Misc: Jesus ... Bush's Mardi Gras party
Source: Miscellaneous
Some news just makes you want ot throw up even when it doesn't involve murder and mayhem. In fact, this little transcript comes from president select George Bush's speech at a Mardi Gras party at the White House this week (is there anything less Mardi Gras-like than a "party" with a teetotaling president and his librarian wife?). I like Kermit Ruffins, but he and Paul Prudhomme should be ashamed of themselves for hanging out with this crowd, and for not saying, "pick it up your damn self" when the president told Ruffins et al to pick up the trash when they were done:
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you all for coming. Laura and I welcome you to the South Lawn. This is an opportunity to thank the members of Congress and their families for serving the United States.
First, I want to recognize the Speaker. Madam Speaker, thank you for joining us. It means a lot that you've come. I appreciate the leadership of the House and the Senate who have joined us. For all the wives and husbands, thank you for standing by your spouse. It's not easy to be in public office. It's a lot easier, though, when you have somebody who loves you to help you do your job. And so Laura and I want to thank you all, in particular. We're proud to be serving with you. Occasionally we might have our differences, but one thing we all agree on is we represent the greatest country on the face of the Earth. (Applause.)
I want to thank our Chef, Paul Prudhomme, from New Orleans, Louisiana -- one of the great chefs in America. Thanks for coming, Paul. (Applause.) I thank Tony Snow and his bunch of, well, mediocre musicians -- (laughter) -- no, great musicians. Beats Workin, thanks for coming. (Applause.) Kermit, come up here. Kermit, we're proud to have you.
MR. RUFFINS: Well, thanks for having us.
THE PRESIDENT: Kermit Ruffins and the Barbeque Swingers, right out of New Orleans, Louisiana. (Applause.)
MR. RUFFINS: Thank you. Thanks for having us. We're glad to be here.
THE PRESIDENT: Proud you're here. Thanks for coming. You all enjoy yourself. Make sure you pick up all the trash after it's over. (Laughter.)
God bless you, and may God bless America. Thanks for coming. (Applause.)
Thanks to New Orleans Slate for the heads up.
Comments
Oh jesus god... watch the video, it's clear Bush is addressing the audience when he makes the "garbage" comment.
Posted by: rcs | June 22, 2007 09:48 PM
My point wasn't who he was addressing. And I wasn't implying racism as other posts have. By "Ruffins et al" I wasn't talking about skin color, but about the New Orleans natives who were present. My point is that our president left New Orleans to drown and here he is at a Mardi Gras party saying, "Make sure you pick up after yourself ..." I can think of many appropriate responses to the president's quip, but none of them include chuckles and polite applause.
Posted by: Bruce | June 23, 2007 03:40 PM
There is nothing here to cry about; just the President making a routine joke to the crowd. Quit being oversensitive and wasting our time with these stupid posts.
Posted by: steve | June 24, 2007 04:34 PM
Oversensitive? Steve, allow me to call you out: If anything, folks like you have been desensitized to the point that you allow this president his glib jokes, one-liners and inaction. I didn't start criticizing the president select with this post. There's a whole history of Bush critique here. If you don't see what's wrong with a president throwing a New Orleans-themed party on the South Lawn after abandoning one of the country's most important cities, then I suggest that you are wasting our time by posting comments without proper attribution (like a real email address), "steve."
Posted by: Bruce | June 25, 2007 09:15 AM