I bet every adult in that crowd received a nice crisp $10 bill, more money than they would see in several months.

So Bush, poor beleaguered bashful Bush finally had his Clinton moment. And it couldn’t have been more perfect.

He didn’t have to speak. No-one would understand him anyway. And the few who may have spoken English would have heard his response coming back sounding much like them.

The Secret Service guys didn’t have to frantically jump out of their cars and scatter in all directions trying to stop traffic or people, or block a building entrance when the president [without notice] suddenly jumped out of the car, as Clinton so often does.

There was no need to try and anticipate the unanticipated, because everything was very carefully pre-expected.
And then that damn watch got pilfered!
Oh that was so NOT supposed to happen!

Suddenly all those Secret Service guys were little more than windowdressing.

Besides, it’s not nice to rain on Bush’s Clinton moment.

But then, there was the report of Gypsy’s putting money in his pocket!
Go figure!

OK ...

In Gypsy mythology giving something of value to the Ogre, or the meanest, baddest guy around was always favored over giving something to someone who already had everything. Better to protect your safety in passage, than to gain favor from someone who’s not going anywhere. Then there’s the mythology that say’s a curse can be placed on an object, particularly an object seen as valuable by the intended recipient of the curse, and the object.

Also,

‘Tis that time of year when Roma [Gypsy’s] both Christian Orthodox and Muslim celebrate Đurđevdan the feast of Saint George, guaranteeing a fruitful new season. ‘Please dear George, we don’t want a repeat of Nazi Germany’s Gypsy Genocide. Or the purges we suffered under Communism either, thank you very much.’

And then there’s the other George, George Kastrioti Skenderbeu, [Gjergj Kastrioti Skënderbeu] remembered for his struggle against the Ottoman Empire. ‘Here’s a guy named George. Maybe we better let him know we appreciate him.’

Or, maybe it was just payment for the watch.
‘Sorry George, but we need something from you to protect ourselves against you.’

Or maybe the Official White House Office of Propaganda and Mythology suggested a Gypsy give the president some money. ‘That will be seen as a recognition of a higher spiritual plain, or bowing to a greater power.’

Or maybe it was a common pick-pocket seeing the perfect opportunity.
And a local giving a tourist a few native coins.
Lots of travelers know, those things happen every day.

That Bush is welcomed as a hero in the most backward, flea-ridden country in Europe says it all.