Bush's reaction to Kerry's married up joke

[gottaB]

What did you make of Bush's reaction?

Saletan describes it thusly:

Bush, sensing that everyone else was having a good time, tried to smile along, but all he could do was twist up one corner of his mouth. His eyes darted around the room as though trying to make sense of a nightmare.

http://slate.msn.com/id/2108121/

I think there was more to it than that. Bush routinely jokes that he married up when he married Laura, but he's not really describing a morganatic relationship, and that's part of the joke for him. He does mean to pay a compliment to Laura, I suppose, but he doesn't genuinely believe that he married up. That explains his reaction during the debate. He was thinking like, Hey, I didn't *really* marry up. Is that supposed to be some kind of insult? Are they laughing at me?

Am I far wrong?

Edited to spell "morganatic" correctly :)

[TomClash]

1. Pretty simple

Kerry's self-deprecating humor was effective and * didn't like it.

[T Bone]

9. Bush didn't like it and that was because he just didn't GET IT

as well. What a moran.

His self-centeredness was on National Display. He only 'gets' and laughs at the 'jokes' he himself makes. He is clueless in relating to others' sense of humor. I thought it was great Bush was going on about how Laura SPEAKS ENGLISH better than he does and Kerry zings him with "well, you married up."

That was almost as good as Kerry's zinger about Bush and Tony Soprano, Bushieboy didn't get THAT one either, but it was layered with innuendo and TRUTH.

[Philostopher]

22. Laughing at his own jokes, huh?

That's what they get for hiring Dennis Miller to be Shrub's debate coach, I guess. Or do all snide, humor-impaired Republicans laugh at their own jokes? I usually let the things they say pass through my head and don't really pay attention, but maybe this is a wingnut reflex. Smarminess comes to them like breathing.

[blue neen]

24. Dennis Miller was Shrub's debate coach. I didn't know that.

That explains a lot. Well, Bush got what he paid for then, and that sure wasn't much!

[Philostopher]

25. It was a joke, actually.

But he kind of acts like Dennis Miller, and I don't think Miller's doing all that well right now. He's smarmy, smirking and laughs at his own jokes -- if Miller wasn't his debate coach, he sure as hell could have been, judging from Shrub's performance!

[blue neen]

44. Thanks for setting me straight, nownow.

I'm a real airhead sometimes!

Actually, I wouldn't put anything past Shrub & co. That's why it was so believable!

[shanti]

37. oh, i missed that one!

about tony soprano...can you rehash it for me?

[gottaB]

40. Bush was lying about Kerry on tax issues, Kerry said....

"Being lectured by the president on fiscal responsibility is a little bit like Tony Soprano talking to me about law and order in this country."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/debatereferee/debate_1013.html

[flowomo]

2. nah, right on!

except you spelled morganatic wrong.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

7. Congrats guys! I learned a new word

morganatic -of, relating to, or being a marriage between a member of a royal or noble family and a person of inferior rank in which the rank of the inferior partner remains unchanged and the children of the marriage do not succeed to the titles, fiefs, or entailed property of the parent of higher rank.

and back to the joke- Bush was pissed because he was upstaged- Kerry actually got a laugh, and the moderator was laughing heartily!
Bush can't stand to NOT be the life of the party.
In general he was just like a whiny child last night.

[Gman]

I thought he took it as an insult because

he is clearly very intimidated by Kerry. He's not only intimidated by Kerry's command of the facts and his debate style that kept him on the ropes for 3 debates, but on a personal level, Bush is intimidated by Kerry's status as an intelligent man who has had a very good life. Bush, on the other hand really doesn't see his self as anything more than an oilfield hand in Midland. Its kinda like "you can take the boy out of the oilfield, but you can't take the oilfield out of the boy."

[fishwax]

8. Very intimidated, physically too

Bush is used to being able to back people down, just by his presence and aura of power (like that "isn't anyone gonna say nice shot?" line from F 9/11).

Kerry isn't intimidated by anyone or anything, least of all the boy king, and I think the boy king knows it. And it bugs him, b/c he knows once you strip away the aura of the office (look, I'm the president), he's got nothing to go on. Nothing.

[crispini]

10. bingo!

spot on!

[klook]

13. Bush the oilfield hand?

I like the spirit of your comments, but--although Bush may want us to see him as an oilfield hand in Midland--he knows that he's a spoiled Fortunate Son. Over the years, like an android who's learned to mimic the behavior of humans by spending time among them and carefully observing their behavior and mores, Bush has developed the ability to act like a regular, down-to-earth American. Cut open the plastic skin and you'll find the circuitry and wiring.

[lil-petunia]

15. he never worked an oil field in his life.

In fact, he probably never had to work before in his life. When he was hatchet man for daddy president, he traveled and threatened and intimidated, but as for a true job, RUNNING something? Like, yeah, let's trade a young sammy sosa.

For him, spending all that time in the WHite House is really hard work. That is why his faux ranch at crawford is such a home away from home.

