What Does One Get a Queen?

me like!

Nice gift choice for someone who has everything they want and is probably gifted much too often.

Concerned in OH:”That’s what you get your teenage daughter, not the Queen of England.”
Your daughter wants a rare musical songbook signed by Richard Rodgers? He is the president, so it is not surprising his staff is emphasizing major US exports and money earners as gifts. Hollywood, Apple – the companies that are keeping our economy afloat through inovation and creating products desired the world over.

The signed music book is a good gift from a US President to the Queen.
Apparently she already has an iPod.

How thoughtful. After the Brown fiasco, I was worried that the Obamas would get the queen an electric toothbrush or a vacuum cleaner as a gift from the United States.
I’m sure the queen will appreciate the thoughtfulness and historic value of receiving an IPod, though.

It’s not the iPod, you knuckleheads…it’s what’s on it.
“Hi, I’m a malcontent…I’m just going to whine alllllll day.”

“Not that would be the Republican alternative budget proposal which has the “revolutionary” ideas of spending freezes coupled with tax cuts for the wealthy. ”
How about you cut the class warfare garbage and go out there and work so you can become “wealthy”. The top 10% of wage earners pay 70% of all Federal taxes. To get in the top 10% you need to have a Household income of more than $108,000. That is two wage earners who went to college and have decent jobs, or a small business owner who busted his butt to make some money for himself. Why don’t you tax-takers be quiet and just thank the tax-payers for subsidizing your lives.

Another colony perhaps>

“How about you cut the class warfare garbage and go out there and work so you can become “wealthy”.”
The tax cuts are tilted way in favor of the wealthy.
“The top 10% of wage earners pay 70% of all Federal taxes. To get in the top 10% you need to have a Household income of more than $108,000.”
The good ole Heritage Foundation making sure every right winger has their bogus stats!
“That is two wage earners who went to college and have decent jobs, or a small business owner who busted his butt to make some money for himself.”
Yes, the middle class.
Which is why is so disturbing that GOP tax cuts are tilted far more in favor of those earning far above that amount.
“Why don’t you tax-takers be quiet and just thank the tax-payers for subsidizing your lives.”
I love the cries of class warfare followed up by some class warfare dialog.
Right wing hypocrisy is not always so Obvious.

That is so cool. I have always wanted an IPOD

HobokenJohn:” The top 10% of wage earners pay 70% of all Federal taxes.”
You’re getting closer, but you have to further narrow it down to “Federal INCOME taxes” otherwise you’re still lying. Gas taxes, tobacco taxes, social security tax and medicare tax are just a few Federal taxes that ratchet up the bottom 90%’s contribution.

“Remember it was the Republicans who fought bravely for black rights but Democrats want to keep them as victims destroying this country while they are at it”
LOFL! Yeah, “Republicans.” That’s funny. What a blatant disregard for reality.

The Obamas have no class and no sense of what is appropriate and what is not. An Ipod is completely inappropriate for the Queen of England as were the inappropriate movie DVD “gifts” that Obama gave Britain’s Prime Minister Brown last month. They are in desperate ned of consultans to guide them in proper attire, manners and deportment. They are representing our nation and currently they are embarrassing us.
Barack Obama is simply not Presidential. He’s unqualified for the job and most certainly in over his head.
Michelle Obama continues to dress in inappropriate clothing. Sequins are not daytime wear to visit a hospital. She needs to cover up those arms. She’s a very large woman and her clothes accentuate her largeness. Poor choices. Michelle needs fashion consultants.
Hillary Clinton (the person who should be President of the U.S.) is the only bright spot in this sorry administration.
Why the press blackout? What is Obama afraid of? I guess it’s that he can’t haul his teleprompters around all day and is terrified he will misspeak again without them.
The press is spending a major amount of money for little news coverage. You should speak out about that. Don’t let Obama shut you out.

Its a crying shame all of these tax cheating Democrats who run the IRS and the government from the highest office appointed by Commander in DOPE. cheat on their taxes and can’t figure out how to use a simple program called TURBO TAX..
Bigger shame Obama made millions last year and only paid 29 dollars in taxes. At least he know how to cheat his way through tax code loop holes./

Better make sure that iPod actually works in the UK…
http://www.political-buzz.com/

“Ryan C…I know you liberals hate facts…close to half the people in this country pay no federal income taxes”
I love it when you make a fuss about facts then have to correct yourself (fed income vs fed taxes).
“…how do you cut taxes foe people who don’t have a tax liability? Oh that’s right you want more welfare checks, sorry Make Work Pay checks sent out.”
I thought you were upset about class warfare?
I guess that was just bs.
“Did you even read the GOP proposal today? I think not.”
Spending freezes and tax cuts that favor the wealthy with budget deficits in the $500B range.
They were better off with the detailess budget that focused on talking points.

Vote for Obama. 2012

Why did one of my completely appropriate posts disappear?
I was commenting it’s not the device itself, it’s what’s on it – footage of the Queen visiting the original British settlements in Virginia during a previous visit to the US.
And that Rodgers-signed songbook is pretty darned unique and thoughtful.
But it’s all just ceremonially BS anyway. And I think it’s rich that the same folks who ridicule Obama for the gifts he gives British heads of state – how dare he! are the same folks who live in utter fear that Obama may turn us into – gasp! – Britain. They act as defenders of the UK even though they have little respect for it.

Alix: “Bigger shame Obama made millions last year and only paid 29 dollars in taxes.”
Is this the right wing’s April Fools joke today or something? Obama’s 2007 1040 has been released and is public record – he paid $1,396,772 in taxes on $4,139,965 in income.

B: “In this time with lower tax rates. The federal government received more tax revenue EVER.”
This is a stupid statement, on par with the accurate but stupid statement that President Obama received more votes than any presidential candidate ever in the history of the nation. Add in tens of millions more population paying taxes and of course revenue goes up.
As a function of revenue versus expenditure, the higher tax rates under Clinton did the best (arguably because he was just lucky enough to be there during the internet boom).

An oldie, but goodie for those who have a hard time understanding how raising taxes on the “wealthy” impact the “less wealthy”
– Barstool Tax Policy –
Suppose that every day, ten men go out for beer and the bill for all ten comes to $100. If they paid their bill the way we pay our taxes, it would go something like this:
The first four men (the poorest) would pay nothing.
The fifth would pay $1.
The sixth would pay $3.
The seventh would pay $7.
The eighth would pay $12.
The ninth would pay $18.
The tenth man (the richest) would pay $59.
So, that’s what they decided to do.
The ten men drank in the bar every day and seemed quite happy with the arrangement, until one day, the owner threw them a curve. “Since you are all such good customers,” he said, “I’m going to reduce the cost of your daily beer by $20.” Drinks for the ten now cost just $80.
The group still wanted to pay their bill the way we pay our taxes so the first four men were unaffected. They would still drink for free. But what about the other six men – the paying customers? How could they divide the $20 windfall so that everyone would get his ‘fair share?’ They realized that $20 divided by six is $3.33. But if they subtracted that from everybody’s share, then the fifth man and the sixth man would each end up being paid to drink his beer. So, the bar owner suggested that it would be fair to reduce each man’s bill by roughly the same amount, and he proceeded to work out the amounts each should pay. And so:
The fifth man, like the first four, now paid nothing (100% savings).
The sixth now paid $2 instead of $3 (33%savings).
The seventh now pay $5 instead of $7 (28%savings).
The eighth now paid $9 instead of $12 (25% savings).
The ninth now paid $14 instead of $18 (22% savings).
The tenth now paid $49 instead of $59 (16% savings).
Each of the six was better off than before. And the first four continued to drink for free. But once outside the restaurant, the men began to compare their savings.
“I only got a dollar out of the $20,” declared the sixth man. He pointed to the tenth man,” but he got $10!”
“Yeah, that’s right,” exclaimed the fifth man. “I only saved a dollar, too. It’s unfair that he got ten times more than I!”
“That’s true!” shouted the seventh man. “Why should he get $10 back when I got only two? The wealthy get all the breaks!”
“Wait a minute,” yelled the first four men in unison. “We didn’t get anything at all. The system exploits the poor!”
The nine men surrounded the tenth and beat him up.
The next night the tenth man didn’t show up for drinks, so the nine sat down and had beers without him. But when it came time to pay the bill, they discovered something important. They didn’t have enough money between all of them for even half of the bill!
And that, boys and girls, journalists and college professors, is how our tax system works. The people who pay the highest taxes get the most benefit from a tax reduction. Tax them too much, attack them for being wealthy, and they just may not show up anymore. In fact, they might start drinking overseas where the atmosphere is somewhat friendlier

“An oldie, but goodie for those who have a hard time understanding how raising taxes on the “wealthy” impact the “less wealthy”"
Right wing spam emails as argument.
They work on the gullible not the real world.

The songbook was a great idea.
as for the ipod, they could’ve just framed a pic of her visit in 2007.
one gift is better than two in this case. they should’ve just given the songbook.
acc to politico, the rest of the gifts were fine:
“Michelle Obama has doled out several gifts during her tours of London—she donated a book about the White House and a silver encased notepad and bookmark to the cancer center and she gave Samatha Cameron, wife of the conservative party leader, a bracelet and books for the kids.”

“The book was a nice gift. The ipod…not so much.”
For the umpteenth time, the iPod wasn’t the “gift.” It was the video that is stored on it. It was a nice gift.

problem tjp612 is that your word problem is incorrect, even though the misleading information has been floating around the internet for quite a while.
This is completely incorrect…and out of context. First off, the examples listed infer that the rich are paying 60 percent of their “individual” income taxes. This is not true; they are paying 35%, which is the highest of all of the 6 tax brackets that currently exist. Now even that 35% is rarely paid by the wealthiest persons, the rich can take advantage of tax loopholes, including one that allows them to pay the capital gains tax rate of 15 percent instead of the ordinary top income tax rate of 35 percent.
Recently Warren Buffett (the third-richest person in the world) cited himself as an example. Last year, Buffett said, he was taxed at 17.7 percent on his taxable income of more than $46 million. His receptionist was taxed at about 30 percent. Buffett said that was despite the fact that he was not even trying to avoid paying higher taxes. “I don’t have a tax shelter,” he said.
Now lets talk about context, the 60 percent paid by the wealthiest man outlined in the horrific example, is to depict the total amount of income tax revenue received. Therefore, stating that the Top 5 percentile of wealthy Americans in this country make up 60 percent of the entire income tax revenue received. The top 5 percent own 60 percent of all wealth. So, now that you can see that the Top 5% owns 60 percent of our nation’s wealth, you should also understand why they also make up 60 percent of the yearly income tax revenue. Also, the top 20 percent owns over 80 percent of all wealth. In 1998, it owned 83 percent of all wealth.
Finally, if you tax someone making $40,000 a year 25% you take $10,000 dollars from them leaving them with a windfall of 30,000 dollars. But if you tax Warren Buffet, making $46,000,000 a year, 35% you take $16,100,000 dollars, leaving him in poverty at 29,900,000 dollars. And as I said earlier, with the tax breaks and loopholes they see, they end up paying only 17% compared to the 25% the 40k a year is taxed. And good luck going to a non-third world country, offering a different system or at a lesser rate; England is taxing their rich higher at 40%, China at 45%, Canada is the lowest at 29%, but they don’t even tax those making less than $9,000 a year, period. Don’t accept these “jokes” at face value, do your research!

“In contrast Republicans wisely shout tax cuts as their only policy recommendation during boom times and recessions.
Its much easier than thinking.”
Tax cuts AND spending cuts (they blew the second one in recent years). Its much easier than going bankrupt. It’s one of those principles of small government that Obama said he subscribed to, then exponentially grew it in 70 days more than any President in history.
Not to mention we have the second highest corporate tax rate in the world, tax cuts are a good idea. They were a good idea to Obama too, which I guess you also believe as not requiring any thinking, or is it only when it comes out of Republicans as being brainless?
It’s funny Ryan, just a few weeks ago weren’t you talking up those Obama tax cuts? Where they brainless ideas then?

“For the umpteenth time, the iPod wasn’t the “gift.” It was the video that is stored on it. It was a nice gift.”
Because there aren’t any Royal biographers that covered her trip. The video on the iPOD was the only recording of her visit. I would have a little more respect for you Obama followers if you would be honest once and a while and realize when the chosen one looks or acts like a fool. You people have trade Bush Derangement Syndrome for Obama worship.

“after the Gordon Brown fiasco?”
And, of course, that “fiasco” is the reason why we can get out of this economic mess. And it’s clear that Brown was really hurt by the gift – I mean, he really snubbed the Obamas during their visit to the UK, didn’t he.
Perspective, people.
PS – The video on the iPod is probably in QuickTime or MP3 format. And it doesn’t matter what format it’s in because you watch it on the iPod itself. Also, the iPod doesn’t have a plug…most people charge it by connecting it to the PCs USB ports. I think hey have PCs with USB ports in the UK.

I don’t care one bit about this gift giving gaffe. What I do care about is the reckless overspending by this administration.
According to the Congressional Budget Office, the Obama budget for the next decade will pile up approximately $10 trillion in debt.
Hmmm, let’s see…how’s that going to work out with a tax cut for 95% of Americans?
The Obama budget INCREASES taxes by $1.35 trillion over the next decade.
The Obama budget enacts a $646 billion “Global Warming Tax. The White House has admitted that the real costs could be 2 to 3 times that. These costs will be passed along to ALL OF US in the form of HIGHER costs for home energy, gasoline and food. The WH openly admitted that we will see an average annual increase for our home energy costs of $1800…and that is just what they are admitting to.
The Obama budget RAISES taxes on Americans when they GIVE TO A CHARITY!
I’m all for Hope and Change but I will NOT be brainwashed. This is NOT what our country was looking for.

More than half of the companies in the US paid 0% tax for at least one year in the last 10. About 57% of the US based companies and 72% of the foreign owned companies doing business in the US paid 0% tax for at least one year between 1998 and 2005. More than half of the foreign companies and 42% of the US companies didn’t pay a penny in federal taxes for at least two years in that span. Think anything’s changed since then?

“About 57% of the US based companies and 72% of the foreign owned companies doing business in the US paid 0% tax for at least one year between 1998 and 2005.”
You can’t pay taxes if you don’t have any profits. Love how people play with these numbers. If those companies LOSE money, you don’t pay taxes on money you don’t make. So 0% tax doesn’t mean they made off like bandits, it means they went into debt.

“Do you support The Community Organizer’s 2010 Budget Proposal? If so, why?”
Yes. The current health care system is a drag on US economic production and far too expensive. Every other first world nation spends less on healthcare for overall better results – from lower infant mortality to longer life expectancies. Shifting healthcare burdens off of industry will greatly improve their competitiveness globally. It has also been shown around the world to be a far better use of resources. Rather than spend $25k on emergency room admittance and treatment of a person with an infected wound, you catch them two weeks earlier and spend $50 on antibiotics and 10 minutes with a nurse practitioner.
“Do you support cap and trade? Why?”
Yes. It is a proven mechanism for harnessing the free market to reduce emissions, having been a success hearlded by both parties in dealing with sulfur dioxide (down over 40% since the program began). It will also reduce the subsidization of fossil fuels in a predictable manner that the market can plan and react to. I do happen to agree with the IPCC, the US Academy of Science, and their counterparts in the other first world nations about the likely cost of climate change. And, frankly, I would really like to be able to tell the Sauds to go pound sand someday soon.

