A wrap on Queen Elizabeth II, King Charles III, and dollar-store British democracy

Last week, I posted what was not so much, or even close to being, a takedown obit on Elizabeth (though it kind of was on the House of Windsor) as it was a takedown of Americans' weird "royals envy," which I called a class-based, or class connected, version of penis envy. 

Well, beyond that, I had plenty of HIGH grade snark on Twitter. Here's a roundup, starting with snark, then the camel's hump of seriousness and serious takedowns, then back to snark.

Pictures Charles slipping into visit mother Elizabeth II with something like the docs did for his great-grandfather George V:
"Here, Mumsy, it's just a small shot of morphine to make you feel better and give you a nice, looong sleep."

— TheRealSocraticGadfly (@real_gadfly) September 8, 2022

And

Queen Elizabeth II getting some high-grade BBC at the end of her life? Prince Philip is turning over in his grave!

— TheRealSocraticGadfly (@real_gadfly) September 8, 2022

And

Queen Elizabeth dead? Long live Queen Steve Bannon! C'mon, now, put a tiara on him and run a razor across that face and he could pass ...

— TheRealSocraticGadfly (@real_gadfly) September 8, 2022

And

"Isabel" trending with "Queen Elizabeth II"? What, did the Spanish Armada, followed by the Spanish Inquisition, make a landing in London?
Because NOBODY expects the Spanish Inquisition. #MontyPython https://t.co/SgTdtodhcY

— TheRealSocraticGadfly (@real_gadfly) September 8, 2022

And, in response to a clear Twitter troll, and possibly a second account he runs as well responding to him, claiming that Americans are "geographist" (my words) and hate strong British women because they cried over Betty White's death but not the queen's?

Bollocks! If you're talking "British," especially, and not "English," PLENTY of people in a pub in Belfast or Edinburgh are lifting a BIG pint to Elizabeth II's passing. So, take your fauxtrage over strong British women and do something with it while Nicola Sturgeon laughs at you https://t.co/tIY1fGTdib

— TheRealSocraticGadfly (@real_gadfly) September 8, 2022

(Dood's own Twitter bio shows him from Chicago, anyway, and besides, my original blog post was all about Americans and royals envy, not royals hating.)

Speaking of, South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa faced far more colonizing than did Ireland, or the Northern rump. Elizabeth didn't start any of this, and she reigned not ruled, but, given the source of the jewels in her crown and other things, it's fair to say that she stood on the backs, not of giants, but of colonial plunder.

And

Monty Python terms: If the death of some watery tart with a sword makes you fear the future of your democracy, then per Samwise Gamgee, you never had much democracy in the first place, did you? #MontyPython #LordOfTheRings #QueenElizabeth #QueenElizabethII https://t.co/brMET5Az3l

— TheRealSocraticGadfly (@real_gadfly) September 9, 2022

See above about the British Empire, too. Also note this weird tradition with royal beekeepers. Again, if your democracy depends on a royal family, even if it reigns not rules, with such backgrounds, to uphold it? It's not much democracy. And, weirdly, the allegedly outside-the-box Unherd spent both Friday and Saturday email blasts last week with warnings, woe and boo-hooing about the future of British democracy.

And

You know, Synchronicity II could be halfway about the House of Windsor! #Sting #ThePolice https://t.co/Lff4tyOWCf

— TheRealSocraticGadfly (@real_gadfly) September 10, 2022

And

You know what is going to be fun in weeks and months ahead? Seeing King Charles III dealing with that twat of a new Tory PM, Liv Truss.

— TheRealSocraticGadfly (@real_gadfly) September 8, 2022

That one was a mix of serious and snark, as is the next:

Sorry, folks, but there's no truth to the rumor that a small pellet of Polonium-210 was found at Balmoral.

— TheRealSocraticGadfly (@real_gadfly) September 8, 2022

And, with that, it's back to pure snark.

In tribute to and solidarity with the new reign of King Charles III, I am buying a King Charles spaniel. In a sideways salute to Richard Nixon, but still, honoring Charles III, "the kids will name the dog Knickers."

— TheRealSocraticGadfly (@real_gadfly) September 8, 2022

And

I am glad the British people didn't turn off the mourning for Queen Elizabeth II after 24 hours.
Thanks for letting us know, Twitter Trends folks. #TrendingNow pic.twitter.com/Csrg82drNv

— TheRealSocraticGadfly (@real_gadfly) September 9, 2022

And

One side note on the death of Elizabeth II, and that is that Louis Quatorze is not only not turning over in his grave, but continues to sleep the deep sleep of the dead knowing that he's still in the record book.

— TheRealSocraticGadfly (@real_gadfly) September 9, 2022

And

King Charles III addressing the United Kingdom:

"Dear deeply beloved royal subjects: I would like to collectively be in all your knickers at this moment of challenge and change for our beloved realm."

— TheRealSocraticGadfly (@real_gadfly) September 9, 2022

There you go!