Bush at G8: 'Everybody speaks English, right?'

[GTaudiophile]

Yet more confirmation that GW Bush is a dumb-ass who has no world view! And bravo Frau Kanzlerin!


6 June 2007

Heilgendamm, Germany (dpa) - US President George W Bush on Wednesday expressed surprise at the need for a German translation of his comments to the press at a G8 summit being held at the Baltic coastal resort of Heiligendamm.

"Everybody speaks English, right?" Bush asked, after a German- language interpreter began to translate his brief statement to the press following talks with G8 summit host German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

A laughing Merkel asked the US leader to "be patient" and gestured for him to wait by her side while the interpreter did his job.

"Is that what I said?" Bush asked Merkel with a grin after his words were translated.

"Almost 100 per cent," laughingly answered Merkel, speaking in English.

Merkel and other German politicians have made it a point to speak German both at G8 gatherings and at European Union meetings in a bid to boost the global standing of their language.

This is in contrast to other nations, including Austria and Finland, whose leaders and ministers frequently spoke English during their stint as EU president.

English is also increasingly used by the European Commission, the EU's executive body.

However, recognizing that the international press is largely composed of English-speakers, Merkel and her foreign minister Frank- Walter Steinmeier often bring along interpreters when speaking to reporters.


One of many sources.

 

[jrenz]

Yet more confirmation that GW Bush is a dumb-ass who has no world view! And bravo Frau Kanzlerin!

Ever stop and think that maybe he was just being a little funny? You know... with all the laughing and grinning going on in the article.

You guys never stop though, do you.

 

[ayabe]

He's doing better this year than last, at least he hasn't tried to give Merkel a massage.

Also, there is some truth in what Bush says, most of the people in the room probably do speak English, probably more fluently than a lot of our compatriots.

 

[robphelan]

meh... i hate bush, but i'm sure he was joking

 

[Craig234]

He comes across like a frat boy in almost any of his comments, so it's hard to tell. Remember his laughing while mimicking a condemned prisoner as governor. I remember last year at the G8 that he couldn't stop talking about the pig they were going to eat that night. He's an embarrassment to our nation in so many ways, this less important than the sellout policies.

 

[nergee]

Yeah, so he can't speak...that's old news..I get sick of the people who keep
pointing it out.....

 

[B00ne]

Politics aside - at least he aint got no stick up is ass

 

[techs]

Who was the Republican candidate during the debate that said of Bush: " I wouldn't appoint him as ambassador to the U.N.?

Bush: "What are those thingies everyone has in their ear?
U.N. Representitive: "Its translating what you are saying".
Bush: "Into English?"

 

[halik]

Originally posted by: jrenz

Yet more confirmation that GW Bush is a dumb-ass who has no world view! And bravo Frau Kanzlerin!

Ever stop and think that maybe he was just being a little funny? You know... with all the laughing and grinning going on in the article.

You guys never stop though, do you.

agreed

 

[alien42]

bush is the king of poorly timed bad taste comedy.

 

[Lemon law]

Somewhat remind me of some woman who stated--if English was good enough for Jesus Christ, its good enough for me.

 

[Isla]

What is beautiful to me is that this is GTAUdiophile!!!!!


Those of you who are still holding on need to know that GT is NOT a liberal tree hugger. He's one of the most sober, straight shooting guys I've known on this forums. A true conservative, and I respect that.

Bush did this to himself, over a long period of time, and completely.

 

[ProfJohn]

Originally posted by: alien42
bush is the king of poorly timed bad taste comedy.

Let?s be honest now? Reagan was one of the few politicians who could throw out the one-liners with accuracy. Clinton had some talent, but he launched some bad ones as well.

But after those two nearly everyone else in Washington sucks at making jokes.
John Kerry and his ?stuck in Iraq? and Hillary?s ?Gandhi owned a gas station? jokes stick out most in my mind.

 

[jrenz]

Originally posted by: ProfJohn

Originally posted by: alien42
bush is the king of poorly timed bad taste comedy.

Let?s be honest now? Reagan was one of the few politicians who could throw out the one-liners with accuracy. Clinton had some talent, but he launched some bad ones as well.

But after those two nearly everyone else in Washington sucks at making jokes.
John Kerry and his ?stuck in Iraq? and Hillary?s ?Gandhi owned a gas station? jokes stick out most in my mind.

