I have to say i am so embaressed by this! What lack of thought, what low class could his choice in gifts could be to the First dignitary meeting with him at the white house! Gordon Brown put some real thought into those gifts he gave. Sigh
Wow the thought that went into Browns gifts. The pen holder from the timber of the anti slave ship Gannet, then the commisssion paper from the resolute in which the US rescued that ship and the partnership between the two nations. An last the biographys of Churchill. Those gifts showed that he took a lot of time to think about what to give!
QuoteObama's Blockbuster Gift for Brown: 25 DVDs
While the British prime minister presented Obama with uniquely historic gifts symbolizing America's relationship with England, the president gave Brown a set of movies.
FOXNews.com
Obama and Brown at White House
Mar. 3: President Obama is seen alongside British Prime Minister Gordon Brown in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington. (Reuters)
President Obama on Thursday gave British Prime Minister Gordon Brown a set of 25 classic American movies to mark his historic visit to the White House.
Brown, the first European leader to visit Obama since his Jan. 20 inauguration, was presented with a "special collector's box" of DVDs during his two-day visit to Washington.
Downing Street, which reportedly tried to keep the present a secret, declined to say what movies were included in the set.
"One reason for the secrecy might be that the gift seems markedly less generous and thoughtful than the presents taken to Washington by the Prime Minister," London's Evening Standard newspaper reported.
The Daily Mail, however, reported the movie set included ET, Star Wars and The Wizard of Oz and was produced by the American Film Institute on "special request" from the White House.
Brown, who is not known to be a movie buff, gave the president and his children several uniquely historical gifts.
The first of which is a pen holder fashioned from the oak timber of HMS Gannet, a Navy vessel that served on anti-slavery missions off Africa.
Another treasure given to Obama is a framed commissioning paper for the HMS Resolute, a Royal Navy ship that came to symbolize British-American goodwill when it was rescued by the U.S. from icebergs and given to Queen Victoria. It is the sister ship of the HMS Gannet.
Finally, Brown gave Obama a first edition of Martin Gilbert's seven-volume biography of Winston Churchill, whose World War II partnership with President Franklin Roosevelt symbolized the U.S.-Anglo alliance.
I have to agree, Steve...This shows a true lack of sophistication on O's part. Say what you like about Bushy...At least he would have known what to do in this instance.
Quote from: Catwoman on March 06, 2009, 07:20:19 PM
I have to agree, Steve...This shows a true lack of sophistication on O's part. Say what you like about Bushy...At least he would have known what to do in this instance.
President Bush Gave the prime minister his leather flight jacket from his service. It was personal, had meaning to president bush.
Steve.... I think you probably meant to title this thread, "Obama shows his ass!"
I must say, my sincerest apologies to our British friends! I was stationed in England and made many friends. I know the Brits will take this as a slap in the face. It's still beyond me why the world clamors for this man. His facade is beginning to crack and it will be interesteing to see how long it takes for his enamored followers to see his true character (or lack thereof).
We in the United States who take elections seriously and research the background, experience and philosophy of the candidates, are not surprised by Obama's disrespect of our principle ally and, perhaps more importantly, the nation from which a lot of Americans draw our ancestry and heritage. Frankly, I don't understand why we did not also anticipate it. I suspect that the media in Great Britain is to blame but I will leave that judgment to you. There are those who will make light of this clear signal of disrespect, suggesting that it was a mere error. Make no such mistake, however. Obama does nothing that is not completely preplanned. If it looks like an insult, it is. This slight is a message that Obama does not need Great Britain. He is turning the United States' foreign policy at right angles to decades of carefully nurtured relationships. In less than two months he has shown support for Hamas by sending financial support to them that he knows will be subverted to military use, (no matter what Hillary has to say about how the $900 will be spent), disrespected Israel, opened his arms to Syria, embraced Iran, prepared to abandon Iraq, and now has shown complete disdain for Great Britain. Does anyone else see a philosophy emerging?
