Posted on 05/08/2007 6:19:37 PM PDT by Cornpone
London - British newspapers were scathing on Tuesday about US President George W Bush's blundering welcome for Queen Elizabeth II, labelling him "Dumb Dubya" and saying he has the "gift for the gaffe".
Bush messed up at a ceremonial welcome for the queen at the White House Monday when he spoke of a visit paid by Elizabeth to mark the 200th anniversary of the US Declaration of Independence from Britain "in 17 - in 1976".
After the queen looked up at him from beneath her wide-brimmed black hat, he winked at her, before turning to the laughing audience and telling them: "She gave me a look that only a mother could give a child."
Britain's media, which has revelled in reporting previous Bush bloopers, claimed that this was among his worst.
The nation's biggest-selling paper, the right-wing tabloid Sun, accused Bush of making "one of his great verbal blunders" while the centre-right broadsheet The Times headlined its piece: "Oops, he did it again."
"On a morning that should by rights have been frozen in time as a moment of pure pageantry, with military marching bands, pipers trucked out in tricorn hats and powdered wigs, and visiting royalty, one can count on George Bush," the centre-left broadsheet The Guardian said.
"The president yesterday once again demonstrated his gift for the gaffe, injecting an unintended sense of levity into the White House welcome for the queen."
'Her majesty's withering look spoke volumes'
This was not Bush's first slip in front of the monarch, the Guardian added.
"When she visited the White House in 1991 during his father's presidency, he said he was the black sheep of the Bush family.
"He then asked: 'Who's yours?' The queen did not reply," it said.
The right-wing tabloid The Daily Mail asked: "Is he winking at One?" and said that Bush could have tried to recover from his initial blunder in several ways.
"But turning to her and giving her a sly wink is probably not included in any book of royal etiquette," it added.
In an editorial, centre-left tabloid The Daily Mirror dubbed Bush "Dumb Dubya," adding: "Her majesty's withering look spoke volumes, giving the watching public and the president a very clear message.
"Which is more than he ever manages."
What do you expect from Fleet Street???
lol ..i thought it was funny...shes in his house not hers...she should lighten up and follow the protocol of the place she is visiting ...not the other way around...
i love Brits...my Brit friends think it was a hoot.
Bush’s only blunder was in saying 1776, when in fact the Queen wasn’t even born until almost 50 years later.
And why exactly should Americans kowtow to people who believe, by an accident of birth, that they are “royalty”? Didn’t our forefathers fight and die to cut our ties to such inbred vermin?
Nice one!
Considering her eldest, she should lighten up, or at least apologize... profusely.
One more thing: we resent their continuing deprecation of our president.
ohfercryinoutloud...he just can’t win.
If he’s not being criticized for making too much a fuss over royalty, he’s beeing criticized for not making a fuss over royalty...
That’s it? That’s the “gaffe”?
Looks like the lefties in the British press are really reaching this time.
We fought a war a long time ago so that we wouldn’t have to kowtow to the English monarch. If the British press doesn’t like George Dubya, tough!!!!!!!!
Based on his expression, I believe that he said it on purpose!
The British press picking on Bush but cowering to the Muslims in their own back yards.
Screw ‘em!
Yah know, if I were a Colonial wanting to gently tweak the nose of George III one more time, doing it through a successor to his throne, I couldn’t have said it better than did GWB.
This is awesome. What gets into him sometimes? I wish he’d be like this EVERY DAY.
I suppose if he had come out in Drag, like Benny Hill, they would have found it hilarious.
There is nothing he can do that is right in their eyes. Talking about making a mountain out of a mole hile.
I thought it was kind of funny.
Honestly, shes lucky that we even let her in the country.
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