Posted on 08/01/2007 9:26:48 AM PDT by WesternCulture
"It is a real beauty" - that's President George W. Bush's verdict on the brush cutter he was given by Fredrik Reinfeldt during the Swedish Prime Minister's visit to the White House.
In a letter dated June 18th and released to journalists on Wednesday, Bush tells Reinfeldt that he has already put the brush cutter to use on his Texas ranch following the prime minister's visit in May.
"Dear Fredrik: I was honored to welcome you to the Oval Office," the president writes.
Reinfeldt was slammed by opposition politicians at home for not using the meeting to criticize US policy on questions such as Iraq. In his letter, however, the president thanks the prime minister "for the candid discussion about issues facing both of our nations."
"I appreciate your strong leadership, and I share your optimism about the future of world trade and alternative energy sources."
"The American people are grateful for our strong ties with the citizens of Sweden," the letter continues. "Together, we can expand peace, prosperity and freedom throughout the world."
“Reinfeldt was slammed by opposition politicians at home for not using the meeting to criticize US policy on questions such as Iraq.”
Look, all Fredrik wanted to do was to hand over a brush cutter.
When my former boss, who happened to be from Serbia, moved on to another job last year, we gave him a bottle of his favourite single malt whiskey WITHOUT starting any discusions regarding the Kosovo issue.
It’s called manners.
Manners / Uff da.
Probably was a husqavarna
I had a Serbian buddy in college and all he and his fellow Serbs drank was this horrid concoction called Slivovitz (sp?) - I think it was a type of plum brandy. That stuff would take the chrome off a trailer hitch.
We own a Swedish saw. What’s a Swedish brush cutter ?
This thread is worthless without pictures! ;)
Yes, that showed good manners. Just like President Bush when he commends PM Reinfeldt on his “strong leadership”.
Few serious commentators would call Reinfeldt’s first 10 months in office a show of leadership, let alone strong.
But, that’s what we’ve got. Better than the old socialist who is now going to make his fortune as a lobbyist, but just not good enough.
“Probably was a husqavarna”
- It was either a Husqvarna or a Jonsered.
Husqvarna belonged to Electrolux until 2006. Today it’s a sovereign company. Jonsered is still a brand of Electrolux I think.
More info on this machine here
“We own a Swedish saw. What’s a Swedish brush cutter ?”
- Here’s an example of Swedish brush cutters and some other nice machinery;
Just click ‘Products’
http://www.tilton.usa.jonsered.com/node246.aspx
So, that’s what a Swedish brush cutter looks like. No wonder W was grateful.
Sweden hasn’t had a strong national leader since Charles XII ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_XII_of_Sweden )
died at Halden in 1718.
At best we’ve enjoyed decent administrators.
I too prefer Reinfeldt to Persson, but I also think Persson was a blessing compared to the kind of PM Sahlin would make.
Knock on wood.
I guess you agree that in our country, you don’t need to be a true leader to become a successful politician. Swedish governments consist of administrators. As long as the economy is growing and ordinary families own a Volvo and a nice house and there’s a familiar, benevolent smile on a TV screen in their living room, most people are, more or less, satisfied.
Men give practical gifts. Such a machine looks like it’d be quite practical to do work on a Texas ranch. I’m guessing it’s exactly the sort of thing Bush would secretly have chosen for himself over “polite”, froufrou gifts.
And that is why Mr Reinfeldt, with his large brown, sad looking eyes can sell us out to a new EU-state, without so much as a murmur among the general population.
“Such a machine looks like it’d be quite practical to do work on a Texas ranch.”
- I believe that what was Reinfeldt and his staff figured as well.
Glad that he seems to have enjoyed it, whether it was a Husqvarna or a Jonsered.
Greetings from Gothenburg, Sweden.
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