Snubbed: No Obamas at Britain’s Royal Wedding
Last week the Daily Mail reported that President and Mrs. Obama will not be among the 2,000 invited to Westminster Abbey on April 29, 2011, to attend the wedding of Prince William, the older son of Prince Charles and the late Princess Diana. This news has caused the proverbial tempest in a teapot. How could this snub have come about?
One might well ask, how could this snub not have come about?
Let’s take a brief stroll down memory lane, shall we? Not two weeks into his presidency, Mr. Obama boorishly returned the bust of Sir Winston Churchill to the British ambassador in Washington. Talk about clueless.
Britain and the U.S. were the staunchest of allies since the American entry into World War II on December 7, 1941. Not only was Winston Churchill a courageous wartime partner of FDR, the British leader was later awarded an honorary American citizenship on April 9, 1963 — by John F. Kennedy, who described him as “the most honored and honorable man to walk the stage of human history in the time in which we live. Whenever and wherever tyranny threatened, he has always championed liberty [...] he mobilized the English language and sent it into battle[.]” It is true that Barack Obama was four months shy of his second birthday when Kennedy spoke those words, but the facts are available for him to learn, if not remember.
While 4,500 brave American servicemen and women have given their lives in Iraq during his own adulthood — indeed, partly during his own presidency — 519 valiant British military men and women have died in combat in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars: far more than from any other ally of the United States.
Under these circumstances, what should Obama have done if he didn’t want the bust of Churchill in the Oval Office? Simple answer to simple question: store it in the basement. Or the attic. Who among us has not received house presents that don’t comport with our taste or interests? What do we do when we know the friends who gave us the gifts will visit us again? We take them out of the basement or attic and have them sitting in our living rooms as if they were there from the time our friends left. We don’t have to look at the gift every day, and the friend is none the wiser when he or she returns for another visit.
The one thing no one with any common sense does is make a big deal about returning the present, or, in this case, the loan. And it wasn’t a present or loan to either George W. Bush or to Barack Obama. It was a loan to the people of the United States of America. Prime Minister Tony Blair had given the bust to President George W. Bush as a show of solidarity in the aftermath of 9/11 — as an inspiration to the president in a time of mourning and difficulty for the United States. Blair wanted the American people to know that the British people stood foursquare with them.
No matter all that for President Obama. When the president sent Churchill packing, Newsweek opined,
Maybe it’s no surprise that Obama wouldn’t want Churchill watching over his shoulder. After all, it was Churchill who, in 1952, ordered a crackdown on the Mau Mau rebellion against British colonial rule in Kenya, Obama’s ancestral homeland. Obama’s grandfather, Hussein Onyango Obama, was labeled a subversive during the uprising and spent months in detention.
Despite all the possible implications and interpretations some may have, I agree with the Royals here. When all is said and done, this is just two kids getting married, and under some pretty harsh circumstances – IE total public scrutiny forever. This isn’t about the UK and the USA, this is about the fact that Mr. and Mrs. Windsor don’t much care for Mr. and Mrs. Obama. Was anyone reading this in any particular hurry to invite people THEY didn’t like to THEIR wedding?
Under the best of circumstances, weddings kind of suck. Massive stress-inducing nightmares putting a strain on all involved. Why invite people you can’t stand just because it expedient for the business? HRH hasn’t snubbed the USA, she has snubbed a person who was inexcusably rude to her and whom she doesn’t like. Who can blame her?
Besides, a presidential visit is an expensive and administrative pain in the ass. The only reason to have our boorish prez over is political. Screw him – HRH has earned the right not to have to put up with certain people she cannot stand. I’m only sorry that our elected leader IS such a social jerk as to have earned this. G’wan, your Maj. Y’all have a good day, and we’ll be content to watch on TV. Hopefully and with any luck, we’ll be able to present you with a polite and thoughtful president by early 2013.
Bull…it is a well deserved snub. And I love it
The Royal Family was thinking of political considerations when they wrote the guest list, this was a snub, one he deserves but probably doesn’t feel.
The Queen is not HRH. She is HM.
I’m an American. We fought a Revolution. There is a limit to the extent I care.
Now, now. I’m sure that the royal couple would have appreciated the lovely wedding themed Marshall Fields’ gift card the Obamas had in mind. (Just stay away from the Frango, Wills. Don’t want you too fat to fight for your country!)
Lili:
You should do your homework. Macy’s bought Marshall Fields several years ago and eliminted all traces of its existance even on the fabled flagship State Street store. Have you ever been to Chicago.
By the way Frango stands for Frederick and Nelson’s Gourmet. Fields bought the Seatle based F&N in the 1950′s
wow tdiinva.
..so much useless information all in one place.
Well, this is pretty much a lame thread akin to the National Enquirer. While I do enjoy the snub to the Zeros this topic is just fluff.
You would think that the FCC attack on the Internet would generate many more comments then this.
The 0bamas deserve the snub. And the royal wedding will stay a classy affair.
Brutal. And absolutely correct. Predictable too, seeing as he tended to flip the bird at the opposing female candidates.
One of the hotly, perhaps eternally discussed questions among students of American politics in future centuries will be: “How on Earth did this overgrown child with the soul of a bully manage to conceal his inadequacies and character flaws long enough to be elected president of the United States?”
Does anyone have an opinion?
