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Why America Must Learn to Bow
Pablo Martinez Monsivais / AP Photo
The president’s visit to China was seen as failure, but what if that was just the new standard? Martin Jacques on why the U.S. must get used to decline—and learn humility.
Obama’s visit to China last week was starkly different from previous such occasions. The United States has stumbled into a new era. Just a decade ago it all looked so different. President Bush—in one of history’s great miscalculations—believed that the world stood on the verge of a new American century. In fact, the opposite was the case. The defeat of the Soviet Union flattered only to deceive and mislead. In a world increasingly defined by the rise of the developing countries, most notably China, the United States was, in fact, in relative decline. It took the global financial crisis to begin to convince the U.S. that it could no longer take its global supremacy for granted. This dawning realisation has come desperately late in the day. Even now most of the country remains in denial. Never has a great power been less prepared or equipped to face its own decline.
The good news for the U.S. is that China will continue to place great emphasis on a good working relationship. The Chinese do not view it as a zero-sum game in the manner of the Cold War.
Fortunately, in Barack Obama the nation has a president that possesses a rare characteristic for that office, humility. He has made it clear from the outset that the U.S. cannot run the world on its own but only in co-operation with others. In Beijing he welcomed China’s rise as a positive and sought a relationship of partnership with it. But as with the U.S. financial crisis, Obama is making it up as he goes along. Like the rest of the ruling elite, he finds himself ambushed by American decline, a situation that his administration was entirely unprepared for. Those who criticized his performance in Beijing as being too weak are not even at the starting line: They refuse to face up to the reality of a fundamental shift in the balance of power with China. In this context, Obama can do no better than, to use one of Deng Xiaoping’s favourite expressions, “cross a river by feeling the stones.”
When China Rules the World: The End of the Western World and the Birth of a New Global Order. By Martin Jacques. 576 pages. The Penguin Press. $29.95.
So what of the Chinese? There was no hand-wringing, point-scoring, or triumphalism, but the Chinese leadership made it abundantly clear that they will do things in their own way and will refuse to be pressured on issues like Tibet, human rights, or the valuation of the renminbi; unlike on previous visits by Clinton and Bush, there were no concessions even in the window-dressing. The good news for the U.S. is that China will continue to place great emphasis on a good working relationship. The Chinese do not view it as a zero-sum game in the manner of the Cold War. There will be no precipitous action such as the selling off of the vast quantities of U.S. debt held by China.
The United States faces two great problems in its relationship with China. While the Chinese have been developing and elaborating their strategy of transformation for over three decades with great skill and patience, the Americans have never seriously entertained the scenario of decline they now find themselves in. In that sense, the relationship is unequal; China knows what it is doing, the U.S. does not. The American establishment has an enormous amount of thinking to do about how to handle China and how to conduct itself in a rapidly changing world. The U.S. also faces another problem, in truth a far bigger one. It does not understand China. Ever since the Nixon-Mao rapprochement, it has operated on the assumption that China will in time end up like the United States, that it would become another Western-style society. It will not. Chinese modernity will share some Western characteristics but it will also remain profoundly different. For modernity is shaped not simply by technology, competition, and markets but equally by history and culture—and Chinese history and culture are extremely distinctive. The United States has long been in denial of this, believing that the end-point of every society must be Western, by virtue of the fact that its own characteristics are universal.
How Rich People Smoke Pot
Paul Schrodt is a writer living in New York City. He has contributed to New York magazine, Radar, and Esquire.com.
Justice Clinton?
As vice chairman of Public Strategies and president of Maverick Media, Mark McKinnon has helped meet strategic challenges for candidates, corporations and causes, including George W. Bush, John McCain, Governor Ann Richards, Charlie Wilson, Lance Armstrong, and Bono. McKinnon is co-chair of Arts & Labs, a collaboration between technology and creative communities that have embraced today's rich Internet environment to deliver innovative and creative digital products to consumers.
Maezeppa
The "bow" was thrilling to the Japanese. "What a fine fellow" and "Obama the first President to reach out to understand our ways" trumpeted their national headlines.
Dolmance
Japanese bow a hundred times a day. It's like Eskimos rubbing noses or handshakes over here. To imagine that our President was engaged in some sort of groveling is just Fox News nonsense.
