I wish that was the first time you told me that

On several levels, Mark Smith's reply to Bushie was scathing and downright brilliant.

During the press conference

Bush: ...(you have) a face for radio (queue self-satisfied smirk)
Smith: (2 second delay) I wish that was the first time you told me that, sir.
Bush: First time in front of an international audience (smirk smirk hardy har)

The implication of Smith's retort, however, was lost on Bush. First, he paints Bush as thoroughly unoriginal. Not only is "face for radio" a tiresome cliche - perhaps the biggest cliche in the radio business - but it is one Bush finds amusing enough to repeat again and again. Now, we all know how uncomfortable it is when some socially awkward person continues to repeat a cliche as if it is a funny or original remark. We almost cringe. Children do this, because they have JUST LEARNED the cliche.

On a deeper level, Smith's comment could be applied to Bush's entire performance, not just his painful attempt at humor. "I wish that was the first time you told me that, sir." Think of Bush's press conference, the tired, endless repetition of themes - repetition is the only figure Bush knows: Terror terror terror September 11 September 11 September 11 New front in the war on terror got rid of a dictator got rid of a dictator world is safer world is safer. All Bush does is repeat. At some point, for all these repetitions, couldn't we all say, couldn't the nation say, couldn't the world say:

I wish that was the first time you told me that.

Because if it was the first time, it would not be so jarringly inappropriate. It might seem like a hasty response to invoke freedom v. chaos as an explanatory mechanism - it certainly shouldn't stand in for a coherent foreign policy.

I wish that was the first time you told me that.

It is the repetition that insults us, that demeans us, that positions us as children before the mighty royalty.

I wish that was the first time you told me that.

I think Smith nailed Bush to the wall with that one, and only Bush was too stupid to understand the cutting reply. However, i have no doubt it was "noted in the building." When Bush "zings" you, you fall silent. You do not reply. And you certainly don't reply in an insulting manner. I thought that was shocking, and brilliant.

It sounds just like the time he petulantly said 3 words in French, when visiting Paris, to put down an American reporter who actually spoke decent French.

and right on!!!

I hadn't thought about it that way, beyond the very childish, nasty comment itself.

elaborate, ritual dances.

Needless to say, we were all shocked by Bush's open petulance. But if we listen closely, we can see the real warfare of the dance in action, and I think Smith's comment was a stunning blow.

Bush is largely unaware of how the dance works, because he doesn't understand nuance at all, even by his own admission. The trick is to insult while seeming as though you haven't insulted. It is a plausible deniability of insult, much like that that circulated in the French courtly culture of the 18th century. With such power and personal stakes at play, the risks of speech are very high. But this risk also produces a kind of gamesmanship that becomes part of the court culture. (See the terrific french movie "Ridicule" for a nice cinematic portrayal). The ability to play, or to dance well, becomes highly valued and aestheticized.

Given the severe constraints of the rhetorical situation, I was taken aback by how quickly Smith came back with a most a propos response to Bush's jab. Bush doesn't dance well, because he has never had to. he likely doesn't even know there's a dance going on. he has no ear for it. he doesn't listen well to the rhythms of the court. All he does is push hard - and, almost tragically, he takes it for wit. For cultures that value speech and wit, this tendency is particularly revolting - and presents itself as petulance (which it is, really).

it sounded so uncharacteristic of him to use it or even know it. And he almost got away with it, but he couldn't stop himself. A little later he came back and used it again and gave us a definition, like, he thought he needed to. Although he did pronounce it "cawsus". Who's being the patient tutor, Condi?

but didn't know what it was to, just that Smirk's line must have been a typically nasty remark (essence of Babs).

I didn't analyze it as thoroughly as you, though, about The Pretender's predilection for repeating himself, even if it is a rude comment. I guess he believes being Prez means you get to shit on everyone else (what else is new?), especially the WH Press Corps.

Good catch and analysis. I hope Smith doesn't get relegated to the ellipse for the rest of his tenure there.

Smith: (2 second delay) I wish that was the first time you told me that, sir.

Then thinking . . because then, even though it's not the least bit clever to anyone in the radio business - knowing you, I could have overlooked your crippled sense of humor.

But at least I could have believed that you remembered me well enough to know you hadn't said the same thing every one of the last five times we talked - you simpering idiot!

You just know that Bush says the same damn thing to him every friggin time they come in contact. Face for radio. har har.

a big one too, considering the reporter KNEW our dipshit "president" would repeat himself.

Not certain if this changes the angle... to me, it's just another knock at *'s intellect. He notes that the "last time" was to his own wife, implying that there have been many, many times the cliche was used, and that Bush is so uncouth he used it in front of the reporter's wife the last time...

From the White House transcript:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2003/10/20031028-2.html

THE PRESIDENT: Yes, I believe my brother made the right decision. Yes, I'll sign the ban on partial birth abortion. And, no, I don't think the culture has changed to the extent that the American people or the Congress would totally ban abortions.

Let's see. Mark Smith, a radio man.

Q Thank you very much, sir, for including our radio folks here.

THE PRESIDENT: A face for radio. (Laughter.)

Q I wish I could say that was the first time you told me that, sir. (Laughter.)

THE PRESIDENT: The first time I did it to a national audience, though. (Laughter.)

Q Actually -- my wife the last time. (Laughter.)