Philippine President Gloria Arroyo was at the White House today seeking aid for her nation, battered by a devastating typhoon and a tragic ferry disaster. During some joint comments outside the Oval Office in which proposed US aid was to be announced, Arroyo politely sat through President Bush’s latest gaffe.

“I want to tell you how proud I am to be the president of a nation that – in which there’s a lot of Philippine Americans. (gotta love that grammar… and redundancy… as opposed to Philippine-Germans? Philippine-Italians?) They love America and they love their heritage. I am reminded of the great talent of the – of our Philippine Americans when I eat dinner at the White House… And the chef (The White House chef, Cristeta Comerford is Filipina) is a great person and a really good cook, by the way, Madam President.”

Arroyo then graciously thanked our buffoon in chief for his “compliment…”

Yup… he said that…

The best way he can think to complement the heritage and talents of the people of the Phillipines is to let the visiting President of that country know that he likes his Filipina chef’s cooking…

When the Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert visits, I wonder if Bush jokes of how he is reminded of our great Jewish Americans every time he buys something wholesale… “Ehud, they really cut me a great deal… maybe they could make some heads or tails of this crashing economy… they are good with money, right?”

Or to French President Sarkozy: “Hey Nicky… Did I ever tell you how much I like those French fried taters?”

Or to the Mexican Prime Minister Felipe Calderon: “I am reminded of how hard working and dutiful our great Mexican-Americans are every time I play golf… they do such a great job keeping the greens speedy…”

Or to the NAACP: “I am reminded of the great heritage of our African-Americans every time I see how shiny my shoes are…”

I could go on and on and ON…

Am I stretching here?

Maybe…

Maybe not…

My point is that this is a man who can’t take anything seriously… regardless of its gravity… he is uncomfortable with the solemn and the earnest… therefore he turns every thing into a chucklefest…

Mr. Bush, you are the President of the United States, not Phi Beta Kappa… sometimes you need to behave in a restrained and adult manner… You are holding court with the leader of another nation… a nation that has just experienced dual tragedies, with uncounted dead still floating in the water… a nation humbly asking for our assistance… you don’t begin giving a solemn statement of aid by complimenting a fellow leader’s country based upon how good the peanut butter and banana sandwiches are…

This man does not understand that being the leader of the free world means that one must carry himself with dignity and repose… If he had told Prime Minister Arroyo about his appreciation of the White House cook in a private and off-the-record discussion that would have been an altogether different beast… but to attempt to bring lighthearted banter into what could be best described as a somber press briefing is just plain inappropriate…

I’m not even sure his inane ramblings can be attributed to rich boy arrogance anymore… just stunning ignorance… he honestly doesn’t know any better…

And this isn’t the first time… there are countless other gaffes…

This is the man who tried to give German Chancellor Angela Merkel an unwelcome back rub… this is the man who said “Awesome speech your holiness” to the Pope… this is the man who said “Heckuva job, Brownie”… this is the man who said “Wait a minute. What did you just say? You’re predicting $4-a-gallon gas? That’s interesting. I hadn’t heard that.” in February 2008…

Can we please put this dangerous, embarrassing frat boy out to pasture ahead of schedule? Every time I think it can’t possibly get much worse, he tops himself… I’m begging here… Is there anything in the Constitution… some kind of “Mercy Rule” that would rid us of this national humiliation?

Just think of how good it will feel once the pain stops…