President Bush shares chest bump with Air Force Academy Grad

The Dallas Morning News ^ | May 29, 2008 | Holly Yan

[swampdweller]

When the moment finally came to meet the most powerful man in the United States, Theodore Shiveley had just two words for him: "Chest bump." As the Richardson 22-year-old's class of Air Force Academy graduates streamed across a stage, many asked President Bush to do something unusual for them. Some stashed pens in their socks so he could sign their hats. One even called his parents and asked the president to say hello on a cellphone. Lt. Shiveley opened his arms and got the president to engage in a hearty chest bump with him. "Hey, it's a once-in-a-lifetime chance," said the newly minted second lieutenant, who graduated from Plano East High School. "It was there during the ceremony when we saw other people doing stuff, and I thought, 'Well, let's one-up everybody.' " As the president and the new graduate saluted each other a few feet apart, "I just hit my chest and said, 'Chest bump,' " Lt. Shiveley said. "And I gave him a little body language so he knew what I was about to do, so I didn't knock the president on his rear." Lt. Shiveley admitted he had some reservations about smacking into the commander-in-chief. "I didn't want to get shot by the Secret Service for jumping the president," he said. "And then I thought, 'Ah, what the hell.' "

[swampdweller]

[swampdweller]

ping

[SolidWood]

Lol! Bush is an all around unconventional and fun guy.

[swampdweller]

He relates well to people and you can tell that he doesn’t think himself greater than anyone. He is a great (as you say) all around fun guy. Nice to see.

[2ndDivisionVet]

Can anyone here imagine John F. Kerry doing this?

[Blind Eye Jones]

Christ that’s beautifull!

[SolidWood]

Cream puff.

[fieldmarshaldj]

Yeah, he's such a manly man...

[dayglored]

My opinion of GWB just jumped a little bit. I like his "one of the guys" attitude, and if this was unexpected, he gets points for rising to an unusual circumstance.

Of course, I presume this wasn't all coordinated and set up in advance as a photo-op stunt. If it turns out this was all pre-arranged for the cameras, ... well, damn.

For now, he gets the benefit of the doubt.

[fieldmarshaldj]

*snicker* You and I were thinking the same thing... ;-)

[dayglored]

> Can anyone here imagine John F. Kerry doing this?

No, of course not.

But to be fair, I can't imagine Dick Cheney doing it either -- too straitlaced. GWB is definitely unusual in his charming goofiness.

[swampdweller]

Can anyone here imagine John F. Kerry doing this?

NOPE!

[I see my hands]

Great man, historic leader.

[max americana]

There was a poll back then, whom would you want to have beers with, Bush or Kerry?

Bush won by a landslide, even the libs voted for him. It just shows that he’s comfy as he is, instead of that empty suit who keeps shoving this ‘CHAAAAAANNNNGE’ crap down our throats every 5 minutes.

[KittyKares]

With all the technology out there, I am amazed noone got an actual video of this.

[Arthur McGowan]

And that’s Kerry THROWING a football.

[Arthur McGowan]

And that’s Kerry THROWING a football.

[SolidWood]

Lol!

[fieldmarshaldj]

And who knew he just missed being a first-round draft pick by the NFL.

[Bikkuri]

I agree with all of the above and the first thing to come to my mind was almost exactly what you said... although I was a little more wide (any democrap pres). :D

[proudmilitarymrs]

There are several other photos over at tmz.com (believeitornot)

What a personally historic moment for these young officers!

May God bless you, Mr. President.

mrs

[Bikkuri]

Come to think of it... as humble and down to earth the last photo is... I think the DemoPress might each it up and photoshop it to something really bad.... :/

[Bikkuri]

‘CHAAAAAANNNNGE’

LOL... when I saw that.. the first thing that popped into my mind was, "Tareeezzzzaaaa". ;)

[Bikkuri]

each it up

Darn.. meant 'EAT it up'.. X(

[napscoordinator]

You should hear the shock and disgust from people in my office about this. I have to turn them off. They think this was one of the most disrespectful and unprofessional episodes they have ever witnessed...

[Caipirabob]

You gotta love the man. He fits right in with "the boys"...

'Someone go help "Chugger" before he blows chunks!'

Just funnin', he doesn't drink, but many would be honored to share one if he did.

[Freedom'sWorthIt]

What a great moment from our President to this young hero to be!

