I haven’t a clue what the Queen could do to help GWB but I do know that even if she knew exactly what to do she wouldn’t do it. Unlike many of her predecessors, Elizabeth II’s role is one of serving her people in the way they wish to be served.

Earlier monarchs were there to run things as they saw fit and to tell the people, what to do. Today’s monarchs are to do as they are told by the people (through the government) or they’ll find themselves divested of their palaces and castles and out on the street. Quite a revolution!

Sure, the monarchy is still enmeshed in what you call “buffoonery.” Even Prince Philip, who’s been known to put his foot in his mouth many times, has stated on TV that much of the ceremony they go through each year is “a lot of silliness.” But he said, that’s what the people want and that’s what they’ll get until they don’t want it anymore.

But get past that nonsense, and you’ll find a well-oiled HUGE business empire owned and operated by the Queen. She pays a huge amount in taxes every year on the profits made by her businesses. The whole “royal” thing is a HUGE tourist attraction bringing in far more than they cost the public. She employs thousands. (Just imagine how much profit was made BY AMERICANS during her 6-day visit - all the vendors and tourist-y businesses - even the Kentucky Derby had a huge upswing in business because the Queen was in attendance for 3 races!)

Anyway, there are dozens of books on the British royalty - fascinating reading - there’s a lot more going on than the glitz and ceremony - and the entire world, I think, would somehow be “poorer” without it. Or more accurately without Elizabeth II. There are very few who have her class and dedication to duty. And it wasn’t a job she chose - she was just unlucky enough to be born into it. How would you like a job, that will end only with your death, that entails being told what to do and when to do it whether you feel like it or not, especially when you are filthy rich to begin with and don’t need a job?

Not me!

Thanks RAE, I didn’t know any of that. Look, if you have some influence with THE QUEEN, could you ask her if she could tell Bush to straighten up and fly right?  They seem to have something special and, while he continually ignores the wishes of his people, he might listen to her.  That would be most valuable.  It would make me feel lots better about footing the bill for their buffoonery.  P.S. What Americans expect from their elected politicians is that they uphold our constitution. THE QUEEN can help him with that, too.  I do hope she had a jolly good time.

Oh, Dr. Dr. Dr.....

Elizabeth II doesn’t just call up and say she’s coming. YOU AMERICANS invite her… FIVE TIMES in the last 50 years. I guess you should ask your fellow Americans why they’d invite some worthless old foreign hag to come visit, time and time again. Perhaps they could enlighten you about the VALUE of the visits… about how she represents a PEOPLE’s spirit and soul, not a government.

The British are a curious mixture of a civil coating over a cutthroat, rock-solid resolve. The British are every bit as ruthless and tough as Americans think they are - they’re just a lot better at it than Americans (mostly because they’ve been doing it for a dozen centuries) - they know how to cut your knees out from under you AND MAKE YOU THANK THEM FOR DOING IT!

However, the British, who used to rule the world, realized that not only could they not sustain such authority without continual bloodshed, THEY HAD NO INHERENT RIGHT TO DO SO. Something Americans have yet to learn.

The US could use a good dose of “monarchy” - your country is so divided - so aggressive - so antagonistic, both amongst your own people and with most other countries in this world. You want to build fences to keep out the “terrorists.” You’re under attack. EVER STOP TO ASK WHY? Perhaps the answer might be found in your ATTITUDE. There’s a lot more than POLITICS and WINNING and GROWING RICHER to life on this planet, but you’d never know it from watching how America behaves.

Excerpt from http://www.ashbrook.org/publicat/repub/V8n2/cook.html

“According to Philip Norton, author of The British Polity, “Twentieth century monarchs....occupy a position in which....they fulfill two primary tasks. One is to represent the unity of the nation. The other is to carry out certain political functions on the advice of ministers” (Norton, 308). Unlike the U.S. President’s elected office, the Crown occupies a hereditary post as England’s head of state. It is a symbolic position, delicately balanced between governmental representation and participation. The monarchy acts as a unifying agent, with all government performed in its name. In difficult situations, such as war, this symbolism provides “a sense of duty for government”; and “a sense of continuity” (Norton, 309).”

