I think I may need a bathroom break. Is this possible?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around a note written by former President George W. Bush during a UN meeting, in which he reportedly asked if he could take a bathroom break. Participants share humorous anecdotes, opinions on the implications of the note, and engage in a debate about the context and authenticity of the note's content.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Meta-discussion

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants find humor in the situation, suggesting that it is ironic for a leader to need permission for such a basic need.
  • Others share personal stories of discomfort related to needing a bathroom break while in a position of responsibility.
  • There are claims regarding the authenticity of the note, with some participants analyzing the handwriting and suggesting different authorship for parts of the note.
  • Some participants express skepticism about the implications of the note, questioning the seriousness of the situation and the media's portrayal of it.
  • There are discussions about the context of Bush's request for help in Iraq, with differing opinions on the responsibilities of leaders in such situations.
  • Participants discuss the technical aspects of the photo of the note, including claims of Photoshop enhancement and the reliability of the sources reporting on it.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus; multiple competing views remain regarding the implications of the note, the authenticity of its content, and the appropriateness of the media's focus on the incident.

Contextual Notes

Some participants note the unclear authorship of the note and the potential for misinterpretation due to the photo enhancement process. There are also references to personal anecdotes that may not directly relate to the main topic but contribute to the overall tone of the discussion.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may interest those who enjoy political humor, analysis of media representation, or personal anecdotes related to public figures and their behaviors.

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"I think I may need a bathroom break. Is this possible?"

The content of a note written by one Gorgeous George W. Bush to Ms. Rice at the UN today caught on camera. So the Leader of the Free World (TM) has to be told when to piss? That's classic! The irony is that I laughed so hard I wet myself. :redface:
 
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El Hombre Invisible said:
The content of a note written by one Gorgeous George W. Bush to Ms. Rice at the UN today caught on camera. So the Leader of the Free World (TM) has to be told when to piss? That's classic! The irony is that I laughed so hard I wet myself. :redface:
You are bad--I'm sure his $#! don't stink though.

So...Bush asked for international help in the war on terror and efforts in Iraq. What do you think?
 
I have a really painful story similar to that. I was on the helm of my ship for our transit into Oslo, Norway (its about 5 or six hours through a fjord), and I keep alert by drinking soda. A couple of hours into it, I had to go really bad, so I asked the conning officer if I could be relieved (pun, inevitable) for a minute. He said "why don't we just suffer together." 4 hours later, after we docked, I was in so much pain that I couldn't stand up straight to get to the bathroom. I probably should have just reused that soda can...
 
russ_watters said:
I have a really painful story similar to that. I was on the helm of my ship for our transit into Oslo, Norway (its about 5 or six hours through a fjord), and I keep alert by drinking soda. A couple of hours into it, I had to go really bad, so I asked the conning officer if I could be relieved (pun, inevitable) for a minute. He said "why don't we just suffer together." 4 hours later, after we docked, I was in so much pain that I couldn't stand up straight to get to the bathroom. I probably should have just reused that soda can...
OUCH!
I thought you had enjoyed your stay here in Norway, not that you first and foremost associate it with a burst bladder.. :frown:
 
El Hombre Invisible said:
The content of a note written by one Gorgeous George W. Bush to Ms. Rice at the UN today caught on camera. So the Leader of the Free World (TM) has to be told when to piss? That's classic! The irony is that I laughed so hard I wet myself. :redface:

Can anyone say affair?
 
Why am I bad? I ain't $#!ing you, I just saw it on Channel 4 news just now. 'Sthe only reason I logged on tonight - to share the joy. It was almost the greatest thing I saw tonight, but the George Galloway / Christopher Hitchens dual that, bizarrely, took place in America beat it outright. Does anyone know owt about that btw? Like where, and more importantly, why?

Anyway... what? Bush asked for help. Yes. Tell him to poke it. Iraq is the responsibility of the people who destroyed it. Bush, Blair & co didn't want help with the politics, why clean up after them now?
 
russ_watters said:
I have a really painful story similar to that. I was on the helm of my ship for our transit into Oslo, Norway (its about 5 or six hours through a fjord), and I keep alert by drinking soda. A couple of hours into it, I had to go really bad, so I asked the conning officer if I could be relieved (pun, inevitable) for a minute. He said "why don't we just suffer together." 4 hours later, after we docked, I was in so much pain that I couldn't stand up straight to get to the bathroom. I probably should have just reused that soda can...
Not to worry, I'd have done the same (were I the conning officer, that is :devil: ). What is it exactly that you do?

I have no bladder stores to tell. I'm so woefully well-prepared.
 
El said:
What is it exactly that you do?
I'm an HVAC engineer - I design (test, troubleshoot, etc) heating and air conditioning systems. The story was from a past life when I was enlisted in the Navy.
 
http://i.photos.reuters.com/Pictures/galleries/newspictures/2005-09-14T201816Z_01_UNS93D_RTRIDSP_2_SUMMIT-UN.jpg

"I think I may need a batroom break?"

That part is very clear, and I the second part looks most like:

"is this possible or..."

But that is pretty blurry and just the best I can make of it, and Bush is clearly writing the bottom part in cursive while the top part is in print; so my best guess is that Rice wrote the top part. What could there be to conclude otherwise?
 
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  • #10
Notice the random changes from uppercase to lowercase letters.
 
