Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Actually a very weird thing to say


George Bush, greeting the Super Bowl champion NY Giants --

You got into the -- you secured a wild card. And it was interesting, in the last game of the season, a lot of folks thought the Coach would just kind of lay down and let New England cruise to a perfect season. (Laughter.) I remember a lot of people speculating about that last game of the season -- and yet you didn't, Coach. Your team didn't win on the scoreboard, but you won the hearts of a lot of Americans for contesting the game. And you also, your team -- (Applause.)

And it clearly gave your team some self-confidence, because you stormed through Tampa Bay and then went into Dallas -- I'm a good sport. (Laughter.) We're going to send Jessica Simpson to the Democrat National Convention. (Laughter.)


He's referring to a perception that Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo was distracted by being overly involved with his then girlfriend when the Giants played the Cowboys. Note also Bush's use of the McCarthyite "Democrat" instead of Democratic. For someone with so much power, the weird and petty insinuations are bizarre.

UPDATE: A postscript to the reception for the NY Giants at the White House -- it was apparently the beginning of a drinking session for Staten Island Republican Congressman Vito Fossella, who later got pulled over for driving under the influence in Alexandria Va. Fossella is sufficiently connected that Dick Cheney did a fundraiser for him while Cheney was in New York for the Pope's visit. Not clear what happens to that money if Fossella is indisposed in November.

Image: Samson and Delilah, by Rubens.

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