NEWSFLASH: The president is human!

[Slim]

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=stor...2587077477.jpg

If you cant read the note, it says "I think I may need a Bathroom Break"

Laugh, giggle, chuckle. That's enough children, settle down now.

"What a moron."

"Bathroom!?! There's a damd disaster in New Orleans and all he can think about is his bladder? Insensitive Bastard"

"He can wait. How do you think those flood victims felt!"

Can someone please, please tell me why Reuters feel this news worthy? And notice how it isnt at all related with the story which is that Kofi-Annan isnt getting what he wants, which is a very noble, yet vague "Freedom from want, persecution and war".

Nope. No media bias. No subtle messages trying to hint that Bush is a dope.

Maeve, the floor is all yours. We're expecting good things from you, so please dont disappoint.

[ThatReallyHurt]

Actually, if I were to read something into that, I'd see the fact that he didn't write "I think I may need a Bathroom Break" - he wrote "I think I may need a Bathroom Break?" - you know, like he's been programmed to ask Condoleezza Rice when the most appropriate time for a human to take a bathroom break would be.

You know, to cover up the whole robot/alien thing.

And Slim - before you say it's not a question mark, anything else would look worse - either he's closing a set of parentheses he hasn't opened (gasp), or he's put a backwards "C" behind the word "break".

What I find hard to believe is that "The Most Powerful Man on the Planet" is using an old fashioned wood pencil.

Wow.

[esskreemr]

Is this before or after he tried to back out of the Millenium goals, part of which seeks a decrease in world poverty. Of course, Bush should know poverty well by now, after all the number of Americans living in poverty has increased by over 5,000,000 Americans during his tenure while the number of Americans with health insurance increased by over 6,000,000.

It's wonderful that he can crack jokes while the lives of tens of thousands ride on how committed we are to fighting poverty. Oh well, he can always go potty at his ranch while he's on another vacation...

[Slim]

Is this before or after he tried to back out of the Millenium goals, part of which seeks a decrease in world poverty. Of course, Bush should know poverty well by now, after all the number of Americans living in poverty has increased by over 5,000,000 Americans during his tenure while the number of Americans with health insurance increased by over 6,000,000.

It's wonderful that he can crack jokes while the lives of tens of thousands ride on how committed we are to fighting poverty. Oh well, he can always go potty at his ranch while he's on another vacation...

Now tell us how you really feel.

But, do you feel the story I linked to is newsworthy?

[Philistine]

{snip}
But, do you feel the story I linked to is newsworthy?

You didn't link to a story.

You linked to one photo in a photo slideshow. The subject of the entire slideshow--all 159 pictures--is the UN Conference. In that context, yeah, the picture is probably newsworthy as a bit of comic relief.

--Philistine

[jBirch]

What do you expect him to do, get up and piss on the floor of the UN council just as the delegate from Iran gets up to complain about poverty targets in their country? Or just get up and walk out to jingle the snake for a bit in the middle of Kofi's speach on donor countries? Might that not send the wrong message perhaps?

Asking an aide to engineer an appropriate break for one to go to the bathroom is a very reasonable diplomatic thing to do.

The scary thing about that picture is that a news reporter had a camera angle that would let him make that shot. Obviously nothing useful is going to happen in an environment where that's on the agenda. Lot's of posturing but no substance. *grin* Probably could have just sent the leaders an email and accomplished the same thing.

James.

[darius]

What do you expect him to do, get up and piss on the floor of the UN council just as the delegate from Iran gets up to complain about poverty targets in their country? Or just get up and walk out to jingle the snake for a bit in the middle of Kofi's speach on donor countries?

No, that's John Bolton's job.

darius

[kalivor]

Can someone please, please tell me why Reuters feel this news worthy? And notice how it isnt at all related with the story which is that Kofi-Annan isnt getting what he wants, which is a very noble, yet vague "Freedom from want, persecution and war".

Nope. No media bias. No subtle messages trying to hint that Bush is a dope.

It's an amusing photo, and a good one. One of a set of over 150, as has been mentioned.

Now, if I were photo editor, I wouldn't use this as the *only* photo from the conference, or even one of a small set -- put if they're including all the good photos (as it would appear that they are), then this clearly qualifies. It's a quirky, amusing, and generally unnoted side of these conferences. I think it belongs no matter who is writing the note, and who is sending the note.

And I don't see how you can manage to see it as a slight against Bush or a left-wing media bias ... in fact, the only comments to that effect is your attempts to put such words in the mouths of others.

[mrbiggs]

Maybe they had nothing else to report. It does happen.

[Epee_Pox]

I imagine someone at the White House has already blown that picture up to poster size, mounted and framed it, and presented it to the President to general amusement. I don't think anyone there got their nose out of joint over this. It's well known that the photogs have good lenses, and this was a fair shot.

