US blushes over Bush's man-to-man diplomacy
Geoff Elliott, Washington
April 28, 2005 the australian
COURTS barring same-sex unions, the rise of the religious right. Things have been looking good for the conservatives in the US. But, heck, what does the President go and do? Kiss a man?
The US media and comedians are having a lot of fun with the embrace and double-cheek kiss that George W.Bush landed on Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah during a visit to the President's Texan ranch earlier this week.
Consider the New York Post's full front-page photo of the President holding the hand of the 81-year-old, helping him negotiate some steps.
"Oh, the things our poor Prez has to do for the sake of oil," the New York Post said. "Strolling through a field of blooming bluebonnets, President Bush yesterday held hands with Crown Prince Abdullah at his Texas ranch, and pressed the Saudi leader to pump more crude. Cowboys all across the Lone Star state must be shuddering."
Comic TV host Jay Leno ran a slow-motion clip of the hand-holding with the 1982 hit Up Where We Belong, while at least one network conducted a vox pop on the street.
Asked what she thought of the President, all belt buckle and swagger when he's wandering his ranch, kissing the Crown Prince, one woman told CNN: "I think it is not a hand-hold thing. It is a hand squeeze. Now, you'll lower those prices, right, sheik?"
======= These meetings were held to keep prices HIGH, not to lower them. Everyone knows that. |
