Obama's blockbuster gift for Gordon Brown to reaffirm the "special relationship": 25 DVDs

[posty 2,868]

Wow 25 DVDs... Gee thanks...

 

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/...ip-25-DVDs.html

 

Gordon Brown has been given a collection of 25 classic American films on DVD as his official gift from Barack Obama.

 

The Prime Minister flew home from his successful trip to Washington this morning with the 'special collector's box' of films hidden in his luggage.

 

No 10 had tried to keep the present a secret, refusing to answer reporters who asked what President Obama had given to mark the reaffirmation of the special relationship.

 

However, the Evening Standard discovered the truth through White House insiders.

 

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.

 

Mr Brown's gifts included an ornamental desk pen holder made from the oak timbers of Victorian anti-slaver HMS Gannet, once named HMS President.

 

Mr Obama was so delighted he has already put it in pride of place in the Oval Office on the Resolute desk which was carved from timbers of Gannet's sister ship, HMS Resolute.

 

Another treasure given to the U.S. President was the framed commission for HMS Resolute, a vessel that came to symbolise Anglo-US peace when it was saved from ice packs by Americans and given to Queen Victoria.

 

Finally, Mr Brown gave a first edition set of the seven-volume classic biography of Churchill by Sir Martin Gilbert.

 

The White House issued a press briefing today that put on record how much Mr Obama had appreciated the gifts.

 

The Prime Minister's reaction to getting DVDs is not known. Mr Brown is not noted for his love of cinema, although he once claimed on a trip to India that he was an admirer of Bollywood.

 

The Browns showered gifts on the Obama children too, using the occasion to promote British exports.

 

Sarah Brown gave Sasha and Malia Obama an outfit each from Topshop, which has just opened its first American store in New York.

 

She also picked six children's books by British authors which are shortly to be published in America.

 

But the British press has already accused the Obamas of gaffing over the gifts they gave in return.

 

The Obamas gave the Browns two models of the presidential helicopter, Marine One, to take home to sons Fraser and John.

 

Though Mrs Brown's choice of gifts was praised as thoughtful, Mrs Obama's choice of gifts for Fraser and John was 'solipsistic'.

 

'Mrs Brown may have two boys but she certainly knows the way to a little girl’s heart,' columnist Sarah Vine wrote in the Times. 'These were gifts chosen in the true spirit of present-giving: to please the recipient, not the giver.'

 

Giving the Browns' two young boys a helicopter was 'fair enough', she said.

 

But she added: 'Marine One? It’s not as though anyone needs reminding that Barack Obama is President or that he has his own helicopter.

 

'Short of giving the boys Action Man models of her own husband smiting the evil forces of neoconservatism, Mrs Obama’s gesture could not have been more solipsistic or more inherently dismissive of Mrs Brown.

 

'Not only did she demonstrate that she spent approximately three seconds contemplating the needs of the Brown boys (having an aide pop to the White House gift shop for a piece of merchandising does not imply a great deal of thought), she appeared to show a most uncharacteristic lapse of judgement.'

 

President Obama telephoned Mr Brown on board his plane last night to thank him for a productive visit.

[titans&bucs&bearsohmy! 2,745]

 

Obama should have just given them a german to english dictionary. When the Browns said "we don't really need that" Obama could just say "You're welcome."

[Brad GLuckman 519]

 

Obama should have just given them a german to english dictionary. When the Browns said "we don't really need that" Obama could just say "You're welcome."

 

[wiffleball 4,799]

AWKWARD!

 

 

 

Too funny. Them British press types are a wierd lot. Because of the Royals they are totally completely gonkers over this kind of protocol stuff. Things like:

 

 

"The Queens's Tea was attended by Mrs. Pricilla Van RottenCrotch III - of the Hampfordshire of Crittendom. One should think that Mrs. Van RottenCrotch was a skad mortified when it was noted that her Hat was significantly larger than that of the Queen's. Such lapses of protocol are not commonly viewed with favour by the Queen's Courtiers. We likely shan't be seeing Mrs. Van RottenCrotch again soon at Buckingham Palace."

