The height of etiquette: Michelle Obama towers over Japanese emperor as she stumbles in silver stilettos while attempting awkward curtsey

[mystery-ak]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3002178/Michelle-Obama-towers-Japanese-Emperor-Akihito-smiles-awkwardly.html

The height of etiquette: Michelle Obama towers over Japanese emperor as she stumbles in silver stilettos while attempting awkward curtsey

    Mrs Obama towered over Emperor Akihito and stumbled as she tried to bow, shake his hand and curtsey at once
    She also grabbed Japan's First Lady in a hug-and-handshake combination while she was mid-bow
    The awkward trip is being described as a 'makeup call' after Mrs Obama failed to accompany the President to Japan last year
    Tensions are high after death threats to the U.S. Ambassador to Japan
    Mrs Obama wore a green printed dress from Kenzo’s Fall 2014 collection, followed by a striking flower-print suit

By Jake Wallis Simons For Mailonline

Published: 04:56 EST, 19 March 2015 | Updated: 09:42 EST, 19 March 2015

Michelle Obama has had an awkward start to her visit to Japan as she was pictured towering over Emperor Akihito and stumbling as she tried to bow, shake his hand and curtsey at once.

The First Lady, dressed in a florid combination of a blazer and skirt, dwarfed the Emperor in her silver stilettos, while he maintained his composure and smiled politely. She then squatted slightly while shaking his hand, seemingly trying to disguise the difference of height between them.

Mrs Obama, who is 5ft 9in tall, also caused embarrassment earlier in the day when she grabbed Akie Abe, wife of Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, in a hug-and-handshake combination while the Japanese First Lady was trying to bow.


I'm going in: Michelle Obama stumbles as she attempts an awkward combination of curtsey, western handshake and Japanese bow when meeting Emperor Akihito in Tokyo. Matters were not helped by the fact that she towers over him


Just nod and smile: The Japanese Emperor is the height of politeness as he greets Mrs Obama, who squats slightly as she tries to disguise the dramatic height difference between them

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3002178/Michelle-Obama-towers-Japanese-Emperor-Akihito-smiles-awkwardly.html#ixzz3UqZegVKS

[mystery-ak]

Mrs Obama, who squats slightly as she tries to disguise the dramatic height difference between them

Wearing flats would have helped a little............../s

[Lando Lincoln]

"Squat" is the correct word.

[alicewonders]

"Squat" is the correct word.

Don't you mean "Squatch"?

[GourmetDan]

 
The Millenium Falcon flies again...

[mountaineer]

Mooo.

[Bigun]

Sasquatch!

[andy58-in-nh]

 
"Ooompa-loompa-loompadee-doo...."

[Lando Lincoln]

It is really wrong to be making these comments but...

It...
is...
so...
difficult...
not...
to...

[Dexter]

Mooo.

Alright, I just have to say it. Stop acting like she is grossly overweight; she's not, and it's really kind of petty to continually go there. Even if she was fat (which she isn't), so what? Attack her political positions, not her physical appearance. You're doing the right wing a serious disservice with this crap.

[aligncare]

I forget who it was who said it, some fancy English guy, I think.

But, (in trying not to appear too unkind) he said:

"She was a large woman who seemed not so much dressed, as upholstered."

[mountaineer]

Alright, I just have to say it. Stop acting like she is grossly overweight; she's not, and it's really kind of petty to continually go there. Even if she was fat (which she isn't), so what? Attack her political positions, not her physical appearance. You're doing the right wing a serious disservice with this crap.

Thanks for your kind and oh-so-helpful words.   

[Dexter]

Thanks for your kind and oh-so-helpful words.   

I guess I should have joined you in typing out cow noises instead.

[Relic]

Alright, I just have to say it. Stop acting like she is grossly overweight; she's not, and it's really kind of petty to continually go there. Even if she was fat (which she isn't), so what? Attack her political positions, not her physical appearance. You're doing the right wing a serious disservice with this crap.

She's a nasty woman, with bad intentions. As we all know, ridicule is a powerful tool. I don't see why ridicule is a tool that only the left can use.

I despise the Wookie and her effeminate man-child of a husband. I truly enjoy any ridicule of them.

[mystery-ak]

Now which photo is funnier

[Dexter]

She's a nasty woman, with bad intentions. As we all know, ridicule is a powerful tool. I don't see why ridicule is a tool that only the left can use.

