PHOTOS Holey smoley - ANOTHER bow! (The President in Japan)

[Jackeens]

1

US President Barack Obama bows after delivering his speech at Suntory Hall in Tokyo on November 14, 2009. Billing himself America's first 'Pacific president', Obama said the United States did not seek to 'contain' China and promised a full US role in charting Asia's future.


So, when does the impeachment process start?

:popcorn:

2

And worse, he smiled at them damn forinars:

3

4 5

6

[ellenfl]

1. sh-h-h-h, maybe the rw blowhards won't see this!

jeez, you'd think he was holding some potentate's hand. :eyes:

ellen fl

[monmouth]

24. Actually, I think he's showing genuine respect to his hosts and the

bowing is part of THEIR culture. He's showing his gratefulness for their approval. He's a very gracious person, what can I say...

[ellenfl]

42. i was being facetious. eom

[goclark]

59. I was in Japan in the 60's and it just comes naturally

Everyone was so kind to us ~ it was a highlight in my life.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

63. They're too busy with this photo:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=433x2894

[JoePhilly]

67. I think he does it to make the crazy far right scream in agony and terror.

[HopeOverFear]

2. Welcome back Jackeens

[Jackeens]

4. Aw, thank you HopeOverFear

:toast:

[Catshrink]

3. You gotta ask yourself

What would * do? We know what Poppy did -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XnOnDatqENo

[barbtries]

6. hehe

i never figured out why my idea that it should become common parlance to say, for example, omigawd, i almost bushed when i had to change that nasty diaper! or every time i listen to gw i feel like i'm about to pull a bush! never caught on.

so classy those bushes.

ps i didn't look at the video but am assuming you're talking about when poppy puked on the japanese emperor?

[Catshrink]

20. That's the one

Poppy hurls! Story at 10.

[goclark]

60. I forgot about that one

Poppy

[Skip Intro]

5. Eh, if the pukes try, just show 'em these pics:

[emulatorloo]

64. Top one is a photoshop. But still . . .

[Deja Q]

7. If the King of England came here and said he was the first "Atlantic King", what would you do?

It works both ways.

We need more to go on, but his patronizing of other nations isn't going to be liked by anybody.

[Jackeens]

9. One man's 'patronising' is another's 'hand of friendship and warmth', I suppose.

If he came to Ireland and called himself an Irish King we'd just chuckle, as, I suspect he would. It's harmless fun and gentle diplomacy, nothing more or less than that.

[Deja Q]

11. In all honesty and sincerity,

THANK YOU for the perspective!

:yourock::yourock::yourock::yourock::yourock::yourock::yourock::yourock::yourock::yourock:

[Jackeens]

14. Deja Q, you can reign over Ireland any time.

:toast:

[goclark]

61. Thank you Jakeens ~ you are a gem

Wish I could bow to you in friendship.

That is all the President was doing ~

[Ineeda]

10. But the 'King of England'

wouldn't be the first "Atlantic King" seeing as England is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean. This President was born in the middle of the Pacific Ocean and spent part of his childhood in Indonesia. I believe he meant that he is the first President to have such connections to the Pacific Rim, which is, of course, true. I hardly call that patronizing.

[RepublicanElephant]

12. good point. nt

[Deja Q]

13. That makes sense. Your perspective too is a very good one.

One day, I really must stop feeling so insecure and naive... :blush: (I'll try for sooner rather than later, especially as I have a paranoia disorder to begin with... )

[dalaigh lllama]

17. He also might have meant "pacific" as in "peaceful"

That's what I thought he meant when he said it. :shrug:

[Sheepshank]

62. Are you sure he didn't mean Specific?

and I'm being totally and udderly serial. I think he has a brian and is not any sort of moran. Let's just cut the cheese and get to the stink of it. Freebie'ers are simple forks and too Stupak to see internaltional good will. Thems have chorlte memories when it comes to the Bushy digital embrac-a-ture with that Swede.

