Most people have heard about this by now. Our indefatigable President was caught unawares by a live microphone that broadcasted a chat between him and Prime Minister Blair.What bothers me more than Bush cursing is Bush splitting. The New York Times reports that Bush was in a hurry and desperate to leave.

At another moment, Mr. Bush was clearly itching to return to the White House, saying to someone, “Good job, gotta keep this thing moving — I gotta’ leave at 2:15 — you’ll want me out of town so to free up your security forces.’’ .“Gotta go home. Got something to do tonight,” Mr. Bush said, then, apparently turning to Mr. Hu, adding, “How about you? When are you going home?”

Isn’t an itch to get a meeting over with the worst possible thing to do in diplomacy? Why would a nation’s president rush diplomatic talks on any and every subject with the leaders of the most powerful nations in the world? And of all times, when the Middle East is in turmoil?