Weather Conditions Quotes
Slightly adapted, this passage became the slogan of the U. S. Postal Service:
This English headline about a seemingly temporary weather condition in the English Channel has become an iconic quotation by all who are discussing a united Europe and English attitudes towards Europe and the European continent. Before there was a tunnel between England and the continent a heavy fog interrupted all traffic—sea and air. However the British, who represent a small part of the total population in Europe and the European continent, viewed the temporary problem as unfortunate, not for England, but for the Continent. The implication was that Britain would get along fine without the continent and the rest of Europe, but the continent was in a state of stress if they could not communicate with and travel to England. It is an imperious attitude which aggravates the remainder of the European community, is not supported by Economic reality but is nonetheless perceived and felt by British of all classes.
The Prime Minister of Turkey was visiting the White House and the two leaders were giving an outdoor press conference when a hard rain began. The Turkish Prime Minister had other meetings at the White House but had only one suit with him. The President noted that and asked the Marine Guard to provide an umbrella which they did and also brought one for the President. The Marines held the umbrellas while the press conference continued. Ms. Palin in one of her many attacks on the President in this quote chastised him for not holding his own umbrella—in her view the American way. Palin, known for her poor memory and disregard for facts, apparently forgotten that when she was a vice presidential candidate, she was photographed emerging from a plane in the rain while an assistant held the umbrella over her head.
