By There is a lot of buzz on the Internet right now about President Obama’s latest bow to royalty:
How low will the new American president go for the world’s royalty?
This photo will get Democrat President Obama a lot of approving nods in Japan this weekend, especially among the older generation of Japanese who still pay attention to the royal family living in its downtown castle. Very low bows like this are a sign of great respect and deference to a superior.
To some in the United States, however, an upright handshake might have looked better. (See Cheney-Akihito photo, right).
Remember Michelle Obama casually patting Britain’s Queen Elizabeth on the back during their Buckingham Palace visit? America’s royalty tends to make movies and get bad reviews and lots of money as a sign of respect.
Obama could receive some frowns back home as he did for his not-quite-this-low-or-maybe-about-the-same-bow to the Saudi king not so long ago. [LA Times Blog]
This may be causing a lot of Internet buzz, but I could care less. The Emperor Japan seems to be a swell enough person and Obama is obviously trying to score points with the Japanese public. Maybe he thinks his force of personality by being popular with the Japanese public will help get the base deal pushed through on Okinawa? I guess we will see what happens.
My bet is that the Japanese government will follow the Roh Moo-hyun route and agree to a base deal and then make life as difficult as possible for the US military to appease their leftist base.
12:58 pm on November 14th, 2009 1
Very low bows, such as the one given is a sign of great respect and subsurvience. Especially from one of lower status. I think Obama speaks for himself. (Oops, did I say that?).
3:17 pm on November 14th, 2009 2
Love the bow or hate it, it's still better than vomiting on him:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_H._W._Bush_vo…
3:32 pm on November 14th, 2009 3
To see how President Barack Hussien Obama compares to others in the world see http://hotairpundit.blogspot.com/2009/11/presiden….
5:32 pm on November 14th, 2009 4
>>Love the bow or hate it, it’s still better than vomiting on him:
There's no comparison. People vomit involuntarily when they are sick. Obama made a voluntary decision to break protocol and bow subserviently to the Japanese emperor and the King of Saudi Arabia. But he didn't bow at all to the Queen of England. What's up with that, eh?
6:25 pm on November 14th, 2009 5
I feel bad for the Secret Service guys who have to travel with this clown. They have to watch this guy do this crap, knowing so many of us criticize their principle.
If I would never bow to any person, why would BO? As Gerry says "subservience".
Upon meeting UBL, would BO drop to his knees and greet he with pursed lips?
6:33 pm on November 14th, 2009 6
To hell with what the founding fathers of the United States wrote!
To me a King or Queen is just some rich dude who lays claim to a bunch of land and then lets poor people live on it?
If you believe a K or Q is appointed by God you are a complete idiot and you deserve your place as a dependent of society.
9:15 pm on November 14th, 2009 7
Well – David was.
3:14 am on November 15th, 2009 8
Bowing happens all the time in interactions between American military leaders and Japanese. Its expected, and I've never heard of anyone saying that bowing to a Japanese somehow made the leader less of a leader.
I got to meet Koizumi once and you can bet I bowed at the time-but not quite as low as Obama. ( true story, it was after he had left office as Prime Minister).
3:20 am on November 15th, 2009 9
Suuuurrreeee he was. By the way I can get you some great ocean front property in Arizona and of you buy that, I'll throw the Golden Gate in for free.
3:27 am on November 15th, 2009 10
Why, I see the king of japan, the king of saudi arabia, and the queen of england bowing aaaaaaaaaaalllllllllllllll the time.
Are you on drugs?
When you bowed, did you notice koizumi's zipper undone? Because when you bow, you are essentially getting your mouth as close as you can to the man's zipper.
Just look at your muslim leader B. Hussain O'bama getting close to that guys zipper zone. I would imagine you only see that at a gay rights parade.
4:05 am on November 15th, 2009 11
When GM was trying to acquire Daewoo Motors they faced hard resistance from Korean society.
To soften the Korean’s hearths they put an advertisement in the papers showing a westerner in Korean custom bowing down, like Koreans do in their ancestry rituals. It worked wonderfully and GM took control of Daewoo Motors. Obama is just repeating the same marketing strategy.
This guy is a marketing master. He even got a Novel prize for free just doing what he does well, which is looking like a nice guy everybody would invite for a dinner at home.
ATEK needs a man like him.
5:15 am on November 15th, 2009 12
Dr. Yu that is funny.
6:21 am on November 15th, 2009 13
"ATEK needs a man like him."
Naw… as a half-white male, he doesn't meet the requirements to be an ATEK "Women and Minorities Status Coordinator".
ATEK needs to curl up and die so it can be replaced by something less intentionally sexist and less openly racist.
Any organization, be they Nazis or ATEK, which promotes favored treatement based on sex or race has my active anti-support.
9:54 am on November 15th, 2009 14
A US military officer is not a head of state, so bowing is appropriate. A head of state does not bow unilaterally to another head of state, regardless of title.
11:15 am on November 15th, 2009 15
Bowing is a sign of respect, but also a sign of position. Equals bow the same level, subordinates bow deeply, while the superior bows slightly.
Obamas deep bow may have been very respectful in his mind, but he also made a fool of himself as a inferior, or at very least as one who does not truely understand its meaning. Not very wise for a leader of state.
11:33 am on November 15th, 2009 16
Hi,
I am from Africa and lived in Japan for 13 years. I tried to keep my tradition of handshaking without bowing to equals. Of course after such a long time, I naturally starting bowing (moving my head up-down) never my hip down or genuflection, simply because the Japanese tend to forgive a foreigner for NOT bowing to a CEO, elder assuming that is not our culture, or my be just stupid foreigners who never learn properly the Japanese way of properly greeting a superior.