Johnnyappleseed
Fox news never said diddly about it, in fact they showed a clip where Nixon did it.
tolatetocry
I saw the clip of Nixon on Fox and NIXON did not do a full from the waist bow as did Obama. He did sort of from the chest kinda of bow. He looked respectful without looking like a butler.
crypto
Not to worry about the Japanese. The test will come when you are required to bow to the east. You can by your rug now, you know. Yeah, even got Obamason's picture on them.
ImNoPUNK
I guess the cast of SNL sees POTUS in a much different light ....their skit last night on Obama in Beijing tells a much different story on how the Chinese feel about our president.... Last night's SNL was brillant.... one of the funniest I've ever seen.
crymeariver
I hate to break it to you ImNoPUNK but although both the Chinese and Japanese are Asian, they come from two DIFFERENT COUNTRIES.
ImNoPUNK
Hey crymeariver....
I guess you didn't watch SNL last night ... cause if you did, you'd know the opening skit wasn't about the Japanese....So with all do respect and please believe me when I say, I'm loving having to ask you this, "How's you foot tasting right about now ?????
tolatetocry
a funny, brilliant SNL, is that possible anymore? I gave up on that show, didn't appear to have any humor without having a republican to kick around.
Monk66
I remember when i used SNL as a source for how the Chinese viewed our President.
sophia5
Interesting that the little bio (click on his name) of this man
leaves out a significant point . . .
Apparently the columnist, Mr. Martin Jacques,
was the EDITOR of the (CPGB)
COMMUNIST Party of Great Britain publication
" MARXISM TODAY " from the years 1977 thru 1991.
Does anyone need any further explanation
of this man's seemingly anti-west, anti-Americanism ?
What kind of "human" would embrace a political system
that steps on it's people's basic human
RIGHT to speak and assemble freely ?
Communist Mao Tse Tung
murdered 50 - 70 million of his own people.
China's so-called "economic rise" is largely due to
outsourced jobs and factories from American
and European based companies, and without them
what power does China truly have in economic terms ?
bobvious
Communism didn't murder people, leaders murdered people. One of them told his people that they would sell us the rope with which we'd hang ourselves. Your last sentence, if true, is simply a confirmation of that prediction.
Being an editor for a Marxist publication is not by definition anti-west nor anti-American. Your misunderstanding of the cultural implications of Marxism and Communism is cartoonish.
JohnConnughton
Hello Sophia.
Thank you for Mr. Jacques' background; it does help flesh out his thinking perhaps. This does not automatically negate his argument though.
Like it or not-and I do not like it-there is some truth in what he says. We Americans have been living for the moment like the proverbial grasshopper, while the billion Chinese have, like the ant, been saving for a rainy day. And now they do own our debt.
So please do not attack an argument by looking for a way to attack the messenger. He is only stating ideas, and we can see for ourselves he's not completely nuts. Cheers.
sophia5
Hey JohnConnughton -
I'm the first to admit America has it's own problems,
including a dark past of slavery and segregation,
but we are working towards the concept of
" A More Perfect Union."
Lenin did say
" they would sell us the rope with which we'd hang ourselves."
It appears the Soviet Union was the one who hanged itself.
Does anyone out there believe
Mikheil Saakashvili (President of Georgia)
would prefer some good old fashioned
Soviet Communism right about now ?
Does anyone miss the Iron Curtain ?
I apologize for my simplistic
" cartoonish " misunderstanding
of Marxism and Communism . . .
but people all over the World are NOT
risking their lives emigrating :
to China . . . . . . to live the "Chinese Dream."
to Venezuela . . . to live the "Venezuelan Dream."
to Cuba . . . . . . . to live the "Cuban Dream."
Zoolander
I agree with your take on the writer. It's amazing all these simplistic pronouncements about the "rise of China". They are rising because they coming from the very bottom. How much further can they fall? The only way is up after decades of Maoist social experimentation. I'm not really impressed with China's rise. It only confirms how inept the political system in China is. It took them 3 decades to figure out that a centrally planned economy based on a central European's wet dream of a socialist worker's paradise was junk? All China did was to copied what other Asian capitalist countries did before them which was to develop labor intensive, export led economic policies! What's so brilliant about that? What will happened when the surplus labor dwindles up?