[Zero Gravitas]

20. Bush is no oilfield hand

Oil workers work very hard at a dangerous job, Bush has never worked a day in his life. You are right though that Bush sees himself as Kerry's inferior, all Bush's pumped up swagger is because he was born into a family that feels entitled to wealth and power and deep down Bush understands that he doesn't deserve any of it. If it weren't for his family Bush would be a complete non-entity and he knows it.

[mom cat]

3. Bingo... You nailed him. I thought that too. Poor baby was confused

[fishwax]

4. I think that was part of it

He was thinking "speak for yourself."

But he was also thinking: "why are they laughing at this guy? They didn't laugh at my jokes. Everybody out on the campaign trail laughed at my jokes, why don't they?"

[Riptide]

17. I agree, I think he was pissed off that Kerry got the bigger laugh...

He was so proud of his, "she speaks better English than I do" remark. But, then Kerry made his marrying up joke, and got a much bigger laugh. Even Schieffer was shown belly laughing. Meanwhile, you just see Bush's face drop.

[klook]

5. I think you're right

For Bush it's a way of giving Laura a pat on the head and making himself look like a good guy in the process. Unfortunately for us, he didn't have to abdicate when he married a commoner.

BTW, that term is "morganatic," not "morganitic." See http://www.fact-index.com/m/mo/morganatic_marriage.html for details.

[Was_Immer]

6. Point is SHRUB cant pay Kerry a compliment

Or even laugh at his joke. WHY? Cause hes evil. Think Darth Vader would smile if Luke made a joke! LOL

[Libby2]

11. I thought it was priceless.

I thought he was going to get whiplash and choke on his vodka.
It looked like w didn't think he had married up..

I hope Laura kicked his scrawny ass.

[DemocracyInaction]

12. Think it stung because it was a reminder that the Heinz-Kerry's are

socially above the dirty political crime Bush family. It was like having a society matron snub the newbies at a posh party. The Bushs have often been snubbed. The Reagans hate them. They are D.C. vampires that are not liked by many. And did you see Teresa at the end. The warm, grand gesture of going over to hug Laura....Laura looked ill at ease and unable to be such a little society maid gushing warmth and hospitality. Teresa beat her to it. Made them all look like white trash.

[hippiechick]

16. And it also takes away the RW argument

... that Kerry is the 'Boston Brahmin' -- born and bred into high society. Sure, his upbringing was better than alot of ours, but he's no silver-cokespoon-baby like Georgie was.

Kerry married into his 'fortune'. George was born with his.

I just wish Kerry would have pointed out, BTW, that Teresa's first husband was a GOP senator, and that she was also a Pub back then ...
and that the Pubs wanted her to run for his seat. Now they're boycotting Heinz products ? How ridiculous & hypocritical.


:hippie:

[sundancekid]

31. yup, I caught that too ... complete trailer trash (no offense to trailers)

[yardwork]

49. Yes, and Kerry's daughters have been nice to Bush's daughters

Another gracious gesture that is alien to the Bushes. All they understand is intimidation. The Bushes and Walkers are vulgar.

[prayin4rain]

14. Yeah that was pretty funny...he looked even more confused than usual.

[NJmaverick]

18. That was a terrific balanced article on the debate

This guy nailed the debate dead on.

[gottaB]

45. I'm not one to gush over Saletan, but it was a good article n/t

[comsymp]

19. That was exactly my thought when watching it

As the scion of a family whose ultimate compliment - to those above a certain social level, of course- is to acknowledge the recipient as being on their level (think Bandar Bush), the very concept of a Bush "marrying up" has gotta be unfathomable.

I'd bet that The Beautiful Mind nearly dropped her G/T when she heard it, too.

[gottaB]

23. Is this the attitude of a Westerner?

I don't know Texas well at all, but it sure seems like one of those "all hat and no cattle" things.

[comsymp]

33. Gotta give that one some thought...

Let's see...

George Walker Bush...

All hat, no cattle...

Yup, that works

[Eurobabe]

21. obviously Bu$h's brain ain't a Pentium V

[opihimoimoi]

26. Not even a 286.....he was confused cause he didn't get it, thought for a

moment(3 seconds) the audience was laighing at him, and jealous cause Kerry was warming up with HUMOR big time and he WAS NOT.

[CityHall]

27. How can a BUSH marry up??? - his reaction

How could HE marry up??? He's a BUSH, for heaven's sake. It's not like he married into the Saudi royal family or something. This guy is so insecure, he can't stand to have it pointed out that he's vulnerable in any way.

[LuminousX]

28. Bush says he married up in the same way a CEO calls the secretary Boss

[sundancekid]

32. perfect capture -- smarmysmirk STILL demeans women - a love/hate thing

that shows up in the end as nothing short of patronizing and abusive -- like he has to own them -- "put them on a leash" line about his daughters was a telling proxy

[DemBones DemBones]

48. Yes, Bush* makes comments about his wife and daughters

that are barbs wrapped in compliments.