Do any of you actually work in business? Corporations don’t pay taxes, their customers do. Costs go up, you raise your prices. You pay more in corporate taxes you raise you prices or charge more for your goods and services or you cut your costs. How do you cut your costs, you lay people off or you pay them less. Do you guys get that? But I forget, the libs want to cap everybody’s salary. they don’t want equal opportunities they want equal outcomes.

“The Government Accountability Office (GAO) examined samples of corporate tax returns filed between 1998 and 2005. In that time period, an annual average of 1.3 million U.S. companies and 39,000 foreign companies doing business in the United States paid no income taxes – despite having a combined $2.5 trillion in revenue.”
Again, if you don’t make money, you don’t pay taxes on it. GM is losing billions this year, how much tax you think they’ll pay? 0%. How much revenue will they generate? Billions and still lose money.

“Do any of you actually work in business? Corporations don’t pay taxes, their customers do. Costs go up, you raise your prices. You pay more in corporate taxes you raise you prices or charge more for your goods and services or you cut your costs.”
So the corporate tax rate doesn’t mean anything especially since no one is proposing raising it.
“How do you cut your costs, you lay people off or you pay them less. Do you guys get that?”
Your first cost cutting measure is to pay people less or lay them off?
And you claim to be in business?
“But I forget, the libs want to cap everybody’s salary. they don’t want equal opportunities they want equal outcomes.”
We have an uneven playing field when it comes to opportunity.
And I see no reason why attaching a CEO’s pay to a certain exponent (say 100 times) of the worker’s salary is the end of the world.

“You paid the taxes on the income that was earned and originally invested, the Capital Gains tax is based on the income from the investment, on which you have paid 0% tax without the Capital Gains tax kicking in. Moving paper around in the stock market to earn income shouldn’t earn a person a lower interest rate (currently 15%) than a person working in any other job.”
Good ole socialist thinking. Why should I be able to keep money I earned. I paid my taxes, had left over money to invest, had a gain, and guess what we want 35% of that too.

“Your first cost cutting measure is to pay people less or lay them off?
And you claim to be in business?”
In the vast majority of business, your biggest cost is payroll. So yeah, thats the first place you cut. Demand goes down, if your productivity is above the demand, you cut production, thus jobs. It’s not very academic. If you run a business on happy-go-feely emotion you’ll be bankrupt and no one will have a job.

“It is when the company is fraudulently claiming loss.”
And that is illegal, tax evasion, in which very few do it. More commonly, they fraudulently report profits to boost their stocks. Should be happy taxing losses.
“Why not the Caymans?
Nothing shady there.”
Kinda need a workforce to do the jobs. Lightly populated islands that lack logistical support for export isn’t exactly ideal.

“Yeah, because corporations moving overseas is based only on the corporate tax rate in the US and has nothing to do with these same corporations paying the workers pennies on the dollar.”
Of course they do. Whos fault is that, the corporation or the country that allows thier workforce to be exploited? Also, those jobs require little to no education. The issue we are running into now is more sophisticaed jobs that require an educated workforce are starting to leave the country. No, tax rates are not the only contributor. Operating regulations, educated work force, sufficient logistics and transportation, cost of land and construction, all play an important role before you move overseas. Most importantly the bottom line, with all of these things taken into account, is it overall cheaper? If the answer is yes, then what can the GOVERNMENT do to offset those costs and make it more economically attractive to stay here? You answer that.

@ Posted by: jhw539 – the real one | Apr 1, 2009 4:05:14 PM
Your response is simply astounding…
I agree with HobokenJohn – Have any of you libs ever worked for a business? Ever created a job? Ever had to have a conversation with an employee letting them know they are losing their job?
Why is it that in the U.S. we are approaching 50% of workers (or would be workers) having zero (0) tax liability with many receiving tax credits (refunds) for “taxes” they did not pay?
A wise man (sarc.) once said about taxes “It’s time to be patriotic … time to jump in, time to be part of the deal, time to help get America out of the rut.”
Does this mean just over 50% of us (i.e., those of us who pay taxes) are patriotic?

“In the vast majority of business, your biggest cost is payroll. So yeah, thats the first place you cut. Demand goes down, if your productivity is above the demand, you cut production, thus jobs.”
While payroll is usually the biggest cost, its not the first place I would look to cut and that was my point.
Maybe that’s personal experience as having good skill people is just too important to our business even though we certainly have seen employees come and go.
“If you run a business on happy-go-feely emotion you’ll be bankrupt and no one will have a job.”
There are costs to laying people off or reducing their salaries, including training new people and/or dealing with office discontent.
Is it a measure that needs consideration at a certain point?
Certainly. But as a first instinct, I think its a loser move.

The existing fraud in the Cayman Islands has nothing to do with having the infrastructure to handle the import/export, the already existing fraud there is entirely based on the banking industry and their manipulation of illegal tax shelters. Same thing with the Swiss bank accounts, and how many wealthy people are starting to panic now that Switzerland has announced that they are opening up the info to the illegal accounts there and have already provided the information on about 300 tax cheats?

“Yes, HobokenJohn, the big bad socialists think that people should be paying their share of taxes based on the income that they earn. It doesn’t (or shouldn’t) matter whether you earn that income as a greeter at Wal-Mart or by getting lucky in the stock market and turning a profit.”
Why am i bothering with you…clearly you don’t understand the difference between income derived from your job and income derived from investing your hard earned money. But you socialist don’t care…it should all be yours to determine what to do with it.

“Is it a measure that needs consideration at a certain point?
Certainly. But as a first instinct, I think its a loser move. ”
You’re playing a game. My father owns a business that builds bridges. He has 3 crews of about 10 people each. If business slows (as it did in 2002) he had to reduce down to 2 crews, thus laid off 10 people. Yes, losing 10 experienced people hurt, but he couldn’t just keep them on the payroll sucking coffee in the shop. He did that for 4 months before the balance sheet couldnt take it anymore. He also sold a couple peices of heavy equipment, but all that really did was lower his monthly costs slightly (about 30k a month) compared to 10 workers on payroll clearing nearly 350k a month.

“illegal accounts there and have already provided the information on about 300 tax cheats?”
Why not have a tax code that makes this not worth it? Read about Russian/Eastern bloc flat tax and see how their revenues jumped. Flat tax is working, no one with a marxist mind wants to see it work however.

“You’re playing a game. My father owns a business that builds bridges. He has 3 crews of about 10 people each. If business slows (as it did in 2002) he had to reduce down to 2 crews, thus laid off 10 people. Yes, losing 10 experienced people hurt, but he couldn’t just keep them on the payroll sucking coffee in the shop. He did that for 4 months before the balance sheet couldnt take it anymore. He also sold a couple peices of heavy equipment, but all that really did was lower his monthly costs slightly (about 30k a month) compared to 10 workers on payroll clearing nearly 350k a month.”
I would say construction as a business model is much more feast or famine vs most other companies.
Layoffs are a great deal more common.
So perhaps its our respective experiences (or in this case your father) which influence our first instinct?
For instance, I could see the heavy equipment sale being more of a last resort given the capital costs of acquiring a new (new or used) machine.

I bet if they give some nice presents for the Queen’s dogs, she would love it so much since she loves her dogs very much.

“Why am i bothering with you…clearly you don’t understand the difference between income derived from your job and income derived from investing your hard earned money. But you socialist don’t care…it should all be yours to determine what to do with it.”
Same tired argument, my money shouldn’t be taxed because I earned it by moving paper around. Money that is earned should be taxed as income no matter the source of the profit. It takes a special type of classism to insist that someone earning their money on a factory floor or working in a restaurant should have to pay at least 25% income tax while someone making money selling stocks and bonds should be entitled to 15% on the Capital Gains tax rate.

“I would say construction as a business model is much more feast or famine vs most other companies.”
All corporations experience ebbs and flows. It becomes far more costly for corporations, such as GM, to downsize and then resize up to demand. They have to close down facilities as well as layoffs. With our family construction business, it was based largely on labor and thus, many times you can save the equipment by laying off workers. However, monthly income fell considerably that some equipment had to be let go. Even after laying off a full crew and seeling some equipment, the company was barely making payroll. He had to refinance most of the equipment in lumped loans, a dangerous risk if things had gotten worse. Luckily things got better and he’s back up to 3 crews now. But had he not downsized when he did, there wouldn’t even be 1 crew.

“Why not have a tax code that makes this not worth it? Read about Russian/Eastern bloc flat tax and see how their revenues jumped. Flat tax is working, no one with a marxist mind wants to see it work however.”
The choice was flat tax or no taxes especially in Russia which was run and oligarchy.

“How so? I thought anyone could make it in America? That’s what my parents taught me through their examples and the values they imparted on me.”
The Horatio Alger myth of the American Dream?
Sadly we have less social mobility than many places in Europe.

“Sadly we have less social mobility than many places in Europe.”
Posted by: Ryan C | Apr 1, 2009 4:45:13 PM
Based on what facts?

“If you take money out of the economic system in any way and don’t contribute to that system, that by existing allowed you to take [earn] that money in the first place, then you are depleating that system. I’d like to see how many of you could get rich living by yourselves on a deserted island.”
Posted by: Skip | Apr 1, 2009 4:44:24 PM
Haven’t you heard of the bailout fairy?

“Same tired argument, my money shouldn’t be taxed because I earned it by moving paper around. Money that is earned should be taxed as income no matter the source of the profit.”
So by this logic, should the government then be responsible for reimbursing me at the same high rate (i.e., 35%) for making bad decisions and ALL LOSSES incurred while shuffling money around in the stock market? Current tax code only allows me to deduct up to $3,000 in losses…Investors take risks, government caps losses on deductions with NO CAP on gains (i.e., whether I gain $6 or $6,000 or $60,000 it is ALL taxed, but if I LOSE $60,000 I can only claim $3,000 in losses in a given year – In fairness, this loss can be spread over 20 years…)

“All corporations experience ebbs and flows.”
Yes but none quite like the construction business where a massive job can dwindle quite quickly.
I worked as a gopher for the office of a GC for a few years and my family (father, sister, uncles cousins etc) has been involved in the labor or management side of construction for aa couple of generations now.
“It becomes far more costly for corporations, such as GM, to downsize and then resize up to demand. They have to close down facilities as well as layoffs. With our family construction business, it was based largely on labor and thus, many times you can save the equipment by laying off workers.”
Again the capital cost of equipment and the nature of the construction means most workers are temporary.

“My wife grew up in Europe and I think she would strongly disagree. (Poland and West Germany). While in the military, I had an opportunity to take orders to Germany. She told me that if I took those orders, she would stay in the states. That’s how much she loved that upward mobility in Europe.”
ROFLMAO!
Seriously this is your argument?
Forget research, I’ll go with my wife’s opinion?
I understand that attitude while at home but here?
Researchers from the Centre for Economic Performance at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) have compared the life chances of British children with those in other advanced countries for a study sponsored by the Sutton Trust, and the results are disturbing.
Jo Blanden, Paul Gregg and Steve Machin found that social mobility in Britain – the way in which someone’s adult outcomes are related to their circumstances as a child – is lower than in Canada, Germany, Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Finland. And while the gap in opportunities between the rich and poor is similar in Britain and the US, in the US it is at least static, while in Britain it is getting wider.
A careful comparison reveals that the USA and Britain are at the bottom with the lowest social mobility. Norway has the greatest social mobility, followed by Denmark, Sweden and Finland. Germany is around the middle of the two extremes, and Canada was found to be much more mobile than the UK.

“Again the capital cost of equipment and the nature of the construction means most workers are temporary.”
Ooh I’d have to disagree there. At least with our business, we’ve had people work for us since the 1980′s. When job cuts come, its the least productive and least valuable that go. We had an operator that had been with us for about 5 years. 2 years prior to him being let go, we hired a new young guy who worked his tail off. When layoffs came, time didn’t matter at that point. The new guy worked harder and never complained. He’s still with us 8 years later.
We seldom approach any hire as temporary, and only when economic times get really tough do we let people go. I would argue that this is no different from any other business.

“While we’re holding Russia’s tax code up on the pedestal here, let’s also point out that they have 22% of the population classified as poor, 40% classified as poverty level, have an average male life expectancy of 58 years, have less than 1% of those under 35 saving money for retirement, and only 15% of the population attends technical school or college. So, how are the wealthy people doing with their 19% flat tax rate?”
I’m sorry, what does the devastation of 80 years of communism have to do with the relationship of flat tax rate and increased revenue and GPD?

“have less than 1% of those under 35 saving money for retirement”
Also they have a manditory retirment plan. So not sure what that number points to, if they have a savings for retirement not counting on their nationally mandated program.

“Actually Slovakia went to a flat tax because they were in economic ruin in the 90′s. Several other nations ditched the “progressive” tax for the flat tax soon after seeing the turn around in Slovakia. Russia also had progressive tax in the 90′s and I think around 2002 switched to a flat tax and had 15% revenue growth in 2 years, over triple their best estimate.”
I predict that they will go to a progressive tax system within 10 years.

Lowering the tax rates to benefit the wealthy members of society doesn’t fix the problems that deteriorate the country as a whole. Having a 19% flat tax for the wealthy has done nothing but increase the gap between the haves’ and have-nots’. The poverty rate, education achievement, life-expectancy, and overall health of the country has continued to stagnate or deteriorate while the wealthy have prospered.

What have some of the other prsidents given the Queen?

“Having a 19% flat tax for the wealthy has done nothing but increase the gap between the haves’ and have-nots’.”
Is that statement a reflex? Every time a flat tax is mentioned it’s suddenly some kind of class warfare machine that runs around stomping on peoples heads. How rediculous. It’s funny how you can argue that corporate tax has little impact on the choice of the corporation but then come back and say how flat tax is some societal borg spreading the gap between wealthy and poor. It’s such rubbish.

A little more about Russia’s mandatory retirement plan…
“Due to the regressive rate of the social tax, the replacement ratio from the state pension ranges from 25 – 30 percent for people with $370 monthly salary to about 1 – 2 percent for high earners.”
“So the message is clear. Employees in Russia, regardless of how well-paid a job they had during their working careers, can expect very little when they retire. Slowly but surely, employees are starting to recognize this.”
Sure sounds great to me…

“The poster you called out was clearly focusing on federal tax liability. Your correction was hardly a relevation to anyone other than yourself.”
Nice try but the right wing talking point is to assert that people that don’t pay taxes are getting tax cuts. Its a bit of reverse class warfare like blaming poor minorities for the mortgage crisis
It loses its bite when you explain what those numbers really mean.

“”It is not false rhetoric. Close to 50% have no Federal Income tax liability. Stop throwing FICA in there, it is a different animal.”
Yes federal income taxes, not fed taxes or taxes.
You guys keep demanding facts then proceed to butcher them for rhetoric.”
Argue about the percentages and/or what taxes are included in the analysis, but here’s the point: It appears fewer and fewer taxpayers are expected to carry more of the tax burden in the interest of bigger government (a power grab for the libs, who ironically, can’t run anything efficiently, but yet so many gullible voters believe they can…which gets me thinking…Can anyone name a serious contender for the Democratic nomination for President who wasn’t either a lawyer or lifelong govt. bureaucrat? Only one who comes to mind is Howard Dean back in ’04… Not many good choices there, but the sucker voters fall for them in frighteningly large numbers… witness our “American Idol” president)

“Sure sounds great to me…”
I’m sorry, your trying really hard to divert from flat tax rate relationship to increased revenues and GPD and diving into other social programs as if it has some relationship. In 1992, Russia had NO retirement plan or program. So if I used the basics of progress, your arguement isn’t helping.

