German Chancellor Recoils from Bush's Touch

[SuzeQuze]

http://sfgate.com/c/pictures/2006/07/19/mn_bush_merkel.jpg

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/07/19/BUSH.TMP

Whoa :eek:

[irishgrl]

http://sfgate.com/c/pictures/2006/07/19/mn_bush_merkel.jpg

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/07/19/BUSH.TMP

Whoa :eek:

what was he doing? rubbing her shoulders?

I found this funny:
"When he is away from his script and his handlers, his true lack of intelligence and emotional maturity surfaces for all to see. The dangerous situation in Lebanon ... requires true leadership. Don't look for it from the world's uberpower."

[skcin]

OMG! :eek: Is he HIGH?!?!

[SuzeQuze]

OMG! :eek: Is he HIGH?!?!

:lol: That's one theory.

I love the crackpot from Fox trying to act like it's no big deal and that women are at fault for acting all offended after they didn't when Clinton harrassed Paula Jones. :eek: How their mind makes up and then equates such things I'll never guess. :shrug:

[mikeschmike]

You know how we Germans can get about cleanliness. Who in their right mind would want George Bush's hands on their body? Ptooie!

[SuzeQuze]

You know how we Germans can get about cleanliness. Who in their right mind would want George Bush's hands on their body? Ptooie!

Well I was thinking about the stereotype that Germans are a bit uptight. Not a good idea to grope them then, eh? :lol:

[bretonbanquet]

Well I'm not German, but I hate people laying their damn hands on me uninvited. As for coming up behind me and placing ones hands on my shoulders like that, I'd have to have words, President or no President :shrug:

Why do it anyway, what possible reason can you have?

[SuzeQuze]

Well I'm not German, but I hate people laying their damn hands on me uninvited. As for coming up behind me and placing ones hands on my shoulders like that, I'd have to have words, President or no President :shrug:

Why do it anyway, what possible reason can you have?

It's something you only do with someone you are really close with. Otherwise it is so wrong. Especially in a business environment or with heads of state! Good lord. He probably thinks it's charming.

[bretonbanquet]

Good lord. He probably thinks it's charming.

Put that in the huge box marked "Unacceptable concepts that Bush believes are just dandy" - no wait, there's no room in that box :)

[Street Angel]

Well I was thinking about the stereotype that Germans are a bit uptight.

I suppose anything else but a softly whispered "no" as a reply wouldn't help, right? ;)

Not a good idea to grope them then, eh? :lol:

"You can touch me, but not the car!!" ;)

[amber]

It's something you only do with someone you are really close with. Otherwise it is so wrong. Especially in a business environment or with heads of state! Good lord. He probably thinks it's charming.

I've actually seen lots of men do that (businessmen, etc.) It's just like a greeting. Like "hey, howya doin?'" (pat pat). To other men and women. :shrug:
It doesn't look like he's even friendly aquaintences with that lady, though. Which is when I usually see it. So...

[ragandbone]

BoingBoing offered this comparison:

http://i.document.m05.de/wp-content/uploads/2006/07/bushs_nerve_pinch.jpg

[David]

Why would he do that? Was it just a nervous tic? Sometimes--for example, under stress--one reaches for people more vigorously than one intends.

Our presidents were almost always crooks, but they used to have a certain amount of what used to be called breeding. The current pud has absolutely none.

[macfanken]

here it is on youtube...


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:distress:

[foxyluva]

I found this utterly hillarious - she got quite the fright :laugh:

[irishgrl]

I like the comparison to the Vulcan nerve pinch meself!:laugh:

[BombaySapphire3]

When I think of all the innocent blood on this war criminal's hands I'd recoil too.

[Red]

Okay, that was awesome. I'm sure that's the reaction most people would like to have but don't have the nerve.

[Hawkeye]

I think the woman really freaking over reacted.

[skcin]

^ Yeah, maybe if they were at a cocktail party in someone's living room. But they weren't. That kind of contact isn't appropriate in ANY workplace, let alone a world government meeting.

Besides, maybe she doesn't like being touched. Especially from behind without warning. Maybe she was raped at one point in her life. Maybe she, like me, does not want that man in particular anywhere near her, let alone groping her shoulders.

[SuzeQuze]

^ Yeah, maybe if they were at a cocktail party in someone's living room. But they weren't. That kind of contact isn't appropriate in ANY workplace, let alone a world government meeting.

Besides, maybe she doesn't like being touched. Especially from behind without warning. Maybe she was raped at one point in her life. Maybe she, like me, does not want that man in particular anywhere near her, let alone groping her shoulders.

I just threw up in my mouth a little. Eww.

[Hawkeye]

I just feel that its perfectly fiine for the President of the United States to give the Chancellor of Germany a shoulder rub, its good foreign relations. If he had done this with Sadom years ago maybe we dont have the whole Iraq war :laugh:

[DavidMn]

Jay Leno and David Letterman need to send their payshecks to W for like the next year withh the material he's given them!:lol: