- Our White House sources report that the Queen's visit
to the White House yesterday was a protocol disaster. Not only had George
W. Bush commenced his drinking routine early in the morning, just in time
for the first mid-day visit by Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip, but
his drunkenness continued well into the evening during the lavish state
dinner.
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- Bush dreaded the Queen's visit and prepared for it by
getting drunk. The Queen has never hidden her dislike for Bush who she
considers ill-bred, impetuous, and a social boor. The Queen's dislike for
Bush goes back to 1991 when he insulted her during another state visit
by inquiring which of her children was the "black sheep" of her
family. The Queen told him to mind his own business. The Queen was also
unhappy that then-First Lady Barbara Bush failed to control her son during
that visit to the White House. In November 2003, the Queen was incensed
about Bush's Marine One helicopter tearing up her flower garden at Buckingham
Palace and traumatizing her flock of flamingoes. Bush's communications
staff also damaged expensive fabrics inside the royal residence. Bush never
compensated the Queen for the damage and she had to file an insurance claim.
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- With that background, Bush groused about having to wear
a white tie tuxedo for last night's state dinner. It took the direct intervention
of Laura Bush and Condoleezza Rice to convince Bush to wear the appropriate
attire. During yesterday's welcoming ceremony on the South Lawn of the
White House, Bush insinuated that the Queen was over 230 years old when
he stated she had helped celebrate America's Bicentennial in 1776. The
Queen was heard to have uttered the words, "Oh dear." Bush then
winked at the Queen who was not amused by the president's antics. Bush
also stated that the Queen gave him a look "that only a mother could
give a child." It was not the first time the Queen had looked at Bush
with an icy stare. Bush also nearly put his arm on the Queen's shoulder
as he escorted her down the stairs from the red carpeted dais.
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- White House protocol officials remained nervous about
Bush during the entire Royal visit. The Queen and Prince Phillip are sure
to have much to talk about on their trip back home this evening. While
the Queen was keen on visiting Virginia and the Kentucky Derby, her past
dealings with the Bush family had her fearing the White House visit. Bush's
boorish demeanor was in keeping with his past indiscretions around the
Queen.
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- http://www.waynemadsenreport.com/
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