Michelle Obama hugs the queen

[Edstock]

[Trimdingman]

Yeah, the last 8 years made it embarrassing enough for me to admit that my beliefs lean to right of center. Now these attempts by the far right to "even the playing field" by making the Obama administration look inept make my position as a right-leaner even more difficult to defend.

 

 

I had to put up with eight years of the Democrats taking cheap shots at my cousin George. (We share a distant ancestor from the Plymouth colony.)

 

I personally don't care if they slap the Queen on the ass. I was, however very embarassed by Trudeau's mocking jesture when he did a piroette behind the Queen's back when he was Canada's socialist Prime Minister. Socialists have a distaste for royalty. Royalty is hard to overthrow, especially if the royal is loved by the people. When you are visiting a another country, especially one of your strongest allies, and you are your country's leader, you need to follow the traditions and protocol of the host country, because what you do reflects on the people you represent, which is all of the American people.

[Mark B. Morrow]

I had to put up with eight years of the Democrats taking cheap shots at my cousin George. (We share a distant ancestor from the Plymouth colony.)

 

I personally don't care if they slap the Queen on the ass. I was, however very embarassed by Trudeau's mocking jesture when he did a piroette behind the Queen's back when he was Canada's socialist Prime Minister. Socialists have a distaste for royalty. Royalty is hard to overthrow, especially if the royal is loved by the people. When you are visiting a another country, especially one of your strongest allies, and you are your country's leader, you need to follow the traditions and protocol of the host country, because what you do reflects on the people you represent, which is all of the American people.

 

 

In all fairness, your cousin George gave everyone plenty to criticize even without taking cheap shots.

 

What does Trudeau have to do with anything? I did not see the Obamas treat the Queen with anything but respect.

 

I did see the Right wing press take cheap shots at the gift of the video Ipod with clips of the Queen's visits to the US right up to the time the Queen's people stated that the gift was requested.

[Edstock]

What does Trudeau have to do with anything? I did not see the Obamas treat the Queen with anything but respect.

Mark, Ding is obsessive-compulsive; that kind of mind-set "short circuits" and fixates; thus we see "straw man" arguments and gratuitous irrelevances, like the Trudeau comment. This way, his mind feels a demonstrated connection between Trudeau and Obama.

[grbeck]

The Obamas should have given her a Mustang GT convertible...specially painted in British Racing Green.

 

Think of the publicity for both Ford and the Obamas!

[Mark B. Morrow]

The Obamas should have given her a Mustang GT convertible...specially painted in British Racing Green.

 

Think of the publicity for both Ford and the Obamas!

 

 

I think that would have been a great gift. It certainly would have made up for Homer Simpson hitting the Royal Carriage.

[Cocheese]

Too bad you guys didn't get to watch the Queen contend with Sarah Palin.

 

Still feel the need to bring up the highly popular Governor of Alaska every chance you get?

 

I hadn't heard anything about it until I read about it here....

 

Look how long it took to hear about Obama's connection with Bill Ayers, the PLO, slum lords, etc. You don't hear about it, because the media only wants you to know about the great things the Messiah does (which are becoming fewer and fewer)

[Deanh]

Wow. I can't believe this is an issue. This is downright comical.

yeah, and what about the queen pinching Obamas backside, winking and giggling.....

[Deanh]

The Obamas should have given her a Mustang GT convertible...specially painted in British Racing Green.

 

Think of the publicity for both Ford and the Obamas!

Headlines....Queen drives topless.........

[napfirst]

Pathetic. The Queen is happy, the British people are happy, but you just gotta keep looking for poison. What a sad state of mind.

Sort of remind of the Bush haters?

[J-150]

Who the hell cares about the queen of England? She's nothing but a figurehead. The whole so called "royal family" are basically the largest welfare recipients on the entire planet.

 

 

actually, not true.

 

they bring in more tourism dollars than is spent in their upkeep.

[Edstock]

Sort of remind of the Bush haters?

No, because you didn't have to search — Bush-failure was in your face 24-7, you couldn't avoid it.

[Len_A]

Wow. I can't believe this is an issue. This is downright comical.

My thoughts exactly, and my parents came to the United States carrying British passports.

 

 

If you don't mind being laughed at by the whole world, fine.

 

Trim, dude, you need a hobby.

 

Ah yes. I'm sure this is being discussed around the dinner table all throughout Europe, Asia, and South America.

 

Yea, they're busy making comparisons between Bill Clinton, George Dubya Bush, and Barack Obama, too. Busy looking for similarities, too (I'm being sarcastic).

[napfirst]

No, because you didn't have to search — Bush-failure was in your face 24-7, you couldn't avoid it.

give him time...after all he's only been in office 73 short days.....but in that time he's proposed more deficit spending than Bush did in 8 years.......but I have hope..... the mid-terms should politically neuter him before it's too late....

[Deanh]

My thoughts exactly, and my parents came to the United States carrying British passports.

 

 

 

 

Trim, dude, you need a hobby.

 

 

 

Yea, they're busy making comparisons between Bill Clinton, George Dubya Bush, and Barack Obama, too. Busy looking for similarities, too (I'm being sarcastic).

did George and Barak have affairs like half of the Royal Family as well ( Charles, Randy Andy to name JUST a couple ).....but MAN DON"T TOUCH THE QUEEN THATS JUST NOT RIGHT....

[suv_guy_19]

Who the hell cares about the queen of England? She's nothing but a figurehead. The whole so called "royal family" are basically the largest welfare recipients on the entire planet.

 

 

That I take issue with. The Queen's powers are vast, if rarely used (they are guided by convention). She is the head of state for 16 different countries and is very well looked upon by many of her people. Just because the Commonwealth doesn't do government in the same way as the US does....well, it doesn't make it wrong.

 

Very few countries other than the US have a situation where the head of state and head of government are the same person. That doesn't make the US wrong either, but it's important to point out that most heads of state are figure heads or symbols with reserve powers that can be used when necessary.

 

The Queen is coming to visit this particular Commonwealth realm, probably for the Olympics, and I look forward to it.

[Paul Selby]

That I take issue with. The Queen's powers are vast, if rarely used (they are guided by convention). She is the head of state for 16 different countries and is very well looked upon by many of her people. Just because the Commonwealth doesn't do government in the same way as the US does....well, it doesn't make it wrong.

 

Very few countries other than the US have a situation where the head of state and head of government are the same person. That doesn't make the US wrong either, but it's important to point out that most heads of state are figure heads or symbols with reserve powers that can be used when necessary.

 

The Queen is coming to visit this particular Commonwealth realm, probably for the Olympics, and I look forward to it.

 

Sorry I'll just agree to disagree with you on this. I see having a privileged family living off of taxpayers with

automatic inherited succession, appointed for life, regardless of competence as foolish. If I was British maybe I'd understand but to this ignorant American it seems like a very expensive tradition to keep around.

[suv_guy_19]

Sorry I'll just agree to disagree with you on this. I see having a privileged family living off of taxpayers with automatic inherited succession, appointed for life, regardless of competence as foolish. If I was British maybe I'd understand but to this ignorant American it seems like a very expensive tradition to keep around.

 

 

Not only the British have the Queen as their head of state. She really doesn't cost that much either. Less than $2 per British citizen. Her representatives in her various realms (her Governors General) cost the citizens of those countries even less (ours costs less than $.65 per Canadian citizen). The Queen acts as the head of the country and watched over its Constitution and government. She is there to stave off Constitutional corruption and dictatorship.

 

The difference between the United States and the Commonwealth Realms is that the head of state in the United States is a political figure whereas the head of state in the Commonwealth countries is seen to be above politics. In the United States, the head of state is also the head of government. In the Commonwealth, the position is separated (Queen or representative and Prime Minister). This is not to say one is better or worse, but is simply to say that they are quite different. Many people today (unfortunately), have the same view as you in regards to the monarchy and the Governors General. Much of the sentiment though comes from a lack of understanding of the position and what it represents.

 

These are the kinds of things that the Governor General of Canada does on a daily basis (I'd get the Queens actual website, but I don't know exactly where the official one is): http://www.gg.ca/media/pho/index_e.asp

 

The Queen would do similar things in the United Kingdom or whichever realm she happens to be in at the time.

 

They also on occasion have to play very important roles within our system:

 

But as Canada's acting head of state, standing in for the Queen in our constitutional monarchy, a governor general has what are called reserve or prerogative powers, emanating from the throne, which are only to be invoked in a time of great constitutional and political impasse, such as may be the case now.

 

-----------

 

Governors general are expected to take the "advice" of the sitting prime minister on almost every occasion. Should they not, because they feel their obligation to ensure a stable and functioning government supersedes that advice, then the prime minister has no alternative but to resign.

 

That has happened at least twice before in Canadian history: in 1896 and in 1926 in the so-called King-Byng affair, which provoked an almost violent reaction against the decision of the then British-appointed governor general, Lord Byng.

 

Simply put, the governor general is to be the final arbiter to ensure Canada has a stable and functioning Parliament, a requirement that could — in the extreme case — provoke her to dismiss a prime minister who may be trying to cling to power unconstitutionally or acting above the law.

 

The delicate role of the Governor General

 

The Queen plays a similar role throughout the entire Commonwealth and in the United Kingdom very specifically.

 

What's perhaps most important to remember is the fact that a Parliamentary Democracy cannot operate without someone at it's head. If the Queen were to be done away with, she would either have to be replaced by an appointed figure, as is the case of her Governors General, or elected as is the case of many Presidents at the head of republics, or something in between. The British Westminster Parliamentary system cannot survive without a Queen like figure, if not the Queen herself.

Edited April 4, 2009 by suv_guy_19

[suv_guy_19]

Anyway, no harm was done by her touching the Queen. The palace directly stated so.

[Trimdingman]

Anyway, no harm was done by her touching the Queen. The palace directly stated so.

