He speaks a tiny bit more clearly, but he's just as big a clod on the international stage as George W. Bush:
The US presidential candidate Mitt Romney has questioned the readiness of London 2012, saying there have been "disconcerting signs" in the buildup to the Games – but said the focus would soon switch to celebrating the athletes.
Before meetings with David Cameron, Nick Clegg and Ed Miliband on Thursday, he told US television: "It is hard to know just how well it will turn out."
Romney told NBC News: "There are a few things that were disconcerting. The stories about the private security firm not having enough people, the supposed strike of the immigration and customs officials – that obviously is not something which is encouraging."
In the interview he also called into question whether the British people were behind the Games.
"Do they come together and celebrate the Olympic moment? And that's something which we only find out once the Games actually begin," he said.
What the hell is wrong with him? Does he have such a big ego that he has to put down other Olympic Games because they might interfere with his (largely phony) Olympics reputation? And does he have to do it on his way overseas to meet with foreign dignitaries?
Anyway, it didn't go unnoticed:
The prime minister has hit back at comments from the US presidential candidate Mitt Romney querying Britain's readiness for the Olympics, urging the country to "put its best foot forward" and ensure they are remembered as "the friendly Games".
On a visit to the Olympic Park with the London 2012 organising committee chairman, Lord Coe, before Friday's opening ceremony, Cameron said the Games were an opportunity to promote Britain despite the gloomy economic backdrop.
"This is a time of some economic difficulty for the nation, everyone knows that. But look at what we're capable of achieving even at a difficult economic time. Look at this extraordinary Olympic Park, built from nothing in seven years," he said.
[…]
But Cameron, who was due to meet Romney later on Thursday, said: "In terms of people coming together, the torch relay demonstrated that this is not a London Games, this is not an England Games but this is a United Kingdom Games. We'll show the world we've not only come together as a United Kingdom but are extremely good at welcoming people from across the world."
Cameron said he was going to make this point to Romney when he met him later on Thursday.
I won't go into the fact that much of Britain's current economic problems are the result of Cameron's policies because Romney is dying to replicate them here in the US. But the fact remains that despite his alleged worldliness as a Master of the Universe, he's often rude and somewhat ill-mannered. It's not an attractive quality.
Update:
Gotta Laff has compiled a full list of Romney gaffes (so far.) Impressive.
Update II:
