Bush is Cracking Up
Sat Jun 09, 2007 at 10:33:26 PM PDT
OK, Bush has never been known for his command of syntax or grammar, much less the facts. But lately he seems even more off his game than usual. He went to Rome today, where he started out by using the wrong title for the Pope:
US President George W Bush drew gasps at the Vatican on Saturday by referring to Pope Benedict XVI as "sir" instead of the expected "His Holiness", pool reporters said. News24
All right, it wasn't that bad a slip, and he was still being polite, and I wouldn't have made anything of it except (1) after six years and several papal audiences, he ought to have the protocol down, and (2) all the listeners gasped when they heard him.
But then it gets really interesting.
Bush then met with Prime Minister Prodi and they held a joint press conference, Here are some choice excerpts from the OFFICIAL White House transcript:
First, as usual, he refers to the Prime Minister as "Romano" in the opening remarks, while Prodi says "President Bush," not "George." But so far that's Bush's usual M.O. - same as when he made a point of saying that he calls Russian President Putin "Vladimir." It betrays a level of insecurity that he constantly needs to show - even after six years as president - that he can call world leaders by the first names to their faces, and while they, following protocol, refer to him by his title.
But then came the questions. One from Jennifer (and I know that from the quote that follows) asked about his meeting with the Pope.
PRESIDENT BUSH: Jennifer, I'll be glad to share some of the private conversation with His Holy Father. First, I'll give you an impression. I was talking to a very smart, loving man. And, you know, after six-and-a-half years of being the President, I've seen some unusual -- I've been to some unusual places and I've met some interesting people. And I was in awe, and it was a moving experience for me. (Emphasis added)
Well, it could have been an attempt to make up for the gaffe earlier. He got it half right, this time.
Next question, and he not only has trouble hearing it, he has trouble answering it.
Q -- Pope has said --
PRESIDENT BUSH: What?
Q The Pope has said Iraq was worrisome.
PRESIDENT BUSH: Yes, he's worrisome [sic] about the Christians inside Iraq being mistreated by the Muslim majority. He's deeply concerned about that, and we spent a lot -- spent a fair amount of time talking about it.
The "[sic]" is in the White House transcript. Even they couldn't let that one slide.
His hearing and his comprehension get worse:
Q Thank you. You've just told us that you and President Bush have just returned from your G8 summit. Now, the outcomes that have been stated on the many issues that you discussed -- climate, development, and the missile shield -- now, are those real -- is that real progress, or not? And the deadline for the Kosovo independence --
PRESIDENT BUSH: What? Say that again?
Q Deadline for the Kosovo independence?
PRESIDENT BUSH: A decline?
Q Deadline, deadline.
PRESIDENT BUSH: Deadline. Beg your pardon. My English isn't very good. (Laughter.)
Q Sorry. Do you wish that President [sic] Prodi will pay a visit to you in Washington in the next months?
PRESIDENT BUSH: Yes, and yes.
Q And on the deadline?
PRESIDENT BUSH: I'd love to welcome the Prime Minister. We're just going to have to work through our schedules, but he's invited any time. ... In terms of the deadline, there needs to be one. This needs to come -- this needs to happen. ...
Two "yes"'s to one question? At least he got the part about his English right. (In this case the [sic] is mine; Prodi is the Prime Minister.)
OK, there's always been a bit of the stumblebum about Bush. A lot, actually. I mean, whole books have been published of Bushisms. But combine this with the apparent beer drinking the other day - though it seems it was "near beer," which even so can be risky for an alcoholic (see this Americablog as well some of the dKos discussions here and here, among others), one has to wonder. (Here's also some pictures of Bush pouring his beer, near or not, too fast. And note the last shot - where he is laughing a lot harder than any of the others at the table.)
Bush also seemed unsure of how to behave at the summit, again odd for a man who's done this six times before. The New York Times has some examples:
Mr. Bush didn’t seem to know quite how to greet Mrs. Merkel, one of his strongest allies in Europe, when the two met here for their first joint event, lunch Wednesday afternoon. When Prime Minister Tony Blair of Great Britain saw Mrs. Merkel, he greeted her in the traditional European fashion, a kiss on each cheek. Kisses from Mr. Bush, though, seemed out of the question, especially given the shoulder massage hubbub.
So when the president and Mrs. Merkel emerged from their meal, they stood side by side, close, but definitely not touching. They spoke to the press, and then Mr. Bush gave his German counterpart a hearty handshake and a couple of couple of claps on the shoulder — the sort of "attaboy" gesture a basketball player might get from his coach. ...
As [Bush and Putin] settled themselves into position for the traditional group photograph — the night before the meeting Thursday where Mr. Putin surprised Mr. Bush with a counter-offer on the missile plan — the two barely looked at one another. Then the president spotted a friendly face in the crowd: Mrs. Merkel. He waved to her, right over Mr. Putin’s head. (Emphases added)
So, he's having hearing and comprehension problems, his social insecurities are showing, he's clumsy on the world stage -- what are the odds he's losing it? (To the degree that he ever had it in the first place, but that goes without saying.) Folks, I'm getting more and more convinced he's cracking up in front of our eyes, to the point that even his handlers can't cover for him.
