Some Country for Old Men

Remember that craziness from a few months ago when the Right went all bananas because secret-Muslim Barack Obama bowed to actual-Muslim Saudi King Abdullah? Well guess what? We’re at it again!

Over the weekend, Obama kicked off a swing through Asia with a stop in Japan. Naturally, he met Japanese Emperor Akihito, and he couldn’t help but bow. Check this out:

Predictably, the people at Fox News went insane:

The controversy grows over President Obama’s deep bow to Japanese Emperor Akihito Saturday, which was captured in a photo that touched off a weekend firestorm over presidential protocol.

By most accounts, it hasn’t been official protocol for a U.S. president, or any American, to bow to a foreign head of state or symbolic monarch. Other heads of state and officials, like former Vice President Cheney, have greeted the Japanese emperor with a handshake.

So then someone like Richard Nixon wouldn’t have bowed to a Japanese emperor, right?

Oh wait:

Of course the people at Fox News weren’t the only ones who were mad about Obama’s behavior. Check out this damning line from their story:

Following the encounter with the Saudi King, The Washington Times declared it a “shocking display of fealty” and an “extraordinary protocol violation.”

Likewise, Obama’s latest bow has critics fuming. One blogger called the act “treasonous.”

OH NOES! “One Blogger” has turned against Obama! Get back on Air Force One right now, Mr. President! A revolution is afoot!

Ugh, this is all just so retarded. Everyone knows there are only two appropriate ways for a U.S. President to greet a monarch:

The kiss/hand-hold combo

And the wink

For an actual, in-depth discussion about this nonsense, we refer you (shockingly) to Jake Tapper at ABC News.