Busting Out The Smart Diplomacy

OK, so Obama flubbed the toast to the Queen, but how often does anyone get to practice something as complicated as not speaking while the host's national anthem is playing?

Comments

[Porchlight]

He's the smartest guy in the room. Just ask him.

It's especially gratifying that there were several American celebrity Obama voters in the audience.

[centralcal]

Anybody listening to the Whistler speaking before Parliament right now?

I didn't think so.!

[MarkO]

He's just not that smart.

[Janet]

BTW, what year is it?

[Sue]

2008. And Bush is still president. ::sigh::

[Jane (sit on the couch or save your country)]

The man never shuts up, and I have absolutely no doubt he has no clue what he is talking about.

[Ignatz]

I figured Janet would be active on a thread about "busting out".

[Janet]

Hahaha..too funny!

[Dave (in MA)]

What "National Anthem"? And how was Obunghole supposed to concentrate on his toast while they played "My Country, 'Tis of Thee"?

[MayBee]

Why *was* Tom Hanks there yesterday?
Kevin Spacey I understand- he does a lot of London Theatre. But Hanks.....? Did he just want to see the palace, so Obama did him a solid?

[Ralph L]

so Obama did him a solid
Ewww!

[bgates]

Why *was* Tom Hanks there yesterday?

Barack Obama was in the same room with the Queen of England. How could Forrest Gump *not* be there?

[peter]

I noted that in the Queen's remarks, she did not mention watching the iPod of Obama's speeches. Please don't speak to my President that way, Mrs. Windsor.

[Mike Huggins]

Obama is always dialed in on "11" on the "self-absorption: dial.

[Comanche Voter]

World's greatest orator needs note cards to do a 60 second toast.

This klutz couldn't get to the second step in a Toastmasters Club in a small town in Iowa.

[Queen Lizzy's VahJayJay]

He and his Mrs. smell like fry oil. I think I caught a whiff of tobacco smoke on his breath. Then there was the hint of wee that usually accompanies drug addicts like him. I hear he keeps the White House apothecary jumping with all night injection services. Completely confidential too. What was with the Mrs. dress? Were they at a bondage party before my dinner? I just can't get the smell out of my memory. Ewww.

[Mary]

The Obamas travel with an expensive entourage of hundreds of professionals to tend to their every need. You'd think just ONE could be spared and assigned to the protocol detail to keep Barry from embarrassing us and himself.

It was humiliating to watch Obama keep reading his toast as their national anthem was playing. He even slowed down his delivery, as if "God Save the Queen" was just background music for him!!!

[peter]

The problem, Mary, is that when "Mr. He Plays Seventeen Level Chess While We Are All Playing Checkers" is given instructions by his handlers, he doesn't listen because he is so arrogant. Then again, the State Dept. squishes probably all think he is just brilliant and doesn't need prepping.
I am sure he didn't he know that "My Country 'Tis of Thee" was the UK's national anthem.

[Bugz]

If you have watched the video, the best part is when Obama tries to toast the Queen while 'God Save the Queen' is still playing, and she gives him a withering look that says, "Hey, shit-for-brains. Put.Your glass.DOWN", and turns away from him.

Jeez, what a rube.

[JM Hanes]

It's the "I'm a better protocol chief than my protocol chief" syndrome.

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

As much as a dislike Obama's policies and lack of governance/leadership, I found the video of the toast hard to watch. It is painful to watch and I hate seeing anyone publicly humiliated, even Obama, and especially while in a foreign country in his role as president.

[Jim Ryan]

Mary, the problem is he's too arrogant and narcissistic to have taken some coaching before the trip.

AIDE: Sir, recommend consultant sit down with you about some of the protocols of English royal-

OBAMA: No, Bill, I don't need a coach to tell me how to make a toast.

AIDE:

OBAMA: Will that be all, Bill?

AIDE: I- um, yes, sir.

Meanwhile Texan George Bush must have taken coaching for moments such as this. What a modest gentleman he was. I miss the old big government spendthrift.

[Porchlight]

It is painful, Sara. I've come closer to feeling sorry for him over this than at any other time in his presidency. Still, it is a mistake entirely of his own making and there is no excuse for it.

[Jim Ryan]

Sorry, but he deserves to run into the brick wall called utter humiliation. I doubt it will ever happen to him, but it would be the best thing that could happen to him.

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

Somebody forgot to tell the band that Obama speaks forever and then some. They thought when he paused after saying he wanted to toast the Queen, that was their cue.

[Melinda Romanoff]

If you think the Queen landed one, just wait and see what the Sarkozy's will do. This is going to get fun! Carla Bruni? Whoo-boy.

Heh. I'm going to need some French wine for the coming slap.

Maybe some Polish ham, too.

[Melinda Romanoff]

Jim-

You have mail.

[I Won]

Behold! I am the grandson of a Kenyan who served as a cook in the British Army and now I stand before you as the President of the United States. Do you realize what an honor it is?

For you.

[Jane]

I don't feel sorry for him at all.

[Porchlight]

They thought when he paused after saying he wanted to toast the Queen, that was their cue.

Sara, as I understand it, no toasts are ever made before God Save The Queen is played. So I think they were just proceeding with the normal order of things.

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

I was being slightly facetious. No matter, I'm sure they have not dealt with a leader who needs 45 minutes to say what normal people could say in under a minute.

[anduril]

OK, now to see what kind of a mess we're in foreign policy-wise--and I don't particularly care at all about court protocol in England--check out Michael Cohen's Blinded by the Right: The GOP's blatantly partisan love for Bibi obscures a dangerous reality: that unwavering support for Israel actually hurts wider U.S. interests in the Middle East.

Then move on to Jeffrey Goldberg's latest: Why Palestinians Have Time on Their Side. Here's how he begins:

If I were a Palestinian (and, should there be any confusion on this point, I am not), and if I were the sort of Palestinian who believed that Israel should be wiped off the map, then I would be quite pleased with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s performance before Congress this morning.

A must-read for anyone who doesn't have their head in the sand.

[Terry Gain]

As much as a dislike Obama's policies and lack of governance/leadership, I found the video of the toast hard to watch. It is painful to watch and I hate seeing anyone publicly humiliated, even Obama, and especially while in a foreign country in his role as president.Posted by: Sara (Pal2Pal) | May 25, 2011 at 03:52 PM

Au contraire Sara, it was absolutely delightful to see The Pretender make a fool of himself. This long overdue comeuppance will share a spot in my video library right next to Jack's triumph in 1986.

[Jane]

I'm with you Terry!

[eaglewingz08]

The problem wasn't that he was continuing to finish his toast during the playing of Britain's National Anthem, it was that he signaled to the band with a pause and gesture (wonder if it was one of his middle fingered gestures, but that is besides the point), that he was through with the toast and that the band should play the anthem. Then as the band started playing, he continued his toast, and finished it, but due to the playing of the anthem, no one could drink the 1,700 bottles of wine that our frugal President selected for the occasion.

[MarkO]

Come on, gang. Say it with me: He's just not that smart.

[Threadkiller]

He's just not that smart.

[Old Lurker]

I do not care.

Obama is awesome.

[bolitha]

Well, the video I saw made Obama look like a petulant child when he realized that he had made a faux pas (sp?)--not sorry but just really, really mad that he had been caught. I admire Queen Elizabeth for being so quiet--I think it must be horrible for her to have to tolerate Obama and his non-manners and poor Michelle and her dress flying up above her waist. Very sad, but not unexpected.

[Melinda Romanoff]

OL-

Got popcorn? Wait'll France!

[daddy]

He's stupid, and I'm glad he came off like the pompous fool that he is.

[Jane (get off the couch - come save the country)]

He is an embarrassment.

[glasater]

I'm embarrassed for the 52% who voted for him.

[centralcal]

They are both an embarrassment.

[Queen Lizzy's VahJayJay]

He smells bad. His wife smells bad. And I'm old and dusty!

[bunkerbuster]

Wingnuts love them some monarchy. Makes perfect sense. What could be whiter than the British royal family?

[MarkD]

He probably played hockey in college, goalie. Blocking a few slap shots with his head would account for it.

[Threadkiller]

Did you drink it or save it for later, MarkD?