March 7, 200917 yr Winston Churchill bust Has America's even- tempered new president already ruffled feathers in the land that spawned Borat and Benny Hill? That's certainly how the spiky British press responded after the White House sent back to the British Embassy a bust of Sir Winston Churchill that had occupied a cherished spot in President Bush's Oval Office. Intended as a symbol of transatlantic solidarity, the bust was a loaner from former British prime minister Tony Blair following the September 11 attacks. A bust of Abraham Lincoln—Obama's historical hero—now sits in its place. A White House spokesperson says the Churchill bust was removed before Obama's inauguration as part of the usual changeover operations, adding that every president puts his own stamp on the Oval Office. But the British press, as is its wont, smells a snub. The Telegraph speculated that British diplomats' pulse rates would soar, while The Times of London wondered if a shadow had been cast over the special U.S.–U.K. relationship. A spokesperson for the British embassy, though, threw cold tea on the notion, pointing out British politician David Miliband was the first foreign minister to meet with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/james_delingpole/blog/2009/03/05/was_lady_macbeth_behind_barack_obamas_snub_of_gordon_brown On US radio's Garrison show today, I was asked for my reaction as a true born Englishman to President Obama's double insult - first the sending back of the Winston Churchill bust, then his snub to Gordon Brown. "Tough one. Really tough one," I said, torn - as most of surely are - between delight at seeing Brown roundly humiliated, and dismay at having the special relationship so peremptorily, cruelly and bafflingly ruptured. Iain Martin is quite right here: no matter how utterly rubbish we have become as a nation in the Blair/Brown years, Britain's friendship is something Obama will come to regret having dispensed with so lightly. This was not the act of a global statesman, but of a hormonal teenager dismissing her bestest of best BFs for no other reason than that she felt like it and she can, so there. Then Obama snubbed Prime Minister Gordon Brown this week when he canceled a scheduled meeting with him in the White House rose garden. Oh, his excuse was the light blanket of snow that fell on D.C. — as if the meeting couldn’t be held indoors. Gordon Brown and his wife came to D.C. bearing fine gifts for the First daughters — Top Shop dresses (with matching necklaces) and a selection of books by British authors worth hundreds of British pounds. In return, Michelle gave the Brown’s two sons cheap, tacky, plastic replicas of Obama’s controversial Marine One helicopter. The trinkets can be purchased for $15 in the White House gift shop.
March 7, 200917 yr Quote: When he moved into the White House Mr Obama returned the bronze bust of Winston Churchill loaned by Tony Blair to George Bush. The new President replaced it in the Oval Office by a bust of Abraham Lincoln. Telegraph.co.uk
March 7, 200917 yr It does appear that the British feel the reception was not as decorous as they expect. I do know, and everyone should by now, that the Obama's do not (and have not), live a superflous life. There have been articles about Michelle Obama's affinity for J.Crew ensembles, Obama working in shirt sleeves in the Oval Office, etc. I wonder what the threads would have been on here had the Obama's produced a lavish state dinner and lavish gifts.
March 7, 200917 yr Author It does appear that the British feel the reception was not as decorous as they expect. I do know, and everyone should by now, that the Obama's do not (and have not), live a superflous life. There have been articles about Michelle Obama's affinity for J.Crew ensembles, Obama working in shirt sleeves in the Oval Office, etc. I wonder what the threads would have been on here had the Obama's produced a lavish state dinner and lavish gifts. Expensive and lavish? How about tasteful and respectful? The man's in over his head.
March 7, 200917 yr Expensive and lavish? How about tasteful and respectful? The man's in over his head. I'm assuming your referring to the gifts for the boys?
March 7, 200917 yr It does appear that the British feel the reception was not as decorous as they expect. I do know, and everyone should by now, that the Obama's do not (and have not), live a superflous life. There have been articles about Michelle Obama's affinity for J.Crew ensembles, Obama working in shirt sleeves in the Oval Office, etc. I wonder what the threads would have been on here had the Obama's produced a lavish state dinner and lavish gifts. You mean like his Super Bowl party?
March 7, 200917 yr Can someone please fill me in on the Superbowl party details? I evidently missed it.
March 7, 200917 yr Can someone please fill me in on the Superbowl party details? I evidently missed it. I found this: http://www.eurweb.com/story/eur50594.cfm The 75 guests in attendance included Pennsylvania congressmen Arlen Specter, Bob Casey, Charlie Dent and Patrick Murphy, as well as Arizona lawmakers Trent Franks and Raul Grijalva. (No John McCain). A number of Obama's close friends were also in the House, as well as daughters Malia and Sasha, and plenty of little kids who watched movies or played Wii while their parents viewed the game in the White House movie theater or on TVs in the hallway. ..... The menu included pizza, hot dogs, chicken sandwiches, chips and dip, sundae bar, cookies, beer and soda. At one point, the president reportedly walked around offering a cookie platter. Interesting. I'm not sure how that compares in cost or number of attendees to a state dinner. :confused:
March 7, 200917 yr I found this: http://www.eurweb.com/story/eur50594.cfm Interesting. I'm not sure how that compares in cost or number of attendees to a state dinner. :confused: Sounds about like some I've been to in the past. Super Bowl parties that is, not state dinners.
March 7, 200917 yr Sounds about like some I've been to in the past. Super Bowl parties that is, not state dinners. Me too! That's why I'm wondering how someone can compare a Superbowl party to a State Dinner.
March 7, 200917 yr I found this: http://www.eurweb.com/story/eur50594.cfm Interesting. I'm not sure how that compares in cost or number of attendees to a state dinner. :confused: Obama's a Steelers fan? He just lost all of my support! What a lavish affair! I mean, cookies AND chips? That's excessive! And at halftime, he treated the whole group to a live performance by Bruce Springsteen.
March 7, 200917 yr Apparantly there was unsubstantiated information (at least I can't substantiate it) that Obama served very expensive beef at his Super Bowl party. If the information is incorrect I will admit my mistake, will the Obamaites admit their mistake if his spending spree takes this country where I think it will?
March 7, 200917 yr Apparantly there was unsubstantiated information (at least I can't substantiate it) that Obama served very expensive beef at his Super Bowl party. If the information is incorrect I will admit my mistake, will the Obamaites admit their mistake if his spending spree takes this country where I think it will? I did find this: Over a menu of wagyu beef, scallops, roasted sunchokes, and huckleberry cobbler, the President's first formal dinner in the White House welcomed 50 state leaders. But that was for the Governor's dinner.
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