Bush in gaffe during Queen visit

[jefferson_dem]

Source: Guardian

Bush in gaffe during Queen visit
Press Association
Monday May 7, 2007 5:58 PM

US President George Bush has proved he is king of the gaffes, joking his slip-up earned him a look from the Queen that "only a mother could give a child".

The American leader was delivering his speech on the south lawn of the White House when he started to get the date of his country's bicentenary wrong.

At the welcome ceremony in Washington DC, Mr Bush had been talking about one of the Queen's previous visits in 1976, which coincided with the 200th anniversary of independence.

Addressing more than 7,000 politicians, diplomats, Oval office staff and their families, Mr Bush said of the monarch: "You helped our nation to celebrate its bicentennial in 17....1976."

The crowd laughed and the President paused, turned to the Queen and winked.

He turned back to the lectern and quipped: "She gave me a look that only a mother could give a child." The Queen laughed in response.

<SNIP>

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/uklatest/story/0,,-6614830,00.html

---

Chimpy proves again what a classless dipshit he really is!

[Christa]

1. It would have been funny

if it wasn't so damn pathetic.

[Demeter]

2. As If Further Proof Was Needed--I Smell a Karl Rove Special

Bush wouldn't know how to do it without instructions and cue cards.

[youngdem]

10. Absolutely....Bush's idiot affect is intentional theatre to create plausible deniability for their

atrocities.

I lived in Austin when he was governor and met him several times. He ain't stupid. He's no Fulbright Scholar but the whole Texas awe shucks bullshit is all theatre to cover up their indefensible intentions.

Don't believe me? Watch his campaign videos from early 1999. He's cogent, if disgusting. He speaks in complete sentences. The whole affect began to get worse after 9/11, when he went wild west on us and has never looked back.

Now, I am not saying he isn't an ass, a klutz, a jerk, nor am I saying he is intellectually curious, honest, forthright or good. He's just playing the fool part. He knows more than he leads on by several factors of ten.

This is all a big joke on the American people - a silly puppet on the hand of the devil.

[Lisa]

16. Jon Stewart mentioned that this administration would rather look like pinheads

... than admit that they might be on the wrong track.

I agree, youngdem -- Bush is sneaky like school bullies are. Not bright by standard measures, but cunning enough to be dangerous. (He is surprisingly clever and focused if he knows it will benefit him, or at least save him from being caught out.)

One commentator pegged him as "functionally stupid", which I like because it implies that a short-sighted, arrogant, incurious attitude will result in poor decision-making, as if he were indeed mentally deficient.

The short story by Alasdair Grey, "Five Letters from an Eastern Empire", is oddly prescient about a puppet Emperor. In fact he actually does become a puppet, in the end ... if Bush did stay in office, it would not surprise me a bit if he experienced the same fate.

[leQ]

23. isn't he still on queue for the revenge of that indian chief? tecumseh?

i keep hoping for that to come true.

[Adsos Letter]

18. A friend and I were just talking about this very thing today.

We were talking about Bush's "speaking issues" and I speculated about what might really be up with that. I commented that people with your experience "youngdem" had talked about his actually being an able debater while in Texas.

I saw a clip of him speaking at some sort of indoor military function within the last couple of weeks, and his presentation seemed clear, cogent, and to the point...markedly different from the usual maroon we see in public. Hard to believe, I know, but I saw it with my own two eyes.

So, why would someone ACT like a maroon? What would be the point? To make this giant national/international clusterfu*k seem like it is really the work of someone with "wetbrain" syndrome? Running cover for Cheney and the gang? Seriously askin' for your opinion...

[Lisa]

27. "the soft bigotry of low expectations"

That's my theory, adsosletter. It's one of Bush's favorite phrases when he's talking about the educational system -- and sure enough, it's something he's done most of his life, so people don't expect much from him (and that's exactly what they get!). He also said that he likes to be "misunderestimated" -- he doesn't want to do the hard work, and endure the public scrutiny, that would be his lot if he behaved more like Kerry or Gore.

[youngdem]

36. The reason is simple

The public will accept an inept person who isn't smart enough to succeed, because frankly a huge portion of the public can identify with that, and further, picking on the stupid is considered in bad taste.

Remember the cries of 'he's doing the best he can?'?

Also, it is for plausible deniability. If you have illegal plans and crimes that you intend to commit, it is far better to seem well intended but ignorant of the law than to seem like a nefarious criminal plotting to deceive the public. Because Bush is so 'stupid', his supporters can even feign disbelief each time a new crime is uncovered, because someone so stupid couldn't possibly plan such a thing, so quit giving him such a hard time.

It works. As the poster below quoted, the 'soft bigotry of low expectations' is indeed a tool of the right.

[Mr Rabble]

34. Spot on observation.

He may be a total psychopath, but he isn't the bumbling idiot which he plays on TV.

It really needs to be said once again, that this junta is not in the least bit interested in governing or dealing with "the people". Once that is taken into account, everything else he champions becomes...predictable.

[DavidDvorkin]

3. It would have been newsworthy if he hadn't said something stupid

If a whole day were to pass without Bush either embarrassing or damaging the U.S., that would be worth a headline.

[hedda_foil]

4. He WINKED at the Queen?????

Sounds like those etiquette lessons did a lot of good. :sarcasm:
:rofl:

[jefferson_dem]

6. And she did not look pleased, from what i saw.

It was a total bozo moment for chimpster and she wanted nothing of it.

[flyarm]

11. she did not laugh ..i just watched it twice on msnbc..she did not laugh! eom

[Art_from_Ark]

19. At least he didn't give her an impromptu back shoulder massage

[Hieronymus]

35. What etiquette lessons?

The Bush family is white trash.

[SpiralHawk]

5. To me, this whole THING reeks of Scripted...scripted cuteness

Commander AWOL was probably scripted to slip up and then to make it appear as if he
were capable of a recovery.

Totally rovian. The republicons have earned my distrust in all affairs.

[flyarm]

12. i thought so too first time i saw it ..but now saw it 2 more times..no doubt now!! eom

[gratuitous]

7. Ya know . . .

I'm as ready to kick Chimpy as the next fellow, but two things occur to me: (1) this was a totally set up situation, the "tell" being that Chimpy was ready with his comment about the Queen's "look" and her laughing in response; and (B) any meeting with the Queen is fraught with the possibility of giving "offense" through omission or commission of some obscure bit of ettiquette that only the Queen or one of the beady-eyed dicks subject to her royal rule would know or give a tin shit about.

Put me in the "of course I'd be courteous but we don't got no royalty in America" camp, I guess. Which means that the chances of me meeting the Queen are pretty much nil, and we're both probably happier for it.

[pokercat999]

43. Exactly, plus the queen and her inbred family are the

worlds richest welfare recipients. Screw em, I wouldn't be courteous, they have no place in America unless they would like to immigrate as regular folks and drop the royalty bullshit.

[CoffeeCat]

8. I knew he would act like a buffoon...

No one is going to tell ChimpyMcHyperton how he can act and that
he must dress up like a big boy in his Sunday best.

I knew he'd be "acting out"--just to show the world that, "She's
not the boss of me!".

I'm surprised he didn't fill her hat with itching powder or set a
bag of poop on fire and dare her to stomp it out.

[tanyev]

9. Just wait until he plays "God Save the Queen" on wine glasses at the dinner tonight.

With a spoon stuck to his nose.

:eyes:

[dflprincess]

33. Or burps it out

n/t

[AngryOldDem]

13. What a boob.

You KNEW he would make an ass of himself. What's he going to do at the state dinner tonight? I really don't want to go there.

[monmouth]

14. The FReepers think he's "adorable." n/t

[IndianaGreen]

20. Barney is adorable. Bush is deplorable.

I wonder if Bush will pick his nose while dining with Her Majesty.

[Olney Blue]

15. Oh dear God, when will this national nightmare be over?

[Miss Chybil]

17. And this is important? nt

[JoFerret]

21. No surprise, but GWB is a national disgrace on every level

I do not support the 'royal family' but give then their due. They know how to behave in company and in time of war. QE2 did her best to serve as did her father and family and certainly chose certain symbolic sacrifices to luxury (bathwater comes to mind). Her grandson is now a target. QE2 is a class act. GWB is a crude spoilt child (but we knew that).

[Renew Deal]

26. Didn't he call China by the wrong name a few months ago before tugging

on the Chinese leader's jacket?

[Up2Late]

30. I don't know about that, but he did invite the Chinese leader to LUNCH, but NOT Dinner!

That is a MAJOR insult to most world leaders, but especially in China. To the Chinese it says that they are not important enough to be invited to Dinner, only Lunch.:banghead:

[Amused Musings]

22. Thank god

this is the most embarrassing thing that the president has ever done. Ever. Can you imagine if he were this bad all time? Or worse? I am lightheaded at the mere thought!

[Chovexani]

24. This picture sums up my feelings on this godsforsaken presidency

[Renew Deal]

25. That sounds pre-planned.

He's a dope, but it's about time we rub it in. Hey Britain, we won, you lost. God Bless America! :evilgrin:

[JoFerret]

32. god bless America and curse all other countries.

(What a ridiculous slogan that gba is.) As for rubbing it in...what was jr doing to Andrea Merkel's shoulder? (Classic sex pest behavior.)

[DrZeeLit]

41. Exactly. Has SCRIPTED written all over it. In fact, if a photo of his

paper/speech was taken (as sneaky photogs have in the past), it would say...

1776...errrrr.... um.... 1976.

(Turn and wink at the Queen) (she's that old bag in the horrible hat)

Then say...

"She just gave me a look only a mother could give."

Now, smile that sheepishy, impish, little boy smile.



Yeah, this has been on EVERY news broadcast.
I had to wake up to it this morning at 6 a.m. on NPR.

Damn, Karl Rove.
Brilliant? Or....
Manipulative Bastard from Hell?!!

[chknltl]

28. So the Queen got away with-out seeing bush's vacation slides?

Lucky Queen!

[Up2Late]

29. He WINKED at the Queen!?!? You don't WINK at the Queen of England!!!

I don't care who you are, even the so-called "...'president' the this here America" you don't wink at the Queen! :banghead:

What a total BOOB!:mad:

[CJCRANE]

37. It's his alpha-male thing

like massaging Angela Merkel or tugging the Chinese President's sleeve, to show that he is bigger and better than everyone, that he can get away with anything (he has no boundaries).

[ashling]

31. Queen should have asked him

"And how many of your descendants are serving your country?"

[demo dutch]

38. Inept at every level!! You just don't wink at HRM

[Javaman]

39. I hate him*. nt

[LiberalFighter]

40. "She gave me a look that only a mother could give a child."

I doubt that.

His mother was never a mother.

And I would had scowled at that bastard.

[jackstraw45]

42. Guess they should have UNDERLINED 1976 in Dumbyas notes