Is Obama snubbing the Brits? - Page 3

HEY, wanna be buddies?

Believe me, I remember the Hero's ball that Barack broke tradition with and bailed on.

I didn't realise he was heading over here as we speak?.

They've just been brushing the red carpet outside Downing Street, and over 3000 British police have been brought in for security.

Yes, he had a private meeting with the queen today.

Yes, i saw it on the news last night They had breakfast with the Prime Minister this morning, and tea with the Queen today.

How tall are the Obama's?. They were towering over Price Philip even!

Good GRIEF, what is it with him and his stupid presents?

He gave the Queen an IPOD for heavens sake. She probably has dozens.

Cannot he think or his staff think up something that means something?

I also have to wonder if Barack got all touchy-feelie with the Queen like he does with everyone else? That wouldn't go over well.

I remember when he had the interview with O'Reilly and Barack kept leaning in and touching Bill's knee. It was creepy

Oh for goodness sakes. What is it with presents. I really think that tradition should be done away with. He was gracious enough to meet with David Cameron even when he was not obligated to. Michelle Obama and Samantha Cameron exchanged gifts. Each gave the other a bracelet and books for the children. Sounds like it was coordinated so that it was equal, which should be the way. For all we know President Obama might have had it on good authority the Queen wanted an ipod. They seem to have coordinated the Cameron gift exchange better. I took a look at some of the gifts that President Bush recieved and they were bicycle jerseys from the Dutch and Danes, a binocular from Germany, a complete set of Mozart from Austria, the Honduran gave him 75 cigars. Didn't know Bush smoked. He got a horse saddle and riding boots, which seemed appropriate. Most leaders though have to report thier gifts and the recipient can't keep them unless they pay for them anyway. From what I read most gifts are not kept by the heads of states that recieve them. So it seem to me that the gifts that President Obama is giving, while I don't consider them great, are not horrible. If anything I would be relieved Obama is giving things that can be used or given to someone easily.

But to be honest I am more concerned about the G-20 summit.

Seriously, did he?! I missed the beginning on the news this evening, but then i heard the newscaster telling us to watch her expression. That's so funny though!

A nice crystal vase would have went down well i bet
Usually their told before meeting royalty not to touch, when to bow etc... although that didn't stop the Australian Prime Minister a few years ago when he put his hand on her back. There was uproar about it
Hmmm i wouldn't have thought so, she could buy one online at Comet (Large electrical store) in the sales

I didn't say it was a great gift. But really does she need a crystal vase either. Buckingham Palace is stunning. I would be scared at what he would pick out.

I have been wondering on the Metro home why this whole gift thing has been bugging me. And frankly there are several reasons. My mother is the queen of bad gifts. One year I recieved a sweat shirt with a cartoon skunk on it with the words "hot stuff" on it. For a forty year old accountant whose style of dress is best described as conservative it was a horrible thing. But I would never have said anything nor would any of my sisters who laughed behind thier hands. You just don't do that with gifts. You take it, thank the giver and go on. The other reason it bothers me is that most of the gifts are never used and never kept. What a waste. My family rarely gives gifts unless we know the recipient wants or needs it. Mother excluded of course. She can do anything she wants. Of course our gifts tend to be practical more than anything else not very sexy or interesting.

But there is a protocol and before I can criticize the Presidents social secretary I have to think I as a novice could have done better. So I thought of a gift I would have gotten for the Queen Mother in this circumstance. If anyone thinks its better than an Ipod, which I think is a little weird, I will admit someone needs more protocol training. I would have gone to the top American miliner and requested the best hatbox they could make. Not a hat which I would consider to be too personal but a beautiful hat box embellished in a meaningful way.

Actually the gift to the Royal couple was a personalised ipod with a video of the Queen's 2007 visit to Virginia. The gift to President Obama was a signed silver framed picture of the Royal couple. Sounds like a perfectly acceptable gifts on both parts which is a relief. Although it does highlight the generational difference of a picture versus a video. They are basically a slightly different artistic view of a moment in time.

That's not all that was on the IPOD.

http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpu...oes-one-g.html
It was very gracious of Barack to have his speeches uploaded on the Ipod also, I sure the Queen will love to listen to TOTUS.

I couldn't resist

That's so funny, he is so conceited!!!

I know you couldn't. I was a little nonplussed by that as well. But they are iconic to him and will be considered historic events.

Do you consided the Queen Mother conceited? She gave an autographed picture of herself and Prince Phillip to the Obama's.

No she doesn't, but a nice cut glass one would have been better than an ipod, especially when she's in her 80's. Even a paperwight from a bit of rock from Death Valley sounds better
She could probably find that on "you tube"

I saw the news again last night with their conversation, and it wasn't about the ipod that i thought i'd missed, it was when he said who from which countries he had been having talks with, and that he was proud he didn't nod off!!.

OMG it was class!!
It's just the Queen btw, the Queen Mother died
Even that would have been a better idea if they did that. It's all part of history that way

No way, he did not say that, did he? Oh my

Here you go Cindy

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/poli...elle_obam.html

Mind you, Prince Philip is well known over here for putting his foot into things as well, and usually worse!

I guess we just disagree. I thought the picture and the ipod to be both personalized and quite nice from both parties. I am not sure what is so wrong with the ipod and what a crystal vase has over it. Especially since she would probably never use a crystal vase just like she will never use the ipod. So really what is the difference between the two. I probably wouldn't have given her an ipod but it isn't that bad. And believe me if President Obama had just given her a picture of him and Michelle there would be no end to the uproar. He does not have that type of stature and longevity behind him. It would not have been better than the ipod, only the Queen and a few other people could get away with that. But to each his own on the ipod.

Well for me i'm sure an elderly lady like the Queen would like a nice piece of cut glass crystal instead. I know i would and i'm not old

ipod's look the same to me, cut glass crystal is something that comes in all shapes and sizes, and more personal IMO. So i agree, we'll agree to disagree

I remember reading a while back that the Queen had an ipod.
http://www.engadget.com/2005/06/17/q...yal-ipod-user/
The Queen 'joins iPod revolution'
The Queen joins the iPod generation

Thank you! I looked at the pictures on that site also, I do have to admit their daughters look so happy. They are a very loving family and love each other very much, you can tell.

The Queen is pretty "up on things". The palace even has it's own Youtube channel. It has some quiet interesting clips on it, and some fun stuff too.

I really like the ones where she puts her driver in the back seat and drives the car herself.

I have a builder coming to re model my bathroom next week, and his son is in the Coldstream Guards, the ones that wear the big bear skin hats.

http://www.army.mod.uk/infantry/regiments/3484.aspx

When he's not on tour of duty, he usually guards the back of Buckingham Palace. He said the Queen walk past him early one morning in jogging bottoms, trainers and a baseball cap. You just can't imagine it can you?!

Actually I can - I think she's pretty amazing and current for her age. I imagine she could hold a conversation on just about anything. She's incredibly intelligent, educated and well-read.

The word I heard was that the White House checked beforehand and the Ipod was approved by the Queen's people.

Still, an odd gift. But sometimes the oddest ones are the most appreciated.

I'm beginning to wonder what it would take for a PM to be popular in Britain. To hear the papers tell it, Margaret Thatcher was very unpopular. Then John Majors was unpopular. Then Tony Blair was unpopular. And now Gordon Brown is unpopular.

Maybe that's just the way of British politics, and the PM shouldn't take any notice of it?

Really it's exactly the same as the US. No matter who gets in someone won't like them and they'll tear them apart