"Well. there is America and there is Texas....."

[kentuck]

The Resident Bush was asked a question by a French journalist, who paraphrased JFK in saying that we were all citizens of two countries - America and France - and she went on to tell Bush to his face that many people in the world thought he was a "war criminal".

Bush cut off the question before the end and a bit of anger showed itself when he responded, " To re-paraphrase John Kennedy, there is America and there is Texas.." Surely they must have been scratching their heads on that one?

But what he meant was that you don't mess with Texas. Texans are just like your idea of "cowboys". Texans kick ass and take names. That is popular in America. That is the type of attitude that wins elections. To hell what the rest of the world might think...

[StClone]

1. Texas is special

Because of its history of oil. Outside of that it's North Dakota with a coast line.

[seabeyond]

6. it is special because of jr on dallas

are you kidding. was wondering if that was what he meant. embarrassin fur them texans lol lol

[prole_for_peace]

it is VERY embarassing for us texans...

everyone assumes we are all like that and/or that we voted for this ass.

[loftycity]

38. Minnesotan's know how Texan's feel, had Wellstone-now Coleman

It is a sad time.

[ronnykmarshall]

42. I hear ya on that.

We Californians have to deal with all the god-damn Ahhhhnold bullshit.

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

47. No, not everyone...

Anyone who has taken five minutes to read one of the many "What REAL Texans actually think about George Bush" articles knows that you are NOT all like that.

Of course, some Texans ARE...but so are some folks in the other 49 states.

:toast:

[MrChupon]

37. As a North Dakotan

we are no where near as socially conservative as Texans, So I ask that you take that back.

[wellstone dem]

60. AS a Minnesotan with North Dakota roots

On behalf of my Dad, uncles, Grandma, cousins, all liberal Democrats, I protest any comment that says that North Dakota is Texas without oil. And hey, didn't I see some oil wells way out West in ND?

[indigobusiness]

87. Tell me about it, I went to high school in Williston

Where are you from?

welcome to DU

[StClone]

89. N.D. anti-Abortions makes me wonder.

Maybe I should of said Montana?

[DAGDA56]

2. Hopefully, the Euro Press will think..."He's from Texas...

...and not necessarily from America."

[jackstraw45]

3. "There's an old saying in Tennessee - I know it's in Texas..."

"There's an old saying in Tennessee - I know it's in Texas, it's probably in Tennessee - that says, fool me once, shame on ... shame on you. It fool me. We can't get fooled again."

http://www.hyperorg.com/blogger/images/bushfoolhr.wmv

[NewYorkerfromMass]

4. Fuck You Bush. You would have been AWOL from the Alamo too!

You cheap fake fuck pretend cowboy.

[phoebe]

5. male journalist ..and Bush was furious - notice he took out his

earpiece before the end of the question so he didn't have to listen? His body language was all over the place.

On the Texas point..the admin. has ties to major crooks in Texas. Enron, Halliburton come to mind but there are plenty of others.

Condi and Colin and other "advisors" were present - they appeared to be in a hurry to leave at the end of the speech.

[yardwork]

8. Shrub isn't used to having to listen to real questions

from real journalists. He's been in the protective bubble here in the U.S.

He's going to see and hear a lot of things that make him mad in Europe. I hope he breaks down and shows his true insanity. I hope it happens on live TV.

[jackstraw45]

11. I think his comment about Texas says it all

He is truly a madman.

Thank GOODNESS for the International media - sadly we have no true journalists left in the Corporate Media-controlled US.

[Neecy]

14. yep

First he was trying to smirk and look amused during the question, then he let his nasty self out and plucked out his earpiece before the question ended.

I heard the inane Texas comment and just hooted with contempt. With that remark, he attempted to separate the country from our shared history with France (whose fleet sealed our victory in the Revolutionary War) and implied that his little rathole state was somehow superior.

What an asshole! I just seethe with hatred for this little bastard every time I see him humiliate our country before the world.

[Ripley]

27. Exactly! It showed his utter lack of historical knowledge,

as well as insulted the entire country of France! He didn't know what the quote meant (deep thinking required) so he did what comes naturally...smirk and throw an insult!

