<< VIEW CONFIRMED ~ MAIN ~ RUSSIANS WIN >>

GREETING INSUFFICIENTLY FORMAL

The Age’s Alan Attwood reviews the notorious Bush-Blair open mike chat:

Then there’s that priceless salutation: “Yo, Blair!” What are the odds that Bush greets his dogs in much the same manner?

Pretty good, I’d guess, if by “much the same manner” Attwood means “affectionately” and “by name”. When did journalists become such a prissy bunch?

(Full transcript of the terrifying chat here)

Posted by Tim B. on 07/20/2006 at 08:49 AM
  1. I’m sure he greets Barney’s mother with a heartfelt “Yo bitch!”

    Posted by Mr. Bingley on 2006 07 20 at 08:56 AM • permalink

  2. The supercilious Attwood clearly has contempt for dogs. Strange coming from a bitch in heat.

    Posted by stats on 2006 07 20 at 09:23 AM • permalink

  3. ‘Yo Blair’ would be a good name for a frozen dessert.

    Posted by Bill Spencer on 2006 07 20 at 09:36 AM • permalink

  4. Roosevelt once rolled in to chat with Churchill while the PM was in the bath.

    Posted by C.L. on 2006 07 20 at 09:36 AM • permalink

  5. One wonders how Sir Winston would have reponded…

    Posted by The_Wizard_of_WOZ on 2006 07 20 at 09:41 AM • permalink

  6. Perhaps the journalists are just more comfortable with the high tone and lofty protocol of the Clinton administration, as exhibited in the ex-president’s dealings with various women, which recall the gallantry and exquisite courtesy of King Arthur’s Court.

    Posted by paco on 2006 07 20 at 09:46 AM • permalink

  7. Atleast while Attwood and his ilk spend time on a fluff piece like this they’re not misreporting actual news.

    Posted by Retread on 2006 07 20 at 09:49 AM • permalink

  8. I wonder when and who started this pooch, poodle, lap-dog refrain? Was there some lefty book years and years ago that got the image rolling? In Japan, this is the formulation of first and last resort for any lefty criticiziing Koizumi’s support of Bush/U.S./anti-appeasement. South Korea: ditto. Same for Blair in England. As it was in Spain and Italy. As it will be with Merkel in Germany and the new guy in Canada. Is Howard with regards to his government’s policy with a certain ally also, from the Left, pejoratively called some formulation of a small dog?

    A ready to go image—beats having to think. The pussies.

    Posted by tosa on 2006 07 20 at 09:51 AM • permalink

  9. What the Russian tape makes clear is that Bush believes Syria is the key to stopping “this s—t”. He is irked that UN head Kofi Annan hasn’t got on the phone to “make something happen”.

    Aren’t we all just a little bit irked by that?

    As for “Yo Blair!”, why, the Brits deserve no more respect. Remember the War of Independence? A president has to keep them in their place.

    Oh hell yeah.  We’re still seething over that.  Why, it’s not safe for the average Brit to walk down an American street.  [s/o]

    Posted by RebeccaH on 2006 07 20 at 09:53 AM • permalink

  10. Well, it’s a little more polite than “hoooo-doggy, howjoo git them big ole teeth?”

    Posted by richard mcenroe on 2006 07 20 at 09:57 AM • permalink

  11. Is Howard with regards to his government’s policy with a certain ally also, from the Left, pejoratively called some formulation of a small dog?

    Howard gets the “Deputy” tag. Same thing but more subtle.

    Posted by Srekwah on 2006 07 20 at 10:01 AM • permalink

  12. Besides, everyone knows the sophisticated Oz greeting that is appropriate to such situations:

    “Hot enough to boil a monkey’s bum, Prime Minister…”

    Posted by richard mcenroe on 2006 07 20 at 10:01 AM • permalink

  13. One wonders how Sir Winston would have reponded…

    I’m guessing, “‘ssup, dawg?”