“Not sure I’m deciphering this sentence. Are you saying 28% marginal tax rate was applied to 215k + a year in 1980, then 28% was applied to 28k a year in 1988?”
From the numbers I saw, in 1980 the top rate of 70% was applied to income over $215K.
After 1980 and to 1988, the top rate was 50% and applied to different incomes.
In 1988, the top rate was 28% and applied to income over %28K

According to the nonpartisan experts at the Tax Policy Center the percentage of tax filers with zero or negative individual income tax liability will be 38 percent in 2009.

How unbelievably tacky these people are
****************************************
Hmm….. I have read many of your comments. They don’t look so good to me.

“According to the nonpartisan experts at the Tax Policy Center the percentage of tax filers with zero or negative individual income tax liability will be 38 percent in 2009.”
ROFLMAO!
The “nonpartisan” Tax Policy Center run by the Heritage Foundation?

“In 1988, the top rate was 28% and applied to income over %28K”
That would imply we had a flat tax of 28% above 28k a year? I know thats not true.
“This country rose to greatness on the progressive tax structure.”
Might say we rose to greatness despite progressive tax structure too.
“Flat tax is a horrible idea.”
Based on what? How much do you know about Slovakia, Estonia, Ukraine, Russia, etc flat tax system? From what facts do you base this horrible idea? While flat tax isn’t without some contraversy over there, it doesn’t seem to be in any danger of changing back. In fact, I believe it was Estonia that started its flat tax at 22% and it’s now around 15% some years later. At the same time, federal revenues and GDP have gone up at record rates. How horrible!

Ryan C, I corrected your post:
“By the same token, one cannot point to a perpetually increasing federal budget and claim all is well.”

“By the same token, one cannot point to a rising GDP and claim all is well.”
You would never point to a declining GPD and associate that with prosperity of the nation now would you? I would argue that the conditions of the nation, in order to increase aggrigate wealth and lower unemployment, GDP must go up. Revenues then go up allowing for more infrastructure, education, and R&D investment, attracting more foreign investment and thus raising future revenues. It’s one of those crazy economic things.
Europeans are outraged at the flat tax in Eastern Europe as corporations are moving there in masse. Educated work force, simple tax code, plenty of cheap land, Europe cannot compete with that. Europe also cannot adopt a flat tax as they are weighted down with bloated social entitlements and benefits. They need revenues so they raise taxes, making it less and less attractive to invest in. Revenues continue to decline. It’s like a snake eating it’s own tail. Eventually, there isn’t any more snake to swallow except itself.

It’s worth noting that Europe’s income statistics are rather skewed by the relative lack of immigrants (who tend to enter with little capital and little earning potential, thus skewing the figures downward for the short term); most of the difference in income inequality between the U.S. and western Europe could be “eliminated” by adopting European immigration policies, although how that would help the immigrants is a bit hard to fathom. Moreover, I rather doubt that a large percentage of those who remain in poverty are immigrants. The evidence suggests that the hard-core who remain in poverty have the following characteristics:
A) they don’t finish high school (not such a great intellectual challenge anymore for most people);
B) they have difficulty keeping a job;
C) they have children before marriage.
In fact, if one manages to finish high school, keep and hold any job for a year, and wait until marriage before having a child, the chances that one will remain poor are vanishingly small. Those three matters are substantially under one’s own control. What, I wonder, could account for such behavioral traits as A, B, and C? I wonder if it might be the welfare state, especially that portion of it targeted (the term is appropriate in more ways than one) at the poor. It may be why one of the most successful means of reducing the welfare rolls and encouraging people to get jobs has been the keeping time-limitations on welfare benefits are time-limited.

I referenced (Intergenerational Mbility in Europe and North America) studied social mobility as related to parental income and one’s educational level and made no mention of ethnicity.
So how full of it are you? ”
Look …I am not going to do the research for you. Go back and look at the supporting facts of the study. They are not making an apples to apples comparison when it comes to population make-up.

“Why not?”
Cause this country hasn’t had a flat tax in decades. Maybe we are not on the same page when we talk “top marginal rate”. I think of top marginal rate as the highest tax rate in terms of income taxes. To my knowledge, we have had a graduated tax bracket since the turn of the 20th century.

@ HobokenJohn,
Nice attempt, but odds are stacked against you. You are up against a reflexive devotion of spoon-fed dogma and ideology rather than objective reasoning and critical thinking. Notice there are few (if any) positions taken; instead a series of attempts to tear down the positions of others are offered.

“…does one get a Queen?” How about
a SIGNED copy of “The Audacity of Hope”?
I mean, she’d be tickled pink!

Can’t believe that the Obamas haven’t learned from the past gift gaffes. The Obamas have been prepping for this meeting with the Queen and they give her a gadget that can be bought a the Best Buy clearance bin.

“objective reasoning and critical thinking.”
I love it when someone who posted a right wing spam email makes claims of objective reasoning and critical thinking.

BTW for all its contentious nature, the discussion on taxes has been a good one.
Kudos for participants!

I mean, if things were only black or white, we’d miss a lot of rainbows.

You really need to engage in critical thinking and reading comprehension. Go back and look at the underlying stats for the study. You can’t take a European countries population make up from the 50s-60s-70s and compare them to today. If you can’t see how ethnic minorities factor in this, then I can’t help you.

No class whatsoever.
Can’t hide it.

“From parents income levels to educational opportunity to even considerations such as race and gender, we do not enter this world on equal footing.”
Hmmm….Let’s take a look at our current Community-Organizer-In-Chief:
Parent’s income level: Modest, at best; father abandoned C-O-I-C at early age (unbeknowst to his mother, The One’s father already had a wife back in Kenya)
Educational Opportunity: C-O-I-C attended arguably the finest private school in Hawaii and then attended prestigious institutions such as Occidental College, Columbia, and Harvard…not too shabby
Race: Mixed white and black background…probably not a popular mix back in the 60s & 70s
Gender: Male (generally advantageous in society)
It seems the C-O-I-C had the deck stacked against him…but yet he rose to become C-O-I-C with his own set of personized teleprompters.
So help me understand…I’m just not seeing how you can say “We have an uneven playing field when it comes to opportunity.”

“That educated workforce is moving to Western Europe which has better worker protections.”
Are you kidding? Do you really believe the “educated workforce” is moving to Western Europe for “better worker protections” (???)
Astounding.

“Are you kidding? Do you really believe the “educated workforce” is moving to Western Europe for “better worker protections”
If you’re educated, why work for low wages with little social safety net when you can migrate to a place with better pay and benefits?
Which countries are seeing more migration to them?
Flat tax former Eastern Bloc nations or Western Europe?

Good Lord! Do they think the Queen is sixteen?

/—–
According to the Census Bureau:
Top 20% starts at $88k for a household.
Top 10% is somewhere between $100k and $149k per household.
Top 5% starts at $157k for a household.
—–/
Curious — what makes any of you think that the real top earners the mega-millionaires/billionaires actually pay taxes? By the time they widdle down their ‘taxable’ income, hide their income in foreign banks, or take advantage of the numerous tax shelters, what do they really pay? I do not think it is possible that the top 10% of taxpayers only earn 100-149K.

“If you can’t see how Europe has been effected by ethnic immigration and how it relates to a country’s present day population make-up as compared to 30-50 years ago, then I don’t no what more to say.”
So you made up the part about ethnic minorities skewing the study’s results?
Europe has of course been affected by immigration as has this country.
So you haven’t demonstrated how the study did not take that into account or how that skewed their results.
All you had was a scoop from Inner Rectum News

“Are you kidding? Do you really believe the “educated workforce” is moving to Western Europe for “better worker protections”

If you’re educated, why work for low wages with little social safety net when you can migrate to a place with better pay and benefits?
What you are stating in is MUCH different than “better worker protections” – You are speaking of wages (a fair portion of which is repatriated to home countries)

/—–
What you are stating in is MUCH different than “better worker protections” – You are speaking of wages (a fair portion of which is repatriated to home countries)
—–/
Wage protection is as much a part of worker protection as safety. Otherwise, why not reinstitute slavery with safety precautions mandated? You’re not making any sense. Work is to be rewarded.

I’m sure the Her Majesty, the Queen gets a warm and fuzzy feeling inside when she views His Utter Cluenessness’ inauguration and listens to him read from the his ExternallyLocatedBrain.

Anything but an ipod..something that represents all we stand for, for instance tastefully framed signed lithograph, by all living presidents, of our Constitution…Anything that shows effort…I am REALLY embarrassed for our Country. I believe most of us have better taste..

“Wage protection is as much a part of worker protection as safety. Otherwise, why not reinstitute slavery with safety precautions mandated? You’re not making any sense. Work is to be rewarded.”
Sorry, have to disagree. Work IS to be rewarded, but at market rates (i.e., you receive a wage commensurate with the value-add provided). Would you suggest the laborer who digs a ditch for a sidewalk with a pickaxe and shovel be paid more than the cement truck operator who pours the cement? The cement truck operator is paid more due to higher value-add.
I wish all of us could get paid as much as we wanted, but unfortunately the world does not work that way.

What a narcissist! Obama included his 2004 DNC speech? No audiobooks of his bestsellers?

May 7, 2007: The President and Mrs. Bush welcomed Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and His Royal Highness, The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, for a State Visit yesterday at the White House.
The principals (i.e., The President & First Lady) conducted a leader to leader gift exchange in the Red Room of the White House immediately after the arrival ceremony. President and Mrs. Bush gave Her Majesty a bronze statuette “High Desert Princess” with a personal inscription on the bottom of the base. It is a replica of the original life size statue that is located in front of the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame in Ft. Worth, Texas.
President and Mrs. Bush gave The Prince Philip an exclusive sterling silver eagle box by Tiffany & Co. with personal inscription on the inside lid.
President and Mrs. Bush gave Their Majesties a leather presentation box filled with a collection of documents from the National Archives. One of the items was a copy of an original letter from President Roosevelt to her father, King George, written in 1938. There were also photos from previous royal visits and a DVD of the footage from the Queen’s visit to the United States when she was Princess Elizabeth in 1951.
\\\\\\———-\\\\\\
Flash forward….
April 1, 2009: President and First Lady Obama gave Her Royal Highness Queen Elizabeth II a video iPod with inscription, songs uploaded and accessories, plus a rare musical songbook signed by Richard Rodgers.
\\\\\\———-\\\\\\
I think this speaks volumes about the differences in attention to detail, respect for allies, thoughtfulness for friends, and grace between the Bush White House and the Obama White House…

/—–
It would seem to me your assertions/opinions are based more along academic/ideological lines rather than real world experience (kind of similar to what is going on D.C. these days…look at the policy wonks and climate change experts who have now been tasked with “overseeing” the restructuring of GM & Chrysler – NONE have ANY automotive experience).
—–/
Dollars and cents don’t require automotive experience. At some point, the automotive industry will realize that the new auto sales are down because the used car sales are up. It has nothing to do with the new gadgets they’ve added to their new lines that they think they can command mega-bucks for. It is all about Americans know-how as far as making do plus our practical perspective which is ALWAYS ignored by foreigners with stereotypical views of us.
When fuel-efficient vehicles came out (fueled by the “low-cost labor” that actually costs more than American labor), the cost was over 100K per vehicle. Well there aren’t enough Americans that could afford that and it is only a foreign-born perception that all Americans are rich. So we just wait until those that could afford the overpriced whims traded-in and bought those same vehicles for cheap. It is the FOREIGN perception and those influenced by foreigners that believe that Americans are faddish, whimsical and will pay ANY price!
Now if the American auto manufacturer didn’t hire/contract with foreign “cheap” labor (and suffer their biased influence), the costs would have been lower and more Americans might consider a purchase. Same with the banks. Same with the government.
Now we have bankrupt companies as they finally realize that Americans had good “sense” after all. It is the cheap, misguided regarding our culture foreigners that are in shock about our practicality — not us.
Sell cars that can be paid for in five years or less or raise Americans salaries. Same for homes at 30 years (the norm — we don’t buy homes priced at half a mil to 2 mil). They can’t have wage suppression and inflated values for their products unless they expect us all to love money enough to commit crimes to afford their products. Plain stupid when the culture of Americans is to be civilized.
Increase wages OR deflate prices and nullify contracts. Bye-bye Wall Street if your analysts can’t figure out how to achieve wage increases for the masses (not just the CEOs and top manipulators) OR deflate the value of your stock and all things attached so that the rest of the people can afford the products.

“Mrs. Bush gave Her Majesty a bronze statuette “High Desert Princess” with a personal inscription on the bottom of the base. It is a replica of the original life size statue that is located in front of the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame in Ft. Worth, Texas.”
This is grace and class?
That’s something a Texas BBQ would have
“There were also photos from previous royal visits and a DVD of the footage from the Queen’s visit to the United States when she was Princess Elizabeth in 19%5″
OMG! Don’t the Bushes know that presenting video footage and photos from previous visits is classless?

/—–
It’s not all about what you are paid, purchasing power must also be considered. Higher wages do not necessarily equal higher standard of living.
—–/
On that I agree. You can WORK in the high priced district and LIVE in the nearby low-priced district. Most Americans have figured that out — which is why the high-priced districts are on their way to slums while the rural and suburban areas have profitable shops opening up daily.

woops! meant to say “pour” cement not “poor” cement.
either way, value is not based on costs which includes the risks involved.

Ryan…If you don’t have a true understanding how immigration from North Africa and from the old Soviet Block has affected Europe in the last 20 years and thus would affect the results, than you are hopeless.

Class warfare is going to doom this country. Such base jealousy is counterproductive for everyone involved.

Guess they couldn’t fit “Yes We Can! The Barack Obama Story” on there.

Ryan_C, try not to faint, coz I’m going to chime in here taking issue with someone you are also taking issue with.
Pocketbook, you suggested that European income statistics are skewed by “relative lack of immigration.” Huh? What on earth makes you think there is little immigration in Europe? I don’t have the figures at hand, but as I recall, the percentage of the population that is immigrant ranges from 10 to 20 percent for most western European countries. That sounds like a lot to me. Many European countries are heavily dependent upon foreign workers and immigration and assimilation or lack thereof are hot-button political issues in Europe as well.

Telford – Don’t overlook the fact that the Obama’s even signed the photo for the Queen, because, you know, now it’s worth even more on Ebay!

Obama should have given Her Majesty a gift certificate to Starbucks or J. Crew.

egotistical

It’s not “Her Royal Highness,” it’s “Her Majesty.”

Obama must be doing something right … because all we hear from the nay-sayers is this type of idiot clatter re presents and such. Who cares!

Remember, Sarah Palin winked and everyone thought she would represent America in a tacky way.

You HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING! Obama gives the queen an ipod with his speeches on it? This is an April fools joke isn’t it?
The guy is a complete embarassment! Why not just give the queen a giftcard to Best Buy!

Your bloody bloke, Sir Bafflement is indeed a chap with no clothes. An i-pod for the Queen of England. Well thank bloody goodness he didn’t return us Massachusetts. This dreadful cur’s ignorance of culture is befitting of that obscene throng that endowed him his rhinestone embedded, plastic throne. My sincere consideration, to those whom must suffer this man as their delusional emperor enfant terrible. God save the USA.

Give him a break. He probably thought that the real gift was giving her a chance to meet him. Doesn’t she know how great he is and what an honor it is to meet him?

I bet the Queen slept well lastnight. She laid down and began to listen to her ipod filled with Obama speeches.

