Two Hopes...
...to save the planet. Bob Hope and no hope. All resting on the man on the left.
You've got to feel a little sorry for Prince Charles. Vilified in the media, stripped of all political power, stuck with the legacy of Princess Di and married to an absolute tugboat. But Charles does have an intelligent sensitivity about him, and the courage of his convictions. These, unfortunately, are not going to be enough.
Today the Prince, accompanied by Camilla on her first diplomatic level engagement, met with George and Laura at the White House for lunch and dinner too. The Guardian could do little more than send this up, while from BBC Online we learn the names of some of the other guests:
They were joined by the president's mother Barbara Bush, his brother Marvin P Bush and wife Margaret, the presidents' sister Doro Cock and her husband Robert P Cock.
I always did have the feeling there would be some Cocks among the Bushes.
Sorry, couldn't resist. But on the serious side, what chance does Charles really have of having his agenda on global warming taken into account? A snowball's chance in hell.
Let's face it, the British Royal Family make great cultural ambassadors but politically they are little more then pawns. Now that Tony Blair is backpedalling a bit on climate change, it's been left to Charles and frankly he isn't up to the job. It's like throwing him to the lions.
The American press and public are only interested in Charles as a soap opera figure, and will swiftly remind us that one reason America was formed was to get away from British dictums, most of all from unelected monarchs. Right now, Bush is embattled to say the least and is not going to be receptive to anything Charles has to say, especially since he doesn't really want to hear it anyway.
What with the Blunkett resignation and the terror bill wrangling, Blair has had a rough day too, and isn't going to be around to lend any moral support. There again, on environmental issues he is at least making a bit of effort but without Bush and Hu on the team it's meaningless.
Enjoy the grub, Charles, it's all you're going to get.