    Posted by R C Dean on 2006 07 20 at 10:08 AM • permalink

  14. My dog took a leak on an attwood, yesterday, but the attwood didn’t say anything so I supposed it didn’t mind. Oh, sorry; wrong thread.

    and the new guy in Canada.
    That’s Stephen Harper, tosa.

    Posted by andycanuck on 2006 07 20 at 10:16 AM • permalink

  15. 11: Very subtle.

    14: Thanks. I was fairly sure of the first name, for some reason, but not the family name. Apologies to all Canadians!

    Posted by tosa on 2006 07 20 at 10:29 AM • permalink

  16. My God. Bush greeted Blair in a familiar fashion and put his hand on Angela Merkel’s shoulder? The beast.

    Posted by Dave S. on 2006 07 20 at 11:07 AM • permalink

  17. Somewhat O/T, but I heard some “journalist” asking an Israeli official about their timetable for pulling out of Lebanon. In Rumsfeldian fashion, he blew him off, inferring how stupid such an idea is.
    Timetables and proportionate responses in war… what kind of fantasy world circus do these media clowns inhabit?

    Posted by Latino on 2006 07 20 at 11:10 AM • permalink

  18. #17—Just your normal, everyday media fantasy world. Nothing more and nothing less.

    Posted by Forbes on 2006 07 20 at 11:50 AM • permalink

  19. Oh hell yeah.  We’re still seething over that.  Why, it’s not safe for the average Brit to walk down an American street.  [s/o]

    Funny how he forgot the War of 1812. A slightly more recent dust-up with the British.

    Posted by Rob Crawford on 2006 07 20 at 12:13 PM • permalink

  20. Of course the President doesn’t greet his dog with “Yo, Blair!”

    The dog’s name is Barney!

    D’uh!

    Posted by VKI on 2006 07 20 at 12:19 PM • permalink

  21. When did journalists become such a prissy bunch?

    About the same time that they started caring about national security and leaked information, i.e. right about the time that Valerie Plame was “outed” so shockingly.  It was just so beyond belief that such a terrible thing could happen, wasn’t it?  Somehow, though, the press caring about leaked national secrets came to a screeching halt just about the time the NSA and bank stories hit the press.

    You see, their concern is entirely situational. Substitute President Clinton for President Bush in that exact same situation and they wouldn’t give a shi* (to quote a certain prominent world leader).

    Posted by kcom on 2006 07 20 at 12:19 PM • permalink

  22. The press has gotten prissy because folksy, man-to-man diplomacy works at least as well as the formal, kiss-my-ring style, and a whole lot faster.

    Which gets better results - Bush calls Blair and Howard and says, “Yo, my bruvvas, get your posses, and let’s roll,” or the UN’s more formal response of, “We will hold many meetings with people who can do nothing and could not care less?”

    If the goal is an ineffective America, you gotta go with prissy.

    Posted by VKI on 2006 07 20 at 12:36 PM • permalink

  23. If you live in Melbourne, tune in to ABC local radio (774 AM) on Friday afternoon, after 5.30. You get to listen to Alan Attwood talk about sport the way he writes - a real whiny bitch. I think he brings the feminine perspective to discussing sport.

    Posted by Oafish and Infantile on 2006 07 20 at 05:27 PM • permalink

  24. #12
    Surely PM Howard greets his foreign peers with you-beaut Aussie vernacular such as….
    “Why you old bastard…(shakes hand warmly, together smile at cameras)...how the fuck are ya…(flash bulb,click,whiz)..orright?”

    Posted by 81Alpha on 2006 07 20 at 06:08 PM • permalink

  25. Hmmmmm 81Alpha - I don’t think that’s what we heard when he met the Queen….(albeit she isn’t a peer - in either sense of the word).

    Although if JoHo has the smallest mischievious bone in his body, he’ll do just that when he meets QE2 for the last time.

    Posted by Stop Continental Drift! on 2006 07 20 at 06:20 PM • permalink

  26. No offence taken, tosa. And the PM’s mom was a bit upset to hear that President Bush was calling Stephen “Steve”, although close friends do call him that. (Still, better than being called “Hoss”!)

    Posted by andycanuck on 2006 07 20 at 06:36 PM • permalink

  27. When did journalists become such a prissy bunch?

    I think it’s taught in all good journalism schools.

    Course description:
    Finicky 201B- 3 credits
    Students will learn the importance of prissiness in the workplace and professional life. This is a new, unique, and highly motivating course which will provide an understanding of the importance of an up-turned nose. Students will learn through hands-on activities, like kicking a waiter in a restuarant, ignoring a working class person on the street, and referring to those people as “them”, with a hint of indignation in your voice.

    Posted by rinardman on 2006 07 20 at 06:36 PM • permalink

  28. Hard to pinpoint exactly when journalists became prissy, but I would say it was some time after Mark Latham broke a cabbies’ arm and Clinton admitted getting an intern to play his piccolo.

    Posted by Margos Maid on 2006 07 20 at 07:01 PM • permalink

  29. You know Blair loves it.  It means he’s “cool.”  A real Yank just said “Yo” to him.  Ahmadinejad and KJL are fuming. They want to be cool, too. Leader of the free world does not say “Yo” to them.

    Posted by crittenden on 2006 07 20 at 07:13 PM • permalink

  30. The Australian media are careful not to let us get to know Bush up close and personal.  He’s a Texan and his manners and style are as casual and friendly as ours.

    As long as they can just portray him with an apparent smirk and looking awkward they can vilify him, just like they do Howard.

    I think Bush cares as little as Howard does about that kind of false imaging, which is why he’s successful too..

    Posted by Barrie on 2006 07 20 at 08:09 PM • permalink

  31. “Yo Blair dawg! Ssup Biatch? I tell ya wot we gots ta do. We gotta tell Syria to cut this schizzle out. Hear what I’m sayin?

    Posted by Infidel Tiger on 2006 07 20 at 09:37 PM • permalink

  32. [This post courtesy of the roving de-italicizer squad.]

    Posted by PW on 2006 07 20 at 10:14 PM • permalink

  33. </i> *sigh*...

    Do we have to have a test page, “font this to complete the registration process…”

    Posted by richard mcenroe on 2006 07 20 at 10:44 PM • permalink

  34. It’s no worse than Howard’s Aussie:

    “G’day Shagger, how’re they hanging?”

    Posted by kae on 2006 07 20 at 11:45 PM • permalink

  35. I can just imagine GWB saying “We gots to bust a cap in that Iranian crackers crown” (Im guessing he’s a cracker, is there a slang term for Arabs?)

    Then JWH replys with “Strewth mate, its about bloody time…”

    Posted by The_Wizard_of_WOZ on 2006 07 21 at 12:31 AM • permalink

  36. Beats me how Dumb Ol’ Bush convinces all these other world leaders to be his ‘lapdogs’.  Surely as stupid as he is they could fool him somehow.  Oh, well.

    And as for Finicky 201B, I’m pretty sure that you’re also taught that it only applies to those to the right of your farthest right (Lefty) friend.

    Posted by JorgXMcKie on 2006 07 21 at 11:44 AM • permalink

  37. When did journalists become such a prissy bunch?

    They will take any stance necessary so as to be instantly critical of anything that Bush says, does or thinks.

    Posted by Maulman on 2006 07 21 at 03:06 PM • permalink

  38. I’m fairly sure that what Bush actually said was “yeah Blair”.

    Posted by Karol on 2006 07 21 at 03:43 PM • permalink

  39. Hey swingers his name ain’t Attwood for nothing???

    Posted by crash on 2006 07 23 at 10:55 AM • permalink

  40. Page 1 of 1 pages

Commenting is not available in this weblog entry.

Members:
Login | Register | Member List

Please note: you must use a real email address to register. You will be sent an account activation email. Clicking on the url in the email will automatically activate your account. Until you do so your account will be held in the "pending" list and you won't be able to log in. All accounts that are "pending" for more than one week will be deleted.