Boehner to Bush-Bashing Beatle: Apologize!?

[john doe]

I don't know, it seems to me that if he were really as stupid as some people like to claim, that he never would have made it through Both Yale and Harvard. I'm guessing since I never attended either, but I'm willing to bet that both of those schools require their students to read books of some sort. Or maybe they relaxed their standards just for him? Maybe he just hired a democrat to read to him, because we all know how well they can read teleprompters.

[dorave]

He said “After the last eight years, it’s great to have a President who knows what a library is,” McCartney quipped. That is not the office he is taking a pop at its George W Bush' . However it is clear whoever wrote the quote picked up it was intended as a joke, hence the word quipped. I don't have the tone but if the comment was intended to offend anyone it was Bush Jnr. And maybe that is what he intended I don't know, part of the beauty of freedom of speech and the position he is in, he can say it and ultimately its not going to do his image any harm here I doubt.

He's not an elected official, he's not an American Citizen. He is a man born in 1942 in Liverpool a city where satire and sarcasm form part of everyday speech its noted as part of the culture, it goes with the accent. He said something that would probably raise no more than a bit of a comment in the papers here, most people would have grinned at etc had similar happened with the Queen or the PM.

Maybe he could have been more sensitive but he chose not to be, but its a lot less inappropriate to American ears, than a lot of things Bush said were to British ears.

Its fine to make whatever statement he wanted. Nobody cares that he said what he did, its just that he did so in the White House, recieving an award ...you obviously missed the point. I guess you wouldn't mind the WH becoming a place for people to publicly make cheapshot jokes at former presidents.

is disrespectful.

Edited June 9, 2010 by dorave

[Moksha]

You know this because???? He doesn't read as smoothly from a teleprompter?

There are now books for the iPod. Better still, he can wait till the movie comes out.

[Elgama]

I don't know, it seems to me that if he were really as stupid as some people like to claim, that he never would have made it through Both Yale and Harvard. I'm guessing since I never attended either, but I'm willing to bet that both of those schools require their students to read books of some sort. Or maybe they relaxed their standards just for him? Maybe he just hired a democrat to read to him, because we all know how well they can read teleprompters.

I don't think anyone really thinks Bush is unintelligent. Maybe these might help explain where McCartney was coming from

YouTube - Bush Blair Press Conference

UK Bush's stupidity is a caricature, usually someone in public life sets themselves up for something. Examples in the UK would be Mrs Thatcher as an SS officer or the wonderful spitting image and took her cabinet out for dinner, waiter asked her what she would have for dinner, she asked for a rare steak. Then the waiter says but what about the vegetables she says looking at her cabinet they'll have the same as me. Roy Hattersly (former Deputy Prime Minister) sort of spit a bit over his words so when his character covered everyone with buckets of spittle when he spoke. We had one portrayed as Tarzan swinging from trees, Prince Phillip is usually portrayed as a loudmouth git, even the Queen has had a variety of caricatures over the years. Bush made Bushisms all his own and quite frankly they are the one thing I actually might feel affectionate about him over its his thing people ask about Obamaisms but lets face it they are never as funny. Blair is smarmy. The library comment probably comes from a famous shot here where Bush jnr was sitting next to his wife during a visit to the library reading a children's book he is holding upside down:) If Paul McCartney was intending to cause problems or do Bush down he could have picked on the war or something. He didn't it was a joke based on something Bush is worldwide famous for.

Its a bit early for Obama to have a set caricature, my favourite so far was done by an American

, something about this guy is more Obama than Obama lol I still have to work to recognise the real one. We have someone like that here Tony Blair's right hand man Alaister Campbell I still look at him and don't recognise him because the impressionist was more Alaister Campbell.

Bush Snr at least said he liked Spitting Image, whether he really did or not I don't know. But all that is being said here is that Bush Jnr has 0 sense of humour about himself. And to be honest this thread it a little like a British Cartoon on the American Sense of Humour.

