Comments on: Video of Bush’s African Dance Triggers Call for Ban on Presidential Dancing Outside of Controlled Formal Balls

By: A Question of Competence: Is McCain Funny Enough to be President? « JONATHAN TURLEY

Sun, 02 Mar 2008 16:07:35 +0000

[...] adds a question of whether besides dancing, we should have an American Idol-like competition for humor to qualify for Chief [...]

By: Vincent Caminiti

Vincent Caminiti — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 19:38:52 +0000

Susan: By the way – all things considered – I don’t think your assumption was mistaken at all.

By: Vincent Caminiti

Vincent Caminiti — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 15:58:15 +0000

Sadly to say, even the Harpo of Jurisprudence, AG Mukasey, would have to honk twice regarding Sen. Kennedy’s performance, sans Marimba, as torture.

By: Susan

Susan — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 15:49:43 +0000

VC, I’ll just say I’m glad I missed the “audition” for the political segment of “American Idol.” Thanks for correcting me on the mistaken assumption that none of them sang, though.

By: Vincent Caminiti

Vincent Caminiti — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 14:57:48 +0000

The singing Senators – Ashcroft, Lott, Jeffords with Larry Craig on lead, while managing to avoid adding Jail House Rock – to their repertoire – were Naughty, naughty boys.

The list is endless with the auditory assaults, but even Huckabee practicing in the garage with his posse can’t top the Spanish Language Whale calling exhibition that Sen. Ted Kennedy presided over last week.

Fearless is the only word that comes to mind to characterize this kind of chutzpah. Without a bucket to carry a tune in, nor the benefit of a fully functioning larynx, Ted Kennedy howled at the sun, using his right-hand to lead any of the bystanders to join him, should they have been able to catch their breath.

By: jonathanturley

jonathanturley — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 12:52:24 +0000

Good point, though this is probably what the Framers meant by the need for limited government.

By: Susan

Susan — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 06:58:09 +0000

As bad as the politicians’ attempts at dancing are, it’s still better than if they tried to do something worse — singing. ::::shuddering at the very idea::::

By: deeply worried

deeply worried — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 16:31:24 +0000

Kucinich wouldn’t have time to dance. He would be going up to the band to see if they were unionized and being treated fairly by their employers.

Bradbury would write a memo that gave legal sanction to stepping heavily on your partner’s instep.

Mukasey would say he’s not sure if dancing is movement but will get an internal investigation started.

Reid would stand helplessly by.

By: jonathanturley

jonathanturley — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 14:11:46 +0000

Well, we have not seen the dancing capabilities of McCain. Hillary is not a bad dancer in the formal ball setting if I recall. The test of course is on the campaign trail. The worst dancer must be Al Gore, who I can only imagine in a stiff variation of the bus stop. Libertarian Ron Paul, of course, would only dance alone.

By: rcampbell

rcampbell — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 12:45:23 +0000

It reminded me of the Seinfeld episode where Elaine “dances”. Are the words “Bush” and “embarrassment” always be used in the same sentence or is it just a coincidence?

By: Patty C

Patty C — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 21:55:04 +0000

Thanks for sharing, JT – now I’ll be having those Yeltsin nightmares, too!

In seriousness though, perhaps if I were African, I might have considered Bush to be mocking my style of dance!

By: jonathanturley

jonathanturley — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 20:39:38 +0000

Indeed, he does need a few lessons. However, he is not in the Boris Yeltsin class. I think even the Bunny Hop would be a better alternative than whatever he was attempting in Africa. This may be an issue to explore with the nominees during their debates. We have Dancing for the Stars after all.

By: binx101

binx101 — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 20:29:14 +0000

With all due respect regarding your ‘fairness’ comments and demonstrative diplomacy – it would be nice if the President knew a different step. He always seems to fall immediately into the ” … pants-on-fire” choreography. Perhaps it’s just habit.