Appallingly Rude
I don't know why this steams me so much, but it does. I'm not George W. Bush's biggest fan, but that's partly because I'm generally suspicious of all political figures. I give Bush high ratings for his recent Matt Lauer interview, and I certainly believe he had impeccable taste choosing our Bill McGurn to be his chief speechwriter. But, still, I didn't ever fall for him the way I have for, say, Chris Christie.
When I saw this story today, I shrugged. Ex-German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder is taking issue with a passage in Bush's new book, Decision Points, about a meeting between the two leaders regarding the Iraq invasion. Fine. Whatever.
But then this quote caught my eye:
"We noticed that the intellectual reach of the president of the most important nation at the time was exceptionally low," Uwe-Karsten Heye, who was Schroeder's spokesman at the time, told German news channel N24, according to the Telegraph. "For this reason, it was difficult to communicate with him. He had no idea what was happening in the world. He was so fixated on being a Texan. I think he knew every longhorn in Texas."
Has anything as rude ever been said about a US President by another country's administration? (If so, I'm sure you all will tell me.) As a voting American citizen, I also kind of take it personally.
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May '10
Re: Appallingly Rude
The intellectual reach of a Texas longhorn in considerable compared to that of a typical German Social Democrat.
Re: Appallingly Rude
Those who have no argument to make are apt to indulge, instead, in sneering.
Aug '10
Re: Appallingly Rude
It's hard to think of Schroeder without thinking of pitch black hair-dye.Of course President Bush would have too much class to mention that.
Jul '10
Re: Appallingly Rude
I think it's time to remove all U.S. troops from Germany and let them fend for themselves.
Of all the possible human shortcomings, I beleive ingratitude is by far the ugliest.
Oh, by the way, didn't Germany stay home regarding Iraq?
Edited on November 12, 2010 at 12:19amOct '10
Re: Appallingly Rude
Typical Eurocentric elitism. I do not have any specific examples right at hand, but in general, from the earliest days of the American Republic, the european aristocracy have had a uniform disdain for the vast majority of our "great men". The founding fathers, with the possible exception of Franklin, were looked down upon as country bumpkins.
Sep '10
Re: Appallingly Rude
Still not the lowpoint in Schröder's career. Besides wishing for a Holocaust memorial in Berlin that "one likes to go to", he was former RAF terrorist Horst Mahler's defense counsel in the 70s. After getting him out of jail early, Schröder helped Mahler get his attorney's license back, which Mahler later on used to represent the German neo-Nazi party in court. Mahler is now in prison again for Holocaust denial.
Sep '10
Re: Appallingly Rude
Schroeder has considerably less respect from Germans than Bush has from American Democrats, and I can see why. So what is he saying again?
Aug '10
Re: Appallingly Rude
Remember the U.N. Oil for Food program? The Germans - and other Euro-trash - were scamming billions from the U.N.'s bogus system along with Saddam, and when we invaded Iraq and exposed the whole stinking pile they were embarrassed and ashamed. Much of the hatred of Bush, and the concomitant derangement syndrome, stems from that time and their corruption.
When Germans sneer at Americans for being "cowboys" or "unsophisticated" the translation is "didn't go to Eurocentric, aristocratic, New World Order graduate schools"; where one learns the fine art of being a Quisling, Belgian-style E.U. bureaucrat socialist.
Ronald Reagan got the full treatment and withering scorn, but proved them all wrong and cowards to boot when the Soviet Union collapsed. They'll never forgive him or us for that.
A one-time German friend of mine, typical of the type, denied that there was any real difference between conservative Republicans and Democrats in America. He maintained it was entirely an illusion, and only Europeans have the received knowledge and wisdom required for running a country in the 21st Century.
Jul '10
Re: Appallingly Rude
I bet any one of Our Longhorns would be more successful running Germany than Schroeder.
I like JayDee's retort. Pull the Troops.
Aug '10
Re: Appallingly Rude
Irish Times today yesterday had a cartoon showing a caricature of Bush holding his book,"Mi Mimwas",which I believe represents "My Memories" and is clearly intended to show Bush as being as thick as a plank.Pathetic but typical.
May '10
Re: Appallingly Rude
We Texans are used to it actually. Let our slow speech and easy attitude fool you into believing we have low intelligence at your own peril. It seems to have worked out for Germany hasn't it?
May '10
Re: Appallingly Rude
I have some deep background on W that I will post a later date. But my attitude here is the same as GWB's. He doesn't care what Herr Schoeder or his lackeys think; his life doesn't require reinforcement by such people.
May '10
Re: Appallingly Rude
Please tell me when you post it, Duane. I would love to read it.
Jul '10
Re: Appallingly Rude
I thought it was pretty rude when al-Zawahri referred to President Obama as a "house slave," but one does expect a bit more from a major European leader. (Though honestly, God knows why...)
May '10
Re: Appallingly Rude
So glad the Marshall plan gave us such polite allies. Perhaps we should have stuck to the original ideas of post WW2 and made Germany an agrarian nation only, with no heavy industry etc. Imagine Schroeder in lederhosen milking the cows instead of sneering at the US. Actually I'd rather not..
Aug '10
Re: Appallingly Rude
Perhaps not by an ally, but I do recall one Hugo Chavez, with his highly-trained nose, passing judgment on the sulphurous bouquet surrounding Bush at the United Nations podium.
Aug '10
Re: Appallingly Rude
"Misunderestimate" Texans at your own peril. Just saying.
Aug '10
Re: Appallingly Rude
Schroeder is pretty much an empty suit. He is a shill for Putin, been married more times that Mickey Rooney, sued somebody for pointing out his obvious dye job, and as someone noted above, a former lawyer for Baader Meinhof gang that terrorized and murdered its way across Germany for 20 years.
After all, Germans are mostly a people who supported the EU so they could call themselves Europeans, because face it, it's pretty embarrassing to be a German.
Sticks and stones.......
Edited on November 12, 2010 at 3:10pmOct '10
Re: Appallingly Rude
I'm a Texas Longhorn. Wait a minute...my wife and I did get a card from George and Laura congratulating us on our wedding. Maybe he does know all of us...or at least his autopen does. Awesome.
Aug '10
Re: Appallingly Rude
Quick...name the former politician who discouraged the used of Nuclear Power in favor of promoting the oil industry of a dodgy country who now sits on the board of a major oil company.
Hmmm...