Bush Greets Koizumi On Segway (which are illegal on Japan streets)

[doxieone]

http://japantoday.com/e/?content=news&cat=9&id=355581

Thursday, November 17, 2005 at 07:30 JST
KYOTO — U.S. President George W Bush treated Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi to a surprise welcome on Wednesday when he rode on a Segway scooter to greet the Japanese leader at the Kyoto State Guesthouse before starting their talks there.

snip

[Flammable Materials]

1. Best comment on japantoday:

"Bush praising the premier's move to operate the scooter for about a meter as "very good."

Is this the same Bush judegement criteria Bush used when he told Michael Brown "You're doing a helluva a job!"

[smirkymonkey]

2. This is beyond embarrassing.

Why couldn't he just vomit on him and be done with it. :headbang:

[henslee]

11. He shoots and scores.

[Journeyman]

3. Oh yes, this could get interesting. . .

Hope George brought the pretzels!

[saigon68]

27. A guy like this

Riding a machine like that

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

4. You mean he didn't fall off?

I'm really surprised his handlers allowed him to get near one again.

[DoYouEverWonder]

5. It only took them three years

to finally teach him how to not kill himself, trying to use one.

[DrDan]

15. they installed some training wheels

[HughBeaumont]

6. America's President, ladies and gentlemen.

The living breathing faux pas.

What did he present him with as a gift, something from the Enola Gay?

[LizW]

30. Funniest. Post. EVER.

LOLOLOLOL!!!!!

:rofl:

[Mr.Green93]

7. Segways are so last century

Leave to him to give a gift that is out of date and out of style. A metaphor for america, old ideas and out of date technology.

[donsu]

18. what do you mean "segways are so last century" ???

nt

[MaineDem]

8. You've got to be kidding me!

How ludicrous is that?! He's just opening himself up to so much ridicule over this. How idiotic!

[maddezmom]

9. I want to see the pics

:evilgrin:

[anotherdrew]

21. "bush shows self as dork" should be the headline

what could be more lame? I supose he could have brought a little motorbike or maybe his own little clown-car.

Still, a nice subtle show of disrespect, I wonder who dreamed this up for him? or maybe insulting people is his special talent.

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

10. The WORST part of the story: Bush nicknamed it "Scooter 1"...

Asia-Pacific News

Bush shows off `Scooter 1` in Kyoto
Nov 17, 2005, 10:53 GMT

http://news.monstersandcritics.com/asiapacific/article_1062670.php/Bush_shows_off_%60Scooter_1%60_in_Kyoto

KYOTO, Japan (UPI) -- Before giving Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi his gift of a Segway scooter Wednesday, U.S. President George Bush took it for a spin in Kyoto.

U.S. pool reporters said Bush rode the stand-up device they dubbed 'Scooter 1' in front of the opulent guest house where the two leaders met.

Bush was last seen riding one of the battery-driven vehicles in June 2003 at Kennebunkport, Maine, which ended with Bush falling off, but staying on his feet.

The scooters can reach a speed of 12 mph, but are illegal for use on Japanese streets.

[melm00se]

16. Not to defend Bush but....

your subject line is disingenuous:

"Bush nicknamed it "Scooter 1"..."

when the article clearly states:

U.S. pool reporters said Bush rode the stand-up device they dubbed 'Scooter 1' in front of the opulent guest house where the two leaders met.

The antecedent to the pronoun "they" indicates plural and the only pluaral in the sentence is "U.S. pool reporters" so I don't think Bush named it Scooter 1, the press pool did..

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

17. You may be right...

...although it could have been Bush AND the reporters...sort of an unholy alliance, which he favors...

U.S. pool reporters said Bush rode the stand-up device they dubbed 'Scooter 1'

...all I know is that SOMEONE is an IDIOT. Bush, the press pool, or all of the above.

:patriot:

[Moochy]

19. This just lets him say that

He's doing something about scooter, something like "That Scooter sure is a fun ride"

[progressivebydesign]

24. Yes.. must be fair to Bush. He couldnt' think up a cute name like that. NT

[pitohui]

29. so he gave the prime minister a USED scooter

sheesh

is that like when somebody buys you a book as a gift but they read the darn book themselves first

tacky, tacky, tacky!

[jmowreader]

31. Hmmm...

Bush gifted the Japanese PM a Segway?

Well, since the Secret Service won't let him ride it anymore, I guess he had to do SOMETHING with it.

[DeepModem Mom]

12. Say what??? Maybe the reports that he's losing it are true. nt

[JohnstownDEM]

20. losing it? he never had it

[LostinVA]

13. And, the same people who love him are the ones who said

He was bringing respect and dignity back to the White House. OMG. Except for maybe the Vatican, did ANY other sovereign nation care about Clinton and Monica? Anyone? Bueller???

[doxieone]

14. He got to throw baseballs the other day with some Koreans

I believe -or it may have been Japanese.

In any event, he is still goofing off on our dollar.

[Moosepoop]

22. "I get to ride it FIRST!!!"

"Before giving Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi his gift of a Segway scooter Wednesday, U.S. President George Bush took it for a spin in Kyoto."

So, adding insult to injury, he made sure HE got to use the scooter first... thereby giving the prime minister a USED gift. Very classy.

[Castilleja]

28. Hmmm, that's an interesting point

I did not catch that. What a strange guy he is.

[rocktivity]

23. Why would he want to risk reminding everyone that he fell OFF a Segway

especially since the Segway was advertised as being impossible to fall off? I think he really HAS isolated himself from his cabinet and started making his own decisions.

:headbang:
rocknation

[MaineDem]

26. I know. That's what I don't understand. (nt)

[lumpy]

25. Whatta' guy.

Always clownin' around looking for a laugh. I heard he wanted to present a Segway to the Pope.

[antonialee839]

32. Too bad he didn't take another header.

There's probably still time to throw-up in someones lap though.

[megatherium]

33. Are Segways really that bad?

I think they're cool. Not that I'm about to plunk down my $4 grand to buy one, mind you. But I tried one once, and it was fun.

Undoubtedly, what Bush was really trying to do was get the Japanese interested in the device. Just possibly, it might be the next cool Japanese fad, millions of Japanese kids (or commuters) will be zipping around on them. Maybe androgynous manga characters will be drawn riding them, for teenaged girls to long for.

It's not like we couldn't use more profitable exports, is it? Are we still running a big trade deficit with Japan?

[MaineDem]

36. They're not bad but Bush fell off one

That's the point.

[alfredo]

34. Here's an artist's conception of bush on his Segway

[jazzjunkysue]

35. Bush's only understanding of japanese culture comes from reality TV shows

like on Oddball yesterday. It was video of a 3 foot lizard attacking teenage girls on this wierd lizard stage. The screaming was deafening.

This is what Bush thinks all Japanese emulate. Toys and games.

The poor guy is probably horrified.

Wonder how long they'll wait to invite us back after this fiaso.

[sakabatou]

37. So... how many laws has Bush broken?