Edited June 9, 2010 by Elgama

[Elgama]

Its fine to make whatever statement he wanted. Nobody cares that he said what the did, its just that he did so in the White House, recieving an award ...you obviously missed the point. I guess you wouldn't mind the WH becoming a place for people to publicly make cheapshot jokes at former presidents.

is disrespectful.

Well not really no its supposed to be the bastion of the free world. Highly doubt the Queen would get so precious over a bit of a quip at a meal or awards ceremony at the palace, she has even allowed herself a smile on occasion. And believe me our satirists have an awful lot more head of states to choose form. \But then the Queen is famous for having a Sense of Humour and Prince Charles took part in footlights at Cambridge and loved the Goons. I am sure for one of his escapades Prince Harry was caught on tape in barracks doing an impression of his Grandmother. I am not sure its any more disrespectful than President Hinckley quipping about Sister Okazaki's rather loud talk in General Conference

My Grandfather who Paul McCartney may well have had interaction with growing up, fought so he could make a stupid joke and it really not matter. I personally think free speech and expression something the Beatles have been noted for over a long career, is entirely respectful to the culture they came from with men coming back from war expecting a better world of social justice and greater tolerance. And a right to shoot your mouth off

A sense of humour is important and if a leader can't laugh at himself or let a small quip based on a caricature float over their head, wouldn't want them representing me on the world scale in tough negotiations. We have just had 2 Prime Ministers who took themselves too seriously its nice to see a new one tha recognises he is human. Also there is a different perception of what a leader is mostly for us the prime-minister is a representative as much as a leader he there to represent us. And whereas Bush was required to run and hide during 9/11, we would have been horrified had our leaders done that, the Royal Family had great respect for staying in the UK during WW2 and when 7/7 happened we expected our leaders to be doing just that not protecting their own backsides. Its not as if he urinated in the oval office or stole an ash tray he made a brief quip. A certain Brigham Young keeps coming to mind in this thread anyone guess which one?

Edited June 9, 2010 by Elgama

[dorave]

Oh please... such poor arguments ...it's obvious you have a huge bias towards McCartney anyway, conntinually attempting to connect celeb status with yourself is humourous ..esp. when it is to a group of muscians who made music often dedicated to a man who held veiws in Luciferianism, taught Hedonism and practised esoteric activities.

"The cover of the Sergeant Pepper's Album by the Beatles features Aleister Crowley amidst, according to the group, "people we like and admire" (Hit Parade, Oct. 1976, p.14). The Beatles took Crowley's teachings rather seriously. John Lennon, in an interview with Playboy magazine, states the "whole idea of the Beatles" was Crowley's essential "Do what thou wilt". "The whole Beatle idea was to do what you want, right? To take your own responsibility, do what you want and try not to harm other people, right? DO WHAT THOU WILT, as long as it doesn't hurt somebody. . ." ("The Playboy Interviews with John Lennon and Yoko Ono", by David Sheff and G. Barry Golson, p. 61)"

[Elgama]

Oh please... such poor arguments ...it's obvious you have a huge bias towards McCartney anyway, conntinually attempting to connect celeb status with yourself is humourous ..esp. when it is to a group of muscians who made music often dedicated to a man who held veiws in Luciferianism, taught Hedonism and practised esoteric activities.

]

Lol Dorave feel the way you do thats fine, I don't have any great affinity for Paul McCartney, I'm not a huge Beatles fan personally prefer the BeeGees and Cliff Richard, but he does come from a very unique culture its not just British he is from Liverpool of the 1950s which is very distinct, he is from the same time and place and culture as my Mother. And my connections are why I understand it was just a joke, you may not because your American fair enough, but I don't feel he should need to apologise for a bit of a quip, that probably no offence was meant with,. Like I say Brigham Young is coming to mind:)

[Elgama]