It is a tradition that the Queen gives a signed picture as a gift during the first meeting between the Royal Family and the visiting leader. Just a fact that is missing I believe. This knowledge would be helpful to note since it should have or was known by the White House before it selected some of the “Greatest Hits” from the teleprompter.

“Perhaps, Lisa, you have not read the Telegraph”
The Telegraph? Are you serious? You mean that Toby Harnden and Tim Shipman, who are forever trying to get their stuff on Drudge’s front page to increase traffic to their blogs/articles? They’re notorious for it. Drudge-bait works, I see.

The elite, exchange gifts portraying their arrogant selves!!! She’s not my Queen and he is not my Constitutionally verified President!!! History has been made, a man of the world has been selected to lead the New Nation (America)!!! Notice how he (Obama) chooses his words carefully, so as to teach all to follow him and his teachings!!!! Even though they resist at first, they will soon succumb, it is his calling, it has been written!!!!

Well I couldn’t have said it better myself, Tully. I’m American but you have a certain way of putting things that is better. But hey, we have John Wayne!

No surprise here. It’s too bad that he is supposed to be intellectual, wow what an overstatement!

I wish these two would stay at home because their behavior is beyond tacky, it’s downright common. I know that one cannot expect much from trash like this, but it looks like one of the handlers would step in an take over the situations that require protocol. This woman should be banned from purchasing any more gifts for dignitaries because this is not only embarrassing, it is humiliating.

A photo of the queen and her husband is a standard gift from the queen when meeting heads of state. It does not sound like much but it is consistant. If I remember correctly, I think the Reagan’s gave the queen a photo of themselves. But an Ipod, sorry, that is about as bad as the DVD’s for the Prime Minister. But this reporter not calling her by her title of Her Majesty is worse and befits an Obama supporter.

So, the obamadude gave the Queen an Ipod. The vision of the Queen wandering around Buckingham Palace with little white wires dangling from her ears bopping to showtunes is worthy of Mad magazine. The first child saw fit to throw in a couple of his teleprompter speeches. I can hear the Queen now, “Philip! Where’s the damn delete button on this thing?”

Obama is proving that this … is Amateur Hour in the US!!!
And Michele didn’t curtsy… she bowed. BIG diss to the queen.
Trailer-trash? It looks like it.
DVDs to the Prime Minister that can’t be played in the UK?
I mean what the hell… I hated Bush, but this is insane! What freaking rubes the Obamas are! And they think they are better than everyone!
Embarassing us even more than the Bushes did! Ugh!

Someone… PLEASE… tell our “Dear Leader” (Obama) the difference between ‘England’ and the ‘U.K.’.
He’s really starting to embarass us in the USA.

“And Michele didn’t curtsy… she bowed. BIG diss to the queen.”
Americans don’t curtsey to the Queen. We are not her subjects.

Ryan C, Read her wiki page; she was Queen for 5 years in ’57 doing her Jamestown visit.
“Elizabeth became Queen … upon the death of her father, George VI, on 6 February 1952.”
And as for your slap on the former First Lady, a video ipod is something given out at a supermarket for being the noted customer for some inept reason.

Our weak faux president has no class.
The clown fool Obama would be better suited as a jester in Her Majesty’s court.
What an embarrassing dolt. Dvd’s, an iPod…what next…a teleprompter?

God, how TACKY! BO strikes out again.

Is Obama really THAT stuck on himself?
Not only does the liberal media worship this empty suit…
…but I suspect that Obama will soon give a press conference when he will announce that his poop doesn’t stink.

Debbie, thank God I didn’t vote for him!

What a non story, you Drudge blinded twits. yes, it’s a lame present. Yes, the movies were a lamer present. Clearly who ever’s been coming up with these presents, AN AIDE, should rethink things or be replaced. BUT WHO CARES? and what in gods name does this have to do with jimmy carter?

This guy is a certifiable idiot. I’m sorry, I’m a conservative but I was willing to give him every chance in the world. Well, he’s been given every chance. I dont know whose more ill bred , this president or his advisors.
They cant be this dumb, or can they?

BO is an embarrassment to the USA…..

President Obama’s gift to the queen was VERY tacky. The man wants to get along with all countries, yet he insults the people of England by giving their Queen a paltry Ipod. With all of Obama’s advisors, you would think that he could have come up with something more tasteful. Thanks Obama voters, The United States is now the laughingstock of the world. When people of other countries feel sorry for us because of our leader, we got problems people! Every world leader knows that Obama hasn’t a clue, which makes the United States very vulnerable.

Unbelievable. Zero strikes again.

You’re wrong, ster… AGAIN. At Lady Di’s wedding, Mrs. Reagan shook the Queen’s hand instead of curtseying OR bowing. It is NOT protocol for anyone other than a British subject to curtsey to the Queen.
Please stop spouting off about things you know nothing about.

It is so very refreshing to listen to all you right wingers whine so profusely. You represent perhaps 28% of Americans and you know you are being left behind. Absolutely Wonderful.

Please do your research and you will see that President Bush gave beautiful, meaningful gifts to the Queen and our Dear Leader gave an Ipod with his speeches.
Nice, Obama. He is a classless individual.

Michelle Obama touched the Queen. I knew she would make mistake. lol

Lisa:
Even if Ms. Reagan was wrong (she was not), it doesn’t make it right.
I am sorry you lefties have to bring up cons as examples of bad bahavior (there’s plenty there), but it still does not make it right or OK. It’s a straw man argument. (Look that up too.)

MO touched the Queen? Are you kidding! Major faux pas!

I’m so embarrassed by our president with how he has treated our British friends. First with the DVD’s, then dissing the Prime Minister by saying he was to busy to have dinner and a press conference with him (he can celebrate St. Patrick’s day with a party, though) and now this. Obama has no class. On behalf of myself (not an Obama voter), I apologize to our friends across the pond.

I would like to personally apologize to our friends in the UK for this moron we call a president that has been thrust upon us by the uneducated lowlifes that have permeated our society. Please understand that I did not vote for this fool and that half of our nations’ voters do still have a shred of intelligence left. In four years we hope to fix this mess and be able to hold our heads up again when we send Obama back to the thug filled streets of Chicago where he belongs. He isn’t qualified to run a hotdog stand, and how he wormed his way into the presidency will remain a mystery for years to come.

Now THAT is classy! OMG!

FarLeft, you sound like Barney Fwank’s kinda guy . . .

He is giving symbols of his USA, movies and songs. Next year it will be teleprompters. “We are moving quickly to change from the crisis we inherited. It requires extraordinary action , but there are no quick fixes to lay a stronger foundation for ordinary citizens.”

Sycophants: People who apologize for people with NO TASTE!

obama has gone insane with power.
God help us all!!!

FarLeft, don’t be too happy, alot of ppl on this board voted FOR BO!

We’re carrying on, FarLeft. Don’t you read? We’re buying up all the ammo as fast as it can be produced. Just sayin’ . . .

The tree of Liberty needs to be refreshed soon…enjoy that when it comes liberals.

OK, that’s enough. As these posts attest, the democratization of snobbery is complete. Now, every hayseed feels superior to Obama because he’s common. Oh, wait, during the campaign they were saying he was too aloof and distant from them.

Lisa, The President of the United States gave the Queen of England an ipod. Twenty years from now it will be the equivalent of President Reagan giving the Queen a Beta cassette player. He should have at least given Her Majesty a gift certificate to J Crew.

I can’t believe they gave her an ipod. This is the second time they have screwed up on a gift. Sigh…

“President and First Lady Obama gave Her Royal Highness Queen Elizabeth II a video iPod ”
She is not “Her Royal Highness”. That title is for princes and princesses.
She is “Her Majesty” Queen Elizabeth 11.
No wonder White House brats got it wrong!

Well, its going to be an interesting ride for the next 4 years. The Obamas have definitely lowered expectations for the next first family.
Bill Clinton, you have been owned.

An iPod.
I guess it’s better than presenting Queen Elizabeth with a garbage disposal.

Is this guy a moron or what? He first gives the Prime Minister of England some useless DVD’s and now he gives the elderly 90 + year old Queen an ipod. Where is his head? This dude has something wrong with him.

Though I disagree with obama on everything he is an American President, and Americans owe no allegiance to British royalty he shouldn’t pretend the Queen is anything more than he is.

The president is dumb? The guy is a constitutional scholar and professor, and he’s clearly a knowledgeable person. Listen to what he says anytime he speaks extemporaneously, at least he can actually fill a discussion with substantive arguments compared to, say, his predecessor.
Besides, he can’t be as full of himself as the Queen is — he didn’t give her a silver-framed portrait of himself.

Re: “Mediocre. That’s what you get when you overpromote underqualified minorities to “social engineer” a society.”
Bush would love to be mediocre. How did he get into Harvard Business school with a C average from Yale undergrad?
He’s WHITE.

Affirmative action? What a stupid scapegoat. So that held his hand through his studies and handed him a graduate’s degree?

Could someone please remind this jerk that he’s the President of the United States of America now? This guy is most definitely the worst leader we’ve ever had. He just doesn’t seem to realize what the job entails. Wake me up when this is over.

wow..how embarrassing…and that Ipod thing too….ug…

re: “The president is dumb? The guy is a constitutional scholar and professor, and he’s clearly a knowledgeable person.”
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha. That’s a good one.

Has anyone noticed that conservatives are the only ones who compare Obama to Christ, the Messiah, Savior, etc.? I haven’t met a liberal yet who thought that…

“The lack of intelligence in this thread is staggering — and depressing. Is this representative of the ABC audience?”
Yeah, no kidding.
Most if not all of the people posting here are committed detractors and GOP voters and supporters, so their feigned indignance over this stupid issue really isn’t worth a damn anyway.

ipod to HRH is to be expected from affirmative action grad
but at least the guy learned how to read TOTUS and preach his radical hypocrisy.

President Obama = big goon

James-
Let’s take an honest look at what’s going on here. I would love to have the pleasure of reading your comments in this same space had this article been regarding Bush at the previous G20. Do you think you might be so adamant that this is no big issue? Be honest now…

What gift to you give a queen? At first I thought the iPod was silly but with all of her visit videos/photos on it, it actually sounds like a pretty good gift..
No one has said that it was silly for the queen to give the Obamas an autographed picture of herself..

What a noob and an embarrassment.

” Thats correct Rando, why is that surprising? Liberals dont believe in God. Or, to say the least, they wont acknowledge God.”
Um… I’m a liberal, and I love Jesus. And Obama is not my Messiah. Seriously, thanks for telling me what I believe though, since you seem to know me so well.
You’re thinking of Atheists. Not the same as liberals, but, you know, three-syllable words can be confusing sometimes…

Criminal associates? Hah, like Kenneth Lay? Idiot.

There will be merit to your whining when his approval rating hits the low forties and he cooks up false intelligence to kill thousands of our sons and daughters in a war of utter choice.
Posted by: James | Apr 2, 2009 12:24:11 AM
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that will happen next month
your prez is saving his best for last – so your best defense will be needed for the coming funnies.

Criminal associates? Hah, like Kenneth Lay? Idiot.
Posted by: James | Apr 2, 2009 12:24:49 AM
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nor very good defense of all the tax cheats – all criminals on staff of the corrupt liar obama

“”Ask me if I care what you call it? I don’t give a rat’s behind :P”
Obviously. I hope the 21st century blesses us with a time machine so you can go back and live in your own personal heaven: the 1800s. Unbelievable.”
You’re absolutely incredible. I bet you think it would have been perfectly O.K. if someone had said Bush was stinking up the White House, yet you get all offended if anyone says the same about Odumbo.

sorry, that was Ben.

Actually, no I wouldn’t. I’m pretty sure Bush showered regularly. And don’t worry, my feelings aren’t hurt. The only injury you have caused is to my optimism about the American people. Hopefully your type will fade away…

Gerry wrote: “Good Heavens! When will they (and their protocol office flunkies) learn that you just don’t give consumer goods (even the top-of-the-line souped-up consumer goods) as gifts to heads of state or heads of government. You give them something unique and representative of your country… A Richard Rogers songbook fits the bill much better than an iPod…”
I wonder if the charger for the iPod only works on 110 volts 60 hz AC, like the DVD’s he gave PM Brown were the incorrect format and would not play on a DVD player in the UK.
.

conservative clinger – the liberals dont like the regurgitation of the liberal vitriol on their affirmative action prez.
their hypocrisy, vitriol and anger is showing and very telling
it would be very entertaining – if not for the moron prez embarrassing the Real Americans and screwing the country up for years to come

What a bafoon. bo could do worse……..oops, he already did.

I see that the liberals have given up defending their president
dont blame them – tough to defend quotas

THE QUEEN GOT AN I-POD IN 2005 AND PRINCE ANDREW PROGRAMMED IT FOR HER!
This was front-page news for three days!
It was also an economic story on the financial pages, but this crowd doesn’t read the financial pages, do they?

Some people voted for him because of his stance on actual Issues…
Posted by: AllYouSeeIsBlack | Apr 2, 2009 12:49:06 AM
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I have always said that the vast majority of Americans should not be allowed to vote – and this election and obama proved that fact
Now, America pays the price for being fashionable and fou fou
which reminds me – where is bwaney fwank again – oh yea, I forgot, he is in fnma/fhlmc pocket.

The Queen was very clever to give the Obamas a modest gift so as to minimize the likelihood that she would embarass them if they undergifted again. Or maybe she was making a subtle jab at them for their amazon.com gift to the PM. Either way, at least she gave them something they did not already have. Also: Obama has hired tons of former Clintonites, including a Clinton. Would it hurt to hire one more–whoever was in charge of protocol for WJC? He never had these problems.

God Save the Queen! Run Liz Run! Do not press start..oh my goodness..showtunes, maybe ( I know you like them) but the speeches? no no no..now that is torture!!

God save the Queen from the Affirmative Action President.

“Criminal associates? Hah, like Kenneth Lay? Idiot.
Posted by: James | Apr 2, 2009 12:24:49 AM”
Like the murderer, Ayers.

Obama gave the Queen an IPOD and in return he received a signed photograph in a silver frame? I would choose the IPOD!! Despite what you conservatives may think about Obama, I would like to remind you all what he inherited as President. 1) A serious recession on the verge of a depression. 2) A global financial meltdown. 3) US mortgage collapse. 4) A war in Iraq and Afghan. Obama has been in office for less than 100 days and the majority of you want to attack him, as he was the primary cause for all our problems. These events did not just happen in the past 3 months they have been in the making for the past 20 years. Just a little history reminder the past 20 years were under Republican control the majority of the time. So how are the current issues Obama’s and the Democratic Party fault? I personally fail to see the correlation! Obama has been in office for less then 100 days we can all agree or disagree on his policies, but the fact is a Republican controlled government has gotten us here and drastic measures have to be taken to turn this great nation around!! For all of you that thank they can do a better job run for public office!! Personally, I am tired of the political b.s. and my new voting philosophy is to vote everyone out every time despite his or her party affiliation this is the only way we will get real change, because that is truly what this nation needs. The good ol’ boy system is obsolete.

Republicans have never done a damn thing for anyone except themselves. They are spoiled selfish children and will be punished.

hey mike in va. your president barry seotoro gets the same exact treatment from the republicans as the democrats gave to GW in his last term. this guy may be able to convince 52% of america but his numbers are tanking and he is not a real president. he only plays one on tv.

