George Bush's watch "vanishes" in Albania (Albanian footage included)

[kskiska]

Source: HotNews.ro

US President George W. Bush lost his watch while meeting crowds in Albania, EFE news agency reports, quoting local TV stations. Albanian TV channels broadcast images of the US leader who was left without a watch while greeting the crowds during his trip to the Balkan country. A White House spokesman denied the news, however.

The footage shows Bush shaking hands with Albanian admirers and all of a sudden somebody grips his wrist. The next frame shows him without a watch.

See the Albanian footage:

Read more: http://english.hotnews.ro/George-Bush's-watch-''vanishes''-in-Albania-articol_45211.htm

[hang a left]

1. He he

someone lifted his rolex.

I am sure the fine citizens of this country will buy him another.

[graywarrior]

45. His handlers have been doing that to him all along.

He's fucking clueless, the putz. What's even funnier is if those people were all hired "extras" and someone still lifted the watch. What a "protector" he is.

[CottonBear]

2. Ha ha ha!

That is really funny! :rofl:

[truthisfreedom]

3. Bwahahaha. I can't wait until this hits the late-night comedians and our favorite news sources.

bush has got to be fuming.

[Fridays Child]

5. Keith'll pick it up, for sure. And I'll bet Chimpy cussed a blue streak.

[ozymandius]

40. Bush shakes hands with Albanian thief.

n/t

[mbperrin]

4. Yes, go Boosh!

Got another watch?

[tanyev]

6. Feel the love. Sucker.

[xultar]

7. I wish that magican would try it on a grander scale next time. Maybe make his entire ass vanish.

[april]

20. ditto I wish he would just stay there sob

[xultar]

21. Apparently the Albanians dig is evil ass. So you're right. Lillboots should have just set up camp.

[hang a left]

41. Well since Albania's media is strictly controlled,

it's no wonder. Look at our media and everyone still hates the bastage. Even Estee Lauder can't help that pig.

Propaganda is working.

snip>

"The sixty-page report, "The Cost of Speech: Violations of Media Freedoms in Albania," documents incidents of violence and intimidation of the press, as well as due process and free speech violations in six defamation trials. Human Rights Watch also reports that Albanian government officials misuse state advertising to put financial pressure on media outlets and interfere with their editorial freedom.

The report is based on Human Rights Watch interviews with dozens of journalists and media professionals, and analysis of scores of court documents, during a three-week investigation in Albania.

Human Rights Watch found that police officers and other officials are often responsible for arbitrary arrests, severe beatings, and serious intimidation of journalists and their families throughout Albania. The violence occurs with near complete impunity. Internal investigations by the police and public prosecution are either nonexistent or entirely inadequate.

Journalists based in the provinces outside the capital Tirana and those affiliated with the opposition media are especially vulnerable to violence and harassment, which grow more intense during election periods when the stakes are higher."

snip>

http://hrw.org/english/docs/2002/06/13/albani4041.htm

[Catamount]

89. Shrub must have felt quite at home then...n/t

[moodforaday]

101. The reason Albanians love him

is that just a few days ago Bush spoke in support of independence of Kosovo. Kosovo is an ex-Yugoslavia province, and the population is mostly Albanian Muslims. Russia is against Kosovo becoming an independent country, and as I understand, the EU isn't happy about this either. Whatever Bush's motives, he did put in a good word for the Kosovars.

[populistdriven]

51. that would be so wonderful! if only

<3 <3 <3 <3

[SayWhatYo]

115. Silly, those were horses not donkeys...

Yeah, I dunno either...

[Eurobabe]

118. That was my first thought too!!!

Where's David Copperfield when you need him?

[displacedtexan]

8. Pickpocket- 1; Secret Service agents- 0

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[acmavm]

36. That's funny.

[lpbk2713]

9. Must have been an Albanian M/M fan.

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[shain from kane]

10. Try as they might, can't blame it on Clinton's watch.

[grace0418]

38. LOL! Oh, but they'll try. They will try.

Maybe they'll photoshop Bill's face on to the video.

[SayWhatYo]

116. hehhee lol

[durrrty libby]

11. My respect for the boosh luvin Albanians just went up a bit

[bunkerbuster1]

12. It's at the 3:09 mark

Someone slips it off; pretty blatant theft.

(or souveniring, if you prefer.)

[havocmom]

42. At 2:59 mark: clear shot of bare wrist after the theft

Maybe he had an important message to give someone and it was in the secret compartment of his wrist watch?

'Send more of that stuff I was drinkin the other night'

[drm604]

62. Thank you.

I was having difficulty seeing it. Now that you've pointed out when it occurred it's pretty blatant.

[file83]

111. You can see the hand reaching under to undo the strap...

:rofl::rofl::rofl:

God bless Albania!!