China is the biggest intellectual pirate in the world. They have to copy because they cannot invent, innovate and create. Property rights in China are not defined. No independent court system. No free press, etc. etc.
It is not impressive to think that a country which suffered two major ethnic riots lately in Tibet and Xinjiang as being stable and functional. In fact, it tells me China is clearly dysfunctional and will one day reap the whirlwind of the problems created by such an unresponsive and repressive system. It will be quite a show!
tolatetocry
Thanks sophia,
TDB has an "interesting" choice of writers, doesn't it!
JohnConnughton
Salute, Sophia5. The points in your response are well-taken. But mostly thanks for staying civil, it is, or should still be, the American way to be! Might even say it's the essential point, hey?
kroyall
"Communism didn't murder people, leaders murdered people."
What a preposterous statement. Many people do not willingly submit to Communism, they don't like losing their personal and economic freedom (or their property), which is the foundation of Communism. So, those that don't go along with the program are purged, jailed or killed, it is unavoidable.
Socialism is also based on coercion and force, which of course is why many people are repelled by the liberal agenda. We have seen this progression over and over again, as the state exerts more control over the populace, freedom is lost. This is happening in Venezuela right now. With Obama, we see his frustration with the system of checks and balances. He has majorities in both houses of Congress but is still irritated that he cannot ram through his agenda. The reason of course is that his policies are held in low regard by a majority of the American people. His minions in the media, academia and the entertainment industry are also frustrated by this which may explain their fascination with totalitarian dictators like Chavez and Castro.
sonofrobinX
without them we would still owe china the bank. they would still be in this position. if all you got out of this article was the "anti-americanism" as you you put it, you should do some further reading on the topic
Georealist
The groveler will indeed be able to lead us in full retreat! He may be ill suited in making difficult international decisions where American lives are at stake..but he is a genius at the subtleties of conveying repentance and pretend pent up guilt!!
It MAY be as common as breathing in Japan..but bowing should not be in an American President's repetoire. Why should we care a rats behind if Japan likes us?? It should..and was for 55 years..the other way around!
Johnnyappleseed
I heard Obama was summoned to China.
As the mortgage holder of America, China will continue to call the shots.
braves71
I wonder how many critics, politicians, journalists check out the foreign press. How often. Curious.
I saw positive coverage in a Chinese daily.
We are lucky to have a truly global, multi-cultural president whose background is not just hometown U.S. centered. I don't think Huck Finn would do it right now.
10 Months, folks, on the world stage?
This was his first real time over there, face-to-face with some very sharp, patient leaders.
He's a quick study
and I'm sure picked up all kinds of readings. There will be a lot of homework and strategy for the upcoming visit here, I'm sure.
The last 2 swaggering cowboys are the ones who put America into a
deep BOW. Thank goodness we have a global president in the WH now.
whipmawhopma
Dear Martin Jacques,
My first reaction was to say 'screw you', but after some brief consideration, along with some self-admonition for being such a reactionary nationalist, I decided to actually read your article. I must confess that it is quite convincing and find myself in agreement.
America is in a period of decline, and if the financial crisis isn't taken as a reality wake-up call that decline will continue. I am optimistic about America's chances and abilities, but uncertain that we have the political will to reduce spending to match income. This week's The Economist had an excellent article on this topic.
China is advancing, even though it has some astounding internal problems that could cause it to crash if severely mismanaged, and is a power to be reckoned with even now.
Even so, China is neither our enemy nor our friend, and those who insist on believing it is one or the other are doing so out of misplaced fear or naivety. The Chinese want to make money and be respected. Only later will hubris come upon them, as it had come upon us after the end of World War II and then again after the collapse of the Soviet Union.
I look forwarding to reading other articles by you.
Yours truly,
Whipmawhopma
obared4444
I know the USA is still the preeminent country and economy in the world. The latest financial crisis showed this. If our goverment along with the G20 had not acted as they did China would have been sunk. That is not in the interests of any responsible gov't. Having said that China is going to have to learn the ethics of responsible power in order to function in a global economy.
