"The Snippy President"

[leftchick]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/blog/2008/04/07/BL2008040701344_5.html?hpid=opinionsbox1

Faced with the seminal question about what he tried to spin as a breakthrough agreement on missile defense with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Bush got snippy yesterday. Real snippy.

Here's the exchange, with Reuters reporter Matt Spetalnick, at yesterday's joint press availability:

Q: "Thank you. Mr. President, your joint statement on missile defense is still far short of a deal for Russian support or even acquiescence on this project. Isn't this just a matter of kicking the can down the road, in the twilight of both of your terms, to a new U.S. administration that may or may not even support it?"

Bush's response: "Now, you can cynically say it's kicking the can down the road. I don't appreciate that because this is an important part of my belief that it's necessary to protect ourselves. And I have worked -- reached out to Vladimir Putin. I knew this was of concern to him, and I have used my relationship with him to try to get something in place that causes Russia to be comfortable with it.

"Is it going to happen immediately? No, it's not going to happen immediately. But is this a good opportunity to work together? You bet it is. For the common good. And so I feel comfortable with it, and I think it is -- you know, I happen to believe it is a significant breakthrough, simply because I've been very much involved with this issue and know how far it's come."

Peter Baker writes in The Washington Post: "Bush was visibly agitated by the question and afterward decided not to invite reporters for a roundtable discussion on Air Force One on the flight back to Washington as he has done at the end of other overseas trips. Instead, senior Bush advisers made four trips back to the press cabin to argue the importance of the declaration."

[graywarrior]

1. That's funny, he talks like he thinks he's in charge or something.

[elizfeelinggreat]

2. flashback

I could swear I've read the same defense from him about his relationship with Putin in the past. (I'm not talking about him looking into Putin's soul but the fact that he's 'working hard' on CAUSING things to happen in a COMFORTABLE way)

[spanone]

3. if junior doesn't make you cynical no one will.....how dare anyone question his highness

[sinkingfeeling]

4. Doesn't this line say it all about our little Prez who thinks he's a big hero? " I happen to believe

it is a significant breakthrough, simply because I've been very much involved with this issue...."

[notadmblnd]

5. So the Chimperor was told he's wearing no cloths and he got snippy

"why this is a perfectly fine outfit I have on.. made of the finest materials and if you can't see it, then you're the fool. Now, watch me put lipstick on this pig."

[Supersedeas]

6. Pissypants doesn't want to acknowledge the real problems he will hand his successor

[Rob H.]

7. Reminds me of an exchange between Shrub and David Gregory

in 2002. Gregory asked Bush why protestors in Europe objected to his foreign policy and then switched to French to ask Jacques Chirac the same question:

Bush: Very good. The guy memorizes four words, and he plays like he's intercontinental.

Gregory: I can go on.

Bush: I'm impressed -- que bueno. Now I'm literate in two languages.

How dare Gregory show off his linguistic skills?! Doesn't he know that no one is smarter than Commander Cuckoo Bananas? :sarcasm:

Gregory should've shot back, "I think you mean 'fluent,' not 'literate.'"