Morford: Bush Gropes, Planet Cringes…

[kskiska]

Knead a German chancellor, banter dumbly, reveal global ignorance. It's Dubya abroad!

So now we know.

I mean, we sort of thought we knew, before, what kind of guy George W. Bush is, essentially our very own inept, inarticulate ex-alcoholic ex-frat-guy failed-businessman pseudo-leader who famously appeals to the most God-fearin' and least educated and least attuned among us because he is, well, one of them.

We thought we had him pegged: Just a casual and aw-shucks sort of walkin', talkin', war-happy embarrassment to the country who was rumored to be a Genuinely Nice Guy in person but who, when he traveled abroad, nevertheless caused the entire nation to pre-emptively cringe in preparation for all sorts of imminent humiliations and lots of hilarious-yet-excruciating new material for "The Collected Bushisms."

But every so often we get a glimpse of just a little more. Or, rather, less. Of what lies just beneath that carefully controlled sheen of White House spin, what happens when Dubya is away from his handlers and his prefab scripts. We get a hint of just what fuels that clueless amble, that Chosen One bumble, that graceless and decidedly dorky sort of approach to everything from ordering a Diet Coke to comprehending Middle East chaos.

(snip)

Let us imagine how it would be if, say, Jacques Chirac walked up behind Condi Rice and gave her a quick little noogie on the head, on camera, before a fancy state dinner. Or maybe if Japanese Prime Minister Koizumi snuck up behind Laura Bush and gave a hearty, unexpected smack on the ass before sitting down for a chat. How charming! Or, you know, not.

more…
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/gate/archive/2006/07/19/notes071906.DTL&nl=fix

[wake.up.america]

1. I know the clown stole 2 elections, but no one is pointing a gun...

to those who voted for him, nor is anyone pointing a gun at those who still support him.

So... who are the idiots? Those people and/or those who fall into the trap of debating the bogus issues presented by Rove and his Merry Men in order to detract from the main issues?

Helen Thomas says it best when she remarks that the Democratic Party cannot get it together to force people to concentrate on the important issues

[PurpleChez]

30. Born in '66 I don't have many substantive political memories from

the Carter years, and essentially none of Nixon or Ford. But I remember Reagan. And I remember that, even when the senile old codger was still alive and in office that some revered him almost as a god. And yet, I don't recall anything that even compares to the current alliance of politicians, reporters, media figures, and Regular Citizens who seem to have as their sole purpose in life to convince the rest of us that * has never made a single mistake, that he is in fact the wisest ruler that the world has ever known, that his critics must be silenced, if not destroyed, and that he must be shielded at all costs from criticism and the consequences of his actions. This began even before 9/11 -- IMHO because they realized, if only unconsciously, that * was illegitimate, incompetent, or both.

[Cobalt-60]

50. There were some shennanigans

my favorite : someone inexplicably put up that wrinkled old war monger for the Nobel Peace Prize in '83.
He didnt get it.

[PurpleChez]

52. True that. I was always amazed that someone who misspoke so often

and so dramatically was actually called "The Great Communicator," and without a shred of irony.

[tinfoilinfor2005]

36. I agree. I don't give a rat's ass whose shoulders he massages

where or when. There are certainly more appropriate times to do this, but if we are going to pick the battles that matter, I don't think this should be one of them. Helen is right. We scatter ourselves all over the playing field chasing butterflies instead of keeping our eye on the ball.

Everyone can see that bush makes a fool of himself. As long as we ridicule him, someone will feel the need to defend him. That he is a fool is a given. Let's move past it to the bigger battles.

[Cobalt-60]

49. Collaborators

This is something we need to consider.
Everybody knows - or at least knew - someone converted by the pigtards.
Should social sanction should be applied to the collaborators?
Once their new masters are out of power, shouldn't we consider them fifth columnists?

