British Queen sends message of sympathy about NO etc to President Bush

[Benbow]

Can't find a web site report of this yet but it has just been announced on BBC Radio 4 (domestic speech channel) 6.00pm news bulletin.

Perhaps now he'll take it seriously.

[dejaboutique]

1. she needs to send some money n/t

[Benbow]

3. Why? The US has not asked for it, and anyway the US is the richest

country in the world.

[TorchTheWitch]

18. I hope that was sarcasm

Because I'd like to know how the US can be the richest country in the world and be several hundred billion dollars IN DEBT.

[Benbow]

22. Not sarcasm - the answer lies in your defence spending n/t

[TorchTheWitch]

34. And?

In other words, we're in debt... like I said. What difference does it make WHY we're in debt? Debt is debt... If I charge $5000 worth of jewelry and my friend charges $5000 worth of clothes, we're both in debt by $5000 plus interest. Which makes neither of us rich, it makes us IN DEBT. We may APPEAR rich sporting our cool jewelry and cool clothes, but we're IN DEBT.

[Benbow]

35. America has military bases all over the world. Try closing some.

Sorry, but you did ask.

[TorchTheWitch]

40. What is it that you don't understand about

BEING IN DEBT MEANS YOU ARE NOT RICH????

Jesus, it's so fucking simple! You said the US was rich, and I said that it is not rich because it's billions of dollars in debt. What the fuck is so hard to understand about that??? WHY we're in debt is totally irrelevant to the point.

WE'RE IN DEBT - THEREFORE, WE ARE NOT RICH.

THE END.

[donheld]

33. Isn't it amazing?

We have bragged about being the richest country. Now many of it's people whine because other nations aren't flocking to give us cash.

[Spazito]

5. Money??? Why only think money?

I have no doubt aid has been offered with regard to supplies, medical teams, etc, which is what should be offered. bush should take back his tax break for the rich if he needs money.

[dejaboutique]

8. ask the victims about money n/t

[Spazito]

12. Shouldn't your government be asking that?

Why does it seem 'some' are very quick to take foreign governments to task without knowing the facts yet don't seem to see their president at fault in any way? Is that Faux talking, one has to wonder.

[SammyWinstonJack]

30. bush should give his tax cut back as well as the rest of his obscenely

wealthy cabinet. And he should rescind the tax cuts for the GREEDY 1%, NOW!

[back2basics909]

31. ..

She’s only a tourist attraction now, she doesn’t have any real powers to send money. That’s what the government is for. England isn’t a real monarchy, hasn’t been for hundreds of years.

[Kenroy]

2. I propose

we dump the Prez and go back to England. Even that crazy old inbred bitch is better than what we have now.

[Benbow]

7. She is incredibly dutiful (and much respected for it) n/t

[Kenroy]

32. exactly...

that alone makes her better than the current schmuck-in-chief.

If a major storm hit Dover, she'd be there the next day.

Her mother was famous for her constancy during WWII. No matter what happened, the royal family was THERE.

We could use some of that attitude now.

[Benbow]

36. If this had happened in the UK, by now the refugees would have been

visited by the Prince of Wales; the Duke of York would be piloting a helicopter rescuing people from roof-tops; people taken to hospital would have been visited by the Countess of Wessex; the heroic emergency workers would be on their way to receiving MBEs at the next New Year or Queen's Birthday Honours.

I know that DUers care but it is very shocking how little your journalists seem to care, never mind your national administration.

Edited for accuracy: Countess, not Duchess, of Wessex.

[Kenroy]

37. I agree with you Benbow...

As much as I resent the notion of royalty, your "leaders" would do their goddamn job in a situation like this. They're exceptionally good at fulfilling their obligations.

We don't have such a leader. Part of it is a function of the difference between monarchy and the Presidency, and the fact that we don't separate a Head of State from a Head of Goverment.

But you are entirely right - the Queen herself would be down there TODAY.

[doublethink]

4. Why did she send it to him? He don't care. .....

:shrug:

[Benbow]

11. Head of State to Head of State - that's the protocol

I imagine that she is as upset as any of us by the pictures and reports of the suffering in New Orleans, Mobile, Bilozi (?spelling). No one could call Queen Elizabeth II racist.

