I don’t think so. As many posts here, even by Americans, indicated, people can feel annoyed, threatened or creeped out by by gestures like this, even if they like the person who does it.
So judging from her reaction, Merkel’s true feelings toward Bush could be anything from “we’re good friends who’re just not comfortable touching each other” to “I hate that creep”. Since Bush couldn’t really have expectet anything much outside of that range, he didn’t really learn anything.
That was really my point. If Bush couldn’t work out what she felt about him without resorting to the creepy gesture, he’s not the smartest tool in the box.
What’s funny to me is that, just as people are rolling their eyes at Bush’s behavior and thinking, “What a self-centered jackass,” they’re rolling their eyes at Scylla’s behavior and thinking the same thing. Neither Bush nor Scylla seems to think there’s any problem with that.
:Shrug. So they don’t get taken seriously, and they alienate people. Their problem.
Daniel
I understand that. I’m just saying that there’s no way to work that out even with the creepy gesture.
Except it’s our problem as well with our president doing it.
Scylla can do what he likes if it makes him feel like a big man. But if our man-child president is not capable of controlling himself, his handlers need to sedate him to prevent him from hurting our country.
Too late.
This would be a classic example of passive-aggresive deconstructionist masturbation. Instead of dealing with the argument, obtusely attack the person making it by psychoanalyzing them.
Some people (like the former traders I used to work with) can turn it off and behave like pleasant, civilized human beings. Some people can’t, or don’t want to, and instead try to claim that ‘this is how the world works’.
So much for that theory. Other than my obviously facetious oatmeal insult, I don’t think I’ve insulted anybody here. How many insults have been directed at me or others?
Are they BSders?
Shows how much you know. I’m not going for alpha male status. I’m just trying to compensate for a small penis.
No. Not really. I just don’t take myself seriously enough too worry about it, and I don’t take the offenderati seriously, at all.
If you’re going to jump off your pedestal and start insulting everyone who disagrees with you, you could do better than “offenderati”. Seriously, that’s just sad. When it comes down to you reciting dumb slogans from the particularly stupid parts of the right-wing blogosphere, you’re pretty much done, aren’t you? What’s next, are you going to call us all “feminazis”? Or “treehuggers”? “Tax and spend liberals”?
Come on, dude, this is just weak.
Would that look anything like this post of yours from this very thread a few pages back?
Dumbass.
While the seriousness of this thing is debatable, I thought this would be the one time everybody could agree that Bush screwed up. But even here some people come fiercely to his defense, not only saying that it wasn’t a mistake, but even that it was a good idea of him.
So Scylla, (I think you’re the only one in this who really defends Bush, but others feel free to answer, too), did Bush in your opinion ever make a mistake? Is he even capable of making mistakes? If yes, please provide an example. I’m really curious.
Yours?
Just curious - those of you responding to **Scylla ** with such vigor - do you always react this way to people who are idly yanking your chain?
Far be it from me to imply that I can read Scylla’s mind, but it does look to me like he’s staving off boredom by making prodding remarks just to get all of you to react. And here you all are playing along. I hate to admit it, but it’s kind of fun to watch…
Wouldn’t that be trolling?
Debatable? More like absurd.
A mistake? No. I wouldn’t say “mistake.” There have been times when perhaps he failed to achieve total ultimate perfection. For example, he clearly should have tweaked the Diebold machinery a little bit more in Ohio this last time around but mistake? Nooooooooo.
Good to know that when I’m subtely hinting that you may be flying off the handle, you react by flying off the handle.
Never mind. Pretend I never said anything. Scylla, please do continue - it’s an education 
Yes. It’s very small. Why do you ask?
My mistake. I forgot, you already said that you weren’t from Texas.
Heh. I suspected as much from the post saying “The Deciderer”. I think someone has their tounge firmly planted in their cheek.
Presumably the Secret Service is now aware that the practice of approaching someone from behind and placing your hands around their neck is an entirely appropriate, nonthreatening gesture of friendly greeting that President Bush fully approves of.
So that’s a good thing, anyway.