You should take comfort, however, knowing that his foreign policy is a rousing success (for terrorist abroad) compared to his domestic policy. His "War on Capitalism" is causing the largest economic downturn in the US since the 1930's, and I promise you, it will get worse.
Also, I should add that my golfing buddy, Slappy, had this to say at the 19th Hole. It went something like this..... "Hey, what would you expect, this guy is a Socialist, he doesn't normally give anything to the wealthy or influential, he takes from them. Besides, whoever said he has any class?! When you elect a community activist, you should expect no more. This guy couldn't even pass the Secret Service background check to be his own bodyguard, with his checkard past. I'm just happy not to hear that he gave him a collection of RAP CD's!!!"
It would be funny if the DVDs Mr Obama gave Mr Brown were Region 1 NTSC and therefore not compatible with the UK where DVDs are region 2 and video format is PAL.
I can see it now..... I have a vision of the Browns, Gordon and Sarah, settling down at the PM's country retreat (Chequers) this weekend. The children have been put to bed and Mr Brown heads in the direction of the DVD player:
GB: "The Obamas bought us some films on DVD. That was very thoughtful."
SB: "Not that thoughtful..."
GB: "What shall we watch? ET? Star Wars? Psycho, Casablanca, Lawrence of Arabia?
SB: sighs... "Seen them all."
GB: "I'll try The Wizard of Oz, it's the version in which all the colours have been restored to the original quality. We can stop and try something else if you don't like it. Where's the remote control?" (GB fiddles with the DVD player for several minutes) "Right, I think it's going to start." (Nothing happens, machine displays a notice saying 'disc loading error').
SB: (examining DVD cover) "They're Region 1, they won't play in the UK."
The Browns sit in complete silence for several more minutes reflecting on what this means.
Also.... good thing that Gordon didn't stop by the White House Gift Shop.... the two Marine One choppers that Obama gave to Gordon's sons cost $15 bucks a piece.
The sad part of all of this is... Obama is too classless and stupid to even be embarrassed. ::)
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.php?pageId=91545
My eyebrows went up considerably when I heard about this new endeavor on O's part. I could see a need for that in Iran or Iraq but not here in the US. Besides that, if our prez thinks that this will remove the glass ceiling that hangs over most workplaces, he's woefully mistaken. What on earth is the man thinking...
It is no bad the people that voted for "O" did not feel like we do, because things might be different now?
Maude and Maxine 8)
It is a hard pill to swallow, I'm sure...It is no easy thing to do, having to take a second look at what had held so much (and many, many) promise(s). But, we've all been there...Whether it was a President, a friend, or a spouse...That second look (that so often comes as a rude shock) always comes. The trick is to find something there that makes you glad you took the second look. I just am waiting to be glad, I guess.
Quote from: Warph on March 07, 2009, 03:12:45 AM
It would be funny if the DVDs Mr Obama gave Mr Brown were Region 1 NTSC and therefore not compatible with the UK where DVDs are region 2 and video format is PAL.
I can see it now..... I have a vision of the Browns, Gordon and Sarah, settling down at the PM's country retreat (Chequers) this weekend. The children have been put to bed and Mr Brown heads in the direction of the DVD player:
GB: "The Obamas bought us some films on DVD. That was very thoughtful."
SB: "Not that thoughtful..."
GB: "What shall we watch? ET? Star Wars? Psycho, Casablanca, Lawrence of Arabia?
SB: sighs... "Seen them all."
GB: "I'll try The Wizard of Oz, it's the version in which all the colours have been restored to the original quality. We can stop and try something else if you don't like it. Where's the remote control?" (GB fiddles with the DVD player for several minutes) "Right, I think it's going to start." (Nothing happens, machine displays a notice saying 'disc loading error').
SB: (examining DVD cover) "They're Region 1, they won't play in the UK."
The Browns sit in complete silence for several more minutes reflecting on what this means.