[tnlefty]

23. Yes, the protocol is understood and I appreciate her efforts.

I think that the point being made is simply that Dimson** doesn't really give a flying fiddler's damn about the human toll, misery, etc., so couldn't someone else have accepted it for the US.

[Benbow]

24. Unfortunately, the idiot's son IS your President n/t

[terrya]

6. That's nice of her.

There's nothing she can do. But that was gracious of her.

[Benbow]

26. It is a "heads up" - by someone who is respected around the world n/t

[Cleita]

9. Too bad she didn't send it to someone who cares. n/t

[saracat]

10. She should have sent it to the Governors of the states and the mayor of

New Orleans. Bush contributed to this mess by cutting Disaster Mitigation funding! He pulled the Engineers off the levees for gods sake! He doesn't give a shit. He is a negligent bastard.

[Benbow]

15. She can't - in the only way open to her she is sending hugs to the people

of America. As Head of State, she HAS to do this by way of a message to another head of state. Apart from Chavez (Venezuela), has any other head of state sent messages of sympathy?

[Spazito]

25. Canada has, here is the statement from Aug.30th

Statement by the Government of Canada in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina

August 30, 2005 -- The Government of Canada today issued the following statement in support of those who have endured the devastation wrought by Hurricane Katrina in the United States:

“On behalf of all Canadians, I wish to extend our heartfelt condolences to those who have lost loved ones as a result of Hurricane Katrina, as well as our sympathies to those who have suffered great losses and personal hardship,” said Deputy Prime Minister Anne McLellan. “During this difficult time, we are offering our support to our friends and neighbours.”

The Deputy Prime Minister added that she has contacted U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff and advised him that Canada stands ready to provide assistance if needed. In addition, the Minister of Health, Ujjal Dosanjh, has directed the Public Health Agency of Canada to contact the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and offer any assistance that may be helpful, such as emergency medical supplies contained in the National Emergency Stockpile System.

[Benbow]

28. Excellent n/t

[saracat]

27. I understand that but in this case he doesn't deserve any respect.

He contributed to this problem. My beef isn't with the Queen.

[Benbow]

29. There isn't any respect for * in the Queen's message - it is all about

the people.

[Ediacara]

13. That's nice

But she should be sending these notes directly to Governor's Blanco and Barbour, as well as Mayor Nagin and the other mayors affected. Bush will likely look at her message, smirk, and trash it.

[acmavm]

14. Why to him? He doesn't give a damn. Send it to the Governor of LA.

George will think that the sympathy is because of all the hard work he'll have to do making excuses as to why there's no National Guard to help, no money to help with putting the city back together.

New Orleans isn't the only place that got hit. This is bigger than NO. It's just getting the most attention because it got hit so badly. The scope of this disaster is so far beyond just New Orleans. We haven't heard the half of it yet.

[Benbow]

20. Bush will not be able to ignore/trash it because the whole world

will have heard it and be watching his reaction.

I am afraid that protocol prevents her sending messages "under" another Head of State.

[Ivan Sputnik]

16. Queen's message

Text of The Queen's message to President Bush of the United States following the devastation to the south-east coast of America caused by Hurricane Katrina, 31 August 2005:

"I was deeply shocked and saddened to learn of the deaths and injuries caused by hurricane Katrina, and the scale of the damage and destruction now becoming apparent across the southern states.

My sympathy goes to you and the people of the United States, especially to the families of those who have lost their lives, to the injured and to all who have been affected by this terrible disaster."

http://www.royal.gov.uk/output/Page4420.asp

[Benbow]

19. Well done - I looked there but could not find it n/t

[supernova]

21. Thank you, Ma'am

[seemslikeadream]

17. Send CAKE!

http://www.rockcitynews.com.nyud.net:8090/photos3d/antibushwar2/images/BushNero.sm.gif

[ohio_liberal]

38. I'll ask, if my government won't

We desperately need HELP!

[steve2470]

39. I'm very glad she expressed her feelings. Thank you UK ! nt