Smart power: Obama gets the queen … an iPod
posted at 2:35 pm on April 1, 2009 by Allahpundit
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Because, after all, nothing says “special relationship” like a gadget you can buy in every mall in the western world. What’d he get Prince Philip? An Xbox?
The inevitable punchline — almost as inevitable as the fact that Gordon Brown’s DVDs were the wrong format: She already owns one.
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 visit to the United States. In return, the Queen gave the President a silver framed photograph of herself – apparently a standard present for visiting dignitaries.
The Queen already has an iPod, a 6GB silver Mini version she bought in 2005 at the suggestion of Prince Andrew.
Turns out there was more loaded on there than just 2007 mementos. Tapper shares the somewhat horrifying detail that they added some music for her too, leaving us to wonder what America’s diplomatic brain trust considers appropriate for a royal mix tape. We know what a big fan The One is of that “Yes, We Can” track…
Seriously, none of this merits a firing or three in the protocol office?
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What’s with the picture? Is the joke over already?
KingGold on April 1, 2009 at 2:36 PM
Not an Ed post.
Whatever…SARAH PALIN 2012!!!
ZJPolitical on April 1, 2009 at 2:37 PM
What hasn’t already been said in the headline thread?
I hope Ogabe remembered to remove the mpeg of him and Michelle…um…”gettin’ busy” after the inauguration ball.
Bishop on April 1, 2009 at 2:38 PM
Allah, Did you not get the memo from Ed? It’s Sarah day!
mimi1220 on April 1, 2009 at 2:39 PM
Come on! You couldn’t cut and paste a pic of Sarah for this photo? There’s room for her right between the Queen and Obama…
yogi41 on April 1, 2009 at 2:39 PM
Oh. My.
That is all I can say and remain relatively charitable.
hoosiermama on April 1, 2009 at 2:39 PM
As I said in the headline thread, I’m guessing it’s “God Save the Queen” by the Sex Pistols.
Snowed In on April 1, 2009 at 2:39 PM
That’s every day to me…
ZJPolitical on April 1, 2009 at 2:39 PM
I thought this story was a joke. Sheesh.
Free Constitution on April 1, 2009 at 2:39 PM
Ewww.
Snowed In on April 1, 2009 at 2:39 PM
Wow….Prince Philip and the Queen are so…diminutive.
hoosiermama on April 1, 2009 at 2:39 PM
AP,
party pooper.
aquaviva on April 1, 2009 at 2:40 PM
According to tapper he also gave a “rare musical songbook signed by Richard Rodgers“… that’s more like it… they should have emphasized that…
ninjapirate on April 1, 2009 at 2:40 PM
Oh my word, did our First Lady just step in front of Prince Philip and cut him out of the photo? Oh lord.
Redhead Infidel on April 1, 2009 at 2:40 PM
Gawd….Michelle is a monster, the isle of Man could fit under that tent!
dmann on April 1, 2009 at 2:41 PM
Turd in Chief.
Vashta.Nerada on April 1, 2009 at 2:41 PM
As my British mother-in-law would say, “What common people.”
KelliD on April 1, 2009 at 2:41 PM
Notice how far away from Yeti that Prince Phillip is standing. The Mrs. would like to know if Phillip got a Home Depot gift card.
thomasaur on April 1, 2009 at 2:42 PM
WHERE”S MY SARAH!!!!!
And staying on topic…an IPOD??, what a joke we have in the white house now
husker3000 on April 1, 2009 at 2:42 PM
Kmart must have been out of digital sports watches.
Rogue Traveler on April 1, 2009 at 2:42 PM
President Government should have presented the Queen with one of these:
http://ny-image0.etsy.com/il_430xN.57403752.jpg
Yes… it is real.
Urban Infidel on April 1, 2009 at 2:42 PM
Please tell me this is an April Fools joke.
Chaz706 on April 1, 2009 at 2:43 PM
well, that michelle is the First Clydesdale.
kelley in virginia on April 1, 2009 at 2:43 PM
The entire country is being brought down to his level.
We have been too successful and too rich for too long. Now we must learn to live like people from his neighborhood.
That’s only “fair”, isn’t it?
notagool on April 1, 2009 at 2:44 PM
I hope that the iPod contained several episodes of MTV’s “From G to Gent.”
It is the epitome of what America has become.
OhEssYouCowboys on April 1, 2009 at 2:44 PM
Who cares about the pictures. The bigger question…..
Did he remove the BestBuy pricetag or did he get it at the Circuit City closeout sale?
Knucklehead on April 1, 2009 at 2:44 PM
my grandmother would have said “oh Lawd have mercy”. my mother would have just summed up the bambis as “trashy”.
kelley in virginia on April 1, 2009 at 2:44 PM
Do the Obamas just send a staffer to Wal-Mart and have them pick something off the rack? There seems to be no effort made in these gifts.
Doughboy on April 1, 2009 at 2:44 PM
I thought for sure it would have been the latest GM electric golf cart
subbottomfeeder on April 1, 2009 at 2:45 PM
Wow, Allah showed up for work…
You can get this Ipod on Amazon for 80 bucks. The DVD set he gave Brown was 99 bucks. Yet our moron-in-chief seems totally OK with wasting TRILLIONS on government spending that will do nothing to revive our econonmy.
Norwegian on April 1, 2009 at 2:45 PM
probably had the 1983 Metallica album “Kill ‘em All” in it’s entirety.
kirkill on April 1, 2009 at 2:45 PM
I-say!
Shy Guy on April 1, 2009 at 2:45 PM
Prince Philip got a 10 minute AT&T long distance phone card.
Bishop on April 1, 2009 at 2:45 PM
220 volts English charger or 110 volts US charger?
Wethal on April 1, 2009 at 2:45 PM
Prince Phillip’s mother-the late Queen Alice-was named a Righteous Gentile by the Yad Vashem in the 1980’s.
‘Bambi befriends domestic terrorists.
Can you really blame Prince Phillip?
annoyinglittletwerp on April 1, 2009 at 2:46 PM
At least it wasn’t a Zune.
Jim Treacher on April 1, 2009 at 2:46 PM
Urban Infidel on April 1, 2009 at 2:42 PM
Ahhhh, something new to use to blow my nose on this allergy season….
or maybe my new one square to wipe with? Sheryl Crow would be soooo proud!
dish on April 1, 2009 at 2:46 PM
Either that or reruns of the Jeffersons
husker3000 on April 1, 2009 at 2:46 PM
i’m embarrassed.
kelley in virginia on April 1, 2009 at 2:46 PM
I must admit that I didn’t read any comments so this could be redundant:
Doesn’t this belong in the “Obamateurism of the Day” category?
Jarhead68 on April 1, 2009 at 2:46 PM
Ok – google “queen ipod” and the VERY FIRST RESULT is:
“the Queen joins iPod revolution”
At the risk of denying myself the continual pleasure of watching Obama do stoopid stuff, I offer “the Google” as a tool for his Administration.
hawksruleva on April 1, 2009 at 2:46 PM
Is it a typical white iPod?
LibTired on April 1, 2009 at 2:47 PM
Ah…if the Obamas go to the a wedding, what do they give as a gift? Because this is a basic faux pas, you don’t give gadgets, electronic or appliances, for a very formal occasion. The Queen actually has it right not surprising. Can’t someone at the White House Goggle Miss Manners? What is Obama’s mother in law doing?
http://www.emilypost.com/
Dr Evil on April 1, 2009 at 2:47 PM
Did he remove the BestBuy pricetag or did he get it at the Circuit City closeout sale?
Knucklehead on April 1, 2009 at 2:44 PM
Bwaaa! On the back of the Ipod there is a sticker which says, “Factory Refurbished”.
And one of the earbuds is burned out.
Bishop on April 1, 2009 at 2:47 PM
I noticed that also. As small as he is compared to her I guess we should be glad she didn’t stiff arm him in her rush to get a better place in the picture.
katiejane on April 1, 2009 at 2:47 PM
Anyone else wondering if the protocol staff was canned when Bush left on January 20?
Or are they possibly using passive-aggressive behavior to show exactly how clueless Obama, Hillary, and the rest of the top officials are by letting them make such horrible decisions on their own?
teke184 on April 1, 2009 at 2:48 PM
Only a 6-gig iPod, eh? Does that mean Her Majesty’s a pretty nice girl, but she doesn’t have a lot to play?
Thank you, thank you. I’m here all week. Try the veal.
Gottafang on April 1, 2009 at 2:49 PM
My gosh, that picture is hilarious. The Odummies dwarf the royals.
ORconservative on April 1, 2009 at 2:49 PM
He’s in the back of the bus.
