I would like to state, plainly and equivocally, that I do not give a rat’s ass that Barack Obama, the democratically-elected President of the United States of America, effed up a toast to the queen of England, who was chosen by no majority to no office and was made queen by virtue of having come out of the right womb of the right woman at the right time.
Yes, I know that he’s supposed to be the most European president of the world or something. Don’t care. He is the American president, not the king of a tiny island nation that is no longer the British Empire. And no, I don’t care that he misstated her stupid title by calling her the queen of England, either.
Obama is unworldly, egotistical, professorial, and annoying. But at least he is the democratically-elected unworldly, egotistical, professorial, annoying president of the United States of America. He wasn’t born into it.
And for that let me say: God bless America.
No he wasn’t born into it.
He was elected by Americans to be their President. Unfortunately for the rest of the Western World, he is our de facto leader too. He says ‘Jump’, and our elected leaders say ‘How high?’, whether we want to jump or not.
And it’s the same with all of your elected Presidents, even the good ones.
So frankly, when I read a little piece like this one, I get exceedingly miffed. What was that nifty little slogan used in the War of Independence? ‘No taxation without representation’. Catchy and germane. But your guy calls the shots, literally, and we follow, but representation? We don’t have it.
Right on! This is one of those times when I thank Heaven for Mister(s) Jefferson, Adams, Henry, Franklin & Gen. Washington and their incredible heart and courage.
Although I’m not a fan of President Obama, he could’ve secured by vote for 2012 by suddenly stopping in the middle of the toast, lowering his glass, turning to the Queen and asking “So, what is it that you do for a living -Exactly- ? What do you do all day ?
What’s that ? You ‘preside’ ? What the hell does THAT mean ?”
You have this one wrong Meryl. When the President of the United States is representing the country on a diplomatic mission abroad he should show a modicum of courtesy towards his hosts, unless there is compelling reason for acting otherwise (like Reagan preaching freedom in Moscow during a visit there in the 80s). In this case there is none, certainly not to Britain, our foremost ally in two world wars and the Cold War, the country that stood alone against the Nazis for a year, while most Americans were deluding ourselves that it was none of our business and the USSR was doing all it could to help the Nazis.
Your comments inply that you think Obama ought to treat Queen Elizabeth as if she were Bibi, someone whom Obama figures he can bully and snub because the USA is a bigger dog and the other person represents a little country that is America’s client state, if not, in Israel’s case, colony. I don’t recall you being so copacetic with Obama’s rudeness to Netanyahu.
Considering the mess Britain is in the best thing that could happen to them might be, when William inherits the throne, a “Windsor Restoration” (like Japan’s Meiji Restoration) that would separate the executive and legislative branches of government again, a major weakness of the contemporary British Constitution (what’s left of it) as I see it.
The Queen is the symbol of the British nation and the Commonwealth. Will you be comfortable if Hu Jintao comes over and gives a toast to the symbol of the US Republic, but calls it the Stars and Bars?
Michael, sorry, but I just don’t give a damn about the royals at all, protocol, diplomacy, or not. Obama didn’t screw up with Cameron. The royals are a bunch of outdated leeches who should return to Britain the riches they stole from it.
Meryl you really are extremely poorly informed about the Royal Family.
I have no desire to lecture you on this matter, but I am so sick of you sounding off about this that I am going to put you right on just one point.
Apart from Sandringham House and Balmoral Castle, which are the Queen’s personal property, purchased by Prince Albert as Queen Victoria and he owned no property, all the Royal Palaces and Residences are owned by the State. As to the vast property empire known as the Crown Estates, they were given to the country in the last century. The revenues from the rents and other incomes from this brings a very substantial sum into the national coffers each year. In return, the country gives the Queen money to fund her official duties, living expenses, State Visits, upkeep of Buckingham Palace, etc. This is known as the Civil List. The country certainly does better out of the deal than the Queen does. Also the Crown Jewels and most of the works of art in the Royal Palaces are properties of the state, as are the Royal Parks. All of the state owned Palaces are open to the public and are money earners for the country. The Parks are also open free of charge to anyone who wishes to enjoy them.
I have no strong opinions on the Royal Family, but I don’t see our system as being any more oppressive than yours. We elect a leader for all the political decisions every 5 years (hopefully not). We call that leader Prime Minister. And there are 2 advantages as I see it. Firstly, as he is not Head of State, he can devote himself to running the country, while the Queen does the smiling, waving, dining, and watching folk dance displays Secondly, and this why I like our system, once a week he/she drives to Buckingham Palace, and tells Her Maj what plans Parliament has. This in itself helps stop any truly lunatic ideas a Government may wish to implement.
I don’t know what your problem with the UK is, I also don’t know why you think that the average American is less antisemitic than the average Brit. I think that one day you’re in for a terrible and unpleasant surprise. We don’t kid ourselves.
And on another matter, the English are totally ignorant of anything Judaism related unless they live in a major city. They are also ignorant of Islam, Sikhism, and Hinduism.
But here’s the kicker. Unless they are regular Church goers, and most “Christians” here aren’t, they are similarly ignorant of Christianity. They not only don’t know or understand the basics of the faith (generally C of E) that they profess, but they frequently ask if people are Christian or Catholic, and are astonished when I say that
Catholics are Christians too. This is a mainly secular society, particularly the chattering Guardianistas.
I have no idea where the antisemitism/Zionism comes from here, but it’s certainly not theological.