[PurpleChez]

53. A very good question. And I don't have an answer.

On the one hand: while there have always been Party Faithful, on both sides, I think Bushbots have been exceptionally unwavering in their support (implicit and explicit) for each and every crime and atrocity committed by the chimp and his handlers. (Getting back to Reagan, although people idolized the man they were still able to admit that he made mistakes, such as his unconscionable support for apartheid.) Iraq is chief among their crimes, and I think every Bush supporter has blood on his hands.

On the other hand: I live in a red area of a red state. Most of the folks I know locally are Republicans, if not * supporters. And many of them are good, kind people who would do anything to help others. My wife recently has had some health issues, and the outpouring of support from our conservative-leaning, W-sticker-sticking friends has been overwhelming. To borrow a line from another, recent thread, I think many of these folks THINK they support Bush, only because they don't know better. Maybe that's not the best excuse. (How could they NOT know the war is a lie and a farce?) Yet, it makes the issue much more complex for me.

[Catherine Vincent]

2. George W. Bush is an embarassment to the United States.

That is all.

[mwb970]

10. I didn't think I could feel any more ashamed of him.

I guess I was wrong.

[redqueen]

3. mark morford is one of the few people

who can make it enjoyable to read about unpleasant things

bless him for that

[Thoreau-Ly]

32. Well Put

He is very, very funny sometimes.

He has a growing fan base out East, here.

[redqueen]

33. Hi Thoreau-Ly!

Welcome to DU! :hi:

(dunno if you're new... just going by your post count :))

I often send links to his editorials to people to spread the joy. Hard to find these days where relation political matters are concerned.

[Thoreau-Ly]

38. Hey Thanks

People are friendly here! And very, very funny sometimes. The Our Dumb President thread was unbelievable.

Have a good day! Chin Up and Cheers!

[muriel_volestrangler]

4. Morford has hit the nail on the head: Bush IS the boss from "The Office"

Michael Scott, or, in the original, David Brent. Promoted beyond his competence, still thinks he's everyone's friend, that he has the 'straightforward' way of seeing things, but is making constant faux pas and appalling decisions, which he then blames on someone else (unless he's so lazy that he palms the job off to someone else in the first place).

[geardaddy]

16. "I'm a chilled out entertainer"

- David Brent

[drone]

18. corporate policy

corporations have rules of hands off the folks around you.

after stealing the election the "elected" are supposed to deliver the work that they are expected to do.

this may call for sophistication, social class, and dignity.

I do not see any in these "elected" people

[daveskilt]

34. "Im not fooling anyone - Im rock and roll"

David Brent is the president.

Sadly I often feel like Brent. I have 188 employees and walking around talking to folks I sometimes walk away thinking did I just do something brentish that no one wants to call the boss on?

[lebkuchen]

5. I saw a photo of Bush holding Merkel's hand as though she were a child

The Germans have always disliked Bush and are probably missing Schroeder right about now.

[Alcibiades]

35. At least she really is an adult

Merkel at least reacted genuinely to the "back rub," and I'm sure she was cringing inwardly while holding hands with Bush--nonetheless, she does seem to genuinely like this creep, or if not, she hides it well.

[lebkuchen]

47. Germany is several years behind the US re: women's rights

It is still easy to find German women working the secretarial jobs, delivering coffee to the male boss as he chainsmokes cigarettes behind his glassdoor office.

However, Germans aren't accustomed to having their leaders treated in such a diminished, sexist, way. Merkel had better get w/the program. If any further touching photos w/Bush become public, the public will turn against her.

[wake.up.america]

58. Actually, Merkel has decent ratings. But a little uneasy about her...

cuddling up to GWB

[BlueJac]

6. Moronic behavior is on the march.......

Bush just can't get over being him self.

[kskiska]

7. Caught in the act of being himself.

Now we know.

[johnlal]

8. Groping World Leaders is not cool!

http://lallylaw.com/blog/?p=10

I think Bush should have lifted her blouse and gave her a kiss on the belly a la Putin.

[txwhitedove]

9. The CIA closed their Osama Bin Laden watch. Maybe, just maybe...

the need for a Bush-puppet is over? Handlers gone and he's stuck
out in the nasty world alone, tripping over his own tongue.
Cheney is conspicuously absent. It appeared to me that Tony Blair
was in control during the sh*t debacle, and knew the mic was on.
Ta-da, here you are folks, the clown who got us all into this mess...

