Bush's State Visit to Britain

[Serendipity]

Whaddayaknow? Bush is coming to the UK on a state visit - the first by an American President since Woodrow Wilson. There are going to be 14,000 extra police in London, all leave cancelled, etc. What a nightmare.

[King Solomon]

Put up a good protest will ya dippy :clap Oh, and BTW, you all can keep him there with with Blair since they like each other sooooo much :o

[Serendipity]

London is going to be closed, effectively. Sorry, but however much you may like (or dislike) Bush, he is not more important than London. He's bringing something in the order of 700 of his own staff, security people, etc. There will be protests - Bush himself has welcomed these protests - and I shall not be taking part in them, simply because I have no intention of being in London, and I don't do protests any more. (Sorry, K-Sol! :o)

Cost of the security operation - £5m. How many hip replacements is that?

[DustyBottoms]

The UK had better protect our beloved leader!

Just remember the possibility of a president Cheney!:lol :lol

[Serendipity]

Originally posted by DustyBottoms
The UK had better protect our beloved leader!

Just remember the possibility of a president Cheney!:lol :lol That's a curiously good point! :lol

[w1che]

I hope it cost you 25m.. Nothing is to good for KINGS GREAT leader.. I just wish you Brits knew how to show respect for the leader of the FREE world... :p

[Serendipity]

Bush will be treated with the greatest respect. It's unfortunate that the leader of the FREE world has no freedom himself - he might get to see our rather charming country for what it is if he did. As it is, he'll get the works - which will be all superficial flimflam (then again, Bush thinks that Cats is high culture...). A shame. But he'll still disrupt London and bring it to a standstill, a privilege usually reserved for royalty, terrorists, and the weather.

[sinecure]

While you British Subjects may not mind all the pomp and puffery afforded to visiting VIP's. I have a differing view--

Several years back Mrs. Sinecure and I were members of a Los Angeles group that sponsored many art exhibits from all over the world, modern stuff as well as ancient art [the treasures of King Tut, ancient China, and my favorite, the Etruscians:) ].

There was an exhibit of Impressionist paintings that we had purchased tickets [for a very specific time to see. Even with our member's discount, it was a rather hefty sum ... just to see some paintings that were done long ago.

We were in line, waiting as small groups of 15 people at a time were escorted into the LA Museum of Fine Art, where the paintings were displayed. We had been waiting about an hour, when we were told that no matter what time our tickets said, we couldn't see the the exhibit because Princess Ann wanted to see the paintings and her and her entourage would be taking up the entire Meseum for the next few hours! We were told to leave the Museum grounds immediately... a security measure, as it was explained.

Well... we left [Mrs. Sin saying: "Now don't cause a scene...":mad ] ... but I had several spirited exchanges of both phone calls and letters with the organizers and major-domos of the Museum, the sponsors and even an alleged representative of the Royals!!

My position was that even though it may have been a "State visit" by Annie, SHE had no more rights than we who payed our money, stood in line and anticipated an illuminating experience. I mentioned that we had a rather nasty war just to get RID of the British Royals.

Well, I haven't been a member since that day, they've gotten no more of my money [except for whatever tax $$ they may have been able to wheedle from the State or Feds.] and I still chafe at the thought.:mad

I also don't like it when they close the freeways here by creating a 2-mile long rolling "secure zone" of no cars [causing horrible traffic tie-ups] just so some elected official [Clinton and his bunch seemed to [i]always be in LA for one reason or another... so was Gray Davis] could get from one place to another.

:::stepping off soapbox:::

Whew!! THAT felt good... :lol :lol :wave

[Serendipity]

I should apologise for the trouble caused by our somewhat anachronistic feudal hangover, if I felt it were my fault! :lol But at least Anne only messed up a museum, not an entire city...

I wonder what Bush will go and see? The Millennium Dome and Wembley Stadium are both closed down. I doubt he'll be able to ride the London Eye (a HUGE Ferris wheel with glass cabins - he'd be a sitting duck). I mean, what's a visit to London without going to Portabello Road Street Market? Or Camden Market? Hyde Park is too much an open space. I imagine he'll be tucked away safely with Blair, the Royals, etc.

[After a quick Google search for his itinerary...]

Tuesday 18 November - Arrives and receives private welcome at Buckingham Palace.

Wednesday 19 November - Meets Michael Howard and Charles Kennedy, gives speech on transatlantic alliance and meets UK families of 11 Sept victims before attending royal banquet with Queen.

Thursday 20 November - Meets British soldiers who fought in Afghanistan and Iraq, holds meetings with Tony Blair at Downing Street and hosts dinner at US Ambassador's residence.

Friday 21 November - Travels to Tony Blair's Sedgefield constituency to meet members of the public before returning to Washington.Snakes alive - he gets to meet Michael Howard and Charles Kennedy on day 2! Not my idea of a holiday! :lol

[weldordave]

About time an American President goes to England and humps the leg of one of our partners in crime. I think he'd be better off leaving all the security up to you Brits and leaving his 700 ball-suckers at home.

[Serendipity]

Originally posted by weldordave
I think he'd be better off leaving all the security up to you Brits and leaving his 700 ball-suckers at home. You mean you would trust him to get through the airport on his own? Heathrow is a big place! :lol

[Sjax]

As Clinton visited Denmark a few years back (as he was still president), he broke the schedule to take a walk in the shopping area of Copenhagen only followed by a couple of bodyguards who didn't prevent people on the streets in stepping up to Clinton to shake his hand or exchange a few comments. He even went to a café and got himselves a cup of coffee (a friend of mine has a photo of that). It had a great effect on the danes, and made him look very good in the press.
I had the pleasure of seeing Clinton again speaking to a million people at the 12th anniversery of the reunion of Germany last year. If one of those million people had had the intention of killing him, it would have been easy, but he practised what he preached: freedom.

[AWPrime]

Originally posted by DustyBottoms
Just remember the possibility of a president Cheney!:lol :lol

offtopic:

Is it true that Cheney is going to be replaced because of his bad health and his corporate scandals?

[DEAD ZONE]

dont feel so special. The same shutdowns happen here.

[Serendipity]

Originally posted by DEAD ZONE
dont feel so special. The same shutdowns happen here. If I were a mugger, DZ, I'd pick Bush's visit to do my dirty work. 14,000 police are focusing on his protection and not ours. This is a BIG occasion, no matter what Buckingham Palace says.

[sinecure]

Originally posted by Sjax
he practised what he preached: freedom.

So did JFK, and look what it got him...

[DEAD ZONE]

Originally posted by Serendipity
If I were a mugger, DZ, I'd pick Bush's visit to do my dirty work. 14,000 police are focusing on his protection and not ours. This is a BIG occasion, no matter what Buckingham Palace says. Being as your criminals are the only ones armed and your rising crime rate, I doubt Bush is going to be the cause of any extra crime.

See here, we are our own cops and just shoot the b@aterds.

[Sjax]

Originally posted by sinecure


So did JFK, and look what it got him...
True, but it is naive to think that it is impossible to get to Bush just because of all that security. If someone really would take him out, it would only take a rifle and a good plan. Only difference to JFK: The plan would have to be a little bit more thought through, but it shouldn't be a problem for people like Al-Quada.

[w1che]

So Sjax.. If the ragheads don't try & take Bush out is that because they don't have a plan or is it because they don't want to? If they don't have a plan then why didn't they???
>>>>>>

( I had to do a little edit.. I had AW'S name where Sjax should have been.. Not that a big deal because you Euro Weenies all start reading the same after awhile) :lol :wave

[sinecure]

Originally posted by w1che
So AW.. If the ragheads don't try & take Bush out is that because they don't have a plan or is it because they don't want to? If they don't have a plan then why didn't they???

Hey, W1che-- You've discovered the reason there are no long lists entitled "Famous Danish Military Tacticians." :lol :lol :lol :clap :wave

[Sjax]

Originally posted by sinecure


Hey, W1che-- You've discovered the reason there are no long lists entitled "Famous Danish Military Tacticians." :lol :lol :lol :clap :wave Right. Because all great military technicians owe it all to their nationalities. It must be hard to be american then. Don't forget where you came from!

[DEAD ZONE]

Originally posted by Sjax
Right. Because all great military technicians owe it all to their nationalities. It must be hard to be american then. Don't forget where you came from!
TEXAS!! Born and raised.

[w1che]

Awwww being sarcastic there Sjax... The Brits love Bush except for a few wacko's.. What's a 100,000 people out of many millions.. Just don't pay any attention to CNN...

[Sjax]

Originally posted by w1che
Awwww being sarcastic there Sjax... The Brits love Bush except for a few wacko's.. What's a 100,000 people out of many millions.. Just don't pay any attention to CNN...
I have never watched CNN in my life. This might come as a schock to you, but there are people around the world watching TV which isn't american:eek:

I have seen polls though. Amongst other things fifty-something % of the brits see Bush as the greatest threat to world peace. That more than half of the brits, and definalety more than a few wackos.

[weldordave]

Originally posted by Sjax
Right. Because all great military technicians owe it all to their nationalities. It must be hard to be american then. Don't forget where you came from!
Oh no! The where you come from thing. Don't you know, Sjax that all Texans come from Texas, and they were Texans since way before the birth of christ. Texas is the cradle of civilization. You may have started WW3!
Came from Alberkwerkie myself.:wink

[AWPrime]

Originally posted by w1che
What's a 100,000 people out of many millions..

The ones with a day off.:clap


But don't wurry if they break your prez they will give/buy you a new one.:wink

[Phreakmeister]

Bush's security demands: (http://observer.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,6903,1086397,00.html)

Diplomatic immunity for armed special agents and snipers. (Rejected)
The closure of all Tube lines under parts of London to be visited during the trip. (Rejected)
US Air Force patrolling over London with fighter aircraft and Black Hawk helicoptors. (Rejected)
A 'sterile zone' around the President with a series of road closures in central London and a security cordon. (Approved)
About 250 armed Secret Service agents. (Approved)
A mini-gun in the presidential cavalcade. (Rejected)

Not mentioned are the demands for the installment of bullet-and blast-proof windows, curtains and rooms in Buckingham Palace and the right to carry battlefield weaponry to use against rioters.

[w1che]

War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things: the decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feelings which thinks nothing is worth a war is worse...

A man who has nothing which he cares about more than he does about his personal safety is a miserable creature who has no chance of being free, unless made and kept so by the existing of better men than himself..

John Stuart Mill

The above fits you Euro Weenies and a lot of Americans to a big T... What a sad group you are...

[DEAD ZONE]

Letter to the guardian:
You will find yourself assailed on every hand by some pretty pretentious characters collectively known as the British left. They traditionally believe they have a monopoly on morality and that your recent actions preclude you from the club. You opposed and destroyed the world's most blood-encrusted dictator. This is quite unforgivable.

I beg you to take no notice. The British left intermittently erupts like a pustule upon the buttock of a rather good country. Seventy years ago it opposed mobilisation against Adolf Hitler and worshipped the other genocide, Josef Stalin.

It has marched for Mao, Ho Chi Minh, Khrushchev, Brezhnev and Andropov. It has slobbered over Ceausescu and Mugabe. It has demonstrated against everything and everyone American for a century. Broadly speaking, it hates your country first, mine second.

Eleven years ago something dreadful happened. Maggie was ousted, Ronald retired, the Berlin wall fell and Gorby abolished communism. All the left's idols fell and its demons retired. For a decade there was nothing really to hate. But thank the Lord for his limitless mercy. Now they can applaud Saddam, Bin Laden, Kim Jong-Il . . . and hate a God-fearing Texan. So hallelujah and have a good time.

Not all Brits are nuts.


Amir Taheri He is the author of ten books on the Middle East and Islam.He has taged these protesters for what they are.

The demonstration is organized by a shadowy group called "Stop the War Coalition," part of the Hate-America-International, which has orchestrated a number of street "events" in support of the Taliban and the Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein since 2001. . . .

The coalition has a steering committee of 33 members. Of these, 18 come from various hard left groups: Communists, Trotskyites, Maoists, and Castrists. Three others belong to the radical wing of the Labour party. There are also eight radical Islamists. The remaining four are leftist ecologists known as "Watermelons" (Green outside, red inside).

http://www.nationalreview.com/comment/taheri200311181102.asp

[Serendipity]

A man who has nothing which he cares about more than he does about his personal safety is a miserable creature who has no chance of being free, unless made and kept so by the existing of better men than himself..A noble sentiment, echoing Rousseau's argument that man must be forced to be free. But read it carefully, Wunch, before you tell us why you have insulted Bush like this! :lol Even I would hesitate before calling Bush a 'miserable creature', even if he does care more about his personal safety than anything else. :p

[Phreakmeister]

Ground Farce 1 - Queen's fury as Bush goons wreck garden (http://www.sundaymirror.co.uk/news/content_objectid=13652625_method=full_siteid=10669 4_headline=-GROUND-FARCE-1-name_page.html)

Palace staff said they had never seen the Queen so angry as when she saw how her perfectly-mantained lawns had been churned up after being turned into helipads with three giant H landing markings for the Bush visit. The rotors of the President's Marine Force One helicopter and two support Black Hawks damaged trees and shrubs that had survived since Queen Victoria's reign. And Bush's army of clod-hopping security service men trampled more precious and exotic plants. The Queen's own flock of flamingoes, which security staff insisted should be moved in case they flew into the helicopter rotors, are thought to be so traumatised after being taken to a "place of safety" that they might never return home. The historic fabric of the Palace was also damaged as high-tech links were fitted for the US leader and his entourage during his three-day stay with the Queen. The Palace's head gardener, Mark Lane, was reported to be in tears when he saw the scale of the damage. ... The Americans made alterations to accommodate specialised equipment. The mass of gadgetry meant the Royals couldn't get a decent TV picture during the visit.

[AWPrime]

As if Bush cares.

out with the old in with the new

[Serendipity]

That's funny. I'm sure helicopters take off and land at Buck House often enough (I may be wrong). Can't US pilots do it without one of those H markers to land on?

[King Solomon]

No, the need to know WHERE to land. The "H" stands for "here" so that they know to land "HERE" :rolleyes: :lol

[sinecure]

WELL!... I suppose Bush is now off the Queen's "A-List" and won't be re-invited to her digs anytime soon...:p :smash

Makes me feel a lot better about Princess Annie bumping me outta the line for the museum exhibit. :clap :clap :lol :wave

[w1che]

That is a touching story.. Someone should blame the person that picked the spot for the landing I would think and just think the queen couldn't watch TV with the President of the United States in the house... :lol :lol toooooooo funny... :lol

[DustyBottoms]

I feel so sorry for the royal family.

We ruined some of their plants.

How will they ever recover? :eek: :eek: :eek:

[Ateo]

People who get upset with Bush for ANY reason are SO silly and are only setting themselves up for ridicule!

Silly, silly, non-Bush loving people OMG they're so silly I can't tell you how silly they are

God I wish Stanley Kubrick were around to make a movie about all this. Bush is pure Kubrick fodder.

[DustyBottoms]

Originally posted by tigsnort
People who get upset with Bush for ANY reason are SO silly and are only setting themselves up for ridicule!

Silly, silly, non-Bush loving people OMG they're so silly I can't tell you how silly they are

God I wish Stanley Kubrick were around to make a movie about all this. Bush is pure Kubrick fodder.

Again - We agree! That's twice now! :clap

[weldordave]

Originally posted by Phreakmeister
Ground Farce 1 - Queen's fury as Bush goons wreck garden (http://www.sundaymirror.co.uk/news/content_objectid=13652625_method=full_siteid=10669 4_headline=-GROUND-FARCE-1-name_page.html)

Palace staff said they had never seen the Queen so angry as when she saw how her perfectly-mantained lawns had been churned up after being turned into helipads with three giant H landing markings for the Bush visit. The rotors of the President's Marine Force One helicopter and two support Black Hawks damaged trees and shrubs that had survived since Queen Victoria's reign. And Bush's army of clod-hopping security service men trampled more precious and exotic plants. The Queen's own flock of flamingoes, which security staff insisted should be moved in case they flew into the helicopter rotors, are thought to be so traumatised after being taken to a "place of safety" that they might never return home. The historic fabric of the Palace was also damaged as high-tech links were fitted for the US leader and his entourage during his three-day stay with the Queen. The Palace's head gardener, Mark Lane, was reported to be in tears when he saw the scale of the damage. ... The Americans made alterations to accommodate specialised equipment. The mass of gadgetry meant the Royals couldn't get a decent TV picture during the visit.
A person, not elected, no job, no visible means of having the right to life has ancient gardens, flamingos, manicured lawns and gardens. This person has no business, does not work, her family has never nor will ever work, and survives soley on the inability of the English to say "Fu** Off". I'm glad we gave royalty the heave ho' long ago. We elect our idiots to 4 year terms, you have to go thru the entire lineage for....well, forever.

[AWPrime]

Originally posted by weldordave

A person, not elected, no job, no visible means of having the right to life has ancient gardens, flamingos, manicured lawns and gardens. This person has no business, does not work, her family has never nor will ever work, and survives soley on the inability of the English to say "Fu** Off". I'm glad we gave royalty the heave ho' long ago. We elect our idiots to 4 year terms, you have to go thru the entire lineage for....well, forever.

And the Dutch are glad we still got them.

They are a part of the culture and history of the land.


Lang leve Oranje!!!

[w1che]

AW you Dutch just need your kept trained monkeys to make you feel better about yourselves...Heaven knows you need something..

What a shame... :cry .. Crying real tears here...:p

[AWPrime]

We at least train our monkeys, you give them advistors.:clap

And our monkeys don't have access to the Nuke botton.

[weldordave]

Originally posted by tigsnort
People who get upset with Bush for ANY reason are SO silly and are only setting themselves up for ridicule!

Silly, silly, non-Bush loving people OMG they're so silly I can't tell you how silly they are

God I wish Stanley Kubrick were around to make a movie about all this. Bush is pure Kubrick fodder.
Tig would preferr monarch rule so he wouldn't have to change his ideals every 4 years.

[weldordave]

Originally posted by Serendipity
That's funny. I'm sure helicopters take off and land at Buck House often enough (I may be wrong). Can't US pilots do it without one of those H markers to land on?
Helocopters do not not normally land at such an insignifificant target.British royalty is like Springer... popular now but...

[Phreakmeister]

Originally posted by AWPrime
And the Dutch are glad we still got them.

Are we? :confused

They are a part of the culture and history of the land.

Culture? What culture? And what history? Our history as a republic (from 1588 to 1806)?

[AWPrime]

Yes, most of the Dutch support the queen.


And to the other question: Willem van Oranje Nassau

[Phreakmeister]

Originally posted by AWPrime
Yes, most of the Dutch support the queen.

They indeed support the queen, but do they support the monarchy?

And to the other question: Willem van Oranje Nassau

His part of the family ceased to exist in 1702, when stadhouder (Stadholder in English) William III died childless. He was succeeded by his distant cousin, Johan Willem Friso, Prince of Nassau-Dietz. Johan Willem Friso is the archfather of the current royal family. His power was disputed by the Prussian king Friedrich Wilhelm I, a distant cousin of his. He died in 1711, before the dispute was solved. The power was established when Johan Willem Friso's son, Willem IV, established his power, between 1732 and 1747. We are ruled by a family that gradually monopolized all power in the Republic. The Orange's were nothing but a prominent family in the Republic, like the Bush's and the Kennedy's in the US.

(A stadholder was the provincial executive officer of the United Provinces of the Netherlands from the 15th to the 18th century. The position was introduced by the ruling Burgundian dukes in the 15th century. Originally provincial leaders appointed by the central government, stadholders were subsequently elected in the newly independent Dutch republic. For much of their existence they competed with the States General (parliament) for control of the country. The stadholders later became dominated by the house of Orange-Nassau. In 1747 the office became hereditary, but was abolished in 1795.)

[AWPrime]

I know but their still related, and it shows their impact on our history.


About the monarchy:
Sure we have some we like to lose, and they often disqualify themselfs for seccesion.




ps...why are we doing this in english?

[Phreakmeister]

Originally posted by AWPrime
I know but their still related, and it shows their impact on our history.

It only shows how the current royal family has no right to the position and power it has, being only very distantly related to William the Silent. Johan Willem Friso, who is the greatgreatgreatgreat...grandfather of queen Beatrix, is this distantly related to William the Silent: Johan Willem Friso (1687-1711) is the greatgreat...grandson of John of Nassau-Dietz (1536--1606), the brother of William I of Nassau (1533-1584) aka William the Silent. William the Silent's children, children's children and children's ... children's children at least have some legitimacy when it comes to the power in the Netherlands, albeit very little.

ps...why are we doing this in english?

So as not to confuse our foreign friends.

[sinecure]

Originally posted by AWPrime
ps...why are we doing this in english?

...and what does this have to do with the topic: Bush's State Visit to Britain?

Don't you guys have any Dutch boards you can play on? Or have they all kicked you off? :p

:sleep :flag

[Serendipity]

Originally posted by Phreakmeister
So as not to confuse our foreign friends.

The Hungarian humour/travel writer George Mikes will let you into a little secret, Phreak:

It was like this. Some years ago I spent a lot of time with a young lady who was very proud and conscious of being English. Once she asked me - to my great surprise - whether I would marry her. 'No,' I replied, 'I will not. My mother would never agree to my marrying a foreigner.' She looked at me a little surprised and irritated, and retorted: 'I, a foreigner? What a silly thing to say. I am English. You are the foreigner. And your mother, too.' I did not give in. In Budapest, too?' I asked her. 'Everywhere,' she declared with determination. 'Truth does not depend on geography. What is true in England is also true in Hungary and in North Borneo and Venezuela and everywhere.'

From: George Mikes, How To Be An Alien (http://lib.ru/ANEKDOTY/mikes1.txt)