Thursday, May 26, 2011

A Better Use Of One Hundred Thousand Tax Paying Dollars...

Instead of paying for a "Teleprompter Coach" for the White House might be an actual, honest-to-goodness protocol officer. Someone who knows protocol or can at least familiarize themselves, and thus the president, before a State function in another country.

Seriously. What is wrong with Obama? You may have seen his faux pas at the State Dinner with the Queen the other night when he continued blathering on after asking everyone to rise - once the Queen is standing, the anthem is played. But watch closely at the 3:36 mark (or so). She has to tell Obama to put down his damn glass (H/t to Creeper00):



Sigh.

And notecards? Really, Obama? If you are SO damn smart, like your minions keep telling us you are, you cannot remember 3 1/2 minutes of a TOAST? Hell, Bill Clinton recited his entire State of the Union address when his teleprompter went out early on, and you can't remember a little quote from Churchill? Good grief.

If only this was the FIRST breach of protocol and decorum, but it is not. It is a continuing series of breaches by this Administration (remember the box of dvds for Prime Minister Gordon Brown as an Official State Gift? The iPod loaded with Obama's speeches for the Queen?). But hey, that's what happens when you surround yourself with people like this:

(Photo credit to FamousDC.com)

Yep, those are a bunch of White House Staffers at a Georgetown bar winding down. Just to give you some context, this was taken at the height of the BP oil spill.

And in case you forgot, one of the guys above, is Jon Favreau, the Chief White House Speechwriter. You know, the guy on the left:



Yeah. That's the kind of people we have in the White House.

You know, we have a saying down South - when you lie down with dogs, you get up with fleas. It's one thing when you do that in your personal life, but quite another when you are representing the United States of America. To be so completely clueless when dealing with foreign heads of states is inexcusable. But that's what happens when you are clueless, and then surround yourself with a bunch of know-nothings who are just too cool to bother with manners or decorum.

Not for nothing, but royalty have been around for quite some time - centuries, in fact - and there are set rules for how one conducts oneself while in their company. It is incumbent upon the president, and his Administration, to know these rules. Maybe instead of playing a little ping pong himself while hanging out in the UK, Obama could have familiarized himself with the basic rules of a State Dinner in the UK. Just a thought.

And hey, that suggestion was free of charge, Obama.

8 comments:

Mary Ellen said...

This is the first time I saw the long version of this and there were so many "unspoken" words going on in that room. I could see Queen Elizabeth's Elizabeth's shoulder go up and down as if giving an audible sigh as Obama blathered on and on.

There was also Prince Phillip loosening the shirt around his neck, looking very uncomfortable.

Look at Prince Charles...I can imagine what he's thinking, looking as if he's sitting at the table with an unruly and loud child.

The people sitting so stiffly, looking as if they are witnessing a vicar with his zipper down--not wanting to call attention to it, but yet hoping someone else will.

And then there is Michelle...looking confused, as if she can't understand why no one is smiling and all dewy eyed because they are in the presence of "The One".

Obama probably thought that the band was playing "My Country 'Tis of Thee" in his honor..just a little background music to add to his (what he thought) amazing speech. Just like in the movies! He probably doesn't realize they are playing their national anthem. Of course, it's not like he has any respect for our national anthem.

Anonymous said...

Here's my thing: If Obama was sooo aware of protocol, and it was indeed the fault of those who played the anthem too early (as touted by the MSM), then why on earth would tell people to raise your glass to toast, if you aren't finished with the gd toast? Who does that? We don't even do this in this country where we go on endlessly speaking while people are standing. Unless you are the drunk bestman in his 20's who is giving a toast for the first time for his buddy's wedding.

BTW, is Obama's ancestry from Northern Ireland?

FembotsForObama

Rabble Rouser Reverend Amy said...

Hey, ME -

Yes, there were SO many unspoken signals to Obama, none of which he got. Studies have shown that 93% of human communication is nonverbal. Of course, for someone who loves to blather on like Obama, I guess I shouldn't be surprised he doesn't get it when people are trying to tell him to zip it.

I noticed Prince Phillip trying to loosen his collar, too, and the others all looked at the least unimpressed, and at worse, annoyed.

But wait, I thought Michelle only thought Obama would be "useful" - what kind of lesson is THAT to teach young girls?? But yeah, now she buys the hype, so she expects everyone to bow down to him the way he does to the Saudi prince.

I LOVE the imagery of the vicar and the zipper - PERFECT!!!

I still cannot get over that, not only did he not realize he was talking on and on during the playing of their national anthem, after asking everyone to rise (I think that was another no-no), but that she had to instruct him to put down his glass was so telling.

What a buffoon. Tell me again where people got the idea he was all that, 'cause I ain't seeing it...

Rabble Rouser Reverend Amy said...

Oh, and H/T to Creeper for the longer video which shows the queen schooling him...

Mary Ellen said...

Rev. Amy- I never saw it with Obama...he's always been a big liar. The day he sat in front of the camera's in Chicago and said that he would not run for President, the first thing I said allowed.."Bullshit, you're running and you know it." I've been on to this guy from day one.

Mary Ellen said...

yikes..not "allowed", I meant "aloud". Sheesh..that's what a Chicago education will get ya!

Anonymous said...

I just came across this post which I must share. Apparently, Obama botched it up worse than we thought. The context of the speech from Richard II is actually an INSULT to England:
"The whole point of the speech is that England’s glory days (as of the 14th century, when the play is set!) are long past and what’s left is a wasteland."

from KyleSmithOnline -- here's the site
http://kylesmithonline.com/?p=8088

Rabble Rouser Reverend Amy said...

Fembots, that is crap the MSM is trying to peddle (I know, I know, big surprise, right?). As I understand it, when the Queen stands for something like that, they ALWAYS play "God Save The Queen" first. Again, something a halfway decent Protocol Officer should know.

ROTFL abt only the drunk guy doing that at a wedding. No kidding! That's exactly what it was like. He didn't get that the music wasn't for HIM, but in SPITE of him...