This presumption of a declining USA has been a theme for many foreign and domestic eggheads that just do not like us. Sorry to make sound so simple but that is simply the truth. We are the incarnation of everything they detest,
from the best constitution ever written, our materialism, our generousity of spirit and lucre, work ethic, our diverse yet sincere religiosity and the culture the above mentioned attributes have spawned. We are still rich in natural resources and abundantly rich in human resources. Frankly we are unmatched.
This declining America thesis can have therapuetic effect if we don't embrace it and make it a self fulfilling prophecy. The only people capable of actually believing this are our miseducated young ones who believe history began when they were born. We need to remind them that when they were born there was a man named Ronald Reagan in the White House and he reminded us of who we were and thus ushered in a time of unprecedented global power,
global democracy and global wealth that these very same young ones grew up in. Things happen for a reason. Not only to get what you pay for, you get what you strive for most of the time....if you have common sense which I believe the author of this article lacks profoundly.
crymeariver
China is simply the new Asian boogie man. In the 1990's it was Japan.
whipmawhopma
crymeariver - Yeah. There's just something about us that requires demonizing some country or two or three. As if they were an axis of evil or something like that, with our expectation that anyone who frustrates us is the enemy.
For China it started sometime during the Bush I administration, continued into the Clinton one, and I suspect if it had not been for 9/11 our relations with China perhaps would be ultra frosty even now.
Johnnyappleseed
Besides crier, Japan doesnot have a billion plus people, no army, no missilles and no nuclear weapons, so China wins the award of boogey man.
JohnConnughton
Obared, China would not have been sunk by a global meltdown of a system they were not in tune with. I am not in favor of a non-democratic system but they do have this efficiency, that decisions made can be executed more promptly. And the fundamental strength of 'eastern' states is that for reasons unclear (tradition?) their people seem more inclined than 'westerners' to save for the future here on earth. So if push came to shove, and everybody went isolationist, I suspect China would be more self-sustaining than much if not all of the west.
Do I like that, no of course. But that's OUR problem, and we can't blame China or others for it.
andylgirl
Not just in the nineties. "We" have an overwhelming need to demonize cultures in the east, whether because of war or because of cultural differences. Read Orientalism. We cannot dominate these people without seeing them as "other."
Chuckv
I do not agree with whipmawhopma about Jacques analysis. The United States has always been most effective when treating other countries as equals and using it's power to persuade. Remember that it was FDR who was responsible for the founding of the United Nations.
Also, there was a time when the U.S. was the only democracy on earth. Now all Europe and much of Asia is democratic (admittedly, some more than others). As the Chinese middle class becomes established and secure, it will want political power, the same as it has everywhere else. To say that China has a different history is true. But so did Japan and Korea. And China has already had one revolution that changed everything. Lets pray the next one is not so tragic.
As for American decline, there is a partial truth. As other countries develop, we must fact a relative decline, at least economically. But our ability to influence world affairs by moral leadership by a President who realizes the true basis of our power. Unlike Britain, we never had any colonies we could boss around.
whipmawhopma
Chuckv - "The United States has always been most effective when treating other countries as equals and using it's power to persuade."
Are you referring to the various South American and Central American countries, and Mexico? They would have a different perspective than you about being treated like equals by the United States. Quite different. Maybe if we returned California, Nevada, New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, Colorado and Texas to them the Mexicans might forgive and forget.
And we'd have to give Panama back to the Columbians to wash away that theft we conducted to build our canal. Of course, the Panamanians might not like that.
Chuckv - "there was a time when the U.S. was the only democracy on earth"
When was that? Great Britain has been a democracy during the whole time span that the United States existed. Admittedly starting with the just the moneyed\propertied classes having the franchise about the time we broke away, but a democracy nevertheless and one that evolved to what they have today.
Ours at the beginning was very restrictive about the franchise too. No women, no slaves, and I think members of non-approved religions were banned. Remember, the states determined who could vote, not the Federal government.
Chuckv - "As the Chinese middle class becomes established and secure, it will want political power, the same as it has everywhere else."
And the 90% of the Chinese who aren't anywhere near the middle class, today and maybe not for decades, do you think the middle class and the rich and the party want to subject themselves to the will of the masses? What if the masses want to share the wealth by fiat? I think democracy is a long ways off, and when it comes it won't be the twin mob rule we enjoy.
Personally I think the Chinese are afraid of democracy, or at least what we understand to be democracy. They are far more interested in 1) not being dirt poor, 2) then having a comfortable life and 3) then getting rich. And respect, lots of respect, after being bullied around for a couple hundred years by other countries, including at times the United States.
Chuckv - "Unlike Britain, we never had any colonies we could boss around."
That will be news to the Philippines, the native Hawaiians and maybe the Puerto Ricans. I am surprised it's news to you.
Chuckv - "As for American decline, there is a partial truth. As other countries develop, we must fact a relative decline, at least economically."
Our economic problems have nothing to do with relative decline. They are all about spending more money than we take in, and unwise regulation of the financial markets. As a country, as states, and as individuals. I'm sure there are other reasons, but those are the two that come to mind immediately.
JohnConnughton
To whipmawhopma:
Under Jimmy Carter we DID give the Panama Canel back to Panama. Did I miss something ?
About Democracy, it is a very old idea. Anchient Greece had it but that was for citizens and not their slaves. The Netherlands had it but that was sort of dependent on you religion. The USA is the first nation created FOR the idea. It had the advantage of new ground.
I think you are basically right though. Only 2000 years ago 1% were free and 99% were as good as slaves whatever you called them. Now it is almost reversed, and the internet (credit given) moves this idea forward almost day by day.
I lived in Africa for a while. I am older now. No nation is perfect yet, but don't be too uppity about the USA knowing everything. Things change.
whipmawhopma
JohnConnughton - "To whipmawhopma: Under Jimmy Carter we DID give the Panama Canel back to Panama. Did I miss something ?"
No, but I am talking about something else. Panama use to be part of Columbia. We wanted to build what would become the Panama Canal there but ran into problems with the Columbians granting us a lease on the land where the canal would be built. So we then decided help (make happen) the Panamanians become independent of Columbia, with the Panamanians agreeing to let us build the canal. Hence my statement about giving Panama back to the Columbians, which is not an option.
MWaterman
It's nice to see some intelligent dialog on TDB, Whip. I had just about given up on this site with all the loony tunes who post. Whether I agree or disagree, I want to see a well executed comment from someone who has the ability to think critically. Thanks.
tolatetocry
looked like Obama was giving the guy a bj.
Deeanndria
Americans do not bow (or should not bow) because we as country believe that "all men are created equal." It has nothing to do with our "superiority" (or should not) and everything to do with the intrinsic belief that no title should impel the title less to abase themselves. That said, the president did not offend me with his bow---this article offended me with its premise.
dooreen
ha ha, right, you forget the lynch mobs, you forget about forcing people to sit on the back of the bus. Maybe you forgot, but lots of people haven't. Actually bowing was recommended verses the handshake and kissing due to flu scares. I read that some schools were sending memos to refrain from hugging and kissing, and replace with a bow. I think the height thing had something to do with the low bow.
ImNoPUNK
Hey dooreen.....
Next time you bow remember to pick up that loose screw that keeps falling outta your head.
Georealist
Fantastic...see what is meant by "perpetual guilt trip??" Even you should get that phrase. The height thing had something to do with the bow!!? Amazing...was his most illustrious Japanese host going to massage Obama's head??
crybaby and whippingboy should start dating! I just love the formal little missives whipawhew writes..
Dear Abby... Blah blah...Yours truly.....
I have one too...Dear Santa..Please package these two weenies up and drop them into a place they actually like...Your bowing and scraping..the Georealist
PS I will pay freight charges!!
NosmoKing
dooreen, it was the democrats who formed the KKK and did all the lynching. Also, Obama's very deep bow was in fact an inferior act. His submission was very obvious in the photo.
Monk66
again. submission.
RESPECT from our president to an ally is seen as WEAK.
great talking points Rush, I mean nosmoking
Maggie22
I think "when in Rome do as the Romans do" is the polite action. You are the first person I've see that has mentioned the President's height. When I've seen the bow (ad nauseum) I get the feeling it looks like more of a bow because the President is so tall. Good point.
ImNoPUNK
Hey Maggie22....
Given your logic, maybe POTUS should have crawled in on all 4s...there by killing 2 birds with one stone....
lx-Isaac
This has nothing to do with superiority. in your own culture you view bowing as a method of showing submission, and thus assume its the same for every other country ever. your comments just show your own arrogance and ignorance.
In Japan bowing is is nothing more than a greeting and show of respect, akin to handshakes in the US. Obama bowed to the Japanese emperor for the same reason bush touched cheeks with the saudi princes and held their hands when they walked. BECAUSE THATS HOW THEIR CULTURE GREETS PEOPLE.
The very fact people like you think america should act in the same way no matter where they are or who they are with is the problem.
jheightsgirl
@ lx-Isaac - Could not agree with you more. I wish people would stop making up controversies. It's so silly.
mctarmac
Sigh; yet another person who gains his understanding of Japanese culture from The Karate Kid.
1) U.S Presidential protocol is not to bow to royalty, period, its really quite clear, and rather representative of your principles.
2) Diplomatic protocol is equally clear on the matter (as evidenced by what was it, 43 other heads of state not bowing? Only Obama?)
3) If he was hoping to come across as a cultural bigwig he failed incredibly. Obama used the Saikeirei bow, not seen in every day use, used for deepest apologies, submissive sentiment and respecting the Gods. Furthermore shaking the hand while bowing is viewed as subservient and at other times violating the cardinal rule of bowing.
Of course none of this is really surprising from the White House that gave Gordon Brown DVDs that didn't even work in the UK. Yet still it is embarrassing when Japanese media prefers to show Obama's greeting to the Empress which was much more on the mark and cut out his greeting of the Emperor.
Of course a little bit of experience would tell him that any trip like this without substantial results will result in this kind of nitpicking which will characterize him yet further in a negative and clueless manner.
crypto
ok.Ok.OK. Bowing in most asian country's is a gesture of respect. The distinctness of the bow depends on the stature of the one being shown that respect. I burn Obama every chance I get. But only when he's wrong, which is not the case here.
andylgirl
Bowing in Asian cultures is a cultural sign of greeting or respect. It has nothing to do with dominance. Many cultures have different affectations of greetings. It terrifies my French friends when I go to hug them. Forget shaking hands. It's all about the kiss kiss. The President did not "abase" himself by bowing. He was showing respect for their cultural behavior.
crymeariver
Oh get over the fear-mongering already. In the 1990's it was all about fear of the Japanese as THEIR economy was exploding and they were buying up property in the U.S. There was a great deal of hype among the media about Japan being the next super-power and taking over the world.
Now it's all about China. The same China where over half the population lives in abject POVERTY. The same China whose economy is just as bad as ours but the government did a MUCH larger stimulus via roads and infrastructure in order to superficially elevate the GDP to about 8% for fear of a riot breaking out. The same China whose government is barely in control of their own people and can be over-thrown any day.
China is no threat to anyone but its self. Sooner or later it's going to implode.
I wish the U.S. media would actually spend time in Asian countries to get the REALITY of internal affairs instead of doing the whole "yellow-man" Asian scare every decade!
gameon
A French author telling me I need to learn how to bow?That's a French thing, buddy.
Bush wasn't liked but he was respected,Obama may be liked by by the people,but he's weak.Only a pansy ass liberal accepts our decline as a forgone conclusion.
dooreen
At least people are not throwing shoes at Obama. I don't think politics is a zero sum game, the adversarial system is of course, but functional interaction between countries will work by co-operating, any sensible leader knows that. I think the bow looked so extreme because Obama was so tall.
NosmoKing
Maybe not throwing shoes yet, but Obama is being burned in effigy in quite a few countries now. Obama's bow was total submission. In Japan, an inferior bows more deeply than a superior. Game over dooreen. Obama is a POLITICIAN, not a leader. Sarah Palin is a LEADER, not a politician.
tolatetocry
I know millions of Americans that would like to throw more than shoes at Obama, just saying!
crymeariver
Sorry gameon,
NOBODY had respect for George Bush. NO BODY. He was simply a chickenhawk and hated globally. When he went to China, he also kissed up to the Chinese including during the Olympics.
ImNoPUNK
Het crymeariver.....
There are millions upon millions of people on the continent of Africa, regardless of you labeling them as NOBODY, who are willing to stand up and sing the praises of George W. BUSH......
Given your propensity to state falsities, I doubt you understand what it really means to call some one a chickenhawk... might I suggest you refrain from using that unseemly tag when describing any one, unless you know for a fact its true.
sonofrobinX
imnopunk, thats like saying there were millions of people in germany who sang the praise of hitler. (im not comparing hitler to bush) under what circumstances were they singing his praises? if a billionaire gives a homeless man a quarter he will sing that mans praises too, until he finds out what he could have given.
gameon
The Billionare doesn't have to give anything to the ungrateful homeless guy,he should take his quarter back and the homeless guy should get off the drugs and alcohol and get a job.
gameon
Listening to cowardly,apologist, pansy ass liberals always ends in the unnecessary deaths of American soldiers.I stand by this statement.
sonofrobinX
they should flag comments for being ignorant
Maggie22
You think Bush was respected? You're kidding, right? The majority of the world respects intelligence, manners and dignity. I can't understand why so many of you find these traits a bad thing. One thing I know for sure...the last President did not bring honor to our country and this one does.
ImNoPUNK
Hey Maggie22....
Once you realize how ridiculous you sound ..... you will laugh too.
sonofrobinX
who respected bush? his daughters. last time i checked there wasnt much bowing going on in paris. maybe its just me.
gameon
Oh ya ,that's right,the French don't have to bow anymore too Germany,BECAUSE WE HAD TO LIBERATE THEIR SOFT,PANSY ,LIBERAL ASSES !
Which brings me back to my original point.
Listening to cowardly ,apologist,subserviant,limpwristed,sychophant,kool-aid drinkin,dope smokin,deficit spendin,grey beard growin,draft dodgin,free-lovin,race baitin ,degenerate, pansy-ass liberals always results in the unnecessary deaths of american soldiers.I stand by this statement
Dolmance
Oh, that's intelligent. Just let the American people feel like they're in decline and need to bow, and see what kind of government they elect next time around. A government that will make Lil' Bush's administration look like Gandhi.
tolatetocry
Obama had the respect of the people of China alright, they were busy buying the Obama/Mao t-shirts. the people of china know who he is. Mao killed 50 million Chinese to gain power of China.
crymeariver
Yeah, if you leave our country right now perhaps President Obama will restrain himself from murdering you. PERHAPS. I would take my passport and run to the Mexico border if I were you!
tolatetocry
you know things are bad when the French give you lessons on surrender!
I gotta tell you Frenchie, were not really surrender kinda people.
crymeariver
Really? My guess is that you are one of the chickenhawks who is currently hiding under your bed and shaking in fear at the fact that HSM will be coming to N.Y. for a trial and other GITMO detainee will be jailed on the mainland. You scared cats would not only surrender but will cry like babies.
ImNoPUNK
Hey crymeariver...
Are you for real, or are you kidding ....well I guess one could make a case HSM (High School Musical) is rowdy, but to the level warranting it be put on trial in NYC(New York City) ????
I guess the MSM(Main Stream Media) has it all wrong, cause around here we've all been told its gonna be KSM(Kahlik Sheikh Mohammed)...that's gonna be on trial in Manhattan with a few of his GITMO(Guantanamo) pals.
tolatetocry
crymeariver,
I see you got the new democrat talking points! good for you. I don't live near NYC so I'm not scared. I just think the people of NYC have suffered enough. If something happens during that trial, Obama and people like you won't be able to find you a hole deep enough to hide in.
ImNoPUNK
I knew when I saw this guys column I'd eventually find something rotten underneath if I picked at it a while. Firstly it doesn't surprise me to see TDB giving some space on its website to this contoversial British numb nut of an author.
Like I was saying, it didn't take long to start figuring him out. Right off the bat in the 1st paragraph MJ sets the vibe of the piece. His attack through out the article goes after every thing that makes Americans American. He insults 2 of our presidents ... attempts to meline our integrity ... declares us financialy impotent... labels us bafoons for being dooped by the Soviets and finds our citzenry ill prepared to accept our country's worldly demise ... followed up by suggesting we learn to swallow some humble pie..... Wow, now that's rich....and I suppose this guy thinks I'm gonna run out tomorrow and buy his book.