 

Of course there was no harm done to the Queen. She is a gracious lady. One time a guest started eating the water out of the finger bowl, thinking it was soup. The Queen saw what was happening, and started doing the same thing. This was a big gaff; the first lady, of all people, not knowing basic protocol around the queen. I have never been around the royal family, but even I would have enough sense to know that you do not put your arm around the Queen. Where are these people from, some ghetto or the jungle? Hide the silverware.

[jpd80]

Former Aussie prime minister Paul Keating "handled" the Queen in the 1990s and

was berated for it by the British press. The Queen took no offence from his actions.

A case of Royal watchers/press going to town on protocol but heads of should know better.

Edited April 4, 2009 by jpd80

[Edstock]

This was a big gaff; the first lady, of all people, not knowing basic protocol around the queen. I have never been around the royal family, but even I would have enough sense to know that you do not put your arm around the Queen. Where are these people from, some ghetto or the jungle? Hide the silverware.

You just don't give up. Gaffe? Not at all, except to you.

 

Michelle Obama is neither a British subject nor from a Commonwealth or former Commonwealth nation. She is also female. As well, as the First Lady, she is not some anonymous person in the crowd, and was in intimate speaking distance with the Queen, who was delighted with her company. Thus, the protocol that you slaver over is irrelevant.

 

Not only was the Queen delighted with Michelle Obama, it was a wonderful contrast with Angela Merkel's reaction to being mauled by ol' Dub. Now there was a loose cannon.

 

Where are these people from, some ghetto or the jungle? Hide the silverware.

Please keep racist epithets out of BON, thank-you. You know better, I hope.

[chiefstang]

Please keep racist epithets out of BON, thank-you. You know better, I hope.

 

 

Unless it's about the japs...

 

That's Ok here.

 

[RaZor]

Mrs. Obama clearly made an impression with the 82-year-old monarch — so much that the smiling queen strayed slightly from protocol and briefly wrapped her arm around the first lady in a rare public show of affection.

 

It was the first time Mrs. Obama — who is nearly a foot taller — had met the queen. The first lady also wrapped her arm around the monarch's shoulder and back.

 

A Buckingham Palace spokesman who asked not to be identified because of palace policy said he could not remember the last time the queen had displayed such public affection with a first lady or dignitary.

 

"It was a mutual and spontaneous display of affection," he said. "We don't issue instructions on not touching the queen."

 

Mrs. Obama also seemed to win over the often feral British press.

 

The last time a first lady made such a hit in Britain was last year with French President Nicolas Sarkozy's wife, the former fashion model and songwriter Carla Bruni.

 

But on Thursday, London's Times newspaper had moved on, writing "Carla who?"

 

The BBC described Mrs. Obama as her husband's co-star rather than supporting act — appropriate for a Harvard-educated lawyer.

 

I forget now where I read it but it was something to the effect that most felt that the Secret Service guys, that are charged with protecting both Obamas, most certainly will be glad when the trip is over as there has been so much admiration and affection shown by so many Europeans (insisting on touching them) that their blood pressure won't return to normal levels until they all are on AF1 coming home. For instance:

At the end of the visit, Mrs. Obama doled out hugs to the students, and was swarmed by them — to the extent that some Secret Service agents stepped nervously forward.

 

All quotes above from LINK

 

It is not surprising at all that Trim (and others) are fixated with miss direction on the Euro trip, as the president and first lady arrived in Europe for the G-20 economic summit and a meeting with NATO, most in the media were transfixed by trivial matters. Rather than report on the important issues being discussed at the meetings of world leaders, many seemed to be asking the questions: What did they give the queen? What is Michelle wearing? Did you see that Michelle actually touched the Queen? Blah, blah, blah. OMG!

And we're talking not just Faux News, but CNN, NBC, ABC, CBS, et. al.

 

I guess it is just plain embarrassing (to some) that Europe is so over-joyed that "Bushie" (which he is universally called in EU - and it wasn't in a respectful light) is finally gone and that we appear to have started the healing with our allies - who we are going to have cooperation with - to deal with the problems facing the world. But then that wouldn't be apparent to many brainwashed conservative Americans would it, as their emotional obsessions are too overwhelming . . . or, those whose family lines are missing the perception gene.

 

For those that are protocol/manners challenged - if the Queen initiates touching - to not reciprocate would indeed be an insult. Maybe we should put this in a perspective that conservatives will understand: if we can get cooperation (and financial support/cooperation) from our allies in dealing with the many problems the world currently faces -- then that will put less pressure on the American tax-payer to pick the costs of doing same. In short . . . less future taxes if they (European allies) help.

[J-150]

Not only the British have the Queen as their head of state. She really doesn't cost that much either. Less than $2 per British citizen. Her representatives in her various realms (her Governors General) cost the citizens of those countries even less (ours costs less than $.65 per Canadian citizen). The Queen acts as the head of the country and watched over its Constitution and government. She is there to stave off Constitutional corruption and dictatorship.

 

 

she is also head of the second largest Christian chruch.

 

So, she is in effect the Pope of the Church of England, and one sure as $hit doesn't go hugging or high-fiving Benedict.

 

And on that note, I don't see anyone calling Benedict the worlds biggest welfare recipent.

Edited April 4, 2009 by J-150