...Not! But what else do you expect from a self-treated alcoholic. Now when will he start apologizing for his hundreds of other mistakes....like the ones that have killed thousands of innocent people? http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060615...aQDMVAb.3QA;_ylu=X3oDMTA4NGRzMjRtBHNlYwMxNjk5 Bush apologizes to L.A. Times reporter By NEDRA PICKLER, Associated Press Writer Thu Jun 15, 12:42 PM ET WASHINGTON - President Bush, who often teases members of the White House press corps, apologized Wednesday after he poked fun at a reporter for wearing sunglasses without realizing they were needed for vision loss. The exchange occurred at a news conference in the Rose Garden. Bush called on Los Angeles Times reporter Peter Wallsten and asked if he was going to ask his question with his "shades" on. "For the viewers, there's no sun," Bush said to the television cameras. But even though the sun was behind the clouds, Wallsten still needs the sunglasses because he has Stargardt's disease, a form of macular degeneration that causes progressive vision loss. The condition causes Wallsten to be sensitive to glare and even on a cloudy day, can cause pain and increase the loss of sight. Wallsten said Bush called his cell phone later in the day to apologize and tell him that he didn't know he had the disease. Wallsten said he interrupted and told the president that no apology was necessary and that he didn't feel offended since he hadn't told anyone at the White House about his condition. "He said, `I needle you guys out of affection,'" Wallsten said. "I said, 'I understand that, but I don't want you to treat me any differently because of this.'" Wallsten said the president said he would not treat him differently, so Wallsten encouraged him to "needle away." "He said, `I will. Next time I'll just use a different needle,'" Wallsten said. Wallsten said he thought that was a pretty good line. And his only complaint is that the president didn't answer his question at the news conference. Wallsten, who is also author of a book coming out next month titled "One Party Country: The Republican Plan for Dominance in the 21st Century," had asked about White House credibility now in the aftermath of top aide Karl Rove having been cleared in the CIA leak investigation. But Bush said he wouldn't comment with another top White House aide still facing prosecution in the case.
I saw this on the daily show last night, it was so awkward. here is the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4CWg9y96OR8&search=daily show
I like this one better. At today's press gaggle when a question was asked of Tony Snow what the administration's thoughts were on hitting 2500 American war dead his response was.....wait for it..... "It's a number. And every time there's one of these 500 benchmarks, people want something."
I think Bush is generally a moron, but I don't see the big deal about this. I mean, people make comments like this all of the time, and it's not like Bush was teasing the guy when he really has AIDS or something....
This is what the liberals do. They don't analyze things. They simply throw **** until something sticks. This is a great example of something not sticking. They will regroup and throw more **** later today and tomorrow. That much you can be sure of.
I saw it and it was awkward. It is a non-issue, but being the president or any celeb is going to get you under the spotlight for mistakes
"Wallsten said he interrupted and told the president that no apology was necessary and that he didn't feel offended since he hadn't told anyone at the White House about his condition." Definitely awkward, but this is no big deal. Personally I was hoping for Wallsten to go beyond "depends on your viewpoint" or whatever it was and speak of Bush being the radiant sun or something in the Louis XIV mold. Oh well, life is full of disappointments.
Granted, it would have been enjoyable for you, Rimbaud; and I might have found that amusing, too if I was there. However, it was the President of the United States of America, so some nervousness on Wallsten's part is undertandable, So give Wallsten a break.
Wow, overreact much? I guess this thread isn't turning out quite as you had hoped. Even the posters who loathe Bush don't really think this is a big deal. Hell, even the guy the comment was directed at is fine with it, as rimbaud pointed out.
Well, Bigtexx, if I was not being gentler and kinder today, I might remark that you are not contributing to the effort of our brave fighting men and women in Iraq, who you fail to even mention in your post.
I'll agree with most people. People who take offense to this need to stop crying foul at every bloody thing. This wasn't done out of malice, whatsoever.
This isn't really a big deal. The President stuck his foot in his mouth, but he didn't mean anything malicious. It was awkward and worthy of a few laughs on the talk shows, but little more.
I agree this seems to be like a non-issue. Bush did stuck his foot in his mouth but IMO it was pretty classy of Bush to call the reporter back and personally apologize.