[Epee_Pox]

You didn't link to a story.

You linked to one photo in a photo slideshow. The subject of the entire slideshow--all 159 pictures--is the UN Conference. In that context, yeah, the picture is probably newsworthy as a bit of comic relief.

--Philistine

The Beeb thought it was worthy of a story all its own. Note how the actual substantive news was buried in the final sentence.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4249646.stm

Bush 'caught short' at UN summit

It's a situation anyone could find themselves in - having to answer the call of nature in the middle of an important meeting.
But when you are the US president, at a gathering of more than 150 world leaders, it is even more tricky.

While talk at the UN world summit was focused on terrorism and internal reform, George W Bush appeared to have been caught short.

And, he is said to have turned to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice for advice.

"I think I may need a bathroom break? Is this possible?" a Reuters news agency photographer caught him writing in a note to Ms Rice.

The photograph, and Mr Bush's apparent request for permission to pee, has been the subject of discussion on a number of satirical websites.

President Bush was among monarchs, presidents and prime ministers for the opening of the three-day summit, marking the 60th anniversary of the UN.

In a speech, he urged the UN to pursue meaningful reforms to allow it to meet modern challenges and said the US was committed to helping overcome poverty.

[achilleus]

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=stor...2587077477.jpg

If you cant read the note, it says "I think I may need a Bathroom Break"

Laugh, giggle, chuckle. That's enough children, settle down now.

"What a moron."

"Bathroom!?! There's a damd disaster in New Orleans and all he can think about is his bladder? Insensitive Bastard"

"He can wait. How do you think those flood victims felt!"

Can someone please, please tell me why Reuters feel this news worthy? And notice how it isnt at all related with the story which is that Kofi-Annan isnt getting what he wants, which is a very noble, yet vague "Freedom from want, persecution and war".

Nope. No media bias. No subtle messages trying to hint that Bush is a dope.

Maeve, the floor is all yours. We're expecting good things from you, so please dont disappoint.

Maybe there is no media bias, or subtle message. Maybe you are just noticing something that is true?

Or perhaps, maybe the media is trying to portray Bush in the best possible light, and all they can find are things like this?

Maybe the rest of the world has an insight about Bush that many Americans don't see.

I agree, all farfetched (much more farfetched than a vast liberal media, smearing the president), but it's possible.

[jBirch]

The Beeb thought it was worthy of a story all its own. Note how the actual substantive news was buried in the final sentence.

<...snip...>
In a speech, he urged the UN to pursue meaningful reforms to allow it to meet modern challenges and said the US was committed to helping overcome poverty.

Ok, am I the only one who giggled at "he urged the UN to pursue meaningful reforms to allow it to meet modern challenges" in the context of that article?

James.

[Gav]

Note how the actual substantive news was buried in the final sentence.

...

In a speech, he urged the UN to pursue meaningful reforms to allow it to meet modern challenges and said the US was committed to helping overcome poverty.

I like BBC news because not only is their coverage good, but sometimes they find little gems like this to cover. If you can try and find the story about the guy going round edinburgh pouring beans on pretty girls feet and claiming it was charity read it. The BBC article on that was hysterical

Your comment is disingenious as their coverage of the UN summit has been quite in depth.

[noodle]

he sprung a coolant leak

[Maeve_Mari]

Ok, am I the only one who giggled at "he urged the UN to pursue meaningful reforms to allow it to meet modern challenges" in the context of that article?

James.

Sometimes he doesn't preview the text they give him to say. It happens that a gem will get by him once in a while!

[Epee_Pox]

Your comment is disingenious as their coverage of the UN somewhat has been quite in depth.

No no no... I was being snarky.

Disingenuous is if I'm trying to make a point. Small difference, I know, but there it is.

[umbrella]

I think it's important for the President to be able to speak his mind and write his feelings; THIS IS AMERICA! Land of Free Speech. I liked what you said.

[foildad]

No, that's John Bolton's job.

darius

That was the funniest post ever.

[pigeonmeister]

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=stor...2587077477.jpg

Can someone please, please tell me why Reuters feel this news worthy?

And notice how it isnt at all related with the story which is that Kofi-Annan isnt getting what he wants, which is a very noble, yet vague "Freedom from want, persecution and war".

Because it conforms to the European sterotype that Bush is dependent on others for all aspects of advice in all, even bladder, areas of policy. The man cannot think for himself is the basic message. It's a silly story but the bottom line is that is what most Europeans think. I'm sure Bush is not at all bothered, he has a good sense of humour and has made a very succesful career out of people underestimating him or writing him off as dumb.

I totaly agree with you other observation.