LOLOLOL - love it, Mr. President! Love you W!

The Yahoo story implies people were afraid for the President’s safety....ha ha ha ha ha ha...and the young graduate warned the President (so to speak) so he wouldn’t knock President Bush on his keester....fat chance youngster...this Pres might knock you down though....(not on purpose)....

Anyway - what a hoot! LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT!

[Kakaze]

Classic!!!

[rlmorel]

I agree with what people are saying here. This is probably not something he would ever do on his own, but someone asked him to do it.

I have heard often that he is “comfortable in his own skin”. I used to hear the same thing about Ronald Reagan. I believe it.

Doesn’t mean he doesn’t have his faults, both as a leader and as a President, because he surely does. But I think this highlights one of the reasons the members of the US Military overwhelmingly like and approve of him: He is genuine.

And like kids, who are always adept at spotting and avoiding a phony, young soldiers, sailors, Marines and airmen seem to be able to do the same.

[A.A. Cunningham]

[Nailbiter]

ping

[mylife]

:)

[stayathomemom]

Thanks! My first laugh of the morning.

[ishabibble]

Great pics!

[trisham]

LOL! Cool. :)

[mombonn]

LOL, priceless pics!

[IncPen]

good stuff...

[Christian4Bush]

bump

[Graybeard58]

I presume this wasn't all coordinated and set up in advance as a photo-op stunt

One could safely assume that, if it were Hillary but I doubt that Bush would.

[JennysCool]

Kerry after the chest-bump:

"Son of a @#$%& knocked me down!"

[FourthBranch]

This is classic and right in character for President Bush. I was there in Falcon stadium for the Class of 2004 graduation when President Bush last did the honors. I remember that he was asked to meet and shake hands for only the top 100 or so special scoring graduates. He nixed that and promised to meet and shake hands with all 960 some odd cadets... which he did. It was truly a magical time as everyone in that stadium knew the extent of the effort he was giving. Everyone loved it and as the hundreds of Cadets streamed across the stage the cadets got a little looser in how they responded to the President. It started with a few female cadets giving him a big hug, which he warmly returned and then it became bigger hugs from any Cadet which could become a few words from the President in the Cadets ear and then you could tell that he wanted to know where the Cadets parents were in the crowd and then he'd wave at them. It got to the point after a while that it was obvious that President Bush was having the time of his life and very generously giving of himself for the benefit of the newly minted officers as well as thousands of family members in attendance for this once in a lifetime milestone. I was hoping to be able to experience this magic again as my own son gradated from USAFA last year with the Class of 2007. The normal three year rotation of the President between the service academies should have brought him back but it didn't happen. The President went to the Merchant Marine Academy for the first time ever and set a precedent and acknowledged them for their fine contributions. I'm sure that this single picture was repeated dozens of times and in many heart warming ways because that is just exactly how the President likes to do things. And you can be sure that he met and shook all 950 odd cadets again, think about that effort. He is as real as it gets and it's obvious to all in attendance that he loves them all and appreciates their commitment to Duty Honor and Country. I will forever be grateful to have experienced the wonderful bond between the armed forces of the United States and this President who gives to them of himself above and beyond what most would expect of a political figure. The Academy makes a fantastic DVD of all the graduation week activities for about $60 and can be contacted at www.usafa.edu/34trw/CWmedia . They make sure to get every cadet on video meeting the guest speaker. It's truly a wonderful thing to have and you can see exactly how many times the cadets will get a little carried away. It's only natural for them since this is the end of the hardest four years of their young lives. Go Air Force and God Bless the United States of America and President Bush.

[FourthBranch]

Actually the whole event is recorded so that all the Cadets
have a record of them walking across the stage. They produce
an excellent DVD of the whole graduation week activities. You can contact the Cadet Wing Media at the Academy at www.usafa.edu/34trw/CWmedia and purchase it for about $60.

[windcliff]

ping

[Southack]

Too cool!

[Irish Rose]

Thanks for your post - I enjoyed reading it.

[2dogjoe]

I love this man!

[roses of sharon]

Why turn them off?

Fight back.

[roses of sharon]

Great story, thanks for sharing.

God Bless President Bush and our Military men, indeed!

[shield]

Even with his bullet-proof over coat on President Bush did a great job. ;o)

[newbie2008]

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