In America you elect a President and expect him (perhaps a her?) to ACT to unify the country. But that’s an impossible task if he/she BELONGS to one side or the other. That’s where the monarchy comes in - they remain apolitical. The monarch represents ALL THE PEOPLE EQUALLY. No political party or politically-elected head of state can do that.

In America you have the STATUE OF LIBERTY - which I assume brings forth deep emotional feelings of belonging to a great country, etc. etc.

In Britain, their “statue” is a LIVING, BREATHING monument/symbol of at least the ASPIRATION to goodness and unity. The Queen is the country’s “mom.” She is counsellor, arbitrator, moderator, governor, mediator, provider, and leader by example. The monarchy has very little AUTHORITY these days but Elizabeth II has enormous INFLUENCE precisely BECAUSE she’s impartial and keeps her mouth SHUT in public about personal preferences. (Being personally the richest woman in he world helps a little with the influence thing.)

She has a damned tough job (that she certainly doesn’t NEED) and responsibility and since 1953 she’s done it with a dedication to duty and CLASS UNMATCHED anywhere else in the world. And at 81 years, she’s still doing it. Do you really think she wouldn’t rather be at home with her dogs and gardens and creature comforts rather than standing next to a near-illiterate, crass, barely-elected, temporary President who thinks it’s funny to WINK at her as if they were EQUALS?

Debra #69090, I think the consensus is and was in the 60’s AND 70’s, all due respect to vets, that no American who fought in Viet Nam “fought for their country.” If we took more care in determining what constitutes “for our country” in matters of war, we’d make less war.  “For our country” is patriotic BS that we’re expected to parrot in order to justify the waste of human life. We really need to get beyond that and start making sense.  The kids in the 60’s and 70’s had it right and we learned nothing from that, either about how democracy is supposed to work or about the tragedy of war.  If those kids were here now, the Bush administration would be history or the military would be deployed to America’s streets.

RAE, I forgot to ask you, just what “value” do you see in the QUEEN of ENGLAND coming to the US for foto-ops with George Bush at the expense of American workers?  Being liberal, I’m open to education and enlightenment.

RAE, you’re right and I’m wrong.  It’s perfectly fine for the two of them to party on while their young people are getting massacred/maimed in Iraq and to do it for the benefit of us voyeurs. P.S., what makes you think I’m a right-winger?

Although I can’t prove it, I feel very strongly that Bush made his slip of the tongue (1776 instead of 1976) deliberately, as a joke. It simply wasn’t presented in the same manner as his normal language foulups.

Not really funny.

What is there to say when a comment such as “America should applaud W’s social ignorance.” gets posted? What kind of small mind applauds ignorance and considers lack of class and refinement a PLUS?

The good Dr. complains that US tax dollars were spent on bringing the Queen here. Typical lower class American - knows the COST of everything and the VALUE of nothing!

What amazes me is that the Queen, who realizes that narrow-minded, right-wing, mean-spirited cranks DO NOT represent the majority opinion in America, has agreed to undertake this arduous trip not because she either wanted to or had to but because she was ASKED TO.

Almost more than anything, elderly people want to remain close to their homes and routines. I want to hear about any other couple, aged 81 and 86, who would fly half way round the world, live out of a suitcase, go from one appearance after another under the media microscope for a WEEK, make speeches, represent their country and people with a dignity and intelligence unmatched by ANY other heads of state INCLUDING THE USA, not make any visual or verbal mistakes or gaffs, and then SMILE when abuse is heaped on them for being who they are and doing what they’re asked to do.

And the good Dr. and other JERKS have the gall to air their ignorance and classlessness on Truthdig for all to see. What an embarrassment to America.

America should applaud W’s social ignorance.  What is so bloody special about the queen that USA taxpayer $$ should be used for this extravaganza?  Skip the bloody ties of any bloody color and take the bloody queen to bloody McDonalds.  Who the bloody hell are we bloody trying to impress, anybloodyway?