[bloom]

11. "He does not, of course, realize no one else is laughing."

"Dubya is, of course, oblivious. His expression is his classic blank "Who, me?" stare that recalls a child caught eating a live grasshopper."


I thought that summed up his expression pretty well.

[xzyra]

12. why, of all the stupid, immoral, icky things he's done,

does this make me particularly sick? I almost can't stand to look at the pictures... I want to hurl. I am trying to figure out what it is - there has been so much worse. still... EEEWWWWW

x( ;( :puke: :wow: :shrug: :banghead: :nuke:

[Mugsy]

13. Jimmy Kimmel had the video last night.

On the Tuesday night episode of Jimmy Kimmel live, he had the video of Bush's quick grab of the German Chancellor. I was glad to see there was video and not just photos.

Anyone else catch it?

[xzyra]

14. video can be found here

http://www.crooksandliars.com/posts/2006/07/18/presidential-groping/

[kskiska]

15. Jon Stewart had it, too

At the very end of his show.

[question everything]

17. Except... I think that Blair is a lot more sophisticated and educated

and, of course, articulate beyond being Bush's "poodle"

[Sugarcoated]

19. Man, that article is too funny!

Great interpretation of reality, perfect. I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for Morford's writing in the future.

[etherealtruth]

20. OK, it IS a good article ....

I just can't laugh.

The fact that the POTUS is a complete and utter fool just isn't funny to me; I'm embarrassed.

[LibDemAlways]

21. Has any prominent Democrat ever called the chimp out

as an embarrassment to the country? Every one of them from Howard Dean to Barbara Boxer to Harry Reid to Ted Kennedy to Bill Clinton to the men who ran against him - Al Gore and John Kerry - have never uttered a public word to suggest he's a hopeless lightweight lacking the intellectual and social gravitas to be a world leader. They just sit there, hoping against hope that the next faux pas won't be Bush caught on camera chewing like a cow while uttering an expletive, or rushing into a room with a creepily vacant expression on his face stopping long enough to sneak up behind the German Chancellor to give her a shoulder noogie, or responding to a reporter's serious question regarding tensions in the Middle East with smartass references to a bar-be-qued pig.

It's a DU cliche, but that sort of behavior from a Democrat would not be given a pass by repukes who would immediately launch investigations, call for impeachment/resignation, go on talking heads shows to express outrage - all supported by a compliant press who would rerun the offenses hundreds of times.

It's true we don't have the corporate media in our corner, but a thoughtful statement signed onto by the Democratic leadership to the effect that Bush's antics were inappropriate and juvenile, and that this is, unfortunately, a pattern - would be a baby step in the right direction. I know. I know. Jellyfish lack the spine for even the most gentle smackdown. It's a pity.

[txwhitedove]

23. Here ya go. Only one that I've heard of here on DU...

[LibDemAlways]

25. Gotta love Rep. Rangel...

Knows how to use wit to get at a fundamental truth, and not afraid of the big, bad repukes.

[I Have A Dream]

27. Haaa!

:rofl:

So true!

[Thoreau-Ly]

31. Yes! Rangel!

And Morford is absolutely brilliant. Good thing my office is in a separate wing; I was in tears.

'It is merely, on the surface, a minor infraction, a stupid gesture, a "what-the-hell?" moment you want to forget immediately but is unfortunately burned into your retina like a flaming spear of oh-please-God-no. And it speaks volumes.'

EXACTLY.

I feel sorry for people who don't understand. Even the Trolls deserve better. We're all Americans, after all.

Unless we're some sort of weird alien/ape hybrid, like this monkey some people can actually call President.

[pokercat999]

51. I saw that interview and laughed for a half hour. It still

brings a smile to my face every time I see it.

