The Obamas: The Perfect Public Kiss (Oh yes, the world's gone Obama potty!)

[Jackeens]

At first I thought I was reading an extract from a Mills & Boon novel.....not that I know anything about them :blush:

But no, it's The London Evening Standard analysing THAT kiss! Heavens above, the world's besotted!!




The Perfect Public Kiss

Kissing with confidence in front of 130,000 people takes skill and daring. The image of newly elected US President Barack Obama embracing his wife, Michelle, in Chicago's Grant Park is arguably the first great romantic kiss by a politician.

Study the body language. He is gently brushing her nose with his lips. As she leans in, their brows, nose and chin fit perfectly. Both hands support the small of her back. With her eyes closed, she is grasping his shoulder. Their pelvises are locked. Isn't this the kiss we all dream of? The underlying message is this couple is hot - despite being married for 16 years, with two children.

Public displays of affection in your forties are never easy. It's all very well when you're young and hormonal. But woe betide the older couple caught embracing in an alleyway. It tends to horrify the twentysomethings.

And the dangers of "spinning" a long-term relationship are legion. So many power kisses fail. Sam Cameron, a modern working woman, often ends up having to throw herself diagonally at David. Sarah Brown embraces Gordon like a beloved aunt. Cherie tends to graze Tony's chin (when she can stop talking). Even French lothario Nicolas Sarkozy and his supermodel wife Carla are mismatched, height-wise.

Kissing is a complex behaviour that requires significant muscular co-ordination; 34 facial muscles and 112 postural muscles are used during a kiss. No wonder it so often goes wrong. And it's not just politicians. Prince Charles, no stranger to passion, always manages to grip Camilla's shoulder ("Well done, you!") so she ends up exhaling his shirt. If you look back at the pictures of Princess Di, he's doing the same thing. And there is no greater indication of a failing relationship than the kiss-grimace. Just ask Madonna and Guy.

Psychologists tell us that kissing is so important to us because we can't see our own faces. So we fixate on the beloved's lips - in a bid to find our mirror image. To reclaim our lost self.

The great thing about the Obama stadium kiss is that nothing about it screams "get a room!" It's hugely intimate but unsqueamish. I can't help wondering if their friend, the film director Spike Lee, had a hand in staging it. I, for one, would happily watch the full-length Hollywood movie.

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23583469-details/The+perfect+public+kiss/article.do

[babylonsister]

1. I'm laughing through this whole thing! Now I know why the London

tabloids are so renowned! :rofl: And hot!

[Jackeens]

2. And the Standard is mild compared to the rest of them!!!!

[gordianot]

3. This is why few in their right mind would want to be President of the United States.

[SharonRB]

4. I wonder if they analyzed Al and Tipper's famous kiss like this

This is written like a romance novel!

[Jackeens]

5. Well.....

....that was more like a scene from a horror movie:

[SharonRB]

6. There certainly was nothing nuanced about that one n/t

[elshiva]

13. No, that was HOT!

See post #11 for the real horror movie. They would have made a great first couple.

[ecstatic]

15. rofl... nt

[gauguin57]

17. I loved Al and Tipper's kiss. Those who know them say they are genuinely hot for each other.

And I think it rocks.

http://bp2.blogger.com/_vy6aRa6fNpo/Rk94y3x--DI/AAAAAAAAA1A/kfL1T8iSyLY/s320/al+%26+tipper+gore.jpg

I mean, DAMN ... look how gorgeous they were (and are!)

[Jackeens]

19. True enough, Al and Tipper were sizzling hot in this photo too:

[Jennicut]

48. Oh! I always thought they made a cute couple. He was so in love with her.

:)

[JI7]

92. people thought it was hot , it got more attention than the Obama kiss

[bitchkitty]

112. Speak for yourself.

Brainy is beautiful - one of the reasons I think Obama is so fine!

[babylonsister]

10. "So many power kisses fail."

That one did, to me. I cringe.

[BeyondGeography]

67. Me too; Al was trying to prove a point

"See, I'm not a robot." Poor Tipper didn't know what the hell was going on.

[babylonsister]

77. Thank you, I'm not the only one! By trying to not be robotic, it

appeared that way to me. There's a fine line...

[FrenchieCat]

7. It was getting pretty hot on that stage......

but respectably hot!

[gblady]

8. I, personally....

lurve how the Obamas are so open with their love for one another...
sends such a great message not only to their children, but to the whole world.

[youthere]

105. Don't you feel like ...

oh I don't know..when I watch the Obama's together I feel like I'm witnessing real intimacy..and like, maybe I'm not supposed to be looking. That's not a very good way to describe it, but they just seem so into each other. They always make me smile when I see them together.

[Synnical]

9. I don't recall any pics of Pickles and Shrub kissing?

Hill and Bill, yes.

Conclusion: Repukes are terrible sex partners.

There is no "Gimme More" there.

[Jackeens]

11. You are SO wrong - check out the hotness factor here:

[elshiva]

12. EWWW!

:hide: :puke:

[all.of.me]

14. Looks like he's licking her! And she is grossed out!

Well, it IS gross! Ick.

[canichelouis]

16. Yikes!

:rofl:

[Jackeens]

18. Weepin' laughin' at your responses to that photo: DUers are the funniest people on planet earth!! nt

[Synnical]

20. You are SO going to be on the Duzzie list!

:rofl:

[gauguin57]

21. C'mon Georgie ... come with me. We have to leave the White House soon.

[Jennicut]

42. He is eating her face! Nasty, gross, my eyes have been burned!

The worst would be Dick Cheney and Lynn, however.

[Spiffarino]

79. His PDAs are as clumsy as his presidentin'

Sheesh. :eyes:

[chalky]

89. That pic of Chimp and the Pickles reminds me of something...

the image is so familiar...
Oh, yeah:

[Chulanowa]

93. Is he tasting her cake makeup or something?

Guh. And that look of annoyed tolerance on her face.

[Jackeens]

99. LMAO!!

[Jackeens]

22. Woah: George Snr and Barbara: Cool Yer Boots!

[vanderBeth]

25. Woah! They're really sucking face!

[Spiffarino]

81. WTF:

Why is George Sr. kissing the guy on the Quaker Oats box?

[Jackeens]

23. As for Bill and Hillary.......jeepers:

[aquamarina]

86. Love, love, love your video tag.

Is Barack Obama Irish? Hell yeah: watch him Riverdance! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=idjRgmLllls
Alert

[Jackeens]

96. Thank you!!! You're a sweetheart! n/t

[Whisp]

95. wow, that b/w shot of Hillary and Bill just steams.

It's quite beautiful in so many ways.

[gauguin57]

24. Let's hear it for Jimmy and Rosalynn!!!!

[gauguin57]

26. How about a little Clinton on Clinton action?

[Jennicut]

41. Wow! Bill and Hill on the hammock....

[road2000]

100. Is Bill bound to the hammock? Cool.

[vanderBeth]

27. What about the Bidens?

[Jackeens]

29. Hear hear! Joe & Jill.....steaming hot:

[Jennicut]

44. Aww, they really love each other just like Barack and Michelle

They really are a cute couple.

[gauguin57]

28. Hey, it's LBJ and Lady Bird!

[gauguin57]

30. Couple of Fords about to lock lips!

[Jackeens]

31. Don't forget the passion of John and Cindy!

[Jennicut]

51. What passion? That is the coldest political couple ever. Ice cold.

[Jackeens]

52. That was a......joke.

[Jennicut]

56. I know. Poor Cindy. Where is Todd and Sarah? Um, actually never mind.

[gauguin57]

58. You want Todd and Sarah ... you got 'em!

Watch those hands, mister!

[Jackeens]

59. Oh. My. God. It's not them.....is it?!

[gauguin57]

68. It's their prom pic.

I kid you not.

[Jennicut]

71. Woah...they look a lot better now. Age was kind.

[FKA MNChimpH8R]

88. Jeebus Dawg, that is terrifying on an existential level. n/t

:scared:

[FrenchieCat]

32. More love here....

[youthere]

106. Michelle Obama is just beautiful. Absolutely lovely.

[DU GrovelBot]

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[Jackeens]

34. Well, at least Ronnie and Nancy DID get a room......

[gauguin57]

35. Whoa ... the Regans must be listening to Marvin Gaye!

[Spiffarino]

84. I hated his presidency

...but they were a truly loving couple and he was very sweet to her. I'll give Ronnie that much.

[Jackeens]

36. The Irish Prime Minister & his wife - eat yer hearts out Barack & Michelle:

:blush: :blush: :blush: :blush: :blush: :blush:

[gauguin57]

37. Dwight and Mamie! Well, at least they're touching shoulders.

[Jackeens]

38. LOL!!!

[Jennicut]

45. Wow! Now that is a couple on fire. Sizzlin.

[Jackeens]

39. The British PM & his wife.....Gordon! Watch your hand!!!

Especially when it's the French PM's wife you're, um, embracing:

[gauguin57]

40. Tricky Dick and Pat

[FlaGranny]

97. Good Heavens!!

That photo almost makes me like Nixon. It is a beautiful portrait of the 2 of them.

[gauguin57]

43. Ladies and gentlemen, John and Teresa!

[The Wielding Truth]

82. Wow. That is love and devotion and consolation.

:loveya: They would have been great as a first couple.

[Jackeens]

46. George & Martha Washington

Allegedly.

[vanderBeth]

47. Bush and Karl

Oh wait... NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

[gauguin57]

53. Voters of California, why won't you let them get married?

They're two of yours!

[Jennicut]

57. More passion then with Barbara. Where is Condi and Shrub?

[Jackeens]

63. Here ya go

[Jennicut]

69. LOL....the real couple. Poor Babsie.

[road2000]

102. Hey! Condi loaned that suit to Hillary!

Guess that saved the taxpayers some money.

[gauguin57]

49. Don't hurt me ...

[Jennicut]

54. Ack! Nasty alert!

[Jackeens]

50. Gary Hart and.....oooooops

[gauguin57]

55. Double oops!

[ieoeja]

103. I never understood how that photo could sink him.

Numerous women have sat on my lap over the years. Very few of them were ever lovers.

[gauguin57]

60. Ummmmm.....

[Jennicut]

65. Spits out soda! Jeez, I remember that pic. Lovely bathing suit action.

[gauguin57]

61. Ummm ....

[gauguin57]

62. You're SUCH a marroooon!

[gauguin57]

64. aieeeeeeee!

[Jennicut]

66. Well now crazy botox lady can enjoy more of Bob's viagra since she is out of a job!

[gauguin57]

70. OMG ... that makes my skin crawl.

But, hey ... Bob looks like he's really laying one on her. Just as long as they stay in the bedroom and out of politics!

[Spiffarino]

83. Mehhh! Bob Dole wants you!

Give Bob Dole some sugar! You know you want it! Bob Dole wants it too! Where's Bob Dole's blue pill? Little Bob Dole wants to play! Meh!

[eissa]

101. LLLLOOOOOLLLLL!!!!!

Oh, that is just so wrong! :rofl:

[gauguin57]

72. Harry and Bess, baby!

[gauguin57]

73. Eleanor and Franklin!

[Jackeens]

74. Arnie and Maria.....oh God, I'm going to be sick

[Jennicut]

75. Blech! That is one couple I will never understand...she is way too good for him.

[Jackeens]

76. And the WORST Kiss in history:

[leftstreet]

78. Bush and that Saudi dude

[Basement Beat]

85. LMAO, you can't tell which one has a mustache! nt

[gauguin57]

110. Can someone explain this one?

[Sugarcoated]

80. . . .

[Waiting For Everyman]

87. I vote for the Hill and Bill hammock pic as the winner.

But of course that wasn't in public on a stage, on Election Night. For that, I agree, it couldn't have been done better than Barack and Michelle.

[Chulanowa]

94. Bill and hill in a hammock is smexy

That photo just conveys it all so well

[Eurobabe]

90. I told you the Europeans were nuts about the Obamas!

And I agree, that is an adorable photograph. :loveya: :loveya:

[Indenturedebtor]

91. What is this "Psychologists say" crap?

"Psychologists tell us that kissing is so important to us because we can't see our own faces. So we fixate on the beloved's lips - in a bid to find our mirror image. To reclaim our lost self."

Huh? What "Psychologists"? I've never heard such pseudo freudian crap in my entire life. That bit of nonsense is lower than "Dr." Phil. Bleh.

Anyways heh cute.

[Arkansas Granny]

98. Delete

[beachmom]

104. Okay, that made me laugh.

[gauguin57]

107. Mike and Kitty (not kissing ... but couldn't find a pic of that)

[gauguin57]

108. In happier times ...

Here's hoping they can find a way to heal and find their way back to each other, if that's meant to be.

[gauguin57]

109. Ted and Victoria holdin' hands!

[gauguin57]

111. Al and Franni Franken (w/son Joe)!

[gauguin57]

113. woo woo!

http://www4.pictures.gi.zimbio.com/Barack+Obama+Holds+Election+Night+Gathering+9lecNgsaPlRl.jpg

[gauguin57]

114. Dennis and Elizabeth!

[vanderBeth]

115. Love that couple.