President of The United States Bows to Saudi King Abdullah - Page 2

nmap · 04-06-2009, 21:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richard

Why would anybody want to be POTUS

Great retirement plan...first rate health benefits...outstanding travel allowance...excellent government housing...and, people laugh at your jokes...

But seriously, perhaps it is a combination of ego (desire for celebrity status and public acclaim) and idealism. It seems to me that all presidents have had some ideal. And they have pursued it aggressively, and have done so despite criticism and opposition.

Perhaps the problem lies therein. If someone believes a particular course is right and good in a moral sense, then those who oppose it are, by definition, evil. Add in the effects of ego, and there must surely be a temptation to impose the changes implied by the ideals of the officeholder. Conversely, those who have fundamentally opposing values will tend to see the officeholder as bad in a moral sense. I'm not sure this lends itself to polite and civil engagement. Rather, it may (perhaps must?) lead to angry confrontation between deep beliefs.

It seems more and more likely that the POTUS has ideals not in harmony with a great many Americans. If that's true, then he may become quite unpopular. How he responds to that environment - especially if public approval is important to him - may lead to interesting situations.

GratefulCitizen · 04-06-2009, 22:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richard

Why would anybody want to be POTUS

Lots of people would want to "be" POTUS.
How many people want to do what the POTUS does?
How many want to bear the burdens which come with the job?

QP's probably understand this concept all too well.

Lots of people want to "be" Green Berets.
How many people want to do what an SF soldier does?
How many want to bear the burdens which come with the job?

The office of POTUS has some serious flaws with its selection process.
IIRC, the original purpose of the electoral college was to assemble trusted men who would, in calm seclusion, select the right man for the job.
Now it's just another "American Idol" gameshow.

greenberetTFS · 04-07-2009, 03:47

Richard,

Why would anybody want to be POTUS when it looks as if it's a lot more fun to be a dart than to be the dart board?
Because I really believe he thinks he's our Messiah.

Like TR said Ego

He constantly puts Pres. Bush down every chance he gets which I think is totally shameful to disrespect a former POTUS. But this God complex he has is not going to change until he screws up really bad like we know is coming soon.................

GB TFS

alright4u · 04-07-2009, 07:14

I am damn tired of this clown playing up to Europe and Turkey, not to mention the Saudis. Funny, no one asked him what he what he was doing in Pakistan in 1981 or where is the passport he used?

PT Barnum is rolling over in his grave as Obama has found more suckers for his circus then Barnum ever found.

My .02

RT AXE 10 · 04-07-2009, 08:53

Looks to me like he's trying to establish rapport with that part of the world.

Then on the other hand, it could be in his nature.

Billy L-bach · 04-07-2009, 13:13

a sad day to see the POTUS bow to a king...

...hug him, kiss him, hold his hand, whatever you wanna do to "build rapport"
but bowing is not a cultural quirk, its a universal act of subjugation .

You are my commander in chief and I expect and deserve nothing less than greatness...
...shame on you Mr President.

doctom54 · 04-07-2009, 13:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by Billy L-bach

a sad day to see the POTUS bow to a king...

...hug him, kiss him, hold his hand, whatever you wanna do to "build rapport"
but bowing is not a cultural quirk, its a universal act of subjugation .

You are my commander in chief and I expect and deserve nothing less than greatness...
...shame on you Mr President.

I concur. Americans, even the President, don't bow (to anyone).

greenberetTFS · 04-07-2009, 14:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by Billy L-bach

a sad day to see the POTUS bow to a king...

...hug him, kiss him, hold his hand, whatever you wanna do to "build rapport"
but bowing is not a cultural quirk, its a universal act of subjugation .

You are my commander in chief and I expect and deserve nothing less than greatness...
...shame on you Mr President.

Billy L-b,

As always, I believe your right on target. I've read your posts and I think we pretty much think the same(most of the time)..............

But POTUS is letting us down with some of his antics which has embarrassed us(USA) recently.........

GB TFS

echoes · 04-07-2009, 17:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by Billy L-bach

a sad day to see the POTUS bow to a king...

...hug him, kiss him, hold his hand, whatever you wanna do to "build rapport"
but bowing is not a cultural quirk, its a universal act of subjugation .

You are my commander in chief and I expect and deserve nothing less than greatness...
...shame on you Mr President.

Sir,

Very well said in my humble civilian opinion!

Coincedentally, my freedom to express opinions, as well as Our POTUS freedoms, have been made possible by the sacrifices You and other brave men like you, have made.

Am curious if any other civilian has thought of this question, as it was the first thing I thought of after reading the story;
What does an act like this say to You Brave men and women in uniform, past or present?

Holly

Gypsy · 04-07-2009, 19:17

I'm so incredibly offended that the President bowed to another leader. It's beyond comprehension.

**Pete** · 04-08-2009, 17:16

"Bow? What Bow?"

"I just saw a dime on the carpet and was trying to save the American Taxpayer some money."

"Yeah, Yeah, that was it."

Sigaba · 04-08-2009, 18:24

Source is here.

Quote:

The White House is denying that the president bowed to King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia at a G-20 meeting in London, a scene that drew criticism on the right and praise from some Arab outlets.

"It wasn't a bow. He grasped his hand with two hands, and he's taller than King Abdullah," said an Obama aide, who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

The Washington Times called the alleged bow a "shocking display of fealty to a foreign potentate" and said it violated centuries of American tradition of not deferring to royalty. The Weekly Standard, meanwhile, noted that American protocol apparently rules out bowing, or at least it reportedly did on the occasion of a Clinton "near-bow" to the emperor of Japan.

Interestingly, a columnist in the Saudi-backed Arabic paper Asharq Alawsat also took the gesture as a bow and appreciated the move.

"Obama wished to demonstrate his respect and appreciation of the personality of King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz, who has made one of the most important calls in the modern era, namely the call for inter-faith and inter-cultural dialogue to defuse the hatred, conflict and wars," wrote the columnist, Muhammah Diyab.

The video shows Obama dipping toward the king as G-20 leaders greet one another at the ExCel Centre in London.

My two cents are that the video speaks for itself regarding the gesture itself.

I think the president needs either to take more of the advice he's getting or get new advisers.

Gypsy · 04-08-2009, 19:05

They can spin it any way they want, again insulting the intelligence of many of us, but that was one hell of a bow. Not a nod...a full on bow.

Saoirse · 04-11-2009, 12:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by Billy L-bach

a sad day to see the POTUS bow to a king...

...hug him, kiss him, hold his hand, whatever you wanna do to "build rapport"
but bowing is not a cultural quirk, its a universal act of subjugation .

You are my commander in chief and I expect and deserve nothing less than greatness...
...shame on you Mr President.

My sentiments exactly!
This young, idealistic POTUS, in his dream to create a more globally lovable and acceptable nation has done nothing short of insulting ALL of America and what SHE stands for. Not to mention, spitting on the efforts of our founding fathers to create a nation that does not have to bow to royalty.
I have spent the last 11 days in the field and have not had much access to the news but catching up on this forum today has left me frustrated, insulted and saddened. It just keeps getting worse, my optimism quickly slipping away.

Thanks Barry, way to go. I am too afraid to ask what you are going do for an encore!

echoes · 04-11-2009, 14:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by Saoirse

It just keeps getting worse, my optimism quickly slipping away.

Thanks Barry, way to go. I am too afraid to ask what you are going do for an encore!

Agree!!! It would have been nice to be able to say, "first this, now the pirate fiasco"...but sadly, this is not the first.

Am going to sing America the Beautiful, in my head, over and over...maybe I will wake up and be in Kansas!

O beautiful for spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!

Holly