Also.... good thing that Gordon didn't stop by the White House Gift Shop.... the two Marine One choppers that Obama gave to Gordon's sons cost $15 bucks a piece.
Looks like I nailed this! Check this out:
"While not exactly a film buff, Gordon Brown was touched when Barack Obama gave him a set of 25 classic American movies – including Psycho, starring Anthony Perkins on his recent visit to Washington.
Alas, when the PM settled down to begin watching them the other night, he found there was a problem.
The films only worked in DVD players made in North America and the words 'wrong region' came up on his screen."
Rest of Story:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/mandrake/5011941/Gordon-Brown-is-frustrated-by-Psycho-in-No-10.html
The Movies:Gone With The Wind, City Lights, Sunset Boulevard, Casablanca, The General, The Grapes of Wrath, Citizen Kane, Raging Bull, Singin' in the Rain, Lawrence of Arabia, Vertigo, The Wizard of Oz, The Searchers, Psycho, 2001: A Space Odyssey, The Graduate, On the Waterfront, Chinatown, Some Like it Hot, The Godfather, Star Wars: Episode IV, It's a Wonderful Life, To Kill a Mockingbird, Schindler's List, ET
Sigh what a embaressment. Not a ounce of thought went into this. He just told a aide to get a gift.
Just shows you that you shouldn' have to gifts to begin with.
I never imagined I'd say it, but I'm beginning to identify with Barack Obama. I'm certainly not referring to his politics or his narcissism, but it seems that both of us really suck when it comes to gift giving.
First, he gave Prime Minister Gordon Brown some DVDs that were incompatible with English electronics, and then he gave Queen Elizabeth an iPod that contained his speeches. Well, I hate to admit it, but I can empathize. Shopping for a prime minister has got to be hard enough, but trying to shop for a woman who has her own country would give me the mother of all migraines. Frankly I'm surprised he didn't just fall back on that old reliable. When in doubt, I say, you can't go wrong giving cash. Which, by the way, seems to be one of the things, as opposed to bowling and speaking without a TelePrompter, at which the president seems to be quite adept. And, best of all, the cash, unlike the iPod, would be a personal gift because the Queen's picture would be on it.
But I have to admit I'm beginning to really worry about the Community Organizer in Chief. I mean, he ran for president as the man who was going to make the world love us like nobody's loved us, come rain or come shine. Instead, he's turned into the master of the gag gift. I can't help wondering what this practical joker is going to do next. Send Prime Minister Netanyahu a honey-baked ham? Send Mahmud Ahmadinejad a pair of elevator shoes? Send Pope Benedict XVI a whoopee cushion?
The moment I heard him state that we weren't a Christian nation, I quit listening. The end of his four year term can't come too soon.
Maybe we shouldn't even have Christmas either! There has been gift giving going on for YEARS between dignitaries when they meet!! Some people will just come up with any excuse to NOT do something when the Community Organizer in Chief really screws up and shows his lack of class...he makes me sick and so do the people covering for him!
It's not just the total ignorance on the gift giving... it is so many things that just scream out the incompetence of this man.
Alan Keyes has a fascinating topic on his blog today.
((Loved the comments made from the readers at the end of his article.))
I have to say that it makes me think we've been hoodwinked or a genuine idiot occupies the White House. I also can't forget at his inauguration parade a General standing at side had to quietly instruct him when to salute the troops passing by... ::)
http://loyaltoliberty.blogspot.com/2009/04/obamas-bow-protocol-nod-or-wink-of.html
...when Barack Obama met with the King of Saudi Arabi recently he proffered what might be interpreted as a deep and unmistakable bow. Whatever the eventual excuse given for this apparent obeisance, I doubt it will accompany the photo as it is reproduced in publications throughout the Islamic world.
They can make all the excuses they want to... Obama BOWED! NO "ifs", no "ands", no "buts". TOTALLY subservient!
Just goes to show, just because you make good in Chicago does not mean you are ready for the REAL world.