Real Queen Meets Phony King

It was a regal gathering at the White House. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II of England was received by His Majesty King George II of the United States.

As seen on national television, it was all glorious pomp and circumstance, except for one untidy fact: She’s a real queen, while he’s just a wannabe king.

Yet he acts like he really is a king. He disdains the common people. He ignores the will of members of Parliament, or Congress. He decides which laws he will obey and which ones he will not. In fact, ever since Sept. 11, 2001, he acts as if he is above the law.

George Bush has, indeed, introduced the Imperial Presidency to America. Where the president has unlimited powers, where the president’s men can refuse to testify before Congress, and where the president — alone! — can decide when and where to go to war, and how long to stay.

The only problem with that is: We tried monarchy once. And we didn’t like it. In fact, we fought a noble war, over 200 years ago, to get rid of our king. We don’t need, or want, another one.

So now the real queen goes back to England. If only she would take our phony king back home with her.