Embarrassing

Former P-G'er Michael McGough reports on yesterday's meeting between George and new British PM Gordon Brown:

Read it and cringe:

BUSH: All right. He's a Scotsman, you know, kind of -- he's not the dour Scotsman that you described or the awkward Scotsman. He's actually a humorous Scotsman, the guy that we actually were able to relax and to share some thoughts. ... You know, I was very interested in his family life. He's a man who suffered unspeakable tragedy, and instead of that weakening his soul, it strengthened his soul. I was impressed. And I'm confident that we'll be able to keep our relationship strong, healthy, vibrant and that there will be constant communications as we deal with these problems."

Bush wasn't specific about the "unspeakable tragedy" in Brown's life; maybe he was referring to the fact that the future prime minister's first child died in infancy or that Brown himself was blinded in one eye as a teen-ager (is Bush obsessed with visual impairments?). Either way, it came across as gauche, though arguably not as embarrassing as his tribute to former Prime Minister Tony Blair: "I've heard he's been called Bush's poodle. He's bigger than that."

Brown responded graciously to both Bush's ethnic reference and this tribute to the PM's triumph over tragedy:

What President Bush has said is both very compassionate and it reflects the conversation we had about a whole series of issues that we can deal with together. I think your understanding, if I may say so, of Scotland was enhanced by the fact that you went to Scotland, you told me, at the age of 14 and had to sit through a very long Presbyterian church service in which you didn't understand a word of what the minister was actually saying. So I think you came to a better understanding of the Scottish contribution to the United Kingdom from that.

Translation: Tony wasn't kidding about this guy.

Our long national embarrassment goes on.

.

Comments

[sherry]

he is well beyond that.

and imagine how the rest of the wourld
must think of the fact that this guy and this administration holds global events in their hands.

they didn't even elect him.

[piegrrrl]

Poodles come in several sizes, doncha know. Paris, mini-me, medium, and Tony Blair.

[spork_incident]

Jon Stewart did great takedown of Blair the other night - even pulled out a chew toy.

Ironically, the Poodle's former private secretary, Alistair Campbell, was the guest.

.

[the dryyyyyyy cracker]

That was great. Didja see how Jon closed the interview? Campbell was going on about how we'd do well to remember that Bush and Blair aren't just leaders, they're human beings (he gave the same spiel on NPR today), and Jon's response was, "So are the people they invade."

I will say this: their prevaricating, mendacious tools are a lot more appealing than our prevaricating, mendacious tools, and I don't think it's just the accent.

[spork_incident]

Yeah, that was a terrific - cutting - comeback form Jon.

.

[JoshuasGrandma]

Brown is no poodle; rather he's like a bulldog, and if Bush tries to treat him as a lapdog or pat him on the butt, he's going to get bitten in the balls. Brown is no lightweight; he's smart, serious and very able to use double meanings and allow his behavior to speak louder than words. So, he said, (Bush) 'didn't understand a word the minister was saying.' Brown then went to the UN and gave a great speech on the need to intervene in Darfur's genocide and work on global poverty. So for all the 'compassionate' posturing that Bush has done, he clearly hasn't understood a word the minister said.

[spork_incident]

he clearly hasn't understood a word the minister said.

I'm not sure George understands much at all.

.