George H.W. Bush Checks His Watch (Again) During Laura Bush's Speech

A Democrat sends over this humorous, nostalgia-inducing video of George H.W. Bush checking out his watch during Tuesday night's Republican convention address by first lady Laura Bush.

The elder Bush, who was cheered wildly by the crowd in Minneapolis both when highlighted by speakers and during video biography, quite famously suffered a watch-related gaffe during his re-election bid in 1992. In a televised debate with Bill Clinton, Bush was caught by camera glancing at his wristwatch as his Clinton addressed an audience member who had detailed her struggles in the wake of the economic recession.

The episode, overplayed by the media, made Bush seem at worst uneasy or bored by the story. This time around, in all likelihood, it will only be his daughter in law who is affected by the watch glancing.

Comments

[BigSid]

SO WHAT

A lot of us were bored with Obama's grand speech just a few minutes into as well. Yes, he got his 40 million viewers, but doesn't mean it was exciting. Think of how many Super Bowls you've watched, now think of how boring many of them actually were.

Really who cares what someone else thought of the speech? I didn't care for Obama's, but many did. I don't think Laura Bush's speech was anything to write home about, and it can be argued that President George H. W. Bush didn't think it was either.

[Chillinout]

Not a single person during Obama's speech was either bored or checking their watch, at least not in the Pepsi Center.

The difference in the level of enthusiasm between the two parties is palpable.

The Dems are a lot more excited about their candidate than the Republicans.

[ObamaFrickinSucks]

You're more excited, because you're like sheep. You did the same with Clinton, who, by the way, was a disgrace to the office. Obama is nothing special, and has nothing new to say. Actually..­.he doesn't really say anything, and he has no record of getting anything done...but heck, he's the first black American to get the Dem nomination­...woo hoo. What progress..­.he is the product of affirmative action at it's best.

[VivaZapata]

but why state the obvious? For some, politics carries a kind of religious blinding; they choose not to see, even the obvious.

[dedonna]

Let's face it. The Democrate have more fun!

[DixieMelody]

Most of Obama's speech must have been over your head if you were bored.

[BigSid]

Honestly, I was bored because I had heard it all before. The speech itself was nothing more than the stump speech he's been giving since the race began.

Now, having made that critical comment, I will say that it was impossible to not be impressed by the spectacle of the event. It really was breathtaking on an aesthetic level.

[crablover]

If you're not outraged, you're not paying attention.

I noticed that none of the speakers last night referenced the lousy economy that W has produced. They talked about "honor," "character," and "country first," but there was no mention of the millions of Americans loosing their jobs, homes and futures.

Why do Republicans love American but hate Americans?

[notyouraveragebear]

I would have checked my watch if I hadn't fallen asleep.

[Anastasia]

I know we're not supposed to get over confident, but this convention is a total debacle. First Sarah Palin, takes all of the air out of the opening day, then Hurricane Gustav. Sarah totally dominated Tuesday's coverage and the convention itself is just lame.

Empty seats, yawning delegates, watch checking father-in-laws, horrid aqua backdrop with a video loop of an American flag. Ugly stage. Uninspiring speakers.

This has to be the worst convention, ever. Even the coverage is boring.

[OBAMAthePRESIDENT]

God, I couldn't agree more..

These people have nothing to say except the fact that McCain has a limp hand and he was a POW!

Bring back the Rednecks: Bristol, Levi, Sarah, Track, Trigger, Officer Wooten, The Polar Bears, Guns, liquor, Shotgun wedding, etc.. Where in the world are Jerry & Maury?

[Henry]

It is easy to see how it was so convenient for him to be "out of the loop".
It's his nature. Like father like son.

[Triangle1]

Kind of reminds me of the youtube video showing Bill Clinton falling asleep during a Martin Luther King Day speech. At least Bush Sr. is managing to stay awake! http://mespace.wordpress.com

[darthmaul]

Reasons why Bush looking at his watch wasn't rude:

1. He has a new Rolex, and he's looking at it because he wants to auction it on eBay and give the money to the poor.

2. He needs to check to see if it's time to take his heart medication. This is particularly important because he is excited by Laura's speech.

3. He has lost track of the time, entranced by the soaring rhetorical power of Laura's speech. He needs to get back to earth and so does something mundane, like looking at his watch, so as to bring him back down to earth!

[Palemoon]

OMG!! That actually had me laughing out loud hard!! #3 is literally bringing tears to my eyes as I laugh, lol.

BEST POST EVER!!!!!

[skatscan]

4.He's looking it to see if it's still working after going through one of them supermarket laser scanners.

[lovethesinner]

I heard a rumor that Laura keep her watch on when she sleeps, just in case.

[lovethesinner]

Boy, he really tried to SNEEK that PEEK, too. HE KNEW WE WERE WATCHING FOR IT. (nice)

[esquire07]

He proabaly has to hurry home a check his bank account, see how much he has made in the last few day off of all of the killing in Iraq and Afghanistan.

As much of a War criminal as his son.

[JoeQuimby]

"We live in a peaceful, prosperous time, but we can make it better. For a new breeze is blowing, and a world refreshed by freedom seems reborn; for in man's heart, if not in fact, the day of the dictator is over" and fortunately his time as president is almost up.

[Anastasia]

LOL!

These people are so clueless.

BTW - I wonder what this means exactly? "for in man's heart, if not in fact, the day of the dictator is over" I can't make any sense out of it.

[Palemoon]

Simple, it's reverse psychology. He really means that he won't have to be dealing with Kim Jong Il in North Korea, or the Castro brothers in Cuba, or The Great Birdnest of China, Omar Hasan Ahmad al-Bashir of Sudan, Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe, General Thein Sein of Burma/Myanmar, Bashar al-Assad of Syria.....­.......and more....

Looks like Bush is trying to claim he's read an entire book after only reading one chapter.

[ccpostman]

Painful.

Watching someone with that joker grin speak must be like finger nails on a black board.
Looks like he is ready to pull the eject handle on the seat and bailout like he did over the Pacific.

Maybe someone would pick him up and take him back to the carrier?

[DirkVA]

"Someone should tell Mrs. McCain that little puffed sleeves aren't quite right for women of a certain age."

Super-thin New York society ladies wear them in their 90s.

[ObamaFrickinSucks]

Thank you for the great fashion advise...m­aybe Cindy should take fashion advice from Michelle and wear an ugly teal dress that shows off the huge junk in her trunk. Are you really this bored...or are you just jobless?

[BADEN]

She looked like a banana.

[yambartsumian]

Michelle Obama looked stunning in that dress. Very tasteful and put together.

DirkVA was commenting on Cindy McCain's choice of outfit... you took it to another level by criticizing Michelle Obama's body. Sorry. The entire world does not consist of fake tanned trophy wives. Women are all different.­.. And some of us have "junk in the trunk."

Get over yourself.

[dnels14]

goodness -funny how times flies when you're having fun

[dwillisno1]

Poor Pappy Bush, she's boring him like he bored everybody who had to listen to him. Worse yet he has to sit next to Cinderella McBeerchick.

[darthdarcy]

When you know it's all orchestrated bovine scatology, you can't help but get bored..!

[Seven7s]

LMAO!

The funniest thing is he tried to do it all sneaky.

[darthdarcy]

Exactly..! LOL..!