Yesterday we were treated to endless pontificating about the appropriateness of the gift the Queen herself suggested and whether or not the President and the First Lady breached etiquette through inappropriate touch and an insufficient bow, today we are treated to the daily wingnut fauxtrage du jour, which centers around how inappropriate it is to bow before the Saudi King:
The text of that post kills me- “I am quite certain that this is not the protocol.” Obligatory Sadly, No! link..
So, to recap. Yesterday- the bow before the Queen was insufficient and his present that she requested sucked. Today, the bow before a King was too much and proof we are this close to a Muslim caliphate.
Personally, I remember the good old days:
Don’t ask, don’t tell.
TenguPhule
The problem with our liberal media in a nutshell.
Zifnab
And Barack Obama STILL hasn’t given the German Chancellor a back rub. Just proving he’s a cold, vile, xenophobe who hates German almost as much as he hates America.
James K. Polk, Esq.
Real men never kiss and tell.
Krista
I was just going to say, aren’t these the same people who laughed it off when Bush winked at the Queen, acted like a retarded fratboy with the British Prime Minister, and sexually harassed the German Chancellor?
LD50
That’s nothing compared to what Bush and that guy did when the cameras were off.
Ken Lovell
The Australian Prime Minister took the Queen by the arm to steer her through a crowd about 15 years ago. The howls of outrage from the Murdoch hacks in Fleet Street were deafening. Mark Steyn talks about it to this day.
But I thought conservatives believed citizens of the USA were proud and free and tugged the forelock to no man? Since when did they agree that some weird overseas head of state should set the rules for interpersonal behaviour?
The Very Reverend Battleaxe of Knowledge
That last pitcher is worth a thousand words, innit?
Dennis-SGMM
demkat620
Real men hold hands while walking though the Texas Bluebonnets, silly.
Cat Lady
It’s going to be a VERY long 4 years, and probably 8, if we waste our time on their outrage du jour. I know you’ve got a blog to feed John (a great blog, BTW), and we love coming here to confirm our sanity, but let’s always remember, they’ve got nothing. All they have is projection and the pissing off of liberals. That’s your modern, pathetic, bankrupt conservatism.
Reality, a/k/a the rest of the world, loves our guy. Isn’t that what we all needed, and hoped for? Mission Accomplished! Suck it wingnuts.
That is all.
Calouste
@Krista:
Next year there is a good chance that the British Prime Minister will be a retarded frat boy, so Bush missed out on a soul mate there.
gypsy howell
If Obama kissed the lips and held hands with a prince, what would we be hearing now?
Eh… never mind. I already know.
Raymond
“I am quite certain that this is not the protocol.”
The American Spectator guy is right. The protocol IS to kiss.
Sheesh.
Joshua Norton
I’m pretty sure Obama is briefed endlessly on what proper protocol is for each head of state he meets. Whether the wingnutz approve of it or not doesn’t even enter into the equation.
Litlebritdifrnt
I was listening to Ingram and Limbaugh today (I was doing alot of driving around running errands for the boss) and realized that the right wing talk show hosts must have missed their morning talking points meeting cause they were at cross purposes. Ingram was OUTRAGED absolutely OUTRAGED that Michelle did not curtsey and Barack did not bow, OUTRAGED I tell you, saying quite happily that she would be more than happy to curtsey for the Queen. I call bullshit, if there had been tape of Michelle curtseying and Barack bowing to the Queen Ingram would have been OUTRAGED that the leader of the free world and his wife felt the need to be SUBSERVIENT to a monarch of a tiny social ist nation, cause gosh darn didn’t we fight a war to get rid of that shit? Following Ingram was Limbaugh who was OUTRAGED that Barack bowed to the Saudi King. So I am assuming that had Barack not bowed to the Saudi King Limbaugh would have been OUTRAGED that Barack had not shown deference to the King of a nation that controls a boat load of the world’s oil. I give up with these dickheads, I really do.