Wladimir Thomas:
Sorry, but YOU are wrong. The writer is correct. HE IS NOT ADDRESSING HER, HE IS REFERRING TO HER IN PRINT.
Please, if you care so much about this matter, please, consult a book on royal protocol and read it first hand.
The author is not as stupid as you wish to pretend.

i’m neither left nor right, but i’ve got to say that the level and tenor of the ‘conservative’ responses here are, to say the least, embarrassing and saddening. but then, that seems to be the life strategy for those clowns-crap in the middle of the room and the civilized will leave, so one is then free to plunder at will and then point the finger of blame at those who fled the stink.
my bet is that the queen found the gift pleasing as it is thoughtful and inclusive. the people concerned with ‘tackiness’ are the characters who find the lord’s approval in a mcmansion with a large closet off the laundry room for the brat’s nanny.

“He ain’t my president”
Than you’re not an American, because he’s the American president. Deal with it.
And why does everyone bash Michelle Obama’s looks? You sound like you’re four years old. Are you four years old?

We are gagging that our president would give the Queen and IPOD during a State visit!!! But it gets worse: It was loaded with his speeches!!! To my British brethren: we are embarassed and appalled over here. He’s not representing the majority of sensible Americans, that’s for sure.

Proton -
Martin Luther King was a Republican. He was punished. You are good with that, huh? Educate yourself.
“Republicans have never done a damn thing for anyone except themselves. They are spoiled selfish children and will be punished”.

Mable wrote: “I’m so embarrassed for you Americans. What a tacky and classless thing to do. Michelle and her husband obviously have no clue on the proper etiquette or protocol when addressing a person of royalty. One would assume that obama would know to at least google.”
You are not half as embarrassed as most of us are at having this moron for a president.

I can’t believe I voted for this idiot.

Oh, Ben get serious.
BARNEY FRANK AND CHRIS DODD OWN THE MORTAGE MESS AND YOU KNOW IT.
You are discounting every wrong thing that Clinton and Obama have done, while attempting to magnify what Bush and Reagan did. You will NEVER be taken seriously when you are not FAIR AND BALANCED.
You simply cannot make your sweeping statements BECAUSE they cannot be proven in fact. If you are going to argue economics, you will need flow charts, lines of responsibility, and affects over time. You glittering generalities are simply juvenile and NO WAY to argue a point.
IOW, there is a place for opinion and a place for fact, but you simply cannot mix and mingle the two.
Clearly, you are not a PolySci major or you would be steeped in statistics classes, and history classes, and management classes, and comparative governments, and even some economics, which you have not taken.
So, stick to opinion, and leave serious arguing to those who are trained in the art and science of same.

…a i-pod for a woman in her 90′s~ lol…with of course a copy of a speech made by him……somehow i dont think she’ll be comparing him to churchhill! lol..well my British friends consider yourself lucky at least he didnt wear his Hawaiian flipflops!
God help America!
:-)
Peter-San diego

its just the first of many. theres more to come.

So what would you conservatives give the Queen of England?
…I guess a tax cut.

Dear Anti:
Whoever wrote that account is being kind. I SAW THE TAPE and Michelle put her l-o-n-g arm clearly all around the Queen, putting her hand on the Queen’s far shoulder and attempted to “move her.”
I have no doubt that some want to “take it easy” on the Obamas, but the TAPE shows it all, and it “ain’t pretty.”
I also have no doubt that the “Royal Back” gave off a warning shudder and Michelle quickly realized this isn’t a cheesy taping of “The View” (where SHE is treated like a pretend queen).

Absolutely no idea of a thing called “Protocol”.
This guy is clueless – has no one in his camp giving him imformation, or he will not listen to anyone. He possible thinks of himself as “Royalty” which is wrong, he is our number one public servant elected hopefully for one term only.

Was this whole day in London some type of April Fool’s Day joke?????

The world is quickly becoming defined between the educated, intelligent, and enlightened: President Barack Obama supporters…
and those that are NOT.

Barack Obama – every bit as stupid as the left claimed George Bush was.

Oh, Bama -
“She requested an iPod vith video of her 2007 US visit”.
Yeah, and thank the Lord that president Obama had the power to deliver that for her because no one else in the world could have managed that particular impossible dream!. LOL!

The iPod is loaded with himself giving speeches …. how gaudy, narcissistic and tacky! What an incompetent buffoon we got for a President! Was this worth trading away our children’s future prosperity and liberty?

Ding Dong Daddy:
She carries a lipstick, a gold compact, a handkerchief, and a folded note (denomination unknown) for the collection plate on Sundays.
Why do you care?

Anyone notice in the vid with meeting HRH that michelle pretty much kicked Prince Philip out of the photo op

He should’ve given her a nice new pair of Air Jordans.

stgeorgeschapel:
Now she has two Ipods because THAT”S what she asked for.
I have one word of advice for abc news: “GOOGLE”

It’s like comedy hour with all these ‘tards. (oops there I go talkin like the pres..)
Joe “Jobs-is-a-3-letter-word” Biden,
Hillary “Overcharged-reset-button” Clinton,
Barak “Tax-cheaters-are-people-too” Obama.
What has this country come to..
p.s. JoeBlw – great comment…

So 0bama gave the Queen an iPod loaded with his own speeches?
That’s almost as classy as the 25 region 1 DVDs he gave Gordon Brown.
0bama’s the worst kind of idiot: an arrogant one.

Amazing display of protcol, so much for education and grace. Lord help us as these people have not a clue…
Go Merkel and Sarkozy…somebody get some guts and stop the madeness

jennifer:
It is my cultural endearment. Apologies if it did not translate.

Impeachment…how long is it gonna take?

So, the queen gave them a picture of… herself. And an iPod, one of the most singularly innovative products in our recent history, with pictures of her trip (more her) isn’t good enough?
At least he was voted for by the People. I don’t even get why so many people stand up for monarchies anymore… it’s such BS. Protocol… more BS, BS created by upper income brackets while most of the commentators here on this page fought and died in wars, were ploughing and tending to fields… come on people.
Get with the 21st century.

Did you all catch Reggie Love struttin’ across the courtyard at Buckingham Palace with the presidential limo behind him?
The Obama “aides” had parked the behemoth presidential limousine in such a way as to block OTHER members. They were instructed to “please move your car.” (Prince Charles was the first one able to drive through after “the beast” was moved.) Can you imagine this Chicago punk and his “entourage” blocking the way? They are displaying no intelligence, no thought, no consideration, no grace, no class, no clue!
It appears that the Obama “mis-administration” is going to commit many faux pas and make us look very bad around the world. [His followers have had nothing good to say about President George W. Bush, or any Republicans. Too bad they don’t understand that Her Royal Highness has invited TWO presidents ONLY to her favorite home, Windsor Castle; Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush. Those invitations are much more telling than anything else that might be surmised. She “voted with her invitations” and she just happened to choose TWO Republican gentlemen.
Good night folks!
Last exit: Thank you very much!

About 100 days in office and the right is already becoming totally unglued. This is very entertaining. If the name calling and pettiness is at this level already – think what a few years will do! Thankfully, while “yall” are spinning your little conspiracies, and contemplating the total demise of the country, obsessing over middle names and fretting over iPods, all the while claiming “fair and balanced!” to make yourselves feel better – the rest of us sane and rational, hopeful and positive people who actually love this country and respect the president and his daunting job, will try and fix things for you. You’re welcome.

Could this guy have any less class? Obama is an embarrassment but he is exactly what the worst parts of America elected…..an arrogant, half witted, ignorant, uninformed, Marxist lemming, whose never had an original thought in his life. He hates America and has no respect for anyone….and it shows every single day this jerk is in office…..
WORST.PRESIDENT.EVER

when peter jennings was in charge right wingers screamed, how liberal abc was. it looks to be a haven for the idiot right wing ,these days.

Well, I think it’s very original and hip. What, like the queen was expecting jeweles or something she really doesn’t need? Can you imagine how bored the queen is at times? She continues to give an autographed photo of herself and the King to Presidents. Now, that’s boring. This woman is bored I assume, yes? Who cares if Obama gave her an iPod?! It is the thought that counts and the gesture in which Obama made to The Queen. Get over it, everyone. I’m sure the Queen could care less what type of gift she got from the POTUS. I imagine the greatest gift she received this week was meeting President. Yet, maybe she’ll enjoy the songs Obama downloaded for her. Pretty cool, huh?

To divisional, it’s people like you that empower a failing administration and will literally cheer at the fall of the American way of life. You can say you’re welcome all you want, but I have yet to see any sane person on here say thanks to you.
This man may make you proud, but he is embarrassing a large majority of the American people and the polls are proof of that. By the grace of God after the 2010 election, maybe a new House can correct all the huge mistakes that this man is making. We need to all pray that it won’t be too late then to save us from Obamanomics and the destruction it is causing.

Ummmm…how is ABC reporting that he gave the Queen an I-Pod and the contents of the I-Pod a negative news story unless the gift itself sucked. This story is doing what a story should be reporting…the facts. Editorializing is when you decide to put an opinion among the facts.

The Queen is address to as “Your Majesty” her husband – the prince is addressed “Your Highness”.

An iPod! What, was the local target out of popcorn tins?

The US protocal office has alot to learn. First you address the Queen as “Her Majestry.” And DO NOT touch unless invited, I imagine the Ipod went into the garbage. Also, it was loaded with Omaba speeches..I am sure she does want to throw-up!!! No wonder the Brits still call us the colonies…Sorry, the Obamas do not have the class and etc. Sorry Great Britain for our stupid mistakes,

And Obama gave Prince Charles an autographed Frisbee.

What an embarrassment. Lamont (LAMONT!) and Wheezy are a disgrace to this once fine country.
To use some of Wheezy’s own words: Because of these clowns,for the first time in my life, I am embarrassed to be an American.

The American left loves the Obamas’ low-class behavior. So much for liberals’ so-called “enlightenment” and “erudition”.
Of course, if George Bush mispronounces “nuclear”, he’s a hopeless idiot.

The low-class couple who now reside in the White House could have given a gift that was at least Made in America!

I’m waiting for the skit about this on Saturday Night Live. And waiting, and waiting, and waiting. Comedy gold.

President and Mrs. Bush gave Her Majesty a bronze statuette “High Desert Princess” with a personal inscription on the bottom of the base. It is a replica of the original life size statue that is located in front of the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame in Ft. Worth, Texas.
President and Mrs. Bush gave The Prince Philip an exclusive sterling silver eagle box by Tiffany & Co. with personal inscription on the inside lid.
President and Mrs. Bush gave Their Majesties a leather presentation box filled with a collection of documents from the National Archives. One of the items was a copy of an original letter from President Roosevelt to her father, King George, written in 1938. There were also photos from previous royal visits and a DVD of the footage from the Queen’s visit to the United States when she was Princess Elizabeth in 1951.

At least it beat out their second idea, which was to set up a Facebook page for the Queen.
Third idea was a workout video so the Queen could have toned arms like Michelle.
Seriously though, if any other President gave something that contained his own speeches as a gift, the media would be destroying him for being so vain.

I sit here just wondering if the people who voted for Obama, finally realize the mistake they made.

Perhaps on his next visit, he can get her a pair of sneakers and a Basketball.
Man if Bush ever bought DVD’s and ipods for heads of state……..Well, ya know.

Your beloved messiah and his administration are on short time.

I wish people would lighten up. The criticism of the Obamas is harsh and mean spirited – Have a nice day!!!!!!!

I am surprised by the plethora of venomous comments. The iPod is a fun, contemporary gift that Her Magesty can actually enjoy and use, a gift with thoughtfulness behind it. I bet she was delighted with it. Where is all the hatefulness coming from? Sad- and disconcertingly disturbing.

My first thought was “an iPod? how tacky!” but then I realized that it only had to beat out a framed photo. The bar is set pretty low.

wonder if obama paid for the songs or downloaded them illegally?

It was widely reported that Prince William gave an ipod to the Queen for Christmas several years ago. If I knew that…then why didn’t Obama’s crack staff?

From white trash to ghetto trash. On the downward spiral to hell.

The Queen is refered to as Her Majesty. NOT Her Royal Highness.

The Obama clown performed at Buckingham Palace. Really? Did he give her majesty an Ipod filled with his speeches? What one would expect from a bumpkin from the Colonies!

Obviously, the gift is mostly a calculated attempt to connect with the American public with a hint of doing something thoughtful for the Queen. I doubt Obama said, “let’s get her in iPod.” It was likely a consensus decision by his top political advisors. Fair enough.

Somebody needs to straighten Michelle’s sweater. She looks like a model for J. Crew discount.

I think a Segway would have been more appropriate.

For all the talk about how brilliant this man is, I am less than impressed by what I have seen so far. Don’t call it buyers remorse, I just expected a lot more than what we’re getting.

Does this administration remind anyone besides me of “Pinky and the Brain”? “What are going to do tonight Brain?” “The same thing we do every night Pinky…TRY TO TAKE OVER THE WORLD”

The least they could have done was to give her a Blackberry……it has more features. Who advises this man? What will they give France..a golden french fry and Italy…a golden pizza?

The Obama’s are remarkable, accomplished, and the new face of America.
Ah, what a difference an election makes.

What class!I will be so happy to see these two leave the White House in 4 years.If this country can survive them that long.

This guy is arrogant and stupid! He thinks she wants to hear the teleprompter speak on her new i pod.

“I wish people would lighten up. The criticism of the Obamas is harsh and mean spirited – Have a nice day!!!!!!! ”
If your left wing hating democrats didn’t invent hatred towards Bush, maybe you wouldn’t see it. I guess we can learn “civility” from the Democrat party right? What a joke. Pay back is hell isn’t? The democrat party earned it.

Obama needs to come up with a gift worthy of being presented by the president of the United States. (An ipod is an appropriate gift from her grandson.)
His staff are idiots regarding protocal. The Obamas obviously were not appropriately briefed.
And if Michelle thinks J. Crew is haute couture she is an idiot. Buy a SUIT for goodness sakes. You are embarrassing us all and you madam are no Jackie Kennedy.

“Thou Shalt Not Covet” – Tenth Commandment.
Anything other than a flat tax is a sin because it falls under coveting. Don’t know what that is? Look it up.
Our country is living without God which allows evil to prevail… on both sides of the polical isle.
Stop the bickering about Republicans or Democrats. Give Ceasar what is Ceasar’s and give God what is God’s.
Peace out!

I hate to say this but these folks have no imagination on gift giving. They must be hung up on musi. They gave Mr Brown CD’s and now they give the Queen more music on an Ipod. They should give her a new purse.

Our Walstreet President and First Lady. You can’t buy class so who can blame them?

The whole thing is a ruse and a joke, to say the least. The “Royal’s”, Obama and everyone else (namely the Bankers) are all connected (in different ways) underneath and just need to smile and look pretty before the camera’s. It’s like photographing your parents as they pay a visit to the country club for an outing. Democrat or Republican, it makes no difference; it’s all a mind-game to make you think the Gov’t is your friend and here to help you out. The “Sheeple” of the U.S. will never wake up out of it’s slumber until it’s too late (after the economy final collapses along with the doomed dollar). People will be demanding these people along with Congress to have their heads’ on a plate, they’ll be no where to be found! Enjoy the dream while you can OR your perception of it, it won’t last forever

Whoever is charge of the newly created Obama Department of Gift Giving (ODGG) which probably consists of 100 + people, should be fired.

Wow, gave the queen audio of his speeches?! How arrogant is this guy?
What is the greatest arguement against democracy? A 5 min. conversation with the average Obama voter :)

If the Obama’s are the new face of America…then it is in dire need of a good bitch-slap.

