Um?

[trinityvixen]

I know there's an entire office dedicated to ettiquette that could be doing better by the new president vis a vis his gifts to foreign dignitaries. I mean, yes, she got some sheet music that was rare, but an ipod? Do you really think the Queen of England can't get one for her damned self? Sheesh. Gordon Brown, whatever, he'll be out again in another term, but this is a woman who has been in power since before our president was born. CAN WE PLEASE TRY A LITTLE HARDER?

Oh, and this is just agonizing icing on the embarrassment cake.

Comments

[linaerys.livejournal.com]

Apparently she requested the iPod, and the Times of London (owned by Rupert Murdoch) is the one spreading the idea of this-is-so-embarassing. (HT Mahablog)

[trinityvixen.livejournal.com]

It makes me feel better to think that she requested it, but I'm still like "Really? That's the best we can do for the QUEEN?" I'm not even responding to the newspapers, I'm responding to my own WTF-ever here.

[anomilygrace.livejournal.com]

I dunno. The Queen's known for her embrace of technology, and I think an iPod was a sweet, thoughtful gift. (The DVDs on the other hand, I have issues with) I mean, the woman's received 11 Presidents. At least she's never received an iPod before.

[trinityvixen.livejournal.com]

True. I still feel like we're not trying very hard. But if that's what she wants.. ::shrug::

[anomilygrace.livejournal.com]

Oh, I'm totally with you on that. The DVDs just look so horrific compared to what a thoughtful and fantastic gift the Brits gave Obama. But I think it's the level of personalisation that bugged me with that while the Queen's gift seems like it actually was personalised to something she can use instead of another Gift of State to be dusted by the parlor maids.

[trinityvixen.livejournal.com]

It's funny--it's certainly more personal a gift than she gives--the photo of her, signed, goes to everyone...yet I still cringe at this exchange.

[ahab99.livejournal.com]

The problem with Gordon Brown wasn't so much that he personally deserved something better, but that his gift to Obama was so awesome that the differential was glaring. Surely the two sides can work this kind of thing out in advance?!

[trinityvixen.livejournal.com]

You'd think, right? We do actually have an entire office dedicate to etiquette that would be able to help him out. Are they all asleep?

[hslayer.livejournal.com]

OTOH, her standard gift to visitors is an autograph.

(I know what you're getting for your birthday!!)

[trinityvixen.livejournal.com]

It's one of these, right? (http://trinityvixen.livejournal.com/631220.html)

[ivy03.livejournal.com]

I love that the gift of DVDs to Gordon Brown were region 1. He couldn't even play them.

[trinityvixen.livejournal.com]

If they'd given him a region-free player, it still would have been a lousy gift.

[ivy03.livejournal.com]

Dude, a region-free DVD player would be awesome. But then, I'm not the PM of England.

[trinityvixen.livejournal.com]

...shouldn't the PM already have a region-free player? Sheesh.

[ivy03.livejournal.com]

Apparently not, since he reported that he couldn't play the DVDs Obama gave him.

[trinityvixen.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I heard that, too. That gift-giving fiasco was just a non-stop train wreck.