In terms of seniority she has ruled since 1952 and Abdullah since 2005

She is a direct descendant of the first King of what became England Cerdi King of Wessex about 495AD

His first claimed ancestor is Mani' ibn Rabi'ah al-Muraydi 1446AD and his first ancestor who ruled as a King from 1744 Muhammad ibn Saud (probably more realistically 1819 by Amir Turki ibn Abdullah bin Muhammad) and certainly Abdullah’s father Abdul-Aziz in 1902.

So if you look at the most definite claim to rule a Kingdom by the Saudis in 1902 her family have ruled for 1400 years longer.

So why bow to this new King of a new Kingdom who was a guest like yourself and not bow to your host, a far more senior ruler and whose family are far more established as rulers.

Perhaps he was considering the fact that having conquered independent states in the mid 20thc (Hijaz, Asir, Najran etc) that the Al Saud now call the country after themselves ‘Saudi Arabia ‘ – Perhaps it would go down better if Britain was called Windsori Britain.

Certainly he would not have reflected on the recent conquests of the Al Saudi family over much of the Arabian Peninsular while the democratic British dismantled a substantial Empire during the same period.

Obama claims to be a Protestant Christian not a Muslim. Queen Elizabeth is head of the Protestant Church of England as her family have been for 450years.
As President of the USA there is no need for him to bow to any monarch – but why ‘KowTow’ to the Al Saud?

These qualities are essential to establish dominance over the fire breathing and icy veined Malkin, who has with one or two vitriolic blogs established herself as an expert in Presidential behavior. This has placed our host in a difficult position, as you will note that he split the difference with Our Lady of the Poison Pen. Michelle Obama, our First Lady, was not condemned by James Joiner, while her husband, our President was.

Thus, what OTB needs is a man or woman, with a critical eye, with impeccable credentials, and who can call the shots in this most important of all matters.

To whom can the President bow to in a greeting, and how much can he bow, if permitted. Does a head bow (remember, Obama is 6’4”), shoulder twitch, or a cough during a greeting count?

Once we have a pronouncement from you we can proceed to discus more weighty matters, such as what did Obama accomplish of note at the G-20 meeting.

There is still this matter of your photo, but I am sure that is negotiable.

Ah.. because they ahve the ermidity to both agree with Michelle and disagree with YOU.

Get it outta the sunshine, Herman.

Exactly right...it's no surprise that many on the right are "outraged" by all this or that the GOP minority in Congress is presenting phantom budgets with no real numbers...what a sad little wilderness conservatives find themselves in right now...

If such Protocol Expert is clairvoyant to the point of being able to determine what is going on in a man’s mind by how he greets the ruler of another country, why that would be an unexpected benefit.

I nominate Bithead for he has positioned himself as to the final arbitrator of whether Malkin is correct or incorrect, to wit:

Michelle is correct that Obama's actions here are outside of protocol, and, I think, indicative of what's going on in the man's mind.

Of course we may lose him if he ever confesses to an Emergency Room physician that he can tell what's going on in the man's mind by the way he shakes hands.

Something will have to be done about his photo. A Protocol Expert cannot look like a glaring schnauzer deprived of his favorite bone.

Michelle is correct that Obama's actions here are outside of protocol

Very thoughtful of Michelle to tell you what you think...

ny blogs that went ape because Bush held hands with the Saudi king deserve to be ridiculed, as that was something simply to make fun of, not take seriously, or get as outraged as someone like Michelle Malkin is about these current events...but really, please continue to show horror at stuff like this, see if it improves the right's political fortunes...

AT what point did I actually do that?
Michelle is correct that Obama's actions here are outside of protocol, and, I think, indicative of what's going on in the man's mind. A foreign policy gaff, at least... but if you read what I actually wrote, you'll probably notice that if anything I was having trouble keeping from yawning in my comments. This kind of nonsense is precisely what I expected out of this president. As such it generates no shock or surprise at all.

Except he can't enjoy using them unless he comes to the US to watch them, and that is a pretty expensive trip to watch a DVD set. Obama (okay technically his people, because I seriously doubt Obama actually went shopping for the DVD's) bought the wrong format.

Makes me think there wasn't much thought put into the gift.

From the above we can infer the obvious:

(1) Unable to discern problems, attention is fixed on the trivial, in this case President Obama’s greeting of the Saudi Prince, and his wife’s interaction with the Queen of England.

(2) Unable to provide alternative solutions to readily discernable problems, the ideologue only way to advance a conversation is by ridicule, or a change of topic which might advance his credentials.

Thus, Eneils Bailey ( April 3, 2009 | 05:56 pm ) persistent asininities about arm wrestling, Wayne ( April 3, 2009 | 03:21 pm ) screed about the purity of conservatives, JKB ( April 3, 2009 | 10:06 am ) slam on Obama’s bow on greeting the Saudi Prince, Steve Plunk ( April 3, 2009 | 09:41 am ) implying that Obama is a “Chicago Hillbilly”.

Three months after his election, facing a world financial catastrophe that assuredly originated in the US, President Obama either had to show that he could play the game on the world stage, or that he was a lightweight. Assuredly folks are entitled to their opinion, just as they are free to join the Flat Earth Society.

Ignorance in this matter is no excuse, the problem are easy to identify, and Obama’s performance can be weighed against them.

I have a life, but thanks for your concern...I wasn't being too serious...just as sarcastic as you were, and, apparently, more funny...

re: Bithead | April 3, 2009 | 09:20 pm

Any blogs that went ape because Bush held hands with the Saudi king deserve to be ridiculed, as that was something simply to make fun of, not take seriously, or get as outraged as someone like Michelle Malkin is about these current events...but really, please continue to show horror at stuff like this, see if it improves the right's political fortunes...

The gift is to the UK people

Maybe Obama just wanted to give a personal gift that he thought Mr. Brown would actually enjoy using.

There is such a thing as over analyzing...

The fact that any of this is being being held up as major news and "outrage" is being exhibited against it on certain websites only shows what a sad state the right is in these days...I mean, this is something to get that worked up over? Really?

So, when other blogs went ape on Bush for holding hands with the Saudi King, it indicated a sad state of affairs for the left?

Oh, I SEE....

(Staring hard...)

It may do you well to get a life and not take things so seriously.
My attempts at humor often fall short, as your trying to be serious is is actually more humorous.

at least she never killed anyone...

But the queen did beat her two out three in arm-wrestling.

Hmm...I guess that's some sorta sarcastic humor there and/or someone's really bitter about the election results in November...if one really wanted to be snarky, one could point out that, despite Michelle Obama's alleged faults of having an "ample ass" and of being a "bitch in distress", at least she never killed anyone...