saw this somewheres:

President Bush addressing sunglass-wearing Los Angeles Times reporter Peter Wallsten -- who is legally blind -- during a press conference on Wednesday: "Are you going to ask that question with shades on? I'm interested in the shade look. Seriously. For the viewers, there's no sun."

goodness gracious.

Let it also be noted that the reporter has said he did not take offense at Bush's dumb remarks.

Or to put it in the words of dear Mr. David Sylvian:

"Who could feel sorry
for a drunkard like this
in a Democracy of dunces
where the parasites kiss?"



That said it was probably a pretty honest mistake.
Just was listening to the very song with that quote in it and couldn't resist posting it.

Keep defending him. You know he's a total imbecile. This has nothing to do with politics. He would be an imbecile as a democrat also, but we never would have let him ascend as far as he has...thats the difference.

I agree. I don't understand the infatuation with pointing out all of Bush's mistakes like this. Like no one around here has ever made a mistake like that? What does it prove -- that he's human?

At least he hasn't claimed to have invented the internet.

Yet.

I didn't see this as "defending" as much as getting the whole, unslanted story out there.

At least GW hasn't gotten lost while jogging.

Yet.

yes, anyone could make a mistake like that, but...

in combination with a complete lack of empathy, i think it is a telling faux pas.

This is true, but it reminds me of a conversation I had with a girlfriend yesterday, re: her two children. One of my other friends asked her, "Have you gotten to the stage where they (the kids) ask people directly, 'Why are you black?' or 'Why are you fat?'" At some point, you learn restraint and don't ask or say dumb things like that. It sometimes seems like W doesn't have that internal filter working correctly at times, like he never progressed past the 2 year old "Why are you so fat?" stage.

You would think that the President of all people would have more tact than that.

On a side note, my parents think GW is doing a fantastic job. They base this on the sole idea that he has not had promiscuous sex in the White House.

there are alot of people out there who speak before they think . the fact that he's our president makes it so easy for us to judge him. there will always be people like this who tend to put their foot in their mouth, but the reporter took no offense, so that's all that matters.

it's really not all that matters because it was said in a public space. the perception that is created matters more than the reporter's feelings.

i think that perception was created waaaaaay before this incident. i think the world knows we have a 4 year old for a president.

What perception, though? That he was trying to make a light-hearted joke and stuck his foot in his mouth because he didn't realize the guy is blind? I appreciate him trying to be a person unlike someone like Gore who often came (and comes) off as a robot. Jesus, the guy is human. I can understand debating decisions he has made in the political world, but he made an honest mistake. Let it go.

I'm with stone on this one. I'm not a Bush supporter, but pointing out every little single slip-up is just silly and pointless. The reporter said he didn't feel insulted, so I don't really see why anyone should be outraged on his behalf.

Damn near every president and politician has had their own share of dumb remarks, especially since every friggin' word is in front of a camera or tape recorder.

Also, the guy isn't blind, he has some sort of degenerative eye disease that can be slowed by wearing UV sunglasses. I'm not saying legally blind isn't a handicap, but it's not like he kicked the guy's stick across a barroom floor (as I did once in my youth, but the guy deserved it, and he was blind.).