UK friends, visit US now
Oct 31st, 2007, 04:14 PM
#61
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,458
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
No, you've got it. Collectively they are called "the Cabinet". Not elected, but subject to approval by the US Senate.
They're currently holding hearings on whether to approve the nominee for Attorney General, who is also a Cabinet member despite not having "Secretary" in his job title. This approval is being held up because the candidate thinks torture is a good idea unless the other guys are doing it, and the Senators, the Democrats at least, have yet to come down firmly either for or against torture. The Republicans are all in favor of it, of course.
AlanRow, the "no-fly" list actually has close to a million names on it, including more than one US Senator. Ted Kennedy WAS stopped from flying due to this idiotic, garbage-filled list, wherein half the names are wrong, spelled incorrectly, dead people, etc. etc. I'm afraid Keystone Kops is not a bad analogy for our terrorist fighters.
Tomfoolery at the immigration desk in the US is not exclusively a new phenomenon. I had a cow orker from Northern Ireland many years ago, who had, shockingly, a UK passport, seeing as how she was a UK citizen, but the immigration boob couldn't get his head around the word "Northern", and demanded an Irish passport instead. If this ever happens to you, here's a tip: shouting and swearing makes the process last longer, not shorter.
But yeah, please come visit. Assuming you get past the checkpoint, you'll have a great time, and you can stuff your luggage with incredibly cheap clothes and electronics, and your belly with practically free food.
They're currently holding hearings on whether to approve the nominee for Attorney General, who is also a Cabinet member despite not having "Secretary" in his job title. This approval is being held up because the candidate thinks torture is a good idea unless the other guys are doing it, and the Senators, the Democrats at least, have yet to come down firmly either for or against torture. The Republicans are all in favor of it, of course.
AlanRow, the "no-fly" list actually has close to a million names on it, including more than one US Senator. Ted Kennedy WAS stopped from flying due to this idiotic, garbage-filled list, wherein half the names are wrong, spelled incorrectly, dead people, etc. etc. I'm afraid Keystone Kops is not a bad analogy for our terrorist fighters.
Tomfoolery at the immigration desk in the US is not exclusively a new phenomenon. I had a cow orker from Northern Ireland many years ago, who had, shockingly, a UK passport, seeing as how she was a UK citizen, but the immigration boob couldn't get his head around the word "Northern", and demanded an Irish passport instead. If this ever happens to you, here's a tip: shouting and swearing makes the process last longer, not shorter.
But yeah, please come visit. Assuming you get past the checkpoint, you'll have a great time, and you can stuff your luggage with incredibly cheap clothes and electronics, and your belly with practically free food.
Nov 1st, 2007, 06:02 AM
#62
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 5,233
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
>>But maybe it is this "hooting loon" response. Somebody doesn't agree that every single thing about the USA is better than every single thing anywhere else, so there must be something wrong with them.<<
You lost me by speaking in absolutes. Who said that every single thing in the US was better? (Another poster?) The point is, again, someone makes an innocent OP about visiting the US, and the angry masses see that as an excuse to pull out the poison pens. As we say in the US: Gimme a break, willya.
And while I'm sure your researcher friends are wonderful people, please excuse me if I don't swallow the whole story without hearing both sides.
You lost me by speaking in absolutes. Who said that every single thing in the US was better? (Another poster?) The point is, again, someone makes an innocent OP about visiting the US, and the angry masses see that as an excuse to pull out the poison pens. As we say in the US: Gimme a break, willya.
And while I'm sure your researcher friends are wonderful people, please excuse me if I don't swallow the whole story without hearing both sides.
Nov 1st, 2007, 06:14 AM
#63
So if I post an internationally reported verifiable story I am indulging in Rush Limbaugh journalism, while If I post a personal anecdote,I am only giving one side of the story.
Difficult to please some people.
I am not sure how you get both sides of this arguement. The immigration officials of most countries don't take kindly to being asked "What possible motivation can you have had for treating me this way"
Maybe you should just come straight out and call me a liar.
Difficult to please some people.
I am not sure how you get both sides of this arguement. The immigration officials of most countries don't take kindly to being asked "What possible motivation can you have had for treating me this way"
Maybe you should just come straight out and call me a liar.
Nov 27th, 2007, 06:02 AM
#65
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 78,320
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Back to title of original post
this invitation even extends to well know foes and harsh critics of Americans, Americanism and the American way of life
namely poster formerly known as audere est farce and now as Chomondley Warner
come on over - you won't believe how far you pounds will go
could be cheaper than doing your usual holiday in Blackpool!
this invitation even extends to well know foes and harsh critics of Americans, Americanism and the American way of life
namely poster formerly known as audere est farce and now as Chomondley Warner
come on over - you won't believe how far you pounds will go
could be cheaper than doing your usual holiday in Blackpool!
Nov 27th, 2007, 07:30 AM
#72
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 8,351
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I am a British citizen. My passport is issued in Amsterdam. i drive a Dutch regisitered car. Every time I enter the UK through a sea port in my car I get stopped. My car gets emptied. It is thouroughly checked. I am interrogated. Why am I visiting the UK, where will I be going, who will I be staying with?
I have missed the Shuttle a couple of times because of this treatment. We even went through it on our way to a funeral. We explained we were going to a funeral - we were all wearing black, but still we went through the whole rigmarole.
I went to Boston last year. We waited in a queue. SOmeone checked we had filled in the landing cards correctly, and we then proceded to immigration. Our photos were taken with a webcam type device, our fingerprints were taken. We explained we were there on business ("What business?" "defence" "who's yours or ours?" duh!) and vacation, and went on our way. We were through faster than the people I'd been sat next to on the plane - US citizens.
I hope to go back next year. The courteous treatment we received and the knowledge that we will be fingerprinted does not put us off. It is indeed far better than the treatment we receive when returning to our own country.
I have missed the Shuttle a couple of times because of this treatment. We even went through it on our way to a funeral. We explained we were going to a funeral - we were all wearing black, but still we went through the whole rigmarole.
I went to Boston last year. We waited in a queue. SOmeone checked we had filled in the landing cards correctly, and we then proceded to immigration. Our photos were taken with a webcam type device, our fingerprints were taken. We explained we were there on business ("What business?" "defence" "who's yours or ours?" duh!) and vacation, and went on our way. We were through faster than the people I'd been sat next to on the plane - US citizens.
I hope to go back next year. The courteous treatment we received and the knowledge that we will be fingerprinted does not put us off. It is indeed far better than the treatment we receive when returning to our own country.
