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Obama (Sort of) Comments on the Bow Flap: Controversy 'Leaves Me Speechless'
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RollsRoyceRevenge
11/24/09

In reply to Obama (Sort of) Comments on the Bow Flap: Controversy 'Leaves Me Speechless'
President Ronald Reagan accepted A KNIGHTHOOD FROM THE QUEEN OF ENGLAND.

Please tell me how this upholds notions of American independence and is much, much better than bowing to a Japanese royal.
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Novaload
11/24/09

In reply to Obama (Sort of) Comments on the Bow Flap: Controversy 'Leaves Me Speechless'
See, Obama doesn't understand that there was history before he arrived on the scene; and that history includes protocols. And that even if he scoffs at them, for a head of state to be ignorant of/ignore them speaks volumes to other heads of state and government. He looks weak and desperate to be liked. And if he criticizes people who are pro-diplomatic protocol, then this shows again that he doesn't get it.
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Mediahohoho
11/24/09

@Novaload: Yes. The president's critics are all about the protocol.

[images.google.com]

#asshats
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TigerTail
11/24/09

@Novaload: And history shows that President Nixon bowed to Chairman Mao. Bush the first bowed to the casket containing the former Emperor Hirohito. President Eisenhower bowed to Charles De Gaulle, and to the pope.

It's called a courtesy, people. And courtesy is part of protocol.
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Novaload
11/24/09

@TigerTail: If Nixon and Bush did it, then automatically it's wrong.
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Trai_Dep
11/23/09

In reply to Obama (Sort of) Comments on the Bow Flap: Controversy 'Leaves Me Speechless'
I hereby offer to buy a crate of knitting needles, of which I'll send a pair to every columnist, blogger and blathering talking head appearing on cable/local TV hyperventilating over Obama's respecting local customs. Gratis.
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.
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resipsaloquacious
11/23/09

In reply to Obama (Sort of) Comments on the Bow Flap: Controversy 'Leaves Me Speechless'
As opposed to GHWB, who, as a Real American, represented the USA by uncermoniously puking on Japan's Prime Minister during a state dinner.
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MisterHippity
11/23/09

In reply to Obama (Sort of) Comments on the Bow Flap: Controversy 'Leaves Me Speechless'
And not only does Obama THINK you're an idiot, but ... you ARE an idiot.

So there's two facts for the price of one!
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blix
11/23/09

@MisterHippity: Because the more you know you don't know.
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Magister
11/23/09

In reply to Obama (Sort of) Comments on the Bow Flap: Controversy 'Leaves Me Speechless'
We learned during the previous administration that Dick Cheney would often comment to the press with the condition that he not be named, only described as a "Senior Government Official".

Perhaps President Obama is continuing the tradition?
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Edited by Magister at 11/23/09 12:20 PM Magister was starred Magister was unstarred

Mediahohoho
11/23/09

@Magister: Personally I think Obama is a much better president than Cheney was.
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Novaload
11/24/09

@Mediahohoho: LOL.
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Mediahohoho
11/24/09

@Novaload: You forgot the emoticon.
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Conchie Birdie
11/23/09

In reply to Obama (Sort of) Comments on the Bow Flap: Controversy 'Leaves Me Speechless'
God, to think he'd actually try to be polite and respect another culture.
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Novaload
11/24/09

@Conchie Birdie: You are polite and respectful to other cultures by observing international protocol. When you are just an average citizen, do what you like. I mean, why not just grab him in a big ole friendly bearhug?
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VioletViolet
11/23/09

In reply to Obama (Sort of) Comments on the Bow Flap: Controversy 'Leaves Me Speechless'
So...is it still customary to bow in Japan or that an outdated thing? All of the experts on Michelle Malkin's comment board say that no one does it anymore. And all of them say they've lived in Japan for at least thirty years.
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valet_of_the_dolls
11/23/09

@VioletViolet: Sure they have! Rooming with that one gay friend every one of them has who doesn't think he or she should have the right to get married.
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Trai_Dep
11/23/09

@VioletViolet: And all of them don't speak any Japanese or have learned to use chopsticks, I'll wager.
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Pope John Peeps II
11/23/09

@VioletViolet: All the "Japan experts" on the Michelle Malkin board are fat, white, racist anime goons. And none of them live in Japan.
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Edited by Pope John Peeps II at 11/23/09 12:57 PM Pope John Peeps II was starred

RedShoes
11/23/09

@VioletViolet: I spent just a few weeks there and it took me a week after getting back to STOP bowing to everyone I talked to.
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VioletViolet
11/23/09

@RedShoes: Okay. It's not that I assumed the Malkin commenters were right or even that they really had such extensive experience in Japan. It just that the idea of the custom losing popularity due to Westernization isn't all that crazy. And when Malkin's minions say anything less than crazy, there's a problem.
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Mediahohoho
11/23/09