I like the US president, but this one is big mistake. In this situation, Barack clearly showed that he is lower than the emperor of Japan. In diplomacy at least (in french diplomatic manual) it says:
The standard protocol calls on the subject only the deference due to the peer leaders of sovereign.
Therefore, a head of state is an equal to an Emperor, King, Queen, president etc. and no way should he bow. I have got to meet few African president in Japan, at least two of them did not bow: Abdou Diouf former president of the republic of Senegal and Omar Bongo a dictaor who stayed in power in Gabon for 40 years did not bow to the emperor I was invited at the party by the embassador of Gabon in Tokyo but president Bongo did not bow.
THIS ONE IS A BIG DIPLOMATIC FAILURE ON THE PART OF THE AMERICAN!
11:51 am on November 15th, 2009 17
I agree, it did not gain him any 'respect' as one who is showing "deep repect" to the Japanese. It showed him as one who does not understand the protacol of leaders of nations. At worst the comedy of a kiss ass fool.
12:03 pm on November 15th, 2009 18
I am surprised that the chief protocol did not advise on the way to greet an emperor is in no way different from greeting an African president, European president, a middle-east king, or a Japanese emperor.
Now Look at the meeting with Hoo Jin-Tao, if Barack bows there too, this is the end of the American supremacy, that I so dream to be part of!!!
12:24 pm on November 15th, 2009 19
I suspect the 'Chief of Protocol' did his or her job and briefed the president accordingly. My guess, it had to have been a personal decision of Obama to present himself and his country to the Emporor of Japan as such.
I agree with you that it could be very well thought of by other nations as a falling America. That the US has become so callus as to present themselves as servants to the world.
On the other hand, don't hold your breath that this is the end of the American supremacy that you so dream to be part of. I suspect it will be a blip on history and you will be long dead before you see your dreams come true.
2:53 pm on November 15th, 2009 20
Well, I hope the brains and resolve of the brave Americans will show the world a different perspective, if NOT at my time, the time of my children!
4:54 pm on November 15th, 2009 21
All he did was bow…big deal. Everyone hated Bush in foreign contries because he worried about retarded stuff like this. Obama is liked by other contries like Clinton was and after all… our President is no more than a diplomat.
8:55 pm on November 15th, 2009 22
Carter was a sincere guy who bowed and scraped to other world leaders with the hopes that, by showing kindness and respect, they would reciprocate and the world would live in peace.
We all know how that worked out.
It took Regan's cowboy act, backed up by the will to give a good ass-kicking, to make Americans proud again, destroy the Evil Empire and kick-start the economy.
Obama needs to go back and read his Machiavelli.
"…anyone compelled to choose will find greater security in being feared than in being loved."
Being that many world leaders got/stayed in their positions by being iron-willed hard-assses ruthlessly taking advantage of any situation, Obama's bowing and scraping is probably more harmful than good… by impressing a few aged Japanese, he shows weakness to people well-stocked with Katyusha rocket.
…unless he is just being toady in hopes of getting Saudi and Japan to please, Please, PLEASE buy more Treasury Bonds, please? Pretty please?
If one can understand why these guys got bows yet the Queen of England, one of our longest and closest allies, got only a pat on the back, one will have a better understanding of the Obama administration.
All-in-all, it was bad form… meaning that it made the wrong impression on fellow Americans and enemies of America more strongly than it made a good impression on a couple of experienced and long-term leaders who have been immersed in the culture of political maneuvering and national leadership since before Obama was born… meaning, down deep inside, they are unimpressed.
10:38 pm on November 15th, 2009 23
He is no more than a diplomat you say… Hmmm
Pretty heavy comment, that.
10:41 pm on November 15th, 2009 24
In your dreams, sweet pea. In your dreams.
There are plenty of us out there who will continue to keep us on top. Whether you like it or not, if you are even "moderately free", it's because the USA is that light in the world.
Once that light goes out, I shudder to think of what would happen…
12:29 am on November 16th, 2009 25
It was a bow and only Americans worry about this crap. The U.S. is the strongest nation on earth but some of you act insecure with that. Maybe Americans look at themselves as being weaker than than the rest of the world looks at us. I for one am not worried about Obama bowing I think it only bothers the insecure Americans…
12:45 am on November 16th, 2009 26
In that case Dumb, you may feel free to bow to me.
I promise not to think less of you. I always respect those who bow to me.
12:48 am on November 16th, 2009 27
We are the strongest- for now.
How do you think we got that way- and stay that way? By apologising for our strength- and for the rough men who stand ready to "..bear any burden.."?
12:50 am on November 16th, 2009 28
Dumb,
In the diplomatic world. The rule is a head of state should NOT bow to a pear Head of state. the proper sentence in French is: La norme protocolaire en matière de diplomatie préconise seulement la déférence due à des pairs chefs d’Etat souverains en reciprocité.
The standard protocol in diplomacy advocates only the deference due to the peer leaders of sovereign states in reciprocity.
I don't see anything insecure! The reason for this is simple it is to avoid small and weak head of state be treated as lower than the superpowers.
Barack should NOT have bowed he is an equal because he represents a country NOT himself!
1:46 am on November 16th, 2009 29
Great point,
The US should not be liked, but liked and feared!