  • #11
Only in the top portion of the note. The bottom part gives me the impression that Bush has a very different writing style than what is at the top; no random capitalisation, smaller print, and cursive.
 
  • #12
The case changes occur in the top portion. 'think' is in lower case, while most other text in the first statement is in upper case. The second statement is written all in lower case and smaller - I think that's just called running out of space.
 
  • #13
the joins between the 'th' in think and the 'th' in this look very similar.
 
  • #14
El Hombre Invisible said:
The case changes occur in the top portion. 'think' is in lower case, while most other text in the first statement is in upper case. The second statement is written all in lower case and smaller - I think that's just called running out of space.
Obviously he wasn't planning ahead... again. :smile:
 
  • #15
Heh, if that is all his writing then that is a slick jab. However, I'm still not convinced, the joins are clearly the same; but then my mother did exactly the same as well and I'm pretty sure she didn't write any of it. ;)
 
  • #16
kyleb said:
Heh, if that is all his writing then that is a slick jab. However, I'm still not convinced, the joins are clearly the same; but then my mother did exactly the same as well and I'm pretty sure she didn't write any of it. ;)
What the hell was your mother doing needing a pee in a UN summit?
 
  • #17
I suppose the intent of my wording wasn't clear but the "did" is in reference to the fact that she passed on years ago. That is also relevant to my rational for doubting she had a hand in any of the writing. :wink:
 
  • #18
El Hombre Invisible said:
What the hell was your mother doing needing a pee in a UN summit?
She didn't need to go before it started.. duh. She's an old lady cut her some slack.
 
  • #19
Again, my mother is dead; so it would be much obliged if everyone would cut her a little slack at this point.
 
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  • #20
A funny update from Drudge:
REUTERS has acknowledged Bush 'Potty Note' photo was enhanced via Photoshop...
Note the implcation from Drudge doesn't jive well with the http://www.pdnonline.com/pdn/newswire/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1001137642 :
The white parts of the picture were overexposed, so a Reuters processor used Photoshop to burn down the note. This is a standard practice for news photos, Hershorn says, and the picture was not manipulated in any other way.
But unfortunately, judging from the other information in the article, we will likely never have a report confirming whether or not Bush wrote the part at the top or just what is near the bottom.
 
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  • #21
kyleb said:
A funny update from Drudge:

Note the implcation from Drudge doesn't jive well with the http://www.pdnonline.com/pdn/newswire/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1001137642 :

But unfortunately, judging from the other information in the article, we will likely never have a report confirming whether or not Bush wrote the part at the top or just what is near the bottom.
:confused: Why do you say that? the article explicitly says
Hershorn says Wilking saw Bush write the note and hand the note to Rice.
If the note was being passed back and forth why wouldn't the article say so?
 
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  • #22
Confirmation that it was Bush who requested permission to go to the bathroom
Mr Bush, who had delivered his speech on terrorism, waited politely until Tony Blair had finished his address. Then, just as President Kerekou of Benin was about to speak, Mr Bush got up and left the room with his UN Ambassador, John Bolton. To avoid an apparent American walk-out, Dr Rice promptly moved into the President’s seat at the council’s horseshoe-shaped table.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,3-1782805,00.html
 
  • #23
Being famous is a big trouble most of time. Bush is a human anyway even if his policy says something else!
 
  • #24
Lisa! said:
Bush is a human anyway even if his policy says something else!
You missed the suffix 'sub-' before 'human'.
 
  • #25
I can't believe that there is actually a thread about going to the bathroom. Because he's President, he can't ask for a bathroom break? Do you people really have nothing better to do? :rolleyes:
 
  • #26
Evo said:
I can't believe that there is actually a thread about going to the bathroom. Because he's President, he can't ask for a bathroom break? Do you people really have nothing better to do? :rolleyes: I could see elementary school kids snickering over this but, come on, this is so childish.
Yeah, who started this stupid thread anyway? Evo: it was deemed newsworthy. We're just a bunch of people with too much time on our hands. Journalists get PAID for this stuff!
 
  • #27
Evo said:
I can't believe that there is actually a thread about going to the bathroom. Because he's President, he can't ask for a bathroom break? Do you people really have nothing better to do? :rolleyes: I could see elementary school kids snickering over this but, come on, this is so childish.
It's the irony of the 'World's Most Powerful Man' at a world summit asking if he can go to the bathroom. It doesn't lend itself to his PR image of the decisive leader.
 
  • #28
Art said:
It's the irony of the 'World's Most Powerful Man' at a world summit asking if he can go to the bathroom. It doesn't lend itself to his PR image of the decisive leader.
Well, he can't just get up and walk out of the room. What is he expected to do if he needs to go to the bathroom? Must have been a REALLY SLOW news day.
 
  • #29
Yes, you're right Evo. He's president and can do lots of things, but we usually have to sit and watch.(execpt when he's going to bathroom of course )


El Hombre Invisible said:
You missed the suffix 'sub-' before 'human'.
Oops, you know me. I always make lots of mistakes in my posts! :wink:
 
  • #30
Evo said:
Well, he can't just get up and walk out of the room. What is he expected to do if he needs to go to the bathroom? Must have been a REALLY SLOW news day.
Come on - it's not like he could miss out on anything important... :wink:
Of course he's not all that bright but it's come to a point where it's like there's a contest on criticising and ridiculing him, regardless of any common sense.
This is not like a staff meeting at your local starbucks.
 

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