As many others have said, the real problem for America is not Obama — although he is problem enough, he will be gone in 6 more years max, two if we’re lucky — no,the REAL problem is the multitude of idiots who elected the dimwit in the first place, and who will retain their ability to vote for years and years to come.
How and why America went so stupid will be a mystery for the ages, Francis.
But happily, the Obamas will not be there, saving us all a great deal of embarrassment.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: We conservatives should have Obama and his minions on our payroll. If he didn’t exist we’d have had to invent him. The alternative was that conservative ideology die a slow death, imprisoned in the cold embrace of the Republican party and with funeral rites administered by the MSM and Democratic party. Yes, there has been collateral damage, but then, every blessing carries its price.
Very nicely put, Miriam.
Yes Miriam, superb comment that I have been thinking for a long time too.
The educational value of this Administration to the world is a priceless gift that we could not have had on a more silvery tray.
No mystery here at all. He was voted in because he was a non-white, non-Republican.
Perhaps that’s true enough; but that does not answer the question: Why would voters be that stupid, to elect someone who at best they knew nothing about, and at worst openly and flagrantly hated their country, especially for such a meaningless, infantile reason?
By people who have non-brains.
Stupidly guilt ridden white people voted for Obama to prove they were not bigots. Who will they vote for in 2012 to prove they are not idiots?
“Does anyone have an opinion?”
My 2 cents: A grossly ignorant American public in the hands of a highly manipulative MSM. Obama emerged onto the scene as a sexy, articulate game-changer, & that was good enough for a too-large percentage of the masses. Is it any small wonder some would like to see it return to where only property-owners should be allowed to vote? Personally, I advocate a screening test…..
you killed the argument with the term “sexy”…what crack whore thought he was sexy? He was black, could put two words together, people were at that point unhappy with Bush, and the MSM helped him/handlers carry the charade all the way to the WH and potential destruction of America
WAY TO GO ENGLAND :]!!!
It might seem a silly slight snub by two silly “kids” in love.
….but Obama understands it is major…and well deserved. The House of Windsor just went up a notch or two in standing..
Don’t forget that the infiltrated GOP chose the WORST possible candidate to run against the Zero in Chief…they chose a Fossilized, precious loser for Cadidicacy RINO John McCain. Almost as if it were scripted – Old Rich White Washington Insider versus..The Chicago Upstart.
AND I did needed to add… i agree with most of your post, esp property owners, add ability to read english…
Be very careful of what you wish for. Democrats can and have designed that not even they could pass and administered it to the other guys . . . that of course was part of Jim Crow! While I agree with your premise on an ignorant electorate, I think it would be wise to avoid simple solutions, after all that’s the cause of our dilemma. Being informed is hard work made more difficult by biased institutions, like the MSM and left-wing universities. The only hope is truth to Lies.
bobbcat, ALMOST everything you said about Obama is true. You described him as being sexy. The MSM started that rumor! He is definitely not sexy. He is sneaky but not sexy.
I think he’s more nerdy than sexy – an Erkle. Have you seen Obama dance??
Maybe because Obama is gonna pay our car payment, our phone payment, or house payment, and our electric bill. He’s like the ‘Price is Right’ of Presidents. What else do we need?
Truth and a lifeline.
My question is, how do we keep the MSM in check…no lies, not half truths..or they’re executed..okay, a pipe dream. BUT!!,There has to be a way.
Fat, lazy, stupid Americans vote like they shop. They sit in front of the boob tube (big screen TV for all of those younger than 40) and have their skulls full of mush medicated with the sweet sound and images of marketing propoganda designed to swindle them out of their plastic cash.
We buy Chinese crap for $9.95 that we don’t need so we can throw it away next week and buy some other piece of Chinese crap we don’t need. We vote in a sweet talking (boob tube sounds)juvenile that looks good in a suit (boob tube images) but who has never, ever, meaning not at all… had a real job, in the real world to be President of the Un-intelligent States of America.
Government schools are stealing our children’s brains. I homeschooled my children for 12 years and they are high quality young men that know Chinese crap (and Socialist Kenyan crap for that matter) when they see it. We need SEPARATION OF SCHOOL AND STATE… YESTERDAY!
I call it the WalMart mentality. I think the tides are changing and wish you all at PJ and very Merry Christmas, or Holiday Season (as you like) and a well thought out and prosperous New Year. God Bless America.
I am very pleased the Brits have snubbed the arrogant Obama’s. It is about time somebody stood up to these lying thugs and communist bullies.
I wish some of our “elected” officials would do the same.
Cheerio, England! Know MANY AMERICANS completely support your decision!
Its nothing personal Barry, we’re just not that into you!
I don’t feel like paying for the Obamas attendance to the wedding.Considering the fact it cost us millions just to have the President go out for a movie and a burger. They need to stay home and save like the rest of us!
As Ramban said the costs of inviting POTUS are too high. We are cutting to get out of debt,we cannot afford all the extra security involved. Of course Wills could fly him himself in his SAR chopper to save sending Marine 1! Be interesting to see who is invited,hopefully not the usual despots with their entourage of security lackeys. As you may have seen, the peasants are revolting these days.
Rambam, I heartily agree that weddings can kinda, well, as you put it, “suck”, and are a nightmare logistically for world leaders, but I’ve read where Sarkozy of France (a sitting President) is invited, and I believe other world leaders have been as well. True, it is not a State Event, but there are 2,000 seats available and, if Obama, a young and vital (if not “hip”) President, was “in good standing” with the Brits, I surely think they would have invited him.
