Bush gropes German chancellor Angela Merkel

[TheLateGreat]

Bush's unexpected squeeze of the German chancellor has the Internet howling

It's not exactly "Presidents Gone Wild!" but for the normally staid Group of Eight Summit, a video of President 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 that 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 www.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.

But it was the massage for Merkel -- notably the only female at the G-8 table -- which earned Bush the title of "Groper in Chief" on some Web sites.

One German tabloid, Bild-Zeitung, which posted the link to the video and headlined it: "Bush: Love Attack on Merkel!"

And Dialog International, a Web site that specializes in German-American politics and culture, said Bush's behavior raised questions about the American president and his profile abroad.

"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."

The G-8 dustup prompted Bush fans and Republican insiders to say that the critiques were much ado about a back rub.

Full story...

[Mystlet]

Eeewww!

[jwreck]

wtf? did he fall off the wagon again?

[Corporate Avenger]

That is the funniest thing I've seen in a long time, "love attack"..


I can't wait for the photoshops!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[fat mike]

Poor ole Bush,he's having to deal with so much rejection these days...

[PlatyGuy]

Originally Posted by jwreck

wtf? did he fall off the wagon again?

I was just starting to wonder the same thing. His behavior and his slurred speech and vacant expression in the clips I've seen/heard definitely give me flashbacks to my younger years. He seems to be in exactly the same sort of confused "I have no idea what I'm doing and I don't care" state as a drunk or stoned college kid.

[KanuckiStang]

[fenianforever1689]

I think Bush needs diversity training.

But more importantly maybe he could get some training from the former president on finding a nice piece of ass to squeeze...I mean come on...Merkel isn't exactly good looking.

[fat mike]

Originally Posted by fenianforever1689

I think Bush needs diversity training.

But more importantly maybe he could get some training from the former president on finding a nice piece of ass to squeeze...I mean come on...Merkel isn't exactly good looking.

She's no pinup but she's ok for an older gal...I like Merkel...a classy woman.

[fenianforever1689]

She is a frickin'frau.

But I prefer her politics to that bunghole Shroeder.

[fat mike]

Originally Posted by fenianforever1689

She is a frickin'frau.

But I prefer her politics to that bunghole Shroeder.

She doesn't magnify her own importance-she does her job which is very tough-she's dealing with 2 groups of people who dont have much in common..

and Fraus can be pretty!!

[Mystlet]

Originally Posted by fat mike

and Fraus can be pretty!!

Indeed. I'm part Frau.

[fat mike]

and a babe too!!!

[optimus]

What an ass.

[Mystlet]

Ha! Watch, the poor woman will have to get a restraining order against Octopus George!

Edit : Here's video footage - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44qd3...bush%20germany

[fat mike]

Originally Posted by optimus

What an ass.

Me? Bush? ...
I watched the video,he just clasped her shoulders for a second-a lot of Germans ,particularly the females dont like to be touched(Mom is like that)-It looked he was saying "hello" the way they do down here and she didnt like it and of course we're making a federal case out of it...
Bush did enough real wrong without we have to go digging upstories like this...
of course Im a post wh0re so I'm glad they did but ........still

[Mystlet]

Originally Posted by fat mike

Me? Bush? ...
I watched the video,he just clasped her shoulders for a second-a lot of Germans ,particularly the females dont like to be touched(Mom is like that)-It looked he was saying "hello" the way they do down here and she didnt like it and of course we're making a federal case out of it...
Bush did enough real wrong without we have to go digging upstories like this...
of course Im a post wh0re so I'm glad they did but ........still

As a person who travels to many many other countries, he knows very well to watch out for inapprpriate physical contact. I'm sure he is barraged constantly to watch his social demeanor.
Everybody knows differrent cultures have different tolerances. He would never, ever have been so formal with a muslim woman in the Middle East, this shows that the neurons aren't firing in George's brain like they should be.

And truthfully, it will be these little things that people will remember most, these little incidents can ruin a man's reputaion.

A man who has no respect for a country's customs has no repect for the country. That is what people will see.

[fat mike]

well,maybe he should know-he's a spoiled little twirp born with a silver spoon in his mouth.Really they make so much of a leader not having to be influenced by "things"-"Just act naturally" "Fly by the seat of your pants"-GWB isn't the type who pays any attention to cultural differences anyway..

[optimus]

Originally Posted by fat mike

Me? Bush? ...

Bush.

[fat mike]

Originally Posted by optimus

Bush.

*relievd it wasnt the unstated alternative*