Obama miscues on toast

Politico44 ^ | 05/24/11 | CARRIE BUDOFF BROWN

[ColdOne]

LONDON – It was all going so well.

But when the time came for President Obama to deliver his toast to Queen Elizabeth Tuesday night, the meticulously planned state dinner at Buckingham Palace turned, well, awkward.

As Obama began wrapping up his remarks, he put down his notecards and picked up his glass.

“Ladies and gentlemen, please stand with me and raise your glasses as I propose a toast,” the president said, as the guests stood up. “To her majesty the Queen.”

At this point, the band queued up “God Save the Queen.” But Obama wasn’t quite finished yet.

So he kept talking – over the British national anthem – and the president competed with orchestra for a few more seconds.

“For the vitality,“ Obama said just before the music started, “of the special relationship between our peoples, and in the words of Shakespeare, ‘To this blessed plot, this Earth, this realm, this England.’”

Obama raised his glass, but nobody else in view of the camera followed. And the queen, who had been looking straight ahead, glanced over to offer a pained smile.

[Pollster1]

I have been present for quite a few toasts to "The Queen" and every one of them that I remember ended within two words of the phrase "The Queen". The only time they extended beyond her title was something like, "to Queen and country". Toasts to the Queen are brief, simple, and about her if there are any preliminaries. I'm amazed that Obama didn't know better and thought a toast to his hostess was a fine time to chat. Even with my phenomenally low opinion of this inept anti-American drug-addled usurper, he still regularly reminds me that I have overestimated him.

January 20, 2013 will be a beautiful day for America when Sarah takes the Oath - and I'll bet she nails it on her first try.

[dforest]

Good, they were nicer than I would have been to the slug narcissist Obama.

The problem is always that the man rambles on and never shuts up. Time moves on and Obama can’t quit talking about Obama.

[ColdOne]

Did you see this one from Drudge: Obama signs Westminster Abbey guestbook, dates it May 24, 2008? Yes I did. It was on Politico44 too.

[nanika]

yesterday @ Westminster Abbey he signed in the guestbook that the year current to his visit is 2008.

Sort like there are 57 states in the USA.

This guy is soooo weird....

This visit is so cursed:

1. Limo stuck like a turtle
2. Wrong year in guestbook
3. Toast miscues

etc, etc, etc...

[HEM]

That was embarrassing.
It almost seemed like he thought they were playing background music for his toast.

What a lightweight.

[ColdOne]

Off topic...noticed your tag...((((hugs)))) Thank You! *hugs*

[don-o]

Let's be clear. I hold no brief for that disaster Obama. But, I will not stand for being lectured to by some noobie Brit.

[TBall]

I did not think the toast was all that awkward, but the faces were stern. Obviously, Obama was not among friends.

[kalee]

The speech, if any, comes before the toast. “To the Queen” is the toast and is the conclusion of the speech not the introduction.

[badgerlandjim]

You can take the hood out of the South Side but you can’t take the South Side out of the hood.

[linn37]

dork

[Grams A]

It’s called manners, tradition, protocol and consideration - none of which BO possesses IMO.

[Krankor]

I can't tell if Michelle is pissed because Prince Phillip and Prince Charles both fell asleep during the President's speech or because Barack wouldn't Shut the F Up

[ladyvet]

I saw it and thought why didn’t he just shut up when the music started? Nooooo....he had to keep flapping those blue lips of his. Meanwhile we’re STILL seeing Bush trying to open a locked door with the Chinese.

[MaxMax]

Someone needs to photoshop a prompter inside a spoon.
Zero is an egotistical BAFFOON!

[Kenny Bunk]

But, I will not stand for being lectured to by some noobie Brit.

Good God! Will I never live down those Tory ancestors?

[ColdOne]

I can't tell if Michelle is pissed because Prince Phillip and Prince Charles both fell asleep during the President's speech or because Barack wouldn't Shut the F Up No they just hate the Brits.

[badgerlandjim]

[WestwardHo]

“Prince Phillip and Prince Charles both fell asleep during the President’s speech or because Barack wouldn’t Shut the F Up”

That photo reminds me of the Farside cartoon: “The ‘Smiths’ feign death hoping the guests will (take the hint)leave.”

[Pollster1]

I would have thought that the State Department would be responsible for making sure that the puppet could handle his lines. If our Secretary of State wants the druggie to stay as POTUS and not be replaced by the next Dem in line, you’d think that she would make his image a priority.