I do believe this was a well-deserved snub, albeit of minor consequence; just enough to send the “warning” they want him to receive.
No great fan of the Brits am I however when Obama & Sarkozy held the 65th anniversary of D-Day commemoration lats year and refused to invite The Queen that inflicted a wound that will not heal.
Now, if only Britain had the chutzpah to dis-invite all the Muslims who are taking over the country. Remember, Prince Charles, a.k.a., Dumbo, loves to show off in Muslim attire and speak nicely of Islam, a political-theocratic system that would much rather chop off his head. In Britian, he is the Islamists’ Main Dhimmi and principle apologist for Western liberty and values, and his wife, the Duchess of Cornwall, is a clueless cow with all the intelligence of a retarded turtle.
No kidding. When I think about the UK, I often find myself catching myself and thinking ‘Wait a minute! That Britain does not exist anymore!’
Britain is now more a colony of Islam than anything else. The Britain I respect has tragically capitulated and disgracefully embraced cultural suicide.
The Government may have, But the People fight on!
The Same as in the US, The people of the UK are it’s True Strength. Not the Government, Not the Royal Freeloaders but the People!
We must support those that fight against the encroachment of Sharia and Radical Islam, in ANY Country.
Now, now, Sir. HRH the Prince of Wales is at least a gentleman. Mr. Obama may be President of the United States, but he is certainly NOT a gentleman by any stretch of the imagination.
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/gentleman
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mau_Mau_Uprising
I wonder whether his predecessors — father, grandfathers — were active in Mau Mau.
Psst…I have it on good authority that HRH “regifted” the iPod to Kate several years ago and she accepted it with her characteristic grace and humor. My source could not confirm if said iPod is in the basement, attic or dungeon, however Kate will surely produce it right before the next visit from The King of Self Esteem and his best “cardigan girl”, as if it had never left her side.
OK the POTUS is a boor but that has nothing to do with being invited or not. He is not family, he is not friend, he is not royalty. The United States will be ably represented by the Ambassador to the court of St.James as will the non royalty head of state of every other country.
It is a mark of the remarkable unreal expectations of the man that he (no evidence given), the United States but mostly the media feel this is a snub. Everyone, get over yourselves.
Do you really think that George Bush (either one) would not have been invited?
Before Obumer, YOU BET!
All Obama voters are stupid and illerate. That said, I wouldn’t invite
that idiot Obama to a cat fight. Sophisticated, like hell. Maybe in a sewer somewhere. the sooner Obummer is gone, the better off we all
will be.
IMPEACH OBAMA. GOD BLESS AMERICA.
Wow. I’m generally lenient when it comes to typos, but if you’re writing about how other people are stupid and illiterate, don’t misspell “illiterate.” It makes you look stupid and illiterate.
I, too, generally am sensitive to correct spelling and grammar. However, punctiliousness in the service of a passion keenly felt is not necessary. Sometimes the heat of passion can overcome one’s characteristic concerns for niceties of grammar and spelling.
I agree with the writer that he is essentially nothing but an empty suit–and illiterate–however one wants to spell it.
President and Mrs. Reagan were invited to both Andrew and Charles’ weddings. The President sent his regrets, but Mrs. Reagan attended both weddings.
If Sen. and Mrs. McCain were POTUS and FLOTUS they would be invited I am sure.
The fact is, that our POTUS is a garbage of a man and a garbage of a president.
Pathetic.
Maybe the Brits can send them a video of the wedding on an IPod.
Or even better yet, A region 2 DVD.
Yeah, not inviting the Queen to D-day was cold. As I recall, she is the only living member of the royals to have served in WWII. So a very deep cut indeed.
On another topic – the snubbing of the Obamas means that we will all be spared the spectacle of the MSM and the Obamas and their henchment making the royal wedding all about ‘Them’.
Phew!
” Not two weeks into his presidency, Mr. Obama boorishly returned the bust of Sir Winston Churchill to the British ambassador in Washington. Talk about clueless.”
For that stunt alone, Obama should be shunned by the British. What a vile and loathsome idiot that man/boy in the White House is. Obama isn’t fit to shine the shoes of a Winston Churchill, let alone be considered a powerful world leader like Churchill was. If I were the British, I wouldn’t have anything to do with this jerk, “special relationship” or not. Obama hates the British and makes it plain whenever he deals with them. Great going, Barry! Keep alienating some of the few people who still like us in the world and keep embracing and appeasing the people who always will hate us, like the Iranians.
Oh, for crying out loud. Get a grip.
Two things.
(1) The whitehouse said weeks ago that obama would probably not be going to the royal wedding due to the impact that his security would have on the event:
http://www.examiner.com/kate-middleton-in-national/royal-wedding-guest-list-likely-won-t-include-president-obama
That article says that barack won’t be going, but michelle probably will. I don’t see any quotes from the daily mail’s “source” that says otherwise. To wit:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1339315/President-Obama-snubbed-sources-reveal-invited-Prince-Williams-wedding.html
(2) The palace has already made it clear that they don’t want it to be a state occasion, and they want to go all proletariat and ask normal people instead of heads of state. I think they’re also trying to keep the cost down, because the royals just aren’t as cashed-up as they used to be and the UK is slashing spending across the board.
