He should have acted as an equal. He represents you and me and we are the emperor's equal.

As I recall, Obama was visiting the Saudi king in his kingdom - hence he bowed out of respect. Had the king visited the Prez on US soil, then the Prez could have very well shook his hand without bowing. It is not atypical for world leaders to extend courtesy towards monarchy.

A simple google search will yield most 20th century presidents bowing or expressing courtesy towards other monarchs.

However, if you choose to dissect the bow for its phyisical attributes and associate the angle, distance or whatever with what the person was inferring, then you can come up with anything.

Don't mistake respect for weakness.

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f-U-C-K monarchs. If they need a bow, let them call on their subjects.

Please post your links to all presidents who bow to monarchs. Don't be shy.

And that's why you're not in politics.

Personally, I couldn't care less - I think monarchs are worthless relics of a past we've moved away from.

However, that's beside the point. In the context of political etiquette, what Obama or any other prez has done is not uncharacteristic.

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Seems to me you follow the custom of the country you are visiting. I see no reason for the president to bow to anyone when they are visiting our country. On the other hand, when our president is visiting a foreign ruler's land, it seems to me that good manners would dictate his showing respect to that ruler's customary etiquette. If bowing is in order, bow. He is the guest of that country, not some conqueror.
Good grief, the depths some dopes will reach into to disparage the president over what is essentially bullshlt never ceases to amaze.

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The bowing is nothing...

It's the bending over that has to stop.
Bet we could compile an extensive list of presidents in that category....

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https://media.giphy.com/media/X3nnss8PAj5aU/giphy.gif

Here you go - this one is on me:

US President Ronald Reagan bowing to HM Queen Elizabeth II - YouTube

Please feel free to indulge yourself further if you don't believe me, for I have not the time nor the patience to do so. Google is a great search engine.

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"Time's never wasted when you're wasted all the time"

Amen brother!

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I make NO apologies, although I KNOW I should. Are you listening Chadwick?

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The man just can't help himself...

I'll bet Rodman did not bend over for Kim. Heck, he would have thrown his back out.

Not to get too far off track I've got a confession to make. I drank moonshine in Saudi Arabia in 1981. Some of the worst tasting moonshine I've ever drank but it was all we had.

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Jim

No.

Just as we should not have supported French colonialism in Indochina, a vestige of imperialism, we should never, under any circumstances, honor monarchs, dictators, or any other despotic leader by displaying any sort of subservience.

Equality in law is our national blessing. We should never compromise it.

Aww, that's just too cute. I gotta say, Obama is a good man from all indications.

Shameful.

What else have you got? Maybe one of Johnson bowing? Love to see it.

Somewhere out there is a pic of Obama bowing to a monarch while managing to keep his feet on the Oval Office desk. I shall not rest until I find it...