Comments on: Bush's wristwatch gets nabbed.

Bush's wristwatch gets nabbed.

hafetysazard — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 01:11:54 -0800

President Bush received a hero's welcome on a recent trip to Albania. This has been the first time a serving U.S. President has visited the country, and it's probably the first time a president has had his wristwatch stolen while shaking hands.

By: Blazecock Pileon

Blazecock Pileon — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 01:17:07 -0800

It'll be okay, the hump in his back has an atomic clock.

By: newfers

newfers — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 01:18:22 -0800

Why couldn't they have ripped his goddamn head off after they stole his watch? Slackers!

By: pruner

pruner — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 01:19:37 -0800

the cheering was a diversion.

By: homodigitalis

homodigitalis — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 01:20:40 -0800

Albanians and stealing?! Pretty much the expierence most people in Europe associate with these people ...

By: brundlefly

brundlefly — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 01:21:16 -0800

The cheering was asymmetrical warfare.

By: jannw

jannw — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 01:21:27 -0800

poetry in motion!

By: dreamsign

dreamsign — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 01:25:04 -0800

If they didn't lop off the wrist it was on, colour me unimpressed. (I kid. Steal the watch right off the President's wrist? Bragging rights forever)

By: maryh

maryh — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 01:41:12 -0800

Way to go, Albanians! You got more out of his presidency than I ever will!

By: mdonley

mdonley — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 01:43:58 -0800

That's awesome.

By: zardoz

zardoz — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 01:54:22 -0800

Ok, where in the video did the nabbing happen? That's four whole minutes, I ain't got all day!

By: phaedon

phaedon — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 02:00:03 -0800

Albania's image needs a serious makeover. The WTO should have its own reality show.

By: RavinDave

RavinDave — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 02:00:12 -0800

You don't see it per se. You see a very noticeable dark band, the arm disappearing into the crown .... then the band is missing when it reappears.

By: hafetysazard

hafetysazard — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 02:03:33 -0800

Ok, where in the video did the nabbing happen? That's four whole minutes, I ain't got all day! It gets nabbed somewhere between 0:52 and 1:04.

By: criticalbill

criticalbill — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 02:06:38 -0800

one of those security guards is gonna get a serious shoeing

By: rolypolyman

rolypolyman — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 02:08:06 -0800

I'm confused, it looks like at the end, he GAVE someone his watch. I'm going back to 0:52 to 1:04 to look some more... thank you thank you for bringing that up, zardoz, I thought I was clueless.

By: hafetysazard

hafetysazard — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 02:34:18 -0800

Hmm... I just noticed that it kind of looks like he takes it off, right after he fells people trying to grab at it, then he sticks it in his right pocket. However, he could also be wondering where the hell his watch went.

By: srboisvert

srboisvert — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 02:39:27 -0800

Looks like a theft to me. The thief takes hold his forearm so the he won't feel the watch being removed. Classic technique.

By: LMGM

LMGM — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 02:40:04 -0800

OK, now that you pointed out the time frame, I totally see it. You actually see a pair of hands wrap themselves around his left wrist (like others have been doing), and then coax his watch off. That is awesome [NOT A THIEF].

By: longbaugh

longbaugh — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 02:43:10 -0800

Now if only we could combine this with the hand grenade instance we'd be laughing. "President Bush was honoured today to receive a good luck charm from the people of Albania. He expressed his thanks in a speech today about receiving what he described as '...a delightful Fabergé egg charm...' and exclaimed that his '...cheap Mickey Mouse watch was a low price to pay in exchange for such a thing of beauty...' and that it was a terrible shame that '...Karl won't let me use a digital watch anyway because he says the numbers are not a countdown to Apocalypse...'. Millions looked on desperately willing that gravity make the grenade drop to his feet sans pin and spoon. The RGD-5 hand grenade unfortunately did not detonate and rid the world of one of it's most despised hate figures but then maybe Uri Geller was busy or something."