Maybe everyone should just calm down and let the Obama Derangement Syndrome subside. Or, if you REALLY care about royal wedding arrangements, at least wait until the guest list has been published. Then you can all be horrified about who DOES turn up, rather than who doesn’t.
In the meantime, ask yourselves … will OPRAH be there?
Nice try. But Obama really is a bit too tacky and self-absorbed for the occasion. He really does deserve the snub.
A typical ploy of the boorish, narcissistic class. When word comes that an invitation to the event of the year will not be forthcoming, feign your abject disinterest in the affair. Yawning and/or fluttering of eyelashes will often convince commoners of your sincerity.
“Obama Derangement Syndrome”
In my case it’s Democrat Derangement Syndrome. I hate ALL Democrats regardless of race, color or creed.
The only good thing I can say about members of the Slaveowner/Jim Crow Party is that they’re somewhat better than Nazis (though the Nazis did have snazzier looking uniforms, just look at Michelle Obama’s get-ups and you’ll see what I mean…talk about tacky).
Every time I get married I require that people sign an oath disavowing any connection with the Democrat Party before I put them on the guest list (that way I know I won’t get an IPod for a wedding present), and I’m not the least bit surprised that Britain’s royal family apparently shares my viewpoint, when it comes to inviting Democrats to social functions.
They might be decadent, even inbred, but at least they have some standards.
LOL
Matthew, Matthew the Obamas were not even invited to the wedding. Matthew you can spin it any way you want but the buffoons were not even invited, so much for Barry making friends!
Hate! Hate! Hate! The boys are marrrrchinggg….
Diagnosis: ODS.
Matthew the only ones marching and causing [hate] trouble are the associates of Obama. When you lack intelligence as Obama shows everyday you automatically resort to violence. Matthew you can spin this all so but you can not back up Obama being intelligent. We can not look at his school records or all most anything else that has to do with Obamas past history. All we have is hear say about this man! Merry Christmas Matthew and a safe one too!
Great writing! A welcome addition to Pajamas Media!
Obamas deserve that.
Prince William is not immediate heir to the throne, as such it’s not a state wedding i.e. foreign heads of state (and self absorbed demigods) are not invited. I guess he could attend on a technicality as a Nobel Prize winner, but who’s Obama kidding..
Anotrher consideration here might be that the Brits did not want to have an invitation rebuffed. With history of the past two years between this administration and the Brits…the invitation could be met with “we are too busy”, “have something better to do”, etc.
At least the country will save money on planes, hotels and extra-extra ‘guests’.
Porretto – How did The Won conceal what he was during the campaign? Easy. The MSM did it for him.
Well if they’re not coming who will hug the queen and hog the cameras from Prince Phillip?
And in Hawaii, they want to quarantine the wrong member of the Obama family.
http://michellemalkin.com/2010/12/20/bo-obama/
If only Bo was a Chihuahua….
Belladonna-you are right on target. Returning the Churchill bust was incredibly insulting, but then Winston wouldn’t have wanted to be near the tacky furniture Obama has placed in the Oval Office. I don’t think Obama gets that the President represents the people of the US and that his actions as President are different from those he can make as Obama the private citizen.
Lila Lee
I wouldn’t invite him to my child’s wedding. I would refuse an invitation to any wedding where he was a guest. If he were there I know no one I liked or respected would be a guest and I probably wouldn’t like the bride or groom either. I am not a big fan of Royalty but having been a helicopter pilot I do like this groom and this bride is OK too.
Obama has hopefully been an eyeopener to the looney left. One gets the impression they felt that ‘just anyone’ could be President. I doubt they understood just what the job demands. They knew who he was, as they’d been grooming him long enough, but thought little enough of the Oval Office to care.
If his term in offfice does not wake them up to their foolishness, I don’t think anything will be able to do it.
I don’t think Obama is thoughtless in his choice in gifts. I believe each gift is calculated to insult the recipient. Remember when he gave the Dalai Lama cufflinks? A guy without sleeves?
As Commander-in-Chief no president should gratuitously insult an ally during a war.
Obama was born in the USA but his loyalty was (still is?) to Africa.
It is a fact that a lot of people don’t believe Obama was born in Hawaii. But they do believe he was raised and mentored there. That does not mean he feels any loyalty to the US. Hawaii became a state in 1959, and he was born in 1961. There is no way that Hawaiians became loyal to the US in those two years or to this day. He was raised and mentored by people who did not like the US. Just read some of the history of Hawaii before they became a state. Regarding his loyalty to Africa, watch the video of Michelle Obama speaking about AIDS, “When we took our trip to Africa and visited his home country Kenya…” Obama was born in Kenya and raised and mentored in Hawaii. In Hawaii, he learned to dislike the US, and his heart is with Kenya.
You know that for a FACT!!!
Make no mistake, America’s boy king doesn’t take a breath that isn’t political. What he eats? political. His leisure time? political. His clothes? political.
Churhill’s bust? political.
He jabbed a thumb in the eye of this country’s closest ally. Our parents. Not HIS parents, who were communists, but the rest of our parents, who owe everything to Britain, despite the little family spat we had in 1776.
Barry HATES everything about our country, including our friends, allies and relatives.
The royals have responded in a small way, but since it is so visible, it also is an extremely political act. They have spoken for all the people who once belonged to the British Empire. No trailer trash at their wedding.
