Bush Unplugged: Loose Lips and All

President Bush cuts a roasted wild pig beside German Chancellor Angela Merkel (R) and restaurant owner Olaf Micheel (L), who shot the pig, during a barbecue with residents in the north-eastern German village of Trinwillershagen (Reuters)

Now, Mr. President, don't talk with your mouth full. Oh, and by the way, the
microphone is on, sir.

For context of it all, I wrote a piece about Bush's religion yesterday that Juan Cole references this morning. It's worth a read as you ponder our president in his unguarded moments.

During a lunch with other leaders at the Group of Eight summit on Monday, Bush was caught on a live microphone talking in tough, occasionally profane terms with British Prime Minister Tony Blair about the latest conflict in the Middle East. Bush criticized the position taken by U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan, and said he would soon send Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to the region. “What they need to do is get Syria to get Hezbollah to stop doing this shit and it's over,” Bush says with his mouth full as he buttered a piece of bread. “Who, Syria?” asked Blair, standing next to the seated Bush. “Right,” Bush said. Within an hour, the remarks were broadcast on television stations, radio stations and websites around the world. The conversation, while consistent with Bush's politer public remarks, offered a rare glimpse of the president in a less-guarded moment at a major diplomatic event, capturing his style of interaction with one of his closest allies. (snip) In this case, the open microphone also captured the sort of idle chitchat among world leaders rarely on public display. Bush said he did not plan to make extended remarks as the summit ended and expressed impatience for the long-winded speechifying that is typical at such gatherings. “No, just going to make it up,” he said. “I'm not going to talk too damn long, like the rest of them. Some of them talk too long.” … Microphone Captures Bush's Unscripted Comments at G-8

I don't know about you, but the last thing we need is George W. Bush speaking
extemporaneously. With the Middle East in flames, Bush needs to be put on script,
especially since he's sure it's Syria to blame for everything. The man has no
imagination. He also, evidently, can't see the Israeli's through his presidential
myopia.

Contrary to what some might say, it's not just his unscripted moments — Christy has pictures too — that
are revealing. It's that they reveal such a shallow thinker. I still can't fathom
why President Bush doesn't believe Hezbollah is capable of all this mischief
on their own. That's especially true when they have a gullible partner in Israel.

Back in
Iraq, gunmen kill 41 and wound 42 in an open air market raid. Wonder if
Prime Minister Olmert even knows. We already know he doesn't care.

UPDATE: Terrance at Republic of T has an amusing take on Bush's “potty mouth.”