Bush massages Merkel

[TheEarl]

Perdita's just brought this to my attention:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2006/07/19/MNG3HK1MDI1.DTL

George Bush walks up behind the German Chancellor, who's engaged in an in depth conversation with Romano Prodi and starts rubbing her shoulders. Andrea Merkel is, understandably, unimpressed and practically throws him off.

<cries with laughter>

For anybody still able to breathe, Die Bild has a video of the event:

http://www.bild.t-online.de/BTO/new...iebes-attacke/merkel-bush-liebes-attacke.html

Bush just walks away! Without even looking guilty or apologising. It's a drive-by massage.

I don't know if anybody knows German, but the language allows you to coin new words by combining existing ones to describe a concept. Bush's action is noted as a Liebesattack, or Loveattack.

Anyone still not in hysterics, read the spin that some analyst has tried to put on it:

GOP commentator and Fox News political analyst Karen Hanretty said the outraged reaction shows how "President Bush just can't win."

"Aren't these the same women who have been angry about cowboy diplomacy?" she asked. "Do they want a kinder, more sensitive Bush -- or a cowboy? Once again, there's no pleasing women," she said. "Give them the cowboy and they want Alan Alda.''

Can't... breathe...

The Earl

 

[rgraham666]

I'm at a loss for words.

 

[Guest]

Jon Stewart did a lovely discussion of this on the Daily Show last night.

Bush obviously caused Merkel pain and she had to raise her arms to fend him off. Ridiculous. I'm just as sensitive in my shoulders as she appears to be and if someone would attack me from behind like he did her I would be very angry.

I certainly would have gotten up, turned around, and faced my attacker. Probably with a fist.

What a fucking fool. God help the U.S.A.

 

[minsue]

WTF!!!

*shakes head*

What an ass.

 

[TheEarl]

I'm just at an utter loss as to what thought processes led him to consider that a good idea.

The Earl

 

[Guest]

I'm just at an utter loss as to what thought processes led him to consider that a good idea.

The Earl

Thought processes?

I don't hear that phrase coupled with GWB very often.

 

[minsue]

I'm just at an utter loss as to what thought processes led him to consider that a good idea.

The Earl

It's a typically male thing to do (at least, American male). I've had men do that to me in an office setting on more than one occasion. I have no idea what makes them think it's appropriate. They sure as hell wouldn't come up behind another man and start rubbing his shoulders for no reason.

 

[Rumple Foreskin]

It's just a sample of "hands on" politics, Texas style.

To be fair, it might be a variation of "You scratch my back and I'll scratch yours" international diplomacy.

I wonder if he said, "Yo, Merk, this good for ya?"

Rumple "shaking head" Foreskin

 

[TheEarl]

It's a typically male thing to do (at least, American male). I've had men do that to me in an office setting on more than one occasion. I have no idea what makes them think it's appropriate. They sure as hell wouldn't come up behind another man and start rubbing his shoulders for no reason.

It's not an English male thing to do, let me tell you that right now! Some of the stereotypes about the English are true; when with strangers or new acquaintances, there is no touching beyond a handshake unless obvious permission is given. And even then it'd probably be very awkward.

I can't fathom invading someone's personal space like that. Even with a close friend, I'd ask if she wanted a massage and even then only if she looked like she needed one.

Guess it's two countries separated by a common language.

The Earl

 

[kendo1]

As Bush turned away he was heard to remark, 'I take it a blowjob is out of the question?'

 

[minsue]

As Bush turned away he was heard to remark, 'I take it a blowjob is out of the question?'

. .

 

[Munachi]

It's not an English male thing to do, let me tell you that right now! Some of the stereotypes about the English are true; when with strangers or new acquaintances, there is no touching beyond a handshake unless obvious permission is given. And even then it'd probably be very awkward.

I can't fathom invading someone's personal space like that. Even with a close friend, I'd ask if she wanted a massage and even then only if she looked like she needed one.

Guess it's two countries separated by a common language.

The Earl

hehehehe

that would be very similar in germany. we are usually taught to keep distance unless we know people well - and merkel particularly seems like a distanced type of person to me, not someone who'd be easily hug or like to be touched by strangers or something. i, in her place, would have gotten scared, if i suddenly find someone touching me...

 

[Munachi]

oh, and it's "Liebesattacke". with an e in the end.

 

[TheEarl]

oh, and it's "Liebesattacke". with an e in the end.

My German's gone down the pan of late. Giving serious consideration to diving into one of your stories with the aid of a dictionary to try and reimmerse myself in the language.

