# Would you shake George Bush's hand? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 23, 2007, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-shake-george-bushs-hand/397191 "2007-03-23T15:31:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2007, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-shake-george-bushs-hand/397191/21 "2007-03-23T16:19:55Z")
[QUOTE=Giraffe] Bush is probably the only politician in my lifetime that I feel strongly enough about to actively not want to shake his hand. Even so, I wouldn’t snub him, I would simply avoid a possible hand-shaking situation as much as possible. Fade to the back of the group I’m in, wipe a booger on my hand, put on a fake mustache, whatever it takes. If after all that he walked directly up to me and stuck out his hand, I would be polite and shake it. [/QUOTE] Ditto. ---
**Author:** ![Blalron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/35a633/32.png) [@Blalron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blalron)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2007, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-shake-george-bushs-hand/397191/22 "2007-03-23T16:26:05Z")
(E) Shake his hand, look him directly in the eye and say “Your policies and actions over the past 6 years have been reprehensible. You sir, are a bad person. Do yourself and your country a favor by resigning.” ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2007, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-shake-george-bushs-hand/397191/23 "2007-03-23T16:34:07Z")
I would shake his hand and hopefully get a picture with him. Just like I would with any president during my lifetime, and that includes Nixon. It’s not everyday that you get to meet the president. ---
**Author:** ![MadTheSwine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MadTheSwine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MadTheSwine)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2007, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-shake-george-bushs-hand/397191/24 "2007-03-23T16:38:23Z")
b for me. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2007, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-shake-george-bushs-hand/397191/25 "2007-03-23T16:42:34Z")
I’d shake Senior’s hand anytime. I really liked 41, thought he was well prepared for office and even though he might have misappropriated his domestic focus for awhile, he still strikes me as a very decent, honorable man. Shrub’s hand I would have shaken until it became apparent he was manufacturing reasons for an Iraqi conflict. Until that point I’d just considered him a bumbling yet harmless idiot, but then people died. Like **Giraffe** I imagine I’d just do whatever it took to avoid a hand shaking opportunity because doing so would _only and grudgingly_ be out of respect for the office, not the man. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2007, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-shake-george-bushs-hand/397191/26 "2007-03-23T16:45:19Z")
We could of course stinkpalm him… ---
**Author:** ![pool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pool/32/4152_2.png) [@pool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pool)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2007, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-shake-george-bushs-hand/397191/27 "2007-03-23T16:46:14Z")
I may not like him as a president but I would shake his hand. ---
**Author:** ![bdntexas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/85e7bf/32.png) [@bdntexas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bdntexas)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2007, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-shake-george-bushs-hand/397191/28 "2007-03-23T16:49:43Z")
I just got on this message board today. I have not paid money to subscribe yet. I have just been looking around. If this thread and it’s replies are common to the entire board, I won’t be spending any of my hard earned money to get this kind of drivel. This is looking like an obvious liberal haven. New name for the board, " The Dopes. Fighting for the arrogant liberals since 1973. The year we woke up from Woodstock." ---
**Author:** ![Merkwurdigliebe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/74df32/32.png) [@Merkwurdigliebe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merkwurdigliebe)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2007, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-shake-george-bushs-hand/397191/29 "2007-03-23T16:50:15Z")
It’s hard to say. I’d rather not meet the man. But then if someone told me, “Hey the President would like to meet you!” It’d be hard to pass up. But if I were famous or something, I suppose I’d reject it as I’d only appreciate the recognition of having met the president. He’s not evil incarnate, IMO, just a bad leader. If he had stuck to his chosen career path (MLB Boss), nobody would have cared what his opinions were. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2007, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-shake-george-bushs-hand/397191/30 "2007-03-23T16:51:02Z")
There is no need ever to be rude. I shook Gore’s hand, Kerry’s hand, and even Clinton’s hand. I’d do it again. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2007, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-shake-george-bushs-hand/397191/31 "2007-03-23T16:51:17Z")
> [@](#): > > Instead, for those of you who feel compelled to option D, I propose option E. Respectfully, with a stern “manly” grip, shake his hand; and rather than the typical pleasantry like “It’s a pleasure to meet you”, give him a quick sentence or two that concisely expresses your discontent and disgust in a civil manner or some other clever retort. Example, Him: “It’s a pleasure to meet you”, You: “I assure you, the pleasure is all yours.” or “Quite a grip there; it’s a shame you’re not as good at [managing the war in Iraq | supporting First ammendment rights | (other random political statement goes here)].” This is more or less what I would do. I would be highly honored to be the first person from whom Dubya had ever heard a dissenting opinion in his life. Except I think I would skip the “nice grip” or other pleasantry: A handshake only barely allows enough time for the pointed question as it is. Mind you, afterwards, I would wash my hands very thoroughly. ---
**Author:** ![vetbridge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5e925/32.png) [@vetbridge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vetbridge)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2007, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-shake-george-bushs-hand/397191/32 "2007-03-23T16:58:26Z")
[QUOTE=Sal Ammoniac] b) I don’t love George Bush, but would be honored to shake the hand of a living U.S. president, however low his approval ratings. [/QUOTE] This is assuming he hasn’t just walked out of the men’s room with dry hands. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2007, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-shake-george-bushs-hand/397191/33 "2007-03-23T17:00:45Z")
[QUOTE=bdntexas] I just got on this message board today. I have not paid money to subscribe yet. I have just been looking around. If this thread and it’s replies are common to the entire board, I won’t be spending any of my hard earned money to get this kind of drivel. This is looking like an obvious liberal haven. New name for the board, " The Dopes. Fighting for the arrogant liberals since 1973. The year we woke up from Woodstock." [/QUOTE] I don’t get this. Every one is entitled to an opinion, and several people have stated they would shake his hand. Not everyone on the Board is a liberal, but some of us don’t like Bush. ---
**Author:** ![Giraffe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giraffe/32/129_2.png) [@Giraffe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giraffe)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2007, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-shake-george-bushs-hand/397191/34 "2007-03-23T17:02:53Z")
[QUOTE=Annie-Xmas] Every one is entitled to an opinion [/QUOTE] Typical liberal claptrap. ---
**Author:** ![Bobotheoptimist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/919ad9/32.png) [@Bobotheoptimist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bobotheoptimist)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2007, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-shake-george-bushs-hand/397191/35 "2007-03-23T17:03:01Z")
[QUOTE=Mr. Moto] There is no need ever to be rude. I shook Gore’s hand, Kerry’s hand, and even Clinton’s hand. I’d do it again. [/QUOTE] I hope you washed after. B.5 - I don’t _hate_ him, so B2 is a little extreme, but I wouldn’t feel honored by shaking his hand, no matter what his job title might be. I’d probably call him “Dub” whilst doing so, but IMHO a handshake is nothing more than a common greeting between two … um… “equals”? ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2007, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-shake-george-bushs-hand/397191/36 "2007-03-23T17:09:11Z")
[QUOTE=bdntexas] I just got on this message board today. I have not paid money to subscribe yet. I have just been looking around. If this thread and it’s replies are common to the entire board, I won’t be spending any of my hard earned money to get this kind of drivel. [/QUOTE] No need to spend a dime. Getting drivel is free. What you pay for is the ability to slobber out your own drivel. ---
**Author:** ![Sal\_Ammoniac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8dc957/32.png) [@Sal\_Ammoniac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sal_Ammoniac)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2007, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-shake-george-bushs-hand/397191/37 "2007-03-23T17:09:32Z")
[QUOTE=Mr. Moto] There is no need ever to be rude. I shook Gore’s hand, Kerry’s hand, and even Clinton’s hand. I’d do it again. [/QUOTE] I guess the question then becomes, how bad would a person have to be before you would refuse to shake their hand? For example, would you shake Saddam Hussein’s hand (were he not under a temporary indisposition, that is)? ---
**Author:** ![bdntexas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/85e7bf/32.png) [@bdntexas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bdntexas)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2007, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-shake-george-bushs-hand/397191/38 "2007-03-23T17:11:39Z")
[QUOTE=Annie-Xmas] I don’t get this. Every one is entitled to an opinion, and several people have stated they would shake his hand. Not everyone on the Board is a liberal, but some of us don’t like Bush. [/QUOTE] Of course everyone is entitled to an opinion, even me. The problem I see here is that it is obviously not a very popular opinion on this board to support Bush. If you would just look around, you’ll see that there are very few with an opinion on here that would be consistant with anything other than liberalism. The majority of the answers to this question are full of vitriol. The correct answer to this question is of course A or B. Something is very wrong with a society that could refuse to have the courtesy to shake the hand of the President of the United States. I never supported Bill Clinton. I disagree with almost everything he did while in office. I would still love to meet him. I would bet he would be great to play golf with! Civility people! Civility! ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2007, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-shake-george-bushs-hand/397191/39 "2007-03-23T17:17:09Z")
People are acting as if refusing to shake hands is the highest insult imaginable. If I caught some stranger kicking my dog, I would refuse to shake his hand if he offered it in apology. I leave the reader to determine whether Bush’s crimes exceed that of dog-kicking. ---
**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:** [March 23, 2007, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-shake-george-bushs-hand/397191/40 "2007-03-23T17:17:10Z")
I’d probably do b). Right now, making a statement or stand is important. Ten years from now, it will be far less so and by the time you have grandkids, its going to go like this: “My Granddoper had the chance to shake hands with Dubya Bush, but refused on conscience.” “Yeah, sure he/she did. Got any spacestations you want to sell me while we’re at it?” A picture, in hard copy, JPEG, or spinning rings (HG Wells Time Machine) format will stand the test of time. Someday, at a show-and-tell, a first grade class will thank you for it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-shake-george-bushs-hand/397191.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-shake-george-bushs-hand/397191.md?page=3)