At the time, most people thought it was simply more web content. Just something to fill space on a website after editors decided to yank the piece on 13 Signs That You Might Be Breastfeeding Incorrectly. No one suspected the truth about the “latte salute”:
This was no trivial, two-day news blurb. It was the beginning of the end. A week later the President would meet with the leaders of a coalition of nations committed to fighting terrorism. But wedded to his Triple Grande Espresso, the President never let the cup leave his hand. Instead of shaking hands, he started doing what became known as the Triple Shot Fist Bump. The world stared in shock as King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia was covered in scalding coffee and cream. When the President used the king’s robe like one of those restroom towel machines, Americans were aghast.
Things spiraled quickly. Two weeks later in the Oval Office the President knocked over a Big Gulp-sized coffee while secretly adding his name to the Declaration of Independence, ruining the sacred document. Shortly afterwards on a fundraising trip to Colorado he was caught smoking a cigar-sized joint, earning widespread derision and the nickname Commander In Spleef.
This was worse than Nixon. Outraged and shocked at the lack of respect, the nation howled for change. They rose up in protest. And they brought back someone who they knew would respect both America and the troops:
If not for Barney, all would have been lost. Yeah, he needed someone to salute on his behalf. But this little guy understood respect.
(images from HuffPost, Google Images)
I think Barney had it down the best!