4:18 am on November 16th, 2009 30
Chick, I anti-support them too
4:21 am on November 16th, 2009 31
Thanks GI, but I think ATEK guys won't agree with you
5:22 am on November 16th, 2009 32
"It was a bow and only Americans worry about this crap. The U.S. is the strongest nation on earth but some of you act insecure with that. Maybe Americans look at themselves as being weaker than than the rest of the world looks at us. I for one am not worried about Obama bowing I think it only bothers the insecure Americans…"
Uh-huh…
Needless bowing doesn't make you appear weak…
…like sucking a diick doesn't make you appear gay.
9:12 am on November 16th, 2009 33
Well Chickenhead, you are probably the most insecure person posting on this blog. You attack people when they have a different point of view than you do because you believe you have it all figured out. Obama was not the first president to bow to a Japanese leader, I will leave it up to you to find out who the other President was. Obama didn't bow correctly, he shouldn't of shook his hand when he bowed but the effort was there even though it looked akward.
Are you a teenager chickenhead or an adult? Why do you always make reference to being gay in your posts? Is it to make people think you are witty? Grow up dude, stop being the typical stereotype American in Korea who has an overblown self portrait of himself. I bet you are either a GS or Contractor, middle aged who has been in Korea for a long time…if not, you act like you fit that group.
9:58 am on November 16th, 2009 34
A little over sensitive on the "gay issue"? Maby?
Do you know the differience between a Tea Party
and Teabagging? Obama still hasn't figured that out.
10:25 am on November 16th, 2009 35
I agree and disagree with you on you comments.
I disagree that the bow was OK, it wasn't but I agree that sensitive Americans will worry about something that isn't that big of a deal.
I agree with you on the Chickenhead comments, what a tool this guy is. I don't think he was being sensitive Retired GI, I think he was saying the dude makes reference to gay sh!t to try to be funny. Chickenhead is obviously a loser who tries to communicate with anyone that will listen through this blog.
11:07 am on November 16th, 2009 36
O'bama is a mUslim – He didn't bow to the Queen of England because she is a woman and there is no way in hell a mUslim would never bow to a woman. O'bama is thumbing his nose at the people of the US. If you can't figure that out you are just plain D.U.M.B. dumb!
Go ahead O'bama, make all the concessions you can put the U.S. so far into debt the $ becomes weaker than any point in history while the Saudi's and Chinese buy all the property in the U.S.A. they can.
11:25 am on November 16th, 2009 37
Yes, and if not the US then the Chinese or Muslim world will show your children a new world. Lots to look forward to.
11:28 am on November 16th, 2009 38
This is just another weak attack line used by the right who is stratching at the bottom of the barrel for ammunition. No big deal at all… Nixon did it, Eisenhower did it and Bush kissed the Saudi Prince. No one cares, so stop using this issue as a springboard for venting.
GI- Lemmy's out of line.
11:33 am on November 16th, 2009 39
Protocal officers abound in the diplomatic world. In particulair the White House. So this must have been a premeditated course of action.
A big deal? Meh, maybe not. But maybe so, as an indication as how he believes the US should present itself to the world under his administration.
It certainly would appease many liberal voters who believe the US is guilty of every crime in the world back to the time of its discovery.
Please don't be a smart ass and say 'isn't it?'. The answer is just the opposite.
11:45 am on November 16th, 2009 40
"It was a bow and only Americans worry about this crap. The U.S. is the strongest nation on earth but some of you act insecure with that"
Perhaps because of the fact that he has cut military spending by 10% since he took office, while a major war in Afganistan is growing and one in Iraq is coming to an end.
Perhaps because his administration has spent a 'trillion' dollars' and is thinking about a second stimulus to help business. Where did the first trillion go, and who did it help?
The people of the US are rapidly losing faith in his leadership and sense of priorities.
11:47 am on November 16th, 2009 41
Respected is a better word. The US need not be feared nor disliked.
12:02 pm on November 16th, 2009 42
"Weak attack line used by the right?" Seems much more like an honest discussion of peoples different points of view, to me.
"No one cares, so stop using this issue as a springboard for venting." Sounds like 'shut up' to me.
Nah, "THE EXPAT", I'm going to continue to express my opinion. You don't like it, fine. I don't like labels, but if voting against your kind puts me against people like you, then thats how I will vote.
12:05 pm on November 16th, 2009 43
Lemmy falls in the same catagory as Chickenhead…
12:16 pm on November 16th, 2009 44
Well, he can't do any worse than Bush. Problem with your opinion Gerry is that it sucks. I don't know what you mean by "voting against your kind" but I doubt that Gerry's kind is any better. If your posts are any indication of the real person then you, Lemmy and Chickenhead are such losers in life…it is pathetic.
1:30 pm on November 16th, 2009 45
People like me? You mean people who don't use the exact same phrasing at 'Fox and Friends' or people who aren't over-the-hill and pathetically clinging to a distored idea of Reagan's glory days.
2:39 pm on November 16th, 2009 46
When you have nothing to say, the message always seems to be 'shut up'. You attack the message, yet have nothing to say except to attack the messenger.
What you are is a thug on the internet who would like to bully others to what they say and how they say it.
Is my kind any better? I would hope so. I don't spend time trying to bully others into what I think. I make my case and listen to others and their opinions. Often I make a statement just to be part of the conversation because I want to hear what others have to say.
But I do not practice thuggery on the internet by demeaning others and what they have to say.
So, I will continue to vote against the type of person who would denigrate and deminish those who have ideas and opinions different than mine.
