Posted on 05/05/2007 11:20:47 AM PDT by Red Steel
WASHINGTON, May 4 — How does George W. Bush, a towel-snapping Texan who puts his feet on the coffee table, drinks water straight from the bottle and was once caught on tape talking with food in his mouth prepare for a state dinner with the queen?
With tips from an etiquette guide, of course — and a little gentle prodding from his wife.
The White House is atwitter over the visit on Monday by Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh. This is the first visit by the queen since 1991, when Mr. Bush’s father was president. White House aides say the state dinner in her honor is not only the social event of the year, but also of the entire Bush presidency.
It will be closely watched by the social elite for its collision of cultures — Texas swagger meets British prim. Dinner attire is white tie and tails, the first and, perhaps, only white-tie affair of the Bush administration. The president was said to be none too keen on that, but bowed to a higher power, his wife.
“I think Mrs. Bush is thrilled to have a white-tie dinner, and we’ll leave it at that,” Amy Zantzinger, the new White House social secretary, said on Friday as she arranged seating for 134 on a computerized screen behind her desk in the East Wing.
Ms. Zantzinger was not swamped with requests. Anybody who had not already received one of the elegant gold-rimmed invitations (hand-penned by a calligrapher and then engraved) apparently knew that it would be gauche to ask. Still, the exclusivity has created some awkward moments, as when the social secretary bumped into former President Bush, who was not on her list, in the West Wing.
“He was making jokes, and then he said,
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
And Bush is actually faithful to his wife.
How bourgeois can you get?
Maybe it’s time for the queen to learn to drink from the bottle or talk with her mouth full.
Since when are you not supposed to drink water from the bottle anyways?
I’d cook her up a killer chicken fried steak with killer white gravy. Some fried okra and pecan pie to finish.
MMmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
Who needs a lesson in manners...?
Catty. President Bush is the President of the United States...who the hell are the authors? As IF they would be fit for this dinner and are accustomed to meeting with umpteen dignitaries.
Okay, does anybody seriously think any child of George and (particularly) Barbara Bush’s doesn’t have at least a passing familiarity with the fine points of best behavior?
Drinks water from a bottle!!?? Does this man’s perfidy know no bounds?!
Ok.... but I’m crashing the party! lol
It is the height of bad manners to call attention to the social faux paux of others. Guess the authors fail in the good manners dept.
Is the queen demanding the white tie? why is this only coming up now?
I thought Elton John visited the White House during the Clinton years. Shirley, that qualifies.
Can you imagine the reaction in the media if someone on the right displayed such an arrogant, elitist attitude towards a Democrat? It would be in the headlines for months, investigations, resignations and jail time would be demanded.
Exactly! President Bush has traveld to more nations and has met with more world leaders than any president in the history of the USA. The authors are idiots.
...or some catfish and slaw with corn on the cob on the side and peach cobbler for dessert. Good eatin’
The uncouth lout! The bounder! Most shocking behavior indeed, dontcha know.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.