[calimary]

29. No, you're not far wrong.

I noticed that, too, that everybody in the audience, including Bob Schieffer, was laughing out loud at that. In fact, there was a second wave of laughter even before Kerry came back, somewhat sheepishly, with his quip about how it seemed to apply particularly to himself. Then the laughs were even bigger. And bush sat there like some also-ran on the sidelines, either not getting the joke, or not wanting to laugh along in case it might look as though he was in some way supportive of his opponent.

What made it EXTRA beautiful was not only that it came at the END of the debate (nice last-taste-in-the-mouth to leave with viewers and listeners), but in ONE STROKE it dispelled the crap that's been spewed about Kerry being a cold fish. It dispelled the crap about him not being able to connect with people, personally. It ALSO underscored what a quick wit he has. Pretty fast one-liner there. JUST LIKE THE ONE FROM THE FIRST DEBATE about their respective daughters (bush saying he'd like to put his on a leash, Kerry coming back with "I've learned not to do that"). Spontaneous remarks, both of these. Unscripted, unrehearsed. Shows how he can think on his feet. Might be a nice change to have a guy like that in the Oval Office.

[psychopomp]

30. "The Backyard Barbeque"

I want to know the real story behind this:

I am -- you know it's really interesting. I tell the people on the campaign trail, when I asked Laura to marry me, she said, "Fine, just so long as I never have to give a speech." I said, "OK, you've got a deal." Fortunately, she didn't hold me to that deal. And she's out campaigning along with our girls. And she speaks English a lot better than I do. I think people understand what she's saying.

But they see a compassionate, strong, great first lady in Laura Bush. I can't tell you how lucky I am. When I met her in the backyard at Joe and Jan O'Neill's in Midland, Texas, it was the classic backyard barbecue. O'Neill said, "Come on over. I think you'll find somebody who might interest you." So I said all right. I walked over there. There was only four of us there. And not only did she interest me, I guess you would say it was love at first sight.

You know that they *had* to be smashed.

[MsTryska]

39. You know....i thought about that too...

the first bit of his story has to be manufactured. he wasn't in politics when they met. he was some drunken good-for-nothing. not even saved yet.

how would she know she'd have to make speeches?

i clal bullshit.

[Malva Zebrina]

42. right you are

it is all a lie, just like the "I saw the first plane crash into the WTC" lie.

Their whole existence is a lie.

[DemBones DemBones]

50. He was wife-hunting because he needed one for his campaign for

a Congressional seat, which he lost. Was it love or a political deal?

[MsTryska]

52. You know i'm reading Kitty Kelley's book now

and she mentioned that back in the day he used to verbally abuse her. she doesn't look like a well-loved woman. somethign a little too plastic and forced.

[MADem]

34. He was bullshit

...because Kerry took a theme of his, and IMPROVED ON IT. He thinks he owns that "married up" line. Bet he changes his stump speech, and drops that line.

If he ever says it in future it will only remind him of the big connection Kerry made with the voting public at Smackdown III.

[leftofthedial]

35. when you are as dumb and unaccomplished

as the little bushturd

and you are constantly surrounded by political barracudas as he is

you must perpetually wonder if people are laughing at you

[mimitabby]

36. great article!

[2Design]

38. he knew kerry was making fun of him - while in a sense complimenting

kerry -

it was a direct put down of Bush
yet he couldn't figure out how
since kerry included himself

I forget what bush had said right before that - but it was a zinger

[democrat_patriot]

41. * didn't hear joke, because of earpiece/voices in his head.

[harpo]

47. LMAO

[Malva Zebrina]

43. the whole "married up" thing is nothing more than a device

When was the last time we saw Laura's Mom? She doesn't get invited to Kennebunkport, or if she does, it is an afterthought. She never appears anywhere and the two spoiled skanks never appear anywhere with her, or even seem to acknowledge that she exists.

This is the "family" he married up into.

[Generic Other]

46. It was a cockfight and Bush lost

Bush says he "listens" when his wife and daughters speak. Rolls his eyes and smirks. Says they tell him to "stand up straight and not to scowl." Meaning they "nag" him. Rhymes with "bushiewhipped." What a demeaning little prick he is. Totally emasculated on national television.

And Kerry, he graciously says all three men married "up." But he adds the zinger that he married "up" the most. And then adds that he can "handle it." reminding his audience that he is not threatened by a wife who makes more money than him. In other words, it doesn't make his dick shrivel. Manhood intact. Subtle response on Kerry's part.

[JuliaAnn]

51. The smart folks got the joke, you see

and others (like Bush) didn't. It's great to see someone with wit and confidence going for the Oval, so we can get rid of the square. I'd love to run for office, but I keep thinking: how do they do it? How do they reduce everything to safe sound bytes, and live through the firestorm when something honest comes out? Like today's flap about the lesbian daughter (with MSNBC hacks claiming it was wrong for Kerry to mention it). I'd like to be the politician who says: "Look, let's cut to the chase. If Bush doesn't understand how critical it is to extend rights to gay Americans when his own vice president's daughter is a lesbian, how can he begin to understand the plight of anyone OUTSIDE the White House? I think the President is disingenuous, or homophobic, or pandering to the evangelical right. Which is it, George?"