By: hafetysazard

hafetysazard — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 02:44:55 -0800

Looks like a theft to me. The thief takes hold his forearm so the he won't feel the watch being removed. Classic technique. Maybe it was these guys?

By: bunglin jones

bunglin jones — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 02:55:53 -0800

QUESTION: (Laughter.) Mr. McCormack, according to reports from Tirana, President Bush when he left Albania's Prime Minister Sali Berisha's residence going to Air Force One, complained that somebody from the Albanian crowd has stolen his beautiful watch. I'm wondering -- MR. MCCORMACK: What? QUESTION: This is true, his watch. MR. MCCORMACK: Are you kidding? ..... I can't even tell you if that story is true or not. Where did you get that? QUESTION: From -- it's from (inaudible) today in (inaudible) on the internet. From the White House daily press briefing

By: Joey Michaels

Joey Michaels — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 02:58:16 -0800

The folks who posted the YouTube video are claiming in their (more) listing that he dropped the watch and that secret service found it and that it was returned to him. Watchgate!

By: Flashman

Flashman — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 03:05:25 -0800

As usual, the White House response is 'who are you gonna believe, us or your lying eyes/facts/reality?'

By: dreamsign

dreamsign — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 03:09:02 -0800

The folks who posted the YouTube video are claiming in their (more) listing that he dropped the watch and that secret service found it and that it was returned to him. Nuh-uh. The watch was in fact captured in a spider hole by U.S. special forces, spending its time in fear and desperation.

By: orange swan

orange swan — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 03:31:12 -0800

Did they get his wedding ring too?

By: longbaugh

longbaugh — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 03:36:36 -0800

They also stole his "What Would A Fucking Idiot Do?" wristband apparently. So we'll now see a dramatic upsurge in sense and empathy any day now. Fingers crossed eh?

By: pompomtom

pompomtom — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 03:37:07 -0800

That's Albania's foreign aid receipts doubled.

By: i_am_a_Jedi

i_am_a_Jedi — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 03:37:34 -0800

Oh yeah that definetly looks like they took it off his wrist. *clang-clang, clang-clang*

By: emmet

emmet — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 04:07:47 -0800

Did anyone else read the apparently international comments on the page? Fascinating stuff, all across the landscape.

By: mattoxic

mattoxic — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 04:12:32 -0800

I can just see them, sitting in the oval office, pouring over atlases looking for SOMEWHERE that they could get some good pictures with Dubya and cheering crowds, it was a toss-up, either Albania or Antarctica with the penguins.

By: milarepa

milarepa — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 04:17:48 -0800

Antarctica's melting. The penguins are less than pleased.

By: XQUZYPHYR

XQUZYPHYR — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 04:18:32 -0800

I've never trusted Albanians, what with their evil white skin and those shifty pink eyes.

By: chuckdarwin

chuckdarwin — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 04:31:44 -0800

That's the first time in recorded History that Bush was the subject of such unchecked adulation. It was pretty hard to watch.

By: HuronBob

HuronBob — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 04:34:01 -0800

Very interesting.. I hope the watch was a priceless family heirloom! My first thought... Bush would NEVER allow himself to be in that situation in his own country. When was the last time you saw him approach a crowd like that (other than some $10k republican fund raiser). He wouldn't survive 10 seconds before someone would express their feelings about him in some manner that would result in a felony charge....or worse.

By: dobbs

dobbs — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 04:37:51 -0800

By: XQUZYPHYR

XQUZYPHYR — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 04:38:15 -0800

Wait.... Bush can tell time?

By: ciderwoman

ciderwoman — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 04:45:23 -0800

Did anyone else read the apparently international comments on the page? Fascinating stuff, all across the landscape. posted by emmet at 4:07 AM Indeed, they bode well for peace and prosperity throughout the Balkans.

By: kaemaril

kaemaril — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 05:04:57 -0800

I can just see the Bush Administration demanding the Albanians hand over random-guy-X for his devastating terrorist attack on Bush's ego ... Then when the Albanians say 'We'd be happy to ... where's your evidence?' ... Bush : they dare defy us? Launch the bombers! It's happened before :)

By: Flashman

Flashman — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 05:19:49 -0800

What's the Albanian for cojones?