 

 

I had to look this up: Solipsism is the philosophical idea that "My mind is the only thing that I know exists." Good lord. That's a 20 dollar word.

 

Mr Brown is not noted for his love of cinema, although he once claimed on a trip to India that he was an admirer of Bollywood.

 

Look jerkoff, I'm trying to run a country outta the shiiter here, mkay? Enjoy the focking movies you prissy little fop.

 

- And in my spare time I'll try to get through those SEVEN VOLUMES about your Crazy Alcoholic hero.

[wiffleball 4,799]

 

Obama should have just given them a german to english dictionary. When the Browns said "we don't really need that" Obama could just say "You're welcome."

[titans&bucs&bearsohmy! 2,745]

- And in my spare time I'll try to get through those SEVEN VOLUMES about your Crazy Alcoholic hero.

 

Actually, I am reading Churchill's six volume memoir of the Second World War. It is very good, Churchill was a very good writer, and was intimately involved in the war obviously, so it makes for good reading.

 

I want to get his six volume memoir of WWI next.

 

 

Oh, and President Obama, on the off chance you read this site (and don't you have better things to do?) If you aren't going to read those Churchill bios, I'd love to have them. You don't want to count that sh!t on your taxes anyway, so you are going to give them away to someone. May as well be a loyal Obamabot like myself. Seriously, ask around, RP will tell you, I've been on your jock like your wife on a three piece for about a year now.

 

TIA POTUS!

[NorthernVike 2,113]

DVD's

 

 

 

Hey Barack, all the cool kids are watching their movies on Blue Ray

[Snoopy1 0]

 

Obama should have just given them a german to english dictionary. When the Browns said "we don't really need that" Obama could just say "You're welcome."

 

 

Oh you English are SO superior aren't you. Well would like to know where you'd be without US the good old USofA to protect you? The smallest focking province in eastern Europe thats where, so DON'T call me stupid lady just THANK me. If it wern't for us you'd all be speaking German, singing Deustchland Deutstchland uber alles.

[wiffleball 4,799]

Oh you English are SO superior aren't you. Well would like to know where you'd be without US the good old USofA to protect you? The smallest focking province in eastern Europe thats where, so DON'T call me stupid lady just THANK me. If it wern't for us you'd all be speaking German, singing Deustchland Deutstchland uber alles.

[gocolts 300]

Looks like this gift was just part of the completely embarrassing visit with our new President.

 

President Barack Obama just plain rude to Britain. Don't call us in future.

 

Why couldn't President Obama have put on more of a show for his British guests? He looked like he simply couldn't be bothered.

 

Number 10 may be content that they just about got away with the visit to the Oval Office yesterday, as Andrew Porter reports from Washington.

 

But on this side of the Atlantic the whole business looked pretty demeaning. The morning papers and TV last night featured plenty of comment focused on the White House's very odd and, frankly, exceptionally rude treatment of a British PM. Squeezing in a meeting, denying him a full press conference with flags etc. The British press corps, left outside for an hour in the cold, can take it and their privations are of limited concern to the public.

 

But Obama's merely warmish words (one of our closest allies, said with little sincerity or passion) left a bitter taste with this Atlanticist. Especially after his team had made Number 10 beg for a mini press conference and then not even offered the PM lunch.

 

We get the point, sunshine: we're just one of many allies and you want fancy new friends. Well, the next time you need something doing, something which impinges on your national security, then try calling the French, or the Japanese, or best of all the Germans. The French will be able to offer you first rate support from their catering corps but beyond that you'll be on your own.

 

When it comes to men, munitions and commitment you'll soon find out why it pays to at least treat the Brits with some manners.

[bushy 0]

I wonder if the DVDs were at least region 2 DVDs. I would hope that the POTUS and his staff knew that American market DVDs will not play on DVD players in Europe.

 

 

Imagine if Bush had done this.

[NorthernVike 2,113]

Looks like this gift was just part of the completely embarrassing visit with our new President.

 

President Barack Obama just plain rude to Britain. Don't call us in future.

 

 

So now our enemies like us and our Allies don't. I'll take the Brits over the focking Iranians any day of the week