Bush's Farewell Tour

[Sleuth]

Any Americans on here willing to admit they voted for him?

Yes, twice. And you would have a hard time convincing me that Algore or Kerry would have been any better. They simply would have been differently bad.

[MovingIn07]

Goodbye and good riddance. I just hope the next one is no worse!

[gilleshk]

President George W. Bush is making his final rounds of the world at American taxpayer expense. He is currently in England.

The Queen has more class in her little finger than Bush could ever have in his entire life. The farewell tour is paid for with the deep pockets of American taxes, and the lives of its young men an women in Iraq. Too bad the Queen does not have the opportunity to refuse to meet Bush and thus show the world the true face of the worst president America has ever had.

Farewell Bush, and good bye!

Well good riddance to Bush for sure but I wouldn't put the queen up there as a great example. The royal family isn't exactly cheap and cost millions to UK taxpayers and for what? Providing fodder for the tabloids? The French had it right with the guillotine!

[leghk]

Well good riddance to Bush for sure but I wouldn't put the queen up there as a great example. The royal family isn't exactly cheap and cost millions to UK taxpayers and for what? Providing fodder for the tabloids? The French had it right with the guillotine!

Also, Prince Philip is far better at putting his "foot in it" than Bush.

Top 15 Quotes of Prince Philip - The List Universe

[climber07]

....Bush....the worst president America has ever had.

Wow, really? What did William Henry Harrison ever do for you? How about James Buchanan?? ...there was a real winner. How about "His Accidency" John Tyler? Nixon.....etc.....

Before you start ranking people in order of the "all time worst", you probably need to give it a little time to put a frame of reference on the subject.

It also helps to know your history.


Don't get me wrong, I don't exactly head up the Bush fan club of Hong Kong, but many people like to run their mouths without knowledge of history or policies. And yes, he was "elected" TWICE! Which means that the democrats couldn't defeat someone who is clearly "mentally challenged" for 8 years! What does that say about opposition or the state of the country and her people?

[Lammarite]

.....The royal family isn't exactly cheap and cost millions to UK taxpayers......

The royals cost less than a retired ex-president of the US and give more back. How much do you reckon Dubya has made for the family business?

The Queen technically owns the Crown Estate with holdings of £6 billion; however, the income of this is transferred to the Treasury in return for the civil list payments. In addition, the Queen is paid with an annual salary of £12 million, this of course comes from government funds, which comes from taxes and other financial resources.

Buckingham Palace accounts reveal that the Queen and the Royal Family cost each British taxpayer 60p per year (£35m a year, which, split between every British man, woman and child). What does 60p cover? Well 0.6p goes directly to Prince Philip, about £ 0.3million. It also upholsters Buckingham Palace, heats Windsor Castle, buys stationery - though the Queen is on email - pays staff salaries, entertains dignitaries and fuels the royal trains, planes and automobiles.

The Queen's personal fortune has been estimated at around US$500 million (£280 million). Her personal art collection is worth at least £10 billion, but is held in trust for her successors and the nation. The Queen also privately owns large amounts of property that have never been valued, including Sandringham House and Balmoral Castle. Press reports, upon the death of the Queen Mother, speculated that the Queen inherited estate worth around £70 million. Furthermore there is control and ownership of the Duchy of Lancaster, which is valued at £310 million and transferred a private income to the monarch of £9.811 million in 2006.

Note: The British royal family are on salaries as well by performing royal duties and representing the Queen at different social events and royal engagements throughout the year.

[gilleshk]

ohhh well we certainly couldn't do without royal duties couldn't we? The country would go into chaos and never recover.

By the way the cost of maintaining former presidents is less than the 40 million pounds you quoted and if you care to do the division using US taxpayers it would be even lower.

[Sleuth]

The royals cost less than a retired ex-president of the US and give more back. How much do you reckon Dubya has made for the family business?

The Queen technically owns the Crown Estate with holdings of £6 billion; however, the income of this is transferred to the Treasury in return for the civil list payments. In addition, the Queen is paid with an annual salary of £12 million, this of course comes from government funds, which comes from taxes and other financial resources.

Buckingham Palace accounts reveal that the Queen and the Royal Family cost each British taxpayer 60p per year (£35m a year, which, split between every British man, woman and child). What does 60p cover? Well 0.6p goes directly to Prince Philip, about £ 0.3million. It also upholsters Buckingham Palace, heats Windsor Castle, buys stationery - though the Queen is on email - pays staff salaries, entertains dignitaries and fuels the royal trains, planes and automobiles.

The Queen's personal fortune has been estimated at around US$500 million (£280 million). Her personal art collection is worth at least £10 billion, but is held in trust for her successors and the nation. The Queen also privately owns large amounts of property that have never been valued, including Sandringham House and Balmoral Castle. Press reports, upon the death of the Queen Mother, speculated that the Queen inherited estate worth around £70 million. Furthermore there is control and ownership of the Duchy of Lancaster, which is valued at £310 million and transferred a private income to the monarch of £9.811 million in 2006.

Note: The British royal family are on salaries as well by performing royal duties and representing the Queen at different social events and royal engagements throughout the year.

Not to mention all the tourist dollars coming in to witness the pomp and circumstance.
The British royal family is a good thing for Britain and if it only costs 60p per person then also a good investment.
Unlike ex-US Presidents which are more of a nuisance regardless of their cost.

[gilleshk]

Let's see:
France 75 million visitors... no royal family
Britain 25 million visitors
Is it the food?

Some of the former presidents are quite useless, Jimmy Carter seems to have tried to make an impact...

The royal's impact besides being tourists attractions and tabloid fodder?

Come on...let's hear it for the good deeds besides being rich and infamous!

At least Bush is trying to make a difference, a horrible one but he's had an impact.

[mrs. honu]

I'm proud to say that I have NEVER voted for him (and I did vote). Count me in the group who prefers "differently bad."