By: mmahaffie

mmahaffie — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 05:34:43 -0800

Poop. I so wanted this to be true. Oh well, the post did give me this, from bunglin jones' link, above: QUESTION: How do you explain the fact that the popularity of President Bush is higher in Albania than in Texas and the District of Columbia? MR. MCCORMACK: I don't know, the good judgment of the Albanian people, I don't know. (Laughter.) QUESTION: You're insulting the Americans. MR. MCCORMACK: No, I am not insulting the good -- I'm praising them for their fine judgment, that's all -- I think he's actually known as "The bringer of fine watches" in that part of the world.

By: srboisvert

srboisvert — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 05:57:38 -0800

And in Italy his limo broke down. It is interesting to see a few of the spectators morph into secret service agents during the car swap.

By: flashboy

flashboy — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 06:00:53 -0800

There is hope for all those of us who want this to be true. Apparently, the White House is denying the "it fell off but someone gave it back" story: A White House spokeswoman denied today that that the President had been robbed. She also denied other Albanian reports that Mr Bush's watch did fall off during the vigorous walkabout but that it was returned to a bodyguard. Instead the spokeswoman said that Mr Bush had removed it himself. "He took it off," she said. When challenged that this did not seem to happen during the footage shown on YouTube, the spokeswoman said: "I'm not going to change what I'm saying. I was told that he took it off about the one-minute mark." The watch Bush is wearing when he boards AF1 later on is, apparently, a replacement.

By: Killick

Killick — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 06:33:57 -0800

He looks so happy. And appreciated. Maybe we could trade him for some uhhh.... Albanian stuff. Aw, hell. Just take him. Return the Mickey Mouse watch and we'll call it square. Please?

By: Muddler

Muddler — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 06:36:54 -0800

Ahhh, Youtube - video quality so shitty nobody can tell what the F' is going on.

By: NorthernLite

NorthernLite — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 06:43:50 -0800

The Daily Show show summed up what I was thinking (paraphrase): They're patting him on the arm & back, they're TOUSLING his hair. How did they get so close - WE'RE not even allowed to ask him a question. Dear Albania: If you wanted to keep the miserable piece o' shite for the next 1.5 years, that'd be fine with most of us. [But btw an Air America host said Albanians like the U.S. because of Clinton. The Prez's are just interchangeable to them I guess.]

By: longbaugh

longbaugh — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 06:46:01 -0800

In some respects I appreciate this post just so I can go find out about Albanian related humour Q: How can you stop an Albanian tank? A: You shoot the soldier that is pushing it. Q: Why is there a rubber-band shortage in Albania? A: They're saving it for their satellite launch. Q: Why is there a crisis in the Albanian economy? A: Their donkey died. Q: Why do Albanian submarines surface every five minutes? A: To let the oarsmen breathe Oh let the mirth flow... Even better - they apparently think Norman Fucking Wisdom is funny. They've some interesting political views about Bush et al here - my favourite being this bit '...Bush is my man. Bush hates muslim scum, which means that he also hates most retarded, ugly Albos. The good Albos (the christian ones that don't suck muslim ****, which excludes any Albof.u.c.ks posting on this forum) can live. Bush is gonna win even if he has to steal the election like he did before (LOL). Kerry is a jewhalfbreed so Americans won't elect him. Ha ha ha. Bush is gonna win again......so much for your independent Kosof.u.c.k in 2005.......that is nothing but a distant memory. U.S. troops are already pulling out and we Serbs are preparing to come back, rape your women, kill your homosexual halfbreed men, and sell your ugly heathen babies into slavery! Die Turk halfbreed scum! The beautiful Serbs are coming to make you suck on mansize sausage! Kerry is a joke. Bush knows how to deal with Muslim countries! Can't wait for the elections cuz I'm voting for the Albo-Muslim-hating winner....George W. (The Serbs can have Kosovo back) Bush jr.......LOL!...' So yeah - those are the sort of people who think he's awesome.

