Duhs in Juxtaposition
Newspapers often run short little teasers to get to you to turn to their continuing coverage inside. The Age ran a great article in on Howard’s bad go at APEC (wonderful for its overt statements that Howard’s screwed: ‘Mr Howard’s hopes of using the summit, including the first visit to Australia from a Russian leader, to boost his political stocked ended as he faced leadership questions while a mystified Russian President Vladimir Putin looked on’).*
They faltered a little bit on the teasers, though:
- Uranium safe, Putin, Page 6
- Bush backs democracy, Page 7
- Puppies are cute, Page 8
- You’re not going to turn to these incredibly obvious, non-stories, are you? Page 10
They shouldn’t put themselves down like that.
Oh also, Bush called ‘APEC’ ‘OPEC’, referred to Oz’s ‘Austrian’ troops, tried to go out the wrong door, started his speech late so they could get more people in the audience, and received only one round polite applause as he concluded his remarks from the largely silent audience.
I don’t think the Bush Administration understands how much I’ll be hearing about this in the coming week. This is the conversation I have with nearly every stranger I meet when they find out I’m from the US :
It’s just, and I don’t mean to be insulting, but he’s just such an idiot.
Yeah
No, but I mean, it’s just so incredible. It must be so embarrassing. Did you hear he ____________?
Yes. Trust me, I know.
If he could just try not being a fool for a couple minutes that’d be great. His citizens are tired of explaining that his dopey exterior conceals a truly insidious domestic policy.
Oh, also we’re (AU) selling $1 billion a year of uranium to Russia. But don’t worry, Putin said he’s not going to make bombs or sell it to Iran. I can’t remember, what’s the Russian for ’syke’?
* - Also, Rudd apparently speaks Mandarin. Nice.
Bush: OPEC or APEC [AP]
The Age stuff is from the print edition