[Egnever]

36. Did i hear him ask what paper the guy was from?

he was definately pissed at that guy. Was a great queston though.

he looked awfully sheepish to me though I dont think he got what he wanted from there. Chirac seemed pretty confident and firm in his answers.

[Neecy]

39. yes you did

...and I didn't catch who the reporter was with, but he's probably already starting his "French Enemies List", beginning with Le Monde calling for his impeachment yesterday.

[BringEmOn]

61. Oh, crap! Watch out for stray cruise missiles!

[deminflorida]

7. When the hell did Kennedy say there's America and there's

Texas????

Did he really say that???

Maybe the French reporter should have followed up with "Mr. President is that why they shot President Kennedy in Dallas???"

:eyes:

[yardwork]

13. Kennedy said every American has two countries: France and America.

The Shrub twisted it, added the Texas part, and dropped France. While speaking in France!

Just insulted an entire nation while he was visiting it.

Probably playing to his base. Freepers don't like the French, so it's ok for the American president to insult them while visiting. Crude mobster behavior. Something Tony Soprano would do. We have a crime family in the White House!

[kentuck]

21. Reminded me of Jerry Lee Lewis : "England can kiss my ass! "

comment from the movie, Great Balls so Fire. It was an insult, imo..

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

48. Whoa! Two hundred bonus points for the excellent and apt reference!

EXACTLY the same. Now Bush needs to throw a baby carriage into the audience.

:toast:

[GR]

18. It Was Americans Have Two Countries...America and France...

Bush just got mad because the reporter dared to ask if the Abu Graibe torture scandal put him in the same barrel with Saddam. Bush ripped out his earpiece in disgust before the question was finished. The mere mention of Abu Graibe pisses him off..

[Robin Hood]

33. The question should have been.

Is that why your then soon to be CIA Chief father had Kennedy killed?

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

67. And what Wesley Clark said about France and Texas

"—Clark says America's relations with its traditional allies can be repaired. France, he says, is the country most like the United States. "They have a worldview, they have a lot of pride. France and Texas, they're two sides of the same coin." It's the job of statesmen to build bridges, Clark says—"



Unfortunately, Wesley Clark, the born statesman, was not the man meeting Chirac today.

[mountainvue]

9. This little

European tour is another nail in the coffin for him IMO.

[GR]

10. Wasn't It Sweet To See A Real Journalist Ask A Real Question?

It was great when Bush ripped out his earpiece in disgust...What an arrogant prick...Too bad you have to go to France to see real journalism...Gregory was parroting the Rethug line...Is Iraq better off without Saddam? crap...Chirac is so smooth..The way he handled the comparison with WWII was beautiful...Well I understand why the President would make such a comparison, given the occasion, but history doesn't repeat itself so it's difficult to make comparisons...

Of course, anyone would look like a brain surgeon next to the Chimp...

[OpSomBlood]

12. Windshield cowboy.

n/t

[peekaloo]

15. maybe somethin' his daddy told him about Kennedy and Texas?

[MisterP]

16. do we have a link?

he gets stupider with each passing day!

[Wind Dancer]

17. Re-paraphrase - did he say that?

That is not a word!

[susu369]

63. I just posted the same thing in another thread - re-paraphrase !!!!!

such an idiot...Potemkin Village Idiot.

[liberalhistorian]

19. Well, maybe

he can haul his worthless, useless, hopeless, clueless, coward chickenhawk fake cowboy ass back to Crawford and just be president of Texas and leave the rest of us the hell alone! Then again, there are plenty of Texans who wouldn't deserve such a fate, lol!

What an embarrassing POS SOB joke of a president this fuckstick is, what a tremendous disgrace to our country and what a horrendous representative he is ! How incredibly embarrassing it was to see that, and how ludicrous and absurd he looked! What a cowardly idiot!

[VolcanoJen]

28. lmao, liberalhistorian!

"Fuckstick." That's hilarious!!!!!!

[liberalhistorian]

49. LOL!

My parents are retired teachers, and they've heard it all. Fuckstick, fuckbubble, fuckspit, fuckwad, and many other endless variations of that.

