early and often

Obama, Mr. Center of the Universe

Obama

Photo: Getty Images

President Bush stepped in a presidential pile during his speech this morning at the Israeli Knesset. “Some seem to believe we should negotiate with terrorists and radicals, as if some ingenious argument will persuade them they have been wrong all along,” he said, doing that inappropriate smirk/eyebrow-raise thing he always does. Then he landed on a nice historical comparison: “We have heard this foolish delusion before. As Nazi tanks crossed into Poland in 1939, an American senator declared: ‘Lord, if only I could have talked to Hitler, all of this might have been avoided,’” he said. “We have an obligation to call this what it is — the false comfort of appeasement, which has been repeatedly discredited by history.” OMG! Did he just call Obama a Nazi appeaser?

That’s what everyone seemed to think, including Obama himself, who hit back on what he called a “political attack.” “George Bush knows that I have never supported engagement with terrorists,” he said in a statement, “and the president’s extraordinary politicization of foreign policy and the politics of fear do nothing to secure the American people or our stalwart ally Israel.” Obama’s supporters rallied behind him. Nancy Pelosi said the comments were “beneath the dignity of the office.” “This is bullshit!” said Senator Biden.

But wait a second. Bush didn’t actually mention Obama by name, did he? White House press secretary Dana Perino says no. “I understand when you’re running for office you sometimes think the world revolves around you,” she explained to the Israeli press. “That is not always true. And it is not true in this case.’” Awkward! And clever.

Obama, Mr. Center of the Universe