3:06 pm on November 16th, 2009 47
Not a problem. I spent two years in Japan and can speak Japanese. A little over two years in Taiwan and know some Chinese, a year in Vietnam where I was mortored, rocketed, shot at and learned a few words in Vietnamese. Spent two years in Korea where I got married, (much of it on the DMZ with a DASS unit, setting up GP medium tents, communications, and working in -20 deg weather.) four years in Germany, doing satellite tracking, where I visited France(Paris twice), England, Austria, Switzerland, Netherlands, Belgium, Leichenstein, Italy, Spain (Madrid and Torrimelinos), and Egypt. Spent a year at Shemya Alaska, supporting the Cobra Dane.( you do know what that is ?Right?)
"Fox and Friends"? Seems like you know more about them than I do. I cut off the cable TV two years ago as there was nothing to watch, and get 'all' my news through the internet.
Please give me your resume of world travel and life experiences and why you think you are better qualified to tell me I am 'over the hill, clinging to a distorted idea of Reagans glory days.
I am very interested in what life has shown you so far. Please give all of us your qualifications.
3:10 pm on November 16th, 2009 48
Respect to you Gerry, thanks for your service.
3:37 pm on November 16th, 2009 49
Christ! What does his service or travel have to do with a damn thing? Nothing. He's making absurd comments about Muslims and Chinese people taking over the world in response to Obama doing the same thing that many other leaders have done.
The world is not as paranoid as the American right. This bow, just like any other, is not worth thinking twice about.
4:15 pm on November 16th, 2009 50
Agree the bow is not worth thinking about. In a pole I just read on MSN it was about split even on for and against the bow, not many had no opinion. The way he did the bow was wrong in Japanese customs but I think the intent of the bow was understood by the Japanese people. I also read that the news channels in Japan were showing him doing the same thing but at a different time in their meeting that was done the way it should be done…no hand shake… Japan and the U.S. are allies and the U.S. should give the appearence of equality which I think Obama did well.
5:24 pm on November 16th, 2009 51
Dumb,
"Well Chickenhead, you are probably the most insecure person posting on this blog."
Uh…uh… am not! My mommy told me I'm special!
"You attack people when they have a different point of view than you do because you believe you have it all figured out."
No. I attack people with different points of view when I believe them to be wrong… and, in almost every case, they make absolutely no defense of their point of view… generally confirming that I DO have it all figured out and they do not.
…but they usually excel at personal attacks.
"Obama was not the first president to bow to a Japanese leader, I will leave it up to you to find out who the other President was."
Ohhhh… let's play Guess That President… it will delay getting around to discussing the issue.
Well, Nixon's bow must make Obama's bow correct then, right? When we discuss Nixon, I will voice my opinion… until then, Obama is the topic.
"Obama didn’t bow correctly, he shouldn’t of shook his hand when he bowed but the effort was there even though it looked akward."
Looks awkward, is awkward. This was not a bow of acknowledgment and respect between two equals (dare I say as Nixon did?). This was a bow of subservience which screamed of political/diplomatic inexperience. It didn't impress the Japanese, it irritated our allies and it comforted our enemies.
"Are you a teenager chickenhead or an adult?"
So, like, this one guy, you know, like, accused me of, like, being a teenager and all, and I, like, said to him, am not, 'cause he, like, was all rude and stuff.
"Why do you always make reference to being gay in your posts?"
That's not true… in fact, that statement is as wrong as two oiled-down twiink boys in asssless rubber shorts fondling each other in a tub of Crisco while watching a Freddy Mercury video.
"Is it to make people think you are witty?"
Perhaps in the same way your whiny personal attack makes people think you are sensitive.
"Grow up dude,"
O.K. Then can I be a fireman?
"stop being the typical stereotype American in Korea who has an overblown self portrait of himself."
I had an overblown self portrait of myself since before I came to Korea… and, funny thing is, life has given me constant positive reinforcement for this behavior. What's your excuse?
"I bet you are either a GS or Contractor, middle aged who has been in Korea for a long time…if not, you act like you fit that group."
I'll see your bet and raise you a "you are a whiny in-the-closet idealist English 'teacher' with an unmarketable liberal arts degree wishfully thinking sociialism will give you the attention, care and success in life, that have escaped you in a system that only rewards hard work and innovative thinking based on a useful education… if not, you act like you fit that group."
I'd rather debate the issues… but we can go in and out about what a crappy, low self-esteem person I am.
Back to the issue…
Obama Apologizers,
The bow was seemingly unnecessary, embarrassingly incorrectly done and against established tradition and protocol.
You can't "win" by trying to defend this action as "not being wrong"… you must defend it as being right. If you have a case for that, you may win some over to your way of thinking. If not, you are probably wrong or, at least, inarticulate.
Bonus points if you can explain why Japan and Saudi got a bow but England didn't… this is not a meaningless fact… as it will be read with significance by those who observe such things.
In the end, those who abhor the bow and those who say it is no bid deal can probably be accurately categorized by their feelings on Obama's political agenda.
5:30 pm on November 16th, 2009 52
Some people notice the details of life and the meaning of messages people are trying to convey. It disappoints me that some want to focus on republican right and democrat left and stand on sides. I do not vote for any political party because I put thought into everything I do. I also put thought into why o'Bama would bow to the Emperor of Japan and the King of Saudi Arabia, but he failed to bow to the Queen of England. Anyone who has any mental capacity to process information would be asking questions as to why. If you go through life not thinking about your environment or the details of everyday life, you probably don't see the things in life others do. o'Bama the muslim will be judged by history not you and not me. But history is written with details and if you can't see them now, you can read about them later.
8:26 pm on November 16th, 2009 53
Wow, nice book loser… I read the first and last line and skipped reading everything else since your posts always try and drown people with useless dribble. Like I said earlier, 50% were for and 50% were against…I can accept different opinions…can you? I bet you are a middle aged GS or Contractor aren't you, what a dushe.