[socretes73]

13. Now We Know Why Bush Got a Good Reception in Albania

to steal his watch....

He can't even take care of his watch, how can he manage a country!!

[havocmom]

25. Wish you would post more often, socretes73! You have a gift with words!

:rofl:

[Xipe Totec]

14. Tell them they can keep the watch, if they keep George too nt

[pokercat999]

103. The hell with that, tell them we'll give the entire population

a new ROLEX if they keep *ush. Of course we'll give them Chinese knockoffs, but they won't know.

[Buzz Clik]

15. In 2001, America was shaking hands with Bush when all of a sudden our Constitution was gone.

[Sabriel]

16. Secret Service heads will roll over this one

If you can grab a watch, you can do just about anything.

(Where's the Albanian Mandy?)

[xxqqqzme]

17. This shows how very little

experience this group has w/ crowds. I remember seeing a program about RFK and one of the people interviewed was commenting on the crowds that would engulf Bobby. He said before RFK would wade into crowds, the watch & cuff links would come off.

[Ganja Ninja]

18. Finally a little bit of what goes around comes around.

:rofl: :applause:

[Arugula Latte]

19. ...and then a bird crapped on him ...

:rofl:

[truthisfreedom]

31. ...and then his hotel toilet overflowed...

...and his limousine broke down... wait, that actually happened.

[Supersedeas]

32. and the Corp Media declares that the Earth loves Dimson for his environmental policies

[likesmountains 52]

22. Do you think he hated having all those people toughing him?

[tanyev]

28. Nope. He feeds off the adoration.

Since there's been very little of it here lately, he probably came back energized and rejuvenated.

[I Have A Dream]

53. I agree, tanyev. He loved it. n/t

[likesmountains 52]

94. I'm just not sure he likes being in the company of "regular" people..

I'll bet he wanted to wash in Lysol or something...

[likesmountains 52]

92. oops, touching...not toughing..

[LeighAnn]

23. RECOMMEND!!!

This needs as much coverage as the "Hero" story.

[benld74]

24. Love it!

[donsu]

26. gold star to whoever snatched the murder's watch

nt

[YOY]

43. If I could guess, I'd say some Roma/Albanian low level hood

Who won't get anywhere near a good price on the Rolex. (I assume it was a Rolex.)

[Joe Chi Minh]

65. It'll be plenty good enough for him, I bet! And it's a story that'll

raise his status among his peers through the stratosphere, and keep him for the rest of his life. In any case, the professional crooks in a poor country tend to be plenty smart enough. And I'm not even talking about the respectable white-collar Establishments.

[YOY]

70. The Roma take being sneaky to a whole cultural level

That's why they're called "Gypsies"/"Tsigani" (Vulgar terms both...but that vulgar term has been accepted by many of them as cultural identity. Strange situation...)

If it was a Roma he'll get a title: 'duke' or 'baron' or the like. Not all that presitious in reality but its a form of cultural status.

[Joe Chi Minh]

76. What's reality here? Are we shrewder judges and arbiters of "nobility" in our

culture? I think not. As you say, it's just a lower, i.e. less worldly, level of villainy.

Our "older" noble families, many very nice folk, it seems, are descended from medieval magnates of extraordinary rapacity and viciousness. And I mean the nicer ones, not the psychos such as Robert of Belleme. They didn't steel nick-nacks, however expensive, they killed innocent folk on a grand scale - often by burning the crops they depended on, to deny sustenance to the local nob they were at war with. There's an actual word for it, I think French. You may know it.

[YOY]

78. Ah yes, but our 'nobility' starts wars and acts like the common folk when it serves them

Theirs drafts disabled kids to beg on streets and some sell their own women into sexual slavery. Not all Roma of course nor even the majority, but it is there. It is an interesting culture to learn about, but one that is difficult to witness...then again it is the only culture one can be easily adopted into.

See Emir Kusturica's "Dom za vesanje" (Times of the Gypsies). The director (a Bosnian Muslim) gives a sometimes trippy view of Balkan Roma culture. He shows the good, the bad, and the painfully human.

[Joe Chi Minh]

85. Exactly. Only the scale is different, and not in our leaders' favour.

Their low-lifes are small fry.

[Joe Chi Minh]

117. The "Have More"s shall have a little less...

and the "Have Less"es shall have a little more. Who needs Communism with such go-getting, self-help right-wingers? Is that a kleptocracy or what!

Don't let Albanians anywhere near the Iraq war funds... They may teach the neocons' finest how to mislay trillions of dollars instead of just billions.

[SoCalDem]

96. It was the "Rollecks" model from Timex

:)

[Exultant Democracy]

27. Oh so sweet.

[alfredo]

29. It appears he got the watch back

[firefox_fan]

56. It's not on ebay?

[shanti]

58. where'd you find that out?

