"It was going to be more of a social meeting anyway,"

[DoYouEverWonder]

The White House initially was at a loss to explain how the decision to cancel the meeting was communicated to Bush but an official later said the president was told about by his ambassador to Iraq, Zalmay Khalilzad, while flying to Jordan from Riga, Latvia.

"It was going to be more of a social meeting anyway," White House counselor Dan Bartlett told reporters. "The president and prime minister Maliki will have a very robust and lengthy dialogue tomorrow morning."

Bartlett said that Abdullah and Maliki had met earlier in the day and had a productive enough meeting that they felt there was no need for the trilateral.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20061129/ts_nm/iraq_dc


Ah, excuse me? The POTUS doesn't fly half way around the world for a 'social' meeting when the situation in the Iraq is spinning out of his control and the Iranians and Saudis just invited themselves to the party.

[Redstone]

1. Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha

ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha.

Ha.

Redstone

[cspanlovr]

2. ...just tea, crumpets, and some girl-talk. the social season is SUCH a whirl!

[JoMama49]

3. Isn't every meeting with Chimpy a social meeting? Do you really

think he knows anything about politics or strategery? Doesn't he usually just ask when and what they're going to eat?

[brook]

7. Does he have any social graces?

Does he know the nuances of moving about in any society, much less 'polite' society?

Here then, courtesy of Panoptican's blog, proper calling card etiquette - with slight editing:

* Upper right corner turned: the visit was made in person- with heavily armed escorts
* Upper left corner turned: expression of congratulations- "You guys started without me?"
* Lower right corner turned: indicates taking one's leave- "I'm not invited?
* Lower left corner turned: expression of condolence to one in mourning - Turd Blossom said this was a good idea, dammit!

Note that in some regions meanings may differ. You would do well, if you are in a strange area, to learn from your neighbors their own interpretations of this custom before turning your cards.

Folded pages in My Pet Goat don't cut it, Knucklehead!

[JuniperLea]

4. Riiiight

That's why every major news dude and dudette we know is over there... all dressed up and no place to go:)

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

5. "Sorry junior, you'll have to wait until the adults are finished talking."

[Canadian Socialist]

6. Why is it that the first thing to pop into my head was...

"Didn't want to go to your stupid party anyway. You're all a bunch of poopyheads!" /bush speak

[phiddle]

8. Maliki didn't want to be treated like Angela Merkel

(subject to an impromptu back rub).