White House REFUSES to Provide Details - but here are some photos:

[cyberpj]

Cheney Meets With Saudi Prince -
Apr 25
DALLAS (AP) - Vice President Dick Cheney met on Sunday with Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah ahead of the Saudi's talks Monday at President Bush's ranch, where oil prices, terrorism and democratic reforms in the Middle East will top the agenda.

Cheney and Abdullah met at a hotel where Abdullah was spending part of his five-day stay in the United States.

The White House refused to provide details about the meeting.

http://apnews.myway.com/article/20050425/D89MDSDO0.html

MEANWHILE
Today Bush gets his chance to complain to the prince. Doesn't he look upset?!

[Zynx]

1. Saudis can't do anything about oil prices

They've been lying for years about how much spare capacity and reserves they have.

[Aviation Pro]

55. Bush kisses and America....

....gets screwed. Sounds reasonable.

[Kmarx]

91. How true

But did you ever notice that the more politicians screw the public, the more the American people bend over and ask for more!!!

[Aviation Pro]

95. Primarily because....

...everyone is afraid of looking stupid. So they'd rather get screwed. Sounds reasonable....

[Kmarx]

96. My take on the American psyche is this

People tend to act like dogs. For example, a dog owner comes home after having a bad day and yells at the dog for no good reason. The dog then retreats with its head down, its ears back and its tail between its legs. Sooner or later the dog will slowly approach the owner with that same posture looking for some sort of consolation. It's as if the dog is saying, "Gee, I don't know what I did wrong but even if I did nothing wrong, I'm sorry anyway. Please forgive me!" This is the psyche of Americans when it comes to many of its leaders.

[fryguy]

2. the VP makes hotel calls for the Saudi king?

I thought only escort services do that? guess clearly see who's in control . . .

[cyberpj]

17. Surely he had to make some deals that the Prez is not supposed to know of

Why else did he have to meet a day earlier than today's meeting where he is also in attendance? What couldn't wait for 1 day?

[KansDem]

23. Remember in Moore's "F9/11" how the Secret Service showed up...

when Michael Moore and his cameraman stood on the sidewalk across the street from the Saudi Embassy? How the SS wanted to see what Moore was up to? Someone in the Embassy had clout.

So why shouldn't the Vice-President go to the Saudi's hotel. The Secret Service was probably already there!

[w4rma]

71. Bandar "Bush". (nt)

[Virginian]

54. Guckart/Gannon must have had a previous engagement.

See what they have to do for themselves now that Jeff Gannon is no longer around to do it for them.

[Griffy]

57. I had same joke in mind... Hey .. look for Gannon on the beltway!

I saw that bald head driving a red VW with a W sticker... (of course, you might be elsewhere in VA, but I'm in Fairfax County!) ...

[Virginian]

58. I'm in Fairfax -- I avoid the beltway like the plague.

Be careful out there. It is a dangerous place.

[pbartch]

100. In control? Bush is in control, he's the 1 slipping the King the tongue

I know it sounds yuckky.....but someone was bound to point it out.

[Kikosexy2]

3. Holding...

hands, making all kinds of plans...Me aaaannnnnddddd Mrs., Mrs. Jones, Mrs. Mrs. Jones, Mrs. Jones...we've got a thing...going on...

[cyberpj]

18. LOL! Good one! eom.

[manxkat]

56. LOL! thanks, I needed a laugh :-) n/t

[Vickers]

4. wow, that 2nd image...*right click, set as wallpaper*

:thumbsup:

[grytpype]

5. Get a room!

[Paul Dlugokencky]

37. If "French-looking" Kerry

Imagine what the republicans would have done with any photos showing "French-looking" Kerry holding hands with a man (much less with a male leader of the country where the majority of 9/11 terrorists came from).

Bushie is kissing Saudis, Lieberman... what's with that?



http://www.cafepress.com/kickindemocrats

[MADem]

59. Yeah, but come on, at least the guy with the facial hair is

...wearing a dress!

[Bob3]

6. Okay - what the heck's with the hand holding thing?

Is this some kind of Saudi custom? Anybody know?

[HereSince1628]

8. Yes, it's common in Saudi for male friends to hold hands.

[Daphne08]

38. It's also common for Middle Eastern men

to kiss male friends as a greeting and when saying goodbye.

Sorry, but it's the truth, so don't flame me. :)

[zann725]

65. But they're NOT in Saudi Arabia now. And that CLOSE face-to-face...

...too "G"-word for me. If he wants to gaze into a man's eyes, let it be in the Lincoln Bedroom, NOT with cameras are rolling...AP Cameras, that is.

[bunkerbuster1]

66. There's a saying in Texas: "When in Crawford

do as the Saudis."

