only we could have heard Sarko's thoughts.......

Bush: Byen venoo, mon sewer le Prezzy dant!

Sarkozy: (Merci monsieur le connard fini!)

[onethatcares]

45. one gauddammmed minute here, we can't be appeasing no french

tastebuds. According to all the republican websites, the french are surrender monkeys, ready to drop their weapons and run at the slightest provocation. Why is the chimp even talking to this guy? Somebody call the freeprepublic and let them know what's going on.

[opihimoimoi]

53. Poverty food....hot dogs....made from meat scraps....Gimme a break...

Bush is a Major Fuck Up....

[shanti]

54. hot dogs?

for the president of france?? what a goddam EEEDIOT!! :argh:

[Tracer]

59. Geez. The stupid moron couldn't serve up lobsters?

When I go to Maine, that's ALL I want.

[Cass]

61. What a host and hostess. A hot dog OR hamburger. Not both evidently.

And how come there's no Maine lobsters on that menu?? Plenty of lobsters on those welcome signs but none on the grill. WTF.

Bush's tone seems strange. I agree with the poster above who thought there was a veiled hostility coming through here.

[KiraBS]

62. I would have like him to try and give Chriac Hot Dog and beans...

Talk about a diplomatic incident.