LONDON – It’s not every day the American president’s driver is told to move his bulletproof car.
But Queen Elizabeth II’s handlers made the request Wednesday after President Barack Obama’s reinforced Cadillac limousine was found to be blocking the garden entrance driveway at Buckingham Palace. After it was moved, Jaguars carrying Prince Charles and other members of the royal family pulled up for the queen’s reception for leaders attending Thursday’s G-20 summit.
Obama and his wife, Michelle — wearing a black and white dress, pearls and a black coat — were two of the first dignitaries to meet the queen, who wore a salmon-colored dress and her trademark pearls.
During their private meeting, President Obama and the first lady gave the queen a personalized iPod with video footage of her 2007 visit to Washington and Virginia. She was also given a rare songbook signed by composer Richard Rodgers.
In return the queen and her husband, Prince Philip, gave the Obamas a signed portrait of themselves.
As far as I’m concerned he could have given her a side of beef……but really, an iPod? Did he load it with his personal music choices or what? Oh, brother.
This why I come here. It’s for the high brow political banter. I can’t wait to see what real news (damn I wish I had that jingle) we will be discussing next.
Really kids, can’t we find better things than this to divide us?
The presents were fine. I’m sure they will think of something to do with the lovely picture they got.
Obama has rolled the dice on many issues. He has spent a staggering amount of money. He has more or less nationalized the two car companies and a lot of big money institutions at least for now. Some things like health care he’s going to “fix” though where the money is coming from is anyone’s guess.
Give him time and he will get a lot of praise for all the good that he’s done or make Bush look like a popular president.
I think Obama’s handlers realize that it would be in really poor taste to be handing out lavish gifts to queens and prime ministers at a time when many people here can’t afford basic essentials. Besides, they blew all their money on lavish gifts for Wall Street
It’s a cool gift. I believe the Queen already has an iPod which was a gift from her grandchildren, so she has some familiarity with the device.
#16
Yes I read that and heard it on NPR this morning it did not seem as interesting to me as what music he might have preloaded on it. After almost 60 years of queenning and 82 years of being a Royal I just don’t thing she is into watching old coverage of herself on a micro screen. Now if it were for John Edwards…
And to think, you guys thought this gift wasn’t special.
Uploaded onto the iPod:
* Photos from the Queen’s 2007 White House State Visit
* Photos from the Queen’s 2007 Jamestown, Va., Visit
* Photos from the Queen’s 2007 Richmond, Va., Visit
* Video from the Queen’s 1957 Jamestown Visit
* Video from the Queen’s 2007 Jamestown Visit
* Video from the Queen’s 2007 Richmond Visit
* Photos from President Obama’s Inauguration
* Audio of then-state senator Obama’s speech at the 2004 Democratic National Convention, and
* Audio of President Obama 2009 Inauguration Address from Hotair by Allahpundit What do you want to bet the damn thing came with a US 110V charger plug?
I’d rather receive an ipod than a signed photo of whoever I was visiting, even if it’s the queen of england. Sounds like they both could use a gift giving course
The queen has stated that she likes iPods and owns one herself. It was full of footage of her. That should be right up the alley of a person that gives the POTUS a signed picture of herself as a gift. She was also given a rare songbook as well.
Why bother with gifts at all? It’s not like they need any more stuff.
I just saw the video of Obamas meting the Royals. Who ever was responsible for schooling the Obamas on protocol or even basic eticate should be fired.
I mean, it wasn’t as bad as spewing all over the PM of Japan, but the first lady introducing herself to the queen and the prince before the President, wow.
I am not a fan of Obama, but would you guys please for the love of god, put someone in charge of gifts. I mean its obvious he can’t handle this himself.
Of course had Bush done this, it would be world wide outrage, and would be front page on every liberal newspaper on the country. But since its the Obamesiah, its all good.
#2.
Queen of my Double-Wide Trailer – Sammy Kershaw
Killer Queen – Queen
Queen Bee – Grand Funk Railroad
The Queen got a better gift than the Obama’s. Great a picture of the crusty old Queen and her squeeze. Jolly good show!!!
i find it suspect…giving an electronic
device..esp one that by and large is used
with a subscription service..no doubt it’s use
can be tracked by it’s serial number..
to what end..? -so the RIAA could finally extort money from someone who can afford to pay..
-i would have put something unique on it..why would she want yet another copy of her “politicking”
no doubt obama uploaded some personal notes on it like “please help me..congress is making an utter fool out me..”
-either that, or it has the numbers to a few swiss accounts so the queen can get her cut
of “the money”
the whole gift thing seems rather silly to me.
if i were obama, i would have either given her something i made myself, -or a plant of some sort.
*shrug*
-s
All of them should just drop the whole damn gift thing. It is like a family who allows Xmas to go overboard. You can’t win.
#5 Well, honestly, you’re not being fair. Let’s be clear, Jimmy Carter and BO are tied for #1. Give BO time though….
Did they run out of crap trinkets at the Whitehouse gift shop?
In return the Queen should have given Obama some old Princess Diana dinner plates they had laying around.
The iPod thing I don’t give a damn. The queen likes them and that signed portrait she gave the Obama’s, it’s the same one she gives to all the other visiting heads of state.
As for Michelle breaking protocol, nobody gives a shit. I think we sent a clear message about that back in 1776. Besides, the monarchy has changed so much since the revolution that the British monarchy is nothing more than a circus side show these days. But, Michelle should have known better. It’s the President that goes first, just like the queen comes first before her husband.
What a great stateman.
#7 Maybe not the worst, but seems wanting to match his predecessor.
#8 Man, you should have left it with your first post on the subject. That was pathetic.
#25 This one wasn’t half bad. Hmmmmm.
#26 Yet no magnifying glasses nor ipod dock to show ‘em on a big screen. How tasteless of him.
#38 What can you do when the Pres. is just a whipped guy?
REALLY!
Isn’t about time that all this presidential posturing, Speeches full of garnered sayings that others made (long) before and generally unbelievable acting like the Savious of the World stopped and the idiots promoting it and sucking on it were just seen for what they are.
Cardboard men.
Just what the hell has Obama done?
As far as I can see, bugger all except glory in his position. He may be the most genuine President ever – unfortunately there is an all too ready lack of supportive substance to all this.
I went to the Palace yesterday, it’s a huge site, one of the very biggest in London. It had a policement stationed every 50 metres.
As for parking the Presidential Limo across the gates. That’s just a display of arrogance on the part of his driver, an attempt to make clear that the law (and good manners) just didn’t apply here. Doesn’t do the average American much credit does it? Not if this is your representative. Less of the presentation and much more action/substance would be in order here. Afraid these ‘leaders’ are really not worth the money to me – not the unwarranted publicity they receive.
All this of course, if I haven’t made it clear, applied equally to Brown, Sarkozy, Merkel and the rest.
Plastic imitations of real leaders of men.