[amandabeech]

58. He's the most Pacific, but let's not forget that Nixon was born in California

and Reagan spent the better part of his life there.

Please do not see this post as an endorsement of either Nixon or Ronnie. I despised both of them.

[Arkana]

16. I'd be more confused than anything,

since there is no current King of England.

[sandnsea]

28. He is the first Pacific President

There aren't any others from the Pacific Coast. He's right. What's it to you?

[rasputin1952]

35. Reagan...lest we forget...

(actually I'd rather forget him)...:hi:

[sandnsea]

37. Reagan was born in Illinois

Grew up there. Not from the Pacific Coast at all. He was a midwesterner, through and through.

[rasputin1952]

38. To bad for CA he moved there, and called it home for many a year...

That's why I'd call it for Reagan being a Pacific Rimmer. Lincoln was not born in IL, but that's where they claim him...:hi:

[sandnsea]

39. Lincoln was born in Kentucky

Kentucky - Illinois, midwesterner more or less. Not the same as being raised in the midwest and raised somewhere on the Pacific. It creates a different mindset. It's more than just claiming this or that state or region as your home. Obama knows what values he gets from being raised in the Pacific, and he knows which values he gets from the fact that his grandparents were midwesterners. It's different.

[rasputin1952]

40. To each his own, I realize Lincoln was born in KY...

eventually moved to IL, but it is IL that claims him, not KY, (and he claimed IL as well).

Reagan moved to CA relatively early in life, he claimed CA as far as he got his values, or at least altered some of them, and kept/rejected others from his upbringing. My point is, Reagan claimed CA as "home" for many years, rose to be it's governor, and ran his campaign for the presidency out of CA...he retired to and is buried in CA. Virtually his entire life revolved around CA, it is by that logic that I can not see calling him anything other than a Californian, (even if transplanted from the Mid-West), while not born in CA, it had a major impact as to how he saw himself and wished to be seen. Just as Lincoln and Springfield IL are inseparable, so is Reagan and CA.

PO on the other hand was born in HI, but eventually moved to IL, he claims most of his professional life was in IL, he was a Senator from IL, and now a president from IL. The only thing he claims for HI is a birthplace and his early life. Naturally, as w/everyone else as well, where one initially starts to socialize will have an impact on how they see lie in general, I wold think, as he grew and became educated and professional in IL, he would pick up IL values, and literally

Life is filled w/little quirks like this, in the end, it does down to what the individual decides is a "value" and which they will reject, these change over time, regardless of where person is born. have to in practicing IL law.

Regardless of where he came from, he was the second worst president of all time, (bush being #1 at being worst). Which brings up the CN preppie that claims to be a TX'an but is little more than rich kid spoiled bastard. Almost everyone sees bush as a "Texan", (he pushes that like Reagan pushed being a Californian), and it has come to be.

[jbnow]

49. Hawaiians see Obama as Hawaiian.

They even made a site about it
http://obamasneighborhood.com/">Obama's Hawaii Neighborhood

Obama's Neighborhood will help you appreciate how Hawaii influenced the growth and development of the 44th President of the United States. Barack Obama once said "What's best in me, and what's best in my message, is consistent with the tradition of Hawai'i."

These are not empty words. He is truly a son of Hawaii.

This web site is designed to help the reader appreciate the intellectual and cultural environment that nourished Barack Obama. As Michelle Obama said to David Mendell, her husband's biographer, "You can't really understand Barack until you understand Hawaii."

He lived in Pacific Rim through high school graduation... Hawaii most of them but Indonesia from ages 7 to 10. He went home every year to visit and relax. Hawaii is or was pretty different in tone from mainland United States...more of a Pacific Islander culture
He talked about his upbringing in the context of the speech

Still after some article I read many articles where right wingers were flipping out that he declared himself THEIR president on his way to declaring himself president of the world or something. That no other president has called themselves the first south american president or anything. I'm thinking they don't get what the Pacific rim is? It was strange. They were also seeing it hypocritical because he makes such a big deal about being the first black president and now he is suddenly the pacific president and how arrogant that is. That was strange too. (Obama has never ever made a big deal about being the first black president, the rest of us do.)