@VioletViolet: Personally, I'm happy to learn that the commenters at Michelle Malkins' blog had time to endlessly discuss this.
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Mediahohoho
11/23/09

@Mediahohoho: @quotidian: Um, no I think that's just a way of pointing out how stupid and pointless most of the criticism is. It's a way of saying, "hey, look what these stupid assholes are saying now," while linking it to stupid stuff the stupid assholes said previously. And it's hardly unique to Gawker.
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Definer-not-defined
11/23/09

@RedShoes: It's been three years and I STILL have to stop myself from bowing. There are pictures of me bowing to a dean at my graduation the year after I came back from my summer studying abroad.
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misslinda
11/23/09

In reply to Obama (Sort of) Comments on the Bow Flap: Controversy 'Leaves Me Speechless'
Obama has a seriously fine rear end and should use every opportunity possible to show it off.
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Spirit Fingers
11/23/09

In reply to Obama (Sort of) Comments on the Bow Flap: Controversy 'Leaves Me Speechless'
I see no problem with this. I say, you get respect once you give it. And if by bowing to an elder, no matter the nationality, shows that you're a humble human being that recognizes a centuries old custom, to me means you're intelligent, proactive, generous, able to live outside of a solely Americanized bubble, and comfortable enough in your own skin to do what's appropriate. Only the insecure need start a pissing match.
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MissNormaDesmond
11/23/09

@Spirit Fingers: You fucking commie. He should have busted the little bastard in the jaw, that's how a real American conducts diplomacy.
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Spirit Fingers
11/23/09

@MissNormaDesmond: Or we use a nuclear weapon to destroy an entire city of defenseless civilians. Why bust a jaw when you can flay babies!
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econdave
11/23/09

In reply to Obama (Sort of) Comments on the Bow Flap: Controversy 'Leaves Me Speechless'
Except they're not idiots. They're shameless jerks who will use any excuse they can to try to embarrass Obama. If he hadn't bowed, they would have said he was being rude.

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.
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MissNormaDesmond
11/23/09

@econdave: This is a false dichotomy. They're shameless jerks who are also idiots. Seriously. Even their own team is starting to catch on that they're grasping at straws -- did you see the Fox poll? If you can't even get Fox viewers to agree with your idiotic assertion, you've really screwed the pooch.
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Richard Petty Bourgeoisie
11/23/09

In reply to Obama (Sort of) Comments on the Bow Flap: Controversy 'Leaves Me Speechless'
But driving up in the UPS truck filled with tentacle porn was a bit much, no?
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MiracleDrug
11/23/09

@Richard Petty Bourgeoisie: In 21st Century Japan the gift of a truckload of tentacle porn is the highest gesture of respect.
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Juancho
11/23/09

@Richard Petty Bourgeoisie: afterwards, Obama and the emperor went out for no panty shabu-shabu.
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sanyucat
11/23/09

@Richard Petty Bourgeoisie: Tentacle porn?!! What the hell is wrong with the Japanese?
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badasscat
08/15/09

In reply to The Steady Reversal of Facebook's Disastrous Redesign
The funny thing is the mobile version of Facebook never changed. If you want the "old" Facebook, the mobile version is still it. It has status updates, news feed, photos, and contact info. That's it. But when I first installed it, I realized how much Facebook has actually cut *out* in the new interface. Stuff like people who your friends have just friended, or when they change their profile info. That stuff's actually useful to me, because I want to know if my friends update their phone numbers, or find a mutual friend that I didn't know was on Facebook.

I really still don't understand how Facebook managed to create so much clutter while actually removing things from the feed.
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MincnglyWhrdL'mer
08/12/09

In reply to The Steady Reversal of Facebook's Disastrous Redesign
I just need to figure out a way to, uh, 'encourage' my friends to post less and better content. "walking the dog" as status? = automatic 'hide'. too many LAME quizes and gifts? (but, yes, I actually did enjoy that tampon ghost sally sent me using 'bad thrift store crafts') = automatic 'hide'
maybe I just need more interesting 'friends'
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momo
08/12/09

In reply to The Steady Reversal of Facebook's Disastrous Redesign
You're sort of comparing apples and pears up there though. You have a profile page in old Facebook up against a home page in the new. This accentuates the (very correct) noise argument, but isn't accurate.
Once I figured out how to silence unwanted entities (high school friends, Gawker commenters, promoters) it sort of worked out okay for me, post remodel. Like most tools, you need to learn to use it to enjoy it.
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SeaBassTian
08/12/09

@momo: Let's not be hasty. Surely, Gawker commenters write better and more clever status updates than your high school friends. Party promoters should not only be blocked, but they should be executed at dawn for the sheer volume of party poop that arrives in my inbox everyday. In my day, we had to actually leave the house to entice club-goers.
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