bush with blind reporter...
June 14, 2006 — The president was in a jovial mood during his Rose Garden press conference Wednesday, joshing with reporters, excited to aggressively defend the Iraq war in the midterm elections, optimistic about his recent trip to Baghdad.
Then he was told a reporter he playfully teased about wearing sunglasses during the press conference has a serious vision problem and is legally blind.
By the end of the day, the exchange had merited a presidential apology. The reporter, Peter Wallsten of the Los Angeles Times, said he bears no grudges and accepted the president's apology quickly.
"Clearly the president has more important things to worry about," Wallsten said.
The incident happened towards the end of the press conference, when the president called on the 34-year-old Wallsten.
"Are you going to ask that question with shades on?" Bush asked.
"I can take them off," Wallsten offered.
"I'm interested in the shade look," replied Bush. "Seriously."
Wallsten said, "All right, I'll keep it, then."
"For the viewers," the president said to the TV cameras, "there's no sun." Some in the press corps laughed.
"I guess it depends on your perspective," replied Wallsten, Zen-like.
"Touché," said the president, who then took Wallsten's question about Karl Rove.
A Presidential Apology
Wallsten has Stargardt's Disease, a degeneration of the central area of the retina called the macula, where cells sensitive to light send visual signals to the brain.
It turns out Wallsten wasn't trying to be hip or cool or cop a 'tude — he was wearing the pricey sunglasses because recent studies indicate that the progression of Stargardt's disease can be slowed by wearing sunglasses that protect the eyes from ultraviolet rays.
Wallsten suspects the president was informed of his gaffe by White House Communications Director Nicolle Wallace, who knows Wallsten and been aware of his vision problem for years, dating back to when both were in Tallahassee, where he worked for the Miami Herald and she for Florida Gov. Jeb Bush.
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there's more...but i think you get the gist of the incident....just when you think that shrub can't get more stupid...he gets more stupid...
Canadian Thoughts on US Politics
Hey people, just thought I'd throw my $0.02 out there.
I live close to the Border with the US, so we get radio and TV from Detroit, Toledo, etc and every day we all see several people with Detroit newspapers, which probably seel more in this area than the Canadian ones.
Every time I see how someone in US politics is getting slammed for something he said, did, or should have done or said, I think about our Canadian politicians and think:
"Man, those people SOTB have alot smarter people in Government than we have". And that ain't no friggin' lie!!
I agree with many of the statements above and almost everyone make good points, especially Shelby, Dag and BPP, but the fact is (and I don't remember who said it here) the Dude ain't funny, and he should stop trying.
Isn't shitting on politicians a national passtime in almost every Democracy in the world?? Cripes, imagine if you lived in England during the "Maggie" years!!! I'll bet there's a few members of this board who could tell you some freaky stories.
Peace guys, all in fun!!
Have a great weekend.
