Biden’s ridiculous fist-bump policy in the Middle East
President Biden’s decision to go to Saudi Arabia has become a major controversy – especially among those on the radical left. He is engaging with two nations they hate most –Israel and Saudi Arabia. Of the many critical national issues at stake, the one that grabbed the headlines on day-one was … the fist-bump – that Covid era relic from the days when handshakes were considered deadly.
According to the Director of Bulls%&t at the White House, Biden was advised to use the fist-bump when visiting the Middle East. So, there he was fist-bumping the folks in the receiving line at the airport. As he moved around, Biden occasionally forgot and did the traditional handshake. (Perhaps he did not have one of those note cards to constantly remind him – “YOU should use fist-bump, not handshake.”)
(Personally, I would have given him a note reminding him to take off his sunglasses. They make him look like a character from a “Godfather” sequel. But that is just me.)
But why the fist-bump?
It obviously has nothing to do with Covid. There is not a lot of Covid going around in Israel – and if there was, Biden would be wearing masks and maintaining social distancing. Hell … he would not even be there.
He does the fist-bump and then talks face-to-face within inches, touches others, and even hugs. If we followed real Covid rules, Biden would have to self-isolate for seven days. It was reported that on the previous day, Biden shook hands with some 500 people. Really? That may be an exaggerated number, but he did shake a lot of hands.
In the absence of any alternative rational reason for the sudden fist-bump diplomacy, many suggest (including me) that it all has to do with the meeting with the Crown Prince in Saudi Arabia – the man allegedly responsible for the murder of Washington Post reporter Adnan Khashoggi, and who Biden referred to as a pariah. The Crown Prince, not Kashoggi.
It would be hard to find a meeting between two heads-of-state – even adversaries – that will be as observed and as uncomfortable as the face-to-face exchange between Biden and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
You can bet that the nature of that meeting will be by mutual private agreement orchestrated by the diplomates and advance teams. I am thinking that there may be no handshake or fist-bump. In fact, I would not be surprised if the first confrontation took place in one of those private, off-the-record meetings.
There will be intense public interest in what Biden will say to the Crown Prince. Of course, whatever is said, we will only get the White House preferred version. They will put a positive spin on it. But the fact remains that this meeting is a huge embarrassment to Biden and the United States. It is a win-win for the Saudis, including the Crown Prince.
While Biden may be fist-bumping the Crown Prince, the Crown Prince will be pounding Biden into the ground like a tent peg on the world stage. All the imagery and power rests with MBS. What the world will see is an American President — politically enfeebled by his own policies – begging for concessions from a person and a nation he promised to punish. No amount of spin is going to alter that reality.
So, there ‘tis.
Why didn’t the handlers take the idiot to Disney world instead of allowing him to humiliate our country? He could have had a ball with the little girls there
Actually, the author might want to check out the covid situation in Israel. They’re vaxxed up the wazoo, but last I heard it wasn’t having much effect.
JoAnn … Are you suggesting that you actually believe the fist bump was about Covid? Then why no mask of social distancing? Why all the handshakes that proceeded and succeeded the airport protocol. In the West Bank, Biden was holding the head of the PLO’s hand for a prolonged period. My point was … and is … that the theatrical fist-bump was created for political reasons. That seems pretty obvious.
JoAnn is spot on. Israel has a similar population as NJ and two to three times the number of current cases. NJ is ranked as High Risk right now by the CDC. Further, there is some thought that while outside is safer, with BA2.5/5 etc. that outside is not as safe as it used to be. He probably should have masked for the handshakes — or held his breadth :>)
Larry has his knickers knotted over a fist bump handshake to which he ascribes all sorts of political intrigues. Wonder what Larry said about Trump’s Ardah male-only sword dance performance of the Arab dance traditionally performed to show male prowess and power. That one was only worth 15 minutes and one late night joke per talk show host.
But the ten-year old rape victim abortion bullshit that Jordan tweeted and then mysteriously deleted without apology…..that’s a fist bump too far for Larry to comment on. When asked about it, bobble-headed, arm-flapping, smirking Jordan demurred on an apology or regrets like a wounded bird trying to flap their way out of it. The WSJ did the right thing, why not Jordan? Glad Pelosi booted that bitch off the committee. Jordan’s physicality over this was priceless.
And then, how about the impassioned Republican Langford also flapping his wings like a wounded sparrow to block the Freedom to Travel for Health Care Act of 2022 which would codify a woman’s right to cross State lines for health reasons, abortions, from a State that bans abortions, including some for rape and incest pregnancies. Crickets on that little physical display of strangeness? Mark my words, they won’t stop until they can chain these women to the delivery room bed for nine months.
Glad we still have time for the little things, the insignificant things, the totally unimportant touchstones of Larry’s Political Peccadillo Theater. Really starting to miss those days of burger tossing in the Whitehouse, now that’s a fist pump.
I’m willing to bet that the same people that complain that Biden is there are the same people that complain about the price if gas.
The first bump was a good idea because it depicts the lowest firm of respect while still be in the process of arrival…
” S T O P C R Y I N G and trying to be mind readers an figuring out Biden’s intentions !!!
David Dutra … let me try to understand. You are saying that the fist-bump was used with the Crown Prince as “the lowest form of respect.” And that would mean the same for the Prime Minister of Israel — and all those other Israeli officials???? And from what I read and hear in the media, a lot of those on the left are complaining the loudest about the meeting with the Crown Prince. Finally, it is the right of the American people to figure out Biden’ intentions. It is call transparency — and that is a good thing. We should worry when we do not know his intentions.