The Incredible Shrinking Bush

[Chalchalero]

The Incredible Shrinking Bush

By Gabor Steingart in Washington

There is little consensus on whether the G-8 summit can be seen as a success for the climate. What is certain is that US President George W. Bush had little part in the efforts to save the world. He didn’t lead, he only followed -- and the American superpower never before looked as small as it did this week.

http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,565374,00.html

This cannot surprise anyone.

Are there any Americans who care what those in Europe really are thinking about their country? I hope they will be thinking about it when they cast their vote for President in November. For their own sake...

McCain wants four more years of this. Are his supporters certain that they do as well?

 

[smelter]

Chalchalero, I have no comment on your post but felt the need to say somethng about your signature pic.

Man, that Descartes is one ugly-lookin mf.

 

[noah617]

I think therefore I am.....not much to look at. I'm sure he had a great personality though.

 

[noah617]

"Goodbye from the world's biggest polluter." GWB 2008 G8 Summit

Now that's the kind of responsible leadership we can be proud of.

 

[naked gent]

I think therefore I am.....not much to look at. I'm sure he had a great personality though.

I know its off topic but this does remind me of a joke......probably the only intellectual joke I know.

Rene Descartes was having a cup of coffee at a small Paris shop along the Seine when a waiter approached him and said 'monsieur would you like another cup of coffee'

Descartes paused for a moment then answered 'I think not'

And he disappeared.

 

[noah617]

LOL! If only it were that easy with certain world leaders. Maybe the shrinking is just the start of the disappearing process.

 

[Jannus]

Are there any Americans who care what those in Europe really are thinking about their country? I hope they will be thinking about it when they cast their vote for President in November. For their own sake...

Americans care nothing of what the world thinks about them. When every nation in the UN voted to condemn the US for the invasion of Granada by Reagan [Britain abstained], nobody here knew or cared. If Spain, France, Germany, and Italy all broke off diplomatic relations with the US, most people here would never even hear of that fact. Nor would they care or understand its significance.

Americans are phenomenally focused inwardly on themselves. They can't find Australia or India on a map, but they can unerringly name every sauce available for Chicken McNuggets at McDonalds.

McCain wants four more years of this. Are his supporters certain that they do as well?

Yes, they are. McCain wants four more years of Bush. And, unbelievably, there's actually a chance he could win the election.

 

[Chalchalero]

Americans care nothing of what the world thinks about them. When every nation in the UN voted to condemn the US for the invasion of Granada by Reagan [Britain abstained], nobody here knew or cared. If Spain, France, Germany, and Italy all broke off diplomatic relations with the US, most people here would never even hear of that fact. Nor would they care or understand its significance.

Americans are phenomenally focused inwardly on themselves. They can't find Australia or India on a map, but they can unerringly name every sauce available for Chicken McNuggets at McDonalds.





Yes, they are. McCain wants four more years of Bush. And, unbelievably, there's actually a chance he could win the election.

This would be sad, not only for America, but for the entire world, as for some reason the rest of the world is still looking to America for some kind of leadership, despite the fact that this responsibility seems to have been abrogated for the last seven and a half years.

I have been listening to many people talk here in Geneva and I am certain to hear more in Paris in August, and very little of it is good.

For example:

Obama is expected to be in Berlin at the end of this month and the Mayor there wants him to give a speech in front of the Brandenburg Gate, something Chancellor Merkel feels would look too much as though the German could not wait to see Bush go. The Mayor basically said "so what?"

(To be fair, the Brandenburg Gate idea came from Obama's campaign, but the Mayor of Berlin is totally behind it, while Merkel finds it "odd".)

Many people are fed up with Bush to such an extent that sometimes it spills over to disdain for Americans in general. Though Americans may not care, this matters a great deal. And I really hope they will consider the gravity of four more years of being hated around the world when they go to the polls in November. I know I will.

 

[Jannus]

Many people are fed up with Bush to such an extent that sometimes it spills over to disdain for Americans in general. Though Americans may not care, this matters a great deal. And I really hope they will consider the gravity of four more years of being hated around the world when they go to the polls in November. I know I will.

Yes, of course it matters a great deal, especially to America. But Americans will never be persuaded of that fact. Americans believe the only thing that matters is internal American concerns and politics. And they will forever insist that it is the entire rest of the world's loss that they just somehow don't see things the right-wing American way.

 

[frankfrank]

One sunny day in 2009 an old man approached the White House from across Pennsylvania Avenue,where he'd been sitting on a park bench. He spoke to the U.S. Marine standing guard and said, "I would like to go in and meet with President Bush." The Marine looked at the man and said, "Sir, Mr. Bush is no longer president and no longer resides here." The old man said, "Okay" and walked away.

The following day, the same man approached the White House and said to the same Marine,"I would like to go in and meet with President Bush." The Marine again told the man, "Sir, as I said yesterday, Mr. Bush is no longer president and no longer resides here." The man thanked him and, again, just walked away.

The third day, the same man approached the White House and spoke to the very same U. S. Marine, saying"I would like to go in and meet with President Bush." The Marine, understandably agitated at this point, looked at the man and said,"Sir, this is the third day in a row you have been here asking to speak to Mr. Bush.I've told you already that Mr. Bush is no longer the president and no longer resides here. Don't you understand?"

The old man looked at the Marine and said, "Oh, I understand. I just love hearing it." The Marine snapped to attention, saluted, and said, "See you tomorrow."

 

[Chalchalero]

One sunny day in 2009 an old man approached the White House from across Pennsylvania Avenue,where he'd been sitting on a park bench. He spoke to the U.S. Marine standing guard and said, "I would like to go in and meet with President Bush." The Marine looked at the man and said, "Sir, Mr. Bush is no longer president and no longer resides here." The old man said, "Okay" and walked away.

The following day, the same man approached the White House and said to the same Marine,"I would like to go in and meet with President Bush." The Marine again told the man, "Sir, as I said yesterday, Mr. Bush is no longer president and no longer resides here." The man thanked him and, again, just walked away.

The third day, the same man approached the White House and spoke to the very same U. S. Marine, saying"I would like to go in and meet with President Bush." The Marine, understandably agitated at this point, looked at the man and said,"Sir, this is the third day in a row you have been here asking to speak to Mr. Bush.I've told you already that Mr. Bush is no longer the president and no longer resides here. Don't you understand?"

The old man looked at the Marine and said, "Oh, I understand. I just love hearing it." The Marine snapped to attention, saluted, and said, "See you tomorrow."

I look forward to hearing it on a daily basis myself one day...Great post!

 

[frankfrank]

^

good one!!!