Oh heckies. Even the Clintons didn’t want the stank pox of the 0bamas wafting around at Chelsea’s wedding and sampling at the silver and gold snack trays either.
The rude, tactless, classless, mannerless couple residing in the White House are an embarrassment. 2012 can’t come soon enough and hopefully an army of Stanley Steamer cleaners will be able to get the stench out.
No doubt, as the civilized part of the world comes to learn more about what makes the Bamster tick there will be many more of these snubs.
Those Britons are so crude and rude, besides there are insufficient rooms in London to house the Prez and his minimal staff on a road trip in the standard that they have come to expect. Apparently the Queen wouldn’t house swap Buckingham Palace for the White House.
At the Charles & Di wedding, Reagan did not go, but Nancy did along with her son and stepdaughter. It was a bigger affair however, but I would guess that the Protocol secretaries had already arranged for that long before the invites went out. It showed the respect of the President and Nancy knew how to carry herself and represent the US with dignity at a wedding. But no one wanted the President as it shifted the focus away from the Di Fest.
Does the Obama’s have a Protocol Secretary that knows Protocol.
If I remember correctly, Reagan was still recovering from gunshot wounds and could not attend.
You remember correctly. That’s exactly why President Reagan did not attend. Like his wife, he was definitely invited.
As Fat Albert might say, Obama is like a school on Saturday. No class.
Perhaps Wills, Kate & Co. could not stand the thought of what horrid fashion statement Moochelle might make with her attire.
The Obama entourage/security would take up half the hotel rooms in London. However it would be amusing to see the Obama’s gift the lucky couple with 8-track and video tapes of the entire music and film output of the United States starting from the year Obama was born. And one can never have too many soaps on a rope or blue faux fur covers for toliet lids. Spinning rims for the royals car tires with the Obama logo at the center would be quite smart as well.
Also, “valiant military men and women” sounds like Kruschev era semantics. Valiant speaks for itself; it’s like when mothers introduce their daughters as “my beautiful daughter” when they are often quite obviously not beautiful at all. The way I was raised in America, the brave soldier is just a soldier.
Yes it’s true, we used to actually be modest in this country and let the facts speak for themselves.
I couldn’t be happier that Barry and Shelly weren’t invited. It doesn’t really matter if it’s a state wedding or not it’s still a pretty big deal and the Obama’s weren’t invited. Period, end of story. You can’t disguise the insult no matter how hard anyone tries to spin it. Now the next step would be for the Brits to invited President and Laura Bush. I tingle with excitement at the thought.
Obama’s grandfather, Hussein Onyango Obama, was labeled a subversive during the uprising and spent months in detention.
Untrue- yet another Obama porkie. Never happened.
Yes, Grandpa Obama was bitter about the British- not because he was ever arrested, but because they sacked him from his civil-service job for being a hopeless drunk.
______________
Miriam: Actually Prince Philip served in combat with the Royal Navy during WWII.
Please tell precisely what battles the good prince engaged in?
“After leaving Gordonstoun in 1939, Prince Philip joined the Royal Navy, graduating the next year from the Royal Naval College, Dartmouth, as the top cadet in his course.[16] He was commissioned as a midshipman in January 1940. Philip spent four months on the battleship HMS Ramillies, protecting convoys of the Australian Expeditionary Force in the Indian Ocean, followed by shorter postings on HMS Kent, HMS Shropshire and in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka). After the invasion of Greece by Italy in October 1940, he was transferred from the Indian Ocean to the battleship HMS Valiant in the Mediterranean Fleet.[17] Amongst other engagements, he was involved in the Battle of Crete, was mentioned in despatches for his service during the Battle of Cape Matapan, and was awarded the Greek War Cross of Valour.[16] Duties of lesser glory included stoking the boilers of the troop transport ship RMS Empress of Russia.[18]”
“Prince Philip was promoted to sub-lieutenant after a series of courses at Portsmouth in which he gained the top grade in four out of five sections.[19] In June 1942, he was appointed to the V and W class destroyer and flotilla leader, HMS Wallace, which was involved in convoy escort tasks on the east coast of Britain, as well as the allied invasion of Sicily.[20] Promotion to lieutenant followed on 16 July 1942. In October of the same year, at just 21 years of age, he became first lieutenant of HMS Wallace and one of the youngest first lieutenants in the Royal Navy. In 1944, he moved on to the new destroyer, HMS Whelp, where he saw service with the British Pacific Fleet in the 27th Destroyer Flotilla.[21][22] He was present in Tokyo Bay when the instrument of Japanese surrender was signed. In January 1946, Philip returned to Britain on the Whelp, and was posted as an instructor at HMS Royal Arthur, the Petty Officers’ School in Corsham, Wiltshire.[23]”
Amaze your friends! Dazzle your relatives! Yes, you too can be an annoying little know-it-all with the help of the fabulous…wikipedia!!!
Obama has certainly made no secret that he despises the British people. It is an extremely bitter thing that our good ally Britain, has given her blood and treasure fighting for America’s war. Almost every day I read British media and regularly saw the pictures of the coffins of the young Brits killed in the war, going through the streets and the huge crowds of grief stricken mourners lining the streets. An unforgettable and heartbreaking sight. I am disgusted over the treatment given to our ally, Britain. We live in a very sad day. Our enemies are treated as friends and allies, and our allies, Britain and Israel are treated like enemies.