9:38 pm on November 16th, 2009 54
"I read the first and last line and skipped reading everything else"
No, you didn't.
You read it all… and it irritated you to no end… but you dare not give me any satisfaction by admitting it.
While you can stutter out tired old personal attack lines (are you a teenager) and call worn-out names (loser), you are incapable of holding your own in any kind of debate… be it snappy comebacks to your snarky statements or defending the foolish actions of a president that you are in such ideological agreement with that you resort to justification and rationalization to keep your fragile paradigm from being shattered.
Back to the issue…
Obama Apologizers,
Anybody know why Obama is suddenly praised for "following Japanese customs" and "showing good manners" when he refuses to follow American customs or show respect to American people by not placing his hand over his heart the during the playing of the U.S. national anthem?
Screw the opinions of Japanese senior citizens. As an American citizen, his lack of respect for a country that took him from poor mulatto in a single parent household to the Office of President is highly offensive… especially when he has no problem doing the same types of actions to please others.
9:48 pm on November 16th, 2009 55
I think you are the one irritated, just look at all the quotes and the length of your posts. You respond to everything I say, you are pathetic… is this post the only means of human interaction you have? I am guessing you are not a very liked person at work or in life.
10:09 pm on November 16th, 2009 56
Please, give Dumb a break. Her name calling is just a way to try to establish herself. Just like smoking a cigarette in the smoking hall. Dumb just wants to fit in. Sticks and stones may break your bones but Dumb words will never hurt you. Give the kid a break!
10:16 pm on November 16th, 2009 57
Wow…what a poet you are…
1:03 am on November 17th, 2009 58
Dumb,
"I think you are the one irritated,"
Yep… I really let people who call me names on the Internet get to me. It ruins my day… well… not really… but stomping them sure makes my day.
"just look at all the quotes and the length of your posts."
Don't judge me by your ruler of being unable to think and type quickly.
"You respond to everything I say, you are pathetic…"
Yes and maybe.
"is this post the only means of human interaction you have?"
Not far from the truth, actually… I spend a number of hours each day doing CAD work and then a little more time babysitting a CNC milling machine, lathe or router. That gives me time to write posts such as this. The rest of the time, I am dealing with Koreans… mostly intelligent, educated and professional Koreans… to whom I rightly and subserviently bow to due to their elevated status. I also mostly hold my tongue unless my opinion is asked for… or give it in such a subtle way that it can be easily missed if it wasn't being looked for.
The can-do Westerners I most frequently hang out with are busy and don't have time for daily conversation. The ones I see more frequently have life experiences inversely proportional to the yapping they do… they can be fun… with beer… but the conversation doesn't go much past alcohol and girls.
So, yes, posting here fulfills a certain need for human interaction… with a few clever, intelligent, experienced and educated people… and more than a few idiots to liven things up and give me something to fret about in an otherwise peaceful existence.
On top of that, my ability to quickly put my ideas into words has improved and my particular style of writing has developed… which only happens by practice.
So what have you done to improve yourself lately?
"I am guessing you are not a very liked person at work or in life."
I'll see your bet and raise you a "you feel liked and empowered when surrounded by those with similar vague idealistic thinking… but when someone can clearly articulate an opposite viewpoint and overcome any feeble objections, you feel threatened and compelled to make personal attacks."
So far, you have thrown speculative insults at me but have not even attempted to answer the sincere questions I asked from the Pro Obama Bow Camp.
…the short version being…
1. Why did Saudi and Japan get a bow but not England?
2. Why do Saudi/Japanese citizens get a traditional bow but American citizens don't get a traditional hand over the heart during the national anthem? Why is Obama excused in both cases?
1:48 am on November 17th, 2009 59
[DELETED BY ADMIN - Read the comment policy in regards to the name calling, you are on moderation for now]
1:50 am on November 17th, 2009 60
[DELETED BY ADMIN]
1:55 am on November 17th, 2009 61
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5c9B7nd7NWg
Some people reap what they sow. Apparently the word is already out on Obama.
2:11 am on November 17th, 2009 62
So what do you think you see in that video Gerry?
2:20 am on November 17th, 2009 63
Please tell me you aren't trying to convince people that the Russians refused to shake his hand… I know that with the resume you shot up here earlier you have more sense than that…
3:41 am on November 17th, 2009 64
"I read the first and last line and skipped reading everything else"
I understand why you call yourself "DUMB".
I'm enjoying you two go at it.
Keep up the name calling. Your sure to get some respect sooner or later.
3:56 am on November 17th, 2009 65
Thanks for the vid Gerry. It would appear that the word IS out on BO.
The Russians have always been good at spoting weakness.
5:02 am on November 17th, 2009 66
Wow, 2 retired guys and you can't figure out that Obama was introducing the guy. After the video plays watch the second video and it will explain what was going on. You mean to tell me the U.S. Military employees soldiers that are so easily duped?
5:20 am on November 17th, 2009 67
Dumb is right, guys.
It seems the people in the line are on Obama's team and he is pointing them out with a handshake-like gesture at which point the Russian shakes their hands.
The first clue that this needed further research might have been the fact that an inappropriate bow gets top billing and a snubbing by the Russians didn't even make Fox News.
6:10 am on November 17th, 2009 68
There is a lot of stuff out there on how embarrassing the o'Bama's are to the USA. Really, giving the Queen of England an iPod, the Prime Minister of England DVDs coded for Region (guess he can fly to the US to watch them). Michelle o'Bama patting the Queen of England on the back. Michelle o'Bama wearing a WHITE dress to a D-Day memorial. o'Bama promising to talk with the President of Canada, o'Bama mentioning he won't speak Austrian.
