Yet another bow seen 'round the world.

 

 

The One has done it again. For 230 years, no president of the United States had ever bowed to foreign leaders. Until now. 

Who can forget Obama making a fool of himself bowing before Saudi king Abdullah during the G-20 summit? People were wondering what was up. The Washington Times wrote “Such an act is a traditional obeisance befitting a king’s subjects, not his peers. There is no precedent for U.S. presidents bowing to Saudi or any other royals.” So, why did Obama bow to a Saudi king? The White House and spokesman Robert Gibbs were quick to explain that Obama did not bow, he was just reaching to shake hands…or had dropped something...or his shoelaces were undone….(cue the laugh track)… 

Even the Saudi king had to remark that he didn’t expect Obama to bow before him. 

However, how will the White House spin the latest faux pas by Obama?  While on his recent Far East tour, Obama did it again - bowing to the Japanese Emperor and Empress.  Yet another bow seen 'round the world.  It is becoming quite clear to many of us that the President of the United States is not intent on preserving America’s superpower status in the world.    Obama wants the rest of the world to see America as an equal – not as the greatest country on the face of the earth. By bowing, Obama makes our entire country appear weak or subservient.   Obama should be commanding respect – not bowing before other countries leaders. What's next - a fist bump with Hugo Chavez?

We all know that Obama wants to be liked and accepted abroad.  And that he likes to beat up and diss America when traveling.   He doesn’t realize that how he deals with foreign leaders is very serious business and reflects on our entire country. Either the people he surrounds himself with have little knowledge of proper protocol when meeting other foreign leaders, or Obama and his Administration are too arrogant to care. They will do what they want – in order to be “liked.” If that is indeed the case, and I fear it is, Obama has forgotten that he represents the American people. When Obama bows, our nation bows.

Why does an American president feel the need to destroy American symbolism and America’s stature?

Even the Japanese Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko seemed baffled by Obama’s actions. They didn’t know how to react. Aside from the fact that no American president has ever bowed before them, if Obama knew proper Japanese protocol, he would have realized that he was not supposed to touch either the Emperor or the Empress when bending over. However, while bowing, Obama was shaking Akihito’s hand.    A proper bow involves hands and arms being at ones side. In meeting the Emperor of Japan, Obama blew it on two counts:  feeling the need to bow,  and then bowing incorrectly.

2012 cannot come fast enough. 

Comments

[jmark]

I heard that bowing is a gateway gesture that could lead to romantic gesturing, such as hand-holding or kissing. It's a slippery slope.

http://www.treehugger.com/bush-abdullah-holding-hands.jpg

http://images.chron.com/blogs/txpotomac/Bush%20kisses%20the%20King.jpg

[grumps]

My question to the moderators is, "Are you willing to allow your blog to be used to validate buck's statement?"

[Amy L. Geiger-Hemmer]

What Bush did in a informal setting (his Texas ranch) when greeting the Saudi king was considered proper protocol when meeting - according to Saudi customs.

Please do not try to make false comparisons between a casual encounter on a ranch - where proper protocol was adhered to - to Barack Obama almost kissing the floor when meeting the Japanese Emperor.

[Steve T.]

While I don’t agree with Buck’s comment, it is his comment! I find the N word offensive even when blacks use it! But no more offensive grumps, then the left calling us teabaggers!

[Amy L. Geiger-Hemmer]

Buck's comment will be removed. Even though our blog site doesn't have "blog moderators," I have contacted the powers that be directly and asked for Bucks remark, as well as jmark's sexually offensive remarks to be taken down.

[jmark]

When in Rome do as the Romans do. When in Saudi Arabia do as the Saudis do. When in Texas do as the Texans do. I don't have my how-to-be-a-proper-Texan handbook in front of me, but I can assure you that hand-holding and kissing among men is not customary in Texas.

"I have expressed my disgust many times over the years with the Bush administration’s kowtowing to Saudi Arabia. That notorious image of Bush holding hands with Saudi royalty in 2005 and doing sword dances with Wahabbists in 2008 sparked outrage on both the left and the right. The hand-holding has gotten us nowhere — and in fact, has made us less secure."
Michelle Malkin

Whether you agree with her or not it's refreshing to see that someone on the right has the courage to criticize one of their own.

I apologize in advance if this posting has in any way offended anyone's politically correct sensibilities.

[jmark]

Is everyone at this site strung a little tight or what? Teabagger was one of the finalists for the New Oxford American Dictionary's 2009 Word of the Year.

Goddamn America! Lighten up.

[Amy L. Geiger-Hemmer]

I, too, have criticized Bush in the past, jmark. And if you were honest, you'd admit it, since you seem to follow my blogs all over the place. Can't get enough of 'em, I guess.
I don't agree that Bush should have respected Saudi customs when greeting Saudi royalty at his ranch. However, there are big differences between Obama and Bush.
First off - and it's a biggie - most Americans have no doubt that Bush loves America. Many Americans cannot say the same about Barack Obama.
Secondly, Bush didn't repeatedly bash America at every opportunity. Obama does. He criticizes his own country and apologizes whenever speaking abroad.
Third, Bush respected Saudi customs in an informal setting - his ranch. Obama has bowed to the Saudi's and Japanese Emperor at summits and world stages - where other foreign leaders are present. And atleast Bush knows foreign protocol. Obama doesn't - he has demonstrated such twice now.
Fourth, Obama's bows are suspect because of how many Americans perceive The One feels about his own country. Does he not want to keep America a superpower? Or is he intentionally trying to lower America's status in the world?
I think those are all valid points and that any comparison to Bush and Obama when it comes to greeting foreign leaders is suspect when one looks at the values and beliefs of each man.

And no, jmark, not everyone on this site is strung too tight. It is just that many of your sexually offensive comments are rather creepy and disturbing. Your original comment that has been removed had nothing to do with the offensive term of "teabagging," either. Try keeping it clean, I know it is hard for someone like yourself, but most of us don't need dirty words or sexual innuendo to make a point.

[jmark]

teabagger - a person who protests President Obama's tax policies and stimulus package, often through local demonstrations known as "Tea Party" protests (in allusion to the Boston Tea Party of 1773

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/unfriend-named-new-oxford-american-dictionarys-2009-word-of-the-year-70201607.html

Speaking of creepy and disturbing.

"Democrats will bend over, grab the ankles, and say, ‘Have your way with me."

"Jake Tapper is the one guy that's outside of the butt boy bubble in the White House press room."

"I may be wrong ... Lindsey Graham is certainly close enough to [McCain] to die of anal poisoning."

Limbaugh's anal obsessive screeds are broadcast on the public airwaves to how many millions daily? And his fan base keeps growing, which suggests to me that conservatives can't get enough of sexual innuendo.

And you have the nerve to lecture me for suggesting Bush may have been aroused?

Grow up!

[jmark]

"Political correctness is dangerous to America on many different levels. It has become a way to limit free speech and label those who disagree with you as not being worthy of consideration. Left unabated, free speech as we know it will cease to exist."

The conservative handbook
Chapter 16

[Amy L. Geiger-Hemmer]

C'mon jmark. Most of us know the sexual implication behind the term "teabagging." Try to sugarcoat it if you must, but it won't pass the smell test.

I am not talking about Rush Limbaugh's comments to my own blog. I was pointing out that several of your comments to this site and my other one at livinglakecountry.com have used sexually offensive terms and remarks. I have had some removed, as the screeners also found them offensive.

Limbaugh has a radio show. If his "moderators" don't like what he says, they can censor him or take him off the air.

I have two blogs. If the comments that come my way are creepy and sexually offensive, I can get them taken down. They are inappropriate. Why not try acting mature and arguing or presenting your side without using foul language or sexually strange or offensive comments? Is that too difficult for you?

[jmark]

Sounds like you're speaking from first hand experience. Is it more palatable if it's sugarcoated?

You know what's really disturbing? The fact that you're practicing the very same political correctness that you, pretentious defender of free speech, frequently rail against. Now that you've exercised your power as captain of the PC Police, everyone who posts at The Right View must be ever vigilant of the possibility of offending the queen.

Pathetic.

[jmark]

One more thing. I wouldn't be surprised if the Limabaugh show receives dozens if not hundreds of complaints daily from listeners who find his politically incorrect and sexual innuendo laced rantings offensive. The difference between there and here is that the Limbaugh moderators don't bend over and grab their ankles for every whiny listener who claims to be offended. They realize that although many will find Limbaugh offensive, no one is forcing them to tune in and listen. Just like no one is forcing you to visit this site and read what is written.

[buck]

Thank you jmark, Damn Straight.

[jmark]

By golly it is! It's the same Katha Pollitt who, in her "Put Out No Flags" essay, quotes the always starved for attention MAnn Coulter:

"We should invade their countries, kill their leaders, and convert them to Christianity."

Spoken like a true conservative Christian.

In the mean time, Palin denigrates the flag by using it as a prop to sell her brand of patriotic porn.

[Amy L. Geiger-Hemmer]

A different interpretation has been circulating among some of my conservative friends that I thought I'd share here. They believe that Obama is intentionally ignoring proper protocol when meeting foreign leaders. He WANTS the United States to look bad. He WANTS to embarrass the United States, and in doing so, convince other countries that we are no better than anyone else. No better than a Cuba or Venezuela....
Interesting, huh? Maybe there is a method to his madness. If so, Obama is truly disgusting.

[jmark]

Well, if your conservative friends really believe that nonsense then you should replace them with people who have the capacity to reason.

That's the kind of advice my conservative mother would give me if I were in such a predicament.

[Amy L. Geiger-Hemmer]

jmark: And if your liberal friends really believe that Bush and Cheney blew up the Twin Towers, maybe you should replace them with people who have the capacity to reason...

[grumps]

Amy, it may surprise you to know that I don't know a single person who believes that the 9/11 horror was an inside job. That's just an overbroad generalization made by someone who wants to feel better about themself.

Also, it may surprise you to know that sugarcoating teabagging doesn't help it to pass the smell test, as you say. If the organizers had thought their plan through just the tiniest bit before they declared their intent to teabag Obama some of this could have been avoided. The organizers chose their imagery poorly and you wind up being offended by it. I'd apologize on behalf of Liberals everywhere but, at least this time, we didn't do it.

[Amy L. Geiger-Hemmer]

grumps: Then it must surprise you that very few people actually believe that Obama is NOT a United States citizen, either....yet the liberal media wants to keep perpetuating the notion that those crazy conservatives think such a thing. Yet, you know what, grumps? I don't know a single person who believes that Obama is NOT a United States citizen! Funny how that works...
And I have no clue what you mean about "teabagging?" Are you saying that the people who protest against higher taxes, bigger government, and socialism WANT to be called the sexually-offensive term of "teabaggers" by the outraged libs and media? I don't understand your statement: "they declared their intent to teabag Obama?" Is "teabag" a verb now? Please clear up the confusion....