Apparently Baroness Thatcher, one of America’s staunchest Cold War allies rates a great deal lower on President Obama's priorities than a fascist thug like Hugo Chavez, who received an official U.S. envoy.
The White House informed the British government that it would not be sending an envoy to here funeral, citing 'a busy week'. That decision was made before the Boston Bombing, by the way:
Friends and allies of Baroness Thatcher expressed ‘surprise and disappointment’ last night as it emerged President Obama is not planning to send any serving member of his administration to her funeral.
Whitehall sources have revealed that the US delegation at tomorrow’s service in St Paul’s Cathedral will be led by two Reagan era secretaries of state: James Baker and George Shultz.
Though President Obama himself had not been expected to attend, there had been speculation that he would be represented either by Vice President Joe Biden or wife Michelle. However, the Obama administration had said it would not be attending Thatcher’s funeral before the Boston bombings.
The Queen’s decision to attend Lady Thatcher’s funeral has effectively elevated it to a state occasion unprecedented for a political figure in Britain since the death of Sir Winston Churchill in 1965.
Other world leaders, including Canada’s Stephen Harper, Mario Monti of Italy and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, are attending the service in person.
What is the White House so busy with? A spokesman from our UK embassy clarified the matter, saying that both the First Lady and the Vice President were 'the President's point people on gun control', adding: 'This is a week when there is a lot of movement on Capitol Hill on gun control issues.'
Joe Biden is riding shotgun? Heaven help us.
One correction. The phrase 'U.S. delegation ' implies some kind of official status. Baker and Shultz were going to attend as private citizens. So are former Vice President Dick Cheney and former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger. And House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) announced that the House will send a delegation to London this week to represent the U.S. House of Representatives at the funeral, led by Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN).
We all know by now that out president is not exactly a class act,and that this is a calculated and deliberate insult, and while the Brits are phrasing their 'disappointment' in diplomatic language, they understand.
After all, President Barack Obama has already let it be known on a number of occasions that he has little regard for any special relationship between America and Britain.
But that brings something to mind.
When Mitt Romney traveled to the UK as a presidential candidate, he received a rude, foul and totally unjustified reception from the British,being criticized and insulted for things he never even said.The Obama media here made a huge deal out of it, and I recall the Obama worship in the British press.
But had Romney gotten elected, I guarantee you he would have come to Britain to pay his respects to America's great ally in spite of that.
That might just be something for our cousins across the Pond to consider.
On the contrary, Obama is very smart to not to send an envoy.
ReplyDeleteCurrent plans are to moon her procession and pelt the hearse with eggs and coal. As she's laid to rest, Britons across the country are coordinating a sing-along of 'Ding Dong the Witch is Dead.' And if you ask me, she's getting off easy for the what she did to my country. The news that she died in her sleep has angered a number of my friends.
Why would ANY president want to associate himself with that? She is one of the most divisive and hated figures in England, and your comment at the end about how our cousins across the pond should consider Obama's not attending is absolutely correct, but not in the way you think.
I get that you guys tie her in with Reagan in your mind. It's a very American-centric way of looking at things. But if you really believe that Thatcher was loved in England, then you seriously know nothing about the British people.
PS If Romney goes, he'll just end up insulting them again. Were there only enough coal and eggs left over...
Thanks Paul, for providing my readers here in America an excellent example of why Britain has declined so precipitously.
ReplyDeleteI'm certainly under no illusions that Margaret Thatcher was loved by a certain segment of the British public, whom now seem to be in the ascendency.She was, after all, stabbed in the back by her own party.
People with viewpoints like yours are proof that Britain no longer knows how to appreciate or value greatness, even to the point where someone like Obama insults them openly and they merely bend over and whine about it.
They're unworthy of both a leader like Baroness Thatcher and their ancestors.
All you need to do is look around you, cousin and remember the words of John Lydon in 'The Great Rock And Roll Swindle' "Did you ever get the feeling you've been cheated?"
Trust me, you have, and it wasn't by Maggie Thatcher.
If Baroness Thatcher, her family in mourning and the Queen are insulted as you suggest it will simply underline that.
As for Romney 'insulting' you...I suggest you click on the appropriate link in this article and at least make the attempt at some objectivity.He was the recipient, not the one dealing it out.
-Rob-
paul summarizes my opinion of the brits better than i ever could.
ReplyDeleteWhat Britain's yobs, chavs, union parasites and welfare parasites really need is another William of Normandy to conquer and brutally beat some sense back into them...
ReplyDeleteObama is refusing to play a bit part in Thatcher's "beatification" by the Tory establishment and Monarchy in the UK. He is right to do so. Two crusty old GOP Secretaries of State is just about right in this case.
ReplyDeleteThis blog is bunk. The moron is clueless. Iron Lady, rust in peace.
ReplyDeleteI must apologise for some of my countrymen, if they can possibly be called that.
ReplyDeleteRest assured we're not all like that.
Perhaps UCS Panther has the right of it, but I doubt that a modern William The Conqueror would find it worth the bother.
Honestly, the level of unprofessionalism and outright childishness from the anti-Thatcher comments is amazing.
ReplyDeleteIt shouldn't MATTER whether Obama agreed with Thatcher's politics or not. He's the President of the US, and Margaret Thatcher, like her or not, was a major player on the global stage in the 80's.
Were Obama in any way professional (he's not, and this continues to underscore how petty, thin-skinned, and overall unqualified he is) he would send SOMEONE to officially represent him, because it's THE RIGHT THING TO DO. But as we see, Obama plays smallball. It's probably the only thing he does well.
And while so many classless people plan to disrupt the proceedings, and while Leftists support Obama's snub -- I wonder how load they would squeal were the shoe on the other foot. When Bill Clinton or Barack Obama shuffle off thier mortal coil, how loud will the cry from the classless Left be to show respect? You know, the same people who reveled in Brietbart's death and were anything but classy about it?