Funny comment on the Obama Brown gift exchange

[Flybrick]

None of us (to the best of my knowledge) are either the President or on his staff, particularly in the protocol office of the White House.

That'd be my first stop.

[ulysses5019]

There sure are a lot of people in this thread who are eager to look a gift horse in the mouth, but not so eager to suggest an appropriate alternative. Y'all must be hard to buy for if anyone draws your name in a Christmas gift exchange.

I did not expect this.

I suppose there are other alternative answers. Maybe they knew that Brown wanted this gift. Or perhaps the PM is tired of baskets of Wisconsin dairy products, California produce, pieces of the Petrified Forest or Prada handbags sold on NYC street corners.

[Appa23]

Y'all must be hard to buy for if anyone draws your name in a Christmas gift exchange.

As long as Michelle Obama doesn't draw my name, I'll be happy.

Next to her, Barack's gifts look awesome.

Sarah Brown brings designer dresses and matching necklaces from London's "Top Shop" for Malia and Sasha, plus signed copies of books by British authors.

Michelle gives plastic models of Marine One (reminiscent of those found in the White House gift shop) to the Brown boys.


Just for comparison, apparently President Bush gave Brown a fur-collared brown bomber jacket on the first visit. I get the feeling that there was a dinner and joint press conference for Brown's first visit, as well. (As the British press is making a big deal that Obama did none of those things this time.)


So, it was another mis-step by the Obamas. In the long run of 4 years, these type of things will be forgotten, as long as they learn from it and move forward. No doubt, there are bigger fish to fry.


If it was me, knowing that Brown likes heavy metal music, I would have gotten him a more personal gift in that area, plus something that symbolizes our deep friendship with the British. I have no problem with giving parts of New England back. <g>

As for the Brown boys, I think that they would love autographed jerseys from LeBron and Kobe. If nothing else, they'd fetch top dollar on eBay.

[smilergrogan]

Little known fact: Operation Barbarossa was started because Stalin gave Hitler a case of vodka-flavored gum, not realizing that Hitler didn't like to chew gum.

[NSAS]

The real views of many in Obama administration were laid bare by a State Department official involved in planning the Brown visit, who reacted with fury when questioned by The Sunday Telegraph about why the event was so low-key.

The official dismissed any notion of the special relationship, saying: "There's nothing special about Britain. You're just the same as the other 190 countries in the world. You shouldn't expect special treatment." The apparent lack of attention to detail by the Obama administration is indicative of what many believe to be Mr Obama's determination to do too much too quickly.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldne ... Brown.html

[wintergreen48]

The real views of many in Obama administration were laid bare by a State Department official involved in planning the Brown visit, who reacted with fury when questioned by The Sunday Telegraph about why the event was so low-key.

The official dismissed any notion of the special relationship, saying: "There's nothing special about Britain. You're just the same as the other 190 countries in the world. You shouldn't expect special treatment." The apparent lack of attention to detail by the Obama administration is indicative of what many believe to be Mr Obama's determination to do too much too quickly.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldne ... Brown.html

Even if some 'State Department official' actually believed this, I think it ludicrous to think that any 'State Department official' would actually say something like that to the Telegraph. That is beyond stupid.

Unless something was lost when they translated what the 'State Department official' actually meant to say.

[Appa23]

In President Obama's defense, he did veto Rahm Emanuel's first idea:

a $50 gift card to Circuit City.

Meanwhile, President Obama will be visiting with the Queen when he travels to England for the G20 meetings. I'm putting my money on an autographed box set of Season 2 of Entourage.


For those that are curious -- here is the link to the Marine One toy from the White House Gift Shop.

http://whitehouse.merchantcart.net/main ... w=PURCHASE

However, it is on sale for only $10.38 at Amazon.com, and I know from Oprah that Michelle is a thrifty shopper.

[Estonut]

For those that are curious -- here is the link to the Marine One toy from the White House Gift Shop.

http://whitehouse.merchantcart.net/main ... w=PURCHASE

Earlier, you said she gave them plastic models. This set is die-cast metal.

[TheConfessor]

Jon Stewart featured both of the recent diplomatic gifts in the opening segment of The Daily Show tonight (after the CNBC comments). You can catch his coverage in repeats later today, or when they put it up on the show's web site.
http://www.thedailyshow.com/

[Appa23]

For those that are curious -- here is the link to the Marine One toy from the White House Gift Shop.

http://whitehouse.merchantcart.net/main ... w=PURCHASE

Earlier, you said she gave them plastic models. This set is die-cast metal.

If you actually had read my post, you would have noted that I did not say that Michelle Obama actually gave them models that were from the gift shop. Rather, she purchased something like what you can buy at the gift shop. Apparently, as you noted, the Obamas did not spring for the die-cast metal version.

Does Sarkozy have any little boys?

[smilergrogan]

This could very well be the stupidest thread ever.

[Estonut]

For those that are curious -- here is the link to the Marine One toy from the White House Gift Shop.

http://whitehouse.merchantcart.net/main ... w=PURCHASE

Earlier, you said she gave them plastic models. This set is die-cast metal.

If you actually had read my post, you would have noted that I did not say that Michelle Obama actually gave them models that were from the gift shop. Rather, she purchased something like what you can buy at the gift shop. Apparently, as you noted, the Obamas did not spring for the die-cast metal version.

Does Sarkozy have any little boys?

Michelle gives plastic models of Marine One (reminiscent of those found in the White House gift shop) to the Brown boys.

If you actually had read my post, you would have noted that I did not say that you said that Michelle Obama actually gave them models that were from the gift shop. Rather, I said that you said that she gave them plastic models, which you did say.

[Rexer25]

This could very well be the stupidest thread ever.

Have you ever read any thread I've started?


Although I admit, this one is getting closer to the ideal with each post.

[Spock]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldne ... rd-Oz.html

Here is a link to a list of the movies.

I was very pleased to note the inclusion of a film by that Great American Film-maker-David Lean.

They selected Lawrence of Arabia which is presumably unknown in England.

[TheConfessor]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldne ... rd-Oz.html

Here is a link to a list of the movies.

I was very pleased to note the inclusion of a film by that Great American Film-maker-David Lean.

They selected Lawrence of Arabia which is presumably unknown in England.

This excerpt from the article certainly confirms that you've found a reliable news source:

And he will hope that at a General Election the British public do not shun his imploration for another term in office by thinking at the ballot box of the famous line from another of the movies, Casblanca: 'Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn.'

[etaoin22]

I am going to go far out and say I find this a fascinating thread. A quick read reveals that George HW Bush gave Queen Elizabeth II a pair of cowboy boots, and perhaps if he had made more state visits, Her Majesty would have had a full cowgirl outfit for riding at Balmoral.

[earendel]

In President Obama's defense, he did veto Rahm Emanuel's first idea:

a $50 gift card to Circuit City.

Meanwhile, President Obama will be visiting with the Queen when he travels to England for the G20 meetings. I'm putting my money on an autographed box set of Season 2 of Entourage.

Maybe a boxed set of "The Tudors"?

For those that are curious -- here is the link to the Marine One toy from the White House Gift Shop.

http://whitehouse.merchantcart.net/main ... w=PURCHASE

However, it is on sale for only $10.38 at Amazon.com, and I know from Oprah that Michelle is a thrifty shopper.

I understand they were working on toy models of the new Marine One, but it ran significantly over budget.

[Spock]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldne ... rd-Oz.html

Here is a link to a list of the movies.

I was very pleased to note the inclusion of a film by that Great American Film-maker-David Lean.

They selected Lawrence of Arabia which is presumably unknown in England.

This excerpt from the article certainly confirms that you've found a reliable news source:

And he will hope that at a General Election the British public do not shun his imploration for another term in office by thinking at the ballot box of the famous line from another of the movies, Casblanca: 'Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn.'

We have here an example that cheeky British Humour goes right over at least one BB's head.

[ne1410s]

We have here an example that cheeky British Humour goes right over at least one BB's head.

Smiler, NOW it's the stupidest thread ever.

[Spock]

We have here an example that cheeky British Humour goes right over at least one BB's head.

Smiler, NOW it's the stupidest thread ever.

What do you mean NE?

Which of the 2 posts put it over the line? Did you mean Confessor's post where he did not catch that the Casabalanca/GWTW mis-quote in the article is an obvious JOKE. or did you mean my comment pointing out that it is a JOKE?

[smilergrogan]

I thought the article was unpleasant and a long reach for humour.

[Ritterskoop]

I still don't know who Brown is.

[silverscreenselect]

In President Obama's defense, he did veto Rahm Emanuel's first idea:

a $50 gift card to Circuit City.

Meanwhile, President Obama will be visiting with the Queen when he travels to England for the G20 meetings. I'm putting my money on an autographed box set of Season 2 of Entourage.

Maybe a boxed set of "The Tudors"?

Those Brits can get plenty of that stuff at home. Get them something uniquely American.

Like the Unrated version of Role Models.

[earendel]

In President Obama's defense, he did veto Rahm Emanuel's first idea:

a $50 gift card to Circuit City.

Meanwhile, President Obama will be visiting with the Queen when he travels to England for the G20 meetings. I'm putting my money on an autographed box set of Season 2 of Entourage.

Maybe a boxed set of "The Tudors"?

Those Brits can get plenty of that stuff at home. Get them something uniquely American.

Like the Unrated version of Role Models.

Or maybe "Breaking Bad" when it finally comes out on video.

[Jeemie]

I still don't know who Brown is.

Gordon Brown.

Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.