Bush to Abramoff: 'What are you benching, buff guy?'

[quaoar]

The following story has been moved by AP. Can't find it on the Web yet, so I'll have to post a link later.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff says President Bush knew him well enough to joke with him about weightlifting. “What are you benching, buff guy?” Abramoff said Bush asked him.

The president has said he doesn’t know Abramoff.

Abramoff said he finds it hard to believe Bush doesn’t remember the 10 or so photos he and members of his family had snapped with the president and first lady.

“He (Bush) has one of the best memories of any politician I have ever met,” Abramoff wrote in an e-mail, according to Vanity Fair’s April issue being released this week. “Perhaps he has forgotten everything. Who knows?”

[quaoar]

1. Here's more on what Abramoff said to Vanity Fair

http://thinkprogress.org/2006/03/08/abramoff-vanity-fair/

On President Bush:

President Bush, who claims not to remember having his picture taken with Abramoff. According to Abramoff, at one time, the president joked with Abramoff about his weight lifting past: “What are you benching, buff guy?”

On former Rove deputy Ken Mehlman:

According to documents obtained by Vanity Fair, Mehlman exchanged e-mail with Abramoff, and did him political favors (such as preventing Clinton administration alumnus Allen Stayman from keeping a State Department job), had Sabbath dinner at Abramoff’s house, and offered to pick up Abramoff’s tab at Signatures, Abramoff’s own restaurant.

On Rep. Tom DeLay (R-TX):

Abramoff has “admired Tom DeLay and his family from the first meeting with him,” he tells Margolick. “We would sit and talk about the Bible. We would sit and talk about opera. We would sit and talk about golf,” Abramoff recalls. “I mean, we talked about philosophy and politics.”

On Newt Gingrich:

Newt Gingrich, whose spokesman Rick Tyler tells Margolick that “Before picture appeared on TV and in the newspapers, Newt wouldn’t have known him if he fell across him. He hadn’t seen him in 10 years.” A rankled Abramoff says “I have more pictures of than I have of my wife.”

[elehhhhna]

2. Bush is such a dipshit. I SOOOO Believe that quote.

You KNOW he said it.

[Gidney N Cloyd]

4. That 'bench' line's right out of Boogie Nights.

[quaoar]

5. Must be where Bush got it from

He probably thought he was being hip.

[BurgherHoldtheLies]

3. Even gay guys don't talk that gay.

Sheesh.:eyes:

[Doctor_J]

6. This calls for a photoshop!

one of you duartists, get at it!

[quaoar]

7. OK, here's a link to the AP story

http://www.forbes.com/home/feeds/ap/2006/03/08/ap2580949.html

[Botany]

8. and w/ that I am off to the Gym ...

.... but I am a straight man .... I wonder if, "What are you benching buff babe?"
will work? :rofl:

Seems to that Jack does not want to go down by himself? Pun intended.

[DavidDvorkin]

9. "Bound to be more than you,

Fake buff guy."