Barack Obama met the Queen at Buckingham Palace today and gave her a gift of an iPod loaded with video footage and photographs of her 2007 United States to Richmond, Jamestown and Williamsburg in Virginia.
She is in her 80's. I doubt an iPod was on her Christmas list. The gift relects absolutely no historic value from someone who is supposed to be the most "historic" US president. It reflects absolutely no forethought. An iPod is a gift for a relative or friend, not..her royal highness. My gawd, they have an entourage of OVER 500 people with them, from a medical staff to a food taster...one would think at least ONE of them would have some kind of class as it relates to gifts. Generally, portraits or historic photos are appropriate, but knowing this classless administration, they would have presented her a framed portrait of Paul Revere!!
~~life isn't about how to survive the storm but how to dance in the rain~~
When the character of a man is not clear to you, look at his friends.
Japanese Proverb
Well, I heard before that the Queen loved the gift and the different images from her last trip here. Sorry, I just dont see a problem here....other than another gripe regarding Obama.
I also heard that Michelle is getting RAVE reviews abroad and that her approval rating at home was in the high 70's. Sleeves or no sleeves.
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Life is the continual demonstration of the power of thinking positive and having faith.
Protocol seems to be dispensed with when the Obamas come to town.
April 2 2009, 7:41 AM
Don't Touch: Michelle Obama Abandons Protocol With the Queen
It has been considered a breach of protocol to touch the Queen.
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Michelle Obama shakes hands with Queen
Apr. 1: First lady Michelle Obama is welcomed by Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, as she arrives with President Obama for an audience at Buckingham Palace in London. (AP)
Protocol seems to be dispensed with when the Obamas come to town.
Michelle Obama and the Queen slipped their arms around each other towards the end of a reception at Buckingham Palace held in honor of the G20 leaders and their wives.
The president and his wife appeared very relaxed in the company of the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh from the start.
By the end of the evening, the two women were standing side by side and appeared to be chatting about their height difference. As they moved closer and continued to chat, the Queen put her hand on the back of Mrs. Obama, who did the same for a few moments. Before she departed, the Mrs. Obama told the Queen: "I really enjoyed our meeting."
It had been considered a breach of protocol to touch the Queen. When the former Australian Prime Minister Paul Keating put his arm around the Queen in 1992, he was branded the "Lizard of Oz". When his successor, John Howard, was accused of doing the same, a spokesman insisted: "We firmly deny that there was any contact whatsoever."
Presents were exchanged between the heads of state. Obama gave the Queen an iPod containing a video of her visit to Virginia, Washington, in 2007. In return, he received a signed photograph of the royal couple.
Funny ... the British commentators I saw on a couple of the morning shows said they though it was a very thoughtful gift. The queen is apparently pretty technologically savvy and she's a big fan of old Broadway musicals. The Ipod was loaded with her favorite kind of music and Obama also gave her a rare book of 50's Broadway libretti.
But you guys are going to grasp at any chance to snipe, aren't you?
In international politics, protocol is the etiquette of diplomacy and affairs of state.
A protocol is a rule which guides how an activity should be performed, especially in the field of diplomacy. In diplomatic services and governmental fields of endeavor protocols are often unwritten guidelines. Protocols specify the proper and generally-accepted behavior in matters of state and diplomacy, such as showing appropriate respect to a head of state, ranking diplomats in chronological order of their accreditation at court, and so on.
Put another way:
Protocol is commonly described as a set of international courtesy rules. These well-established and time-honored rules have made it easier for nations and people to live and work together. Part of protocol has always been the acknowledgment of the hierarchical standing of all present. Protocol rules are based on the principles of civility.
Oh, yes, no one has the flair, charisma and diplomacy that bozo the bush had.
Bwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahahahahahahaha!
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"We are all equal, but we definitely are not the same"
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LONDON - Michelle Obama has done what few others have managed - getting Queen Elizabeth II to break protocol.
The first lady arrived Wednesday with President Barack Obama. After separate meetings on the eve of the G-20 summit, the couple attended an evening reception for world leaders hosted by the queen.
Mrs. Obama clearly made an impression with the 82-year-old monarch - so much that the smiling queen strayed from protocol and put her arm around the first lady in a rare public show of affection.
It was the first time Mrs. Obama - who is nearly a foot taller - had met the queen. The first lady also embraced her.
A Buckingham Palace spokesman who asked not to be identified because of palace policy said he could not remember the last time that the queen had displayed such public affection with a first lady or dignitary.
"It was a mutual and spontaneous display of affection," he said. "We don't issue instructions on not touching the queen."
The Daily Mail said the "two women clearly took to each other."
"Michelle Obama has done what few others have managed - getting Queen Elizabeth II to break protocol."
I didn't know there was a contest.
Apparently disrespect is now the "contest" and our society has embraced the "Jackass" mentality. Trying to find a way to "stick it" to protocol and respect. YAY Michelle...you go girl.....
~~life isn't about how to survive the storm but how to dance in the rain~~
When the character of a man is not clear to you, look at his friends.
Japanese Proverb
Apple, Google and other Silicon Valley companies donated vastly larger sums of cash to Obama's campaign than McCain's. So what's in it for Silicon Valley?
By Mark Hattersley
~~life isn't about how to survive the storm but how to dance in the rain~~
When the character of a man is not clear to you, look at his friends.
Japanese Proverb
..."disrespect" on anyone's part. Poor li'l sue must be a royalty watcher.....and she apparently gets VERY upset if anyone shows their EQUALITY to the Queen.
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