All together now: Bush is not an idiot. He was elected twice, in part by affecting a "regular guy" image.
Quite a feat considering his lineage: His father is a distinguished former diplomat and not-quite-distinguished President. His mother is a descendant of another president (Franklin Pierce), heiress to the McCall's fortune and pure Greenwich granite. The family knows their way around Queens, Shahs and Popes.
So it is not a "gaffe," as reported, when Bush, in his first audience with Pope Benedict XVI, addresses the Pontiff as "sir," rather than "His Holiness," and mutters "How ya' doin'?" to another official, then casually crosses his legs "Texan style" sitting across from Benedict's desk in his library.
Bush is more than subtly sending a message: He's not fond of the blunt and highly critical German Pope - a man who's come out strongly against Bush on the invasion and occupation of Iraq and the daily mass slaughter of innocents there. Apparently Bush's anti-abortion credentials haven't curried the kind of favor with the Vatican that Bush probably expected.
Be careful, President Bush. You better be nice to Benedict. He's got a constituency of a billion. And he's German. You don't want to piss His Holiness off. No, sir.
CLARIFICATION: If you think I'm accusing U.S. troops of perpetrating the mass slaughter of innocents, I'm not. Check out comment #7 if it's not clear what I meant. (Accusing opponents of the war of "not supporting our troops" is supposed to put an end to the discussion. So I'd like to nip that in the bud.)
Mo Rocca has appeared on a bunch of shows, including 'The Daily Show,' 'I Love the 80s,'...
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Bush vs. Benedict: "W" Picks Another Fight He Can't Win
Posted Jun 9th 2007 4:35PM by Mo Rocca
Filed under: George Bush, Pope Benedict
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Reader Comments ( Page 5 of 5)
61. Good point: media news, sarcastic intent,unknowing and misinformed all play a roll in the desaster of ill-will that only affect the next generations> you all need to take a hike or Shut the Man Up. Let the Mother fix it.. Live or die,
Gloria at 5:56AM on Jun 14th 2007
62. FIRE DUMASS. Women rule. MEN step aside
Gloria at 6:26AM on Jun 14th 2007
63. Labeling opponents of the war as 'not supporting our troops' is a gross overgeneralization. One may oppose the war yet support the human beings who are there - not by personal choice but by orders from the supreme commander.
A person over there may be opposed to the war. Yet because of what the repurcussions would be if they decided not to play GW's dirty little game they may be over there in person but not in spirit.
About GW's messing things up with the Pope, I do not expect it yet it does not suprise me. GW is a simple-minded individual who was elected because of the state he was from being one of a large number of electoral votes. Also, he had a name-recognition, which goes far.
I'm not 'blaming' GW for his political/social gaffes. Considering his simple-mindedness I expect nothing more. My hope would be for a more global perspective yet, I also realize that many hopes are unfulfilled.
John S. at 10:12AM on Jun 14th 2007
64. well, i never thought i'd actually agree with anything the president says or does. being the religious atheist i am(well,after enduring 13 yrs of catholic education), i applaud the prez for addressing Benedict as "sir." that wasn't impolite or even a faux pas in my estimation. afterall,the pope is just another regular guy and shouldn't be offended by the president addressing him as he might any other world leader (the pope, in fact,is the titular King of The Vatican, an absolute monarch at that) i mean,he didn't say "howzitgoin, Ben?"(i would have preferred that casual, off-the-cuff way he has with people). Besides, don't you think the interpreter would have corrected it. i give the ol prez points for that. The pope could use a smack of reality in the holier-than-thou bubble in which he exists.hmmm, i guess i'm anti-papist, too. Ok, george, i'm with ya on this one.
boredwell at 8:40PM on Jun 14th 2007