Obama diplomacy in action

[buckman]

It is well understood that visiting diplomatic delegations come bearing gifts and gift giving is returned in like fashion by the host country. It is an ages old human practice in diplomacy after all. Usually the gifts are valuable, representative of the products of the nations involved, or at least symbolic of the history of those nations.

For his part, PM Brown gave two symbolic gifts and one that expressed national pride. Brown came bearing a pen holder carved from the timbers of the sister ship of that which gave the wood to create the famous “Resolute Desk,” the desk that has been in America’s charge since 1880. He also gave Obama the framed commission for that famous ship, the HMS Resolute. His third gift was a seven-volume biography of one of England’s greatest leaders, Winston Churchill.

So, what did President Obama give the British PM? 25 movies on DVD. Yeah, that’s it. Brown gives a symbolic gift like the pen holder fashioned from a famous British warship and Obama responds by sending a staffer to WalMart to pick up a few quick movies.

[spence]

The lack of quotes just shows how little respect you have for your own cut 'n paste quotes.

Regardless, clearly Brown is out of the loop. Obama is a President of the new generation who has grown up in a digital age. He doesn't need a pen holder because we're the generation of the digital signature.

I read that Bush's gift to Brown, a stuffy conservative dresser was a leather bomber jacket with fur trim. I'm sure it's taking up some precious closet space as we speak, or perhaps it's already been regifted.

Obama gave something unique and thoughtful, he had the American Film Institute compile a collection of the defining American classics.

Classy move if you ask me.

-spence

[fishbones]

Spence, now you're just being contrary, right?

[Bronko]

Originally Posted by fishbones

Spence, now you're just being contrary, right?

I laughed harder at his response than at Obama's obvious gaffe. They are grasping at straws to keep his aura in-tact.

[striperman36]

Wonder if it was region encoded to allow playing on an EU machine?
The pm is not known as a film buff.
Who can sit through Citizen Kane anyway?

[RIJIMMY]

Spence, you are really running out of material. Maybe he should have just given him a year subscription to Netflix?

Maybe, just maybe Bush's bomber jacket was a tribute to the British and American pilots who flew daylight raids over Germany and suffered nearly 80% casualties?

[buckman]

It doesn't really matter what we think of the gift. I wouldn't want it, maybe if it were hockey fights or something. The British were pissed at the way the whole visit went from start to finish. This is our closest allie. Not Iran