U.K. leader can't view Obama's gift

[natty bumppo 297]

This is SUCH and important issue, I feel what we need is a list of the last 50 presidential gifts, so we can make appropriate comparisons as to what level of 'snub' this shoddy gift falls in the scheme of presidential gift giving. So, come along now, don't be shy, let us see this list!

perspective is missing .... this "tard" (he earned the name) ... is less knowledgeable that the average person on vj ... after all you knew the difference in formatting

[featherB 1]

If he "can't" play the DVDs, poor Gordon must be the only person in the UK who hasn't owned a multi-region DVD player for, oooh, the last decade. Even my grandmother has one. I'm not sure it's even possible to buy a DVD player over there now that won't play all regions.

For anyone from the UK reading this, the region thing makes for a total non-story. I sold all my DVDs before I moved here, but I think about 80% of them were Region 1.

[mkg265 2]

Umm, did you guys not know that if the gift is over $100 the President can't keep it? It goes straight to that president's library collection. Maybe it's the same for the Prime Minister. (No library but gifts going to the state)

I've meet the woman in charge of the gifting procedure (at a B&B in Williamsburg!) and she seems like most put together lady ever. Her husband was a diplomat to one of the Soviet-stans.

I know, my life is a whirl wind of important names (honestly I've posted all my highs in this thread)

[pedroh 21]

he gave him some pr0n

[mkg265 2]

he gave him some pr0n

that's a real gift.

[doodlebugg 10]

Yeah and like there's a shortage of pens in the whitehouse...

[Peikko 1,575]

This is SUCH and important issue, I feel what we need is a list of the last 50 presidential gifts, so we can make appropriate comparisons as to what level of 'snub' this shoddy gift falls in the scheme of presidential gift giving. So, come along now, don't be shy, let us see this list!

perspective is missing .... this "tard" (he earned the name) ... is less knowledgeable that the average person on vj ... after all you knew the difference in formatting

No list? Why am I not surprised?

[natty bumppo 297]

This is SUCH and important issue, I feel what we need is a list of the last 50 presidential gifts, so we can make appropriate comparisons as to what level of 'snub' this shoddy gift falls in the scheme of presidential gift giving. So, come along now, don't be shy, let us see this list!

perspective is missing .... this "tard" (he earned the name) ... is less knowledgeable that the average person on vj ... after all you knew the difference in formatting

No list? Why am I not surprised?

list? do you think you're Santa now?

[sj5 4]

he gave him some pr0n

You're so thoughtful Mr. Pedroh.

[Niels Bohr 72]

OMG! The prime minister don't know about Region-Free DVD players? They sell those everywhere. As a matter of fact, they are like only 20-30 dollars more!

[sj5 4]

(Sometimes, I think it's something to do with the disc format.) I encountered similar problems when I brought few DVDs disc from London. I played these DVDs on my computer which didn't encountered problems.

Edited March 21, 2009 by sj5

[Nagishkaw 510]

This is SUCH and important issue, I feel what we need is a list of the last 50 presidential gifts, so we can make appropriate comparisons as to what level of 'snub' this shoddy gift falls in the scheme of presidential gift giving. So, come along now, don't be shy, let us see this list!

perspective is missing .... this "tard" (he earned the name) ... is less knowledgeable that the average person on vj ... after all you knew the difference in formatting

No list? Why am I not surprised?

list? do you think you're Santa now?

The consummate middle man?

[*Snowdrop* 604]

The Protocol Gift Unit within the Office of the Chief of Protocol serves as the central processing point for all tangible gifts received from foreign sources, by employees of the Executive Branch of the Federal government. The unit is responsible for the creation and maintenance of the official record of all gifts presented by the Department of State to officials of foreign governments. Working closely with the Assistant Chief of Protocol for Visits and the staffs of the President, the Vice President and the Secretary of State, the Gifts Officer selects the gifts for foreign dignitaries. Gifts received by the President, Vice President and the Secretary of State and spouses from foreign governments, are turned in to the Gift Unit in the Office of Protocol.

http://www.state.gov/s/cpr/c29447.htm

The page also lists all the official gifts received. Latest list available is from 2007 - it's interesting reading. One of my favourites is from His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of

Brunei Darussalam who gave assorted chocolates, nuts and candies worth $481 - must have been a lot of candy!

http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/120682.pdf

Unfortunately I can't find a similar list for the UK government online - they keep the list of gift received in the Commons library.

[HAL 9000 96]

Obama .. a "world leader" shows his knowledge with this gift. given his other comments this week .... wonder if he now qualifies for the special olympics?

I only wonder why it seems to be only conservative posters blind to what brits are telling us in this very thread about there being such an overabundance of multi-region DVD players in the UK. If a grandma can watch a region 1 disc, so should the kingdom's political head.

[mkg265 2]

The Protocol Gift Unit within the Office of the Chief of Protocol serves as the central processing point for all tangible gifts received from foreign sources, by employees of the Executive Branch of the Federal government. The unit is responsible for the creation and maintenance of the official record of all gifts presented by the Department of State to officials of foreign governments. Working closely with the Assistant Chief of Protocol for Visits and the staffs of the President, the Vice President and the Secretary of State, the Gifts Officer selects the gifts for foreign dignitaries. Gifts received by the President, Vice President and the Secretary of State and spouses from foreign governments, are turned in to the Gift Unit in the Office of Protocol.

http://www.state.gov/s/cpr/c29447.htm

The page also lists all the official gifts received. Latest list available is from 2007 - it's interesting reading. One of my favourites is from His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of

Brunei Darussalam who gave assorted chocolates, nuts and candies worth $481 - must have been a lot of candy!

http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/120682.pdf

Unfortunately I can't find a similar list for the UK government online - they keep the list of gift received in the Commons library.

The woman I meet that was I assume was the highest gift officer told me that people send the president wild animals all the time and that is how the Washington DC zoo gets most of its animals.