[carnie_sf]

78. I thought

it was "When in Crawford, do some Saudis"

[bunkerbuster1]

80. chortle, chortle

snot take of the day. thankyewveramuch.

[Kmarx]

92. Maybe so

But when in Roman, do as the Romans! Perhaps Georgie is trying to tell us something?

[1956]

7. Best thing about this pic..

Are the lovely bluebonnets!!!! I am a native Texan,and nothing this jackass and co. does surprises me anymore, so I choose to see the beauty in the photo! Ahh! April in Tejas!!
Question? Why couldn't he meet in the WH if it was on the up and up?

[Clark2008]

15. Looks like a marriage, to me.

A marriage made in hell for the poor working (and trying to find work) stiffs among us out here.

[wryter2000]

75. Welcome to DU, 1956!

I thought the same thing about the flowers. But he doesn't deserve lupines. We have some gorgeous native ones here in Oaktown, but can I get them to grow in my yard? Noooo. So, how come that moron has lupines and I don't?

[cyberpj]

9. But Cheney is also there today-so why did he have to meet FIRST and ALONE?

Here they are, together, going to greet the cars:

[stevedeshazer]

46. First and alone - Which do you mean?

:shrug:

[katinmn]

68. How does Cheney gets away with refusing to talk about what they discussed?

The media, if we had a free one, would be all over his ass and not let up.

The asshole is making deals behind our backs.

[Kmarx]

93. Easy answer --

They needed to make the most important decision of their day --- what they were going to have for lunch. The real big decisions are made by Haliburton et al --- the true decisions makers for America. Workers of the world unite, you have nothing to lose but your high oil prices!

[pscot]

10. Excuse me

I'm going to throw up.

[MaineDem]

12. Pass the bucket

I need it, too.

Holding hands!!!!!?

[AngryOldDem]

21. At first I thought my eyes were deceiving me...

...but, given Bush's relationship with these guys, it's all too fitting.

:puke:

[yorkiemommie1]

25. they scratch each other's backs too

:puke:

[gratuitous]

11. What makes you think the Vice President owes us any explanation?

I mean, it's not like anyone here voted for him. He'll give out details on his meetings with other heads of state on a "need to know" basis. Don't you realize that by asking such impertinent questions, you're undermining the troops' morale? You liberals! Why, oh why, do you hate America so much?

[cyberpj]

14. I know. None of our business, but this Saudi/WTO info just came out:

So there was probably some deal sweetening going on.

Official: Saudi Arabia Close to Deal on WTO Entry
Reuters

Apr 25, 2005 — CRAWFORD, Texas (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia is "very close" to reaching an agreement with the United States on the kingdom's entry into the World Trade Organization, a senior Saudi official said on Monday.

Adel al-Jubeir, a Saudi foreign affairs adviser, told reporters that there were only a few technical matters that still needed to be worked out and he expected they would be resolved soon. Al-Jubeir was part of the Saudi delegation in Texas for Crown Prince Abdullah's visit to President Bush's ranch.

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory?id=701185

[Oreo]

13. Why would they explain how the next attack will happen?

I'm sure they're getting all their ducks in a row so they know when dickie should go back to the bunker.

[lumpy]

16. Bush in his face.

And what is the handholding about?

[1956]

19. the handholding is very weird, but weirder,

is the fact that dick and george were seen together. Aren't they afraid someone's gonna try to ASS- asinate one or both? I thought that they rarely were at the same place at the same time!

[cyberpj]

20. but Dick drew the line at holding anybody's hand! (photo)

[rfranklin]

22. Islamist homos! What will happen to America's youth!

Our familes are under attack! Help! We must go to the nuclear option!

[gumby]

27. That photo is REALLY weird!!

It looks like the bride and groom followed by the wedding party throught the garden of "family values."

[Blue Gardener]

24. The talibornagains won't be happy about these pics

The first one looks like they're making googly eyes at each other, and the hand-holding in the second one is really going to push some of the fundies over the edge.
Hope these are posted at freeperville.

[Patchuli]

101. I wonder why

Dr. Dobson isn't screaming about Bush being gay since he decided Spongebob Squarepants was gay for holding another cartoon character's hand?! That kissy face picture is disgusting...

[formerrepuke]

26. I don't even care if it IS a Saudi/Middle East custom..its not an American

custom..and if Clinton had been holding hands with a Saudi royal- there would have been no end to the "liberals in bed with the Saudis" crap. Such a puerile display of affection between leaders of two countries is disgusting.. Americans do not bow or curtsy to, hold hands with, or kiss foreign royalty- or any royalty for that matter. These photos bother me like nothing else.. I could puke.