PS) the whole hugging the Queen thing is pathetic. It is clear from the video that the Queen places her hand on the small of Michelle’s back and in a natural reaction Michelle goes for the arm hug, I mean come on this is the Queen, you are nervous (naturally) and she puts her hand on the small of your back, what are you supposed to do stand there like a rock? Michelle reacted like most people would. And as the Palace has said, it was a sign of affection from the Queen, and THERE WAS NO BREACH OF PROTOCOL. Get the fuck over it.
PPS) It is also pretty clear from the British Press that the Queen is quite taken with the first couple, particularly with Michelle. I think a JFK Paris quote might serve Barack well at this point.
Dennis-SGMM
"Obama high-fives Prince Charles! Film at eleven!"
CapMidnight
"I am aware of all international protocols"
TR
More than that, these are the people who’ve been sneeringly using "European" as an epithet for the past few months. "Ooh, we don’t want to have a faggy ass European style health care system! Ooh, we don’t want to have a limp-wristed European style economy! Heaven forfend we do anything like that fucking hellhole Europe!"
Maybe that kind of assholish talk offends Europe a little more than using the wrong salad fork?
Litlebritdifrnt
PS) (yeah I know another one) Michelle’s speech to the school today speaking about empowering girls was wonderful and (I can’t believe I am going to say this) WELL RESEARCHED she actually said "a girl from a council estate" (aka "the projects" government housing for low income families) this is such a tiny, tiny point, but it proves that Michelle’s staff are just as smart, and savvy as her DH’s, they LEARN things, they figure it out, and they write speeches which speak to the audience in their own language. I thought it was brilliant. Apparently in Britain she is now known as "The Hugger in Chief" :)
Ed Marshall
Probably the smartest commentary on the G20 was the foreign press covering the American press. Once they got done doing the reporting on the dealmaking and basically the structuring of the world financial system with an agreement that the Washington Consensus is dead, never to return(!), they all had a mini story about how the American media are idiots and are reporting home like it’s the President’s European Vacation.
jibeaux
@The Very Reverend Battleaxe of Knowledge:
The last Balloon Juice picture, or the last S, N picture? Because if you haven’t gone over there yet, save yourself while there’s still time…
Ekim
Personally, as a lifelong liberal and Democrat, I don’t believe that any American (or any citizen of any democracy or republic) should bow to any fucking king or queen.
Litlebritdifrnt
@Ekim:
That is exactly why I do not understand the Ingram outrage today. It makes absolutely no fucking sense whatsoever. None.
Edited to add, if they HAD have bowed/curtseyed they the outrage would have been just as bad based upon your opinion above. Basically they were fucked if they did and fucked if they didn’t according to the wingnuts.
wasabi gasp
Obama was just checking out the sweet sneaks he gifted to the Prince.
Mike in NC
We’ve been to a nice restaurant called Old Europe on Wisconsin Avenue in Georgetown. Very popular and still in business. Unlike Rummy.
Raymond
So, Ekim, I guess you can point to a time that you had a problem with both Bushes being so close to the House of Saud?
Tsulagi
I’m sure ex-Decider George does too with a wistful tear in his eye. Misses swapping spit with his old kissing buddy King Fahd before he went ass or tits up in his grave.
I’m thinking that was behind his lips desperately reaching out to Lieberman trying to remember those days and rekindle his fire.
valdivia
@Ed Marshall:
any linkies?
Krista
I know! Crazy, right?
Ah well…proof of right-wing hypocrisy has become rather like the sun coming up in the morning. Just something to be expected.
Ekim
Raymond,
Every time he expressed it in any way. I can’t cite any specific comments about it since I don’t keep a diary of my comments and I’m old and forgetful, but I am not nor have I ever been a Bush supporter or a supporter of monarchy or inherited aristocracy. Just because it’s now Obama who’s doing it doesn’t mean I should change my opinion–democrats (small d, Republicans or Democrats) don’t bow to kings.
jibeaux
@Ekim:
Well, hear, hear. I think Canada’s great except for a) the cold and b) all the "royal" crap. Well, okay, I think some version of the First Amendment would also be commendable since I think even pieceoshit holocaust deniers have the right to express their vile thoughts. But there’s many more things I like about it. But royalty, yes, that rubs me the wrong way, and doubly when, c’mon, you’re your own country now. Cut the apron strings already.
chuck
@Ekim
I hear you. Of course the Republican answer is to suck the cocks of Saudi oil barons in private, so…
Ed Marshall
@valdivia:
I remember for sure the BBC was scathing today. Can’t remember which one it was. I’m wracking my brain, my job is media research and it’s kind of a blur at the end of the day. I’ve become afraid to ask local people if they saw something in the news because I no longer am sure it happened here or somewhere else.
