In footage now being endlessly replayed on local cable channels and on YouTube, Palin is seen rising to introduce herself as Zardari enters, dressed in one of his signature flashy tailored suits. As custom demands, the two grip each other's hands and shake them animatedly before the cameras. But it is the remarks that follow that got Zardari into hot water back home.

Meetings between Pakistani and American leaders are traditionally staid and predictable, although some Pakistanis are fond of recalling an apocryphal 1963 exchange between John F. Kennedy and Zulfikar Ali Bhutto — father of slain prime minister Benazir, to whom Zardari was married. Impressed by the then Foreign Minister, who would become prime minister before being deposed by a U.S.-backed military dictator in 1977 and later executed, Kennedy is alleged to have said: "If you were an American you would be in my cabinet." Bhutto is alleged to have answered, "Be careful Mr President, if I were an American, you would be in my cabinet."

What Zardari said after shaking Palin's hand will likely prove a great deal less memorable. "You are more gorgeous than you are on [television]," he told Palin after she declared she was honored to meet him. "Now I know why the whole of America is crazy about you," Zardari added, flashing his trademark teeth-baring smile.

At this point, the two were urged to shake hands again, presumably for the benefit of the cameras. "I'm supposed to pose again," Palin said quietly. Pointing toward the aide that prompted them, Zardari said, "If he's insisting, I might hug."

Ewww. That skeeves me out. You know why people keep saying she's pretty like that? She has nothing else to offer!!! I finally figured it out.

I don't get it.

Is she really that pretty?

I mean she looks like my 8th grade homeroom teacher.

I don't get it.

Is she really that pretty?

I mean she looks like my 8th grade homeroom teacher.

So much for foreign relations.




http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8...feed-cnn-topics

I don't get it.

Is she really that pretty?

I mean she looks like my 8th grade homeroom teacher.

I don't get it.

Is she really that pretty?

I mean she looks like my 8th grade homeroom teacher.

Actually it was Pakistani President Zardari's flirting that got him in trouble. How exactly is that Palin's fault?

It just depends on what you have to compare her with...

I don't know about you but Pakistani and Indian women IMO are some of the most beautiful women on the planet. And they age wonderfully.

I don't know about you but Pakistani and Indian women IMO are some of the most beautiful women on the planet. And they age wonderfully.

Yes, if you can see their faces...

It just depends on what you have to compare her with...

Actually it was Pakistani President Zardari's flirting that got him in trouble. How exactly is that Palin's fault?

Ah, not so fast.

Zardari's wife...



Now that was a pretty girl.

I wouldn't argue that, so whats he doing flirting with Sarah?...

I wouldn't argue that, so whats he doing flirting with Sarah?...

Acting like an utter ass, in front of the world.

Nauseating. And she allows it.

I wonder if this behavior was on purpose - showing a total lack of respect for this woman who is so obviously not of real consequence. I mean, surely this man has enough experience to know it would be tacky/disrespectful/sexist to make those type of comments to a political figure. Maybe he was testing her - trying to downgrade her - I don't know. Seems really weird to me.

I don't get it.

Is she really that pretty?

I mean she looks like my 8th grade homeroom teacher.

Hell that's what she does. That's what she's there for. As far as anyone can tell she has no real talent.

What did you call her "Milfy McMilkshake, although I'm not convinced her "milk makers" have any milk in them to shake

That's what sexual harassment does -- it's not a compliment, it's a reminder of what they think about a woman crashing the party. The point is to disarm and undermine, and reassert their power/control complex.

Zardari would not have said something like that to Condi who's no beauty queen, but has certainly "aged well" by anybody's standards and looks just as good in a suit.

I disagree totally with the premise of the thread title. Zardari got himself in trouble by being a prick in front of live cameras. Palin's fault lies in agreeing to be pimped out by the presidential candidate she so dutifully serves.

Actually it was Pakistani President Zardari's flirting that got him in trouble. How exactly is that Palin's fault?

It's been my experience in life that people who are qualified to be in certain situations (for example, meeting another head of state) rarely find themselves on the receiving end of inappropriate comments.

So to answer your question, it's not her "fault". But it is a neon sign that's flashing in huge letters 'he doesn't take her seriously....... he doesn't take her seriously...' And that is a huge problem for her and for our nation if this woman gets anywhere near the White House.

Speaking only for myself, I've found that not to be true. One encounters inappropriate comments, gender, race, perceived sexuality, sometimes all three at once, at all levels and all career stages. And from both genders but vastly typically males.

Female colleagues and friends older than me who are in my line of work have expressed something similar.

One major difference there is, the cameras are never rolling when they happen, and the whole world is not watching.

[...]

At least he didn't say...

"I thought you were going to ask me about the pig"

Yeah... I see on major problem, for perpetrating males, is the failure to have the "treat others as you would like to be treated" work with this scenario. It has to be more like, "treat others as you would like your mother/sister/wife treated."

Then there are some males that think they're God's gift to the world (with no emphasis on God ) And then some men qualify for the sphincter award of the year. Personally, because of the large presence of cameras and the nature of the situation.. I think the advances were meant as compliments (which is the case in some sexual harassment events). I think it does stress the fact that he wasn't taking her seriously.

[...]
Ah, "perhaps so." lol

What's scary is when you get somebody like a head of state, whose wife was a head of state, who definitely knows better.

Or give her an impromptu backrub.

I still can hardly believe that happened.

Which makes it very likely that he wasn't just being a sexist pig...he was but with a purpose...the purpose being to trivialize Palin and through her, perhaps the US.