Leader of the free whirl breezes by

[El Supremo]

Source: The AGE

GEORGE Bush is a man who likes a short sentence. Which is not to say the President of the United States reduces ideas to bite-sized chunks. Or maybe it is.

Either way, during the course of his first 24 hours in Sydney, there were plenty of efficient exclamations. Like the exchange on the tarmac as Deputy Prime Minister Mark Vaile inquired how things were going in Iraq. "We're kicking ass," he declared. In a similarly thrifty oratory bent yesterday, he telegraphed his lunch order — "I'm a meat guy". Then he buttered up his host — "I admire your courage" — and insisted he was not playing a double game by hinting at moves to start cutting US troop numbers in Iraq: "Whatever you do, don't call me cute."

He also managed to remain gracious in the face of further niggling about the inconvenience to the people of inner Sydney. At a joint press conference with John Howard, Bush played comic to the PM's straight man. He grinned. He winked. He made eye contact with journalists as he argued that the Iraq war could be won. He joked around, and congratulated the PM on "your … like … grandfatherhood".

But there were a few faint hints of impatience. As Howard's opening statement dragged on, Bush pursed his lips and shifted his weight from foot to foot.

Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/leader-of-the-free-whirl-breezes-by/2007/09/05/1188783321093.html

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Maybe he thinks Aussies are as redneck as Texans.

[daninthemoon]

1. Every day the spoiled little brat kid comes out more.

[rodeodance]

2. And Bush owned the second killer line of the day, as he drew US Secretary

The rest of the day was a giddy social whirl. A bit of local rump at a lunchtime barbecue with the troops, and an hour of mountain biking in the North Shore suburb of St Ives. By nightfall, it was back onto a pleasure cruiser for a trip across the harbour to sign the visitors book at Admiralty House and dine with the Howards at Kirribilli House. Janette Howard greeted Bush at the door, thanking him for bringing rain.

And Bush owned the second killer line of the day, as he drew US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice into a photo to make up the foursome. "You can be my date," he purred, an invitation most straight men would kill to issue.

[donco]

3. What no back rub,...bummer. nt

[daleo]

4. Maybe he's boozing again

It can affect one's sense of humor.

[truthisfreedom]

12. Or coking.

[Lilith Velkor]

13. Probably both.

[tomreedtoon]

5. The Decider. The War President. And now The Meat Guy.

Reminds me of the humorist H. Allen Smith who said that there was no good meat in Texas, since the good stuff was sold to New York. All they had left in the state was "roadrunner heel-meat."

And yes, Bush isn't really from Texas, but Smith's metaphor pretty much applies to him. He is roadrunner heel-meat. Unfortunately, the Democratic candidates are just a mob of Wile E. Coyotes who can't catch him.

[Name removed]

6. Deleted message

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[Platypus]

7. "You can be my date"

In any other workplace in the country, wouldn't that be considered grounds for a sexual-harassment suit? I guess Condi is just afraid of getting the Anita Hill treatment if she speaks up.

[daninthemoon]

8. Isn't sexual harassment only if she doesn't like it? I have a feeling

if we heard their "behind closed doors banter" we would be ill.

[tanyev]

10. Condi's stepmother has said that Condi "just can't say no to that man."

http://www.thecarpetbaggerreport.com/archives/12745.html

[TomInTib]

9. You should make that "some Texans".

Some of the finest people I have ever met live in Texas.

Try Orange County, CA, some day.

Or Phoenix.

Or Philadelphia.

Or New Orleans.

But no matter what, gwb is a national disgrace.

[Lisa]

11. why would anyone think he's "cute"?

I don't think that, and I'm myopic as anything!