Bush, G8 Leaders Drive Custom Golf Carts

[Snellius]

SEA ISLAND, Ga. June 9, 2004 — He zipped around a corner, passenger Tony Blair's arm hanging out the window. But this was no pickup truck down at the ranch. President Bush's vehicle of choice at this tiny island summit looked like a high-tech, souped-up, electric-powered golf cart.

With most event sites just a few blocks apart, Bush drove Blair to the opening business session of the Group of Eight economic summit on Wednesday in one emblazoned with the red, white and blue colors of the American flag.
...
Bush, who is famous for wanting meetings to start on time, showed that eagerness at the opening G-8 session Wednesday morning. After draping his jacket over the back of his chair, he sat down and shouted out "welcome" to the leaders at the appointed starting time only to realize that he needed to pause for a moment until the horde of photographers could be ushered from the room.

Befitting the resort setting, Bush set a casual tone with his blue knit shirt. Others wore dress shirts without ties, but French President Jacques Chirac shunned the resort-casual approach altogether. He wore a dark business suit and tie.

http://abcnews.go.com/wire/US/ap20040609_1371.html

[CaptainClark23]

1. The fashion of diplomacy

It might be petty, and it might be utterly insignificant except for its symbolic value, but there's something to be said for Chirac coming to the table dressed as a man there to do business as opposed to merely attending an obligation while on a fully-paid vacation junket.

"As far as I'm concerned, war always means failure"
- Chirac

[struggle4progress]

2. "It just hurts all us little people who have to work for a living,"

said Tina Hill, who works at Two-Way Fish Camp in Brunswick. "The crabbers couldn't go check the traps. They wouldn't let them in."