"The cover of the Sergeant Pepper's Album by the Beatles features Aleister Crowley amidst, according to the group, "people we like and admire" (Hit Parade, Oct. 1976, p.14). The Beatles took Crowley's teachings rather seriously. John Lennon, in an interview with Playboy magazine, states the "whole idea of the Beatles" was Crowley's essential "Do what thou wilt". "The whole Beatle idea was to do what you want, right? To take your own responsibility, do what you want and try not to harm other people, right? DO WHAT THOU WILT, as long as it doesn't hurt somebody. . ." ("The Playboy Interviews with John Lennon and Yoko Ono", by David Sheff and G. Barry Golson, p. 61)"

Unn shock everyone the Beatles aren't Latter Day Saints, you know what I never knew that. And certainly THE BEATLES did not all take him that seriously. You quoted John Lennon there they were 4 very distinct very different human beings

Whatever I think of someone's beliefs I tend to defend them unless their religion would remove my rights or seriously intentionally harm someone. Not sure a pacifist vegetarian (Paul McCartney) comes in that category, And essentially whether Alistair Crowley was right ot wrong there is actually nothing wrong with John Lennon believing he had agency and he shouldn't use it to harm anyone.

As far as I am aware the Beatles had an interest in religions but with the exception of George Harrison none were overtly religious I would hardly argue his view of Hinduism as reflected in his music was harboring satanic thoughts.

Edited June 9, 2010 by Elgama

[FunkyTown]

Only if he shuts his mouth about things he doesn't have a clue on.

If everybody shut up about things they didn't have a clue on, we wouldn't have any talking heads on TV of any political stripe.

[Elgama]

also why assume he is clueless, Did Paul McCartney ever meet George W Bush? For all we know he asked him about the library and he didn't know. Does anyone know if Paul McCartney had ever spoken personally with George W Bush? If he did makes him more clued up than most of us on the board will be. He will almost certainly know people who have. I suspect Paul McCartney could be more clued up than some of the people calling him and idiot

If Paul McCartney had met both Obama and Bush, he will have a better idea of personalities and sense of humours and what would have been acceptable to both men than I do. What about others on this thread hands up who Has met both presidents socially or has very close ties to both to know the man behind the image? Because I'm willing to be Paul McCartney has more information on that than most average Americans.

I have some insight into McCartney's background I know the history of schools he attended and some of the people he mixed with I know nothing of him now, and I have 0 real knowledge of Bush and Obama, anything I do know comes off news and satire shows

Edited June 9, 2010 by Elgama

[Dravin]

Well not really no its supposed to be the bastion of the free world. Highly doubt the Queen would get so precious over a bit of a quip at a meal or awards ceremony at the palace, she has even allowed herself a smile on occasion. And believe me our satirists have an awful lot more head of states to choose form.

Ultimately I think most of the umbrage comes from the fact he isn't American. It would have been one thing for Michael Moore to make that statement, another for someone from the UK.

It's that old saw, "Nobody picks on my little brother but me!"

P.S. What is with the bastion of the free world comment? Those freedoms allow both McCartney to make those comments without threat of the government coming after him and everyone objecting to his comments to speak their mind without threat of the same. They have zero bearing on whether any comments people make are going to be well received by others.

Edited June 9, 2010 by Dravin

[Wingnut]

If everybody shut up about things they didn't have a clue on, we wouldn't have any talking heads on TV of any political stripe.

Wouldn't that be nice?

[Hemidakota]

If everybody shut up about things they didn't have a clue on, we wouldn't have any talking heads on TV of any political stripe.

Yes but how many of us really listen or just turn the channel?

[john doe]

If everybody shut up about things they didn't have a clue on, we wouldn't have any talking heads on TV of any political stripe.

You wouldn't be talking about Helen Thomas would you?

[HoosierGuy]

Ultimately I think most of the umbrage comes from the fact he isn't American. It would have been one thing for Michael Moore to make that statement, another for someone from the UK.

It's that old saw, "Nobody picks on my little brother but me!"

I was about to post something like that - no one criticizes the President but us Americans!

But I have so little respect for Bush and his cronies, the world can criticize this guy all they want and I'll join in.