Mnemosyne
If it was Obama bowing to the Japanese Prime Minister, that would be totally different, because bowing in Japan and other parts of Asia is about local etiquette, not royalty. Not sure what the protocol is for Saudi Arabia.
Dennis-SGMM
C’mon guys, I thought that Rumsfeld’s remarks were a Great American Moment. There he stood, onions tied to his belt, berating Old Europe.
Comrade Darkness
I like the guy on the left in that second picture.
"I cannot look at you, your head is uncovered."
valdivia
@Ed Marshall:
Gracias!
gocart mozart
Do not click on the "obligatory sadlyno link" above and whatever you do don’t scroll down that page. Trust me on this.
Krista
I don’t know if I’d even go so far as to call them apron strings, though. The relationship is more like if you buy a store, and can’t be arsed to change its name, because it just seems like more trouble than it would be worth. HM is on our currency, but that’s really the only everyday reminder that we do have a relationship with England.
I can’t speak for everybody here, obviously, but I don’t feel any sort of intrusion or impediment on my life because of those loose ties with England, and can’t imagine that things would be all that different or better if we broke those ties. So even though there is periodically some public mutterings about our relationship with England, I would imagine that most of us have more important things to think of.
The Very Reverend Battleaxe of Knowledge
@jibeaux:
The Reagan-pooping bunny? No, this is worse. Of course, those of us with eyes and ears knew that the Bush family was owned by the house of Sa’ud from way back, but next time somebody wonders why, after we were attacked by 18 Sa’udis and 1 Egyptian at the instigation of a Sa’udi fanatic, we turned around and invaded Iraq, show them this picture.
Ed Marshall
I can’t speak for everybody here, obviously, but I don’t feel any sort of intrusion or impediment on my life
The Queen suspended parliament four months ago, didn’t she?
jrg
Aren’t you supposed to lick your fingers and touch your nipples when you meet a Saudi? Or does that only work with Dutch people?
jibeaux
@The Very Reverend Battleaxe of Knowledge:
No….there’s nothing worse than that S,N picture. It does not feature a bunny or Reagan.
@Krista:
Oh, I know there isn’t any real connection with England any more and you have better things to think of, I kind of think that’s why it’s weird to me. Why is there a Royal Bank of Canada and royal ballets and royal hockey games and whatnot, does the Queen attend these things? I guess that is the lingering difference between our breakups…U.S.: Get out of my life, you miserable bastard, and if I ever see you again I am calling the sheriff, and the National Guard, and someone to tar and feather you, and I will dump all your shit into the harbor AGAIN, okay? Canada: So, okay, look, it’s not you, it’s me, and really, best of luck, and I will totally call you, okay? Let’s stay friends.
Dennis-SGMM
What’s the protocol for Bush’s matching drool bucket and spittoon now that he’s out of office? Do the Brits give it to him as a souvenir or…
Krista
The Queen’s representative did, as it is the Governor-General’s symbolic role to open and close sessions of Parliament. But this particular prorogation was at the request of the Prime Minister, as he wanted to get out of a no-confidence vote that was threatened by a coalition between two other parties. So it wasn’t as though the Queen just took it upon herself to prorogue Parliament without so much as a by-your-leave. If the GG didn’t have that symbolic role, there would likely have been some other mechanism by which Harper could have prorogued Parliament and the end result would have been identical.
