Top 10 reader comments about President Obama's bow to Japan's Emperor Akihito

A post on our Top of the Ticket blog today about President Obama’s greeting of Japan’s Emperor Akihito has already generated over 1,000 comments from readers.

This weekend, the president has done a lot of bowing to show respect on his first Asia tour as president. The photo above was taken after the president gave a speech in Tokyo's Suntory Hall. However, the emperor's bow was a little different. Times staffer Andrew Malcolm, who wrote the post, allowed the photo (and the video) of Obama’s gesture to speak for itself -- see it here.

We mostly enjoyed what readers had to say about the president’s greeting -- a mixture of outrage and patriotism, snarky one-liners and more serious diatribes.

Here are the top 10 best comments so far (leave your own below):

1. Mitch wrote: Obama to Emperor of Japan: "May I shine your shoes, Sir?"
2. Plain Jane wrote: Obama WASN'T bowing - He SAW a Japanese Yen on the floor and went to pick it up because it might be Worth More Than Our Dollar!
3. Veteran wrote: Was that before or after he appologized for World War 2?
4. bmcc wrote: Palin would have winked at him. You betcha!
5. Maripo wrote: I'm surprised he didn't curtsy.
6. MP wrote: Whatever happened to the good old days when we could count on a Republican in the White House to puke on foreign dignitaries?
7. marty1234 wrote: I wish are first black president had been a rapper at least he'd have some attitude...
8. Wax on wax off wrote: Look eye! Always look eye! -Mr. Miyagi
9. helen roach wrote: I wonder why they didn't run the dust mop over the floor. It would have looked much nicer in the picture.
10. Xavier wrote: See, Obama is not a Muslim. He's a shintoist.

What are your comments on the president’s bow to Japan’s emperor? Tell us below.

-- Kelsey Ramos

Photo: President Obama after a speech at Tokyo's Suntory Hall. Credit: Reuters

George W. Bush's new smart phone attracts Twitter zingers

Just when you thought people had grown tired of ragging on President George W. Bush, the zingers come back.

The Ticket posted news Tuesday about the former president getting a BlackBerry.

After a meeting with Twitter co-founder Biz Stone, we -- along with Stone -- had begun to wonder if Twitter could be next for Bush.

The Twitter world wasn't so enthusiastic about the less-than-popular politician coming to the party. The prospect incited disses not seen since the latter part of Bush's last term.

JashSF writes:

He's going to need a spell checker on there.

Barbapreta writes:

Oh my Gosh! Are you ready for e-bushisms!

RichardWildwood writes:

I can see how this is BB's ideal celeb advocate

Thesurfreport writes:

Doubtful as he probably can't count to 140.

-- Mark Milian

Twitter: @markmilian

Photo credit: Associated Press

Twitter updates on Obama, Afghanistan, healthcare and Chicago's Olympic bid

The White House announced today that President Obama will travel to Copenhagen to pitch his hometown of Chicago as the site of the 2016 Olympics. Just weeks ago, Obama had ruled out such a trip because of the press of his other work, especially healthcare reform.

But even though Afghanistan and Iran have moved up on the to-do list, Obama is taking time to jet across the pond to personally lobby the International Olympic Committee, a first for a U.S. president. For Obama, the visit is a chancy move, putting himself on the line. What can he bring to the table that other Chicago celebrities like Oprah Winfrey and Michael Jordan haven’t already done?

Those looking for secret message argue that Obama wouldn’t be going if he thought that Chicago would lose. But the decision is not pre-ordained, and the competition is expected to be fierce with Rio de Janiero, the odds-on favorite because the Olympics have yet to visit Latin America.

Still, an Olympic bid is a break from the worry over Thursday’s nuclear talks with Iran, this week’s congressional action on healthcare and the constant worry over whether to send more troops to Afghanistan.

After the jump check out the latest Twitter updates from Michael Muskal, and your comments.

Villaraigosa's remarks on paying for Michael Jackson's memorial service anger readers

Michael Jackson's extravagant memorial service drew criticism last week from city officials who were concerned over the event's estimated $1.4-million price tag. 

However, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa announced this morning that he would not be attempting to recoup any of the cost, arguing that it was the city's responsibility to oversee the event.  According to L.A. Now, he even criticized a donation website that had been set up by his staff.

“I thought it was ridiculous,” the mayor told reporters during a visit to Los Angeles Trade-Technical College. 

Villaraigosa said Los Angeles is a large metropolitan city where major events occur routinely, and that the city is obligated to protect public safety. He added that no one would have expected New York or Chicago to ask others to donate for basic city services during a major event, and he said he is not going to ask AEG, the owner of the Staples Center, to either pay or raise money to offset the city’s expenses.

Many readers believe that Villaraigosa's comments are inappropriate considering the city's financial troubles.

"Given the budget Mr. Mayor, just why should the tax payers pay funeral expenses fpr a private citizen when librarys, parks, hospitals & schools are facing shortened hours/closures, city employees are facing layoffs & furloughs? Oh, wait I know ... it's just another part of your political platform of kising up to the rich & famous," said kgoddess.

State Sen. Gil Cedillo's spending

State Sen. Gil Cedillo has spent more than $125,000 gathered from campaign donors over the last six years on shopping excursions, gourmet meals, entertainment and upscale hotels around the globe, public records show. 

At Patina, the haute cuisine restaurant at Walt Disney Concert Hall, Cedillo paid $1,203 for dinner. He dropped $289 at Nic's Martini Lounge in Beverly Hills. At the Standard, a downtown hotel known for its hip rooftop bar and swimming pool, Cedillo and his staff spent $5,705 over the course of 26 visits.

 

In Mumbai, India, Cedillo's stay at the Four Seasons came to $829; his tab at the Bar des Arts in Sao Paulo, Brazil, $229; his hotel and dining charges on a jaunt to Rome and Florence, $1,969.

Is that excessive?

-- Tony Pierce

Sen. Gil Cedillo (D-Los Angeles), second from right, is congratulated by Assemblyman Manny Diaz (D-San Jose) in August, 2004. AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli