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New York, 1:31 AM
Tue Nov 24
47 posts in the last 24 hours
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11/23/09
Then at 12 Noon on an appointed day, each recipient will heat up the tips until they glow red.
At 12:10 PM sharp, I will be given two minutes to Google evidence of Conservative pols who bowed or curtsied the Queen of England.
I will then send the results in care of John Cook for certification.
At 12:12 PM, either every recipient will douse their glowing knitting needles using their vitreous fluid, or I will eat whatever knitting needles remain in my crate. All via live webcam (with audio, 'natch).
Needless to say, I'm expecting to be quite famished at 12:15 PM.
11/23/09
11/23/09
So there's two facts for the price of one!
11/23/09
11/23/09
Perhaps President Obama is continuing the tradition?
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11/23/09
This shows you how morally bankrupt the Republican Party has become. Unemployment rate is 10.2%, record budget deficits, millions without health insurance. There are lots of valid criticisms of Obama, but these guys demean themselves and the nation when they engage in these transparently ridiculous criticisms.
11/23/09
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11/16/09
B. Jesus, I wish people would just get off Barry's (lovely) ass and let him do his job, which includes undoing the global alienation of the previous administration. #barackobama
11/16/09
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11/16/09
In any case, the bow in Japan is not a sign of submission. It's a sign of respect. It's nice to have a president who seeks to achieve his ends by showing respect to other world leaders, rather than just expecting them to bend over to the U.S. president from the outset. #barackobama
11/16/09
Some of the FoxFollowers have been commenting about it and it's been something on their network.
Yesterday, they posted a clip from Fox News Sunday on Mediaite, showing the Obama bow and followed it with film of Dick Cheney not bowing, which prompted his daughter to say something about "Cheney 2012".
11/16/09
I have no clue about bowing in relation to one's head height so if that's the case then I'm the ignorant one. I thought it was all an angle thing. #barackobama
11/16/09
Obama's bow is 45 degrees or more, and eyes to the floor, which means either: (a) that he views the Emperor as an authority in the manner of a divine being, or (b) that he is apologizing.
Of course Obama is probably just exaggerating the motion out of unfamiliarity, but these "nuances" are well understood by all Japanese and many others. Someone told Obama that the deeper the bow, the more polite, which is only kinda correct, but overly simple.
Nixon did it right -- eye-to-eye, and no more than 30 degrees. This is how one would bow to sensei, peers, etc.
I'm no raving right-winger, but how fucking hard is it to get such a commonplace custom right when your job is visiting foreign dignitaries? It does make him look foolish. This is especially the case because the Emperor offered him the handshake, and did not reciprocate the deep bow.
Final point: maybe Obama meant to apologize. Given U.S. history in Japan, this would be a legit (if controversial) thing to do in my opinion. #barackobama
11/16/09
The point is that, in Japan (especially ceremonies of state), bow = handshake. It's not a sign of supplication. It's a sign of respect. You'll notice that Obama bows and that Akihito gives him a hearty handshake. But I doubt you'll hear many people in Japan saying "Oh my God, Akihito shook Obama's hand heartily, what a cheese-eating surrender monkey, kick him off the throne!"
That there would be even the slightest actual controversy about this in the mainstream is patently absurd.
11/16/09
You're right. I think Obama is exaggerating the motion because it's not a familiar thing, or more likely because he knows he's pretty fucking tall and isn't sure if he has to overcompensate because of that.
Where you're wrong is in attributing some deep meaning to this event. Watch the effing video, man. The bow is deep but quick. That particular photo is incredibly misleading, which is probably why you won't see the Obamabowgate crowd using the video as a source.
I think that, if Obama bowed that deeply in order to correct something, it was likely not for U.S. history with Japan, but for the dunderhead presidents before him who never felt as though they had to pay any real respect to Japan in order to get what they wanted.
He bowed. He showed respect. The Emperor shook his hand. The Emperor showed respect. That is the beginning and the end of what happened in that scene. #barackobama
11/16/09
11/16/09
That being said, the man made a mistake...it happens, but why cant you just admit he did something wrong. You are just as bad as those who want to paint this as something it isnt.
He made a mistake, his intentions were good...stop defending his mistake...call it what it is...move on and let those who would obsess about this do so. #barackobama
11/16/09
11/22/09
I'm sorry but you can't just say "he did his best and it was a little off" about POTUS. He should be getting very clear advice about these matters.
#tips
11/22/09
11/03/09