Sarkozy to Putin: ‘Do you want to end up like Bush?’
Sarkozy to Putin: ‘Do you want to end up like Bush?’
The London Times’ Charles Bremner has identified one positive aspect of President Bush’s foreign policy legacy:
With Russian tanks only 30 miles from Tbilisi on August 12, Mr. Sarkozy told Mr. Putin that the world would not accept the overthrow of Georgia’s Government. According to [Sarkozy’s chief diplomatic adviser, Jean-David] Levitte, the Russian seemed unconcerned by international reaction. “I am going to hang Saakashvili by the balls,” Mr. Putin declared.
Mr. Sarkozy thought he had misheard. “Hang him?” — he asked. “Why not?” Mr. Putin replied. “The Americans hanged Saddam Hussein.”
Mr. Sarkozy, using the familiar tu, tried to reason with him: “Yes but do you want to end up like [President] Bush?” Mr. Putin was briefly lost for words, then said: “Ah — you have scored a point there.”
Fear of “ending up like Bush” now functions as a deterrent.
Topic Cloud
ArchivesBlog Roll
haha
November 14th, 2008 at 9:52 amBushed .adj as in, You really screwed this up, this has been bushed beyond reconition!
November 14th, 2008 at 9:59 amIf you can’t be a good example to others, you will serve as a horrible warning.
November 14th, 2008 at 10:00 amZOMG! Diplomacy and reasoning by the French, the FRENCH, prevented a dangerous situation involving Russia spinning further out of control!
What will we tell the Neocons and dead-enders?
November 14th, 2008 at 10:01 amI started to laugh…
Then I realized what this really means…
WE are the joke, not Bush…
WE allowed him to stay in office 8 years…
WE allowed him to make a mockery of America…
WE allowed him to set us up so badly that Putin can make fun of our foreign policy…
But thankfully we’re sending him packing…
And hopefully replacing him with someone who can undo all this sh!t…
I don’t know about all of it, but at least our International Reputation (and therefore bargaining chips) will improve, and have already improved, dramatically.
November 14th, 2008 at 10:05 amHey, at least Bush sets an example around the world, which was his intention. Maybe not the example he wanted, but an example nonetheless.
November 14th, 2008 at 10:17 amThe only way Putin could ever “end up” like Chimpy is if he was lobotomized …….
November 14th, 2008 at 10:19 amWait a minute, here…
I thought McCain, Graham & Droopy Dog solved the Georgia crisis.
How could a Frenchman possibly have the courage to stand up to Putin?
Would you like some Bush with your Freedom Fries this morning?
November 14th, 2008 at 10:23 amFor more than 2 years I’ve referred to a certain morning ritual as “taking a Cheney.” Now when I royall screw things up I can refer to it as having “Bushed up”. At least there was one positive thing to come from this administration – a new adjective.
November 14th, 2008 at 10:28 amAccording to reports, his execution was carried out by Iraqis?
November 14th, 2008 at 10:30 amPutin can see Alaska from his house.
November 14th, 2008 at 10:37 amWhen all else fails, one can always make oneself useful as a negative example for others.
And, of course, all else has failed, in this instance.
November 14th, 2008 at 11:06 amI’m thinking that googling George Bush in the future will be just like googling Santorum.
November 14th, 2008 at 11:12 amSimilar definitions and descriptions will provide graphic images in the mind that can never be scrubbed clean.
I see what you’re saying, LT, but I think in people’s minds, the ridiculousness of Bush himself will always overshadow the foolishness of half of our electorate in installing him twice.
November 14th, 2008 at 11:30 amEnding up like Bush should be being hung up by the balls.
(assuming he has any)
¶ AIO
November 14th, 2008 at 11:33 amFascists are fascists. They’re not going to stop screwing the little people, they’ll just make sure they won’t get caught…
November 14th, 2008 at 11:33 amGW Bush, now the model for political boogeyman everywhere.
November 14th, 2008 at 11:43 amIt will be a grand day in the world when, in Country X and Country Y, the neo[cons, libs, whatever they have] invoke Bush in this way.
Goodbye, Neville Chamberlain as Symbol of Catastrophic Stupidity — Hello, Georgie Boy!
November 14th, 2008 at 11:50 amAnd it is also a good one to use on your teens, makes them think twice about being a total loser.
November 14th, 2008 at 12:22 pmApparently, not only Putin speaks French, but he is on a first name basis with the president of France.
Interesting…
November 14th, 2008 at 1:00 pmIt’s good to see megalomaniacs cavorting together and having fun. And being so frank and honest about what they want to do with other men’s testicles.
November 14th, 2008 at 1:11 pmWere they looking deep into each others eyes?
November 14th, 2008 at 1:28 pmI have been using that line for years with my kids to get them to do their homework. “You don’t want to be as dumb as Bush do you?”
It’s better than offering ice cream.
(Credits to Buckie Boy)
November 14th, 2008 at 1:57 pmThere’s an old saying — “Everybody has value, even if to serve as a bad example.”
I think Bush has finally found his vocation.
November 14th, 2008 at 3:10 pmTo call Bush chimpy is a really cheap shot-would you dare call wonder boy this?
November 14th, 2008 at 4:35 pmGive the new guy a couple of years of errors and backtracking and the same worms will be crawling out of the woodwork to put the knife in his back.
You have so much to learn—mind you how will the democrats ever get back in power without a dark candidate–the black vote spit soooo on racial lines did it not-or does no one want to discuss that?
Have fun for it is only just beginning–the problem with honeymoons is that they do not last.–even with the democrats who have had the least moral presidents in the last 1/2 century.Care for a cigar anyone.LOL
Bush will be regarded as a wise, true patriot in the future. It might take 20 or 30 years, but as the Al Qaida and the muslims ramp up, the world will realize that Bush WAS right.
He can’t make a speech, tho !
November 14th, 2008 at 6:17 pmjeanchene Says:
To call Bush chimpy is a really cheap shot-would you dare call wonder boy this?
Give the new guy a couple of years of errors and backtracking and the same worms will be crawling out of the woodwork to put the knife in his back.
You have so much to learn—mind you how will the democrats ever get back in power without a dark candidate–the black vote spit soooo on racial lines did it not-or does no one want to discuss that?
Have fun for it is only just beginning–the problem with honeymoons is that they do not last.–even with the democrats who have had the least moral presidents in the last 1/2 century.Care for a cigar anyone.LOL
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
If Obama ever deserves it I will be derisive toward him. The chances of him being HALF as incompetent and stupid as Bush pretty much approach nil but we will see. He will have a whole lot of Bush screwups to fix. Your racist stupidity is noted and I will, out of a sense of mercy just let it sit while the stench of it wafts across the board like rotted meat. Your boring and really ignorant obsession with Clinton is just childish. He had consensual sex with a woman not his wife. That fits my definiton of immoral but compared to Chimpy McShortbus LYING us into a war of aggression, I think its just BONE IGNORANT to say Clinton was more immoral than President GUMP.
November 14th, 2008 at 7:30 pmrokker007 Says:
Bush will be regarded as a wise, true patriot in the future. It might take 20 or 30 years, but as the Al Qaida and the muslims ramp up, the world will realize that Bush WAS right.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
My GOD what organic being could possibly be ignorant enough to believe something so utterly and completely ludicrous? For the rest of recorded history Bush will be the joke he deserves to be. His incompetence, dishonesty, arrogance, and outright stupidity will be ridiculed in history books for centuries to come. Bush will be a joke and those who supported him mindlessly to the bitter end will be the punchline of that joke
November 14th, 2008 at 7:34 pmThis will be the way the World thinks of the bush legacy. Future Leaders will remember Bush by his actions and he will be the example of the worse President the United States of America ever had. Nixon is smiling in hell he’s happy he’s no longer number 1.
November 14th, 2008 at 8:50 pmrokker007,
I agree with you. What EugeneDebs forgets is that the same thing was said about President Reagan and he is widely regarded as one of our greatest Presidents.
I think that it’s pretty obvious that all the name-calling on President Bush just describes an IMAGE of him that has been carefully crafted by the left and the mainstream media. THis is a common phenomenon and it’s actually kinda funny to listen to all the drivel posted here concerning our President.
Don’t these people realize how they sound?
November 14th, 2008 at 10:35 pmPres. Bush’s reputation is not very favorable to the world nor to America as a whole. Although this is the case, I myself would never think of Putin as being in a higher category and being able to fall to the level of Pres. Bush. As far as I am concerned President Bush stands head and shoulders above the likes of a Putin. Putin is an insult to Russia. He almost single handedly set Russia back 40 years in the Democratic Process. Again Russia is seen as an unreliable and non-trusting rogue nation just as they were during the First Cold War. To me Putin is nothing more than a power hungry warmonger. If Putin had any credibility or decency he would worry more about Iran succeeding with nuclear technology than Pres. Bush hanging Sadam. And I thought it was the Iraqis who hung Sadam, not Pres. Bush.
