On March 10th, 2009 at 11:15 pm, chapoutier said:

By the way…

Does anyone know what Bush’s gift to Blair was on their first meeting? The one that was given in exchange for the Churchill bust that everyone is making such a fuss about and which was apparently worth hundreds of thousands of pounds?

A jacket with Blair’s name on it.

Wow. Talk about tacky. Yet some how our eggshell fragile alliance managed to survive the horrible slight. One can only pray that the British Empire does not decide to reannex us after Obama’s latest unforgivable transgression.

Also, I fully expect the howls from all the absolutely sincere and objective posters here about how Bush nearly started WWIII with our closest, dearest ally.

Good catch! I forgot about that. I will add it to my list of links.

Now would you please link a similar post/criticism and an analogous list of comments to restore my faith in the objective reporting of the WaPo?

It not the d@mn gift. It’s the disrespect shown regarding the cancellation of the Press conference at the airport and the lethargic Mr Prez at the presser at the oval office.

It’s about substance NOT stuff.

Do the “voices” in your head sound like Meg Ryan or Billy Crystal or both? That may be important information for your health-care provider…

Props. That was funny.

Oh, wait, is that restraining order your health-care provider obtained against you still in effect? Bummer!

Do the “voices” in your head sound like Meg Ryan or Billy Crystal or both? That may be important information for your health-care provider…

On March 11th, 2009 at 9:23 am, chapoutier said:

5) Chappy cannot tell the difference between “abject loathing and hostility” and “sexual tension.”

Like I said before, you are the Sally to my Harry.

But in both cases the usual suspects (the British media) were making a big deal about how dumb and thoughtless and comparatively poor the gift was. Same as here, except in this case the right has gotten all frothy too.

But that’s the point I am attempting to make. I haven’t seen any articles where the British media made any hay out Bush’s gift to Blair. I provided examples of Blair’s view toward gifts from other HOSs. His reaction to Bush’s gift while not very receptive, certainly isn’t the same as Obama/Brown giftgate. Unlike Bush, Obama broke protocol with respect to the press conference and lack of a formal dinner.

I’m sure you have answers for that as well but the point is your boy isn’t off to an impressive start. With simple things such as this he deems it necessary to break customs and not in a good way.

But Brown clearly hated it and refused to put it on when Bush asked him.

Then Brown and Obama should get along just fine. Smug & Smug, 2 bugs in a rug.

5) Chappy cannot tell the difference between “abject loathing and hostility” and “sexual tension.”

Like I said before, you are the Sally to my Harry.

Shall i continue?

No. We’ll leave it there. Thanks.

1) Chappy now believes Obambi was born in Keyna and his loyalties clearly reside there.
2) Bush does not play favorites with Prime Ministers when it comes to giving gifts.
3) The AFI are evidently a bunch of elitist snobs and will not run down to Wal-mart and buy a basket of DVDs for you!
4) Chappy lives in mortal fear that the RAF will rain down fire upon us at any moment unless we continue to apologize to the UK.
5) Chappy cannot tell the difference between “abject loathing and hostility” and “sexual tension.”

Chap absolutely and verifiably loathes Bush

I definitely think he was a poor president, but I admire many of his accomplishments, including his work with AIDS and in Africa in general. I also think he was nothing but classy and gracious during the transition.

but is willing to overlook or justify ANYTHING the Ohero does or regurgitates.

I loathe the Geithner pick. I have said he lied about campaign finance. I think he is wrong to say opposition to federal funding of stem cell research is “political.” I am pretty sure I am against the EFCA. Shall i continue?

I have yet to find in any of my searches where Blair has stated that he loathed the jacket. I’d say there is a bit of hyperbole and embellishment on the behalf of several posters.

No, indications are Blair liked the jacket, or at least he wore it again when he visted Camp David. Never said he hated it. But Brown clearly hated it and refused to put it on when Bush asked him. But in both cases the usual suspects (the British media) were making a big deal about how dumb and thoughtless and comparatively poor the gift was. Same as here, except in this case the right has gotten all frothy too.

Chap said:

Brown received a gift he absolutely, verifiability loathed from Bush when they first met (the same gift he had given to Blair) yet somehow, I guess due to that legendary stiff British upper lip, he was able to bury his hurt and anger deep within himself, with nary a tear to betray his fragile emotional state, and manage to not break off diplomatic ties with us.

Mr Blair bought all of the presents he received in his last few months in office, including a pewter tea set worth £400 from the government of Libya and a porcelain figure worth £250 from the people of Germany.

In contrast, Mr Brown did not accept a single gift, turning down, among other items, a commemorative coin from the prime minister of Ethiopia, a stone bowl from the president of Afghanistan and a rug from the president of Pakistan.

Ever frugal, Mr Brown did pass the perishable items given to him on to charity or into the Government’s wine cellars. They included a hamper from the Sultan of Brunei and wine from the French president.

Elsewhere, Margaret Beckett, the former Foreign Secretary, received champagne, wine and a candle stick holder worth just under £1,000 from the prime minister of Afghanistan, and a rug valued at £180 from the prime minister of Pakistan.

Jack Straw, the Justice Secretary, “purchased part” of a hamper from the Ambassador of Saudi Arabia in December, but the rest was retained by his department.

The bomber jacket given to Mr Brown by Mr Bush during their first talks as fellow leaders is emblazoned with the presidential logo and features his name stitched on to the brown leather.

In July 2001 Mr Blair gave President Bush a coat, and on subsequent occasions gave him a book and golf equipment.
__________________

I have yet to find in any of my searches where Blair has stated that he loathed the jacket. I’d say there is a bit of hyperbole and embellishment on the behalf of several posters.

The Churchill bust was always a loan

So will the DVD’s go back to Netflix soon?