And jibeaux:
Heh, I don’t even know if it’s that strong. It’s more like an old employer with whom you exchange annual Christmas cards. You don’t want to cut off the contact, as he’s a nice guy and you might need a reference from him someday.
wasabi gasp
What is this Reagan pooping bunny you speak of? I wish to learn it more the Gipper hops and doos.
jibeaux
Damn your levelheaded, forward-thinking diplomacy!
The Very Reverend Battleaxe of Knowledge
@wasabi gasp:
Here. The Reagan part is from some suggestion of making a Reagan out of jellybeans.
Comrade Darkness
@Krista, Canada is no longer part of Britain, but Queen Elizabeth and her offspring are still the Royal family/Queen of the Canadian people, i.e., the head of state. That’s why Canada doesn’t need a president, a la France to pair up with the prime minister.
The Very Reverend Battleaxe of Knowledge
@jibeaux:
If you’re talking about Jonah K. Lo-Goldpez–yeah, that’s pretty bad, but Pipes and Geller is pretty nauseating, too.
wasabi gasp
@The Very Reverend Battleaxe of Knowledge:
Thanks, Rev.
My unsatiated disgust may now need a shot of tubgirl.
dbrown
Insane – Obama bowed to a god damn king!? I can not believe that anyone from America would bow to a low life coward that calls itself a king but the most powerful man in the world of a country that bows to no one! For once I am with the rightwing nut jobs on this (at least the ones that are outraged about his bowing). This is an evil day and I have lost a lot of respect for Mr. Obama. I am truely insulted by this act. I can only hope he triped or this is a fake picture as an April fools joke that is sick.
Ed Marshall
I wouldn’t care if it was some point of protocol, but I don’t think that’s Obama in that picture. Malkin put up what is supposed to be video and it’s someone shaking hands, but Obama is in the same video and the suit doesn’t look shiny and seems to be entering way later. Bowing to humans isn’t even part of any Arab culture as far as I’m aware.
Ed Marshall
I watched it again, that’s Obama and it looks like he is leaning forward because it’s loud, he "bows" again a few seconds later with his hand against his ear.
The Other Steve
I’m really disappointed you missed the fact that Michelle gave the Queen a great big Bear hug that was totally out of protocol.
Although the British press had a different take. Apparently the Queen put her arm around Michelle first, which totally shocked them as she is not known for being affectionate. Furthermore the Queen asked Michelle to personally call her, which is even more shocking and then on top of all that they said she loved the ipod, and appeared to show disappointment that the gift she gave was not as personal. These are people who cover the royals daily, and they were in awe at the friendliness the Queen showed, totally out of character and said it was quite touching.
It’s like one great big FAIL.
toujoursdan
In Canada the Queen is valuable for three reasons: 1) it makes us different than the Americans; 2) she’s a non-partisan, non-political head of state that both liberals and conservatives can rally around and 3) See #1.
Eventually, I would like to see Canada adopt the Irish model whereby there is weak non-partisan President who is the head of state and a Prime Minister who is the head of government.
I also think we should abolish the Senate.
Andrew
This whole cycle of outrage is causing Republicans to contradict themselves in shorter and shorter spans of time.
At this rate, they’ll all be Lou Dobbs by year end.
Tattoosydney
@Krista:
It’s much the same here in Oz. The Queen is on our currency, and she is nominally our head of state (through her representative the Governor General), and there are a few references to "Royal" this and that scattered around, but that’s about it…
She’s like the nice grandmother who everyone tiptoes around so she doesn’t worry about stuff. We will eventually become a republic, but while the Queen is alive, I don’t think most Australians think that it’s worth changing and potentially upsetting that nice Betty Windsor.
Mind you, when she pops her clogs, and Charlie and Camilla Horse Face take over, I expect we will be a republic within about twelve months.
This, I think, is very important. As soon as Canada or Australia decide they need to have a President, rather than the Queen, the selection of that person immediately becomes a political issue, rather than a foregone conclusion.
kommrade reproductive vigor
Shorter entire fReichtardosphere: THEM DARKIES DON’T KNOW HOW TO BEHAVE!
Skepticat
It would be interesting to see this photo from another angle. It really seems as though they’re all looking at something on the floor or at someone’s shoes.