I do believe the man couldn't do anything right to those who oppose him

[rasputin1952]

50. Well, I don't oppose him, and to be honest, I really don't care

about where he's from, or where he went to after leaving HI. While it is nice to claim him, the man is PotUS and I think he'll do a fine job in the long run; in fact, considering all he's had on his plate, I think he's done very well so far.

FWIW, I forgot to mention Nixon was from CA as well, not that that is a "good" thing.

[mopinko]

46. there are plenty of lincoln spots in KY.

they lay claim to him the best they can there, too.

[EmilyAnne]

79. I wouldn't give a rat's ass. Your question is absurd. Seriously. If the King of England was,

indeed, the first Atlantic King, what on earth would be strange about him saying so?

[Rosa Luxemburg]

88. but there's a Queen not a King

heh heh!

[d_r]

8. southern gop

would strip, bow down, and help them find the hole if they thought they'd get a toyota plant out of it.

[Clio the Leo]

15. And speaking as someone who lives a few miles from the new VW plant.....

.... I can say you are ABSOLUTELY right!

[Muttocracy]

26. I love your sig graphic. I say that to myself all the time but didn't have a graphic! nt

[d_r]

32. THANKS

[gblady]

18. isn't he just.....

the cutest!!!



He just cracks me up!

[firedupdem]

19. That's my President!! Carrying a heaping mess on his shoulders

and standing tall!

[Hekate]

21. Very polite, nicely modulated, respectful but not subservient. Well done, sir.

Needless to mention, he also did not throw up on anyone.

Hekate

[Thrill]

22. Oh No. He really did do it again

LOL










U.S. President Barack Obama, left, bows as he is greeted by Japanese Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko, not pictured, as he arrives at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, Saturday, Nov. 14, 2009. Obama is on a two-day visit in Japan since Friday.

Freepers going nuts

[Drunken Irishman]

25. Wow. He looks like he can crush that dude!

[BR_Parkway]

33. And the difference in their heights means he's really got to bow low

that last picture looks almost like some strange PhotoShop

[Abq_Sarah]

44. The depth of a bow

Has nothing to do with the height of the person delivering it.

Very deep bows can be a sign of apology or they denote a superior/inferior relationship. In either case, it simply wasn't appropriate. A US head of State never, ever delivers a subservient bow.

I don't know who is in charge of etiquette at the State Department but they need to be looking for a new job.

[Beacool]

66. You are right.

That deep of a bow denotes subservience. It was also done incorrectly. The form was all wrong and one does not bow and shake hands at the same time. If he's going to be bowing to royal leaders, how come he didn't do the same for the queen of England? LOL!!!

:D

[Bonobo]

69. You don't know what YOU are talking about.

"That deep of a bow denotes subservience. It was also done incorrectly. The form was all wrong and one does not bow and shake hands at the same time."

Your statement reminds me of that old joke:

"2 people fart in an elevator. They both know who did it."

Similarly, you and I both know that you don't know really know what you are talking about.

[CakeGrrl]

71. She tried to spread her "concern" to another thread

This is really red meat for the haters. Sad.

[Abq_Sarah]

73. You'll want to be very careful

Before levying accusations.

[Abq_Sarah]

72. Honey,

I'm not a bootlicker. I call it like I see it and when our President does something inappropriate, I'm not going to pretend it's cool and hip.

[Bonobo]

76. Ha ha ha. I can't talk...

Can't stop laughing.

[ZombieHorde]

84. Do you see any harm in Pres. Obama's actons? If you do, what harm do you see? nt

[Beacool]

74. Since my father was a diplomat and we lived in many countries,

I do have some knowledge about protocol. US presidents are not required to bow to foreign leaders, royal or not. If Obama chose to do so, that was his personal preference.

