Japanese Mortified By Obama's Bow

The news that is not White House approved...

Embarrassing an Ally

Over the weekend President Obama declared himself the first Pacific president. I'm not sure if that was before or after he bowed to the Japanese emperor while trying to shake his hand at the same time. Unfortunately, that's not exactly how the Japanese perform their customary bow.

ABC's Jake Tapper reports that at least one Japanese newspaper is not printing the picture of the president's mortifying bow because the Japanese are embarrassed by his behavior. A scholar of traditional Japan tells Mr. Tapper, "The bow… did not just display weakness in Red State terms, but evoked weakness in Japanese terms… The last thing the Japanese want or need is a weak-looking American president."

Wasn't this president elected to restore our alliances and repair our images abroad? Now he's embarrassed the U.S. and one of our allies all at the same time. That takes real effort.

Seniors: Tough Luck!

President Obama has repeatedly promised American seniors that a government health care takeover will benefit them, after outlining his proposal before a joint session of Congress.

Remember he said this?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA, SEPT. 9: These steps will ensure that you, American seniors, get the benefits you've been promised. They will ensure that Medicare is there for future generations. So don't pay attention to those scary stories about how your benefits will be cut.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

But one of the scary stories is coming from the government itself. The Democrats' health care bill cut so much money from Medicare that according to the latest government report, it will reduce benefits for senior citizens.

But not only that, it may prevent seniors from receiving care at all. The Washington Post reports, "Medicare cuts contained in the health package… are likely to prove so costly to hospitals and nursing homes that they could stop taking Medicare all together."

Medicare and Medicaid are the nation' s largest public health programs. If this bill is going to screw them up, I think that's a pretty good indication of what it will do to the rest of the health care system.

No Love for Gore

The "Meltdown" comes to us from the Gateway Pundit blog. According to their Web site, former Vice President Al Gore wasn't exactly greeted with open arms in Florida last week.

The Learjet liberal was the keynote speaker at a Going Green event in Boca Raton, and it turns out that those attending the lecture may have been outnumbered by the protesters outside.

Take a look at what was captured by NBC affiliate WPTV:

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

(CROWD CHANTING "GORE LIES, AMERICA DIES!")

(CROWD CHANTING "LIAR! LIAR!")

MEG SHANNON, SOUTH FLORIDA TEA PARTY: Just want to let people know that there's an opposing viewpoint that needs to be listened to. If you follow the money, it tells you all you need to know about Al Gore. He's making zillions of dollars off all the energy-related stuff he's selling.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

Great point.

You think by now that Al Gore would want to avoid the state of Florida altogether. He doesn't exactly have a good track record down there.

Gitmo Stimulus

Some of the suspected terrorists being held at Gitmo could soon be on their way to a prison in Illinois. The Obama administration is looking to transfer the detainees to the Thompson Correctional Center.

The potential purchase of the prison by the federal government is being praised by Illinois Governor Pat Quinn and Senator Dick Durbin, but you're not going to believe why. They're actually claiming that bringing terrorists right here to the U.S. will help the economy!

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SENATOR DICK DURBIN, D-ILL.: The time when Illinois is facing a recession with literally thousands and thousands of our residents desperate for jobs, this is a lifeline. This is an opportunity for us to create at least 2,000 jobs in the prison itself and the camp that's attached to it, and another 1,000 jobs or more in the adjoining economy.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

Durbin also called this plan a "dream come true" for the state. But for the people of Thomson, Illinois, sounds to me like a nightmare.

— Watch "Hannity" weekdays at 9 p.m. ET on Fox News Channel