Check out the video. After his brief, listless and cliché-ridden speech in Copenhagen ["time for action, not words," "we should live in the future, not the past"] that aired live on Morning Joe today, Pres. Obama makes the hand-shaking rounds on the podium.
He continues the glad-handing off the podium, until he spots someone and breaks into . . . a bow [screen cap after the jump]. With all the mulling around, it's hard to determine exactly what's going on. It looks like he might have been exchanging bows with a man in the scrum surrounding him. But PBO's bow seemed to go beyond the perfunctory head-nod that in the circumstances surely would have satisfied, say, Japanese etiquette.
What is it with our head of our state and Commander-in-Chief that sends him diving toward his shoes whenever a foreign dignitary hails into view? Will the MSM cover this latest installment in the adventures of Pres. O-bow-ma?
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You're right,
Fri, 12/18/2009 - 08:40 ET by motherbeltYou're right, Mark...handshake, handshake, handshake.....and then all of a sudden he sees who's in front of him, and bows. And I don't think he's bowing to someone else, he's bowing to, and looking directly at, the man who's hand he's shaking.
You could eat lunch off this guys back!
Fri, 12/18/2009 - 10:03 ET by unkeeafHe clearly doesn't hear or care about the bowing complaints in this country. It must be second nature to him, but this stuff is killing him with independents.
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It Looks Like....
Fri, 12/18/2009 - 08:53 ET by GeneralAlIt looks like Hugo Chavez! It makes perfect sense for our Comrade - in - Chief to bow to the senior Communist of Latin America!
I do believe that's Ban Ki Moon
Fri, 12/18/2009 - 09:23 ET by BrutariusNo wonder Barry's bowing. Ol' Ban Ki puts a lot of stock in the chosen one:
"President Obama's commitment to dealing with global warming has changed the political dynamic for our negotiations," United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon told ABC News here at the Copenhagen Climate Summit.
Yes, the same Ban Ki Moon who wrote a NY Times editorial called "We Can Do It" claiming we need a global government to fight this scourge: "A deal must include an equitable global governance structure." (Beware when you see the word equitable.....)
The Big O might be bowing, but if he keeps it up we'll be on our knees.
That would explain it
Fri, 12/18/2009 - 09:46 ET by motherbeltNo wonder Barry's bowing. Ol' Ban Ki puts a lot of stock in the chosen one
But I disagree with your theory; I think it's the reverse. After all, Ban is the head of the UN...the leader of the new "global government."
Oh for cryin' out loud!
Fri, 12/18/2009 - 09:40 ET by RukusPresident Bow-wow. Sheesh!
Gary
Old media species: Moonbat-a-saurus-rex. Getting more endangered by the day.
Or possibly...
Fri, 12/18/2009 - 15:15 ET by RukusO-Bow-Ma! : )
Gary
Did you ever realize that the "stronger sex" is really the "weaker sex" because of the weakness of the stronger sex for the weaker sex?
It's a short Asian with glasses, not Chavez
Fri, 12/18/2009 - 09:48 ET by tanargNot sure who, though. Need to enlarge further and lighten up. A pro could probably tell you who it is.
"Obama the Groveler"
Fri, 12/18/2009 - 11:58 ET by carolina09But only to non-white dignitaries.
The O does bow to all
Fri, 12/18/2009 - 10:04 ET by JerryThe O does bow to all foreign dignitaries. In fact, he goes out of his way to snub certain leaders... British, French, German, etc. It seems his bowing is reserved only for the right kind of leader.
When asked if he went to war with Iraq to derail the impeachment vote: “I don’t think any serious person would believe that any President would do such a thing." - President Clinton (Dec 1998).
Sorry, can't agree on this one...
Fri, 12/18/2009 - 10:37 ET by notinstlAs much as I despise his apologies and bowing...this is clearly neither...it appears he had already walked by someone, turned around, and rather than take a couple steps back, just reach back with his arm outstretched...a little farther needed due to the distance, which made it necessary to lower his upper body to extend the arm....
I am DEFINITELY not an Obama fan, but I also am not going to do what liberals do: make things up
NOTINSTL: I believe you're
Fri, 12/18/2009 - 10:41 ET by Mark FinkelsteinNOTINSTL: I believe you're focusing on the wrong part of the video. Yes, there is definitely a moment in which Obama does exactly what you describe. He walks by someone, then reaches back and shakes his hand. But at the very end, he in my opinion absolutely, definitely, without a doubt, bows. Please replay the video and see what you think.
Sorry you are wrong.
Fri, 12/18/2009 - 10:41 ET by MightyMouthHe clearly bowed to the Asian man whos hand he was shaking. It's right at the end. You can challenge the call but you are going to need a different camera angle to prove it. Loss of time out!
"The bureaucracy is growing to meet the needs of the growing bureaucracy"
Wait til close to the end of the video
Fri, 12/18/2009 - 12:02 ET by carolina09It is definitely a bow--though I see what you are talking about earlier in the video. And what what that with the salute? Was that from a UN jerk?
I will
Fri, 12/18/2009 - 15:10 ET by viluzionI also am not going to do what liberals do: make things up
I don't feel similar restraint. I found out what the bowing is about from a top official in the Obama administration who requested anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the disclosure. While I'm not yet at liberty to disclose all of the details at this time, it is part of a secret handshake. Members of the secret order to which these men belong recognize one another's status within the order by the grip. At this point one of them often shows the top of his head to the other to acknowledge his 'desktop' setting. I'll attempt to explain the rest later but will probably be captured and killed by the vesp........
have another look - it is a definite bow
Mon, 12/21/2009 - 04:58 ET by surfergirl54What kind of f'ing idiot is this clown? What is the idea of bowing to other world leaders?
Never in my whole life, as an outsider, a non-USA citizen have I ever seen a display from a President that is this bad.
What a crass idiot!!!
The POTUS should not be bowing to anybody. Yet here he is again bowing to the Chinese leader.... Is there anyone who is giving the right advice on this subject? Or is he so bloody arrogant that he takes no heed of Protocol advice?
quite the collection
Fri, 12/18/2009 - 10:49 ET by spepperwe here in the USA are getting quite a collection of nicknames for Presidents over the years, some not so complimentary: Ol' Hickory (Jackon), Honest Abe (Lincoln-- a former lawyer-- this nickname always sounded sarcastic to me), Give 'Em Hell Harry (Truman), Tricky Dick (Nixon), Mr Peanut (Carter), Slick Willy (Clinton)-- not sure what Obama's will end up in the history books as-- The Bower? The Apologizer? The Teleprompter? The Indonesian? hmmm, too many possibilites still--
The man
Fri, 12/18/2009 - 10:54 ET by jessieHThe man is a puppet. He will sell our country to the highest bidder. I really hate the guy.
Japanese handshake
Fri, 12/18/2009 - 10:54 ET by Edward LeeIt's really grainy, but the guy looks Japanese to me. The bow PBO gives is exactly the sort Japanese use to great each other. It is equivalent to a handshake there, as opposed to deference to authority as in most countries. I'm not sure respecting Japanese customs to a Japanese diplomat (which, btw, Japanese think highly of) is that big of a deal.
Edward Lee: I did address
Fri, 12/18/2009 - 11:02 ET by Mark FinkelsteinEdward Lee: I did address your point in the original post:
"It looks like he might have been exchanging bows with a man in the scrum surrounding him. But PBO's bow seemed to go beyond the perfunctory head-nod that in the circumstances surely would have satisfied, say, Japanese etiquette."
Granted
Fri, 12/18/2009 - 11:53 ET by Edward LeePoint taken. However, just as Eskimos have many names for different kinds of snow, the Japanese have a number of bows with different meanings. From the Fountain of Knowledge :-) Wikipedia ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Etiquette_in_Japan#Bowing ) a head knod is informal. Obama is giving a "formal bow". So, unless PBO was knuckle-bumping the other dignitaries, I don't see an issue.
Actually you are wrong
Mon, 12/21/2009 - 05:00 ET by surfergirl54As POTUS, the head of state, there should be no bowing. The Japanese do not admire this form of obsequiousness.
"Let me be honest ..."*
Fri, 12/18/2009 - 10:58 ET by CrashNaw that wasn't a bow ... it was a curtsy!
* Part of his Copen-hah-gen speech. Because, he can't just be honest without indicating that he lies most of the time.
Lil' Bow Wow
Fri, 12/18/2009 - 11:55 ET by YephoraThat was a bow to the Japanese guy, all right. And most significantly, it wasn't reciprocated.
Note also Zero's body language at :10 to the saluting cop. Like he's saying, "You don't have to do that."
How Charming,
Fri, 12/18/2009 - 12:18 ET by BlondeLadies and gentlemen, I give you another of Obama's signature moves, the BOW.
Which joins the pantheon of patented Obama moves, including but not limited to Centre Court Teleprompter Reading, Studious Observation of Light Fixtures Directly Overhead, and the Fake Cheesy Smile to Feign Happiness.
I hope he fails, too.
I need an even larger capacity Disgust-O-Meter for Obama
Fri, 12/18/2009 - 12:55 ET by R D Helm...because my current one, the Deluxe, High Performance, Titanium, Extra-Extra-Extra Large Capacity, Limited Edition model, has just overloaded and is giving off blue sparks and a hell of a lot of acrid smoke.
LOL-Perhaps I should unplug it?
-Dave
Who's next
Fri, 12/18/2009 - 12:54 ET by MLC39http://www.gocomics.com/glennmccoy/2009/11/17/
Maybe Soros?
Fri, 12/18/2009 - 13:37 ET by slickwillie2001Was George Soros, the owner of the democratic party there?
Re Bold
Fri, 12/18/2009 - 15:40 ET by slickwillie2001Oops, the bold virus has struck.
Blame Rukus
Fri, 12/18/2009 - 15:42 ET by BlondeHis tag did it!
I hope he fails, too.
Dang it!
Fri, 12/18/2009 - 21:03 ET by RukusFirst RESTLESS, now J! I'm gettin' blamed for everything today! : (
I changed my tag today and it gave me fits for about an hour. Sorry gang!
Gary
Did you ever realize that the "stronger sex" is really the "weaker sex" because of the weakness of the stronger sex for the weaker sex?
My kids are driving me up the wall
Fri, 12/18/2009 - 21:11 ET by RESTLESS 1And it's all you fault Ruk. :)
"If the man, with the power, can't keep it under control...some heads are gonna roll." -Judas Priest
It was the cream spinach wasn't it?
Fri, 12/18/2009 - 22:32 ET by RukusWhat was I thinkin'?? ; )
Gary
Did you ever realize that the "stronger sex" is really the "weaker sex" because of the weakness of the stronger sex for the weaker sex?
Can Obama spell...
Fri, 12/18/2009 - 17:43 ET by okiehawk44Kowtow?
Next he will move to "groveling."
Then in 4 years to "prostrating."