Brand New Royal Baby

[JerryNumbers]

As everyone must know there's a brand new royal baby & many of the peasants reporters in America are really talking & writing about this brand new royal baby as if its the best & most important baby that ever been born.

[OLD fashioned preacher]

Just heard today and didn't make anymore difference to me today than it did 2 years ago.

[Salyan]

Well, he is the future king of our country, so that is kinda cool. I'd also rather like to know his name. Past that... eh...

[OLD fashioned preacher]

Well, he is the future king of our country, so that is kinda cool. I'd also rather like to know his name. Past that... eh...

Okay, you just taught me something. I thought that Canada had completely separated from the Commonwealth and was governed by their Parliament without a royal throne or with their own (though I guess the question would be -- where would they have obtained their royal line).

 

I'm not generally as ignorant about our northern neighbor as most in the states (especially in the Southeast U.S.), for example: I know the first Canadian PM was George McDonald (go ahead and correct me with SIR George McDonald  ).  

[John81]

I'm "excited" about the birth of the baby as I am about the birth of all babies. Other than wondering why, after all these months to prepare, they have not already selected a name so their baby is spending his first days nameless, and wondering what name they will choose, I'm not interested in reading about it all or watching the continual TV coverage.

 

This isn't just a British thing, imagine the wall-to-wall coverage if Michelle Obama became pregnant and gave birth while her husband was still president.

 

Most of the West is celebrity driven. This royal couple is consider by many to be a beautiful couple worthy of looking up to. In this country there are many still enthralled with Obama.

 

We live in a culture where a woman can become famous because of leaked sex tapes and parlay that into celebrity status, with a huge following and multiple million dollar contracts.

 

I would much rather rejoice over the birth the royal baby "whoever".

[Alimantado]

Yesterday morning we'd merely learned that a baby boy had been born, weighing about 8 lbs. Yet somehow the paper I buy had managed to fill its first 15 pages with copy exclusively about the Royal birth, and that's on top of a supplement that came with it!
 

Anyway, what will the name be? Perhaps John...

[Salyan]

Okay, you just taught me something. I thought that Canada had completely separated from the Commonwealth and was governed by their Parliament without a royal throne or with their own (though I guess the question would be -- where would they have obtained their royal line).

 

I'm not generally as ignorant about our northern neighbor as most in the states (especially in the Southeast U.S.), for example: I know the first Canadian PM was George McDonald (go ahead and correct me with SIR George McDonald  ).  

 

Hehe... close. Make that Sir John A. McDonald.

 

We are governed by our own Parliament, but the Queen is still our head of state. Our personal head of state, completely separate from her duties of Head of State of Great Britain. She appoints a Governor General that must act on behalf of the monarch in all constitutional and ceremonial duties, like summoning Parliament and granting Royal Assent to a bill. It's really just a formality, as she has never denied Royal Assent to anything ratified by Parliament.  She is our Head of State, and the Commander of our Armed Forces, although most practical power and responsibility has been handed off to the Canadian government. Oh, and we have Lieutenant Governors, who act on behalf of the Monarch at the Provincial level.

 

So the Queen is our Head of State, but is never here. The Governor General, whom no one ever hears about, does her job, but has no practical power of government. The Head of Government, who wields practical authority in the country, is our Prime Minister.  Who is not elected to that position, but gets there by lieu of being head of the largest political party in Parliament. Wow, we're confusing.

[HappyChristian]

Maybe they haven't chosen a name yet because they want to live with the baby a bit and figure out what they should name him. Just a thought.

 

I voted no because I'm not reading or watching everything about it. I'm happy for them (but I wouldnt' go so far as to say I'm excited), just as I am for any first time parents.  I did happen to see the short clip of them presenting the baby outside.  I was struck with their obvious happiness with the baby and with each other.  I think these two are truly in love with each other, unlike his parents...

 

I think it's kinda neat, though, because that little baby is third in line to the throne.  

[Alimantado]

I voted no because I'm not reading or watching everything about it.

 

I'll take that as a diplomatic snub. ;-)

[Alimantado]

...our Prime Minister.  Who is not elected to that position, but gets there by lieu of being head of the largest political party in Parliament.

 

But he's still an elected MP, right? Elected by his constituency.

[OLD fashioned preacher]

Hehe... close. Make that Sir John A. McDonald.

 

We are governed by our own Parliament, but the Queen is still our head of state. Our personal head of state, completely separate from her duties of Head of State of Great Britain. She appoints a Governor General that must act on behalf of the monarch in all constitutional and ceremonial duties, like summoning Parliament and granting Royal Assent to a bill. It's really just a formality, as she has never denied Royal Assent to anything ratified by Parliament.  She is our Head of State, and the Commander of our Armed Forces, although most practical power and responsibility has been handed off to the Canadian government. Oh, and we have Lieutenant Governors, who act on behalf of the Monarch at the Provincial level.

 

So the Queen is our Head of State, but is never here. The Governor General, whom no one ever hears about, does her job, but has no practical power of government. The Head of Government, who wields practical authority in the country, is our Prime Minister.  Who is not elected to that position, but gets there by lieu of being head of the largest political party in Parliament. Wow, we're confusing.

Whoops, you're right (well duh). I really did know it was John not George --- I probably shouldn't try making an intelligent post at 11pm after driving 600 miles.

[Salyan]

But he's still an elected MP, right? Elected by his constituency.

 

Right... I meant he's not directly elected to PM like the US president is.

[Miss Daisy]

I can't find the link at the moment but in an email I think, they were talking about that as soon as Kate was pregnant they started talking about the royal BABY she was carrying not the royal FETUS or royal glob of tissues.

 

Depending on whether the mother wants the BABY it's a baby. If mother doesn't want the baby it's a FETUS.

[HappyChristian]

I'll take that as a diplomatic snub. ;-)

 Not at all...notice I said I wasn't watching and reading everything.  Just enough to stay informed, because I am happy for them. 

[HappyChristian]

And.....drum roll, please....the baby has a name.  George. (see, Carl, I told you I wasn't snubbing...even diplomatically. hehe)

 

One thing I didn't mention was that my hubby and I talked about it for about 5 minutes last night.  We agreed that whatever name they chose would be something that has been in the family. It wouldn't be something like Apple, Moon, or some other stupid name American celebrities use...(like the rock star who named her baby "god")