Posted on 09/15/2005 1:27:32 PM PDT by Uncle Joe Cannon
Reuters Says Bush Photo Not 'Malicious,' Reports Wide Interest In it
By E&P Staff
Published: September 15, 2005 4:30 PM ET
NEW YORK With confirmation today that an accidental photo of President Bush at the United Nations on Wednesday, writing a note to Secretary of State Condeezza Rice about a “bathroom break,” was indeed real, newspapers around the U.S. and abroad are now planning to run it widely. But many, it seems, will treat it as something more than a joke.
A source at the Washington Post tells E&P that the paper is considering it for prominent play tomorrow morning, in the context that, at least in some minds, it raises questions about overall perception of the U.S. at the United Nations, right or wrong. Reuters reports extremely strong interest in the photo today.
The fact is, according to Reuters--and this has not been widely reported--President Bush did indeed take a bathroom break after passing the note to Rice.
This apparently raised some eyebrows around the room, because American representatives (among others) have a reputation for suddenly bolting, though normally for a far different reason than this latest one.
Since the photo first appeared on the Web late yesterday, speculation has centered on whether the bathroom break reference was just a silly joke and who had written and passed the note.
Gary Hershorn, news editor-photos for the Americas at Reuters, told E&P today that the photographer, Rick Wilking, informed him yesterday afternoon that he had observed Bush pass the note to Rice, and a little later, rise from his seat, leave the room, and then return.
And while some have suggested that Wilking, a well-known photographer just back from taking some of the most gripping images in New Orleans, was out to embarrass the president, Hershorn said that the photog had no idea what Bush was writing on the paper. Wilking assumed the president was taking notes on what some other official was saying.
“Rick had no idea what he was shooting, or what Bush was writing,” Heeshorn said. “If Rick knew what he was writing we'd have 25 pictures of this, not two.”
The photo was taken at 12:08 PM and it was Hershorn, about three hours later, who took the trouble to examine the photo closely, noticed the writing, and decided to put it on the wire after 4 o'clock.
The photo, as E&P observed last night in the first story about the incident, shows Bush scribbling in pencil on a note that already holds the words: "I think I may need a bathroom break? Is this possible." Wilking is a veteran Washington photographer who has long covered Bush campaigns and the White House.
As for transmitting the photo, Hershorn says, "There was no malicious intent. That's not what we do."
There's a simple explanation, even a serious one, for all of this, he adds. Bush, he points out, is not used to attending meetings at the U.N. and probably did not know what the protocol was for exiting a room and returning. His question to Rice was “proper” and not all that surprising, “asking someone with more experience there about protocol,” he said.
BBC has run a story on this "scandal":
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/4249646.stm
Leaking undermines national security, no matter who does it.
When asked if he will ever write such a note again, the President responded "Depends." When asked what it depends on, the President responded "no, I mean I'm now wearing Depends so you ass-munchers won't worry about my potty breaks!"
"Compare the writing on the note to that of President Bush's. It doesn't match"
BINGO Look at the letter "I"
He was writing something on the bottom of the note.
Bush made Katrina. Bush must be a god. Gods don't need potty breaks. Bush was making a joke.
The entire time spent at the U.N. is a bathroom break!
I am appalled and furious that the Dallas Morning News chose to run this stupid picture with a 'serious' story about the UN--
on page 2A of today's (Sept. 15th) paper!!! >:-(
My husband has been wanting to end our subscription, and this will probably do it for us. Idiots, they've turned into such a tabloid, it isn't funny.
That's because they think that the President doesn't know how to write.
No photographer should be allowed to take pictures of anything the POTUS writes on a piece of paper to his Secretary of State. What if the "note" was a reference to something highly classified? That's the part that gets me.
These pissant reporters (sorry to insult you by lumping you in with reporters, Pissant) pull some BS like this and then they wonder why no one wants them around. Sorry b*st*rds.
How do they know it's Bush anyway? Analyzing the ridge detail on his fingers?
WFT is a journalist taking pics over his shoulder?
here's what w's looks like.
http://www.handwritinglady.com/archives/bush.php
didn't read the site, don't hove time, just did a seach on yahoo and this was first thing i saw.
...Bush was scribbling on a note that ALREADY holds the words....sounds like it's written by someone else and he's ANSWERING it.
Whoa, DU is going wild!
Yep...uses too few and it's Chimpy McHalliBusHitler the unhygenic Neanderthal. Too many and he's the evil wasteful Amruikan. Can't win with these folk.
How many notes did Bill Clinton write saying "Sid, I want to bone this speaker", or "Vernon, let's double-team this one, like last year in Georgetown". No one would ever dare to poublish those.
Maybe it wasn't malicious, but it is the usual level on which "Mainstream Newsmedia" "journalism" functions--about like men's room graffiti. It's little wonder that more and more people have about that much respect for it.
DU does. They are having a field day with it. Sorry, I still can't figure out how to post a link. I registered over there (not easy) and I was going to tell them how stupid they are and that somebody would have to make arrangements for the president to even use the bathroom. But they are so dumb, they don't have a clue. But anyway, another freeper told me not to waste my account over there.
Nah, nothing malicious there. Just like when Bubba put on that afro wig during one of his Hyannis Port weekends.
Remember how every paper and internet site had the picture plastered all over?
Or when Bubba played the bongos in his underwear while vacationing in Africa?
Or Bubba turning the tears off and on while at Ron Brown's funeral?
You don't? Yeah, I don't either.
B@stards
I can hear the LEFT screaming for someone to plug the White House leak.
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