Should Obama be bowing to a Saudi King?

[Craig234]

Once again, the right seizes on the trivial, to fail to understand it and make a phony issue.

Bevasue it's not like there are actual issues.

There are protocols for these sort of things, the White House and State Department have the staff to sort it out, and no one is slighted. It's the least of the concerns with the Saudis.

For real concerns, watch the following excellent Frontline from tonight on the topic of corporate corruption focusing on the England-Saudi arms deals.

It's about the Blair government approving bribery of billions, and blocking the government's own investigation. It probably deserves its own thread.

Link

 

[microbial]

Oh, man...conservatives are having a shit-fit over this one.

Universal healthcare and minimum wage increase, together, don't get this much buzz on the all-whackjob channels.

Rush "I want America to fail" Limbaugh must be intubated with IV drips hanging off of him.

If I were Obama, from now on I'd bow to every person that comes within a 10 foot radius, just to mess with their heads.

 

[loup garou]

Originally posted by: Modular

Originally posted by: DaveSimmons
A person who is confident of his own standing is not afraid to show respect to others.

If I bow to the emperor of Japan I'm not acknowledging him as my sovereign or my superior, I'm merely being polite.

Wrong. Again, this is simple diplomatic protocol. You never show a sign of weakness implied or otherwise. Bowing to a king is showing a sign of weakness.

Amazing how much international diplomacy has in common with dog training...

 

[Fear No Evil]

Originally posted by: microbial
Oh, man...conservatives are having a shit-fit over this one.

Universal healthcare and minimum wage increase, together, don't get this much buzz on the all-whackjob channels.

Rush "I want America to fail" Limbaugh must be intubated with IV drips hanging off of him.

If I were Obama, from now on I'd bow to every person that comes within a 10 foot radius, just to mess with their heads.

Obama SHOULD bow to everyone because he seems weaker than just about every other person alive with all his apologizing.

Seriously - Do we not have any common sense left in this country? As the leader of the free world - Should our President be bowing to anyone? NO.. The Saudi King is AT BEST his equal - And I could make the argument against that.

 

[Farang]

DEYTOOKERJABS

 

[retrospooty]

Originally posted by: Fear No Evil


Seriously - Do we not have any common sense left in this country? As the leader of the free world - Should our President be bowing to anyone? NO.. The Saudi King is AT BEST his equal - And I could make the argument against that.

We do... You onn the other hand seem to be plumb out of it.

Bowing is not a sign of subservience its just being polite. If you werent so pent up in your angry little hate filled world you might know more about society.

 

[yllus]

This will be perceived as a sign of immense weakness on the part of the American people. Viewing of all American-made media will peter off. The American dollar will probably stop being held by foreign nations. And I bet that China and Russia have invasion forces on route as we speak, figuring that the American people will welcome them happily as long as a real man will take charge.

It takes a lot of imagination to turn politeness into a negative. Congratulations.

 

[Fingolfin269]

So you think when a commoner comes in the presence of the Saudi king that his bowing is just... Being polite?

I'm not a conservative and I still don't want the potus bowing to people.

 

[heyheybooboo]

Yes! Bow down to your Saudi overlords.

Clearly Obama is a Mooslim Terraeest. I surprised they didn't do the not-so-secret 9/11 terraeest fist jab.

A special persecutor should be appointed immediately and The Honorable Boner of the House should introduce impeachment proceedings TODAY.

 

[Jschmuck2]

Originally posted by: Farang
DEYTOOKERJABS

This really, really makes me laugh.

 

[DisgruntledVirus]

Originally posted by: Vic

Originally posted by: Jiggz
BHO used to be a Muslim so you can't blame him, for old habits are hard to die!

You and the OP, trolls of a feather flocking together.

Originally posted by: OCguy
Any Democrat that is willing to come in and defend the Saudis here is begging for a e-whipping.

The whole Saudi family goes against everything that liberals stand for.

And conservatives too, one would hope.

This is a non-issue. Under US law, the President is not sovereign. So unlike if, say, the British queen were to bow to the Saudi king, this did NOT symbolize the people or the govt of the US paying homage, and was simply the act of an individual.
Don't beg for your own e-whipping by arguing otherwise.

Also, it is a sign of respect. Bowing does not mean submission to them, but is a sign of respect for them. If it is their culture, we should respect it and follow their customs as long as they do the same for us.

It really is a non-issue though, grow up.

 

[frostedflakes]

Slow news day, I guess...

 

[IceBergSLiM]

George H.W. Bush and certain others like Colin Powell are royal knights of the British crown, and the actually knelt before the queen and swore allegiance to her.

 

[Zenmervolt]

"Moving parts in rubbing contact require lubrication to avoid excessive wear. Honorifics and formal politeness provide lubrication where people rub together. Often the very young, the untraveled, the naive, the unsophisticated deplore these formalities as "empty," "meaningless," or "dishonest," and scorn to use them. No matter how "pure" their motives, they thereby throw sand into machinery that does not work too well at best." - Robert Heinlein

If it helps to smooth things over, let him bow. It just a formality and it absolutely does help to smooth relations. America used to be based on the idea that we should "speak softly and carry a big stick", Bush chose to shout loudly while still carrying a big stick and we know where that got us. Obama's choice to put a far superior face on international relations is a good thing as long as our own security concerns continue to be addressed (and, frankly, I believe that they do continue to be addressed).