There’s one good thing that comes out of this. I can proudly say I didn’t vote for the buffoon-in-chief. I bet you the Left is starting to realize the ignoramus they put in office. How embarrassing he must be for them.

I can’t wait until Barry is exposed for the No-Clothes Emperor that he is.
Then the only job he will be able to get is tap-dancing in the street for quarters.

I’m sure there are books available on protocol and ettiquette (what’s that?). All these two Harvard and Princeton pretenders had to do was read them. Sadly, the only thing they seem to read is the teleprompter and tabloid news.

“STOP SPENDING OUR KIDS’ MONEY, you freak.”
Pssstttt…every Republican President since you’ve been alive has been spening your kids’ money.

Pete,
It is about the man, Pete. The MAN represents our country. He is supposed to be an example for us to follow and emulate. He is supposed to want to make our kids grow up to be like him. Thus far, he has been nothing but a socialist leaning ideologue that has decided to turn our country into a social experiment to him and his democratic leaders. They are taking us in a direction that will take us YEARS to get out of. He is making President Carter look good.
Talk about racist, it was racist when people voted for him based on his skin color. That is racist. What did Martin Luther King say, “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character”
Conservatives are looking at this guy’s content of his character. We are not looking at his skin color. A true conservative does not look at that. We believe that we were all created equally. It is what one does with what God has given you what counts. This man is using his talent for destroying our country.

Don Obama (I call him that because he made GM an offer they couldn’t refuse)gave the Queen an Ipod and unfortunately left off his theme song “It’s All About Me”.
Can you imagine the presentation of that gift????
“Here, your Majesty….it’s an ipod with a few cheesy photos of you but a full collection of “Barack’s Greatest Hits Volume I”
This guy is beginning to make Bush look absolutely statesman-like.

If the Election were held today Obama would get crushed by a landslide. People are seeing through this radical.

Barack Obama is a self-absorbed ass. Who gives a foreign head of state an Ipod full of his own speeches? Someone who is very impressed with himself, that’s who.
There is no need to ask Obama whether or not he is capable of embarrassment. He is obviously not; I wish I could say the same in reacting to his most recent boorishness.

“If the Election were held today Obama would get crushed by a landslide. People are seeing through this radical.”
What planet are you living on? Faced with unbeatable odds, his approval rating remains over 60%. That’s astonishing. And it’s only going up after this week. Get a grip.

On behalf of President Obama, for whom I did NOT vote, and on behalf the United States, I would like to offer a heartfelt apology to our friends and allies around the world, for the rude and insulting “gifts” and treatment he has given your nations and peoples.

Which is worse?:
1) George Bush leads us into a war of choice in Iraq based on misleading and non-existent evidence, then proceeds to help destroy the global economy, with the assistance of his partners in the GOP.
2) Obama gives the Queen an iPod containing some personalized selections.
Definitely the iPod thing, right?

Americans buy billions of $ worth of bogus diet pills and snakeoils. We so badly want to believe the claims that we disregard our sensibilities. How did this man slither into office? Sales pitches so flowery that no one cared to examine the ingredients, or lack thereof. Brace yourselfs for disappointment.

This is an all time low for ABC to not report that the Queen REQUESTED AN IPOD WITH VIDEO OF HER U.S. VISIT!!!

Sure looks like Michelle used Sarah Palin’s hairdresser. Same style.

“Actually Obama’s approval rating is at 49% going on Zogby.”
Really? You’re going to ignore all the other respected polls in favor of a Zogby internet poll that is clearly an outlier?
Really?
PS – His poll is trash anyway but I should also note that Zogby put the people who said Obama is doing a “fair” job in the “disapprove” column. Where I come from, if you’re doing a “fair” job, that’s not bad.

It is not racist to point out the obvious. Just because someone is a minority does not give them a ‘pass’ to do things that wouldn’t be OK for someone who is white. If Bush had done these things you can believe these same people standing up for ‘zero’ would be spewing trash about Bush. Granted Bush messed up on somethings – and we heard about it too! But those who feel we must ‘apologize/defend/cover-up for’ the zero because he is a minority are being strategicall used. Remember – manure smells the same on both sides of the fence. And color does not mean one is good or bad. So quit pretending we need to treat zero any differently than any other President.

A gift to a leader of a country should be a “one of a kind” type gift. Giving the Queen of England an I-pod or a bunch of DVD’s that can be bought at WalMart shows no class.

OGLib, you are an idiot.
1) Iraq had WMD’s and used them repeatedly in the recent past. What happened to them? Syria, perhaps?
2) Bush had plenty of help from Dodd, Frank, Pelosi et al destroying the economy. Last I checked, from 2006 on the Dems were in charge. And Dems were the enablers of Fan, Fred and the biggest recipients of bank donations!

Seems like Obama is saving money by giving the Queen an iPOD. That’s a real straight thought since he’s know there is no monies in the ’til, but he’s such a fat head that he’s going keep on spending for health care and energy. WE HAVE TO STOP HIM NOW. HE’S TALKING CLEAN COAL, AND PUTTING IN SOLAR PANELS. HE’S THE BIGGEST LIAR YET.

It doesn’t matter how badly Obama messes up. His worshipers will always regress back to Bush this and Bush that.
New flash! Bush is gone, time to get realistic about Obama’s apparent limitations.

13 Trillion in 2 months. (more then all other Presidents combined by the way)
50% Fascism in the same 2 months.
No taste in gifts.
Now that’s what I call change

Jake Tapper should already know that if you pull an April Fools’ Day joke after midday, the joke’s on you. Tapper, – get a new watch!

So what exactly is the faux pas here? The gift was an iPod (a distinctly American product) filled with:
(1) pictures of the Queen visiting the US;
(2) video of the Queen visiting the US;
(3) pictures of the inauguration (a somewhat historic event);
(4) TWO of the President’s most famous speeches; and
(5) a ton of showtunes, which the Queen loves.
This is outrageous? Really? Perhaps he should have just given her an empty iPod and let her fill it herself?
The Obamas’ gift was classy, thoughtful, and symbolic. You might be able to attack Obama on policy, or the outcome of the Economic package, but you aren’t going to win by attacking his class.

This guy makes me embarrased to be an American! What a big ego he and Michelle have…, such low class, such arrogance…to present a Queen with photos of yourself and your propaganda speeches is crass, crass, crass. Does this obama guy actually think history is going to regard him as so great an American prez that these mindless, insulting gift will mean something to the Brits? So insulting to the Queen! God save America!

Well said Jamie
The queen probably had the silver frame and the photograph just laying around the palace somewhere.

For the information of all: The Queen of England is NOT Her Royal Highness. The proper way of referrring to her is
Her/Your Majesty.

banjotom, the Queen of England gives every Head of State a silver-framed photograph of herself. She always has.
It’s often been criticized as cheap, but she always does it.

How embarrassing are these gifts that Barrack & Michele pick out? I think the Queen should give them a copy of her speeches made over the half-century along with photos of her corgis.

OG Liberal,
Are you typically stupid or do you just throw your personal opinions about other subjects not related to the article?
You can keep beating the dead horse all you want, but try to stay on topic. I know that will be difficult. Anyhow, Giving an iPOD to the Queen of England was tacky and any moron could have found out if she already had one or not. This is just typical of the currrent Administration, no thought what so ever. Please do not bring up the previous administration, we have covered that and then some.

Since all of these songs are copyrighted, I wonder if the Prez made sure that all of the legalities were made before duplicating that intellectual property and giving it to the Queen? How much do you want to bet that wasn’t even considered? Just pirate these .MP3 files off the WWW and give em to your friends, or is that enemies? Either way, if you didn’t secure the rights to give it away the copyright laws were broken.

Oh my God. YOU people. A musical book autographed by the late Richard Rogers, who the queen greatly admired, is the gift. The i-pod is the accessory. And there was ONE Obama speech on it.

I wonder if those items on the ipod were ligit and they actually purchased the licensing to put them on the device. Or were they pirated like 98% of ipods?
What a Joker!! On the other hand, the Obamas got a pretty “vain” gift from the Queen in return.

Cobra Kai. I should have waited and read your remark before I posted mine. Much more eloquent and essentially the same message (minus my frustrated rage at all the vitriol).

Cobra Kai,
Thank you for introducing a measure of sanity here. It’s especially appreciated coming from somebody who isn’t a full throated Obama supporter.

“Most if not all of the people posting here are committed detractors and GOP voters and supporters, so their feigned indignance over this stupid issue really isn’t worth a damn anyway.”
It’s freaking terrifying is what it is. But at least it explains how that colossal moron in office for the prior 8 years got in there. These people actually do exist. I expect the top 2% to vote Republican…hell, I probably would…but the rest? I didn’t think they existed. Nobody could be that stupid.

“Since all of these songs are copyrighted, I wonder if the Prez made sure that all of the legalities were made before duplicating that intellectual property and giving it to the Queen? How much do you want to bet that wasn’t even considered? Just pirate these .MP3 files off the WWW and give em to your friends, or is that enemies? Either way, if you didn’t secure the rights to give it away the copyright laws were broken.”
OMG. I am in awe.

He should have consulted one of his 12 teleprompters before he gave the Queen the iPod. That’s what he gets for trying to wing it on his own. He always gets into trouble when he does that. “Uh, Uh, uh, uh….wait a minute now”

There’s nothing wrong with this gift. Including his speeches on it was a little narcissistic, but remember he’s a politician. The gift of DVDs to Gordon Brown was clueless; Brown is legally blind, and they HAD to know that because arrangements had to be made for him. It looked even worse because Brown chose such a thoughtful gift for Obama. But exchanging an iPod for a framed picture? If I was the political lackey who made the choice I wouldn’t exactly put it on my resume, but there’s nothing wrong with it either.

Obama may be many things, but stupid does not come to mind. Perhaps some of you are confusing him with the previous village idiot who drove this country off a cliff. If you are saying he is self centered because he put a couple of his famouns speaches on the iPod, you must say the same thing about the Royal Couple who gave him a picture of themselves. Myabe I will walk around handing out pictures of me.

First Obama gives the Prime Minister of our closest ally 25 DVDs which didn’t play on his DVD player, then he gives the British monarch and even less approprite gift of an iPod, which she already owned. What do you expect from a guy who reviles tradition, most of all, American tradition?

Hmmmm, I sure wish that Jake had included the information in his post that the Queen had requested the iPod from Obama. Yes, that’s correct….she requested it, and the British news is broadcasting that the gift was a hit. So get over it already…not that this is even a story worth mentioning. Sheesh. The world economy going to hell in a handbasket, and everyone is talking about this silly iPod??

I’d rather be an Independent, or GOP supporter, than a Democrat who refuses to recognize the Socialist that has been voted into office.
Rather than accept my opinion, read the definition of so⋅cial⋅ism:
1. a theory or system of social organization that advocates the vesting of the ownership and control of the means of production and distribution, of capital, land, etc., in the community as a whole.
2. the stage following capitalism in the transition of a society to communism, characterized by the imperfect implementation of collectivist principles.
Nobody thrives under Socialism except a handful of the elite and powerful (look at Cuba). This guy is dangerous to our very democracy. One thing we do agree upon is that Bush was a moron and our country needs to have better leaders.

aw come on, an ipod a PERSONAL gift? don’t be ridiculous! Anyone can walk into a WalMart and pick one up….a great leatherbound volume of American poetry—or something, ANYTHING, sensing SOMETHING about CULTURE, not POP trash, would be more suitable. Hollywood is on obama’s mind; not anything of substance or lasting value. He lacks class, he lacks experience, he is a ROOKIE and a teleprompted man. UHHHHH, (read this one)…”welcome to Great Britain, Mr. Obama.” “Uhhh errrr, uhhh, why that’s me!” Empty suit. Dumb voters.

We need this inept man to resign. Today is soon enough.

You voted for the TACKY. You got it.
What a idiot!!!!

This is so embarrassing! A prez who’s so full of himself that the gives the Queen of England an iPod with some of his pathetic “speeches” on it…oh, wait, they were actually the TELEPROMPTER’S speeches…obama was only the sock puppet mouthing the words!
For those of you declaiming that obama’s “only” been in office for 100 days”, so “give him a break”, I’d like to remind you that no such “breaks” were ever given to previous Presidents, such as Clinton or Bush! I suppose that you have to factor in the complete lack of any sort of reasonable resume into the mix, and then consider that being as obama has NOTHING to recommend him for the position, you have to excuse EVERY stupid move he makes.
This would also seem to apply to 1) michelle obama – for thinking that she’s being friendly by putting her arm around the Queen even though the protocol concerning such actions dictates that the QUEEN initiate any touching (but since the obamas don’t pay any attention to any other rules, they wouldn’t be paying any attention to this one either!)
Not to fear though, the press will be able to divert attention from the obama’s gaffes with a few of their own, starting with referring to HER MAJESTY as “Her Royal Highness”, and then misrepresenting michelle’s social clumsiness by stating that the Queen put her hand around michelle first, something that no one with any brains can even IMAGINE HRM Elizabeth doing!!
Since the Queen is known for her strict adherence to matters of royal decorum, we right well know that Her Majesty isn’t the demonstrative sort, and would be VERY surprised if the Queen took such an action. It would be FAR MORE LIKELY that the Queen reciprocated this uncouth gesture in an attempt to prevent the EMBARRASSMENT of the presumptive Mrs. obama by pretending to have not been offended by her brazen ignorance concerning the matter of the Queen’s person!!
This article excuses michelle’s social ineptitude, and then goes on to commit similar bungles when it attempts to conceal what happened here.
The same thing applies to michelle’s DREADFUL “fashion sense” as well, but that’s a whole issue by itself – one can certainly breathe a sigh of relief that she doesn’t have to stand next to the incomparable Diana!!!
We need to face the fact that we have 2 people here who are not only unqualified by experience, but are also clearly completely without any class in the social arena as well!

Ahhh…nice to have a smart President for a change. No more looney, right wing, constitution violating, nut job zealots. Obama Nation…..live with it, or love it.

OGLiberal: umm, the ipod is not a Bill Gates / Microsoft product so it is supremely unlikely that Obama attempted to repaying thousands of dollars of campaign contributions with a $300 product that he doesn’t even get a profit from. Gates won’t even let his kids OWN an ipod. A Zune on the other hand……….

I hear that the Queen really likes the gift. She recently developed a sleep disorder, and the IPOD with the Obama speeches help her to fall asleep quickly and soundly!

“Most conservatives I know started grousing about Bush before his second term.”
Really? Well, it must have been pretty muted. I was a subscriber to National Review from 2000 until 2007 and I rarely heard any criticism of what President Bush was doing. Maybe some disagreement on a minor policy here or there but for the most part, they were about 98% on board until just after the November 2006 elections. And even after that it took them a while to find their “true” conservative voice.
National Review is the premier journal of conservative thinking. And they were huge Bush cheerleaders for many years.
Also, even towards the end, Bush was pulling about a 30% approval rating. That percentage roughly matches up with the percentage of self-described conservatives in this country. Hmmmm……

SILKY
I’ll give that, that the man does represent the office. However it still comes down to the office, which has survived many a president before him and I am certain will survive many after. I guess my point is this. Yes, he is making some radical changes, yes one the face of it, some of them do look a bit scary, however, at the same time, difficult and different times call for difficult and different solutions. Im not 100% convinced that some of these rather unusual programs will work. But the same was said of Mike Bloomberg, my mayor here in NY. And he took a train wreck, got it on track and made it run smoothly. Even now as we are facing all of these new trials and tribulations, Mike continues to buck the system at times and makes it work. Thats his job. I want someone who thinks out of the box. Thats what we re about as a country. Thats what makes us great. New ideas, new ways of doing things. We re a country of risk takers, its our heritage, its in our blood. All IM saying is, rather then shooting from the hip at the first minute something is announced or suggested, perhaps we should give our ELECTED executive officers the benefit of the doubt and lets see if some so these ideas just might work. When a baseball player steps up to the plate we all take a leap of faith and hope all of the variables will fall into place to allow him to hit that home run. More often then not they don’t . but they get on base a lot and with the help of their teams work their home to score. Thats all Im saying here SILKY.
You think IM not scared! I ride the subway every day wondering if the train is going to make through the tunnel without being whacked. I have so many friends out of work now it makes me lose sleep at night. I was out for 3 months last year myself. But I keep the faith, I do MY bit where I can, and pray that God gives the MAN the strength and the guidance to do the rest. At the end of four years, Ill make my judgment. Until then , Im a team player. I love my country , my neighbors, and everything we hold dear. And would try anything , as loonie as it mak sound if its going to make it better in the long run.