OhEssYouCowboys on April 1, 2009 at 2:49 PM
You can’t make this stuff up. Good God I’m embarrassed for my country.
crazy_legs on April 1, 2009 at 2:49 PM
What? No Michael Jordan sneakers from the Nike Store on Michigan Avenue in Chicago?
He could have at least thrown in a designer water bottle.
BuckeyeSam on April 1, 2009 at 2:49 PM
If this is the dumbest thing he does today, we should be grateful.
frankj on April 1, 2009 at 2:49 PM
Yes. Damn. Clueless.
sonofdy on April 1, 2009 at 2:50 PM
NCO- No Class Obama…..
Are we there yet? It sure feels like four years already….
CynicalOptimist on April 1, 2009 at 2:50 PM
We won’t ever be able to get her to take the country back at this rate….
Dr Evil on April 1, 2009 at 2:50 PM
I noticed that also. As small as he is compared to her I guess we should be glad she didn’t stiff arm him in her rush to get a better place in the picture.
Maybe Philip was backing away because of the smell.
That’s right, I said it! I’m running with this one for all it’s worth.
Bishop on April 1, 2009 at 2:50 PM
These comments have made me laugh. Well, it’s therapeutic.
OhEssYouCowboys on April 1, 2009 at 2:50 PM
what must the Queen think of him?
kelley in virginia on April 1, 2009 at 2:51 PM
Pre-loaded with Kanye’s and Fiddy’s entire catalog, I assume.
Ha! Now that would be tasteless!
mikefln on April 1, 2009 at 2:51 PM
For the next 4 years………
……… every day is April Fools Day.
Shy Guy on April 1, 2009 at 2:51 PM
I’m convinced that this last election was the implementation of Plan 9 From Outer Space.
It has to be.
OhEssYouCowboys on April 1, 2009 at 2:51 PM
Oh to be a fly on the wall in the Royal bedroom tonight. I’d pay big bucks to listen to that conversation.
Knucklehead on April 1, 2009 at 2:52 PM
Isn’t the Queen the richest woman in the World? Did Obama mention his redistribution of wealth plans to her? That would be an interesting subject to bring up at TEA.
Dr Evil on April 1, 2009 at 2:52 PM
This people do not give Christmas gifts to the girls, IIRC. Perhaps he just doesn’t know how to give since he has been taking his entire life.
carbon_footprint on April 1, 2009 at 2:52 PM
what must the Queen think of him?
kelley in virginia on April 1, 2009 at 2:51 PM
The Queen is thinking, “We lost the revolution to these morons???”
Bishop on April 1, 2009 at 2:53 PM
Actually, as mentioned in the Headline thread, it was most likely obama’s old one that he recently replaced, probably 1st or 2nd generation as well.
Spectreman on April 1, 2009 at 2:53 PM
Obamatuerism of the Day.
jgapinoy on April 1, 2009 at 2:53 PM
You forgot about Kwanzaa.
OhEssYouCowboys on April 1, 2009 at 2:54 PM
Coming from Chicago, I would’ve thought he could have gotten them some rims that spin, possibly in gold for the Rolls…….
adamsmith on April 1, 2009 at 2:54 PM
She can’t think any less of him than most of us.
thomasaur on April 1, 2009 at 2:54 PM
I keep expecting this to be an April Fool’s Day joke.
Sigh.
Anna on April 1, 2009 at 2:54 PM
What a bunch or moronic jackasses in the Ogabe admin.
ornery_independent on April 1, 2009 at 2:55 PM
We all love Allah and can’t wait until he changes the photo on the front page to that person in the other posts. I can’t quite place who it is, but it must be somebody important…
Chap on April 1, 2009 at 2:55 PM
Who the F**K is running this government? God Damned college kids? What’s next? Keggers at the fu**ing White House? It’s getting absolutely embarassing.
RWLA on April 1, 2009 at 2:55 PM
My God! If three times is a charm, I can’t wait to see what they gift the next dignitary, when the time comes. An ipod? The message in their (Obamas) gifting couldn’t be more obvious in my opinion. It reeks of immaturity, and a superior attitude, that just their (Obamas) mere presence is more than enough, of a gift.
Yup. I have noticed for some time now , that Michelle seems to be carrying a lot of junk in her trunk. Mega woman needs to make a sacrifice, and lose some of that.
capejasmine on April 1, 2009 at 2:55 PM
Tapper says they also gave her “a rare musical songbook signed by Richard Rodgers”.
Cuz’ as you know, there is nothing like a dame.
connertown on April 1, 2009 at 2:56 PM
Don’t you get it? He gives my leaders crappy gifts so that he has more money to spend on you guys, because he loves you.