:shrug:

[alfredo]

79. It looked like he went back into the crowd and grabbed

something. I can't be sure, but It looked like he went back for something.

[eleny]

75. Maybe it's a backup

Could be someone in his entourage gave him theirs. Just sayin'.

[Felix Mala]

30. He's a god in Colchester... (For I, Claudius fans.)

This is just like the grenade thing. First they said there was no grenade. Then they had to correct that and say there was but it was a dud. Then the truth finally came out... the truth they'd known all along.

So now they say there was no watch...

I'm wondering if he didn't slide it off himself because he was afraid someone might grab it... That would make him look rather cheap, in addition to being a putz.

[havocmom]

33. Message to the lame duck?

You need to improve the razzle-dazzle and take the heat off Dick or someone can get to you?

[mnhtnbb]

34. Pretty damn funny.

[robbyrob79]

35. Wasn't that his secret decoder watch?

How's he supposed to know what kind of secret messages Ovaltine is sending him? Its an ominous day for america!

[LongTomH]

82. Maybe it was a 'Spiro Agnew' watch?

Just to be true to his conservative heritage.

Anyone remember these? They started with Spiro and made at least 2 Tricky Dick watches. The best was the one with the eyes that actually shift back and forth.

Too bad I was stone broke back in those days; I could have bought up a case of each and sold them on ebay for a small fortune. Damn!

[Rosa Luxemburg]

37. The Albanians can have him (pity they just took the watch!)

[SharonRB]

39. Too funny

Lots of peole grabbed his wrist -- it would be impossible to tell from this video who actually stole it!

[King Coal]

48. Yeppers, they were all taking a crack at it.

[gulfcoastliberal]

44. Birds of a feather...

nt

[dipsydoodle]

46. Unlucky for some

Rec.#13 !

[hang a left]

47. NOW OUR WATCHES AREN'T EVEN SAFE!!!!

Timing them over there so we don't have to time them here.

LOL

The little big man can't even protect his own wrist and that with about $10,000,000.00 of security. Oh that is rich.

Please, please, please someone use this material in a campaign ad next fall.

[Patsy Stone]

49. Sadly, it was only his watch. n/t

[DrDan]

50. why do I have the feeling that cheap Timex will be replaced

by a fine Rolex by the taxpayers . . .

[hang a left]

52. I doubt it very seriously the blue blood owns a Timex. nt

[DrDan]

57. you are probably correct - I have read he wears thousand

dollar shoes

[peaches2003]

64. Probably those boots with the Presidential Seal

So where is the press talking about this? They have plenty of time to write about Edwards' haircut.

[firefox_fan]

54. In hist fantasy, this is how the damn Iraqi should be welcoming him!

People can be so ungrateful! <sarcasm>

[Felix Mala]

55. I watched this several times on youtube... At one point, a guy

has a pretty firm grip of his arm above the watch. Then he lowers his arm and leans back toward the secret service guys. He looks down and one of the guys appears to put something in his suit pocket. So it appears to have been a case where "the guy you'd want to have a beer with" is afraid the common folk would rip him off.

[Spinzonner]

77. It is entirely within reason

the the Secret Service would want him to remove the watch since it could allow someone to get a grip on his arm that was harder to remove Bush from as fast.

[The M Double]

59. Timex

Bush wears a simple 30 dollar Timex (just like a lot of "real" blue bloods do)... No stress... but funny.

[Lasher]

60. Think I'll check ebay to see if his wallet is for sale.

Bet they got that too, don'tcha think?

[Maeve]

61. Royalty never carry wallets

Someone else always pays and there's no need for ID, either.

[Joe Chi Minh]

67. Didn't one of Bush daughters have her purse stolen in Brazil?

With all that security, how can they be seen as an easy mark?

[Lasher]

72. Because they're stupid?

[Maeve]

86. Well, when EVERBODY is drunk as skunks...

logic don't enter into it...
:shrug:

[blitzen]

63. "Boooshy!" "Boooshy!" n/t

[Vinca]

66. Let me get this straight -

they can't protect a wristwatch, but we expect them to keep us safe from the evil "terra-ists?" :rofl: Is there an Albanian ebay site?

[lpbk2713]

69. Makes me wonder where that guy was

whose job it is to carry around the 'Nukular' football. He's always supposed to be within a few feet of AWOL Monkey-Boy.

So how long before the 'Nukular' football goes up on E-Bay?

[LongTomH]

83. No! No! No! They took the football away!

And gave him a GameBoy controller! :evilgrin:

[Harry Monroe]

68. Boo Fuckin' Hoo

So someone stole his "Mickey Mouse" watch. So what. What does Chimpy even need a watch for anyway. He's got "monkey handlers" out the wazoo to keep him on schedule anyway. My heart goes out to him.:nopity: :sarcasm:

So, will we start bombing Albania if he doesn't get his Casio back??

