As we recently learned from interviews with the German media, the most satisfying moment of George W. Bush’s presidency wasn’t when we found the WMD (oops) or when bin Laden was captured (oops), but instead, it was when he caught a fish…although it seems that the alleged 7.5 pound perch wasn’t caught either.
But what else did we learn from Bush’s latest round of interviews? Besides the fact that he lies about fishing too? Well, we learned one of two things; either Bush displayed an amazing amount of arrogance and lack of respect when talking about the German Chancellor, or, George has another strong woman in his life…and of course, his thoughts on Iraq, Iran and soccer.
At the outset of his interview with ARD German Television, Bush was asked if he was looking forwrd to his trip to Germany this summer. He said:
Yes, I am. It was very kind of Chancellor Merkel — who I call Angela, by the way — to invite me to her residence.
And he proceeded to call her Angela throughout the interview. When discussing other world leaders, have you ever heard Bush mention Jaques or Ehud or Mahmoud? Was this the subtle belittling of a woman in power? In fact, during the course of the interview, Bush said:
– you know, I talked to Putin, President Putin the other day, right before Angela came. And she talked to President Putin in Siberia, as you know.
For some reason, she was not afforded the respect of the title of her office. But what other qualities does Angela have…important qualities for one of our partners in the war against terror? She’s “refreshing,” and “confident, but not over-confident.” Her intelligence, experience or political savvy were not mentioned.
After Bush finished waxing poetic about his new friend, Angela, talk turned to the latest imminent threat…Iran. You will be relieved to know that Bush is all about the diplomacy:
Look, first of all, the most important thing in achieving a diplomatic solution…I want this issue to be solved diplomatically and I think it can be solved diplomatically
Just as in the lead-up to the Iraq War, military action is the option of last resort…of course, one wonders if that will hold true if there is a possibility of a United Nations resolution against Iran failing to pass.
What we need to remember is that we’re at the beginning of the diplomatic process…the negotiations have just begun. Unfortunately our diplomatic endeavors don’t include actually talking to Iran because if we did:
…the Iranians will be listening to everything we say.
Well God forbid that the country in question is involved in any of the diplomacy or negotiations while we are deciding if we should nuke ’em. But as Bush pointed out, it’s not easy when “you’re dealing with a non-transparent regime.” We’ll have to assume he was talking about Iran there…
After reassuring that a diplomatic solution to the Iran problem is in the works, Bush was asked about Iraq and the fact that it is now a terrorist haven. Bush’s response was, stay the course, we can’t give into terrorists, and by the way, did you hear Iraq had an election? Bush did concede that the unity government “took a little longer than we wanted,” but apparently everything else is going great, and:
It’s worth it. It’s worth it. I wouldn’t have spent it if it wasn’t worth it.
Bush logic: The dead, the wounded, the debt, our standing in the world? All worth it because he spent it…the decider made a choice, so of course that choice must be right.
Surprisingly, during this softball interview, the question of secret rendition flights did come up, but since it was a question about intelligence matters, Bush refused to answer…and when a follow-up was attempted, Bush either played dumb…or just looked stupid:
Q But the behavior itself? Is it behavior for an ally —
THE PRESIDENT: Well, like, what are you talking about?
Q I mean that you do this, that you don’t ask for help for some of the ally, that you don’t inform the ally and so on.
THE PRESIDENT: On like what subject, for example?
Q Like these flights, for example.
THE PRESIDENT: Well, again, you’re asking me to talk about intelligence matters that I’m not going to talk about.
And of course it wouldn’t be a complete interview without September 11th being mentioned. Bush said:
…I like to remind people that September the 11th for us was a change in our history, and it certainly changed the way I thought. And for others, it was just a moment in passing.
So there you have it in a nutshell. If you disagree with Bush’s response to 9/11, it just shows that for you, it was a passing moment..which is more of that pre-9/11 thinking.
And finally, soccer…Germany is hosting the World Cup this summer and Bush was asked if he would attend, should the United States team reach the final. His response was pitiful:
I don’t know — do you think I possibly would be invited? I don’t know.
A sad commentary on our standing in the world…is it possible that the President of the United States might be invited to the World Cup? We don’t know.
Crossposted at ePluribus Media and Daily Kos
He’s an utter disgrace on so many levels. Failed policies, failed diplomacy, failed leadership. It would be comical if so many innocent lives haven’t been shed as a result of it all. Sigh…
Oh bloody hell…Angela? Oh please, if she called him Georgie in response, that would have been ok? Oh my, I heard the fishy thing and was mortified, but Angela is my buddy and well, we won’t talk about secret rendition flights to countries who will torture and maim and kill our prisoners because that would just look bad and a good dose of 911 thrown in to boot. Please, I’m off to the bathroom to visit the porcelin god.
I might be wrong, but I have the distinct impression that Putin was (publicly) “Vlad” to Bush once upon a time. He might well have slipped in a “Tony” or “Silvio” here or there too.
Was it belittling? Well, sure. But I doubt it had much to do with Merkel’s gender. He regards all heads of other states with condescension. And why not? He “runs” the United States; he’s the decider. He’s an equal-opportunity patronizer.
True, he has on occasion…but in reading the interview, he really harped on it. That and a really ridiculous story about him and Dick and Condi sitting around talking about how they grew up free, so it sure would be interesting to talk to someone like Angela who knew what it was like to grow up in a repressive society. It was truly ridulous.
I think Bush embraces this idea of names and nicknames as a way of trying to bring world leaders (and others) down to his “frat-boy” level. He thinks its cute, but it just demonstrates his own insecurity and lack of ability to match the intellectual stamina of others.
I also think that sometimes he does it as a way of expressing his anger in a passive/agressive way. An example is that he always uses “Sadam.” But notice that he never says “Osama.” Could be telling!?
Time for some mischief:
I think I’m going to send the following letter to Dear Abby, Miss Manners, etc. and see if any fish bite:
Dear xxxxxx,
I am a female business executive for a major international corporation, and as such periodically have to meet with CEOs of other firms in my field. My problem is with a counterpart of mine in another, larger organization who insists on calling me by my first name in front of the media, his staff, and other executives, even though we’ve only spoken a few times and met only once or twice. I’m not sure if this is his way of assuming a false air of camaraderie or attempting to “put me in my place.” While he will refer to other (male) executives by name, he does not do it to the extent he does with me, which is essentially continual. He even makes a point of it, introducing me thus: “This is Ms. “So-and-so” of [business name], but I call her Judy [not my real name].” I would tell him off, but maintaining a good relationship between his firm and mine is of benefit to my business and my firm’s stockholders. Any suggestions on how to handle such inflicted bonhomie?
Sincerely,
Forced Smiles in Berlin, NJ
With any luck, he won’t be invited. Great diary!