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July 17, 2006Press needs smelling salts for language UPDATEDIt didn’t bother the press much when John Kerry dropped the F bomb a few times during his failed presidential run, but they get the vapors because - gasp - President Bush talks to his pal Tony Blair the way a fella talks to a pal when they get together. In looking around, I note that some papers have elected to report on what the president said rather that just show the transcript, which is good reading. ush: Yo Blair How are you doing? Check it out. As I say, it’s a good read. You gotta love that, “Yo, Blair…” bit. And Blair’s “trade thingy…” And I want to know who it is exactly that Bush and Blair are calling “sweet” and “honey.” I personally rather like seeing these two men sounding like men who know and like each other, and are on the same wavelength. It’s funny how President Bush’s mic is so frequently left on, though, isn’t it? More than with any president I can remember. Of course, when Truman cursed it was because he was a “plain talker.” Both President and Mrs. Clinton are reputed to have more than a passing aquaintance with salty language (I recall reading once that Mrs. Clinton, angry that the flag had not been raised early enough at Camp David, went into a G-D and F meltdown that amused the staff for weeks). In this video a reporter suggests that Bush’s language is newsworthy because “he is a born-again Christian”. As though Christians aren’t human and don’t say “shit.” Screw that! For the record, I am neither shocked nor appalled that powerful people use coarse language. And I don’t much care, either. Obscured by the excessive coverage of a four letter word is the assessment that this G8 was a “win” for Bush. What a surprise. UPDATE: Betsy Newmark predicted that the UK press would immediately trot out the Blair is Bush’s Poodle line. She was right. These folks should be aghast at just how predictable they have become. Charlotte Hays wonders if Rove left that mic on. Related: Bush and Blair still on the same page http://theanchoressonline.com/2006/07/17/press-needs-smelling-salts-for-language/trackback/ 6 Responses to “Press needs smelling salts for language UPDATED” |
July 17th, 2006 at 1:06 pm
[...] The Anchoress sums up my thoughts on this pretty well: For the record, I am neither shocked nor appalled that powerful people use coarse language. And I don’t much care, either. [...]
July 17th, 2006 at 3:09 pm
I, for one, appreciate that the President’s mike is often inadvertently left on….I love these glimpses into his character, and I confess that I admire him more and more as time goes on.
July 17th, 2006 at 4:35 pm
[...] Since the press seem to be in a bit of a snit over GW’s casual use of the ‘S’ bomb, the personal weblog of Adam Boulton at Sky news claims to have the transcript. And it is quite revealing about the nature of Bush and Blair’s relationship (Via The anchoress), Bush: Yo Blair How are you doing? Blair: I’m just… Bush: You’re leaving? Blair: No, no, no not yet. On this trade thingy…[inaudible] Bush: yeah I told that to the man Blair: Are you planning to say that here or not? Bush: If you want me to Blair: Well, it’s just that if the discussion arises… Bush: I just want some movement. Blair: Yeah Bush: Yesterday we didn’t see much movement Blair: No, no, it may be that it’s not, it maybe that it’s impossible Bush: I am prepared to say it Blair: But it’s just I think what we need to be an opposition Bush: Who is introducing the trade Blair: Angela Bush: Tell her to call ‘em Blair: Yes Bush: Tell her to put him on them on the spot.Thanks for the sweaters it’s awfully thoughtful of you Blair: It’s a pleasure Bush: I know you picked it out yourself Blair: Oh, absoultely, in fact [inaudible] Bush: What about Kofi [inaudible] his attitude to ceasefire and everything else … happens Blair: Yeah, no I think the [inaudible] is really difficult. We can’t stop this unless you get this international business agreed. Bush: Yeah Blair: I don’t know what you guys have talked about but as I say I am perfectly happy to try and see what the lie of the land is but you need that done quickly because otherwise it will spiral Bush: I think Condi is going to go pretty soon Blair: But that’s that’s that’s all that matters. But if you, you see it will take some time to get that together Bush: Yeah, yeah Blair: But at least it gives people… Bush: It’s a process, I agree. I told her your offer to… Blair: Well…it’s only if I mean… you know. If she’s got a…, or if she needs the ground prepared as it were… Because obviously if she goes out, she’s got to succeed, if it were, whereas I can go out and just talk Bush: You see, the … thing is what they need to do is to get Syria, to get Hezbollah to stop doing this shit and it’s over Blair: [inaudible] Bush: [inaudible] Blair: Syria Bush: Why? Blair: Because I think this is all part of the same thing Bush: Yeah. [...]
July 17th, 2006 at 6:53 pm
For the record, I am neither shocked nor appalled that powerful people use coarse language. And I don’t much care, either.
*****Right on Anchoress. Anytime I find something I can agree with you on, I’m going to mention it. You know I don’t agree with you too much on politics, but I don’t let that get in the way of liking you.
July 18th, 2006 at 12:00 pm
They played the “s-word” exchange (with the “offending” word carefully bleeped so that you could still kinda sorta tell what it is - a new trend, I’ve noticed, in media.)
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Like you, I’m wondering why everyone’s so shocked.
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What I hear, when I hear this exchange, is a guy who’s fed up - who’s frustrated with bad behavior. He talks like my dad does. My dad is not above saying that when he’s really fed up with something.
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I wonder what the press response would have been had Bush said, “Oh, golly gee, those poopy terrorists! How are we ever going to deal with them?”
July 30th, 2007 at 9:14 pm
[...] folks can never call me predictable, I think. Yesterday I admitted to not being terribly offended by swear words (taking the Lord’s name in vain bothers me, but the rest of it? Pfft, mere words, and lots of [...]