[Harry Monroe]

71. Maybe we should bomb Albania

We can fight the watch snatchers over there so we don't have to fight them here.

[kimmylavin]

73. ?

Why in the world would the White House deny this story?
Its right there on the video!

More proof that this administration has yet to realize we have the technology to record, play and re-play video. (See any of them give a speech, and then deny that they said what they said...)

[damntexdem]

74. He better check for his wallet, ...

and his pocket copy of "My Pet Goat." ;-)

No wonder the Albanians love him.

At least whoever got his watch may know how to use it to tell time.

[anotherdrew]

80. not funny, that watch is the new "nuclear football" ! (maybe) n/t

[annabanana]

81. That's pretty funny. I have a question about the WHISTLING. .

Which are the Countries where whistling is NOT a compliment?

[BREMPRO]

84. I'm amazed at his reception and that the secret service allowed this

Can you imagine such an uncontrolled crowd so close to him and grabbing his arms in the US? Never happen. Bush now has to go to ALBANIA, to show that people still love him- even if they steal his watch it's worth it to him for his ego stroke. If the Albanians love him so much they can HAVE HIM! The coalition of the willing. maybe we could work out a president swap...

[superconnected]

87. in otherwords dumb dumb lost it. Acutally I'd rather he'd disappear

instead of his watch.

[daleo]

88. Al-Quada may use that watch for a time bomb!

Now everyone in the world will have to turn in their watches to Homeland Security, just to be on the safe side.

[Catamount]

90. Thanks ---k&r

[Tansy_Gold]

91. Am I the only one who finds this whole thing a bit odd?

What makes anyone, including the secret service, think boooooosh would be "safe" going out in amongst a crowd of Albanians, for chrissakes, when he can't even go out amongst his "own" people in America?

This whole things smells like week-old fish. Do I think his watch actually got stolen? Oh, probably, but I also think it's just odd as hell that he's doing the Clinton crowd thing over there that he can't and/or won't do over here.



Tansy Gold, always suspicious

[pork medley]

93. unforgivable! we must invade Albania in 30 years

and destroy their infrastructure, decimate the population, and let american businesses help rebuild!

[Harry Monroe]

95. CNN.com is now reporting that the watch was in his pocket all along

This according to WH propaganda spinmeister aka "spokesman" Tony Snowjob.

He lost his head also. Oh wait, they found that also. It's up his ass.

[lpbk2713]

97. Of course it was in Smirky's pocket.

Wouldn't he look really stupid if he plunged in to a crowd of Ay-rabs and they stole some of his personal property?

Umm .... wait a minute. :think:

:sarcasm:

[mahina]

100. Are they really?

That's amazing! Is this clip on too?
If so, people will see evidence they are being lied to.
I can't watch it, it brings me down.

[truthisfreedom]

104. Bwahahahahahahaaaaaaaaaaa! Now the late-night comics will REALLY get a laugh.

Transparent lies. With video proof. Tsk, Tsk, Tsk, Tony.

[htuttle]

110. Who are you going to believe -- Tony Snow or your lying eyes?

Somehow, I just knew they'd deny it -- video footage or not.

[whistle]

98. Was it a Rolex or a Timex?

[mahina]

99. Hope it was expensive.

[olddad56]

109. Very expensive. It was only a Timex but he bought it from Haliburton

costs the taxpayers half a tril.

[Joe Chi Minh]

119. Very good!

[pinniped]

102. Great, now the pOS can't communicate with the mother ship.

We are truly fucked.

[olddad56]

105. So what, it isn't like he knows how to tell time.

The guy who boosted it will get more use of it than he ever would.

[olddad56]

106. I wonder if anyone has told him it is missing yet?

[Up2Late]

107. Serves him right for doing such a stupid and reckless "Political Theater" as he calls it.

And you can even see it happen too, The guy grabs his forearm near the elbow at 0:53 into the clip (3:11 on the timer) then he makes the snatch at about 0:57 into the clip (3:08 on timer) then it's gone! :rofl:

Here's the clip at YouTube if you want to watch it in full screen: <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PKDdF6vfjoo>

[Megahurtz]

108. LOL!

:D That's Funny!

[dweller]

112. umm, i think i found it... it's not on Ebay

it's in Kosovo!




dp

[Blaze Diem]

113. Bush finally finds ONE damn Country who likes him..and they steal

his frickin watch..!!!
haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaHaaaaa

[live love laugh]

114. Yawn. Maybe he should retire in Albania instead of Paraguay. n/t

[hippiechick]

120. Lets just hope it wasn't a Super Secret Decoder watch ...

... Jus' sayin' ...


:tinfoilhat:

[Zandor]

121. This story has been debunked

A fresh video angle showed Chimpy putting the watch into his pocket.