November 20, 2004

NYC Letter: Do Not Mess With This President

bush_securtiy_fracas_chile_apec.jpg

Mr. Bush and first lady Laura Bush arrived at 8 p.m. local time yesterday at the Estacion Mapocho Cultural Center for the official dinner of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit.

After the first couple posed for photos with Chilean President Ricardo Lagos and his wife, the four entered the doorway with a line of Chilean security guards and uniformed police closing quickly behind him.

The president's lead agent approached the line of men as quickly as it closed and demanded to be allowed through. Within a few seconds, the confrontation began to escalate with voices being raised and shoving in all directions. ...Mr. Bush and the rest of the party turned to enter the dining room. But the president quickly turned his head to the growing din just outside.

Mr. Bush calmly turned right as the other three continued on and inserted himself into the fight. The president reached over two rows of Chilean security guards, grabbed his lead agent [Nick Trotta] by the shoulder of his suit jacket and began to pull. ... A few Chilean guards turned their heads and noticed that the arm draped over their shoulders was that of the president, and the line softened. Mr. Bush pulled his agent through...

Mr. Bush then adjusted his shirt cuff and said something to the first dignitary he passed as a grin crossed his face.

Damn. Do not mess with Texas. Nothing more to add.

Posted by Damian at November 20, 2004 10:20 PM
Comments

I love that cowboy!

Posted by: Valerie, Texas at November 21, 2004 06:00 AM

V de T,

Now take a minute and imagine Mr. Kerry in similar circumstances.

First, Mr. Kerry would not involve his person in the scuffle. He would express his annoyance to an aide to convey to his Chilean opposite to convey to his superior, Mr. Kerry's opposite, President Ricardo Lagos. A series of meetings would be arranged.

Mr. Kerry would place quick calls to France and Germany to check if they would support America's position on who pushed first, scil. the badly brought up Chileans ("What do you need, what do you need now, how much more will it take to get you to join us?").

Both the Chilean and American secret service details would be shipped off immediately to anger management therapy to learn to make nice and be really sincere about it.

Or something along these lines.

DGB

Posted by: Damian at November 21, 2004 08:20 AM

Priceless W.

Sometimes you just gotta get the job done yourself.

Is this the first time a president has come to the aide of his Secret Service agents? ;)

Posted by: Valerie at November 21, 2004 09:35 AM

DGB -
Picture Kerry in this situation?! Ewww, gives me the willies just thinking of him as the POTUS. Point is, he's not. Let us not expend valuable time and energy speculating about that nightmare.

Just look at the President's body language in the second picture as he heads for those agents. Shoulders are set, he is focused on the mission, and he is not pausing to ponder if the world will agree with his actions or not.

Who's in the White House? Bush! Bush! Bush!


Posted by: Valerie, Texas at November 21, 2004 01:25 PM

Thats my boy.

Posted by: papertiger at November 23, 2004 05:16 AM

Now there's a President in charge. I voted for him because he is unquestionably not afraid to do what is RIGHT. I feel safer with him in charge.

Posted by: Asia at November 23, 2004 02:30 PM