Angela Merkel Liked It - Geez

Crooks and Liars, in a post called Presidential Groping, with help from Bild, is attempting to do a hit on Bush that doesn't hold up to scrutiny. No wonder they are only using a four second video. I doubt they want you to see the rest.

The usual useful idiots are all a twitter, but if one looks closely at the video, you'll find that German Chancellor Angela Merkel is actually smiling at the very end. What was perhaps a fond exchange, perhaps a bit of a jest (maybe Bush told her to lighten up, given her previously tense look) who knows. Unfortunately, some are trying to turn it into something it obviously wasn't - something we might have expected from Bill Clinton, perhaps? Interesting, I thought the Left didn't have any problem with that?

Anyway, not the right software at work, but I'm sure someone will do a screen cap to prove my point. Otherwise, I'll do it tonight.

This has been an awful trip for Bush to say the least on so many levels. Please list all the problems he has had in the comment section.

Lindsay: Every woman will recognize the guy who sidles up and starts "casually" giving you a backrub without even looking at you, because he wants to preserve deniability in case you freak out. Like any practiced groper, Bush stares right past Merkel as she recoils from his touch.

Taylor Marsh: This is why Iraq and the Middle East are in flames, and we have no credibility around the world. We have a prepubescent president in charge. It is an outrage.

Update: Some sanity and an image at Gateway Pundit.

Comments

[Troublemaker]

I'll wait for a longer clip to pass judgement. I'm betting you are probably right though. Bush is a warm, touchy person with a lot of people. He has been photographed/videoed kissing men on the top of their heads many times over also.

Merkel and Bush seem to have a very close political relationship. I think Bush has utmost respect for Merkel. The fact that he briefly touches her shoulder wouldn't surprise me one bit.

[rwilymz]

There's a difference between rubbing the shoulders of a female US citizen and dittoing the leader of a peer-nation. It comes across as patronizing.

Poor form, George.

[BumperStickerist]

Absent Bush being in a room with cameras and all, Lindsay's comment makes perfect sense.

.

[Dan]

Oh, pish posh all around. The two appear to have a friendly relationship. And from all accounts Bush is a personable, not a forward, guy. To me, this is just another form of political correctness gone too far.

[Mike]

I'm not sure why were even discussing this....He rubs her shoulders for 2 seconds and riles the Libs...rwilymz, are you saying the next time Chirac tries to kiss Condi we should have him shot..its silly.

[Chaka Khan]

Libs hate contact that makes one human. Unless you're in a blue dress.

[Dan]

Unless you're in a blue dress

Reportedly, that was only "spore"-adic contact.

[jpe]

What was perhaps a fond exchange...

Just. stop it. It was creepy.

[capt joe]

wow the left is suddenly concerned about groping http://gatewaypundit.blogspot.com/2006/07/this-is-odd-suddenly-left-is-upset.html

Jeez, did someone globally kill irony. Well, since Plame falmed out, they have to find something.

Someone better check this groping also: http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/07/images/20060717-1_d-0119-515h.html
looks serious

[biteme]

What part of domineering chimp behavior do you guys not understand? And what would it take for this hosebag to actually embarrass you? Perhaps if he'd placed his penis on her shoulder? Would that have been okay too? jeezus h. christ.

[jerry]

Find that longer clip yet?

[Jennifer]

The German magazine, Bild, has taken the very short video and published freeze frames, along with captions. They describe the President's actions as an affectionate Texas-style massage and write that the Chancellor responded with laughter, as she threw her hands up. In short, they characterized it as a playful exchange. Leave it to our ever-critical press to find fault with President Bush, once again!

[danascully]

Oh, pish posh all around. The two appear to have a friendly relationship. And from all accounts Bush is a personable, not a forward, guy. To me, this is just another form of political correctness gone too far.

Posted by: Dan | Tuesday, July 18, 2006 at 03:59 PM
***************
I agree with you, Dan. Absolutely ridiculous that something has been read into this. Bush can do nothing right for some.

[biteme]

Which "ever-critical" press would that be, Jennifer? I've yet to see anything of this on MSNBC or CNN or anywhere except the LA Times and its ludicrous claim that she "smiled." What was she supposed to do, knee him in the groin, which is what he deserved? Unlike Chimpy, she apparently knows HOW to behave like a head of state. "Playful laughter"? That was a grimace and a defensive reflex reaction. Perhaps you are inexperienced with unwanted advances.

[merlallen]

You guys don't know any women, do you? Real ones, not imaginary ones.
If Clinton had done that, you people would be screaming and you know it.
Bush is a buffoon and he makes us all look bad.

[rwilymz]

"are you saying the next time Chirac tries to kiss Condi we should have him shot..its silly."

Nobody's talking about having Bush shot. Not even the knee-jerk anti-Bush folks. ...they'd have to say "President Cheney" which, to them, is worse. So let's keep this to the plausible.

The French and the Russian culture kisses; it is a form of greeting between peers that shaking hands is to Americans and bowing is to the Japanese. And it does not change by the sex of the kisser or the kissee.

Is rubbing shoulders a form of greeting to Americans?

No.

Hence it is not comparable to Chirac kissing Rice, and it comes across as patronizing to Merkel when Bush rubs her shoulders. It's probably not a huge deal in the long term or the short term, but it is poor form.

[molasky]

on the question of double standards, ask yourself -- how would it play if it were clinton in this case?

[Redleg, Ph.D.]

Try this thought experiment: imagine that Bush has done this to your wife or mother. How would you feel about that? How would your wife or mother feel about that?

Try this: in your next meeting at work, go up behind a female co-worker and rub her shoulders. Report back to us on what happens.

[tester]

He fit the uncultured American pig stereotype with his swearing, open mouth chewing, and inappropriate touching. So what's the problem?

[rwilymz]

My wife or mother is not a head of state, or a high dignitary thereof, so the comparison is inapt.

But a co-worker is apt.

[Fausta]

Obviously, it's been a slow-news week.
/end sarcasm

[verplanck colvin]

Here are some german culture tips. Does it look like a 2-second massage fits into these guidelines?

• Greetings are formal.
• A quick, firm handshake is the traditional greeting.
• Germans do not need a personal relationship in order to do business.
• German communication is formal.
• Following the established protocol is critical to building and maintaining business relationships.
• As a group, Germans are suspicious of hyperbole, promises that sound too good to be true, or displays of emotion.
• Treat the process with the formality that it deserves.

[verplanck colvin]

No HTML here? Well, here's the whole ugly link:

http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/resources/global-etiquette/germany-country-profile.html

[buma]

verplanck, you aren't trying to give serious attention to the fact that bush is inept in dealing with foreign leaders, are you? Remember this is a conservative blog. bush's inadequacies are simply shrugged off here.

[David in NY]

That's no smile at the end, and it's downright distress in the middle. If it's just in fun, why isn't he smiling at her. 'Cause he's just been a jerk, that's why. He's clearly sneaking away.

[Gus]

Yes, you can tell by the disgusted grimace on her face that she liked it.

[Romanesko]

This is totally inappropriate behavior between a male world leader and a female world leader. It doesn't matter what you call it. He is our President and should act in public and whenever he is representing us on the world stage in such a way that does not cast embarrassment on our country. It was the G8 meeeting, not Animal House.

And btw, having travelled in Germany and having German friends, I can tell you this was a gross violation of protocol and interpersonal relations. I watched the video and she is scared and disgusted. That 'smile" at the end is disbelief, and relief it's over.