Michelle and Barack Behaving Like Low Rent Tourists at London Summit

These two were supposed to improve our image around the world?

With all the faux pas coming from both Michelle and Barack Obama during the London summit one wonders whether it might be necessary to install a teleprompter in the room to give them instructions.

Curt has the photo of Obama bowing to the Saudi King in the presence of other world leaders. No previous American President has ever bowed to a foreign leader. Doing so here suggests submission to the ruler of the land of Islam's holiest sites. But of course we all know Obama is not a Muslim (he told us so didn't he?) so why bow?

Obama Gives The Queen An iPod with HIS Speeches

There was no bow to Queen Elizabeth II. Instead, she got a video iPod loaded with Obama's speeches among other things. Not surprisingly, most of the reporting on the iPod ignored Obama's speeches and the fact that the Queen's owned an iPod since 2005. Though that earlier model probably did not contain Obama's speeches.

The bestowing of the Royal iPod brought a cringe from one top etiquette expert, who said it confirmed that Obama hasn’t figured out presidential gift-giving. Or that they shouldn’t all come from Best Buy — Obama already took some grief for giving British Prime Minister Gordon Brown a boxed set of DVDs when he visited the White House.

“For me, the iPod only works if he has some catchy reason why he gave it as a gift,” said Anna Post of the Emily Post Institute. “Otherwise it feels like somebody at the White House pulled the lever and an iPod is what popped up. And if it was just pulled out of the blue, you run the risk of the ‘Oh, how nice,’ reaction from people which is the polite gloss of, ‘What on earth am I going to do with this?’ ”

In an effort to avoid embarrassing President Obama it's been suggested that the Queen requested the iPod. If true, one wonders if she also requested Obama's speeches?

Michelle Violates Royal Protocol By Embracing the Queen

Nearly everyone but a Chicago politician's wife knows you don't go up and touch the person of the British Monarch. It... is... just... not... done!

But Michelle Obama did it and the usual apologists are knocking each other over trying to make excuses.

It's said that the Queen didn't mind and certainly she's big enough to overlook such a thing but look closely at this video and watch as the Queen pulls away after first putting an arm around First Embarrassment Michelle.

Whatever you want to say about former President and Mrs. Bush they knew how to behave. They were well schooled in the do's and don't of protocol and formal events. Barack and Michelle are proving to be embarrassing bumblers who are making the U.S. a laughingstock overseas.