This week, the American president met a 200+ year old woman...

[No Boss]

At least that's what he thought.

President Bush welcomed the Queen to Washington yesterday with full White House ceremonial, a speech of warm praise, his first five-course, white-tie state dinner — and, being Mr Bush, an unfortunate slip of the tongue.

Standing with the Queen on a podium, he recalled her previous state visits, but had a little problem with the dates.

“You helped us celebrate our bicentennial in 1796,” he said confidently, and in a split second realised his error. “Er, 1976”, he corrected himself, to a gale of laughter from around the lawn. The Queen, smiling broadly, gave him a knowing sideways glance.

To another outburst of hilarity from the crowd he told her: “You gave me a look only a mother could give a child.”

At least he didn’t greet her with: “Yo, Majesty, how ya doin’?”

The White House was dressed with British and US flags as the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh arrived in a black limousine with smoked windows. George and Laura Bush shook hands warmly with the royal couple but there was no curtsy from the First Lady, only a nod of the head.

The two heads of state stood together for the national anthems and a 21-gun salute, Mr Bush stiffly at attention for ours and with his hand on his heart for his own. They inspected a large honour guard which included the Marines, Army, Navy, Air Force and the US Coast Guard. President and monarch chatted amiably as they paced the lawn.

President Bush sounded almost misty-eyed as he spoke of how Britain had written many of the chapters in the history of human freedom, from Magna Carta to philosophers such as John Locke. “Our two nations hold fundamental values in common, including the rights and dignity of the individual,” Mr Bush intoned. Then he cut to the chase, describing how the two countries were advancing the causes of liberty, and fighting tyranny and oppression, whether in London, New York, Kabul or Baghdad. “Our work remains the surest path to peace,” he said.

The Queen was more circumspect in her reply: “A state visit . . . is the time to look forward, jointly renewing our commitment to a more prosperous, safer and freer world.”

A driving force behind the state visit has been Laura Bush who insisted that, just for once, her husband stay up beyond his 9pm bedtime. With Amy Zantzinger, her recently appointed social secretary, Cristeta Comerford, the White House executive chef, and Bill Yosses, the resident pastry chef, she drew up plans for a five-course dinner in the state dining room. The Bushes’ four previous state dinners for the presidents of Mexico, Poland, Kenya and the Philippines were mere four-course, black-tie occasions.

The New York Times wondered how Mr Bush had been persuaded to stay up until 10.15. “How does George W. Bush, a towel-snapping Texan who puts his feet on the coffee table, drinks water straight from the bottle, and was once caught on tape talking with food in his mouth, prepare for a state dinner with the Queen? With tips from an etiquette guide, of course — and a little gentle prodding from his wife.”

At the state dinner last night Mr Bush was seated between the Queen and Nancy Reagan. Among other top-table guests were George Shultz, the late President Reagan’s Secretary of State; the tenor Plácido Domingo’s wife Marta, herself an opera director and retired singer; and the golfer Arnold Palmer. Another guest, although farther across the room, was Calvin Borel, the winning jockey in the Kentucky Derby, which the Queen saw on Saturday.

I just watched the movie "The Queen" this weekend (fantastic movie BTW) and after seeing it, I have a new found understanding for what that look she's giving him means. What a stooge. There is actually a picture of him winking at her after he made the comment. I found that action to be almost more insulting than the comment itself.

[Cobol74]

OMFG

[jetsetter]

Ha!!! But to be truthful, I could care less.

[essentialatom]

I thought The Queen was a pile of crap.

[Cobol74]

^ You have thought deeply about the constitutional issues surrounding a monarchy and a possible transition to a republic I see. We may be lucky and get a President of the calibre of the present US incumbent. Or we could get his Tonyness.

[YF19pilot]

Wait, she's not 200 years old? Lies!


In seriousness, who cares. A slip of the tounge, no harm done except maybe a slight scratch on the Queen's ego.

Though I think it funny that the New York Times could think a man who lets himself go in his own home would be incapable of sitting down to a formal dinner.

[Hidden_Hunter]

Originally Posted by YF19pilot

Wait, she's not 200 years old? Lies!


In seriousness, who cares. A slip of the tounge, no harm done except maybe a slight scratch on the Queen's ego.

There probably was no harm done by the comment but more the stupid gesture after it

[Jacobfox]

Still, even though it was a slip of the tongue, Bush is a complete and utter retard.

(waits for shitstorm barrage from republicans and Justin Syder).

[BerserkerCatSplat]

Originally Posted by No Boss

There is actually a picture of him winking at her after he made the comment. I found that action to be almost more insulting than the comment itself.

You feel insulted because he mixed up two numbers and made light of it?

If the Queen got worked up every time someone made a mistake around her, she'd have been dead decades ago.

[jensked]

Originally Posted by Jacobfox

republicans and Justin Syder).

Republicans AND Justin Syder?

Justin IS the chief republican

[YF19pilot]

Originally Posted by Jacobfox

Still, even though it was a slip of the tongue, Bush is a complete and utter retard.

(waits for shitstorm barrage from republicans and Justin Syder).

How dare you! How dare you, you liberal pig! Having a cheesy borat avatar! Just goes to show your true commie nature. And you live in California! It's people like you why I will never set foot in that tainted land!



Personally I'm tired of the stupid insults and just give them no weight anymore. Not worth my time to bother. I just wonder why people still bother to make them anymore...

[tigger]

Originally Posted by YF19pilot

Personally I'm tired of the stupid insults and just give them no weight anymore. Not worth my time to bother. I just wonder why people still bother to make them anymore...

You know, there was a time when I found Bush funny, hilarious really. But now it's like someones been telling the same joke for 7 years, and it's not really funny anymore, it's actually pretty sad that he managed to stay on stage this long. And he really has gotten much better about not totally butchering his speeches.

[zenkidori]

yeah, it's no secret Bush murders his speeches and the way he speaks in public you'd think he was about to ask his first girlfriend to go to the prom or trying to tell his mom it was his brother who broke mr. wilson's window or something, so this stuff gets kinda old. It's not that funny to pick out every "bushism" in all his speeches, it's getting old like carlos mencia, yeah, we KNOW you're hispanic and there are a LOT of illegals here and yes they talk funny. old balls.

[No Boss]

Originally Posted by BerserkerCatSplat

You feel insulted because he mixed up two numbers and made light of it?

Not so much insulted, as embarrassed. This guys is supposed to represent the american people, which includes me.

Is Justin Snyder still even around? I saw him post again a few months back saying he'd "mostly be in the political section" but haven't seen him since.

[jetsetter]

Not so much insulted, as embarrassed. This guys is supposed to represent the american people, which includes me.

Well, public speaking is the number one fear. I'm in a speech class right now and you wouldn't believe the mistakes that people make.

[epp_b]

^ Don't you think "public speaking" should be an aptitude of a president? Man, that is sad.

Our Prime Minister (Canada) may have a bit of a robotic personality, but at least he can form coherent sentences.

[vRS]

The Queen isn't used to this much excitement anyway, I mean what does she do on a daily bases?

[zenkidori]

she's usually frozen in carbonite.

[essentialatom]

Originally Posted by Cobol74

^ You have thought deeply about the constitutional issues surrounding a monarchy and a possible transition to a republic I see. We may be lucky and get a President of the calibre of the present US incumbent. Or we could get his Tonyness.

I meant the movie.

[teeb]

Originally Posted by BerserkerCatSplat

If the Queen got worked up every time someone made a mistake around her, she'd have been dead decades ago.

It's more that people around Bush (and watching him on TV and so on...) get wound up every time he makes a mistake.