Bertie bullies Bush into Washington meeting today

[Thac0man]

Good for Bertie!

lol, we know he has a brass neck, but this is classic!

[Gimpanzee]

the question I have is ....why ?

It is only last month since Bertie met him in the White House, with plenty of photos taken. The purpose of the trip was to deliver the speech to the joint houses. Why would Bertie risk embarassment? What did he need to get out of meeting Bush? A photo without a green tie and a hunk of shamrock hanging off him? And it isn't like being a buddy of Bush is an asset if you're looking at a plumb job in the EU. It would have looked absolutely terrible for him if Bush had an engagement that couldn't be moved - people would be saying that Bush didn't want to know him anymore after the tribunal fall out. My opinion of Bertie has plummetted to the gutter over the past 18 months, but at the same time I'm not buying this as Bertie simply pulling a fast one. There has got to be some sort of better explanation - crossed wires, whatever.

[hiding behind a poster]

AP yesterday said Bertie was due to meet Bertie.

Excellent. About time they met face to face, and ironed out their conflicting Tribunal stories.

[Rocky]

However, despite the failure of the Irish Embassy to arrange the meeting, Bertie Ahern himself today announced that he was meeting with President Bush and to the shock of his staff, embassy staff and White House staff, the meeting took place.

Dave, you say it like it was a bad move. If this is true, it shows Bertie in a very positive light. He's using exceptional wit and guile to get important doors open and get the Irish interest across.

Fair Fecks to Bertie.

The point is and it's already been made already, that Bertie shouldn't need to 'bully' Bush into meeting him.