[DancingBear]

54. You know what I love about you?

You're just, well, you know, so fucking... dainty. :) :)

:hi:

[liberalhistorian]

59. BLUSH.

Why-why, thank you kind sir!! I've often been called many things, but "dainty" isn't usually on the list. :evilgrin: :bounce: :hi:

[fdr_hst_fan]

51. When Dubya gets on

that Texas rant, it makes me wish we'd have let Mexico KEEP Trxas! It would have saved a lot of trouble!

[jackstraw45]

20. Kennedy Quote - May 30, 1961 HERE

Kennedy was quoting Benjamin Franklin

"Benjamin Franklin once said that every American has two homes--his own country and France. And I am sure that in this visit which I undertake that I bring to France and to President de Gaulle the appreciation, the respect and esteem of all of the people of this country who value his courage over a period of 20 years in which he has served as one of the great Captains of the West."

http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/site/docs/pppus.php?admin=035&year=1961&id=215

[seabeyond]

22. i live in the panhandle of texas

and i think i will be using the line all over the place. yawl know there is an america and there is texas.......and smirk

i

[dolo amber]

23. Well...there is America, and there is North Carolina

Makes as much sense...wtf is that asshat moran even TALKING about?! :grr:

I'm sure the French press (mmmm...french press...:D) will have a field day with that one...:eyes:

[Wind Dancer]

24. * is an embarrassment to this country

I am so disgusted that he represents this country, unbelievable.

[VolcanoJen]

25. Chimpy is such a knee-jerker when angered. WTF did he mean by that?

I'm still scratching my head... and I'm not even French.

[jackstraw45]

29. Insult to France...

Kennedy was saying that Americans can always count on France:

"Benjamin Franklin once said that every American has two homes--his own country and France. And I am sure that in this visit which I undertake that I bring to France and to President de Gaulle the appreciation, the respect and esteem of all of the people of this country who value his courage over a period of 20 years in which he has served as one of the great Captains of the West."

By stating that there's "America and Texasm" Bush basically just had a tantrum and officially retracted that elegant statement of diplomatic friendship.

[VolcanoJen]

32. Just horrible. Horrible, horrible, horrible.

I wish I hadn't been concentrating so much on the Earpiece-Chimpy-Scandal, and had been listening to the questions more!

That is just heinous, hideous, unforgivabble. And on such a momentous occassion, too.

Thanks, ChimpFuck, for setting back Franco-American relations another 100 years.

[Ripley]

35. Good description of the damage done...

"...Bush basically just had a tantrum and officially retracted that elegant statement of diplomatic friendship.

Another fine example of what Gore meant in his most recent speech about this fucktwit's ruinous arrogant isolationism which is severing ties with allies we've had since this nation was formed.

[Yupster]

62. I think he meant that

while some people (?) think they might be in two countries, America and France, he is more likely to think he is in two countries, Texas and America.

The tourism slogan for Texas right now is ... "Texas - it's like a whole other country."

I think Bush waas trying to say that he sure doesn't think of France as a second home. He thinks of Texas that way.

May make sense to a nationalist Texan, but I have to believe the Europeans are more confused than usual.

[SammyWinstonJack]

26. Arrogant POS

:grr:

[phoebe]

30. reviewing.."international tribunal" caused earpiece removal..

journalist: "putting you in the light of international tribunal" as
he referred Bush to Saddam's international tribunal.

After the Texas comment, Bush trotted out the "few bad eggs" line again in response to Abu Ghraib reference reminding us that he "was humiliated" as "was most of my country". Poor choice of words..

Need to see a transcript of the entire speech.

[goclark]

84. Who is USA was not humiliated?

Why would he say such a stupid thing? I know how much he protects the neocons and they,if anybody, thoughr that the photos were overblown. So, could he have been talking about them in "those that were not humiliated?"

Everyone that I know was humiliated by the Abu Ghraib mess. Even if there were some that DID NOT feel humiliated,why did he have to phrase it that way?

Dear God,

Please send me a President that can read and speak and think.

[greatauntoftriplets]

31. greatauntoftriplets to numbnuts:

"There is America and there is Illinois."

I'll mess with Texas!

[OpSomBlood]

34. Similarly, there are Americans and there are the neocons.

We must help make the distinction.

