"Blitz massage," revisited

The L.A. Times says Merkel "smiled." Riiiiight.

Published July 19, 2006 2:31PM (EDT)

OK, just one more thing about W's doubling as a world-leader bodyworker. Here's how the Los Angeles Times described the incident: "Entering the meeting room, as relayed by a Russian television camera, Bush headed directly behind [German chancellor Angela Merkel], reached out and, placing both hands on the collar of her gold jacket, gave her a short massage just below the neck.

"She smiled."

You've seen the video. If that's a smile -- I mean, a genuine, "Thanks, buddy, I needed that" smile, as opposed to the "OK, that's awkward, but under the circumstances I don't have much choice other than to let it go" smile -- then I am the queen of Romania.


By Lynn Harris

Award-winning journalist Lynn Harris is author of the comic novel "Death by Chick Lit" and co-creator of BreakupGirl.net. She also writes for the New York Times, Glamour, and many others.

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