I despise the Wookie and her effeminate man-child of a husband. I truly enjoy any ridicule of them.

Do you think swing voters that view this and other Republican forums are going to be impressed by ugly jokes and cow noises? It's about image.

[Relic]

Do you think swing voters that view this and other Republican forums are going to be impressed by ugly jokes and cow noises? It's about image.

Get a grip. Do you think this forum matters to any but a few? Do you think your liberal friends drop by to see what I have to say on any giving topic? Most swing voters would rather drink acid than vote Republican. And with the current lack of leadership, many former Republicans won't vote Republican either. There is a large contingent here on this very forum that likely won't vote Republican for president in 2016, if the RNC has it's way.

Real assessment: American schools have indoctrinated and mentally crippled a large portion of the under 40 population. Once Boehner, McConnell and BHO finish the amnesty dance, the chance of a Republican being elected president will be just a tick above zero.

So, you wring your hands all you want over our treatment of that heroine, that strong black woman that is likely your role model.

I'll enjoy the ridicule on the way down, as we ride this puppy into the ground.

[Dexter]

Get a grip. Do you think this forum matters to any but a few? Do you think your liberal friends drop by to see what I have to say on any giving topic? Most swing voters would rather drink acid than vote Republican. And with the current lack of leadership, many former Republicans won't vote Republican either. There is a large contingent here on this very forum that likely won't vote Republican for president in 2016, if the RNC has it's way.

Real assessment: American schools have indoctrinated and mentally crippled a large portion of the under 40 population. Once Boehner, McConnell and BHO finish the amnesty dance, the chance of a Republican being elected president will be just a tick above zero.

So, you wring your hands all you want over our treatment of that heroine, that strong black woman that is likely your role model.

I'll enjoy the ridicule on the way down, as we ride this puppy into the ground.

You know, other than creating a bad image for Republicans it's also just kind of childish. I understand there are idiots on the left that did the same thing to Sarah Palin and other members of the Republican party, but that was stupid and childish of them. Do Republicans really want to do the same thing just because the Democrats do it? If it's really that important to hurl personal insults at politicians you don't like rather than addressing the weaknesses in their positions then go nuts I guess. Not that anybody cares but I'm really disappointed.

[musiclady]

Now which photo is funnier

Wistfully remembering when our First Lady was............... a LADY! 

[musiclady]

Alright, I just have to say it. Stop acting like she is grossly overweight; she's not, and it's really kind of petty to continually go there. Even if she was fat (which she isn't), so what? Attack her political positions, not her physical appearance. You're doing the right wing a serious disservice with this crap.

Right wing??

Is that what you meant to say?

[Relic]

Right wing??

Is that what you meant to say?

Good catch. And yes, yes it is what he/she meant to say.

[Dexter]

Right wing??

Is that what you meant to say?

I'm afraid I don't follow.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/right+wing

Right wing means the people that make up the right side of politics.

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/left%20wing

Left wing means the people that make up the left side of politics.

By saying he is doing the right wing a disservice I am saying he is hindering the right wing by giving it a negative image. What is the issue here?

[mountaineer]

Do you think swing voters that view this and other Republican forums are going to be impressed by ugly jokes and cow noises? It's about image.

Oh, grow up. When I say "mooo" about this pathetic excuse for a woman, I'm commenting on her lack of grace, dignity and respect for her position as "First Lady of the United States." I am not a member of the right wing, whatever the hell that may be. I'm just an American who longs for the days when a president and his wife actually loved this nation and represented it around the world with class and dignity. Go ahead and call us names. What's the point, Dex? Do you think by calling us stupid and childish you've persuaded anyone to love or respect Obama and his lovely but equally America-hating and graceless wife?

Eat some arugula. You'll feel better. Michelle says so.

[musiclady]

I'm afraid I don't follow.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/right+wing

Right wing means the people that make up the right side of politics.

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/left%20wing

Left wing means the people that make up the left side of politics.

By saying he is doing the right wing a disservice I am saying he is hindering the right wing by giving it a negative image. What is the issue here?

Never heard the term used disparagingly, have you?

Never heard the term used with the word "extremist" attached to it?

I just haven't seen that term used by many legitimate conservatives........  that's what the "issue" is.

[musiclady]

Good catch. And yes, yes it is what he/she meant to say.

I'm quite certain it is.