What's comical, is it seems this jamoke makes a living trashing the west. In January of 2007 he decided to go after his own country of Great Britian. It must have been a prelude for what we had coming. He calls the British a society dripping in racisim, but no one is prepared to admit it. He says Brits believed it was their responsibility to bring civilization to those who allegedly lacked it. He goes on to infer the same attitudes live on in new form, constantly reproduced in each and every white citizen of Great Britian. He freely uses the "N" word in his 2007 article as well... I didn't appreciate the use of that word and found it odd TDB hasn't discovered that particularly bigotted trait of Martin Jacques .
Though the two articles by Jacques were written 2 and a half years apart, the similarities are strickenly similar. One can only surmize the author is extremely partial to Asian cultures... and I think its safe to say he does harbor resentment towards caucasians. I also believe his provocative style of writing is geared to ramp up the sales of his books. Its all about the buzz and the bucks with him.
neverlate
China is irrelevant to our situation. They have made it very clear that they will not do anything rash, as it is not in their interest. Our problems are internal. As far as I can see Obama and the Democrats have gone on a spending spree and ignored the fact that the credit cards have reached their limit. neither Obama nor Bernancke have given us an end game to this mess, and the MSM seams content to continue to sing his praises while he spends us into oblivion.
crymeariver
Yes, it was wrong for President Obama to spend money in order to save our country from heading into a depression, a run on the banks, and the lost of the American car industry. But it was right for Bush to spend and borrow money to give tax-cuts to the wealthy and start unnecessary wars. Oh yeah, you are protesting the right president oh wise one!
bcaldwell
OK diclick, I know that if you repeat the mantra of tax cuts for the wealthy, you might actually start believing it along with the two wars thing that most Democrats supported until it started to get ugly. The economic crisis was started by you and me and our insatiable need for stuff that we bought on credit with NO skin in the game. Spending the money like O is or like Bush did is not going to save us from ourselves in that regard unless its for the free government cheese and foodstamps to feed ourselves because we can no longer afford the vig on the debt we have incurred for ourselves. I protest Obama, because he may be a bigger idiot than Bush. He's an amateur who has never run anything- Plouffe and Axelrod ran that with David Geffen's money. He bought the US auto industry and the two companies he bought WILL NOT make a buck while under govt control...see Ford -no government money control of your labor long range planning = profit!
redlotus2
The United States, in dire straights or not - should NEVER bow to tyrants. Martin Jacques is some Leftist retard who wants the US to decline because it's the big, evil, capitalist. Screw you asshole.
HDway1
I don't' care what's in Obozo's birth certificate or where he was born. Obviously where he was brought up in his formative years did not instill in him the core beliefs that would inspire him to be a real American. Real Americans bow to no one save God himself as evidenced by the signers of the Declaration of Independence.
"Rebellion to tyrants is obedience to God."
William Penn; Thomas Jefferson's personal seal
crymeariver
I guess Nixon, Eisenhower, and Clinton aren't "real Americans" since they have all bowed to foreign leaders. And I guess only "real Americans" believe in God and are to bow to God. And only "real Americans" are as rude and insolent as you. Interesting.
http://blog.newsweek.com/blogs/thegaggle/archive/2009/11/16/outrage-over -obama-s-bow-is-contrived-and-unhelpful.aspx
ImNoPUNK
Hey crymeariver....
I've read every comment of yours so far ...Did you bother to read past the banner over Martin Jacques photo at the top of the article ???
sonofrobinX
so glad im not a real american
THINKNIUM
We should thank all the Wallstreet and mortgage criminals for the decline.
bcaldwell
Don't forget the STUPID consumers who bought their homes with no money down on adjustable rate mortgages- no one twisted their arms to buy those properties like that. Then when they decide not to pay the payments and walk from their homes because the value went down....yeah don't mention them!
neverlate
Ahum - In affect, we bowed when we borrowed $800 billion from them. Lenin is probably laughing in his grave over this.
Thank you.
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