Cigar fires up Israeli minister (Netanyahu's suit catches fire)

BBC News ^ | 5/30/05 | BBC News

[wagglebee]

When Israeli Finance Minister Binyamin Netanyahu took questions on the hot issue of the day he was - quite literally - fuming.

A reporter noticed smoke coming from the minister's suit pocket as he discussed a controversial decision to replace Israel's army chief.

Mr Netanyahu had unwittingly slipped a lit cigar into his jacket as he was walking into a weekly cabinet meeting.

Aided by a fellow minister he tackled the cigar and no-one was hurt.

Smoking jacket

The incident took place during an interview with an army radio reporter.

"Can't you smell the smoke?" the journalist asked Mr Netanyahu in a sudden switch of conversation, according to news agency Reuters.

"What do you mean?" asked Mr Netanyahu.

"Your cigar is on fire," said the reporter. "The one inside your suit jacket. Minister Netanyahu, you are burning up."

Housing Minister Isaac Herzog joined in and advised his colleague to throw the cigar on the onto the ground, where it was put out.

Mr Netanyahu explained that he put the cigar in his pocket - not knowing it was lit - as smoking in the cabinet room was forbidden.

[wagglebee]

I guess he learned that lesson!

[Petronski]

As I recall, JFK had asbestos pouches sewn into his suitcoats so he could smoke right up to the moment he stepped into public view.

[Squawk 8888]

(((.)))

[Señor Zorro]

I didn't know Gomez Addams moved to Israel...

[wagglebee]

Smoking and asbestos! The left must love that.

[Constitution Day]

Now that's a smoking jacket!

[Petronski]

I don't think the "risks" of asbestos were understood in '61. Also, I'm sure the President's tailor wasn't using crappy old friable asbestos.


But I distinctly remember that strange anecdote from a television bio several years ago.

[wagglebee]

As far as the left is concerned, asbestos was always known to be dangerous and "big business" used it because they just didn't care.

[AntiBurr]

This brings to mind a passage from Joshua Slocum's "Sailing Alone Around the World"(1900)

Slocum had stopped at his boyhood home of Briar Island in Nova Scotia when first setting out on his voyage and was reminiscing about his youth:

"Lowry the tailor lived there when boys were boys. In his day he was fond of the gun. He always carried his powder loose in the tail pocket of his coat. He usually had in his mouth a short dudeen ; but in an evil moment he put the dudeen, lighted, in the pocket among the powder. Mr. Lowry was an eccentric man."

[Figment]

A Gomez Addams moment lol

[Red Sea Swimmer]

Like Moses warned, if people didn't obey the commandments in the Holy Land...

"Your suit shall catch fire with the ashes of a cheap cuban cigar and you shall be spewed forth from the land of the press conference." - Suitviticus 11a : 3

[SIDENET]

Mr Netanyahu had unwittingly slipped a lit cigar into his jacket as he was walking into a weekly cabinet meeting.

Now that's what I call distracted. Probably was a nice suit, too.

[mmercier]

being lit on fire is a drag...

I know a guy named (burnt up) joe, he says it sux to be on fire.

I thought he had a bad case of eczema.

[mmercier]

FWIW, I like Netanyahu. One day he will be the man to lead Israel.

Good thing they put him out. And seeing is it is memorial day, I will pause to give thought and a silent prayer to the memory of his brother.

He is a good man, and no cigar will take him out.

[riri]

He's so hot he prolly self-combusted. hubba hubba.

[bannie]

That was bufoonish.

[mmercier]

>> That was bufoonish.

Buffoonish

\Buf*foon"ish\, a. Like a buffoon; consisting in low jests or gestures. --Blair.

Number 16 was a sincere post, possibly "crude" as my current intellect dictates, but sincere none the less.

Number 13 was intentionally "buffoonish".

[bannie]

That was a low gesture...definitely not a "high gesture."

:D

[mmercier]

>> Number 16 was a sincere post, possibly "crude" as my current intellect dictates, but sincere none the less.

greygoose and freeping don't mix... Number *14* was a sincere post.

Bed time when I can't even keep posts straight...?

[ConservativeMan55]

bttt