Bush Groping the German PM...

[Devastatin Dave]

Don't have a link, just heard it on the radio. Appearantly Bush walked past the German PM and gave her a little love squeeze on the shoulders. I think he should keep his hands to himself personally, but he likes her and I guess he was just being affectionate. Of course the lefty blogs are all nuts about it comparing it to Clinton showering young jewish interns with man gravy. So what do you think? Should Georgey apologize to her for his impromptu touch, or is this all about nothing since a former world leader has made it acceptable to sexually harass?

[Ser Clegane]

I saw some pictures of it ... actually looked like a non-issue to me. Even if Angela Merkel seemed to feel a bit uncomfortable (at least partly because she did not see Bush coming from behind), comparing it to e.g., sexual harrassment or demanding an apology is blowing it out of proportion IMO.

[R'as al Ghul]

A little strange, yes, but hey it's Angie and Georgey we're talking about.
Or maybe there's more going on behind the curtains.....

[Husar]

That´s sexual harassment!!!
What if she wil become pregnant!?!?!?!?!

[Idaho]

It's dominance behaviour. He overdoes the whole alpha-monkey thing imo.

[Gregoshi]

He was supposed to give her a "message", not a "massage".

[Ser Clegane]

Hmm ...

[caravel]

Looks like normal chimp grooming behaviour to me, what's the problem?

[Lehesu]

What can I say? Merkel's a babe.

[Devastatin Dave]

Hmm ...

Jesus, she doesn't look pleased. Sorry, but this is unwanted touching. Look at her face. Bush should know better, I bet Laura had his ass when he saw her. I have a feeling that Laura Bush won't put up with Bush falandering like Hillary did with Bill.

[Ser Clegane]

A video

[Divinus Arma]

Obviously Bush thought they had a closer friendship then they really did.

Appropriate to do in front of world leaders? No.

Sexual harrassment? Of course not.

[GoreBag]

I hadn't heard about this just now, and I thought it would have been another Busengrapscher incident.

[Csargo]

I saw this on the Daily Show last night I though it was funny.

[InsaneApache]

It's dominance behaviour. He overdoes the whole alpha-monkey thing imo.

For once and probably the last time I agree.
You just don't go around touching women or for that matter anyone without their consent, it's called common assault.

[PanzerJaeger]

You just don't go around touching women or for that matter anyone without their consent, it's called common assault.

You have to be joking?

[InsaneApache]

No.

[Louis VI the Fat]

I'll join the Idaho crowd too. Bush' behaviour is entirely inappropriate.

He eats and talks with his mouth open, uses profanities at G8 summits, and sexually harasses women. And the Chancellor of the worlds third largest ecomony at that.

Just keep that hick at home and spare yourselves the embarrassment.

[Papewaio]

You have to be joking?

Put it this way, would you like any male just to come up behind you and rub your shoulders?

[Alexander the Pretty Good]

Sources, Louis? I'm curious...

[Crazed Rabbit]

Can you say non-issue?

Oh, wait I mean...kill bushitlerburton! Gah!

Crazed Rabbit

[Papewaio]

It's dominance behaviour. He overdoes the whole alpha-monkey thing imo.

Actually the alpha would be the one getting groomed first not doing the grooming. So he is saying the Chancellor is higher up the chain...

[InsaneApache]

Can you say non-issue?

Oh, wait I mean...kill bushitlerburton! Gah!

Crazed Rabbit

Yeah it's a non-issue when the guy who represents your Kingdom...opps, sorry your democarcy makes a prick of himself. (again)

If I was a Yank, I'd be mortified.

[Blodrast]

Put it this way, would you like any male just to come up behind you and rub your shoulders?

Non-issue, for the groping/whatever itself...

Pape: full-blown massage ? probably not a pat on the back ? no problem (regardless of my or his/her gender).

I don't see a problem with touching a woman (or a man, for that matter), within reasonable limits, of course. If you touch their hand, shoulder, back - I think it's usually fine. Sexual harrassment and crap is just the usual PC junk, and I regard it as no more than junk. PC run amok. "Oooh, you touched me, I'll sue you for all your money, and you'll rot in jail for 10 years for sexual assault". Blech, utterly disgusting.
Again, please note I did say "within reasonable limits".

However, it is true that some people simply do not enjoy being touched, in any way, by strangers, or by other people in general. This should be kept in mind before one attempts to touch a stranger whose tastes/preferences/idiosyncracies in this matter one is not aware of.

[scooter_the_shooter]

Wouldn't you say this is being blown out of proportion?


"he touched my shoulders, WAHHHHHH WAHHHHHH WAHAHAHAH"


Don't be a cry baby over it. This just shows GWB is a down to earth and informal.

[Louis VI the Fat]

Sources, Louis? I'm curious...

I was referring to the Merkel/Bush incident, for which Ser Clegane provided a video earlier in this thread, and to this.

[Byzantine Mercenary]

didnt seem like a dominating posture or groping on Georges part, some people are more ''physical'' then others, whats wrong with that?

[Kralizec]

What a dashing show of diplomatic sense!

[PanzerJaeger]

Actually the alpha would be the one getting groomed first not doing the grooming. So he is saying the Chancellor is higher up the chain...

I certainly wouldnt claim assault, as the insane one suggested.

[Samurai Waki]

I guess I don't see what the big issue is, aside from being intrusive and highly informal for such a meeting to take place. As an American I'm not mortified that he would do such a thing, I'm just mortified that so many people thought he would be a good leader.