Leinad
"Darkies" is more a British epithet isn’t it?
wilfred
Crikey, based on their reaction you’d think Obama had ‘stuck his hand under her skirt and gone the grope’.
Obama wants to show Muslims a little courtesy, after the last administration used them for target practice. He has said several times he intends to make a major speech to the Muslim world. He could have chosen a better representative than this fraud but the image will play decently enough. In Arabic the word is adab, or manners.
slightly_peeved
The one reason people might be cool with keeping the monarchy is that King William should be fairly soon after. I think people would be pretty cool with that.
Personally, I’m for convincing a minor royal to become King of Australia, a la William of Orange becoming king of England back in the day. Possible candidates include Prince Harry if he stops being such a twat, one of Princess Mary of Denmark’s kids, or we could just do what everyone’s wanted for years and appoint a former Australian cricket player as our head of state. Someone seriously proposes making David Boon or Steve Waugh our head of state and the British Monarchy will be gone like a shot.
Oh, and on the subject of Merkel: She stated that she wouldn’t resist a massage from either Obama or McCain. When asked to describe Obama before he was elected, she said:
So even if he does the backrub, I don’t think anyone – except maybe Michelle – would mind.
Tattoosydney
@slightly_peeved:
Warney for Presidunt.
Lee
I’ll look for the video, but in that picture that looks like the worst bow in all of history.
When I first saw it I thought someone had dropped something and he was picking it up.
ppcli
Ingraham, Limbaugh, etc. are missing the real story. Amateurs.
.
In addition to being head of state of the UK, the queen is the head of the British Commonwealth. [This is not a completely symbolic role. It brought her into conflict with Thatcher on occasion back in the day.] Kenya is a Commonwealth country. The queen is being nicer to Obama than she was to Bush, almost as if Obama was a citizen of….!
.
I don’t think I need to connect the dots for you.
Ash Can
I’ve looked all over the intertoobz, but I can’t find any information on the proper procedures for greeting Saudi royalty. As a result, like the buffoon at American Thinker, I have no idea whether or not Obama actually breached etiquette with his bow. Unlike said buffoon, however, I’m willing to be honest about my lack of knowledge in this regard. Further unlike said buffoon, I think it’s idiotic to ignore what Joshua Norton points out @ #14, which is the fact that there are people at the State Department who know a whole hell of a lot more than either Buffoon or I do about these matters, and who make careers out of instructing our government officials in them.
thomas
recently returned for a visit to Britian – we were flying in one direction while Obama was flying in the other.
The British friends we visited are strong republicans (that’s a small r), and aware of my Irish ancestoral sensebilities stated that the one big thing that Cromwell got right was removing the heads of the monarchy.
As Americans we should have been brought-up to be egaltarian democrats, (Jefferson like my friends called himself a republican, then democrat-republican) you only bow to someone who bows back, i.e., Japan.
Zach
Michael Leeden would be pissed at George Bush
alchemytoday.com/2009/04/03/obamas-bow-is-bushs-bow/
Houston Bridges
If that is a picture of POTUS bowing before the Saudi king, it is indeed a faux pas. American Presidents do not bow before heads of state, royal or otherwise. They are equals.
Larry
What, no video of the Bush sword dance? You are losing it.
Eric
@TenguPhule: Correct. The "liberal" media. The same liberal media that allowed Judith Miller — for the commie NY Times no less — to plagiarize and hype the Bush administrations justification for 4000 dead soldiers in Iraq. The same "liberal" media that forced me to listen to 24/7 365 days/year coverage of the Lewinski "scandal" and Whitewater. Holy crap, you even have conservative commentators complaining that conservative ideas are being blocked from the public by referring to their own columns in the media (!!). Theres a difference between believing something and knowing something. Let me know when you folks decide to care about the difference
Mike Caton
Maybe someone out to start a website that’s a nice clear indexing of each new right-wing outrage meme. Sort of a hybrid of Huffington Post, Snopes and the Colbert Report. Include originator and analysis for each. This one would be fine for the "Obama bows to Arabian monarch thereby proving he is a Muslim" meme.