Bush in Beijing

Unsurprisingly folk are having fun with the photographs taken when George W Bush called upon the US women’s beach volleyball team in Beijing. My complaint is rather different however. Consider this AFP photo:

I imagine the cropping does the President few favours, but it’s unfortunate that he should look rather like Grandpa Simpson. That’s not the real crime however. What on earth is he wearing on his head? That sort of visor may be acceptable for a seven-year old playing mini-golf but it’s out of bounds to anyone above the age of, I’d say, nine. The only thing that could make it worse – or more complete – would be if he were also wearing the ghastly shorts adult American men appear to think it seemly to sport in public. Thank heavens for small mercies, I suppose. But it remains a mystery why American pensioners feel the need to dress as children in public…