Of course whenever Kerry says something that's not funny, it's just because it was "out of context" or "misunderstood".

 

[Red Dawn]

Originally posted by: B00ne
Politics aside - at least he aint got no stick up is ass

No just his head.

 

[Red Dawn]

Originally posted by: jrenz

Originally posted by: ProfJohn

Originally posted by: alien42
bush is the king of poorly timed bad taste comedy.

Let?s be honest now? Reagan was one of the few politicians who could throw out the one-liners with accuracy. Clinton had some talent, but he launched some bad ones as well.

But after those two nearly everyone else in Washington sucks at making jokes.
John Kerry and his ?stuck in Iraq? and Hillary?s ?Gandhi owned a gas station? jokes stick out most in my mind.

Of course whenever Kerry says something that's not funny, it's just because it was "out of context" or "misunderstood".

Actually in a couple of cases that's right onm the mark. However if one side can make fun of Bush for talking like a rube Hillbilly then it should be ok for the other side to take Kerry's comments out of context and use them to attack him politically.

 

[boredhokie]

Originally posted by: ProfJohn

Originally posted by: alien42
bush is the king of poorly timed bad taste comedy.

Let?s be honest now? Reagan was one of the few politicians who could throw out the one-liners with accuracy. Clinton had some talent, but he launched some bad ones as well.

But after those two nearly everyone else in Washington sucks at making jokes.
John Kerry and his ?stuck in Iraq? and Hillary?s ?Gandhi owned a gas station? jokes stick out most in my mind.

Oh, Jesus. Go outside already.

 

[Archenemy]

everybody speaks english...except Bush. What an idiot.

 

[Blackjack200]

Originally posted by: ProfJohn

Originally posted by: alien42
bush is the king of poorly timed bad taste comedy.

Let?s be honest now? Reagan was one of the few politicians who could throw out the one-liners with accuracy. Clinton had some talent, but he launched some bad ones as well.

But after those two nearly everyone else in Washington sucks at making jokes.
John Kerry and his ?stuck in Iraq? and Hillary?s ?Gandhi owned a gas station? jokes stick out most in my mind.

This is one of the few times Bush was actually witty and I'm surprised all wing nuts missed it. The reason Merkel is making it a point to speak German is to try to boost the language. So Bush steps in, and in effect says "why bother with all this? Everyone speaks English". It's actually a pretty sharp remark.

 

[jrenz]

Originally posted by: Archenemy
everybody speaks english...except Bush. What an idiot.

What a poignant and witty remark!

 

[GrGr]

Originally posted by: Blackjack200

Originally posted by: ProfJohn

Originally posted by: alien42
bush is the king of poorly timed bad taste comedy.

Let?s be honest now? Reagan was one of the few politicians who could throw out the one-liners with accuracy. Clinton had some talent, but he launched some bad ones as well.

But after those two nearly everyone else in Washington sucks at making jokes.
John Kerry and his ?stuck in Iraq? and Hillary?s ?Gandhi owned a gas station? jokes stick out most in my mind.

This is one of the few times Bush was actually witty and I'm surprised all wing nuts missed it. The reason Merkel is making it a point to speak German is to try to boost the language. So Bush steps in, and in effect says "why bother with all this? Everyone speaks English". It's actually a pretty sharp remark.

Aye so Bush insults the Germans on their home turf...

 

[postmortemIA]

Bush said to the Pope "how ya doin"

 

[AAjax]

Could be worse, he coulda showed up drunk Link

 

[CanOWorms]

Sounds like it's inspired by the ultra-nationalistic fury the French have over their language. I'm reminded of Jacques Chirac and his crazy language obsession (goes psycho when a Frenchman speaks English, pretends not to understand English at international meetings, etc.).

Some people just can't grasp the reality of their linguistic decline.

Actions like what happened here make Bush look like the intelligent one.

 

[GrGr]

Originally posted by: CanOWorms
Sounds like it's inspired by the ultra-nationalistic fury the French have over their language. I'm reminded of Jacques Chirac and his crazy language obsession (goes psycho when a Frenchman speaks English, pretends not to understand English at international meetings, etc.).

Some people just can't grasp the reality of their linguistic decline.

Actions like what happened here make Bush look like the intelligent one.

I see, the next time the Mexican President visits the White House he should joke - Habla Espanol? - when addressing the press corps?