Author Topic: Obama bows before Saudi King? (Read 9075 times)

AZRedhawk44 · « **on:** April 08, 2009, 09:46:55 PM »

http://www.newsmax.com/insidecover/Obama_bow_king/2009/04/08/201193.html?s=al&promo_code=7DA5-1

Yes, it's newsmax. But they have video.

My first gut reaction was "WTF?" Royal peers do not bow to one another, heads of state do not bow to one another. He subordinated the US to Saudi Arabia, in my opinion.

Only parallel I can come up with is Kennedy kissing the Pope's ring. That was a situation of personal allegiance clashing with the responsibilities of being head of state. However.... Kennedy was Catholic. And he was careful to draw a distinction between personal and public duty when he did it.

Considering that Obama didn't bow to the Queen while in England (and therefor this is not SOP to him), does this then mean he has a personal allegiance to the Saudi King?

As usual... the rest of the press is silent on this.

roo_ster · « **Reply #1 on:** April 08, 2009, 10:10:39 PM »

I tried this particular subject & it got nuked by mgt.

Good luck, and pass the lead skivvies.

S. Williamson · « **Reply #2 on:** April 08, 2009, 10:50:32 PM »

Obama has no class. I wouldn't read too much into the bow.

Perd Hapley · « **Reply #3 on:** April 09, 2009, 12:30:03 AM »

Quote from: Dionysusigma on April 08, 2009, 10:50:32 PM

I wouldn't read too much into the bow.

Bowing has a meaning and purpose.

Fortunately, our President was unaware of the message he was sending.

Unfortunately, our President was unaware of the message he was sending, meaning that he is indeed the lightweight chump many of us have always thought he was.

AZRedhawk44 · « **Reply #4 on:** April 09, 2009, 01:15:02 AM »

I was thinking, though....

Do American Diplomats (including the Prez) bow when visiting Japanese persons of interest?

I would opine that bowing in Japan, at least in modern post-SCAP context, is an act done respecting the status of both individuals and replaces the handshake in Western ceremony. Conversely, bowing in a feudal or monarchical context is an act of subservience as it is not reciprocated.

I notice that there is a japanese (? I can usually tell Chinese/Japanese/Korean/etc... but this guy is hard to make) man to the left of Obama in jfruser's picture.

Perhaps he greeted the Saudi king prior to Obama, and Obama mimicked the Japanese (?) man?

Regolith · « **Reply #5 on:** April 09, 2009, 02:26:33 AM »

Quote from: AZRedhawk44 on April 09, 2009, 01:15:02 AM

Perhaps he greeted the Saudi king prior to Obama, and Obama mimicked the Japanese (?) man?

I don't think so. I saw a video of the incident, and it appeared everyone up until Obama was shaking hands. Then again, the saudi guy wasn't in frame the entire time, so it's hard to say.

Edit: the video I saw was the same one as the one in the link, but it was much longer. Just to clarify. Here's the link to a page that has the longer version: http://www.salon.com/opinion/paglia/2009/04/08/bow/index.html

209 · « **Reply #6 on:** April 09, 2009, 05:57:45 AM »

Technically, he didn't bow. A bow is performed by bending at the waist. He bent his knees.

So in reality, he “curtsied”.

El Tejon · « **Reply #7 on:** April 09, 2009, 06:33:45 AM »

This isn't any king. This is the Protector of Medina and Mecca.

Cannot fault Obama. We all have things we learned as a child that we cannot escape. Barry learned his lessons at the madrassa. How do you think any talib would act?

El Tejon · « **Reply #8 on:** April 09, 2009, 07:19:53 AM »

The White House's excuse is pathetic.

Obama is taller than the Protector of Medina and Mecca?

Really now? Why are their hands on the same level on the Spanish television video (shot from the side).

*snicker*

HankB · « **Reply #9 on:** April 09, 2009, 08:20:46 AM »

The White House is saying that Obama didn't bow, he just bent over because the king was shorter.

Who are you going to believe, the White House or your own lying eyes?

(Note that the queen of England is shorter than the Saudi King, and Obama didn't bend over for her.)

Here's a thought: if the White House lies over somthing like this, how can we believe ANYTHING they say?

geronimotwo · « **Reply #10 on:** April 09, 2009, 08:22:37 AM »

funny how the video looks like a bow, but the picture above has everyone is looking as though there is something else happening.

DittoHead · « **Reply #11 on:** April 09, 2009, 08:38:46 AM »

The white house probably lies about things just instinctively by now. When Obama screws up they need to lie to cover their butts, and when he doesn't they probably lie just in case. The only thing I recall Obama telling the truth about is wanting to "spread the wealth around".

longeyes · « **Reply #12 on:** April 09, 2009, 10:18:34 AM »

At what point does theater of the absurd just become plain old-fashioned mendacity?

Smart kids always think they can con their way through anything.

MechAg94 · « **Reply #13 on:** April 09, 2009, 11:23:55 AM »

Quote from: longeyes on April 09, 2009, 10:18:34 AM

At what point does theater of the absurd just become plain old-fashioned mendacity?

Smart kids always think they can con their way through anything.

He conned his way through the whole campaign, why not now?

