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Naughty Bush! Is the President giving his cabinet members too-affectionate kisses?
Monday November 22, 2004 08:55 - (SA)

Posted on 11/22/2004 7:42:52 AM PST by dead

WASHINGTON - President George W. Bush sent tongues wagging this week, planting kisses that to many Americans looked more personal than professional on his two women cabinet nominees.

Condoleezza Rice was given two affectionate kisses on the cheek when Bush introduced her at the White House on Tuesday as the new secretary of state.

Margaret Spellings, the new education secretary, was congratulated rather uniquely on a corner of the lips when she was presented the next day.

"Is there too much kissing going on at the White House?" said USA Today.

Could it be that the born-again Methodist president is adopting "continental" habits, newspapers questioned.

"It was such a ... European gesture for the aw-shucks-I'm-jes-a-Texan president," said USA Today.

The Washington Post cast doubt on this theory however.

"He did not execute the double buss that is used as a greeting throughout much of Europe, organised crime and the fashion industry," said the Post. "There was nothing international about Bush's kisses," it concluded.

But the Post did say that the kisses have become "much discussed".

"While it is common for politicians to hug and kiss indiscriminately on the campaign trail, it is another thing altogether to see the president planting his lips on potential - or current - members of his Cabinet."

New male representatives in the administration have to make do with a handshake and a presidential slap on the back.

But commentators highlighted how Bush may have been in a difficult position as he has known Rice and Spelling a long time.

Rice is a family friend as well as Bush's national security advisor in his first administration.

Spellings moved to the White House as domestic policy advisor after helping Bush when he was governor of Texas in the 1990s.

Agriculture Secretary Anne Veneman is also expected to stand down before Bush's new inauguration on January 20 and the chattering classes are now waiting to see whether the president puckers his lips for her too, the Post said.

AFP


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 6inchkissboots; akissisjustakiss; bush43; genesimmons; kissmekate; kissthis; partyeveryday; powright2dakisser; puckerfactor; rocknrollallnight; sisterkissedmoose; talkingsmack; youmustrememberthis
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Comment #21 Removed by Moderator

To: dead
Is the President giving his cabinet members too-affectionate kisses?

It depends on the meaning of the word "is."
Do you mean the "is" that was the "is" back then, or do you mean the "is" that is the "is" right now? Could you be a little more specific?

22 posted on 11/22/2004 7:54:40 AM PST by concerned about politics (Vote Republican - Vote morally correct!)
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To: dead
Awww, you just KNOW Bush is doin' Condi. What else could be going on? </scarcasm>
23 posted on 11/22/2004 7:57:14 AM PST by numberonepal (Don't Even Think About Treading On Me)
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To: dead

What is the definition of 'kiss'?
;-)


24 posted on 11/22/2004 8:02:17 AM PST by fastattacksailor (This tagline brought to you by Izzy Dunne's tagline virus!)
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To: dead
Thanks for the link dead. I thought this was another dead original publication.
25 posted on 11/22/2004 8:02:41 AM PST by bigjoesaddle
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Comment #26 Removed by Moderator

To: Made in USA

LOLOL!

Oh God, I'm sure glad I'd swallowed that last gulp of coffe before scrolling to this pic! It would be have been a mess all over the 19" LCD. Thanks for the late morning laugh!!


27 posted on 11/22/2004 8:10:24 AM PST by 7.62 x 51mm (• veni • vidi • vino • visa • "I came, I saw, I drank wine, I shopped")
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To: dead
Another non-story from the haters of the liberal Old Media.
No wonder their circulations keep falling, while the solidly conservative New York Post's circulation keeps hitting new heights every month.
Way to go Old Media. At this rate, your inevitable fall into obscurity is only going to happen go even faster.
28 posted on 11/22/2004 8:10:40 AM PST by KwasiOwusu
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To: dead

-"He did not execute the double buss that is used as a greeting throughout much of Europe..."-

That'd be the Kiss of Death.


29 posted on 11/22/2004 8:11:32 AM PST by AmericanChef
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To: dead

I think Maggie Sperling may have moved at the wrong time and Dubya planted a smootch on the side of her lips when he was going for the cheek!


30 posted on 11/22/2004 8:14:36 AM PST by gopwinsin04
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To: dead

31 posted on 11/22/2004 8:17:28 AM PST by spycatcher
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To: baseballmom; billorites
THIS is the only woman who gets patted on the bottom.......(and the President clearly enjoys doing so. ;o)

These people are nothing short of PATHETIC!

32 posted on 11/22/2004 8:22:05 AM PST by ohioWfan (W.........STILL the President!!)
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To: Made in USA

33 posted on 11/22/2004 8:22:55 AM PST by spycatcher
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To: gopwinsin04

I agree the lip kiss with Maggie Spellings was likely unintentional. But he then he probably smiled and raised his eyebrows, which of course made the "double-buss press" furious.


34 posted on 11/22/2004 8:27:53 AM PST by spycatcher
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To: dead

I'd cheer 1,000 of his kisses any day

vs a half one of Billdo's.

It's obvious his relationship with Laura is the super priority one of his life--as far as mortal humans goes, anyway!

I'm confident his relationship with God is more important than even that one.


35 posted on 11/22/2004 8:28:14 AM PST by Quix (PRAY 4 PRES BUSH'S SAFETY; SPECTER OFF COMMITTEE; TROOPS; GOD'S PROTECTION)
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To: dead

I'd cheer 1,000 of his kisses any day

vs a half one of Billdo's.

It's obvious his relationship with Laura is the super priority one of his life--as far as mortal humans goes, anyway!

I'm confident his relationship with God is more important than even that one.


36 posted on 11/22/2004 8:28:28 AM PST by Quix (PRAY 4 PRES BUSH'S SAFETY; SPECTER OFF COMMITTEE; TROOPS; GOD'S PROTECTION)
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To: dead
Kisses the press doesn't want to talk about:


37 posted on 11/22/2004 8:31:17 AM PST by spycatcher
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To: dead

Good grief! They sure are desperate for a scandal (any scandal) to bring him down. Pathetic.


38 posted on 11/22/2004 8:33:06 AM PST by I'm ALL Right! (Savor...)
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To: You Dirty Rats
Excellent point.

They are REALLY scraping bottom with this piece of perfect BS...

39 posted on 11/22/2004 8:34:02 AM PST by Pharmboy (Listen...you can still hear the old media sobbing.)
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To: dead
Well, where was this "ultra-sophisticated" foreign press when skerry/edwards couldn't keep their hands off each other? It was disgusting watching those two metrosexuals go at each other. But, I guess there's nothing wrong with that.
40 posted on 11/22/2004 8:38:02 AM PST by LibSnubber (liberal democrats are domestic terrorists)
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