That said, I’m surprised it wasn’t an iPhone locked to a US network.
EnglishMike on April 1, 2009 at 2:56 PM
Seriously, none of this merits a firing or three in the protocol office?
AP
No, it merits a firing in the oval office.
SKYFOX on April 1, 2009 at 2:56 PM
Wow, this “administration” (guffaw) has unlimited personnel and monetary resources and they ended up buying the same December 24, no-imagination, half-assed Christmas gift I bought my wife this year.
Somehow, that doesn’t make me feel any better.
NoDonkey on April 1, 2009 at 2:56 PM
Like school on Sunday. No class.
crazy_legs on April 1, 2009 at 2:56 PM
Egads! What next? No, don’t tell me I’d really rather not know!
cibolo on April 1, 2009 at 2:56 PM
The past two months have been like one of those bad jokes that you try to laugh at (to be polite)but soon realize that the sleeping pill hasn’t worked and you really are living the nightmare.
pcpower1 on April 1, 2009 at 2:56 PM
Nah, I’ll bet both thoughtful gifts his idea all the way…I wonder if the Brits are getting the idea yet that Barry doesn’t really like them.
AUINSC on April 1, 2009 at 2:57 PM
My biggest fear is that Mr. Teleprompter and Lt. Worf are going to rethink the whole King and Queen thingy for the United States…………
Seven Percent Solution on April 1, 2009 at 2:57 PM
hot damn, barry goes to China this year. will China clean up enough air pollution so bambi can breathe?
we can’t take anything to china that isn’t already made there.
kelley in virginia on April 1, 2009 at 2:57 PM
So, the Brits have given us priceless and timeless gifts and momentos, while the Obamas have given the Brits “stuff” worth, maybe $300 or so?!?!
Are you fucking kidding me?!?!
ExSubNuke on April 1, 2009 at 2:58 PM
Have you seen Idiocracy? We’re almost there.
Redhead Infidel on April 1, 2009 at 2:58 PM
Good lord, this dolt is embarrassing.
rplat on April 1, 2009 at 2:58 PM
A pair of American ravens would’ve been nice. Does that violate protocol?
Christien on April 1, 2009 at 2:58 PM
That’s going to far, then he would have given the Queen a photo of Hillary.
NoDonkey on April 1, 2009 at 2:58 PM
Somehow, that doesn’t make me feel any better.
NoDonkey on April 1, 2009 at 2:56 PM
It shouldn’t. My eight year old daughter got an Ipod from her godparents for Christmas.
That’s right, my little bunny, you have something in common with the Queen of England.
Bishop on April 1, 2009 at 2:58 PM
Aunt Esther obviously needs comportment lessons. Isn’t there anyone in the White House who can teach her how to walk into a room without looking like a cow? Good Lord, what an embarrassment these people are.
labwriter on April 1, 2009 at 2:59 PM
We should all be relieved he didn’t give her one of those hats with the cup holders and straws on either side.
LibTired on April 1, 2009 at 2:59 PM
Also, there is something so wrong with this video, and it begins when the door opens.
pcpower1 on April 1, 2009 at 2:59 PM
Here is what is so revealing about this disaster:
it isn’t as if they didn’t have some sense of style. Look at the first lady…she looks stylish, well-presented, etc. She CARES…and that is evident…but about WHO?
The same with Obama…he truly cares about himself and his world image. Just not about anyone else.
These gifts indicate self import, not selflessness. These were afterthoughts. You’d think that the dreadful impression these trinkets were giving would be enough to inspire them to try a bit harder.
Just seems so trashy.
Mommypundit on April 1, 2009 at 3:00 PM
Where’s Palin?
beatcanvas on April 1, 2009 at 3:00 PM
Being a Democrat means never having to demonstrate that you actually ARE smart. You’re a Democrat, so it’s just naturally assumed (by the press, anyway) that you’re also a titan of intellectual ability, unlike all those dumba$$ Republicans.
And when you do screw up and say or do something completely dunderheaded, the press is there to explain it all away (such and such ‘crat was just tired; or they just weren’t on top of their game that day; we were just to stupid to understand their statements/answers/action, which was actually very savy and nuanced, etc..), or sweep it under the rug.
“Smart Power” just another way of saying “Democrat Power”. It doesn’t actually have to be smart at all….
djm1992 on April 1, 2009 at 3:00 PM
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