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boston university

international newspolitics

No Handshakes Allowed, Mr. President!

Matt Negrin

Posted: Apr 21st 2009 2:15AM

Filed under: Politics, International News, Boston University

The president of the United States may be the most powerful person in the world, but there are still things he's not allowed to do -- like trade stocks while knowing insider information, or throw Naked Thursday dinner parties at the White House.

Now, add to those taboos shaking hands with leaders of certain countries.

It was only recently at the G-20 summit that Barack Obama was "bending his tall frame" to the king of Saudi Arabia. But on Friday, Obama shook hands with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez at a summit in Trinidad and Tobago.

As the fair and balanced network Fox News objectively told us in a headline, "Handshake With Obama Belies Chavez's Contempt for America."

And Dick Cheney, who like Santa Claus apparently has a list of things that are naughty and nice, told that same award-wanting news network that the handshake "was not helpful."

The Angler added, "I think you have to be very careful. The world outside there, both our friends and our foes, will be quick to take advantage of a situation if they think they're dealing with a weak president or one who is not going to stand up and aggressively defend America's interests."

So there you have it, Obama. Be very careful. Next time a foreign leader who says bad things about the United States reaches out his hand to extend diplomatic politeness, you know what to do.

The snub.

There are several ways to effectively perform a snub. The first, and most obvious, is to ignore the outstretched hand of the anti-American figurehead. You stand there, and you say something nice, like, "Nice to see you." If it gets awkward, take a drink of whatever's in the glass you should always be carrying for situations like this.

But this is the Venezuelan president, the man who Fox News kindly reminds us called the United States four years ago the most "murderous empire that has existed in the history of the world." A simple snub won't do; you need finesse. Take one out of the junior-high playbook and reach out to shake Big Hugo's hand, then spike it up in the air and comb it past the back of your head, exclaiming, "Psyche!"

Another good phrase to yell is, "Not!!"

If he tries it again, use the King Cobra: Stare him down until his hand starts twitching, then jut your head and torso forward abruptly and pull it back. Give out a, "What?!"

That'll teach Chavez not to call capitalism "the devil."

Update: Jimmy Fallon and I evidently share a sense of humor (view the April 20 monologue).

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tremor.t

6:40PM 6:40PM Apr 21st 2009

we been an egocentric as**les for soo much time,now we are broke,unemployed have lost our houses,internationally ridiculed,our president has been a money begger,our troops humiliated ,too sad we been doped for soo much time,the only thing we got is our weapons and our sons to die for the s**itty rich who never send their relatives to war:God ble$$ America.

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dave

7:51PM 7:51PM Apr 21st 2009

It's not the handshake that is the problem. After all, Reagan grudgingly shook Castro's hand at the U.N.
It's the hearty grin that accompanied it. Little things may not seem like much by themselves, but start adding them up and one begins to see a trend. The apologies for big bad America - the hale-fellow-well-met to the racist president of Brazil - the deferential, and deep (and White-House-disavowed) bow to the Saudi king - and yes, the hand-shake-accompanied-by-toothy-grin with Chavez. I see a trend, how about you?

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Rich

8:17PM 8:17PM Apr 21st 2009

Hugo Chavez is a much smarter man than Obama anticipated---look who got slipped the book of propaganda and the sales of that anti-american book are soaring today. Mark that one up for Hugo but don't feel bad Mr. President, Putin put Bush together too.

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jan

9:39PM 9:39PM Apr 21st 2009

Actually, I don't think he is, and I wouldn't be surprised if Obama didn't get an English translation and read it. He's smart enough to know it's a good idea to read and listen to your enemies. His comeback was good - he told him he thought they'd be exchanging the books they'd written. There's nothing wrong with high book sales - anything that gets people thinking is good. There's no advantage to Chavez or his ideas here. When we're afraid of ideas, we become dumb. I attended a speech in college given by the leader of the American Nazi party. This was a long time ago, nearer to WWII. There was no big deal, and virtually all of us came away feeling that the guy and his values were creepy. But we got to decide for ourselves. Not through the lens of boycotts or what was considered acceptable to listen to.

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chillax

9:22PM 9:22PM Apr 21st 2009

jim12:01PM 12:01PM Apr 21st 2009 and dont forget he just labeled about 70% of the country as potentiol terrorist including my 2 sons who are defending his piece of s---s family. we clearly will not forget his accusations.*******When did Obama "label" 70% of the country anything? Thank you and your family for defending our country in Bush's "War on Terror" but, to say Obama said this is wrong and irresponsible...You owe your sons honesty and truthfulness not mindlessly repeating Rush Limbaugh dittohead quotes. To assume that the DHS report is wrong is naive...returning veterans are vulnerable...which you should know...one of the reasons returning veterans were mentioned in the report at all was to protect them from domestic terror groups and their recruiting tactics. Grow up and be truthful...that is what our soldiers deserve.

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tanya

8:44AM 8:44AM Apr 22nd 2009

The president of the United States may be the most powerful person in the world!!

