Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Bush's unexpected squeeze of the German chancellor has the Internet howling (funny)
SF Gate ^ | 7/18/06 | Carla Marunucci

Posted on 07/19/2006 2:18:19 PM PDT by pissant

It's not exactly "Presidents Gone Wild!" but for the normally staid Group of Eight Summit, a video of President George W. Bush sidling behind German Chancellor Angela Merkel and delivering an impromptu neck rub is, well, as wild as it gets.

The scene, captured by a Russian TV camera, hit the Internet like a summer wildfire Tuesday, and it may be most memorable for the German chancellor's reaction. Bush applies his hands to Merkel's shoulders and neck while she's speaking with Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi; the chancellor hunches her shoulders, then throws her hands up to stop the unexpected massage with a wan smile -- and an expression which can best be translated as "Ewwww."

While the incident didn't get a lot of play on major TV media, it was just one of the Bush G-8 gaffes that garnered considerable space in the blogosphere from London to Los Angeles.

Bloggers on sites like truthdig.com expounded at length on the U.S. president's now-famed open mike incident in which Bush let slip the "s-word" while talking with British Prime Minister Tony Blair; it wasn't so much the potty mouth as the president speaking with his mouth full that horrified many international critics.

(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; Germany
KEYWORDS: angelababy; bush; g8summit; merkel
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 61-8081-100101-120121-137 next last
To: Sir Gawain
I'm not a touchy-feely type of person and generally consider this sort of touching to be inappropriate, especially in these situations .

However, I work with some very professional and otherwise well mannered people who think nothing of giving a fellow employee a brief shoulder massage now and then.

Especially if one is tense or has a sore neck etc.

They just think nothing of it.

So even though I'm not personally very comfortable with this sort of thing I'm not about to criticize those who are, especially when it is simply a kind gesture.

Besides, people pay perfect strangers to give them massages all the time and it's considered a luxury.

81 posted on 07/19/2006 3:18:04 PM PDT by Jorge
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 58 | View Replies]

To: pissant

ANY excuse to Bash....


82 posted on 07/19/2006 3:19:04 PM PDT by xsmommy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 78 | View Replies]

To: xsmommy
When you consider any criticism bashing, the word bashing loses its meaning. But I guess your tactic is to try and stifle any criticism, valid or not. Just scream "basher!" like the lefties scream "racist!". How does it feel to use the same tactics as liberals?
83 posted on 07/19/2006 3:21:38 PM PDT by Sir Gawain
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 82 | View Replies]

To: Sir Gawain

not at all. there are PLENTY of legit areas to criticize. the nitpicking is just silly. THIS is nitpicking.


84 posted on 07/19/2006 3:23:34 PM PDT by xsmommy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 83 | View Replies]

To: pissant
It's the equivlalent of a hello to someone you know well. Nothing more, nothing less. If you watch the video, he did not stand there rubbing her neck. he gave her a squeeze hello.

Even if he did massage her shoulders a bit, it was simply a kind gesture.
I've also been in professional settings where this is not considered inappropriate.

85 posted on 07/19/2006 3:24:49 PM PDT by Jorge
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 78 | View Replies]

To: xsmommy

I never said it was a big deal. I just said it was inappropriate. We can agree to disagree, but that doesn't make me a basher or you a bot, now does it?


86 posted on 07/19/2006 3:25:34 PM PDT by Sir Gawain
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 84 | View Replies]

To: Sir Gawain

If you believe this is ALWAYS wrong, then you're more a slave to feminist-think and political correctness than you realize.


87 posted on 07/19/2006 3:26:33 PM PDT by macamadamia
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 75 | View Replies]

To: T.Smith
Is Bush a serial molester, rapist and lip-biter? That's the difference. And a big difference it is.

So I don't sense any hypocrisy.

Still, I wish he hadn't done it.

88 posted on 07/19/2006 3:27:17 PM PDT by LibWhacker
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 48 | View Replies]

To: macamadamia

Whether I think it's wrong or not is irrelevant if I get fired for it.


89 posted on 07/19/2006 3:27:57 PM PDT by Sir Gawain
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 87 | View Replies]

To: Sir Gawain

i can live with that.


90 posted on 07/19/2006 3:32:03 PM PDT by xsmommy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 86 | View Replies]

To: yoe

What can be said except : another "tempete dans un verre d'eau" (tempest in a glass of water)...


91 posted on 07/19/2006 3:34:33 PM PDT by Republicain
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 66 | View Replies]

To: pissant

What's the big deal? It's not like he lifted up her shirt and kissed her belly.


92 posted on 07/19/2006 3:35:27 PM PDT by Savage Rider
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Savage Rider

We don't know that. Why won't they release the missing frames?


93 posted on 07/19/2006 3:39:33 PM PDT by streetpreacher (What if you're wrong?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 92 | View Replies]

To: xsmommy; Sir Gawain; T.Smith

-if clinton touches me I would scream.....if Bush touched me I would swoon......(sigh).......Clinton's track record is clear....he is a serial molester.....Bush's is clear as well....he is a gentleman. I would have been thrilled to get a shoulder rub from Bush.


94 posted on 07/19/2006 3:42:29 PM PDT by tioga
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 74 | View Replies]

To: streetpreacher

I'm still waiting for the footage of the President dancing naked on tables during college!


95 posted on 07/19/2006 3:46:32 PM PDT by linn37 (Have you hugged your Phlebotomist today?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 93 | View Replies]

To: tioga

With BJ Clinton you'd never know where his hands had been.


96 posted on 07/19/2006 3:47:32 PM PDT by 1035rep
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 94 | View Replies]

To: L98Fiero

Looks like she's trying to get him off of her.

What is wrong our guy -- is he cracking up?


97 posted on 07/19/2006 3:49:41 PM PDT by BenLurkin ("The entire remedy is with the people." - W. H. Harrison)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Sir Gawain

"Just about every company's sexual harrassment policy would cover that behavior."

Yep, Bush would be toast if he were a corporate or government agency peon.


98 posted on 07/19/2006 3:50:57 PM PDT by Rb ver. 2.0
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 79 | View Replies]

To: linn37

Somehow that doesn't do anything for me...


99 posted on 07/19/2006 3:52:11 PM PDT by streetpreacher (What if you're wrong?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 95 | View Replies]

To: MikeA
"When he is away from his script and his handlers, his true lack of intelligence and emotional maturity surfaces for all to see. The dangerous situation in Lebanon ... requires true leadership. Don't look for it from the world's uberpower."

Does the writer mean like Billy Jeff who couldn't make a decision unless he had his toelicker do a poll in how the people felt about a particular situation. Billy Jeff was never a leader. President Bush is a true leader

100 posted on 07/19/2006 3:52:24 PM PDT by Kaslin (No matter what the left says. G.W. Bush will be remembered as the best president of this century)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 24 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 61-8081-100101-120121-137 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson