Try to answer this without being flip or glib: How would you act if you met bush at a DC monument?

[Stinky The Clown]

Leave the silly comments about spitting or running or puking or tossing fruits and vegetables aside.

If you found yourself face to face with the President of the US, how would you act?

[ejpoeta]

1. honestly, i would probably roll my eyes, make a disapproving noise of some sort

and walk away.

[dixiegrrrrl]

2. Ignore him, turn my back on him.

He is beneath my notice.
"cutting" is a fine art, down here in the South.

[Motown_Johnny]

3. I would walk away, never would get close enough to come face to face with him

because all of the other people in the area would be swarming him.

[spartan61]

4. I probably would change directions and walk

away from him. I wouldn't say anything because I do have respect for the office he held, but I have no respect at all for him. I guess I would just ignore him.

[Faygo Kid]

16. +1, and Go Green.

[Ed Suspicious]

5. Respectfully.

My biggest brush with celebrity was when I was one of the first to arrive in my small home town to see then President Bush Sr. I was so excited I got to shake his hand. He acknowledged how early we must have got there to see him to be front and center with really the best seats in the house.

I'm no republican, but at the time I did have a lot of respect for the office of the presidency. Age and cynicism has tempered that respect, but I'd still be respectful to a former leader of our country.

[Ed Suspicious]

10. PS.

His mom's hair was a shade of blue I had only seen on people adorning leather jackets covered in whiteout and saftey pins, mohawks, and combat boots.

[Jmaxfie1]

11. Honestly I'd do the same thing, people are only human...

being nasty to an ex-president won't do a damn thing.

[countingbluecars]

6. I might take a picture, but

I certainly would not shake his hand.

[Jmaxfie1]

7. Actually, honestly I would probably be polite, shake his hand...

if policies came up I'd disagree with him but still be polite. Its just not my nature to be nasty or scream at people.

[shraby]

8. First get close enough for him to notice then turn my back

and walk away.

[rucognizant]

25. ME TOO!

[kenichol]

9. Ask "are you aware how many of us consider you a murderer?...

...and would like to see you tried for crimes against humanity by the International Criminal Court? While I'm opposed to the death penalty, I could not protest if you were sentenced to death."

[Scuba]

23. Thanks for saving me the trouble. n/t

[Atman]

12. If I actually met him face to face?

I would hope he played his good ol boy friendly routine and extend his hand for a shake, at which point I'd refuse to shake it, and I'd say "I cannot shake your hand; I'm very sorry to have met you."

[mrcheerful]

13. Armed or unarmed? Sorry but honestly I would just turn around and walk the other way

because the best way to handle Bush is by ignoring the worm. Why lower myself by acting like a tea bagging nit wit?

[Buzz Clik]

14. I would discretely walk away. No pictures, no attempt for a handshake, no rubbernecking.

[Lyric]

15. You mean the FORMER President of the US.

And it depends on the context. If he was there for some official function (like a school tour or an award ceremony), I'd just roll my eyes and walk away rather than spoil the moment for the innocent people there. If he was there as a private citizen visiting the monument, I'd likely still ignore him because in modern America, if I approached him to speak to him and *wasn't* saying something positive, I'd probably be tackled and assaulted by the Secret Service as a "threat".

I often wonder what it must have been like to be an American citizen in the days when people were allowed to walk up to the President/former President and tell him to his face what a shameless, greedy, toad-sucking dirtbag he is.

But just in case he ever reads DU...Hey Bush? I disagree with the Dixie Chicks. They were ashamed that you were from Texas. I'm ashamed that you're from AMERICA.

[Phentex]

32. Yes, I cringe at the phrase President Bush...

I don't think I could respond without being sarcastic or glib.

[Stinky The Clown]

35. The title of "President" is generally accepted as a lifelong honor

Were I to meet Jimmy Carter, I would address him as President Carter.

I revile george bush. To call him president isn't wrong.

[Gormy Cuss]

42. Sorry Stinky, but protocol dictates the exact opposite. "Gov." or "Mr." Carter" is proper.

There's only one POTUS and it's considered disrespectful to the current holder of that title to address the others as President ________. Former presidents may be addressed by their highest honorific other than president. Govs. W and Carter, Ambassador or Congressman Bush for HW.


Why does this matter? Well, for one thing, it reminds everyone that "President" in this country is not meant to convey lifetime royal status the way "Emperor" or "Queen." Presidents are ordinary citizens once out of office. The practice of relinquishing the title started with Washington, btw.


And to answer your question, on meeting W I'd give him a dirty look and remain silent because I'd be afraid of what I'd say to the pond scum.

[CantAffordBootstraps]

17. Ditto Spartan61

Neither have I any respect for that person.

[MH1]

18. I would try to find the words to express my disgust "respectfully"

I would probably fail and just walk away. But in my fantasy I would tell him to his face exactly what I thought of him, in such a manner as to avoid concerning the Secret Service.

To put it in context though, thanks to various political activity I've actually met and talked to a few big shots, and shook hands with President Obama. Having been 'President' (such as it was) doesn't inspire any special desire in me to meet anyone, particularly a disgraceful loser like Bush. (Hey, I had a beer with John Kerry. It doesn't get any better than that.)

[OHdem10]

19. Since I deplore the rudeness of Republicans, as a Liberal

I would try to be gracious. After all he did
hold the highest office in land.

I just wish some Republicans showed they were
raised a little better.

Sorry folks, but I do believe such events reflect
what you were taught as a child.

[fredamae]

20. Ignore him

[JoePhilly]

21. I would not have a look of joy on my face. Would not push forward to meet him.

Might take a picture.

If necessary, perhaps politely shake his hand.

Although if there was any way to avoid doing so, I think I would.

I'd slide BACK and away and let some one who REALLY wants to shake his hand do so.

I am curious why we needed this thread .... as a counter to the recent thread in which a mob of very happy people are photographed pushing forward to shake Obama's hand?

If so, its kind of petty (IMO).

[kentuck]

22. I would thank him for cutting $38 billion dollars...

So I could visit the Lincoln Memorial. A very worthwhile expenditure.

[LiberalFighter]

24. I don't have respect for him and would not show respect.

He didn't show respect to the American people. He abused his office. I might call him a wuss. Might even show him a letter that I got from his campaign or another Republican address to me with "Hates Bush" as part of my name.

By the way, after January 21, 2019 he will probably not being making as many trips away from home. His Secret Service detail will be terminated. It will be too much of an expense for him to pay for security on the road.

[Bunny]

26. I would laugh at him, and I'm being completely serious.

For someone with his psychological makeup, being laughed at (as if he's the most ridiculous creature anyone could ever see), would be much worse than being scorned or disrespected or whatever.

[aquart]

27. The cut direct.

[Donnachaidh]

28. I'd have to force myself to walk away

Because I would really REALLY want to spit in his face. I'm not being silly -- I'm still very angry at that fuckwit and what his family has done to this country.

And can you please call him what he is -- an EX president?

[Warren Stupidity]

29. I would accidentaly spit on his shoes. nt.

[Jim Warren]

30. Wouldn't happen

Ask me what how I would act if I met him up in the woods behind my house.

[Exilednight]

31. In all honesty, I would ask him why he allowed Cheney to run the West Wing. n/t

[anarch]

33. turn my back to him, like I would to a misbehaving dog

[Cid_B]

34. Same way I did the first time I met Bush (43)

Shake hands and be herded by the Secret Service....

[mochajava666]

36. I would say the same thing as I would say to Obama

"I'm totally ashamed of this country since it supports torture."

[mercuryblues]

37. I would do

exactly what I told my son to do when he toured the WH, with his class. If bush makes a surprise appearance, fold your arms in front of me and refuse to shake his hand. If necessary, turn your back on him.

According to bush the most hurtful thing that was said about him, was when K. West called him a racist, so I would also call him a racist

[alsame]

38. Honestly, I think I'd just stare at him stone faced. No way would

I shake his hand, the man has always been repulsive to me.

[LeftishBrit]

39. You mean the former president.

I think it's most unlikely I'd ever meet him - even if I was in the USA in a town where he was speaking.

If I did, well, I'd like to say that I'd throw my shoes at him; but in practice I'd probably just keep quiet and make my exit.

[davidthegnome]

I don't know

I don't think I'd pay any attention to him. If approached I would be polite - but I can't see any reason he'd have to approach me nor I him.

[pipi_k]

40. Quite honestly, I would turn around and walk away. n/t

[lunatica]

41. I would push through to the back of the crowd to avoid being anywhere near him

[southernyankeebelle]

43. If he walked over to me I would be respectful because he was the president and I do respect the

office of the president. He is out now and a private citizen and I am happy he can't do any more harm. He has to live with his evils. God will judge him. I will be respectful.

[NYC_SKP]

44. Well, they probably wouldn't let an ordinary dude like me near him, and he probably would never go..

...there, but IF I found myself face to face with him I'd look him straight in the eyes and shake my head and give him the best "you sorry stupid evil mother fucker" look I could muster.

x(