[cyberpj]

34. But Georgie grew up so close to the Saudis 'cause of Poppy -

He's probably done this all his life -- I'm betting THEIR Prince feels like a brother to the one who thinks he's OUR Prince.

Anyone know how close these guys are in age?

Did they play in the playpen together growing up?

[Lars39]

73. We're on the same page here, cyberpj!

Bush looks so comfortable around him, it's like seeing him interact with a father figure,
uncle or older brother.
Isn't Bandar more his contemporary?
I'm thinking Bush spent summers with the Saudi royals

[Hardknock]

28. Oil Prices.....

Those damn Saudis have us completly by the balls. And they know it. They wont'increase shit. What was it again that Kerry was talking about by not having the Saudi royal family holding America hostage? Oh yeah, developing new technology so we wouldn't have to bring them over here and kiss their asses and beg them for more oil.

Idiot Bush once again doing what's best for America.

[ClintonTyree]

29. If these two aren't gay lovers...

I'll eat my hat. Yeah, it really looks like bush is going to turn up the heat on old Abdullah. You can see the ferocity in his eyes. Or this that LOVE? :loveya:
These meetings will produce ZERO results. It's just a chance for the two lovebirds to share a few stolen moments together before the onset of Iran's destruction.
AND I DO HOPE THE DAILY SHOW VIEWS THESE PICTURES! Wink, wink, nudge, nudge! Say no more!

[laugle]

30. Watching Bush holding hands with

the Saudi prince was disgusting!! All I could think about was how most of the terrorists on 911 were from Saudi Arabia......it's as though everything is backwards, or happening in the reverse........

[spooked911]

33. True-- the man has no shame or sense of propriety

[susu369]

70. Good jolt of reality, laura

"most of the terrorists on 911 were from Saudi Arabia"

And Osama is from......

[spooked911]

31. Gives new meaning to Bush being "in bed with" the Saudis!

:) :P

[BattyDem]

32. That top picture says it all...

They're embracing, they're staring into each others eyes, their lips are slightly parted ... a french kiss is just seconds away! :*

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

35. HEY, that top photo goes REALLY WELL with THIS Golden Oldie...

[Dr Fate]

36. So tough, down-home Texans like to hold hands with other grown men?

Have any other Presidents displayed this custom?

Seems creepy to me.

[BRLIB]

39. Herr Bushler loves that Saudi Black!

[despairing optimist]

40. He dumps me for some girlie man?

Am I just yesterday's mandate? Wait till you need California. Just wait.

[Blackraven]

43. Yuck!

He has a face only a Mother could love. Those muscles are STEROIDS! Blackraven.:argh:

[Initech]

41. How will Matt Drudge spin this one?

Remember last year during Kerry's campaign, Drudge put up a bunch of similiar pictures and said that Kerry and Edwards had a homosexual relationship?

I wonder what that hypocritical douchebag will say about this?

[Kmarx]

94. Matt Drudge??

Does this guy have enough credibility to merit you posting something about him? The man is a fraud. Just exactly what is this character noted for, his web site?

[Blackraven]

42. Looks like Bush is about to kiss him.

I'm new here so please bare with me. In case you may be wondering. I am a Liberal. (Devout). I have no idea how this President gets by with the things being ignored, Via voters. BR.:-)

[cyberpj]

51. Welcome to DU Blackraven!

:hi: One hint - don't say "bare" with me to some of THIS crowd - you're liable to get a much worse forum thread of photos!:blush:

[mark wayne]

44. Anyone remember what he said in 2000?

"If I were President I would do something about high gas prices." Yeah, now we know what you would do and we know who you would do it to. This stinks!!!

[cyberpj]

52. Welcome to DU !

:hi: That's why it hurts so much. We DID know exactly what he would do and couldn't stop it. Now he seems to rub it in our faces.

[Sparkly]

61. He said he'd "jawbone OPEC."

And I noticed today, the talking heads were using the term "jawbone" as in, "The president is really jawboning to get prices down." Could they be more obvious Ho's if they wore fishnets?!

[elehhhhna]

97. LOL!

[Ford Prefect]

45. Thank God for the Secret Service...

I thought they used to hang guys for this kind of public behavior in Texas! How times have changed

[Rainscents]

63. Welcome to DU!

:hi:

[Chomskyite]

47. If the Dem leadership doesn't USE these pictures . . .

. . . they are unworthy of the name. Dean and Reid and Pelosi need to have these blown up and propped up behind them on their very next speaking engagements. There need to be commercials RIGHT NOW showing this footage.

THIS is our problem right now. Bush is their employee. He is NOT going to do thing one about gas prices.

[Disturbed]

48. Spreading Democracy.

Saudi Arabia is one of the most repressive Dictatorships on this planet.

