# 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:** 4
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2007, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-shake-george-bushs-hand/397191/61 "2007-03-23T19:16:24Z")
I think it’s unlikely the President could ever sneak up on me what with the Secret Service being all around, so I would probably take the same approach as Giraffe (also sans boogers) and just try not to be in a position to be forced to make that decision. I might try the “fake being sick” approach and say I have a cold and don’t want to give him my germs. If somehow he were to sneak up on me and offer his hand, I’d probably shake it because I was raised to be polite and that is what you do when you first meet someone. But if he kicked my dog first, all bets are off. ---
**Author:** ![T\_SQUARE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9de053/32.png) [@T\_SQUARE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/T_SQUARE)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2007, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-shake-george-bushs-hand/397191/62 "2007-03-23T19:29:36Z")
[QUOTE=Sal Ammoniac] 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)? [/QUOTE] I think I would shake the hand of any head of state. Not go out of my way to do so in all cases, but if I’m there, I suppose it’s the polite thing to do, plus it makes a good story. “Is that your grandpa with Castro in this picutre?” With GWB, I would be in camp B, and might even put some effort into it. (Putting on a tie, for example) ---
**Author:** ![MacTech](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MacTech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacTech)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2007, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-shake-george-bushs-hand/397191/63 "2007-03-23T19:44:10Z")
Well, it _IS_ the polite thing to do, so i probably would choose option “E”, go for the crushing handshake and stern look of dissaproval, make it clear that I’m only doing it to be polite and out of respect for the institution of the Presidency ---
**Author:** ![Quiddity\_Glomfuster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/c4cdca/32.png) [@Quiddity\_Glomfuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quiddity_Glomfuster)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2007, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-shake-george-bushs-hand/397191/64 "2007-03-23T20:12:12Z")
I would dodge/flee. If I somehow was trapped in the crowd, I’d have both hands clasped behind me and I’d nod a brief ‘hello’ and not smile at all. IMHO he has brought disrepute to the position and to his country so the only ‘disrespect’ would be of him, personally. ---
**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:** [March 23, 2007, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-shake-george-bushs-hand/397191/65 "2007-03-23T21:37:11Z")
[QUOTE=Sal Ammoniac] …d) George Bush _will_ feel the pain of my ostracism! No handshake for you, you undescended testicle of a president! Put me firmly in Camp D. I wouldn’t go so far as to spit in his face, though. [/QUOTE] I don’t know if my self control is strong enough to resist spitting in his face. A possible few years in prison vs taking to my grave the memory of spitting in his face. Hard choice. ---
**Author:** ![Cardinal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardinal/32/4000_2.png) [@Cardinal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardinal)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2007, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-shake-george-bushs-hand/397191/66 "2007-03-23T23:14:40Z")
[QUOTE=athelas] B. Political disagreement is no excuse for incivility or disrespect. [/QUOTE] My feelings go well beyond political disagreement. He put my brother into a situation with a much too high risk of being killed, when apparently we had no real good reason to be there, and he’s shown hinself to be dishonest and immensely immune to criticism, which is another form of dishonesty. Me: “I never even voted Democrat, but you’ve betrayed almost everything I ever stood for, and made a little ashamed to be considered a Republican. Please resign.” ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2007, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-shake-george-bushs-hand/397191/67 "2007-03-23T23:26:34Z")
I would shake his hand, gladly. I wouldn’t shake Clinton’s hand. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2007, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-shake-george-bushs-hand/397191/68 "2007-03-23T23:46:43Z")
I’d piss on Bush before I’d shake his hand. If I got the chance to make it a public dis, so much the better. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2007, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-shake-george-bushs-hand/397191/69 "2007-03-24T00:09:49Z")
I wouldn’t shake his hand. I sure wouldn’t let him near me with the media around, so he could show how he 's helping everybody in the current disaster. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2007, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-shake-george-bushs-hand/397191/70 "2007-03-24T01:08:25Z")
I’ll take “D”. I’m an American and last I checked I don’t have to shake the hand of anyone I don’t want to, just as no one is required to shake mine. I don’t believe, first of all, that any particular President wants to shake my hand, specifically. In any scenario I can imagine, the only reason a President, any President, might ever walk up to a schlub like me and shake my hand would be to turn me into a political prop. Secondly, if my main motive, like some here seem to have said, is to be able to brag that I shook the hand of the President, well, I don’t give a rat’s ass about that. You folks go ahead if it’s important to you; leave me out. Beyond that, my deep respect for the office of the President is precisely why I would never shake GWB’s hand, nor Nixon’s, for that matter. Of the other presidents that have held office since I’ve been alive, aside from those two, no problem. ---
**Author:** ![ArizonaTeach](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/45deac/32.png) [@ArizonaTeach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ArizonaTeach)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2007, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-shake-george-bushs-hand/397191/71 "2007-03-24T01:52:40Z")
[QUOTE=Chronos] Mind you, afterwards, I would wash my hands very thoroughly. [/QUOTE] Why? Seriously? Are you that fixated on hating him that you think he’s going to pass something on to you? And yes, I see that someone said the same thing about Gore. I don’t get it. Is it some macho credential-proving thing? LIke thinking “Shrub” is clever? By all means, don’t shake his hand. But for crying out loud, don’t shake your testicles at us, either. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2007, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-shake-george-bushs-hand/397191/72 "2007-03-24T01:59:47Z")
[QUOTE=bdntexas] 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. [/quote] It’s not a terribly popular opinion with the country at large, at this point. > [@](#): > > 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. It’s true, the board leans pretty hard to the left. However, there have been at least two posters to this thread who went with D who are conservatives: **What Exit?** and **silenus**. And **silenus** has aimed the most vitriol (along with other bodily fluids) at Bush so far. However, that’s all the more reason to stick around, isn’t it? It’s easy enough to find boards that will just be an echo chamber for whatever opinions you already hold. Around here, your idea will actually be challenged, and you’ll have to fight for them. If you can take the heat, you’ll come out the other side stronger for it. Plus, we really need more conservative voices here. A balanced board is an interesting board. > [@](#): > > 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. Could be. Or it could be that there’s something very wrong with the President. Speaking for myself, I reserve my respect for people, not offices or institutions. Being elected president does not make one worthy of respect. It’s what that person does once he’s in office that determines if I’d respect him or not. > [@](#): > > 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! Shit, I wouldn’t shake Clinton’s hand, and I voted for him twice. Who knows where that hand has been? ---
**Author:** ![fruitbat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/58f4c7/32.png) [@fruitbat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fruitbat)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2007, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-shake-george-bushs-hand/397191/73 "2007-03-24T02:32:57Z")
I am no fan of Bush and I would easily vote B. I truly believe that he is a decent man with some very bad ideas who is doing his best to serve his country. I think that is worth my respect. Call me naive. ---
**Author:** ![ChessPieceFace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5f9b8f/32.png) [@ChessPieceFace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChessPieceFace)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2007, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-shake-george-bushs-hand/397191/74 "2007-03-24T03:07:24Z")
[QUOTE=Miller] It’s not a terribly popular opinion with the country at large, at this point. [/QUOTE] It’s not a popular opinion _anywhere_. I shook Dan Quayle’s hand once when I was a teenager, but he was just inoffensively retarded. Sadly, nothing about Bush is inoffensive to me. I’d like to think that I’d shake his hand so as to draw him close enough to hear me say something like “Sir, you should be ashamed of yourself. How dare you call yourself an American.” But I’d probably just stay as far away from him as possible and leave the room at the first opportunity. ---
**Author:** ![Lil\_Slugger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Lil\_Slugger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lil_Slugger)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2007, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-shake-george-bushs-hand/397191/75 "2007-03-24T03:56:37Z")
I imagine that, under the right circumstances,[Dan Savage](http://archive.salon.com/politics2000/feature/2000/01/25/bauer/index.html) would be happy to shake George Bush’s hand. As for me, I’m between B and C. I wouldn’t be honored to shake GWB’s hand, but if I _do_ shake his hand, I’m not going to be a wuss about it. A shuffling, shifty-eyed “wish I weren’t there” handshake would only constitute a poor reflection on myself, and yes, bad manners. But I would only extend the courtesy for the sake of the office, not the man. ---
**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:** [March 24, 2007, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-shake-george-bushs-hand/397191/76 "2007-03-24T04:02:34Z")
[QUOTE=Lil’ Slugger] I imagine that, under the right circumstances,[Dan Savage](http://archive.salon.com/politics2000/feature/2000/01/25/bauer/index.html) would be happy to shake George Bush’s hand… [/QUOTE] Come to think of it so would I. Those circumstances would be; after his resignation, or before his suicide. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2007, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-shake-george-bushs-hand/397191/77 "2007-03-24T04:16:16Z")
I don’t like evil chimpanzees so the answer is D. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2007, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-shake-george-bushs-hand/397191/78 "2007-03-24T05:25:01Z")
D. I wouldn’t shake hands with him under any circumstances short of a gun at my head; if he stuck his hand out at me I’d look him up and down and say, “I don’t want to touch scum like you.”, then walk away. The only reason I wouldn’t spit at him is because the Secret Service would probably apply a billyclub to my head if I did. And because I don’t want to contaminate my spit with him. I utterly despise him, and regard him as my enemy, not just someone I disagree with. And as an aside, I don’t believe the office of the Presidency or any other job deserves respect; only the person in it. [QUOTE=Bobotheoptimist] WTF? That’s a little extreme, is it not? The dude gets a bad rap every time I turn around. Sure, I’ve come to expect it but that doesn’t make it any less annoying. Oh sure, it’s fun to sit around and bash someone that can’t or won’t ever have a chance to talk back, but seriously, what has he done that’s so bad? Job was like 3000 years ago, and I still think that was just a lousy PR department that got him the blame for that little mess… [/QUOTE] \< claps \> You got me too on that one. [QUOTE=Miller] It’s true, the board leans pretty hard to the left. [/QUOTE] \< snickers \> If you think **that** , a real left wing board ought to give you a heart attack. Or a migraine. [QUOTE=T\_SQUARE] I think I would shake the hand of any head of state. [/QUOTE] Even Stalin or Pol Pot or Hitler or Idi Amin or Mao ? There have been some pretty monstrous heads of state throughout history; people who make Bush look like a naughty child. ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2007, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-shake-george-bushs-hand/397191/79 "2007-03-24T05:42:47Z")
[QUOTE=fruitbat] I am no fan of Bush and I would easily vote B. I truly believe that he is a decent man with some very bad ideas who is doing his best to serve his country. I think that is worth my respect. Call me naive. [/QUOTE] You are naive. Very very naive. ---
**Author:** ![Bobotheoptimist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/919ad9/32.png) [@Bobotheoptimist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bobotheoptimist)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2007, 6:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-shake-george-bushs-hand/397191/80 "2007-03-24T06:22:07Z")
[QUOTE=Der Trihs] \< claps \> You got me too on that one. [/QUOTE] 😃 My work here is done. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-shake-george-bushs-hand/397191.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-shake-george-bushs-hand/397191.md?page=5)