By: Soliloquy

Soliloquy — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 06:58:26 -0800

By: languagehat

languagehat — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 07:13:25 -0800

I thought that was hilarious til I read the description, which says, "Bush's wrist watch dropped at some point, but it has been confirmed that it was found by the bodyguards who handed it over to Lady Bush later on." Why on earth would you believe an account on YouTube by an Albanian who obviously desperately wants to ward off charges that Albanians are a bunch of thievin' yahoos? Incidentally, in case anyone's wondering about the BUSH ZHYTET MES TURMES so prominent during the first half of the video, it's Albanian for BUSH PLUNGES INTO CROWD (it's headlinese for the normal Albanian sentence Bush zhytet në mes tës turmës 'Bush plunges into the midst of the crowd').

By: longbaugh

longbaugh — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 07:23:07 -0800

Is "the midst of the crowd" Albanian for 20% approval rating?

By: QuestionableSwami

QuestionableSwami — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 07:40:40 -0800

George Bush is the new Enver Hoxha.

By: mosk

mosk — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 07:45:58 -0800

Hail to the thief.

By: JDHarper

JDHarper — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 07:47:48 -0800

Wait, Lady Bush? She's an aristocrat now? Too... many... jokes...

The wife of a president is referred to as the First Lady.

By: dead_

dead_ — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 07:53:46 -0800

AWESOME.

By: pax digita

pax digita — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 08:03:20 -0800

Lady Bush Not to say that this isn't a quasi-imperial Presidency, but I vaguely remember learning in grammar school that there's a Lady Street in Columbia, SC because it was named for Lady Washington, which was how the first First Lady was referred to. In fact, there was a US Navy ship named for her as well as a brig that's been in a couple of movies.

By: NationalKato

NationalKato — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 08:07:59 -0800

Wait.... Bush can tell time? posted by XQUZYPHYR No, it's just his Sea Monkeys watch.

By: maryh

maryh — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 08:21:30 -0800

When challenged that this did not seem to happen during the footage shown on YouTube, the spokeswoman said: "I'm not going to change what I'm saying. I was told that he took it off about the one-minute mark." So the official story is that he took it off as the adoring crowd gathered around him? Doesn't that imply that he was thinking "Ewww, better take off the watch before one of these thieving Albainians tries to nab it." Yet another no-win situation for the WH spokesweasels.

By: stenseng

stenseng — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 08:22:53 -0800

You know you had a good time when you lose your wristwatch and it turns up in some Lady Bush...

By: fandango_matt

fandango_matt — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 08:25:04 -0800

posted by languagehat Incidentally, in case anyone's wondering about the BUSH ZHYTET MES TURMES so prominent during the first half of the video, it's Albanian for BUSH PLUNGES INTO CROWD (it's headlinese for the normal Albanian sentence Bush zhytet në mes tës turmës 'Bush plunges into the midst of the crowd'). So this is just another Bush Plunge story.

By: Ljubljana

Ljubljana — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 08:47:21 -0800

"Albanians love Americans. And Kosovar Albanians... they really love Americans." -- interesting post by an American in Priština.

By: caddis

caddis — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 08:52:26 -0800

Considering what low esteem he is held in most of the world, a watch hardly seems too big a price to pay for this show of adoration.

By: LarryC

LarryC — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 08:59:26 -0800

I like this Borat-ish comment on the YouTube page: "Here is joke: Why did Albanian steal Booshie's watch? Because he needed it to find out what time to go to work! Hahahaha! Is joke because Albanian does not work! Hahahaha!"

By: StephenV

StephenV — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 09:01:11 -0800

Wasn't Albania the country used as a backdrop to distract from presidential scandal in the movie Wag the Dog?

By: NoiseTrader

NoiseTrader — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 09:27:47 -0800

This reminds me of the scene in Leaving Las Vegas where the Nick Cage character loses his wedding ring.

By: exogenous

exogenous — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 10:20:10 -0800

This Dutch site has a higher-quality video of the heist.

By: Flashman

Flashman — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 10:44:46 -0800

Alright, having seen the Dutch video it kinda looks like somebody started to loosen his watch, but it actually fell off on its own. When he pulls his arm down and away from the crucial encouter it's still on - you can see a flash of black - but when he raises his arm again it's gone. It looks like that's when it falls off, but it doesn't seem like any of his goons notice at that point. Plus, that guy up front in the Members Only jacket - it's obviously Nikki Leotardo, Phil's nephew from season 6.

By: waitingtoderail

waitingtoderail — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 10:53:33 -0800

Actually, it looks like he sticks something in his pocket right before he goes back into the crowd.

By: matteo

matteo — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 11:03:03 -0800

Now Joe Lieberman wants to bomb Albania too

By: fusinski

fusinski — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 11:44:44 -0800

Very interesting.. I hope the watch was a priceless family heirloom! Not a chance, you know the guy can't tell time. My guess is it was a five dollar Casio from his friends at Walmart.

By: Manjusri

Manjusri — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 12:13:01 -0800

You can clearly see the watch on his left hand on the Dutch video when he does the raised hand-clasp with his right. This occurs at 00:58 on the youtube video. After that he separates from the crowd for a moment and both arms are obscured. As he steps back in you can see that the watch is gone. It was loosened by the crowd and either fell off or was taken off when he was separated. Bush would have had some nimble fingers to take it off himself so quickly if it had not already been coming off. Surprisingly, the White House is telling the truth on this one.

By: lupus_yonderboy

lupus_yonderboy — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 12:53:30 -0800

In the high-qualityh video, it seems fairly clear to me that the watch is stolen. If you watch you can see someone grab his arm, someone else unstrap the watch and then they let go of his hand, which naturally falls back. It's very smooth and slick -- bravo!

By: JHarris

JHarris — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 13:40:16 -0800

Yeah, this is much more important than his administration destroying the United States. (Okay, that was a bit too snarky, but I guess my patience for fluffy "That's our president!" stories is at a low ebb.)

By: limmer

limmer — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 14:46:29 -0800

Aw man, I feel bad for Bush, all of the phone numbers for his foreign diplomat friends were on that watch.

By: Manjusri

Manjusri — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 14:48:22 -0800

Lupus: I'll agree that the crowd may have been attempting to take the watch, as they do seem a bit aggressive with his forearm. However if you freeze-frame it during the handclasp which occurs after, you can clearly see the watch still on his wrist.

By: buzzman

buzzman — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 15:20:39 -0800

MDMA AERIAL MIST MISSION ACCOMPLISHED.

By: snsranch

snsranch — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 16:26:09 -0800

Did anyone notice that there was a watch "tan line"? He looked pretty disturbed during and right after the "event". He even looks to the ground to see if it fell.

By: jack_mo

jack_mo — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 17:20:02 -0800

dobbs writes "Bush's wrist watch dropped at some point, but it has been confirmed that it was found by the bodyguards who handed it over to Lady Bush later on."' Bush got a knighthood?

By: Manjusri

Manjusri — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 18:14:38 -0800

I took a screenshot of the point where people think the watch is stolen, and the moment afterwards when you can still see it on his hand. It is also the moment when he is looking down, apparently not for his watch. Next up, the grassy knoll...

By: madamjujujive

madamjujujive — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 19:22:35 -0800

Some close ups stills from la Repubblica.

By: Brittanie

Brittanie — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 23:19:42 -0800

I can't get over the fact that the Albanians seem to love him so much. And he's obviously loving the adoration.

By: JBennett

JBennett — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 07:45:34 -0800

I saw another piece of footage on TV this morning that confirms that the watch wasn't stolen. I know, I liked the story better before too. You see a shot from over his left shoulder, and he quickly, brings his hands down, and whips the watch off with his right hand and hands it off to an agent.