To the conservatives complaining about this: Get over it. You're not helping the rest of us by perpetuating this image of conservatism being petty.

ZV

 

[CitizenKain]

Originally posted by: Wreckem

Originally posted by: Vic

Originally posted by: Jiggz
BHO used to be a Muslim so you can't blame him, for old habits are hard to die!

You and the OP, trolls of a feather flocking together.

Originally posted by: OCguy
Any Democrat that is willing to come in and defend the Saudis here is begging for a e-whipping.

The whole Saudi family goes against everything that liberals stand for.

And conservatives too, one would hope.

This is a non-issue. Under US law, the President is not sovereign. So unlike if, say, the British queen were to bow to the Saudi king, this did NOT symbolize the people or the govt of the US paying homage, and was simply the act of an individual.
Don't beg for your own e-whipping by arguing otherwise.

You obviously dont know diplomatic protocal. Obama has fucked it up over and over again since Janurary. His continued gaffes make him WEAKER in the eyes of other heads of state. People bashed Bush for his gaffes of a similar nature, why not Obama.

I'm sure in crazy freeper land that makes sense, but thankfully reality is different.

 

[Phokus]

Do conservatives even remember bush holding hands (and almost kissing him at one point) with the saudi prince and all the hilarious photoshops that accompanied it?

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories...gnews/main691413.shtml

http://politicalhumor.about.co...lbushabdullahhands.htm

photoshops like this one:

http://media.photobucket.com/i...KissingSaudiPrince.jpg

:laugh:

Really, considering how homophobic most republicans are, they should be way less bothered by obama bowing to the saudi king rather than practically making out with him :laugh:

 

[brandonbull]

Originally posted by: Fingolfin269
So you think when a commoner comes in the presence of the Saudi king that his bowing is just... Being polite?

I'm not a conservative and I still don't want the potus bowing to people.

Only if that is a mutually exchanged greeting. If the Saudi King is sitting in his chair and Obama bows to him , it is not being polite. Heads of state do not perform these types of actions.

 

[Robor]

That's it. Begin impeachment proceedings.

 

[retrospooty]

Originally posted by: yllus

It takes a lot of imagination to turn politeness into a negative. Congratulations.

Bingo - you nailed it on the head.

Why is Fear no Evil too thick headed to understand simple diplomacy. I think the redneck agenda has poisoned his feeble mind so far that he cant even see the simple things. A standard greeting somehow perverts into a sign of subservience in his twisted little mind.

God, I hope he has no kids.

 

[Atreus21]

Originally posted by: Farang
DEYTOOKERJABS

TOOKYERDER!

 

[JACKDRUID]

Originally posted by: Fear No Evil
You can do a google search for a million videos or pictures of it. But should the President of the United States be bowing to ANY foreign leader? He didn't do it to the Queen of England but does it to a Saudi King? Seems to me to be sending the message that we are beneath the Saudi's.. also seems to fit with Obama's 'Blame America First' theme we saw in Europe.

you are pathetic as always.

its common courtesy to show respect to other country's religion.

Pretty sad if you ask me.. I know the first thing that will probably be mentioned is Bush's kissing of the King.. which I also think was inappropriate, but its pretty clear Bush did not think he was below the King.. but taken in context, with Obama apologizing for all of America's failings.. this seems pretty pathetic.

its called leadership. it takes courage to stand up and take the blame, just so the group can start work together for a real solution. (rather than blaming each other)

 

[ayabe]

Originally posted by: Fear No Evil

Originally posted by: microbial
Oh, man...conservatives are having a shit-fit over this one.

Universal healthcare and minimum wage increase, together, don't get this much buzz on the all-whackjob channels.

Rush "I want America to fail" Limbaugh must be intubated with IV drips hanging off of him.

If I were Obama, from now on I'd bow to every person that comes within a 10 foot radius, just to mess with their heads.

Obama SHOULD bow to everyone because he seems weaker than just about every other person alive with all his apologizing.

Seriously - Do we not have any common sense left in this country? As the leader of the free world - Should our President be bowing to anyone? NO.. The Saudi King is AT BEST his equal - And I could make the argument against that.

Yes we should continue to act tough and wave American flags every where we go because we're number #1!!!!!!!

Get over your inadequacy issues, we're in a terrible mess and have pulled down the rest of the world with us. Whether you like it or not we need everyone pitching in to help, so we have to come with our hat in our hand.

We would expect nothing less from any of our allies.

It's not about your ego, sorry your feelings were hurt, but our house is built on sand, everyone seems to acknowledge this except for people like you.

 

[SammyJr]

nm

 

[Nemesis 1]

My leader would never Bow to any man for any reason. Nor would man bow to my leader. I bow to NO man.

 

[fskimospy]

Scenario 1: OMG OBAMA DIDN'T RESPECT THE KING D1PLOMAT1C GAFFZ! WTF OBAMA.

Scenario 2: OMG OBAMA BOWED TO THE KING D1PLOMAT1C GAFFZ! WTF OBAMA.