:shrug:

[Bonobo]

75. So you withdraw your claim to know about what an appropriate bow is. Whew. nt

[Beacool]

77. Think what you may.......

US presidents are on equal footing and should not need to bow to foreign royalty, particularly a deep bow. The rules that apply to a commoner are not the same that apply to the leader of the country.

Got to go, no time to argue with you.

;)

[Beacool]

83. Check this article.

The Point: Obama's Bow Enrages Critics
Posted: 11/16/09

Conservatives were incensed by the way the president greeted Emperor Akihito in Tokyo on Saturday. Unlike in April, when the White House insisted Obama's bow to King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia wasn't a bow at all, a senior administration official told Politico the president was just observing protocol.

---------------

Thomas Lifson, who lived in Japan for years and taught hundreds of foreign executives the right way to bow, agreed that -- regardless of any political subtext -- Obama's combination low-bow/handshake was a mess.

It "violates a fundamental precept: NO TOUCHING while bowing," Lifson wrote for the American Thinker blog.

He also noted that Emperor Akihito had a big smile on his face as Obama bowed.

"That's pretty much polite Japanese for 'falling down laughing,'" Lifson explained.

;-)

[Bonobo]

86. Well he is wrong. People bow while shaking hands plenty.

By the way, that nutbag also wrote this:

http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2009/07/obamas_revealing_body_language.html

ON EDIT: I guess all those people are LAUGHING at each other, huh?

[Bonobo]

68. Maybe Obama wanted to change that outdated xenophobic policy.

It isn't the 19th century, you know.

[Ava83]

43. My seven year old Daughter

Thinks the bows are due to the fact the President is a ninja and that is one of the things ninjas do is bow as a sign of respect.

[Pirate Smile]

23. NYT put it on the front page. Is this really going to turn into a dumbass big deal?

Isn't that just kind of a standard greeting and showing respect?

[NYC Liberal]

29. It is - but don't expect that to matter to the right-wingers

and more especially, the media.

[Igel]

45. Shaking hands = respect.

And if you have to lower your frame slightly to do it, fine.

There are standard greetings and shows of respect among equals. Obama could have used any of them. He chose not to. Twice.

I can think of no excuse for him that isn't offensive in some way.

I'm not like the blogger who said that we need jobs in the US, and if Obama's polishing Akihito's shoes with his tongue would help out, that's fine by him.

My wife saw the picture and simply said that Americans don't bow to royalty, esp. not the president. She wouldn't, she said, since she's Akihito's equal--she wouldn't bow to Obama, and Akihito is of lesser importance to her. And because we fought a war and rejected the idea of royalty being our betters. A slight waist incline she would so, since that was between equals. She noted that Akihito was still upright while Obama was bent over and asked if Akihito then reciprocated. At best a slight twitch of his upper body--one that was more likely the result of a 70-year-old man shaking hands than a bow.

[bettyellen]

52. ha, well now your wife is wrong about the bow;s meaning- same as Dick Cheney was.

thank god we don't have a president who's dumb enough not to find out the truth of it. and who;s strong enough not to care what people who are ignorant and or preoccupierd with looking tough- have to say. seriously we were ruled w/ ignorance and xenophobia for eight years, that was plenty

[ZombieHorde]

85. What harm do you see from Pres. Obama's bow? nt

[jberryhill]

27. Congratulating Them For December 7, 1941, No Doubt /nt

[impik]

30. "He smiled at them damn forinars"

Hilarious. :)

[impik]

31. I just love how he couldn't care less

of what people will say about him. You'd think that after the previous "bow-Gate" he'll second-guess himself. Yea, right.

