"Anti-Bushism" hits U.S. expats in London

[dArKeR]

LONDON (Reuters) - The British abandoned their stiff upper lips and hugged Americans after 9/11. Now much of that goodwill has evaporated and the blame is being laid firmly at the door of George W. Bush.

After the twin tower attacks, a military band broke with tradition and played the American national anthem at the Changing of the Guard ceremony at Buckingham Palace.

Less than 18 months later, one million people took to London's streets to protest against the forthcoming war in Iraq.

Now with President Bush heading to these shores next week to see Tony Blair for what should have been a triumphal reunion with his closest ally, the 200,000 Americans living in London are reflecting on how times have changed.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/24by7panews/page.cfm?objectid=13619710&method=full&siteid=50143

[mhr]

1. Good Will, What Does It Matter To A Silver Spooned Elitist?

eom

[young_at_heart]

2. Bush has only one reason for being there

He wants a photo-op with the Queen to show he's an international (and upper class) statesman!

[snippy]

15. Send him this one.

[Demonaut]

3. I wonder if the Queen will Knight him?

Jesus, this might really happen.

[neuvocat]

4. That would be something else.

That would really turn a lot of people against them both.

[BloodyWilliam]

6. That would sicken me to no end.

[Arugula Latte]

7. I don't think so

I'm pretty sure they announce knighthoods far in advance of the ceremony. Plus, can you imagine a bigger joke than Sir George the Lesser (even Lesser than his father)?

[Lisa]

9. Bush would run away first!

Word is that when the Queen holds that sword -- it's a real weapon, and she looks as if she knows how to use it (fencing lessons in her youth maybe?). And we know Bush's record when he thinks he might be in danger.

[jbutsz]

11. accepting Knighthood

Isn't it forbidden (Constitution?) for a U.S. President or Representative to accept Knighthood or other title of nobility from foreign governments/etc.?

I remember Bush Sr. accepting Knighthood from the Queen during his Presidency.

[tlb]

18. These I believe are " honorary " knighthoods.

This gets them around the constitutional ban.

[Arugula Latte]

5. 200,000 Yanks in London Town?

Wow. Does that strike anyone else as a surprisingly enormous number?

Question for Londoners: What's your take on the Americans living amongst you? Generally liberal or conservative or a mixed bag?

[Lydia Leftcoast]

16. No, back in 1977 there were

25,000 Americans in Tokyo, which would be harder for an American to adjust to than London. In those days, seeing other foreigners was so rare that if I saw one, we'd stop and talk. That's no longer true, because there are Caucasians all over the place in Tokyo.

On the other hand, maybe the reporter is bad at geography and has confused London with the entire U.K.

[dbt]

8. Contrast this with the "Pro-Clintonism" of a few years ago

Whenever I told someone in England that I was from Little Rock, the response was invariably, "Oh! Do you know Bill Clinton?"

And in Ireland, it was about ten times better! How far we have fallen...

:freak:
dbt

[Lisa]

10. A British friend of mine was in Oxford during one of Clinton's visits

He reported that people were flocking out of their houses in the hopes of seeing the former prez. Clinton is very popular there!

After all, he did live there as a student once.

[tamdon]

12. Isn't the music thesame?

The instrumental version of 'Star Spangled-Banner" and 'God Save the Queen' are the same, aren't they? It's just the lyrics that are different. Wow, 'God Save the Queen'. Can't imagine Americans saying something like that for an American President.

[Jacobin]

13. No. Its different

[Lydia Leftcoast]

14. No, you're thinking of

"My Country 'Tis of Thee."

:-)

[eissa]

17. From The Guardian

"The centrepiece of the protest will be a huge march on 20 November arranged by the Stop the War Coalition which will go through the capital and end at Trafalgar Square, where a giant statue of George Bush will be pulled down in a parody of the toppling of Saddam Hussein's statue in Baghdad. It will be led by American nationals living in the UK who have gathered under the title Expats Against Bush. They will carry banners reading 'Proud of my nation. Shamed by my President'."