If anyone can ever find a photo of the emperor of japan where he is bowing, please post it, but don't waste you time, because he doesn't bow – BUT WAIT YOU MAY BE THINKING TO YOURSELF – THE EMPEROR OF JAPAN IS JAPANESE AND JAPANESE PEOPLE BOW. I guess you can call yourself "dumb".
No other head of state bowed to the Emperor and this list has some heavy hitters on it, Karzai from Afghanistan,
o'Bama is just showing respect for the japanese culture right. Why didn't o'Bama place his hand over his heart at the playing of the National Anthem of the United States of America?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cu0A86TkwA0
It is a big deal to me because I think about what is going on. I'm not a sheep following the sheep in front of me who are walking off a cliff.
6:17 am on November 17th, 2009 69
Another novel, Wow… you guys are really pissed at Obama for this huh? I bet if given the choice the man in Japan would rather be bowed to incorectly than to smell last nights meal from our commander in chief. Bush was a bigger embarisment than Obama could ever be…
6:21 am on November 17th, 2009 70
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t439ruGCqRw&fe…
6:42 am on November 17th, 2009 71
Dumb, Dumb – Who said anything about Bush? Dumb your starting to sound like a a republican hating democrat. Dumb, you are not old enough to know what happened at the Japanese state dinner when GHW Bush vomited, and your writing explains this you could at least tube it so you don't embarrass yourself.
8:50 am on November 17th, 2009 72
[DELETED BY ADMIN]
9:19 am on November 17th, 2009 73
Dumb-Dumb
There are several forms of the word "to". In your post just above you have used the incorrect form. You should have used the form "too" and not, as you posted, "to".
But again I ask why would you bring up Bush as this is a post about o'Bama?
You certainly can't just write gibberish on this site. Far too many people will correct you quickly.
One last free lesson (because I think you have potential). You have incorrectly used the word "your" in your post. Your is a possessive form of you. You're is a contraction of you are. A general rule would be to ask if you can substitute "you are" for your or you're. Here is an example "Is this you're pen?" Substitute you are for you're (Is this you are pen?) That doesn't make any sense so the form your is correct.
Keep at it, you'll make it!
10:13 am on November 17th, 2009 74
Um, the vid posted by Gerry shows the president of the U.S. introducing a delegation, not attempting to shake hands and being snubbed. Gerry until now I thought you would not be fooled by such things or stoop low enough to post misleading rhetoric. Guess I was wrong. Still I thank you for the years of service you proudly served for your country.
10:30 am on November 17th, 2009 75
I stand corrected. You have my apology for posting a misleading video.
1:07 pm on November 17th, 2009 76
Everyone will notice that with all of Dumb's postings, he as not once addressed any questions concerning Obama.
Everything he has written has been a personal attack against those who have logically explained why they are unhappy with Obama's actions, a diversion of the topic to politicians opposed to Obama or a complete change of subject.
These are the primary tactics of those who hold an untenable political viewpoint.
1:40 pm on November 17th, 2009 77
What question do you want me to answer Chickenhead? You want me to give my political side of things. I gave my answer…it was a bow, that is all it was to me, no politics just a bow. The problem is that you are bothered by the bow, I am not so what do you want me to say?
1:52 pm on November 17th, 2009 78
It would be wise to look up Saul Alinsky on the internet. I suspect it has much to do with the issue here.
2:00 pm on November 17th, 2009 79
Several of you have said I somehow am being political because I think the bow was just a bow. So here is my take…it is a blooper yes but it isn't any design by Obama to stick it to Americans. If you youtube any president you will find bloopers, Bush being by far the biggest goof and blooper of them all. There you go Chickenhead, that is my view. You see, you are taking this bow politically, not me…I think it was just a goof.
2:12 pm on November 17th, 2009 80
"Generally, the Alinsky advice on tactics is guerilla war advice. To win, know the enemy, divide the enemy. Know who all the players are, conduct the action on several levels and personalize the conflict."
2:22 pm on November 17th, 2009 81
[DELETED BY ADMIN - Just so everyone knows, DUMB is now playing the sock puppet game which is once again against the comments policy.]
6:56 pm on November 17th, 2009 82
Gerry, it is alright, and I appreciate you for showing humbleness in fault. After all what are we Americans but Imperialists when we have yet to officially declare ourselves an Empire… Think about it. When the heat in the kitchen comes to flames all of us must support each other. We have done it for alomst 300 years now. We United States Americans can afford to throw dirt on each other, let us not throw it falsely, for we are one people. We have not yet become an Empire falled before gained, We trully are a blessed nation in which has been the only people in history who could have easily toppled the world several times over but chose to keep it spinning.
6:57 pm on November 17th, 2009 83
From a Judaic Christian Democrat like myself to a whatever you are, I thank God for you brother. God Bless America.
8:50 pm on November 17th, 2009 84
Dumb,
"What question do you want me to answer Chickenhead?"
1. Why did Saudi and Japan get a bow but not England?
2. Why do Saudi/Japanese citizens get a traditional bow but American citizens don’t get a traditional hand over the heart during the national anthem? Why is Obama excused in both cases?
Don't play dumb. You knew the questions… because, you read everything I wrote… even though you said you didn't.
How do I know?
In a consequence-free environment (such as peeping at something you can later claim you didn't read) only the dullest humans are not curious.
Not enough?