The Bush Junta decries beheadings a brutal and barbaric yet when the Saudis execute people in public this way there is never a word about it from the Bush Junta or about Democracy for Saudi Arabia.

Will most Amerikans see this hypocrisy?

[mcg]

69. Yup, looks like Abdullah's got Bush by the ...

... actually it looks like Bush doesn't even have any in these pictures.

The body language clearly shows who's the boss. Why doesn't Abdullah acquiesce to our customs while a guest in our country? I guess he thinks it's his.

[NNguyenMD]

49. "you broke my heart Fredo, you broke my heart!" caption for 1st photo

[Name removed]

50. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[peekaloo]

53. just say oil spigot.

;-)

[googly]

60. Saudi's can pump all they want, but GAS PRICES WILL STAY HIGH

and the simple reason is we are maxxed out on REFINING capacity.
The raw proof of this is reflected in the 20 to 30 cents higher
prices on the west coast which has the least refining capacity
in the country.

[wryter2000]

76. Not sure that's true

We have a couple of huge refineries in the East SF Bay Area. We always get told our prices are higher because of "market forces," which boils down to "we charge more because we can."

[liberal_patriot_md]

99. refineries

You're right that increasing Saudi production won't help us much. It will affect the cost of a barrel of crude oil globally but since we get most of our oil from Canada it won't really impact us directly.

You're dead on about the refineries, but I wonder if it is more a matter of production than capacity, after all what is the incentive for the oil companies. The less efficient and less they produce the higher the profit -- which is just about the only industry where that is possible. Isn't that odd? And of course it's only a coincidence that so many oilmen are in power right now. Big oil has been outlobbied by the financial industries, but considering their people are in the white house they probably figure they don't need to use their money in that way.

As far as the new energy plan-- nucular plants and new refineries on recently closed military bases, wtf? No word about wind farms or solar power. And we're closing bases to make room for refineries? What is going on here?

[Dr Fate]

62. "Shiny, Happy People." Indeed. n/t

n/t

[oxbow]

64. Get your hands off me you damned dirty ape!

That's what the crown prince was saying, mind you.

[LaloCeli]

67. Isn't love Beautiful

It warms my heart to see two people so much in love. The picture of the two, holding hands, and the flowers as background.

Heart warming!!

[wryter2000]

77. Welcome to DU

:hi:

[LaloCeli]

82. Thank you

I have been here for a long time, I just don't say much.

[Auntie Bush]

72. Maybe he is trying to make GUCKERT jealous!!!!!!!!!!!

[babsbunny]

84. I LOVE THAT!!!!!!!

It's all about trying to find something to laugh about!

[wryter2000]

74. What a waste of perfectly good lupines

I'll bet those are Texas bluebonnets behind him. He doesn't deserve lupines. :mad:

[manly]

79. HOLDING HANDS, TIP-TOEING THROUGH TH E TULIPS

I think the photo of Bush and Abdullah holding hands ought to be sent to every right-wing website as soon as possible, without comments. I can imagine countless right-wingers seeing this photo, frowning in confusion, and wondering what it means.

[opihimoimoi]

81. A spoiled kid kissing ass. More fuel for Amnericas toys is the message

[paula777]

83. Not gay, just 2 men that have made each other extremely wealthy

at the expense of us riff-raff. Probably just sharing a moment about how much better, smarter, etc they are vs the idiots that keep them in office

[LostinVA]

85. I know EXACTLY what happened at this meeting...

The prices at my local gas station went up by FIVE cents overnight. Thanks alot!

[WorseBeforeBetter]

86. "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" (n/t)

[V Lee]

87. Looks like they're on a "man date!"

I wonder if Bush "jawboned" him?



>> What's on Bill's mind? Political commentary with attitude and more at http://www.BillsBrain.com

[Ford Prefect]

88. They're going to Splash Day in Galvaston together!

It just gets better and better!
According to the Washington Post, the Shrub got some unexpected laughs today in Galvaston. In town to speak about Social Security, Bush told the crowd: "I want to thank the mayor for being here _ Lyda Ann Thomas greeted me coming in. I said, 'Do you still have Splash Day?'"

Splash Day is an unofficial party day for gays and lesbians.

Check it out at Washington Post!

I wonder if Laura knows...

[Al-CIAda]

90. haha!

[BrklynLiberal]

89. These look like pictures off the wedding page of the Sunday Times.

[earth mom]

98. Now that's the "mandate" * was really talking about!

:evilgrin:

But all jokes aside, it makes me wonder how the 911 families would feel looking at this disgusting display. We all know that most of the "terrorists" on that day were Saudis and now here's * holding hands and just about kissing a Saudi.

A shitload of betrayal and lies if you ask me. :grr: