Posted on 09/15/2005 1:27:32 PM PDT by Uncle Joe Cannon
Reuters Says Bush Photo Not 'Malicious,' Reports Wide Interest In it
By E&P Staff
Published: September 15, 2005 4:30 PM ET
NEW YORK With confirmation today that an accidental photo of President Bush at the United Nations on Wednesday, writing a note to Secretary of State Condeezza Rice about a “bathroom break,” was indeed real, newspapers around the U.S. and abroad are now planning to run it widely. But many, it seems, will treat it as something more than a joke.
A source at the Washington Post tells E&P that the paper is considering it for prominent play tomorrow morning, in the context that, at least in some minds, it raises questions about overall perception of the U.S. at the United Nations, right or wrong. Reuters reports extremely strong interest in the photo today.
The fact is, according to Reuters--and this has not been widely reported--President Bush did indeed take a bathroom break after passing the note to Rice.
This apparently raised some eyebrows around the room, because American representatives (among others) have a reputation for suddenly bolting, though normally for a far different reason than this latest one.
Since the photo first appeared on the Web late yesterday, speculation has centered on whether the bathroom break reference was just a silly joke and who had written and passed the note.
Gary Hershorn, news editor-photos for the Americas at Reuters, told E&P today that the photographer, Rick Wilking, informed him yesterday afternoon that he had observed Bush pass the note to Rice, and a little later, rise from his seat, leave the room, and then return.
And while some have suggested that Wilking, a well-known photographer just back from taking some of the most gripping images in New Orleans, was out to embarrass the president, Hershorn said that the photog had no idea what Bush was writing on the paper. Wilking assumed the president was taking notes on what some other official was saying.
“Rick had no idea what he was shooting, or what Bush was writing,” Heeshorn said. “If Rick knew what he was writing we'd have 25 pictures of this, not two.”
The photo was taken at 12:08 PM and it was Hershorn, about three hours later, who took the trouble to examine the photo closely, noticed the writing, and decided to put it on the wire after 4 o'clock.
The photo, as E&P observed last night in the first story about the incident, shows Bush scribbling in pencil on a note that already holds the words: "I think I may need a bathroom break? Is this possible." Wilking is a veteran Washington photographer who has long covered Bush campaigns and the White House.
As for transmitting the photo, Hershorn says, "There was no malicious intent. That's not what we do."
There's a simple explanation, even a serious one, for all of this, he adds. Bush, he points out, is not used to attending meetings at the U.N. and probably did not know what the protocol was for exiting a room and returning. His question to Rice was “proper” and not all that surprising, “asking someone with more experience there about protocol,” he said.
At least this indicates Bush can hold his bladder long enough to write a note. That fat murderer/drunk Ted Kennedy can't finish a glass of Scotch without pissing himself.
Here's the article the picture was posted with--it's not with the story online, but is in the hard copy of the paper we got today.
http://tinyurl.com/9h8zz
FWIW
LBJ was notorious for discussing foriegn policy while "on the throne" ...
That the president wrote the note- for whatever reason- is not remarkable.
What is remarkable is that so many adults all over the world find it necessary to speculate on what is the meaning of the word "bathroom".
To quote Rush, "Hillary isn't taking this sitting down."
Or, Clinton did not give a Shti for eight years.
THis is important, because being democrats they think you are supposed to go to the bathroom whereever you are sitting at the moment.
Democrat Motto: Remember the Superdome!
Why would Condi inform Bush that she had to go to the bathroom. I think this photo is BS.
Somewhat crude, but...
Anyone that has ever sat in an important meeting and has felt the urge to break wind, knows that is something that cannot wait until break. I can hold water like a camel, but the gas bubbles have to go - real time.
This poor man get hammered everyday by the Dem's and their partners in the media.What a shame.The Lord truly gives him Divine strength to endure.God Bless President Bush .I hope and Pray he does great tonight.
I can hear Howard Dean now: "People in Louisiana and Mississippi are suffering, and the president of the United States is going to the men's room!!!"
But that was before we "knew" that Bush actually got up and LEFT the room, and then later mysteriously CAME BACK.
OK, that doesn't explain it. What possible explanation could we find for him to print the message. Was he doing so because he wanted to make sure she saw what he was asking?
And if so, did she do something in response that made him write the 2nd sentence?
Why are we speculating? Certainly one of the intrepid white house correspondents has asked Scott McClellan what was up here by NOW?
Not everybody swims in their own filth.
I hate this. It's ENTIRELY malicious, but it's all the left has. My President can write notes anywhere, anytime he pleases as far as I am concerned and it's nobody's business but his and the recipients. Low life paranoid leftists can't let anyone have ANY freedom.
Unfortunately you have only the word of someone who claims to know him and I can't offer a shred of proof on the internet.
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