[mr dragon]

I saw this today and it made me chuckle.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/w ... 790980.ece

She's not happy about being asked that....

[tonyrockyhorror]

Really got her all twisted up

She looks like she's been chowing down a lot lately

[SilverMiniCooperS]

The first time I saw that clip (it's been repeated ad nauseum since) I was quite shocked! I do think she could have been a tad more gracious. Not something one would expect of a diplomat.

[mr dragon]

I was chuckling when I saw it this morning. To be honest, if you take the question literally and merely on surface base value- it is very insulting if you're a woman. I'd be pretty miffed, if I were a woman, being asked a question like that. The problem is English is not this guy's first language- he's an African. So you have to be careful when interpreting a question like that in English- as a native English speaker, from someone who isn't a native English speaker and may not have a full grasp of the language. Basically because what he might actually mean, that he perhaps can't maybe articulate very well in English, might not have come across very well. Though I do have to say, although this guy isn't a Nigerian, out of all the Nigerians I have met here in the UK- most of the men are pretty sexist. Not sure how that goes for the rest of Africa- but it also wouldn't surprise me if it was rooted in that either. However, particularly in her position as the US Secretary of State- ie in a professional capacity- it was very bad diplomacy on her part to get riled about it and not be careful about her response without fully attempting to understand what he might be trying to ask. And it was also, perhaps, just maybe, slightly 'revealing' on a personal level...possibly ...but I'll say na' more......

[JuanaLaLoca]

I don't know; I don't think that even the worst translator would translate "Barack Obama" into "Bill Clinton"! Supposedly the question was really about what Obama thought, and somehow it got changed to Clinton in the translation. Kind of strange!

I think she's still cranky from her elbow surgery.

[ukus]

Whatever was said, I think she came off looking haughty and rude. She needs to chill out.

[SilverMiniCooperS]

Whatever was said, I think she came off looking haughty and rude. She needs to chill out.

Exactly!

And it was also, perhaps, just maybe, slightly 'revealing' on a personal level...possibly ...but I'll say na' more......

That's what I thought - and apparently many others!

She is attempting to shore up diplomatic relations with other countries - this is NOT the way to do it.

[mr dragon]

Hillary gave a speech to the European Parliament earlier this year, where she said something along the lines that she 'understands' it's tough trying to make a democracy work- because America's had to struggle with democracy longer than Europe in history, so she's empathetic...

When she said that it had quite a few European politicians looking slightly bemused.

[SilverMiniCooperS]

I'll have to find it online, but she really went into doo-doo today - I just heard on CNN. Her speech about how America also has problems with democracy and then went on to say how the 2000 candidate won only because his brother happened to be the Governor of Florida where there were problems with counting of votes...or words to that effect.

How the hell can she run around the world telling other countries that democracy is the only way to go and then turn around and tell them it doesn't work here because we are just as corrupt??

[mr dragon]

The funny thing about what she said to the European Parliament is that the actual creation of democracy (and including the 'struggle' for) in some European countries, Britain included, is older historically than the existence of the USA. Though, because I'm open minded, I'll assume she may have misspoke and actually just meant the European Parliament by itself- which isn't that old. People get their words wrong sometimes- even when they're speaking their own language...

[JuanaLaLoca]

I'm a little confused. I thought that Britain was still a monarchy when the U.S. gained its independence as a democracy.

[wakeyboy]

I'm a little confused. I thought that Britain was still a monarchy when the U.S. gained its independence as a democracy.

Its still a monarchy now Juana


The UK was then and is still a constitutional monarchy. That means that our head of state is a hereditary sovereign who fills a ceremonial role but that the laws of the land are made by, and the real power is held by, the elected members of Parliament.

[mr dragon]

Wot Wakey said.

The British Parliament was formed in 1707 Juana. Though it's historical roots actually go way back much further than that- though you would probably not recognise that time as any arguable form of 'democracy' probably prior to about 1707. The fight for, and the actual process of forming democracy in the UK goes some time back historically before 1776 or 1783, or 1788- I'm not sure which of those dates is the right one to technically and correctly use for the birth of the USA as a nation. For argument's sake, my guess is- I think a lot of Americans probably like the 1776 date