[edhopper]

40. I've always thought that...

Texans often seem like old Soviet Russians. "Russia is best country on earth. Everything in Russia is bigger and better than anything in rest of world. No need to leave Russia, everything is best here."
Substitute Texas for Russia, and it fits.

[gulliver]

41. He wants them criticizing him as a "Texan."

He wants the Europeans to call him a gunslinging Texan to help him domestically in America. Every time they call him a cowboy, they play into his hands. He's not a cowboy any more than he is a war president. It's all fake.

[kentuck]

45. Good point gullliver....

His supporters eat that crap up...

[SayitAintSo]

66. Texan my ass ... isn't he from Connecticut ?

What a royal embarrassment

[JerseygirlCT]

82. Born here, but we hate to admit it! nt

[Art_from_Ark]

91. He moved to Texas when he was 2 years old

and spent most of his formative years, and most of his adult years, in the state.

[robbedvoter]

43. But, but I thought we now love France

Bush denies blame for rift with France
By BENNETT ROTH
Copyright 2004 Houston Chronicle
http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/world/2610623
ROME -- President Bush accepts no blame for a bitter diplomatic rift with France, but he may finally offer French President Jacques Chirac a little Texas hospitality.

Oh, well it was only about wit, which is totally alien to W.

[msmcghee]

44. My hat's off to all liberal Texans . .

. who have to live within the belly of the beast that America has become.

Its easy to be liberal up here in the NW corner of the country. But anyone who can speak out for progressive ideals in Texas has to have strong principles and a good sense of right and wrong.

Here's to ya'. :toast:

[Wwagsthedog]

52. Thanks for your observation

There are those that seem to paint all Texans the same color

[msmcghee]

57. I try not to paint all of (any group) . .

. . the same color.

Besides, I know from personal experience that there are very many good folks in your state. I'm just sorry that you're all so outnumbered.

Hang in there. :yourock:

[wellstone_democrat]

86. those of us who are hostages in Texas

thank you. Those of us in west Texas (near the fake "hometown" of the Chimperor) wish that you would all buy us bus tickets out....

[gristy]

46. Need video.

Anyone have the video? Wonk?

[Bandit]

50. I guess we eat Texas Fries and Texas Toast from now on

:shrug: What a maroon!!!!!

[Retrograde]

55. Texas Toast - hmmmmmm

/HomerSimpson

Sounds like toast covered with chili. Sounds better than the British baked beans on toast.

So OK, when we give Texas back to Mexico, do we have to give the Louisiana Purchase back to France as well? The whole thing, or will they be happy with, say, the Dakotas?

linda

[TexasProgresive]

90. There really is something called "Texas Toast"

It's double thick white bread- usually buttered and toasted on the griddle at restaurants and served with the ubiquitous "chicken fried steak." definitely not on the Atkins diet.

[bobbieinok]

53. this means 'either you're an American or a super-American' - only 2 option

[cliss]

56. Heh heh.

Here's a little dialogue between George and Condi and Powell after the disaster:

The meeting with Chirac is over. Team George is in a suite, discussing the events. George is fuming. He's wondering if there will be any fallout, and how many people actually saw what happened.

George: Damn that reporter. I told you I didn't want to come here. That goddamn Chirac is going to pay for this. I think he put that guy up to it. Did you hear what he said? I was OK with going to the Vatican. Condi, how quickly can we get out of here?

Condi (tries to soothe her boss): Well, I think we have to stay a little while longer...... (start thinking about french couture houses). Yes, we can't leave right now. Colon, who was that guy? Did you get which paper he works for? Let's have him fired right away.

Colon: (distracted, is marveling at how often his boss makes an ass of himself). (he tries to look concerned, but secretly the corners of his mouth creep up). I don't know what paper, Condi. Maybe Le Monde. You know how they are. They just love to get in their digs, don't they? Don't blame me, Condi. I didn't want to come here either.

George: Did you see him? That punk. I'm going to find out what paper he works for, and have him fired. I still think Chirac is behind this.

Condi (hands something to George): here, have a drink.

[moondust]

58. So which does he think he's the President of?

You're with us or against us!