[DemonFighterLives]

22. He's The Guy

:rofl:
clip--
He is That Guy. The one who thinks he is everybody's bestest pal, the guy everyone wants to kick back with and have a few brewskies and chat about baseball and lawn fertilizer and Jesus. After all, isn't that what we all desire of the man who decides some of the most difficult, deadly, complicated issues on the planet? Isn't that slacked, frat-guy goofiness exactly what you want trying to broker peace in the Middle East and understand global warming and stem-cell research? Sure it is.
===
Our little towel snapper in chief.

[ewagner]

24. On the road for a week

no internet access
no "real" newspaper coverage

got back on line this morning and

WOW!!!!

If this were a private corporation that would result in a SEXUAL HARRASSMENT SUIT

Morford documents three embarrassing moments for our pResident at ONE CONFERENCE....

I think I should put a paper bag over my head to hide my embarrassment for having this moron as our pResident...

[dogday]

26. This picture says it all.....

Apparently Georgie likes woman's necks..

[geardaddy]

37. The second photo looks like he's thinking of

strangling Pickles.

[Penndems]

28. Bullseye!

:D

Bravo, Mr. Morford. You NAILED it!

[kerry-is-my-prez]

29. ouch! Poor little Dumbya.....

n/t

[2QT2BSTR8]

39. And some call him our Savior....found this link...

:wtf:
http://www.bushislord.com/

unFREAKINbelievable!!!!

[Thoreau-Ly]

40. HOLY SHIT

No!

NO!

It must really mean that his is the opposite, Satan.

A really stupid Satan, like maybe Beelzebub, the dung-god, but Satan, nonetheless.

I have faith that I am absolutely correct in this. Another God just told me I am.

[geardaddy]

41. That's obviously a satirical site.

[Thoreau-Ly]

42. Then I'm a Sucker

For thinking that Americans could be that stupid.

Or...am I?

[geardaddy]

43. Actually, I shouldn't have said "obviously"

It wasn't immediately recognizable as a satirical site. I checked out some of the "sponsors" and found them to be satirical too.

[2QT2BSTR8]

45. OK...my bad...so sorry....

I didn't want to give them any more clicks than they were worth. Should have dug deeper.

[ursula law]

44. after watching the video

i was disgusted. the german chancellor instinctively tried to throw his hands off her and she was mortified... he wouldnt do that to a man and she knew it. he was minimizing her

[philly_bob]

46. Newspaper coverage of gropes and blunders

I read three large daily newspapers (Philadelphia Inquirer, New York Times, and Washington Post) and I didn't see any pictures of the groping incident.

Has the provenance of the video been verified? It looks too real to be faked. But if it wasn't faked, why didn't the papers run it?

Also the Washington Post story on the Bush-Blair accidentally-recorded conversation edited out what was, to me, the most embarassing part of it.

As I remember, Bush said to the Chinese diplomat something like 'I'm anxious to get home. It'll take me eight hours. How long will it take you? You're in the neighborhood."

The Post edited out the line "You're in the neighborhood." Like, the idea that we have a president who thinks that Russia and China are in the same neighborhood is just too horrible to contemplate.

[Cobalt-60]

48. Barf City!

I pray to Bacchus that he was drunk, because I just can't imagine another excuse for this.
Grabbing the chamber maid's backside is one thing - but this is the leader of Germany!
Our German allies are, to lift a phrase from the Simpson's, not all smiles and sunshine.
Anyone who even considered voting for this craven pigtard should get down and give me 100 - RIGHT NOW.

[onehandle]

54. King Asshat embarrasses us once again.

Historians? Are you taking notes? It's not just that he was a bad President with bad policies.

He's our face to the world. These things count.

[bluescribbler]

55. He's lucky

If he's done that to Maggie Thatcher, she'd have decked him.

[gula]

56. I hardly think they wince

What I hear is more like "Oh God, the stupid (insert word of your choice) is at it again.

Why would the rest of the world wince at what the pResident of the US does?

[xzyra]

57. because he is a nasty disgusting creep

And it is revolting to think of his grubby little paws on anyones shoulders. BLAH! shudder wince



:puke: