Since you brought up the subject of your wife as "case in point". I will feel free, and with respect to ask why she would react that way? Have you given her cause for jealousy? Is she insecure in your relationship? Are you newly married?
The gesture by Bush was NOT sexual it was between friends.
I've seen my husband do the same thing on several occasions, and he's probably done so without my presence as well.(He's a Texan too)..I have no problem knowing where his loyalty lies..and where he wants to be at night.
I've had men walk up behind me and do that. As a man, it doesn't bother me. I don't look at it as a sexual gesture. I'm not quite that hard-up. And then men who did it were perfectly straight. I don't see what the big deal is. You asked some good questions.
There's no problem with my marriage. My 20th anniversary is next April. I've had sex with only two people: my wife and myself. She's the only girlfriend I've ever had. We've been together since 1977. See my FR page.
I don't believe if he had asked his wife if she thought it were a good idea to rub Merkel's shoulders that his wife would have told him to go ahead.
Hey, he's a folksy kind of guy. Great. However, a head of state should never do what he did. It was vulgar behavior. I'm grateful it was out of character for him.
It looked a nit uncomfortable for the Chancellor, but as you said, no malice seemed to be behind it. Just not the most appropriate thing to do, I guess.