On Pigs and Tasty items
PRESIDENT BUSH: Chancellor, thank you very much. Thanks for the invitation. This is a beautiful part of the world, and Laura and I are so honored to come to your constituency and meet some of the friendly people who live here. I remember you coming to the Oval Office, and you said, if you are coming to Germany, this is the part of Germany I want you to see. And now I can see why you suggested it. I’m looking forward to the feast you’re going to have tonight. I understand I may have the honor of slicing the pig.
[…]
I’m optimistic we can still get something done on the Doha Round. It’s going to take work, but G8 is a good place for us to continue the dialogue, and we will.
And I guess that’s about all — we discussed a lot of things, in other words. And thank you for having me. I’m looking forward to that pig tonight. (Laughter.)
I’ll be glad to answer a couple of questions. Do you want to start her off?
[…]
Q A question addressed to you both. You talked about the Middle East, and what is your assessment of the military action of Israel in Lebanon? The French Foreign Minister already said it is disproportionate. Does that give you cause for Europe or the United States to intervene?
And apart from the pig, Mr. President, what sort of insights have you been able to gain as regards East Germany? — (inaudible) —
[…]
PRESIDENT BUSH: Follow up on?
Q On both of these. Does it concern you that the Beirut airport has been bombed? And do you see a risk of triggering a wider war?
And on Iran, they’ve, so far, refused to respond. Is it now past the deadline, or do they still have more time to respond?
PRESIDENT BUSH: I thought you were going to ask me about the pig.
Q I’m curious about that, too. (Laughter.)
PRESIDENT BUSH: The pig? I’ll tell you tomorrow after I eat it.
The Iranian issue is — will be taken to the U.N. Security
………………..
You know the problem with Bush’s sense of humour. It’s hard not to think that maybe, just maybe, he is actually preoccupied and what is central in his mind is … that pig. This is not the first time he was in a press conference where he returned again and again to a superflous item like that as light-hearted jab. (Note: once is fine. Twice you’re treading on thin ice. Thrice and more, I have to wonder about someone with the power of the presidency.)
Reagan’s “The Bombing begins in five minutes”, a somewhat dark joke that may indeed terrify the children, at least has the advantage of pertaining to things that occupy the world stage. It’s not a goddamned pig you’re looking forward to eating.