[gratefultobelib]

48. That's kind of what I thought, too. He had to know he'd blow repubs minds again and didn't care.

[rasputin1952]

34. That last pic reminded me of a story I read about a year ago...

there were actually classes in Japan that were designed to teach the Japanese to smile, (I kid you not). Apparently, there is some cultural thing that "frowns" on smiling, and many Japanese needed some "help" with the process, so as to ensure the smile did not appear forced.

Looking at that group in the last pic...I'd say these people opted out of the classes...:D

edit: dumb typo's...:blush:

[Cha]

47. I had to go back and

look at the pic. I found this on bowing in Japan.

<snip>

Instructions.Things You'll Need:

•The desire to understand the Japanese people
•A sense of composure

Step 1

Bowing in Japan is everywhere, and understanding it is everything. It takes some time for the foreigner to understand the many meanings of the bow and the many ways of bowing. But embracing the bow from the outset will improve one's chances at everything from crossing the street safely to meeting a mate.

Step 2

Understand that in Japan, the bow essentially means "I acknowledge you". The bow can mean things like "I see you", "Thank you", "Hello," "Good Day", "Pardon me", "Right away, sir", or "Amen". The Japanese people bow to show deep remorse as well as profound gratitude or respect -- these bows can be grand and sweeping or somber and slow. But the Japanese also bow to acknowledge almost all the sundry interpersonal interactions of life.
Remember the bow means "I acknowledge you": The Japanese also bow to acknowledge other drivers or pedestrians, the way Americans might give a small wave to a driver who lets them merge or to a bicyclist waiting cross an intersection.

<more>
http://www.ehow.co.uk/how_4920204_bow-in-japan.html

[uponit7771]

36. Anyone remember Bush getting his picture taken like in Pic 6? I don't remember the world being that

...interested in Bush.

[SKKY]

41. Yea, but this won't be a big deal because he wasn't bowing to an Arab...

[polichick]

51. He did it to respect tradition - it's just a big plus that it bugs the right! lol nt

[exboyfil]

53. Why didn't the emperor bow back

as he should as an individual of equal standing. Also look at the montage of other world leaders greeting the emperor - none are bowing (certainly not within 20 degrees of a full 90 degrees).

Got to admit Obama is pretty flexible.

[Inuca]

57. AFAIK tradition dictates that

that the emperor does not bow, period. And you got to admit their tradition is slightly longer than ours.

[EmilyAnne]

82. That thar is one of them marxist nazi traditions! nt

[EmilyAnne]

81. Because he hates President Obama and was sending a message to the entire world!!!!

This is of major significance. It tells us that President Obama was really born in Kenya, that he hates America, that he is an elitist who eats fancy mustard and that he wants to kill every white grandmother. Its like a gang sign or a baseball signal. Let's hope everyone is paying close attention.

[Politicalboi]

87. LOL!

Wow I thought something was up with the fancy mustard. How come we didn't see this coming? And Sarah Palin is a white grandma.:hide:

[opihimoimoi]

54. At least he didn't puke on the PMs lap....

[Clio the Leo]

55. Jackeens, it's "fur'ners" not "forinars."

I'll learn ya ta talk hillbilly even'chully. ;-)

[Norrin Radd]

56. Is he going to visit the town of Obama while he is there?

[emulatorloo]

65. Thanks for the pictures -- they are really nice to see. n/t

[nickinSTL]

70. WTF is wrong with showing respect?

it isn't like he's getting down on his knees and being openly submissive (which is what the RW seems to think bowing is) - it's SHOWING RESPECT. Period.

Freaking RW are idiots (I'm sure that's a news flash to everyone here).

[budkin]

78. Bowing is UNACCEPTABLE!

Pit bull wouldn't bow to terrists or NE1 !!!

[EmilyAnne]

80. He is such an elitist! He's supposed to be chewing gum and propping his feet up on the furniture.

I heard he asked for mustard to go with his sushi.
And it wasn't even the good, glowing, God-fearing American mustard but the elitist dijon kind!