British Queen Is Not Amused by Bush's Gaffe About Her Age

[question everything]

http://www.nysun.com/article/54015

WASHINGTON — With Queen Elizabeth standing at his side on the White House lawn and press outlets from all over the world hanging on his words, it was probably not the best moment for President Bush to make one of his famous gaffes.

But with impressive comic timing, the president recovered from almost suggesting that his guest was around in the 18th century and ended up ensuring that his 7,000-strong audience laughed with him, rather than at him.

(snip)

America was a nation she "had come to know very well," he said. "After all, you've dined with 10 U.S. presidents. You helped our nation celebrate its bicentennial in 17 — 1976." As many in the crowd burst out laughing, Mr. Bush turned and looked sheepishly at Elizabeth. Peering at him from beneath her hat, she did not appear to share the general merriment. Turning back, Mr. Bush prompted Elizabeth to laugh as he said with a smile, "She gave me a look that only a mother could give a child."

While Elizabeth has avoided making any reference to the conflict in Iraq — her speech yesterday talked only of her visit's opportunity to "step back from our current preoccupations" — the war on terror featured prominently in Mr. Bush's speech.

(snip)

The first lady has closely choreographed the dinner for 134 guests, seated at 13 tables set with gold-trimmed china. She pointed out on ABC that she and her husband had been at a previous White House dinner for Elizabeth, hosted by his father in 1991. She omitted to mention that, on that occasion, her husband treated Elizabeth to another memorable gaffe. Saying to her that he was the black sheep of his family, he asked the queen, "Who's yours?" His mother, Barbara Bush, stepped in quickly and said, "Don't answer that."

[Erika]

1. One of the few times I could forgive W, the idiot.

However, his follow up wink was tasteless.

[Spinzonner]

2. Just can't have him anywhere ...

[sandnsea]

3. I think it was purposeful

I watched that a couple of times and he didn't look like he'd made an insulting gaffe. He looked like this was his idea of a joke, maybe taking out his anger on having to adhere to that stodgy old protocol. I don't know why not even his own mother can shut him up.

[question everything]

18. Yes, may have been funny for us

but didn't someone tell him that the Royal Protocol is, yes, more stuffy?

I wonder whether he wore cowboy boots for the state dinner.

Yes, being a President is not just fun and games and distributing goodies for your friends. You are the head of state and you have to follow a protocol - whether you like it or not. Even the Reagans did.

[sandnsea]

19. You thought that was funny?

Insulting an old lady is funny??

You might tease your grandmother at a family birthday party, but you don't insult her during a toast at a formal wedding event or the like.

This is along the lines of, gee, I didn't know you had to tell kids not to ride in the trunk of a car. Gee, I didn't know you had to tell kids not to pubicly humiliate little old ladies.

[Kelly Rupert]

4. It sounds to me like he decided to ad-lib a bit of a joke, and the queen took a bit of offense.

A bit boorish of him, but what do we expect?

[NYC Liberal]

8. I agree. Remember that time when they had the ceremony for the

unveiling of the portrait of Martin Luther King, Jr, and Coretta Scott King was there -- Bush said, "I can't wait to hang it" with his little smirk and then people in the audience chuckled.

[JVS]

5. Sticking it to the Queen! Oh yeah!

[bluestateguy]

6. maybe he just should have taken her to the Coffee Shop in Crawford

Actually, never mind.

[nadinbrzezinski]

7. And as usual the press misses why Elizabeth

had to avoid our current preocupations....

It is not her role to speak of policy at any level

I'm sure they speak about it at home, especially now that the young Lieutenant has been deployed, but she is NOT allowed to speak of this in public

Stupid press

Though the gaffe was funny... you pay attention she said OH MY... as close as you will hear a Royal making what may be construed a policy statement

[Ino]

9. I could have sworn she said, "You'll get it"

as in "You'll get it right eventually"

I'm not convinced this was a gaffe. I think it was scripted. And it was not only a dig at the queen's age, but a dig at England's having lost the Revolutionary War.

[RedCappedBandit]

10. Do we really need these threads?

I'm sure we all know quite well enough already that Bush is a blundering moron.
What difference does it make what some silly lady from across the ocean thinks of him?

[rasputin1952]

12. Well...we get bored at times too, especially those of us that...

suffer from a lack of sleep...:)

Eh, some fun at bush's expense is fine, in fact, that's why we exist; (well actually it isn't, but what the heck :evilgrin: ).

[RedCappedBandit]

22. meh i understand i didnt mean to come off harsh

it just gets to be a little too much when you see so much bashing simply over clothing etc :shrug:

[hlthe2b]

14. RCB, don't you think it a bit rude to question whether or not

someone elses thread is "really needed?" You read it. You commented on it. You could have ignored it...:shrug:

[RedCappedBandit]

23. Yeah, my apologies

Like I said upthread, I just get a little frusterated reading through so many insults based purely on appearances. Sorry. :hi:

[mondo joe]

17. If you don't like it, don't look. Problem with freedom of choice?

[sandnsea]

20. Well apparently we do

If only so a few more people can learn what the definition of cad is.

[Skidmore]

11. Queen Liz is a grandmother whose grandson is going to be sent

to Little Boots' war. I bet she wishes she could clock him one.

[JCMach1]

13. I think it was a 'set' frat boy joke... it had the aura of not being spontaneous

on his part... watch the video closely and tell me what you think.

[donkeyotay]

25. It seemed scripted to me. Isn't bushie cute, though?

With his gaffes and all? Gosh, I bet he'd be fun to have a beer with. He might make a good stand-up comic. He sure makes a crappy leader of the free world.

[Squatch]

15. Actually kind of funny.

I had to LOL on that one.

[KiraBS]

16. In the UK we hear her saying "Oh Dear"

like she would to a small child that spilled a drink on front of her.
I doubt they could repeat Prince Philip's reaction.

[trotsky]

21. "Who's yours?"

Holy. Crap.

[Alexander]

24. Bush planned this "gaffe". I don't think it was an accident.

Sure, he's probably still a drunk, but he's not a total idiot.

Some of the people here who have met and known Bush personally claimed this was planned in advance. I'm inclined to believe them.

[Javaman]

26. This is my very simple wish...

I want a leader that acts as a gracious host and not the human form of living shit.

is it impossible for moron* to get through an evening without making a total jackass of himself by cracking a joke at the expense of someone else?

when history looks back on this time, historians will be amazed that such a modern country decided with one thrown election to revert back to 12 year old kings that amuse themselves with fart jokes.

If you don't think we aren't swirling around the drain, you better have another look.

[Nucular Terrorist]

27. Yet another Bushism

Is this man really that dull, or is he trying to appear that way to avoid taking responsibility for his actions?

How could a man with access to the best education money can buy be so dumb? Seriously, this guy is Lloyd Christmas with a high powered job.