Obama Bows to Saudi King

[Martinus]

I, for one, would welcome more BDSM rituals in international relations.

[The Minsky Moment]

In the grand scheme it doesn't really matter, but it does stick in craw.  He is the head of the most powerful nation on earth. He represents all of us Yanks. A polite little nod-bow would be OK.  But he shouldn't be bending his spine to some feudal autocrat.  He needs to get a little Jefferson into him, pronto.

[garbon]

The "left". Hardly. She's an art history prof. Not representative of any actual political bent other than a bent towards social freedom to create or fuck whatever art you like. also she's a windbag. No one cares about her opinions anymore.

Actually she is. She rubs people the wrong way though as she isn't a mindless member of the democratic party and is often critical of her own side.  Also, for a large part of her career she's been more of a cultural critic than just her position as an art history professor.

Oh and as said, I care about her opinions!

[garbon]

Gerbo clearly cares about her opinions.  

[Barrister]

Gerbo clearly cares about her opinions.   

Yes Gerbo?

[Fireblade]

I just wish everybody would shut the fuck up for a few minutes.  Aren't we supposed to wait a bit before the insanity begins all over again?  Yes the left sucks, yes the right sucks.  Everybody is evil and totally corrupt is you believe the shrill bullshit.  I mean is labeling every leader the love child of Darth Vader and Satan really productive?  Is our republic really helped by this childish nonsense?

You're overreacting.

But anyway, I waited 8 long years to be in the opposition & pelt the leader/party in power with spitballs.  Don't deny me this

It is fun, isn't it?

[Ed Anger]

In the grand scheme it doesn't really matter, but it does stick in craw.  He is the head of the most powerful nation on earth. He represents all of us Yanks. A polite little nod-bow would be OK.  But he shouldn't be bending his spine to some feudal autocrat. He needs to get a little Jefferson into him, pronto.

Sally Hemings has that.

[FunkMonk]

In the grand scheme it doesn't really matter, but it does stick in craw.  He is the head of the most powerful nation on earth. He represents all of us Yanks. A polite little nod-bow would be OK.  But he shouldn't be bending his spine to some feudal autocrat. He needs to get a little Jefferson into him, pronto.

Sally Hemings has that.

Someone was going to pull that one out. I'm glad you're the one who did it. 

[Grallon]

Wow I am so very OUTRAGED...oh wait I don't give a shit.

How do you counteract a deeply ingrained perception that you're an arrogant boor ?  You play the humility card.  It doesn't cost anything and might generate some needed goodwill - or at least less animosity.   

The fact that Obama's been playing that card in one form or another during this tour; with the european allies, the Russians and now the Saudies, tells me this is orchestrated.  The same man that won the presidency by being cautious and unassuming might do it again on the world stage.

Why should they fear an overly polite nerd after all ?  So they'll accomodate him here and there when he humbly suggests something...

Naturally this won't please the blowhards, along with many others, but in the end no matter how you get what you want, so long as you get it !




G.

[Sheilbh]

In the grand scheme it doesn't really matter, but it does stick in craw.  He is the head of the most powerful nation on earth. He represents all of us Yanks. A polite little nod-bow would be OK.  But he shouldn't be bending his spine to some feudal autocrat.  He needs to get a little Jefferson into him, pronto.

I agree, it's pretty poor show.

I think he needs a bit more Robespierre, but then, who doesn't?

Actually she is. She rubs people the wrong way though as she isn't a mindless member of the democratic party and is often critical of her own side.  Also, for a large part of her career she's been more of a cultural critic than just her position as an art history professor.

She rubs people up because it works.  She's the cultural theory equivalent of Chris Hitchens.  Someone with an admirable and eye-catching prose style who is, fundamentally, a bit of a dick.

[Ed Anger]

Sally Hemings has that.

Someone was going to pull that one out. I'm glad you're the one who did it. 

Thank you. 

it was the first thing that popped into my mind. 

[Razgovory]

I just wish everybody would shut the fuck up for a few minutes.  Aren't we supposed to wait a bit before the insanity begins all over again?  Yes the left sucks, yes the right sucks.  Everybody is evil and totally corrupt is you believe the shrill bullshit.  I mean is labeling every leader the love child of Darth Vader and Satan really productive?  Is our republic really helped by this childish nonsense?

You're overreacting.

But anyway, I waited 8 long years to be in the opposition & pelt the leader/party in power with spitballs.  Don't deny me this

Maybe if you had voted for Kerry you could have cut that in half.  But I've always said conservatives are good on offense poor on defense.  I mean compare Ruby Ridge with Oklahoma City.

[CountDeMoney]

The "left". Hardly. She's an art history prof. Not representative of any actual political bent other than a bent towards social freedom to create or fuck whatever art you like. also she's a windbag. No one cares about her opinions anymore.

Progressive, post-feminist women should care.  That means you.

[Admiral Yi]

How do you counteract a deeply ingrained perception that you're an arrogant boor ?  You play the humility card.  It doesn't cost anything and might generate some needed goodwill - or at least less animosity.   

The fact that Obama's been playing that card in one form or another during this tour; with the european allies, the Russians and now the Saudies, tells me this is orchestrated.  The same man that won the presidency by being cautious and unassuming might do it again on the world stage.

Why should they fear an overly polite nerd after all ?  So they'll accomodate him here and there when he humbly suggests something...

Naturally this won't please the blowhards, along with many others, but in the end no matter how you get what you want, so long as you get it !




G.

I think this is the first time I've heard US policy towards Saudi Arabia described as arrogant.  I thought the standard knock was that we kiss their asses and prop up their corrupt regime.

You're right that humility costs nothing and in the end it doesn't matter how you get it as long as you get it.  But this thread topic is about more than just humility, it's about paying obeisance to a monarch.

[Barrister]

So I'm wrong - there are people who care about this.