The Earl

 

[Guest]

It's not an English male thing to do, let me tell you that right now! Some of the stereotypes about the English are true; when with strangers or new acquaintances, there is no touching beyond a handshake unless obvious permission is given. And even then it'd probably be very awkward.

I can't fathom invading someone's personal space like that. Even with a close friend, I'd ask if she wanted a massage and even then only if she looked like she needed one.

Guess it's two countries separated by a common language.

The Earl

Not all American males do this, though. Honestly.

And the ones I know who are "hands-on" would only slap the back of another guy, for instance. They wouldn't approach a female colleague and manhandle her. Not without expecting a lawsuit.

 

[Munachi]

My German's gone down the pan of late. Giving serious consideration to diving into one of your stories with the aid of a dictionary to try and reimmerse myself in the language.

The Earl

don't worry, it was just a tiny mistake...

anyway, hehe that'd be cool if you'd use my stories to practice german - actually, those that are in german also have a version in english, except for the newest one - so you could read both versions paralelly, to verify if you understand everything... reading generally is good practice, i find. one thing i like to do in foreign languages, is reading children's books. like, i started learning swedish recently, and am now reading all astrid lindgren books i can get my hands on. and of course, if you can get a german tv station, that is good practice too...

 

[Huckleman2000]

David Letterman's Top Ten Bush Moments

Presidential Groping

And from the always entertaining James Wolcott

Perhaps it was nothing more than Bush's usual privileged-snot appropriation at play. A symptom of the same syndrome that has him hanging nicknames on people, and kissing bald men on the head. Reports in the Financial Times and elsewhere have indicated that Bush is hoping/planning to groom Merkel as the US's number one ally to fill the spot of the fading Tony Blair, to whose troubles Putin wickedly alluded. It's difficult to know what would be in it for Merkel or Germany, given the lopsidedness of the special relationship between Bush and Blair, where Blair stands stalwart on the War on Terror and for his orotund loyalty receives the contempt of his own people, cries of "poodle" in the press, and the back of Bush's hand over global warming, trade, etc. But Bush has always been a taker, not a giver. He wasn't giving Merkel a massage, he was taking possession of her, letting everybody know, "This little lady's mine." I wonder what Merkel's husband thought of Bush's handy familiarity. I can't imagine Laura Bush was too thrilled.

 

[SeaCat]

Honestly I am shaking my head over this. When my father E-Mailed me a story about this I started laughing then I stopped.

My first question was why didn't she just stand up and deck his ass? Then I remembered that she is a woman as well as the Chancelor of Germany. Then I asked myself once again why she didn't just stand up, turn around and deck his foolish ass.

Cat

 

[rgraham666]

…why she didn't just stand up, turn around and deck his foolish ass.

Cat

I'd been wondering the same thing.

Seeing the Secret Service applauding afterwards would be worth the price alone.

 

[minsue]

He wasn't giving Merkel a massage, he was taking possession of her, letting everybody know, "This little lady's mine."

Very astute analysis.

 

[minsue]

It's amazing the way different press outlets report on the same thing. From the LA Times -

Entering the meeting room, as relayed by a Russian television camera, Bush headed directly behind the chancellor, reached out and, placing both hands on the collar of her gold jacket, gave her a short massage just below the neck.

She smiled.


Were they watching the same tape?

 

[matriarch]

It's amazing the way different press outlets report on the same thing. From the LA Times -

Entering the meeting room, as relayed by a Russian television camera, Bush headed directly behind the chancellor, reached out and, placing both hands on the collar of her gold jacket, gave her a short massage just below the neck.

She smiled.


Were they watching the same tape?

Apparently not.
And apparently Bush-lovers.

 

[3113]

First he says "Shit" now this...I think Georgie is losing it. Or perhaps his handlers are have lost control of him. He seems to think he's back in some boardroom at a U.S. company where he can relax and do such things.

There are guys who feel they can put their hands on women they kinda know and work with. Most of them have a misguided idea that it's a friendly gesture, a "that's my girl," kinda thing. And as obnoxious and patronizing as it is, they can often get away with it in that context.

But this...(puts head in hands)...I don't know if I can bear the shame any longer. Can I be Canadian....? Please?

 

[LadyJeanne]

Groper in Chief

I think I'm gonna call my SO tomorrow and see if he wants to come over and play President and Chancellor. I'll wear my power suit, and he can wear his cowboy hat and...

 

[3113]

I can't fathom invading someone's personal space like that. Even with a close friend, I'd ask if she wanted a massage and even then only if she looked like she needed one.

George overstepped bounds even in an American context. HOWEVER, most Americans are far more relaxed and demonstrative (depends on which part of the country you're from, and what kind of family). Witness the fact that Clinton, a nice southern boy, tended to hug a lot.