# I have the opportunity to meet GWB. What should I do? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 6, 2007, 9:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-the-opportunity-to-meet-gwb-what-should-i-do/406967 "2007-06-06T09:26:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![The\_Hamster\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8edcca/32.png) [@The\_Hamster\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Hamster_King)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2007, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-the-opportunity-to-meet-gwb-what-should-i-do/406967/21 "2007-06-06T16:12:08Z")
Report back and tell us what he smells like. I’m guessing English Leather. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2007, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-the-opportunity-to-meet-gwb-what-should-i-do/406967/22 "2007-06-06T16:52:35Z")
[QUOTE=Pochacco] Report back and tell us what he smells like. I’m guessing English Leather. [/QUOTE] Or Stetson, the Legendary Fragrance of the American West. ---
**Author:** ![TLDRIDKJKLOLFTW](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/51bf81/32.png) [@TLDRIDKJKLOLFTW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TLDRIDKJKLOLFTW)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2007, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-the-opportunity-to-meet-gwb-what-should-i-do/406967/23 "2007-06-06T16:54:34Z")
I’d do it just to do the “fake-out,” where you pull away from the shake when he reaches for your hand and comb your hair. Hee-hee. ---
**Author:** ![ratatoskK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ratatoskk/32/2987_2.png) [@ratatoskK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ratatoskK)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2007, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-the-opportunity-to-meet-gwb-what-should-i-do/406967/24 "2007-06-06T16:55:56Z")
Or rat turd… (in reply to gigi in post #22) ---
**Author:** ![mjg6](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cdc98d/32.png) [@mjg6](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mjg6)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2007, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-the-opportunity-to-meet-gwb-what-should-i-do/406967/25 "2007-06-06T17:13:11Z")
[QUOTE=Kyla] I really can’t imagine that George Bush would say anything memorable enough to make it a good story, either. [/QUOTE] Come on now, how often do you get the opportunity to hear someone spout such memorable wisdom as “I know how hard it is to put food on your family” ??? ---
**Author:** ![A.R.Cane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ee7513/32.png) [@A.R.Cane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/A.R.Cane)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2007, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-the-opportunity-to-meet-gwb-what-should-i-do/406967/26 "2007-06-06T17:24:48Z")
I loathe Bush’s actions and his political views, but I think I’d attend. It’s a rare opportunity, to meet a world leader, something to tell your grandkids about. Maybe you could even get one of your party to take a pic. It’s an act of maturity to be civil in a social setting, even to your enemies. Decades from now, the personal feelings will have little importance, but you can still have the memory of meeting the President of the U.S. What if it were Putin, or Blair, or some other head of state that you might not agree with, would you boycott then? ---
**Author:** ![NurseCarmen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5daacb/32.png) [@NurseCarmen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NurseCarmen)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2007, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-the-opportunity-to-meet-gwb-what-should-i-do/406967/27 "2007-06-06T17:28:20Z")
If you have the ability to vomit on demand, I command you go. ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2007, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-the-opportunity-to-meet-gwb-what-should-i-do/406967/28 "2007-06-06T17:43:35Z")
[QUOTE=gigi] Or Stetson, the Legendary Fragrance of the American West. [/QUOTE] Not audio-animatronics, the smell of the ‘Hall of Presidents’ in Disneyworld? Seriously, shake his hand. If it breaks off, we’ll know for sure. ---
**Author:** ![Billdo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/billdo/32/315_2.png) [@Billdo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Billdo)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2007, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-the-opportunity-to-meet-gwb-what-should-i-do/406967/29 "2007-06-06T18:12:25Z")
Even though I think his politics and policies are detestable, I would go and shake his hand. He is the President, after all, and there is that respect the office, not the occupant thing. In addition, it would probably be interesting to see the embassy and diplomatic reception. And you should show that the Peace Corps is there and doing good things. Good luck. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2007, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-the-opportunity-to-meet-gwb-what-should-i-do/406967/30 "2007-06-06T18:51:22Z")
[QUOTE=Billdo] Even though I think his politics and policies are detestable, I would go and shake his hand. He is the President, after all, and there is that respect the office, not the occupant thing. [/QUOTE] Indeed, this is solid advice. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Slypork](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9fc29f/32.png) [@Slypork](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slypork)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2007, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-the-opportunity-to-meet-gwb-what-should-i-do/406967/31 "2007-06-06T18:59:27Z")
[QUOTE=BobLibDem] Eat great quantities of broccoli, beans, and Mexican food. Work on the old “silent but deadly” weapon. [/QUOTE] Nah. Make it a noisy one. Right as he grabs your hand say, “Pull my finger,’ and let it rip. Then say, “Hey! You found the WMDs!” [QUOTE=ratatoskK] Or rat turd… (in reply to gigi in post #22) [/QUOTE] Actually, if you have rat turds in your hand before you shake… Or pick your nose right before hand. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2007, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-the-opportunity-to-meet-gwb-what-should-i-do/406967/32 "2007-06-06T19:00:10Z")
[QUOTE=NurseCarmen] If you have the ability to vomit on demand, I command you go. [/QUOTE] Oooh good one! Chug some Ipecac about 15 minutes prior. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2007, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-the-opportunity-to-meet-gwb-what-should-i-do/406967/33 "2007-06-06T19:02:55Z")
[QUOTE=ratatoskK] Or rat turd… (in reply to gigi in post #22) [/QUOTE] Stetson is made from rat turd essence…pass it on… ---
**Author:** ![1010011010](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/1/ea666f/32.png) [@1010011010](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/1010011010)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2007, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-the-opportunity-to-meet-gwb-what-should-i-do/406967/34 "2007-06-06T19:05:45Z")
“I’m so sorry for what you’ve done to America” ---
**Author:** ![OneCentStamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/13edae/32.png) [@OneCentStamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneCentStamp)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2007, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-the-opportunity-to-meet-gwb-what-should-i-do/406967/35 "2007-06-06T19:10:43Z")
[QUOTE=VCO3] I’d do it just to do the “fake-out,” where you pull away from the shake when he reaches for your hand and comb your hair. Hee-hee. [/QUOTE] And, of course, you must call out “PSYCH!!!” when you do it. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![mswas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2007, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-the-opportunity-to-meet-gwb-what-should-i-do/406967/36 "2007-06-06T19:19:34Z")
[QUOTE=Kyla] I’ve never met any famous or important people, so…I guess I don’t. I really can’t imagine that George Bush would say anything memorable enough to make it a good story, either. [/QUOTE] Supposedly he is mesmerizingly charming in person, something that does not come across. I think you should meet him, even if you don’t like the man, take the opportunity to look him in the eye face to face, it’s worth it. There is nothing to be gained by snubbing someone because you perceive them as your enemy. I seriously disagree with the man’s politics and morals as I perceive them, but I see absolutely no reason to hate him. ---
**Author:** ![scout1222](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/34f0e0/32.png) [@scout1222](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scout1222)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2007, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-the-opportunity-to-meet-gwb-what-should-i-do/406967/37 "2007-06-06T19:20:10Z")
[QUOTE=A.R. Cane] What if it were Putin, or Blair, or some other head of state that you might not agree with, would you boycott then? [/QUOTE] Actually, this is a good point. I think that I’d probably be jazzed to be able to say that I got to meet a world leader, even if I didn’t agree with them (unless we were talking Idi Amin or something). I think that my irritation with GWB kind of colors everything in a way that another country’s leader might not. I don’t have to deal with another country’s leader’s B.S. every day. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2007, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-the-opportunity-to-meet-gwb-what-should-i-do/406967/38 "2007-06-06T19:24:27Z")
I was going to suggest giving him a stinkpalm. ---
**Author:** ![Rodd\_Hill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/3ab097/32.png) [@Rodd\_Hill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rodd_Hill)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2007, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-the-opportunity-to-meet-gwb-what-should-i-do/406967/39 "2007-06-06T23:07:02Z")
Or put on an agonized face, while dropping to your knees, all the while holding his hand–making it look like he’s giving **you** one of those super-macho handcrusher handshakes. “Ooow! Geez, Mr. President! Uncle!” ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2007, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-the-opportunity-to-meet-gwb-what-should-i-do/406967/40 "2007-06-07T01:37:22Z")
[QUOTE=NurseCarmen] If you have the ability to vomit on demand, I command you go. [/QUOTE] I used to be able to do this (that and a sudden nosebleed is a great way to get out of PE 😉 ). Seriously though, there’s no way I could bring myself to show any respect to Bush. He doesn’t deserve it. I don’t care that he’s the President of the United States. If I ever did have to chance to meet him I’d; spit on him (yes, I know that’s illegal and I could be sent to prison), tell him to fuck off, or give him the finger. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-the-opportunity-to-meet-gwb-what-should-i-do/406967.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-the-opportunity-to-meet-gwb-what-should-i-do/406967.md?page=3)