Pinter's plays are full of disjointed, disconnected dialogue that works because everyone recognizes it for what it truly is: the grunts and sighs, the vocalizations of human beings talking, not to communicate, but to assure each other that they mean each other no harm. In short, people talk like Bush does in order to put people at ease in a social situation. (I'd love to see Dr. Sanity delve into this.)
Those fellows at the summit don't know each other all that well – not in the biblical sense, although watching creepy Putin kiss that kid on the stomach last week chilled my bones – and certainly not in the way long time friends relate to each other.
Making polite small talk, as Bush was doing, was a fascinating example of Pinterian dialogue. His comments about Russia's size, the time it takes to fly home, and especially his recognition that Blair was leaving – all of this could have been lifted from a Pinter play. It's how everyone talks. And the fact that it doesn't sound "Presidential" or "intelligent" shouldn't surprise us.
It is strange and fascinating to catch a President in the act of being human. But of course, there was also the President expressing what was clearly frustration at the United Nations for not getting on Syria's tail and getting Hizballah to stop shooting and face facts.
Bush expressed his frustration with the United Nations and his disgust with the militant Islamic group and its backers in Syria as he talked to British Prime Minister Tony Blair during the closing lunch at the Group of Eight summit.
"See, the irony is that what they need to do is get Syria to get Hezbollah to stop doing this sh*t and it’s over,” Bush told Blair, as he chewed on a buttered roll.Ezra Klein not only puts the entire incident in perspective, but recognizes how low "political reporting" has fallen:
That's a big deal: Bush believes it within the Syrian government's power to calm the conflict. Theoretically, that should have major implications for American diplomacy and, possibly, policy. So what's CNN's headline? "Open mic catches Bush expletive on Mideast"! The story is not that his substantive views on the issue have been uncovered, but that the president curses.
Article comments
1 - Deano
Frankly I rather enjoyed Bush throwing around expletives and the casual conversation. It lets you get a look at the real guy rather than the stiff manniquin he seems when making speeches or the fake "Oh-so-folksy" Texas home boy he puts on when he tries to be funny.
The fact that he was on topic and with a fairly sensible and relevant observation makes me think he might be learning somethng after all...
2 - Michael J. West
Jesus. I find it boring when they DON'T swear. I've got no problem with Bush saying "shit," I'd have no problem if he'd said "motherfucking balls" (in fact I'd probably think he had some motherfucking balls), and I don't care what kind of obscenities the other presidents use on their own time either.
Well, except Nixon, whose obscenities tended to be in the context of things like "those fucking Jews" and "we should burn down the goddamn Washington Post."
3 - Nancy
Actually, for once I approve entirely of what he said. Good for him. I like it better when he's at least being honest & himself & if that includes a little profanity from time to time (& I can't think of a better context than the one he was in to use the word 'shit' - it was entirely fitting) so be it. I can handle Bush saying "shit" far better than I can listen to him saying "noo-cyu-lar". No problem with brainless small talk, either; that's why it's called 'small talk'. You can't function on 100% all the time, unless you're Henry Kissinger, I suppose.
Holy moley - ! I actually said in print I approve of something Bush has done!
4 - Dave Nalle
I was actually more irritated by the Blair portions of the transcripts. Could anyone put more qualifying comments and unnecessary pauses into a sentence than he does? If I had to have a conversation with the man I think I'd start slapping him.
Dave
5 - Christopher Rose
Blair's been a liability for quite some time now; it's like there is a cult of personality around him or something. The problem is similar to that facing the USA, finding a credible replacement.
6 - RJ Elliott
The oddest thing about the Bush "curse word" audio - Just about everyone, right and left, is supportive of it, in context...maybe he should "accidentally" be more profane, more often!
7 - Mohjho
Well, just to be contrary, I might propose that the colorful language is unbefitting a statesman representing the largest economic interest in the world.
Maybe the said statesman has been viewed by other interests as less than competent in the area of say ..foreign policy at a time of foreign crises, and the colorful language only increases the unease and confidence of…say…the whole fucking world in his abilities to think and lead.
Just throwing out some ideas.
8 - JP
Did you get where he (Bush) made the brilliant observation about Russia being a big country and--get this--China being a big country too? That fits perfectly with his infantile analysis of the situation.
It didn't get press because he did NOT say "And China's a big fu**ing country too!" The press jumped on the story that would sell more newspapers. But the conclusion is the same--Bush is a moron.