When Russia and America speaks with, you know, along the same lines, it tends to have an effect

Bush and Putin did indeed go fishing. Putin caught one fish (which he let go), while Bush struck out again. George H. W. Bush again showed off the most hideous pants in the world.


Then they had what Bush called “a good, casual discussion on a variety of issues,” and then a press conference.

Talking about that fish, Putin diplomatically said that catching it was a “team effort” and undiplomatically said that credit should go to “the 42nd president of the United States.” That’s Clinton.

Bush said of Putin, “Here’s the thing when you’re dealing with a world leader, you wonder whether or not he’s telling the truth or not. I’ve never had to worry about that with Vladimir Putin... I know he’s always telling me the truth.”


The problem is, at the press conference at least, whoever was translating that “truth”... sucked. Either that or Putin spoke less intelligibly than Bush, which seems... unlikely. And by unlikely, I mean contrary to everything we know about the universe. Here is Putin talking about democracy in Russia: “The only thing that we would never, never accept is these tools -- this leverage being used to interfere into our domestic affairs to make us do things the way we would do not see fit.” Compare and contrast with Bush on the same subject: “And I remember part of my discussions with him about whether or not the -- you know, how -- the relations between the government and the press, you’ll be amazed to hear.” Amazed is not precisely the word that comes to mind.


On Iran, which Bush proclaimed was “in defiance of international norm,” Bush said, “And I have come to the conclusion that when Russia and America speaks with, you know, along the same lines, it tends to have an effect.” I know Bush has trouble with subject-verb agreement, but the use of the singular verb “speaks” seems like a telling slip: the US speaks, Russia should just nod in agreement.

And that ain’t happening:

Q: I still would like to know if you’re far apart on how tough the sanctions should be.

PRESIDENT BUSH: We’re close on recognizing that we’ve got to work together to send a common message.

That far apart, huh?

Update: whoops, forgot to include the closing exchange:

Q: Is Cheney a member of the executive branch?

PRESIDENT BUSH: I didn’t hear you.