November 14th, 2008 at 11:32 pmTim Vaculik Says:
Here is a free clue for you clueless one. Make all the wishes you want they dont define reality which you seem to have no ability to discern.
rokker007,
I agree with you. What EugeneDebs forgets is that the same thing was said about President Reagan and he is widely regarded as one of our greatest Presidents.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Said by WHOM. And WHO regards Reagan to be one of our greatest presidents. First of all he was still fairly popular when he left office but among scholars and historians and remember we are talking about what history will say Reagan ranks as a popular but NOT great president. So you just never know what you are talking about. Dont forget to get back to me with all those quotes of people saying Reagan was going to go down in history as a joke.
I think that it’s pretty obvious that all the name-calling on President Bush just describes an IMAGE of him that has been carefully crafted by the left and the mainstream media. THis is a common phenomenon and it’s actually kinda funny to listen to all the drivel posted here concerning our President.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Sure that is why Sarkozy talked PUTIN down by telling him he might end up like Bush. Because of the carefully crafted image by the left. You are being obtuse and ridiculous. Bush is a disaster it takes a real committment to ideological blindness to pretend differently an if it is JUST an image crafted by the left and the media why did Clinton who was excoriated by the media still popular when he left office but BUSH the most unpopular president EVER? You just say whatever you WISH were true because you guys have this delusion that if you say it often enough it will magically become true through repitition. Wishing wont make it so. You can be as deluded as you want to be. Bush LIED to take us to war, his incompetence is monumental he is a JOKE internationally and NONE of this is due to any false image. The only question about Bushs place in history is will he be considered AMONG the worst presidents of all time of THE worst president of all time. Its actually funny that you call obvious reality drivel when you cant seem to post anything BUT drivel. Pretty much the most deluded, reality free drivel I have ever seen outside of Daryll.
Don’t these people realize how they sound?
???????????????????????
Dont YOU realize how STUPID you sound?
November 15th, 2008 at 12:23 amatreftis Says:
I wouldnt put Bush head and shoulders above ANYBODY. What with lying about the war assault on the constitution torture and the like but I agree about Putin the man is dangerous scary and KGB evil in my opinion.
November 15th, 2008 at 12:25 am“Reagan greatest President??” only by those too lazy to read the REAL truth about his Administration – that actor could deliver a great line . . . but his staff were just as crooked as Bush – only under a LITTLE more self control . . . once Bush got in, Regan mole crew took over and it was “Crew Gone Wild” . . . Evey law and buck was abused and used for personal gain . . . yep, ol’ Ronnie set us up . . . .
November 15th, 2008 at 2:36 am“The Americans hanged Saddam Hussein”? Gee, all these years, I thought the Iraqis hung him.
November 15th, 2008 at 9:21 amDon’t be fooled by a single line.
It just shows how much N. Sarkozy is an opportunist, or you might call him a flip-flopper.
If today we can laugh about his line to Putin, first note it was quoted by an ambassador, J.D. Levite, who admires Sarkozy pretty much, so he may have sexed it up a bit. (from Georgia to the economic crisis and hostages everywhere in the world, the French president is always full of himself, no matter how he stole the show).
Second, Sarkozy makes fun of Bush at a time it is no more risky, considering the man is nearly out of office.
But if the French president was so clearminded about Bush’s legacy, why did he talk about America in his First speech as president elected of France (may 07), pretending that with him, neocon USA was a friend again, after being an antagonist under president Chirac ?
Why was he favoring French intervention in the Irak war in the first place, and remainned an allied of the neocons within Chirac government ?
Why, during his first hollidays after election, did he sneak nearby Kenebunkport just to shake hand with then powerfull “W” (and pointed a finger at the first lady’s dress as if Frenchs didn’t know better) ?
Maybe at the time he was thinking it could be not so bad to “finish like Bush” ! The guy even did copy the now debunked economic policy of lending over the credit value of one’s house in order to make France “a country of owners”.
And there is his tendency to revive religion and consider Christianity has a definig pillar of Europe…
So if Sarkozy now reaches common sense, all the better and welcome… but to me it is still a hard work to distinguish him from a rovian neocon.
David Leterrier, France.
November 15th, 2008 at 11:04 pmTouche, indeed!
Perhaps Sarkozy will be able to restrain Putin with that hard-hitting fact: a nation’s willingness to engage in war will only isolate allies and result in deaths and, ultimately, debt that smacks the economy across the face.
November 16th, 2008 at 7:52 am