AJ Dual · « **Reply #14 on:** April 09, 2009, 12:16:51 PM »

I don't give it any great significance. This is simply more ESB or, O's "Empty Suit Behavior". All style, no substance. The fact he did not bow to the Queen of England, and did to the Saudi King, etc. has no greater significance, other than that he's incapable of thinking of his moment-to-moment actions in a greater context. Pure seat-of-the-pants-isim.

The larger pattern.

- "Clinging to Guns and Religion", "Special Olympics" and other gaffes...

- No good without a teleprompter.

- The whole wounded vet benifit fiasco.

- "Off reservation" comments by his cabinet and staff. (i.e. AWB? Yes/No, Yes/No, Yes/No, Yes/No....)

- No input on the spendulous bill.

etc. etc. etc...

Quote from: longeyes on April 09, 2009, 10:18:34 AM

At what point does theater of the absurd just become plain old-fashioned mendacity?

Smart kids always think they can con their way through anything.

That's exactly what this is. He's "smart" and "charming", and a great speach-reader. He thinks he can wing anything, and his head is not in the game. Perhaps it's unbecoming to even wonder, but I have to consider if his childhood upbringing by white grandparents as a well-spoken token black in many situations has conditioned him to just "coasting".

Strings · « **Reply #15 on:** April 09, 2009, 01:18:56 PM »

>Perhaps it's unbecoming to even wonder, but I have to consider if his childhood upbringing by white grandparents as a well-spoken token black in many situations has conditioned him to just "coasting".<

Hater

Perd Hapley · « **Reply #16 on:** April 09, 2009, 01:19:57 PM »

Quote from: AJ Dual on April 09, 2009, 12:16:51 PM

I don't give it any great significance. This is simply more ESB or, O's "Empty Suit Behavior". All style, no substance. The fact he did not bow to the Queen of England, and did to the Saudi King, etc. has no greater significance, other than that he's incapable of thinking of his moment-to-moment actions in a greater context. Pure seat-of-the-pants-isim.

I agree.

However, though Obama meant nothing by it, and it doesn't mean we'll start paying our taxes to the House of Saud, it is yet significant that a President of the U.S. has bowed to Saudi royalty. Even if he did it because he thinks everything is a campaign event, and he's there to glad-hand for votes.

Harold Tuttle · « **Reply #17 on:** April 09, 2009, 03:01:12 PM »

Considering how the Royal Saudi's treat people of other races, women and thrive upon their tyrannical rule,
IMHO the president of the United States should strive to always maintain status as an equal with their aristocracy.

buzz_knox · « **Reply #18 on:** April 10, 2009, 08:52:28 AM »

Quote from: Harold Tuttle on April 09, 2009, 03:01:12 PM

Considering how the Royal Saudi's treat people of other races, women and thrive upon their tyrannical rule,
IMHO the president of the United States should strive to always maintain status as an equal with their aristocracy.

There is no "striving" to it. The President represents us so he must be (at a minimum) an equal, not merely try for it.

LadySmith · « **Reply #19 on:** April 10, 2009, 08:55:15 AM »

I'm sorry, but in that photo it looks to me like he's doing a line.

makattak · « **Reply #20 on:** April 10, 2009, 09:25:38 AM »

Seems to me the white house saying "it wasn't a bow" is exactly the same as the liberals who claim "but the Queen ASKED for an Ipod." (http://www.armedpolitesociety.com/index.php?topic=18855.msg352549#msg352549)

They are willfully blind.

I swear- Obama could be caught with a smoking gun on live television and they'd believe: "It wasn't me".

roo_ster · « **Reply #21 on:** April 10, 2009, 09:55:03 AM »

Quote from: LadySmith on April 10, 2009, 08:55:15 AM

I'm sorry, but in that photo it looks to me like he's doing a line.

Surely the entirety of your post, which you forgot to write, went something like...
"I'm sorry, but in that photo it looks to me like he's doing a line...from the Gilbert & Sullivan comic opera The Mikado, a favorite of the crown prince"

As it is, it seems you are implying that our Dear Leader is snorting coke off the upraised buttock of a Saudi house slave* boy.

* Officially, Saudi Arabia outlawed slavery in 1962, so any reports of continued slavery in the kingdom are most certainly scurrilous rumors from islamophobes.

brasshammer · « **Reply #22 on:** April 10, 2009, 01:09:16 PM »

Quote

They are willfully blind.

I swear- Obama could be caught with a smoking gun on live television and they'd believe: "It wasn't me".

"I swear, I did not have sex with that ~~king~~ woman."

ronnyreagan · « **Reply #23 on:** April 10, 2009, 02:18:46 PM »

Quote from: makattak on April 10, 2009, 09:25:38 AM

Seems to me the white house saying "it wasn't a bow" is exactly the same as the liberals who claim "but the Queen ASKED for an Ipod."

Not really. There's video of the bow so you have some actual proof to back up your argument that it happened. Pretty convincing proof I'd say and trying to claim it didn't happen is a stupid thing for the white house to do.

If you have proof, or anything other than your gut feeling saying that the queen didn't ask for an iPod I'd love to see it. If you come up with anything - feel free to post it in the other thread.

longeyes · « **Reply #24 on:** April 10, 2009, 03:11:24 PM »

The debate is over.

Geraldo said Obama DID bow.

But not to worry: just a deeply-embedded "cultural reflex" that will end up paying benefits. Yeah, take that to the bank.

News:

Author Topic: Obama bows before Saudi King? (Read 9075 times)