“You respond to everything I say, you are pathetic…”
…hard to know that little factoid without reading more than the first and last sentence, eh?
Keep in mind, if you can answer these questions reasonably, I may agree with you that there is no deeper meaning and that Obama is simply an inexperienced diplomat surrounded by advisers selected more for ideology and political favoritism than experience or ability.
1:40 am on November 18th, 2009 85
I apologized for the video that was out of context, all my other comments stand.
The US made its greatness out of the hard work of its people, who came from all corners of the earth. Imperialists? Nah. Capitalists and a world leader trying to do its best to help other countries, would be more appropriate.
I agree that our country is blessed and has provided for countless people who have come here looking for a new start.
1:51 am on November 18th, 2009 86
Definition: SOCK PUPPET, INTERNET, an online identity used for purposes of deception within an online community. In its earliest usage, a sockpuppet was a false identity through which a member of an Internet community speaks with or about himself or herself, pretending to be a different person,[1] like a ventriloquist manipulating a hand puppet.
In current usage, the perception of the term has been extended beyond second identities of people who already post in a forum to include other uses of misleading online identities. For example, a NY Times article claims that "sock-puppeting" is defined as "the act of creating a fake online identity to praise, defend or create the illusion of support for one’s self, allies or company."[2]
3:05 am on November 18th, 2009 87
[DELETED BY ADMIN]
3:32 am on November 18th, 2009 88
[DELETED BY ADMIN]
7:52 am on November 18th, 2009 89
A picture is worth a thousand posts, seeing the actual event on film however…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3kyD_e0Y7FQ
8:14 am on November 18th, 2009 90
I don't know why Obama England didn't get a Bow while Saudi and Japan did, I don't know why he didn't put his hand over his heart, the explanations I have heard is in modern age you don't have to put your hand over your heart.
Now, you Lemmy, Lordofu2, Gerry and GI KOREA (the one who runs this blog) answer my questions.
*Are you guys bigots?
*Are you against Obama because he is African American?
*Do you think that him not putting his hand over his heart and bowing to the Prime Minister of Japan is an attempt to bring down America?
I think the answer to those questions will all be yes. It is obvious by the way GI Korea writes his columns that he uses this site for political reasons. He allows certain people, who have the same point of view as he does, to turn his blog into a political stage and a racist blog. I am guessing GI Korea is a soldier and he allows posts degrading his Commander in Chief and I believe that is against Military Law. I am guessing his chain of command is not aware of this blog and if they were would make him shut it down.
Just a thought… hehehe
8:17 am on November 18th, 2009 91
BTW GI Korea, I am the husband of DUMB, she didn't post under 2 different names and your deletion of the post only shows your intentions of this blog.
9:28 am on November 18th, 2009 92
First of all I clearly said in my posting that I could care less about the bow controversy obviously other people have other opinions. Turning to name calling and the now tired you all must be racists line just shows you don't have the intellectual flexibility to defend your position. If you can't defend your views in the comments section then don't comment. Pretty simple.
9:30 am on November 18th, 2009 93
All it shows is that you don't follow proper Internet courtesy of identifying yourself as DUMB's husband in order to not make people think you are a sock puppet.
10:21 am on November 18th, 2009 94
Why did you delete this post, it was clean wasn't it?
I simply pointed out my thoughts on what b. Hussain o'Bama's actions will come to. Where are the rules for posting so I can abide by them in the future. I guess my freedom of speech is more gruesome than some old man posing his 8 year old daughter in a micro-skirt for a camera.
10:45 am on November 18th, 2009 95
"I think the answers to all those questions would be yes."
You would be wrong. Very wrong. However your wife and yourself did not get everyone to 'shut up' the way you wanted, so now you use threatening tactics to shut the site down.
I feel sorry for both you, and your wife as human beings that know no other way to get what they want other than trying to bully people.
11:01 am on November 18th, 2009 96
[DELETED BY ADMIN - Off Topic, I don't want this thread to turn into something about whether President Obama is a Muslim or not.]
12:28 pm on November 18th, 2009 97
I was wondering how long it would take you to go Racist here.
No one can disagree with BO for long without being called racist.
So much for a Post racial president. The left will not allow that.
Agree or be called a racist. Just sad.
12:41 pm on November 18th, 2009 98
Keep the discussion on topic and the comments policy can be read on the About page.
7:59 pm on November 18th, 2009 99
GI, I love your blog but your side taking in this post is obvious. You said above that he should have identified himself as the husband but I think as a moderator of a blog it is you job to compare the two posts and determine the writing patterns. It's not hard to look at two entries and see the different styles especially with a Woman and Man. A few of the people who wrote on this entry come across as Obama haters and you have given the impression you are with that group by deleting the entry of someone who was on the other side of the fence. I am a soldier and have to agree with the fact that you run a blog that you allow posters to write attacks against your commander-in-chief and as a soldier you have a responsiblity to deter from negative politics against your commander-in-chief. It is your blog and you should not be allowing these negative comments about Obama, it is part of your oath as a soldier. I read somewhere in this post where Obama was breaking a law well so are you by allowing posts against your commander and chief so kind of a double standard there.
Are you a soldier?
10:35 pm on November 18th, 2009 100
[DELETED BY ADMIN - Personal Attack]
11:31 pm on November 18th, 2009 101
"just a thought…hehehe"
You're not her husband, you're Her.
12:05 am on November 19th, 2009 102
So Sticky, now you want to throw the First Amendment under the bus?
You are not a Soldier.
You're writing style is so close to DUMB and THEBOW, that I believe all
three of you are the same female.
No one has attacked anyone here, except you of course.