Who cares what songs were on the supid ipod. The fact that the current administration took the time to write up every song that was on the ipod says that they have too much time on their hands. Hence all the changes they have been making for NO GOOD REASON!! I want my old USA back.

He should have given her General Motors–after his mad power grab, he’ll surely have many other American companies at his personal dispsal. Or, he could have loaded up her ipod with his porkulous spending bill. She might be interested in how he pulled off the biggest power grab in the history of capitalism.

“Who cares what songs were on the supid ipod. The fact that the current administration took the time to write up every song that was on the ipod says that they have too much time on their hands.”
There are days when the comedy on this website eclipses even The Onion.

“When I think of class, I think of G.W. Bush…..NOT! No more bar-b-que eating hillbilly as President.”
Really? Read below – See the difference??? Bushes are far, far classier and thoughtful.
\\\\\\———-\\\\\\
May 7, 2007: The President and Mrs. Bush welcomed Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and His Royal Highness, The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, for a State Visit yesterday at the White House.
The principals (i.e., The President & First Lady) conducted a leader to leader gift exchange in the Red Room of the White House immediately after the arrival ceremony. President and Mrs. Bush gave Her Majesty a bronze statuette “High Desert Princess” with a personal inscription on the bottom of the base. It is a replica of the original life size statue that is located in front of the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame in Ft. Worth, Texas.
President and Mrs. Bush gave The Prince Philip an exclusive sterling silver eagle box by Tiffany & Co. with personal inscription on the inside lid.
President and Mrs. Bush gave Their Majesties a leather presentation box filled with a collection of documents from the National Archives. One of the items was a copy of an original letter from President Roosevelt to her father, King George, written in 1938. There were also photos from previous royal visits and a DVD of the footage from the Queen’s visit to the United States when she was Princess Elizabeth in 1951.
\\\\\\———-\\\\\\
Flash forward….
April 1, 2009: President and First Lady Obama gave Her Royal Highness Queen Elizabeth II a video iPod with inscription, songs uploaded and accessories, plus a rare musical songbook signed by Richard Rodgers.
Uploaded onto the iPod:
- Photos from President Obama’s Inauguration
- Audio of then-state senator Obama’s speech at the 2004 Democratic National Convention, and
- Audio of President Obama 2009 Inauguration Address
(Hey, Barack, she’s just not that into you! When I first read this report yesterday I wondered if BO had the gall to include some of his “greatest hits”, but didn’t think he would do so. Just when I think there is nothing else this guy can do to surprise me, he pulls another rabbit from his beret.)

What an over inflated EGO!! A Ipod with his speeches on it. Give me a break!
What is scarier the fool’s finger is on the nuclear switch. Remember the “is keeping lists”

and are all of these show tunes LEGAL???

Did he give her a signed picture of himself also? The man has a ego that must be fed every day. Do they not have a Social Secretary that should be taking care of this. Does this person know protocal when giving a gift? Screw up once, maybe, screw up twice and you wonder, was this on purpose.

Can you say “narcissistic personality disorder”?

The libs don’t understand BO is the joke.

My last post should have read, “I’m NOW starting to…” Just in case the spelling police are out there looking to write me up for a violation.

Do you really want England’s health care system? The United States has the HIGHEST cancer survival rate. That’s not because of England’s health care. By the way, why do the richest people in the world head to America when they get sick and who do you think produces the majority of medicine? fool.

“Did he give her a signed picture of himself also?”
I hope you’re being ironic. If not, uh oh, because that’s what she gave him.

“By the way, why do the richest people in the world head to America when they get sick and who do you think produces the majority of medicine? fool.”
Ummm…it’s not the wealthy that the healthcare reform is aimed at helping.

Wasn’t this technically a violation of federal copyright law? MP3s ARE NOT TRANSFERRABLE (personal use only). The federal government broke it’s own (silly) copyright law, then escalated it to an international violation by transporting the MP3s across borders!
My point isn’t that this is Obama’s fault. It actually shows the absurdity of the current copyright code for digital content. The fact that any normal citizen could have the government and the RIAA breathing down their necks for such a harmless, sharing, human action demonstrates how out of touch the system is.

“The fact that any normal citizen could have the government and the RIAA breathing down their necks for such a harmless, sharing, human action demonstrates how out of touch the system is.”
Can you cite one single example of this?

The Queen is a traditional Conservative who favors Tory government. There is no way she could have enjoyed the gift Obama gave her. If Her Majesty, the Queen wanted an I-pod, and she already has one, her staff would just go buy her one. However, an I-pod filled with socialist propaganda like Obama’s convention speech is an insult to someone who has spent most of her life fighting the Communists. This gift was not well thought and very tacky. Regardless of Bush’s policies, the Presidential transition has moved us from high class to ghetto-trash in a very short 4 months. Obama makes Bill Clinton look like a blue blood.

Deepertake: You haven’t gotten copyright law right. Generally, once you buy a copy of a copyrighted work you have the right to transfer that copy to someone else. The problem with “sharing” digital content is that it usually requires making additional copies, which is not included in the rights you get when you buy a single copy.

***Here we have the most intelligent, thoughtful, brilliant American politician of the last three centuries –***
Dude, you lost me there. I mean, I like Obama and prefer him *immensely* over Bush, but you really need to take a breath and calm down with the “greatest American politician *evah*” rhetoric.

Though the list of songs on the Obama iPod appears to have been copied and pasted, songs are not listed as they are on iTunes.
E.g., iTunes lists Ray Bolger & Sy Oliver artist, Obama’s lists just Ray Bolger. Though George Hearn may have sung The Best of Times in La Cage Aux Folles, iTunes doesn’t list him as the artist. Aretha Franklin recorded I Dreamed a Dream, but not on an album called “Les Miserables” — or “Les MisDerables” as it came over when someone copied text that had the accent mark on the e. In iTunes, the song is listed as “The Party’s Over (From Bells Are Ringing); on the Obama list the word “From” is missing. Etc.
Did someone type up the list, know that George Hearn sang the Best of Times even though iTunes didn’t, and thought that worth noting? Did someone record these from CDs? Or download them from another site that listed songs as they are listed on the Obama list?
I wouldn’t be surprised if some sleuthing on sources of pirated music turned up the Queen’s list exactly as Obama’s team released it.
(You might start with Send in the Clowns. It’s a popular Judy Collins song, but she didn’t sing it on the album A Little Night Music. Glynis Johns Did. Is this mistake repeated on any pirate sources?)
However the songs got onto the iPod, the songs are not as they are listed on iTunes.

“The queen is 83 years old. Do you really think she cares about a stupid Ipod??”
Well, she already has a nano, so obviously she has some use for an iPod. It’s not as if 83 year olds don’t watch tv or videos or listen to music.
“And do you really think she cares (dumb question to his devotees) what Obama says in his speeches?”
I don’t know and neither do you. An ounce of common sense would lead one to the conclusion that she said something to him at some point about one or more of his speeches.

“If Her Majesty, the Queen wanted an I-pod, and she already has one, her staff would just go buy her one.”
Actually, she does have one (purchased in 2005, 6MB).
If The One and his staff were not so arrogant (or incompetent? I’m not sure which…perhaps equal parts of both), perhaps they would have conferred with the Queen’s staff to discuss a more appropriate gift.

“If The One and his staff were not so arrogant (or incompetent? I’m not sure which…perhaps equal parts of both), perhaps they would have conferred with the Queen’s staff to discuss a more appropriate gift.”
Perhaps if you weren’t so blinded by partisanship, it might have occured to you that there might be more to this than meets the eye, as 99% of the time there is.

OK, let me get this straight… he included a number of showtunes that actually have British origins. They are all stupid!

“OK, let me get this straight… he included a number of showtunes that actually have British origins. They are all stupid!”
In what way is that stupid?

I want a t-shirt that has a photo of the Queen with a sour look (plenty of those around) and the caption “I met the Obamas and all I got was this lousy I-Pod

“Did you all know that just a few weeks ago the White House (with Obama’s approval I am sure) returned the bust of Winston Churchill to Great Britian. (The indian giver).”
The slur indian giver is for someone who gives a gift then asks for it back.
I guess right wingers are too dumb to even get that right.
Also the bust of Churchill was on loan.
Obama replaced the bust with one of Martin Luther King Jr and one of Abraham Lincoln.

question to everyone outraged by the gift Obama gave the queen:
When did you start caring what the world thinks of the United States anyway? I thought you’d be happy he is showing his ‘rebel’ spirit that kicked out a relic of that monarchy we kicked out 200 plus years ago by a gift that she requested, along with a rare collection song book. What do you care what Obama gives Sarkozy? Aren’t we still boycotting the French? Or has that ended? I hope he gives him a huge plate of “Freedom Fries”.
I guess I am coming to the realization that there are major divides in our country, and they well not erode anytime soon. I thought at the least an election that offered a clear and decisive victory would at least, eh nevermind. Its like being a Red Sox fan and trying to convince a Yankee fan that Dice-k is more important than Jeter(sidenote: I am not a baseball fan, its just an analogy. I don’t want to start another fight). Politics really is a game, and we’re fans.

“”And do you really think she cares (dumb question to his devotees) what Obama says in his speeches?”
I don’t know and neither do you. An ounce of common sense would lead one to the conclusion that she said something to him at some point about one or more of his speeches.”
Unfortunately an ounce of common sense is something “Silky” does not have.
An ability to rationalize and pull things from his or her own butt to excuse away Obama’s incompetance is something “Silky” has in abundance.

“With each gaffe, this fool is building the foundation for what is certain to be a one-and-done presidency. My day just got a little better!”
And yet an increasing majority of Americans approve of the things he’s doing, and overwhelmingly approve of what his going on in London so far. Even the notoriously partisan Rick Klein is on board.

“That would be two too many. And how is this obviously prompted by a request?”
Because it’s kind of a random thing, although extremely historic in American history, to throw on an iPod. Applying any common sense to an analysis of this would lead one to believe that something prompted it. Not that it’s necessarily a bad thing if that’s not the case.

“although extremely historic in American history”
That’s what I get for doing two things at once. Fire away.

The Queen is in her 80′s. It seems more self-indulgent and an attempt to build a persona that Obama is younger than his actual age. He is almost a senior citizen himself. Ask yourself would you give your own grandmother or elderly mother an IPOD for a very special event? Nice enough but not really practical.

“Tomorrow Drudge will tell you were to go next and we won’t have to deal with you.”
Heh. And I will be sad. It’s like a trip to the zoo without having to leave my cubicle.

Ryan C: “I guess right wingers are too dumb to even . . . Also the bust of Churchill was on loan.”
Well, apparently you are too dumb to properly research this topic. While the Churchill bust was on loan, there was an offer to extend the loan.
British Embassy Spokesman: “We have made it clear that we would be pleased to extend the loan should Mr Obama so wish.”
Obviously, Obama declined. Unfortunately, I can’t say I’m surprised.

An ipod is a step up from giving a bunch of DVD’s I guess…
Obama should have put video of him on Jay Leno on that ipod, saying that he bowled like a Special Olympic contender.

H can do everything except show us his birth certificate….being a hoopster, he had to produce one to play rec league….right? Or to get into Harvard? Or to get a drivers license? Allowing someone to be president without a birth certificate would be like allowing a tax cheat to be Treasury Secretary! And we would never allow that….

“H can do everything except show us his birth certificate….being a hoopster, he had to produce one to play rec league….right? Or to get into Harvard? Or to get a drivers license? Allowing someone to be president without a birth certificate would be like allowing a tax cheat to be Treasury Secretary! And we would never allow that….”
MORE FOIL!!!

“Because it’s kind of a random thing, although extremely historic in American history, to throw on an iPod.”
Not random to a narcissist who thinks everyone hangs on his every (telepromptered) word.
“Applying any common sense to an analysis of this would lead one to believe that something prompted it”
That’s not common sense, that’s making excuses out of whole cloth to forgive stupidity. I’ll bet you ten iPods loaded with Obama speeches that Obama had zero contact with, or concern for, the Queen when making his latest bad decision.
“Not that it’s necessarily a bad thing if that’s not the case.”
Oh, but it is. And the fact that you added this clause to cover your butt shows that you know better than the foolishness you’ve been spouting in Obama’s defense.

Wow…lots of hate on this board. The Ipod…not original. As reported,she already had one. Guess what…Obama’s got plenty of picture frames too! It’s what you put in it that counts. Obama put in numerous photos and videos from her trips to America. THAT…makes it very personal. And he added a few things of himself, which is no different than the queen giving a signed picture of herself. If anything, I think Obama showed more thought with his gift than the queen did. But in the end…WHO CARES? Neither of them needs ANYTHING.
Still….interesting how much venomous hate there is here towards Obama. He could have given her gold and people would have had problems with it. Move on folks.

I wonder if Obama’s teleprompter picked out the gifts. If so, it has a rotten taste in music. Broadway showtunes? She’s the Queen of England, not of San Francisco.

H could have given her an autographed Teleprompter.

It must really drive you lunatic fringers nuts to know that people in your own party not only voted for this guy, but approve of what he’s doing. The market approves of what he’s doing, in spite of dire jobs reports and hideous earnings reports.

“I’d like to see what previous Presidents gave as gifts as comparison. Never before have I heard about this being an issue. I’d like to know if this is really as “tacky” as some are posting.”
In 2007 the Bushes gave the Queen an inscribed bronze statuette replica of the statute in front of the National Cowgirl Museum

“The ones complaining are the same morons who loved freedom fries and relished every time the Europeans were dissed by the Bush admin.”
While I’m sure this dismissive notion makes it easier for you to deal with the fact that you voted for an incompetant — immediately after living through eight years of another incompetant — I can assure you that your generalization is absurd.
Sorry, you really were stupid enough to make the same mistake that Republicans had made in two previous elections.
Meanwhile, the rest of, with no “R” or “D” on our voting cards, have had to bear the brunt of your mutual stupidity and recklessness.
The shame is on you.

since it seems many disagree with the Ipod idea, WHAT WILL ANY OF YOU NAY SAYERS AND SUPERIORIST( WHO PROBABLY CANNOT TELL WHICH FORK GOES FOR WHAT IN A FORMAL DINEER) GIVE TO THE QUEEN?

I’m surpised Obama didn’t load the cheap ipod with pictures of his teleprompter and speeches by his teleprompter. Obama has no pictures of his wife and kids in his wallet, he carries only pictures of his teleprompter.

