Snopes just confirmed that this is an authentic photo of a note written by President Bush “to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice during a Security Council meeting at the 2005 World Summit and 60th General Assembly of the United Nations in New York September 14, 2005.” Apparently the photo’s been causing something of a stir because of the content of the note:
I think I may need a bathroom break? Is this possible…
While it’s an admittedly easy opportunity to snicker at our dearly beloved führer president, I think people have been interpreting this incorrectly.
President Bush wasn’t checking to make sure he could wander out to the restroom without offending anyone.
The real story is that he wasn’t sure. He didn’t say that he needed a break — he said that he thought he might need a bathroom break. He then followed that up by musing as to whether it was even possible that he’d need a bathroom break.
Weird, weird man.
“ToriMix v1” by Amos, Tori from the album Difficult Listening Hour (2000, 45:31).
What you and many others fail to note here is that the first 4 lines of handwriting are in print, and a different style than that the President is writing in cursive.
Condi, who was sitting with Bush, had intiated the note. What’s seen here is him writing the reply to her.