All three of you (one female) are in attack mode.
Attack, attack, attack. Like an angry little ant.
A last thought; We are all free to dislike, hate, love and admire anyone we please. Why are you trying to control others? Do the thoughts of others disturb you THAT much? I repeat, you are no soldier.
If BO has broken a law, only in a "communist country" would it be a crime to point that out. A soldier would know that.
Showing disapproval for a sitting president is not new. Look at your liberal democratic party over the past eight years. I happen to like BO. I would love to have a beer with him. Having said that, He is not a good decision maker. His knowledge of world affairs is very limited. His judgement is questionable. I know the three of you (one female) will be enraged at reading that. You will wonder just who would say such a thing. A vet would say such a thing.
You see, when I enlisted I took an oath to defend the "constitution" from enemies both foreign and domestic. Not the president. Not congress. The "constitution". You Lie. Your no soldier.
12:28 am on November 19th, 2009 103
I check IP addresses and if someone is commenting from the same IP address with different usernames without identifying themselves then they open themselves up to being a sock puppet.
Also I defend the President with things I agree with:
http://rokdrop.com/2009/09/28/why-president-obama…
http://rokdrop.com/2009/09/18/obama-did-not-scrap…
And I criticize him for things I disagree with just like I used to do with President Bush. Bush's North Korea policy during his second term was an absolute disaster which I often posted on.
Do you even bother to read professional military journals where servicemembers often criticize governmental policies? Military Review for example intentionally looks for contrary opinions to publish in order to spark discussion of issues.
It is the same thing on this blog. I look to spark discussion and if you can't defend your views then don't comment.
You might also want to read something called the About page if you want to know if I am a soldier or not.
You might want to read the blog for longer then a week before shooting unfounded accusations my way.
2:50 am on November 19th, 2009 104
Obama is an Afro-American with a white American mother, Kenyan father and an Indonesian step-father but was raised by his grand parents.
Lived in different places like Hawaii, Honolulu, Chicago, New York, Los Angeles and in Jakarta with his step father, so this guy has a huge multicultural background. No wonder he is so culturally sensitive.
That´s much different from the rest of the average American that have few or zero cultural exchange experiences.
5:35 am on November 19th, 2009 105
[DELETED BY ADMIN - Personal Attack]
8:47 am on November 19th, 2009 106
you have a nack for observing the obvious about his multiculture "childhood".
"that's much different from the average American that have few or zero cultural exchange experiences." Again quite obvious. Same can be said about Koreans.
But there are many from both cultures that have multicultural experiences as "adults". I think this is more important to understanding, than who you played with as a child.
If it isn't, should I be concerned about his Muslim education?
10:03 am on November 19th, 2009 107
God you people are WHINY.
Everyone is looking into this whole bowing thing too deeply. Where's the common sense here? He bowed to show his respect, and that's that. He wasn't looking to suck the guys dick or anything degrading! It's all about respect. Stop bitching about protocols and customs and what not and just be glad he didn't do anything REALLY embarassing.
I never read so many smart and well-written comments come out so dumb before.
10:17 am on November 19th, 2009 108
If that were done sticky this may never have happened, as one of "DUMBS" first comments had to do with 'Bush whom everyone hated and had retarted policies".
I suspect Dumb would never follow any rules of civilized discussion as long as they disagreed with hers and she is not informed or intelligent enough to articulate them in a civil mannor. Hence she attacks the messenger, repeats herself over and over, and finally threatons the site via 'hubby'.
Don't tell me Bush is now out of office so its now OK to lable him. It was never about "denigrating the commander in chief" to DUMB. It was about her lack of respect for people who disagreed with her when she was too 'dumb' to properly defend her position. So she denigrated, belittled, then got hubby to threaten the site.
You are defending a person who had no argument.
12:12 pm on November 20th, 2009 109
LOL, well, the Associated Press seems to have made a big deal about it, as well as any number of congressmen and women, I guess its not not unseemly that we would follow our media and governments lead.
Otherwise thank you for the compliment.
3:53 pm on November 20th, 2009 110
What does the bow mean?
In Japan's case, it's harder to say.
In Saudi's case, it is disturbingly clear.
It means that terrorism and Jihadism have fulfilled their purpose and gotten America's attention to the point that the world's most powerful man is showing great difference to a Muslim king.
This thoughtless act has comforted our enemies and reinforced the belief that terrorism can influence the thinking and actions of the United States government.
With that in mind, the bow may be a bid deal after all.
5:08 pm on November 20th, 2009 111
To many here, it is "REALLY embarassing", as you should know after reading.
If it is, as you say, all about respect, he was "REALLY embarassing" to many americans. There are degrees of respect. If you are unable to see this, maby you should go and sit with "DUMB-THEBOW-STICKY".
She doesn't understand either. With due respect. (but not UNDUE respect)
I like the handshake myself. That is what is expected of Americans. Add a head nod maby. Not to mention that they owe their national security to America. Or that they once declared war on American after Pearl Harbor.
So yes, Obama is realy quite an embarrassment.
7:53 am on November 21st, 2009 112
b. Hussain o'Bama shouldn't have bowed………..
The people are speaking and this is what they are saying:
o'Bama's approval is now below 50%
http://content.usatoday.com/communities/theoval/p…
8:05 am on November 21st, 2009 113
The article says its because of the economy, but everyone knows it was the bow!
7:29 pm on January 31st, 2010 114
http://malor.files.wordpress.com/2010/01/obamabow…
Saudi, Japan… and now the Mayor of Tampa.
Where do I stand in line for my presidential bow?