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Cabinet chief lambasts 'incredibly difficult' Obama team over G20 ("There is nobody there.")
Times Online (UK) ^ | March 10, 2009 | Phillippe Naughton

Posted on 03/10/2009 11:04:25 AM PDT by Parmenio

Britain's most senior civil servant has complained that Downing Street is finding it “unbelievably difficult” to make arrangements with the United States for the crucial G20 summit. Sir Gus O'Donnell, the Cabinet Secretary, reportedly said that the handover to the Obama Administration was hindering discussions about the meeting in London next month. The Prime Minister hopes that the summit on April 2 will produce a co-ordinated global strategy to tackle the economic downturn. So far, his attempts to get his Washington and European allies to agree to a coherent common platform for the meeting have proved frustrating.

...snip ...

Mr O'Donnell said that No 10 was having trouble even getting in touch with key personnel at the US Treasury department. “There is nobody there,” he told a civil service conference in Gateshead. “You cannot believe how difficult it is.” His comments come after Downing Street was left frustrated by the White House’s chaotic handling of Gordon Brown’s visit last week. No 10 aides were left scrambling when the President's staff changed press arrangements at the 11th hour. Sir Gus's remarks appear to confirm the problems Mr Obama has faced in getting his administration staffed and up to speed during the worst economic crisis in decades. The Times reported last week that Tim Geithner, the Treasury Secretary, had been forced to operate virtually on his own without any of the 17 deputies his department is supposed to have. Sir Gus criticised the US system of new administrations appointing their own senior civil servants as “absolute madness”...Sir Gus said. “If there’s a change of administration, you’re out, and a whole new bunch of people come in who probably haven’t been in government before.”

(Excerpt) Read more at timesonline.co.uk ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; United Kingdom
KEYWORDS: chaos; incompetence; obama; obamaregime; obamunism; overwhelmed
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More confirmation (if that were needed) of the chaos and mismanagement in Obama's administration.
1 posted on 03/10/2009 11:04:26 AM PDT by Parmenio
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To: Parmenio

Bambi takes “incompetent” to a whole ‘nuther level.


2 posted on 03/10/2009 11:06:05 AM PDT by Nervous Tick (Party? I don't have one anymore.)
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To: Parmenio

Or they’re deliberately dissing the UK again; either one.


3 posted on 03/10/2009 11:06:19 AM PDT by rightwingintelligentsia (Where do I sign up for jewelry stamps?)
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To: Parmenio

The Obama Administration: The lights are on but nobody’s home.


4 posted on 03/10/2009 11:06:53 AM PDT by Enterprise (I went to America and all I got were some DVDs and little helicopters.)
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To: Parmenio

Why should Zer0 sweat little things like the economy when he has big stuff to worry about like payback to ACORN and global warming? < / sarcasm >


5 posted on 03/10/2009 11:07:03 AM PDT by Vigilanteman (Are there any men left in Washington? Or, are there only cowards? Ahmad Shah Massoud)
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To: Parmenio

The US isn’t even answering the phones anymore.

Our new allies will be Syria and Cuba I guess.


6 posted on 03/10/2009 11:08:37 AM PDT by GeronL (Will bankrupting America lead to socialism?)
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To: Parmenio
His comments come after Downing Street was left frustrated by the White House’s chaotic handling of Gordon Brown’s visit last week.

The Times misspelled "contemptuous."

7 posted on 03/10/2009 11:08:49 AM PDT by Interesting Times (For the truth about "swift boating" see ToSetTheRecordStraight.com)
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To: rightwingintelligentsia

exactly, formerly our #1 ally is getting slapped around


8 posted on 03/10/2009 11:09:14 AM PDT by GeronL (Will bankrupting America lead to socialism?)
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To: Parmenio

The kiddies were not in the sandbox?


9 posted on 03/10/2009 11:11:10 AM PDT by TribalPrincess2U (Welcome to Obama's America... Be afraid, be very afraid)
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To: Parmenio

how long until the world is longing for the good old days with Bush?


10 posted on 03/10/2009 11:12:35 AM PDT by ilgipper
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To: Parmenio
Mr O'Donnell said that No 10 was having trouble even getting in touch with key personnel at the US Treasury department. “There is nobody there,”

I believe that is accurate. Geithner has a huge amount of vacancies over at treasury from what I understand. There probably really isn't anybody there.
11 posted on 03/10/2009 11:13:43 AM PDT by mmichaels1970
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To: GeronL

Obamachev doesn’t appear to be improving our reputation over seas.

Probably do like us more in Cuba and Venezuela.


12 posted on 03/10/2009 11:14:03 AM PDT by y6162
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To: Parmenio

Chaos might be good in this situation. Obama is incompetent and WAY over his head. He is being overwhelmed, that is obvious. People in this situation don’t get too much done. The dem party is already revolting over some of this stuff. It is obvious that Treasury is not functioning. Actually, things are looking up.


13 posted on 03/10/2009 11:14:21 AM PDT by Former Proud Canadian (How do I change my screen name now that we have the most conservative government in the world?)
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To: Parmenio

“Smoothest transition in history”


14 posted on 03/10/2009 11:14:34 AM PDT by Peelod (Preserving, protecting and defending are beyond his ability.)
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To: Parmenio
Your Majesty, the PEOPLE of the great nation of the United States of America do apologize to you na d the United Kingdom for the juvenile antics of your subject who currently occupies the White House illegally and in contravention of our Constitution. Please take no offense while we wait for our next election in 2012 to rectify the situation, or, until our Supreme Court grows some balls and boots him out.

Thank you and have a nice day!

15 posted on 03/10/2009 11:15:03 AM PDT by April Lexington (Study the constitution so you know what they are taking away!)
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To: Parmenio

Britain is just another country...


16 posted on 03/10/2009 11:15:15 AM PDT by Wyatt's Torch (I can explain it to you. I can't understand it for you.)
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To: Parmenio
And, as part of my austerity program and promise to spend taxpayer money wisely, I am removing Great Britain Cabinet Secretary Sir Gus O'Donnell from the White House gift list.
That means he will not be receiving the standard gift package of the Top 25 Classic Movies on CD as had been scheduled; a saving of some $21.99 for the taxopayer.


17 posted on 03/10/2009 11:15:50 AM PDT by Iron Munro (Suppose you were an idiot. And suppose you were a member of Congress. But I repeat myself.)
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To: Parmenio

Timmy TurboTax is the only one there to answer the phones anyway, right???


18 posted on 03/10/2009 11:16:10 AM PDT by IrishPennant
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To: Parmenio

Call back at 3am and see bambi answers


19 posted on 03/10/2009 11:16:18 AM PDT by boxerblues (Party like its 1773)
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To: mmichaels1970

There won’t be either. All the Democrats they could possibly nominate seem to have tax or ethics problems, and all the Republicans have left town and aren’t coming back as long as these clowns are running the show.


20 posted on 03/10/2009 11:16:23 AM PDT by muawiyah
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