He often appears to be still working for Texas and couldn't give a rat's ass about America.

[msmcghee]

64. Does anyone remember that old beer commercial . .

. . in the Texas bar.

A "dude" with his new store-bought cowboy outfit strikes up a conversation with a couple of locals who ask him about his day working on the ranch. The guy thinks they're accusing him of some crime and blurts out "I didn't punch no dogies".

Bush* the great pretender. There's some great things about Texas. It's too bad all he learned there was how to be a phony and an asshole.

[EndElectoral]

65. Well, there is Bush's America, and the America we used to have

[Cleita]

68. And Bush is a carpet bagger with New England roots.

Ann Richards, a gracious, but plain speaking person, is a real Texan.

[Yupster]

74. Anyone know how old Bush was

when he moved to Texas?

[seabeyond]

76. like two

until he got sent to a boarding school. i am thinking 12 or 14. then he came back with national guard. i think he almost gets to call himself a texan. certainly not a cowboy, but think the texan get to/ got to own him

[Eye4anEye]

69. It would've been great if Chirac pulled a Lloyd Benson

"Mr. Bush, you're no John F. Kennedy"

[seabeyond]

72. mr bush, you are no texan

would have been better

[newyawker99]

78. Hi Eye4anEye!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Bluebear]

70. "Re-paraphrase"???? n/t

[kentuck]

71. Correction in above post...

The official script shows that Mr Bush said "paraphrase" instead of "re-paraphrase". My apologies.

[Yupster]

75. He meant to say re-paraphrase

but it came out paraphrase.

[Mandate My Ass]

73. LMDO-laughing my derriere off

So the petulant little halfwit melted down under the first real question he's had to answer in 3 1/2 years. The French must be delighted that Shrub deigned to appear at their little memorial and use the occasion to insult them.

To the French people, I say: Desolee mon president est un idiot. Je n'ai pas vote por lui.

[AspenRose]

77. Paging Natalie Maines! Paging Natalie Maines!

We are ASHAMED that our president is from TEXAS!

(Indeed, we are ASHAMED that he represents this country.)

[Algorem]

79. Bet he's not watching the Preakness today.All those scary scary horsies.

[Algorem]

80. and he didn't know it was belmont 2wice as bad as me

[progressivebydesign]

81. I honestly had no idea what he meant! N/T

[Piperay]

83. Huh???

:wtf: chimp is a total asshole! :puke:

[gauguin57]

85. buck fush.

idiot. Get some sleep, you jet-lagged, stupid chimp.

[phoebe]

88. transcript - Fox looks to be the only outlet carrying it..

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,121882,00.html
snip

Q: Thank you, sir. I would have a question for Mr. Bush. Once, President Kennedy said, "Everyone has two countries, their own, and France." And why is it that your policy tends to be pushing your country and France to divorce?

Second point, some in public opinion have accused you of state terrorism, and do you not believe that what has happened in Abu Ghraib has put you in the same basket, as it were, of Saddam Hussein, especially in the eyes of an international tribunal, (disdainful removal of earpiece) and especially in light of the unfound weapons of mass destruction?

PRESIDENT BUSH: To paraphrase President Kennedy, there's America, and then there's Texas.

We have great relations with France. We work closely with the French government on a lot of issues. I just laid out a lot of the issues that we're working together on, as did the President. We're working to stop proliferation, we're working in Haiti, we're working on the continent of Africa. We're working to feed the hungry. We're working to make sure that the pandemic of AIDS gets — the people get the help they need to arrest the pandemic of AIDS in Africa. No, there are a lot of issues we work on.

As for the prison abuse issue, I am — I was humiliated, as was most of my country. Those soldiers didn't reflect the character of the American people. They didn't — they stained our honor. And the world will see a full investigation of those — of that humiliation, which will stand in stark contrast to what takes place in states run by tyrants. And there will be a full investigation in a transparent way. And those that violated rules will be held to account.


Bush appears to have answered two questions that were posed to Chirac and we can assume that Bush's grammatical mistakes have been corrected.

[Kahuna]

92. Does the idiot realize that Kennedy is saying that Texas isn't like..

the rest of America? And that he did not mean that in a necessarily good way? Dolt!