BS GOD IS MORE POWERFUL AND IF OBAMA WAS SO POWERFUL HE WOULD ALREADY HAVE BINLADEN AND EVERY OTHER TERRORIST IN HIS HANDS !
WHAT LOOSER CAME UP WITH THAT BS THAT HE IS THE MOST POWERFUL! PLEASE, SO DOES EVERY OTHER PRESIDENT OF EVERY OTHER COUNTRY THINK THERE SO POWERFUL LOL

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kelle

12:44PM 12:44PM Apr 22nd 2009

Drew Mooney: You have no truth in what you are saying. You probably dont remember
when Reagan shook Gorbachovs hand. And yet his Administration
(REAGAN) Was involved in the Iran-Contra scandle (REPUBLICAN) They
sold inferior weapon to Sadam Hussien in Iraq and allowed drugs to be
passed into our Borders. And that was documented and it was fact.
Reason being Oliver Northe was the fall guy when this was conspired.
Most of the GOP got pissed off with President Clinton Because of the
Monica Lewisky issue. Do you know why. Because the republicans
couldnt make Clinton do what they wanted him to do. He wasnt going to
be their Puppet. So why not bring up relations, with the help of Linda
Tripp (REPUBLICAN)she had her 5 minutes of fame. She Befriended Monica
Lewisky and turned around and stabbed her in the Back. When Bush Sr
went to war with Iraq (DESERT STORM) the first time they didnt Get
sadam Hussien they just pushed him back to to his borders. THat war
was over before it really began but it was OVER! Now President Bush
gets into office in 2001 And the twin towers go down.in 2001 and the
United states went to war with Iraq in march of 2003. Most of you
said Bush didnt know. It was the Clinton Administration. Well your
wrong Bush Know. Because His administration (BUSH) "CBS reporter
David Martin revealed that weeks before the attacks, the CIA had
warned Bush personally of Osama Bin Laden's intent to use hijacked
planes as missiles. That followed the damaging exposure by The
Associated Press's John Solomon of a pre-9/11 FBI memo from an
officer in Phoenix warning of suspicious Middle Eastern men training
at flight schools a warning that went unheeded." You see Bush picked
up where his father left off and when Into Iraq. Sadam Hussien Denied
having anthing to do with the Attacks on America and yet. Bush
continued forward. and Excuted his plan. All because of OIL. What We
(AMERICANS) didnt realize that Bush had Two wars going on at once. We
heard more about Iraq instead of Afganistan. There were less troops
sent there. We lost more Troops in Iraq than we did in Afganistan.
With our current situaton is because Our Government Under the Bush
Administration Helped push use over in this economic distress. Most
of you have Blamed Obama. Again Not True. Bush Bailed out AIG and
then they spit in our faces. President Bush refused to Bailout the
Housing Market. Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae. In order for The United
States to be strong we need these key companies, Housing, and the
Auto Industries. But they also have to learn to be move responible on
how and what they spend thier money on. So I really suggest you get
your facts straight. and Do I need to Remind you of RICHARD NIXON,
WATERGATE he was also a Republican. an array of illegal and secret
activities undertaken by the Nixon administration. The activities
came to light in the aftermath of five men being caught breaking into
Democratic party headquarters at the Watergate Hotel in Washington,
D.C. on June 17, 1972. The Washington Post picked up on the story,
while reporters Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward relied on an FBI
informant known as "Deep Throat" to link the men to the Nixon White
House. This became one of a series of scandalous acts involving the
Committee to Re-Elect the President. Nixon downplayed the scandal as
mere politics, and his White House denounced the story as biased and
misleading. As the FBI eventually confirmed that Nixon aides had
attempted to sabotage the Democrats, many began resigning and senior
aides faced prosecution.

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Victor Bravoliti

4:48PM 4:48PM Apr 22nd 2009

Frankly, I’m suspicious of anyone who has a strong opinion on a complicated issue.

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TRogers

12:04AM 12:04AM Apr 23rd 2009

Conservative inbred MORONS! Instead of just calling Hugo Chavez a Hitler-maniac, why doesn't anyone ask WHY Venezuelans voted for him? Venezuela has been our ALLY since Simon Bolivar in 1820! WHY do they hate us now?

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Hotflash

7:55AM 7:55AM Apr 23rd 2009

Face it - Obama is truly an idiot.... He reminds me of a male cat who sprays everything around to take control of his territory.... He is the destruction of America... Obama supporters will find this out, but it will be too late to turn it around....

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Hotflash

7:56AM 7:56AM Apr 23rd 2009

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Anton

4:05PM 4:05PM Apr 23rd 2009

A lot of you knuckle-heads don't get it. The fact is...Obama wasn't Elected to Run this Country...In Fact...Obama was Selected to Ruin this Country!!!

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Gregory Dittmer

10:01PM 10:01PM Apr 23rd 2009

WRONG... In reality it was Bush43 that "was Selected to Ruin this Country" when he was installed into the office of POTUS by the Supreme Court even though he LOST the popular vote by more than half a million votes! Bush/Cheney were very successful at bringing this Nation to its collective knees. The Nation was headed straight for the sewer after 8 years of Bush/Cheney.

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snake

2:14PM 2:14PM Apr 23rd 2009

obama is a damm muslum loveing snake in the grass he bows to a muslum king then he trys to lie about it he bails out aig after they gave the dem party 100.000.00 for his campain hes a crook wont even show his birth record to prove he is american

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