Obama despises us bitter clinging Americans, too.
Obama is clearly prejudiced against Jews and the British; Is there any more concrete proof that he is RACISSSSST?
Have we ever had a president before who was despised by the Brits and the French? Holy cow, he makes history again!
This is my favorite story of the day…hoping there will be an even bigger “snub” for the gruesome twosome at the ballot box in 2012. Worst president and worst first lady ever, and married to each other. So fitting!
Hyperbole? Because Mary Todd and Florence were probably worse First Ladies.
My bet is that a belated invitation will be rendered (for political expediency) and the O’s will be boorish enough to accept it. Then again, maybe a face saving gesture will be an invitation to the Clinton’s who would fit right in with the dysfunctional Royals.
sadly we will miss Prince Philip giving one of his famous “comments” when meeting the Obamas. He hasn’t heard of PC.
Aside from the like/dislike issue, there is the security circus that follows every President. Who needs that on their wedding day? In Jan 2008 when George W visited Jerusalem, the city was gridlocked and no one could go about their business. Imagine what the same security would do to London. The Obamas will get a much better view on their TV too:-)
Jerusalem may have been gridlocked when Pres. Bush was there, but you should know that there is a monument honoring George W Bush and his friendship for the people of Israel in Jerusalem. I doubt that the Israelis will erect any such honor for Pres. Obama when his term (mercifully) comes to a close.
Good for the British. It is perfectly clear that the only really sane govt. in the West is Canada’s. It is also clear that PC and demographics/immigration have transformed American voting patterns, along with willing ignorance in the face of media indoctrination. Of course, the question must be asked, ‘Why would the American establishment, which after all buttresses the media, want BHO to be President’?
So they are apparently not who they appear to be. Bush, father and son, visited Barry in the WH. Clinton, whose foreign policy was closer to Obama than to that of Dubya, is great friends with the Bushes.
Nonetheless, PJM continues to hew to the idea that the Red-Blue split (and great animosity) between citizens is somehow reflected in the leaderships of the main political parties.
Anyhow, good luck. This website has lost much critical thinking, open-mindedness and fairness. Angry bloggers like Radosh and Totten now set the tone: name-calling egoists.
You, like the Obamas, are ignorant of custom. When you are the sitting President, things look very different, because you are “the Decider”. There is only a small group of men alive at any time who know what it is like to sit in that big chair.
To do one’s job properly as President, one must seek out previous Presidents for their counsel, and for the history of things, so that there is some continuity.
Every President understands this. It is a lonely job. There is a bond between them. It is a very exclusive club. (Not to diminish it by calling it a club, but just to convey a point.) So do not assume that, because they visit and seem chummy, that they are all on the same side playing some game. The Presidency comes with responsibilities during and after.
It’s this kind of gross ignorance of things that brought Obama into the WH. Culture, customs, and protocols are no longer passed on. How is it that people no longer understand what the job of the Presidency entails anymore? We have fallen far. A boorish nation with a boorish President.
I find it interesting to see that Sarkozy and his better half are on the guest list.
Put another way, the Obama’s take second place to AIDS, in a popularity contest by the British, and for the British.
Keep in mind that Obama is still incredibly popular in Britain. As of six months ago, 84% of Brits had confidence that Obama will do the right thing in world affairs.
16% of Brits had confidence in George W. Bush.
http://pewglobal.org/2010/06/17/obama-more-popular-abroad-than-at-home/
If I could arrange it he would be their President. They would very quickly come to an appreciation of Bush, or they would still love Obama. Either way our problem would become theirs.
I just watched “The Special Relationship” featuring the political and personal friendship of Tony Blair and Bill Clinton. It was interesting in that it reminded me of how things used to be a mere decade ago: (1) the lavish wealth of America present in the helicopter rides, the military machinery, and perfectly tailored Presidential suits and ties; (2) America being flirted with and teased about as being THE Number One Dog in the world, and the necessity of having America in on any project to make it successful; (3) Clinton’s phone calls taking precedence over any one else in the world including Boris and Chirac.
But most importantly, it reminded me of how we got to our present world-wide conunundrum of imploding socialist gimme programs vs. insufficient taxpayer funding. That Blair and Clinton and most of NATO collaborated in pushing this “progressive” agenda of taking from the rich and giving to the poor.
Since Blair has been booted out of office in England as have all those other NATO leaders of that time, over and above the Obama’s boorishness, the Yurpizoids are probably terrified to have a marxist of his caliber fly across the pond and possibly reinfect them with this devastating mindset.
There’s probably also a reluctance to host a couple who increasingly look and act like Lord and Lady MacBeth since the English (above all other countries) have already been there / done that when it comes to royal disaster caused by hubris.
Aaron,
you are right there. Very few had a good word for Bush over here. Obama maybe a joke to you but Europe still prefers him to any Republican. He
is certainly more popular than Prince Charles anyway. This is a non-story really and to see it as a snub is going too far. It is true that Britain has been delusional to see a special relationship with the U.S. You have a special relationship with only one country, Israel.
Davidstanley – back to your Koran, please.
Speaking as a military mom, I know of may Soldiers who in their hearts feel an allegiance to England and to Australia. Not JMO.
There’s a story about Churchill that bears repeating. In the 1950s, school children in South America were given the assignment of writing a letter to the most important person in the world. One little girl wrote her letter and simply addressed it to The Most Important Man in the World. Weeks later, that letter was delivered to Winston Spencer Churchill. How many hands and government postal systems did it pass through? Who knows, but the conclusion was clear. Churchill, the man who saved the world from tyranny and destruction, had left an indelible legacy of determination, action, accomplishment and leadership in the face of dire threat and hardship. That was then.
Fast forward to 2010, and this same letter would undoubtedly arrive on Obama’s desk: a whiny, clueless, classless bower, appeaser and sockpuppet (as in: we’re the MSM, so we let’s play pretend and imbue this empty suit with qualities and abilities for which no actual evidence exists). Barry so convincingly plays the part of Chamberlain, it’s clear why he couldn’t bear to keep Churchill’s bust. Unlike FDR, he has nothing to fear but … a statue?!
With the BO-MO duo, we’re trapped in an endless game of limbo: how low can we go? Sadly, I’m afraid we’ll find out …
Winston Churchill saved the world. Britain would not have resisted the Nazis without him. If they had conquered England, they would have had the resources to beat the Russians in a protracted war. The US would have been unlikely to enter a war against Germany without a foothold in Europe. The modern world is as it is because of Churchill’s ability to bring out the courage and determination of his countrymen. We owe him an immense debt.
For Obama to insult one of the greatest heros of Western civilization in such a cavalier way is an insult to every human being of European descent. If there was no other marker of his contempt for our culture, that would be enough to identify little lenin as the most arrogant racist to appear in centuries.
Egads, the world has gone from the likes of Churchill (his post-war “Iron Curtain” speech in Missouri angered another Democrat, Harry S Truman) to an imbecile like Obama. America deserves an international Darwin Award for that decision.
But then, the English are as fickle as the rest of us. After saving their country from certain defeat to the Nazis, the English tossed Lord Churchill under the bus. Never could understand that one.
I remember in the runup to the year 2000, Time Magazine (it still had at least some relevance in those days) attempted to determine the Man (or was it “Person”? I forget) of the 20th Century.
Obviously many luminaries made the short list. Finally it came down to two towering figures: one in science, the other in statecraft. Ultimately Einstein was named and, much as I revere the memory of the great man, I strongly felt that WLS Churchill should have been named the Man of the 20th Century. I find it interesting that among their greatest contributions were those that led to the ending of WW II, each in his own way. It is altogether fitting that they should have shared their elevated distinction.
Proreason, DitchDigger, I couldn’t agree with you more.
The whole scenario is even more interesting when you consider both Churchill and Obama had American mothers. Churchill grasped the promise of America and the American dream in a way Obama clearly doesn’t comprehend. In short, the former British prime minister was more American in spirit than the current president of the United States.
Churchill, considered slow and unpromising as a child, saved the world. Obama, with all his superior intelligence, seems hell-bent on destroying the US and with it, much of the world as we know it today …
There’s another person that brought Britain out of overwhelming socialism, to economic power and global eminence; Margaret Thatcher.
Check out the book “There is no alternative”: why Margaret Thatcher matters, By Claire Berlinski.
Thatcher was in power during the Reagan years, and even took Britain to war.
Do you think Palin could take us to war?
ITS SIMPLE – No one wants a communist usurper bastard son of an athiest whore at their wedding.
Sweet!
Took the words right out of my mouth.
I wouldn’t have invited him or his family either.
It will drive Michelle crazy to see Carla Bruni there.
At least Carla Bruni-Sarkozy was not only a Model but also a great songwriter and singer! Ms. Obama is merely a first lady to the worst president in our history with horrid fashion sense and a rear end that needs its own zip code!
Carla Bruni-Sarkozy has class while Michelle Obama has absolutely none at all, but this is just my opinion and not necessarily fact but it ought to be!
PM Brown should have returned the DVDs a few weeks later, with a note: “Bloody things won’t play. Thanks anyway, old bean. Maybe you can get some use out of them. Not my cup of tea anyway.”
The British were snubbed when PM Breown, making an official visit, was given a gift that obviously had come from the local drugstore. Mrs. Brown had brought dresses for the Obama girls which showed some forethought. Michelle showed up to meet the queen wearing what looked like a skirt and sweater….and probably her wide belt. Both Obamas are lacking in manners and class and they haven’t even acknowledged this by employing an’Emily Post’ type person. I thought the card Michelle sent honoring the royal engagement was far too personal. She should have run that by the protocol office.
I wonder if the Bushes will be invited.
Really now……….if this was your wedding would you invite them…..I would not………nor do I believe you would either.
I think all elected officials should work 9 to 5 under fluorescent lighting in anonymous looking buildings. State dinners and such should be done on their own time and be paid out of their own pocket. All the pompous BS only serves to elevate their personal social status and distracts them from focusing on their real responsibilities.
I have been to many official meetings in old buildings that looks like museums and oozes with importance. It’s almost impossible to discuss every day matters like street cleaning and cutting budgets.
Have you ever wondered why elected officials looses touch with reality and don’t understand the every day lives of normal people?
Obama is the deadly enemy of freedom and Western Civilization. He would have been a collabarator in WW2 just as he is a traitor in thrall to islam today
while I appreciate the snub of the Obama’s, it gives me no real joy, because it is a signal of the gulf that has opened between 2 countries which fought side-by-side throughout the last century. Britain has been one of our staunchest allies in recent decades. We are that much weaker in the world without them close at our side.
