Posted on 03/05/2009 12:13:16 PM PST by CMoran325
It's burned in my brain, and chokes me up every time: Tony Blair declaring on September 11, 2001, that Britain stands "shoulder to shoulder" with the U.S.
George W. recognized and fostered the special relationship that we have with our friends across the pond during his presidency. The Blairs and the Browns were welcomed with open arms, and the two countries worked together on many an occasion in many different ways.
Now only about 6 weeks into his presidency and Obama has given the Brits a very chilly shoulder. First he returns a bust of Churchill. Then he treats a visit by the Browns without the customary fanfare, in effect relegating the P.M. to the status of a far lesser dignitary. And not allowing access to the British press furthered the shabby treatment.
Did Michelle -- who has expressed disdain for the U.K. for its connection to the slave trade (even though it was a Tory who led the charge for abolition) -- also add fuel to the fire? After Mrs. Brown gave thoughtful and distinctive presents to the Obama girls, did Michelle actually return the favor with cheap, plastic toy helicopters (perhaps rushed over from the White House gift shop when she realized she hadn't bought anything) for the Brown boys?
Meanwhile Mr Brown gave a gift from the HMS Resolute, a vessel that came to mark Anglo-US peace when it was saved from ice packs by Americans and given to Queen Victoria and an ornamental desk pen holder made from the oak timbers of Victorian anti-slaver HMS Gannet, once named HMS President. (A most thoughtful gift in that it was the sister ship of the vessel from which the desk Obama chose for the Oval Office was made.) He also gave a first edition set of the seven-volume classic biography of Churchill by Sir Martin Gilbert. BO wasn't all that more gracious than his wife, as he gave Mr. Brown 25 DVDs of American movies. Ho hum.
Where is all this coming from? Could Obama be so petty -- and short-sighted -- that he would punish the U.K. for the audacity of having that good relationship with W.? What is he thinking? That the U.S. doesn't need every ally we can get right now? Would he jeopardize our standing with a nation that is still -- despite their economic woes of late -- one of the most powerful on the planet?
Is Obama so devoted to being egalitarian that he feels no leader deserves special treatment? Britain is no better than Iran, or Syria or Cuba, right? We won't need the U.K. because, you know, France and Germany will have our back.
When everyone is special, no one is special. Yeah, that's a foreign policy that will work for the U.S.
When do I get mine?
DVDs? That’s pathetic.
Brown makes more than 250K.
End of story.
These Obamas are utterly without class.
Brack and fam aren’t used to giving things, they’re used to being given things. It’s all they know.
Seriously, they are clueless. Whatever happened to making the world really, really like us? I think they must have meant the islamic world.
What an insult to Britain and America to return the bust of Churchill! My God! If it wasn’t for Churchill standing up to the Germans!....I detest this weasel in the white house more with each passing blunder!.....
DVDs bought in the USA are Region “1”. Can’t be played in Europe which is Region “2”. So the guy gave cheap DVDs that can’t be viewed in Europe to Gordon Brown from the U.K.. What a hoot.
Since he has never lived or worked in the real world like most other people, perhaps he (and the rest of his wonderful White House staff) didn’t know this!
Harvard educated?
DVD’s and cheap plastic helicopters!! That makes Traler Park Trash appear to be The Vanderbilts!! Guess ZERO didn’t learn anything about manners or respect from “THE DREAMS FROM HIS DRUNKEN ABSENT FATHER!” he better get a few quick lessons from his famous Unrepentent Ghostwriter who obviously knows him intimately to be able to ghostwrite his autobiography from carnal knowledge of details of ZERO’S nonexixtant relationship from his dillusional nonfather and underthebus Grandma.
I agree that the toy helicopters were probably not the best choice from a diplomatic point of view.
But as a former little boy, I’ll bet the Brown boys enjoyed them more than they would a more appropriate gift.
I don’t think Brown is man enough to do it, but I’d like to see:
EBAY: “25 DVDs hand-selected by President Obama...enjoy the full-screen versions of Debbie Does Dallas and Mandingo! With a signed letter of authenticity! No minimum bid!”
Say what???? Is this true?
If so, has Mrs. Obama expressed disdain for Mr. Obama's ancestors having been probable slave traders? Does she express disdain for the slave traders of today in Africa? She's cheesed out at the UK over stuff that happened 200 years ago??
I guess I shouldn't be surprised. Someone who had sat in Wright's racist 'church' for twenty year is going to have absorbed some of the bile over the years and developed a deformed outlook (and it certainly wasn't Christianity she was picking up in that church or else she'd understand that we are all sinners in need of infinite forgiveness - by an infinite Saviour -- and if we can't forgive others over real or imagined transgressions - we are in a world of hurt)...
“The Divine One” merely wishes for closer ties with Mugabe. The return of the bust of Churchill merely signals that fact.
I doubt it. The ties between our two countries and strong enough to withstand a snub from one goofball president.
But that’s an insult to weasels. Obama is an amoeba on a flea on a rat.
I sure hope you’re right that BO’s snubs will be rectified and we will retain the good graces of that great nation.
[BRITISH PRIME MINISTER GORDON BROWN IS SHOVED THROUGH OVAL OFFICE DOOR BY SCOWLING SECRET SERVICE AGENT]
Brown: Good lord! How very-- [STANDS UP STRAIGHT, ADJUSTS TIE & SMOOTHS OUT WRINKLED SUIT, WALKS TOWARD OBAMA SITTING AT DESK] I'm afraid I wasn't expecting such treatment. But no matter. Good day to you, Mr. President.
Obama: [STARES DOWN AT PAPERS ON DESK]
Brown: Uhm. [CLEARS THROAT] I'm very sorry to bother you, Mr. President, but--
Obama: What? What is it? [LOOKS UP, NOT QUITE MAKING EYE CONTACT] Oh. It's you. Great. [RETURNS TO STARING AT PAPERS]
Brown: Hurm. Yes. Well. Have a seat, should I? [INDICATES CHAIR BEHIND HIM, WAITS FOR SOME SORT OF ACKNOWLEDGMENT, FINALLY SITS DOWN ANYWAY] So. It's. Did you, did you get the gifts I brought? The pen set is composed of wood from the sister ship of the one that was used to make the desk you're--
Obama: [STILL NOT LOOKING UP] Yes. Yes, I saw it. Alright? Jeez... [UNCOMFORTABLE SILENCE] Oh yeah. Forgot. [DIGS THROUGH PAPERS, FINDS DVD CASE UNDER ONE STACK, TOSSES IT INTO BROWN'S LAP]
Brown: Oh! Very, uh, very nice. [PICKS IT UP, PULLS READING GLASSES FROM SHIRT POCKET] It's, let me... Yes We Can! The Barack Obama Story. Ah. That's. Uhm. Well, I certainly--
Obama: [SIGHING LOUDLY, STILL NOT LOOKING UP] Will there be anything else? I don't know if you noticed, but I'm kind of the President?
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