Fortunately, I believe this will all be easily rectified by the next President, who will embrace once again the country whose heritage we share.
Re that iPod Obama gave to the Queen: I’d heard that it was full of Obama’s own speeches. (Does anyone know?) If true, I can just imagine what Elizabeth and Philip thought of that!
The non-invitation is a well deerved snub. What uber plebs the Obamas are.
They don’t like the idiots anymore than most of us.
“Britain has been one of our staunchest allies in recent decades.”
Nah, not really.
They’re staunch when they’re up to their armpits in Germans, the rest of the time…not so much.
They just look staunch because our other allies are guys like the French.
Horrah for the Brits!! Jolly good show, and all that. Turnabout is fairplay what ho, pip, pip!! How do you yanks say it? “PAYBACK IS A BITCH”.
It may take generations to repair the damage President Asshat Hussain Purplelips has done to Anglo-American relations.
I think relations between free peoples can remain strong even if we continue to elect idiotic governments. It is interesting to me how all the bile is focused on Obama rather than those who put him in power and support him. Whenever I spend time in the U.S. I see a growing gulf between the washington types and ordinary folk. The constitution is the envy of people all over the world but so few Americans seem to really value it.
Todd, don’t worry about us, our head of state can only be a christian whereas you already have an athiest/muslim/pretend christian heading your country. Also you have allowed a lot more of your citizens to be murdered by muslim terrorists than we have. It will take a while for the number of civilian victims of Islamists in Britain to match those murdered by U.S. backed Catholic marxists. Those same murderers who were treated like royalty by Clinton and his henchmen.
The Obamas and their henchmen are a reprehensible horde. What more can be said. Would you want them at your own daughter’s wedding? My sympathies and respect to Great Britain, as her soldiers fight and die next to ours. My apologies to HM the Queen for being treated so shabbily by a tasteless peasant, but God bless her for remaining, nonetheless, gracious–as one would expect. Among other things, Obama is the great divider–separating people and alienating nations. But that’s how it’s done, folks. You are first deprived of all your allies and friends and family. Left along, you begin to trust the enemy. Barry hoped to be the only one left standing at the top. Fortunately for us, Barry did not account for the indomitable American spirit and her true friends. It’s partial payback time the world over, and he is the one being left out in the cold.
I don’t know if it is pay back or not, but I’m glad of it. One or two or three fewer embarrassments by POTUS et al.
Like HUGGING HM????? Clueless or making a point for her peeps?
One thing is certain. The British are the masters of protocol and they wrote the book on how to snub. The lack of an invitation for the Obamas is intentional and, in light of both Obamas’ utterly boorish and inappropriate behavior, appropriate. I especially like that Sarkozy’s elegantly-groomed wife will be in attendance. I’ll be that the leaders of most of the NATO countries will be in attendance and the Obamas will be conspicuous in their absence. But there are likely to be American guests, such as Ambassador Farish of Lane’s End Farm who hosted the Queen on her visit to Kentucky.
This is a non issue here.(UK).
Even if people believe this is a snub then you are all giving the wrong reason’s to explain why he would be snubbed .
The tide turned against Obama because of his rhetoric about the B.P oil slick.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/politics/cameron-warns-obama-over-criticising-bp-1999191.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/11/business/11bp.html
The other reason was because of the events that happened when the Lockerbie bomber was released
.http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1211495/No-10-turns-Obama-Clinton-criticising-decision-release-Lockerbie-bomber.html
However it has to do with security.
U.S Presidents do not travel light and practicaly shut down the capital.
Our security forces and police should be concerntrating on, the couple and the British people.
Can you imagine the joy our enemies would be in if they managed a terrorist attack aimed at the wedding ?
The I.R.A would target events ,a plot was foiled to kill Charles and Diana.
There has been threats made from dissident Irish republican groups not on cease fire.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1169828/Real-IRA-threatens-new-attacks-mainland-Britain-Easter-message-hate.html
This is what our security services should be concentrating on.
Throw Obama into it,then i don’t think we have the resourses.
How many times have I seen voters vote someone OUT and not vote someone IN? The rallying call to vote out George Bush was more important than the scrutiny of the incoming candadite. Happens everywhere down to city government. How was a painter elected who held up in a trailer in a park with explosive devices to stop the Navy from building housing on their own property, and later arrested by the FBI, ever elected by the people? (Commissioner in my home town). Not much difference here. He does speak better than Bush, but I think he is even more clueless.
Uhm… this isn’t really a snub. I’m rather amused at the American reaction to this quite honestly. It has nothing to do with the Obamas…
This isn’t an official state ceremony. It’s a family affair of the Royal family. It’s actually British protocol to just invite friends, families and representatives of the members of the British Commonwealth whom William and Kate will rule over someday as our future King and Queen… someday.
There’s also the fact that the Royal Family is doing all they can to maintain their traditions within reasonable range of frugality. The UK is not out of their economic slump either. So like any other family, they’ll have to be picky on expense on who to invite or not…
A snub on the President of the U.S. is a snub on the U.S. Make it clear that they are not welcome to the U.S. in the future.
The Obamas are both crass, illiterate, and NOT sexy by any stretch, either of the spandex or the imagination. Our president gives further proof that there should be a law preventing all political aspirants from reading speeches written by anyone except themselves.