I’m truly embarrassed for our country with the responses from people here. What a bunch of ignorant, racist idiots. Are you really going to spend the next four years of your life spewing such crap out every time Obama makes a public appearance? This has nothing to do with the Queen or the gift. Try getting out and doing something productive.

“In 2007 the Bushes gave the Queen an inscribed bronze statuette replica of the statute in front of the National Cowgirl Museum”
Queen Elizabeth is an avid horsewoman who frequently makes unpublicized trips to the States for the purpose of buying and breeding horses.
I wouldn’t expect Obama to have enough thoughtfulness to know that her interests extend beyond his speech reading skills, so I wouldn’t expect you, as someone gullible enough to support him, to know that either.

“Y’know…considering we’re not privy to their conversations and what not?”
I can assure you that Obama and Queen Elizabeth had NO prior contact to this weeks meeting.
“Regardless…it’s a dramatically historic course of events in this country’s history.”
Might I ask why you seem to think his speeches are more “dramatically” historic than any other teleprompter speeches by previous politicians?

To Silky: It’s not racist to say that a President is so self absorbed that he gave a crumby gift…i.e an Ipod with pictures of himself on it. Our country should be writing apologies to the Queen. Even I, would never dream of giving such a gift if I ever met the Queen. If either Bush had given such a gift, you liberals would have called him a Hillbilly and demanded he apologize. Think about it.

Ryan C: “Where did I imply the English wanted it back? . . . It was on loan, it was not a gift as the other poster implied.”
I see where you got confused. The original poster never implied the bust was a gift. He simply stated that Obama returned bust. The fact is that the British offered to extend the loan through Obama’s presidency, but he rejected their offer by sending the bust back. When you said “the bust of Churchill was on loan” with no further qualifiers, you gave the impression that the loan expired, only good through the Bush administration. I just wanted to clear that up for everyone.

At least he could have given her an iPod Touch which would have been a huge step up from what she has. Anyhoo, as soon as she or one of her minions hooks the thing up to sync it all the junk the O’s put on it will be gone. I wonder if they photoshopped Bush out of the state visit videos. And clearly they’ve fired everyone at the White House office of protocol because either they haven’t a clue and don’t care or it’s all an arrogant power trip. I vote for the arrogant power trip. Good luck to us all.

“{I see where you got confused. The original poster never implied the bust was a gift. He simply stated that Obama returned bust.”
And called him an Indian giver.
I notice you leave that part out.
“The fact is that the British offered to extend the loan through Obama’s presidency, but he rejected their offer by sending the bust back. When you said “the bust of Churchill was on loan” with no further qualifiers, you gave the impression that the loan expired, only good through the Bush administration. I just wanted to clear that up for everyone.”
The facts:
Obama sent the bust back though he could have kept it.
The bust was not a gift but on loan from the UK.
Obama has replaced the bust of Chuchhill with two busts, one of Martin Luther King Jr and one of Abraham Lincoln.

Doesn’t if figure that BO the “elitist” gives the Queen an Ipod of himself. He loves himself so much that he thinks everyone loves him. What a joke this guy is. All you BO supports defending him is so funny. You won’t think it is too funny when he decides how much money you can make. He is a loser.

What a wonderful gift to Her Excellency

What a wonderful gift to Her Excellency

For a country that is supposed to be the most advanced in the world, it is amazing that Americans can be so disrespectful about their leader. It is so so bad the way they keep insulting their President , for no reason except joblessness, small-mindedness and jealousy. With all that God has blessed America with, they are the most bad-mannered people ever . And displaying it so globally. No wonder they messed up their country. Thank-God for Obama’s African blood, which helps him to maintain his self-respect and not let anybody spoil his fun. That’s the problem with those people … they just can’t believe Mr and Mrs Obama are having so much fun… You can see the Obama’s attitude is ” Kini Big Deal?’ Michelle Obama ride on sistah. You are the one and only OFL ( Original First Lady) not only of America, but of the world. We are praying for you…

“Of course Obama can read his teleprompter unlike his predecessor so maybe that is what irks the right wing so much.”
Obamuhhhhh.. ummm.. uhh…. needs the teleprompter in order to sound ‘real’ to people. When it breaks, he panics, and everyone can tell. The media always covers for him how ‘cool’ or ‘calm’ he played it.

Seems like a typical yuppie gift.
Did he also give her a component with speakers from which to play it?
And a giant magnifying glass…

I have a question for you wingnuts. Why are you so hung up on “mainstream media” coverage of Obama? There are plenty of alternatives out there to mine for more in-depth reporting and analysis. Are you scared?

We call detractors like you, enemies of progress. But I’m sure the Obamas are so used to all this nonsense talk. Its been a long tough road they have been travelling on and they have met ALL SORTS of enemies along the journey which they obviously conquered, so believe it or not, you are wasting your time critisising and/or insulting them. They will only feel sorry and pray for you. The Obamas don’t get angry, they get better… sorry but that’s the truth..

Someone wrote: ” Because he got the Queen of England and the Prime Minister these simple items, you can’t tell me that others won’t go to Walmart to buy the same. While there, they may buy other needs!!! Look outside the box, think, and move on!”
Yeah, I am going to rush right down to Wal-Mart and pick up an iPod for myself and all my friends just as soon as I can, and maybe get them a few DVD’s as well.
Get real and move on!

The U.S. does not answer to or kowtow to the UN. Go figure….

I don’t understand how a simple article about a gift to the Queen of England from the Obama’s turned to talk about the economy and tax breaks….Why can’t anything be taken at face value anymore instead of turning into a political massacre from all sides??

Ryan says:
“Yes, illegal war.”
“The United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan has told the BBC the US-led invasion of Iraq was an illegal act that contravened the UN charter.”
“He said the decision to take action in Iraq should have been made by the Security Council, not unilaterally.”
Ryan, you seem to be focusing on the legal, technical definitions as a basis for the illegality of going to war in Iraq.
Being the legal scholar that you appear to be, you must then be aware that we technically did not need to go to the UN at all in 2002, or to Congress in 2002 to get authorization for war.
Why? Because from a technical, legal standpoint, we could have bombed Saddam into next week at will under the conditions of the 1991 Persian Gulf War ceasefire agreement. That agreement did not “end” the war, but “suspended” it, presuming Saddam’s agreement with it’s terms. Since no one, and I mean no one will argue that Saddam DIDN’T violate the terms of the ceasefire agreement, we could have ended the ceasefire unilaterally at any time we wished.
The purpose of Bush going to the UN and to Congress and yes, getting authorization from both bodies in late 2002 was to gain political support for the ultimatum to Saddam. It was not required, per the 1991 agreement.

……and the fact that the Queen gave a framed picture as a gift was any different. What do you people think the gift should have been?
It seems more time and effort was placed on what selections to add to the IPod. If the Queen is not complaing, why are you idiots complaing. Get a job……

Doesn’t anyone else find it annoying and disturbing how obama projects a larger-than-life, godlike oratorical style in his teleprompted speeches? Will the ipod given to the Queen be able to sustain such hubris? Honestly, it sounds like he’s competing for orator of the century. It is so exaggerated! I hope his teleprompter switches from the god-mode to the man-mode sooner rather than later.

“If those of you who love Obama so much would just tell us if you are going to be happy paying “most” of your money to the government so that Obama can “give” money to those who refuse to work and want everything from the government for free”
If this is what you think is happening, then you are beyond help. You are now playing LESS taxes than you were three months ago. Just a heads up.

“Because from a technical, legal standpoint, we could have bombed Saddam into next week at will under the conditions of the 1991 Persian Gulf War ceasefire agreement. That agreement did not “end” the war, but “suspended” it,”
Who told you that?
Oh yeah right wing media.
Try reading UN Sec Resolution 687 for yourself instead of relying on right wing interpretation.

Actually, if you smoke (people with an mean income of $42,000 per year) or use energy (cap and trade), you will be seeing an imminent tax increase. Additionally, Obama has already added more to the deficit and national debt than every other president combined. He constantly criticized Bush’s budget deficits, and I agree with him on that, but the solution is not to triple the deficits with the most out of control spending in US history. This is far worse than Republican abuses under Bush.

TV: you got a point. the queen is rich. if she lived in America, the party in power now would tax her out of existence or fire her from her job.

After reading the song list, i think he accidentally gave her Barney Franks ipod!

Yeah, I am against the demonization of the war. Saddam was a genocidal lunatic, who had attacked 2 neighboring countries in the last 20 years, had used WMD’s (gas) before, claimed to have them, and was a threat to regional security. Now we have a far more stable, democratic country, which will prove to be a strong ally in coming years. Saddam should really have been overthrown after the Persian Gulf War, but better late than never. And, by the way, the CIA is not always right, and no one knew that the intelligence was wrong. Hindsight is 20-20, they say.

Nutty gift, but I heard she “wanted” one with video stuff. So many other items would have been much better like a video picture frame etc. There are som very nice quality ones now.
I am sick of BHO can we elect someone else next time please…. Maybe keep ACORN out of this next election
pretty pleeeeeeease

“And, by the way, the CIA is not always right, and no one knew that the intelligence was wrong.”
That’s where you’re wrong. See the PBS Frontline series “The Dark Side.”

Another embarrassment for the U.S. Doesn’t anyone have brains in this administration? Gotta love Drudge for keeping us up-to-date.

I understand that Obama’s teleprompter has recommended a $50.00 gift card from Target for Sarkozy.

The professor has a God complex which is frightening to experience. He gives the Queen an ipod with his speeches included. What is going to give Sarkozy – an autographed photograph of Michelle. How embarassing this Admin has turned out to be.

I think this is one of many blunders this administration is going to make in the next 4 years. At least I’ll be be quite entertained for all the tax dollars I’ll be spending as a result of Obama’s policies.

Ryan C: “chastising you for criticizing the President is not a call to limit speech.”
She didn’t just “chastise,” she’s asking Obama’s critics to stop. Whether you want to recognize reality or not, that’s still a “call to limit” free speech. I’m not going to continue to waste my time trying to convince you or your liberal buddy silky on this. It’s painfully clear that you’re both hopelessly deluded, and the facts are here for all to see.

Maybe it’s time to turn our attention to more pressing matters — like what on Earth is “fashion forward” Michelle Obama going to wear when she runs out of Jackie Kennedy outfits to knock off? Will she go the Mary Todd Lincoln route or bring back Eleanor Roosevelt… you know, since Obama is the reincarnation of all three.

“Wow he paid 31% in taxes and he is for the wealthy paying upwards of 45% in taxes (to be far).”
Pssstttt…they’re called “deductions.” And 45%? He’s only suggested he MIGHT let the Bush tax cuts for the top marginal rate expire. 39%. Still less than most Republican Presidents of the 20th century.

“At least the bronze statuette will stand the test of time”
Yes I imagine its made its way thru several garage sales already.

Can someone please give etiquette counsel to this administration? You do not give the Queen of England an ipod. It was a cheap cheesy gift!
(By the way..if you criticise this administration too harshly your comments will be taken down by the fawning obama loving media.)

“Yes I imagine its made its way thru several garage sales already.”
Gold, Jerry.

Did I just read the Ipod was loaded with the Queen’s visit to the US? Call me crazy, but I believe she already has plenty of documentation of her trip over here!
Why couldn’t they have given her something useful like “Mighty Puddy”, or one of those “Snuggly Blankets”..the ones with the sleeves. Much more fitting for a queen than the ipod. What moron thought of giving her that?

“Might I ask why you seem to think his speeches are more “dramatically” historic than any other teleprompter speeches by previous politicians?”
Because they are bookends to the campaign run by the first ever “African American”/minority President in the country with a deep history of intolerance. Are you suggesting it wasn’t a significant moment in US history?

Ryan C: “Geez I had no idea right wingers were such Idol fans.”
I’m not, but the girlfriend is. Although, I’ll admit to watching on occasion.

“Ye Olde Queen’s iPod” is incorrect–the word is “THE” not “YE”.
In Middle English the word “THE” was abbreviated with the letter *thorn* (which was later replaced by the digraph “th”) and a superscript “e”. Since thorn looks very similar to the letter “y” people incorrectly read, write, and say this form of “THE” as “YE”.

“Oh, so it’s more significant based on the man’s race? That’s what I figured you meant. Racist.”
Yes its more significant because of the mam’s race given this country’s history first with slavery then with institutionalized racism such as Jim Crow laws.
64 years ago, racial minorities did not have even have full citizenship rights.
Now a member of a racial minority is president of the United States.
The significance is staggering.

Well HeyGuy101 the Queen gave Obama her picture because being an elitist is part of her job description.It is what Kings and Queens do. What is Obama’s excuse?

This is sad, everything Obama does must be broadcast to the entire damn world.
Im really getting sick of having Obama crammed down my throat.
The Obama trading cards on stand at wal mart was enough.

You have to love the complexity of the mind that can’t manage to wrap itself around the idea of somebody acknowledging the significance of his election, while not having voted based on race. It’s really not that difficult a thing to grasp.

“Sounds more like real warm-and-fuzzy, touchy-feely kind of stuff to me.”
Ask black people who were around in the 30s through the 60s. And even today, many quietly put up with it. Your obvliousness is astonishing.

“Every time someone makes a point of him being more “historical” or “significant” due to his race, they are making a racist point. It’s sad but ironically true.”
Lol.
paul: ” OKAY, everybody, we’re going to forget alllllll the history of oppression in this country. Even that which was institutional only 40 years ago. Okay…ready? CLose your eyes…. Seeeeeee…it’s gone!! Yayyyyyyyyy!”

“Anyone who has read your comments can see that racism is unfortunately very much alive, and coming from all directions.”
The racism is coming from the right.
The claim that stating Obama’s election as the first black president is significant equals racism is a logical fallacy worthy of David Duke.

“Anyone who has read your comments can see that racism is unfortunately very much alive, and coming from all directions.”
Uh yeah…*that’s* what they’re seeing.

“Apparently, we either want a ‘color-blind’ society, or we want to continue use race as a scapegoat for everything that does not go well in life”
Right wingers want a color blind society in terms of zero legal protection for discrimination and a complete omission of this country’s checkered past when it comes to racism.
Same people who scream about Black History Month as being unfair.
Same people who seek to denigrate Obama at every turn but because they don’t use the n-word they think they aren’t racist.

Wow, the partisan blinders are on today. The G20 meeting was a success for our President. In partership with the other major countries in the world, they agreed to some significant principles to help put the world economy back on course.
Additionally, this was the first opportunity for our American President to forge relationships with allies and former adversaries that we hope will prove useful in the years/decades to come.
Additionally, he had a great press conference with the world media, further helping to endearing us to those who we wish to parter with in the future as well as to those who would support us when times get tough.
…and yet the Drudge crowd spins its wheels on a false blip. This nonsense about gifts reminds me of a grade school recess yard.
I thought the gifts were thoughtful, myself. What does one get someone who can buy anything they place their finger on? It was a great idea to get her a signed copy of Richard Rogers’ songbook as well as Rogers and Hammerstein (and others) showtunes on the iPod. These are things that she cherishes.
Lower your seething a couple of octaves, please.

With that, I’m off to do my part to stimulate the economy by putting my $13 and then some into my bartender’s pocket. I like putting things in her pocket.

“Wow, the partisan blinders are on today.”
Make you a deal; I’ll take off the blinders if you agree to open your eyes. The G20 is a PR event, scripted entirely before it began.
“Additionally, he had a great press conference with the world media,”
Yeah, that bow to the Saudis did it for me, too… (Seem to recall that he was a little short on respect for the Queen.)
Can’t take credit; someone else has previously pointed out that the Ipod wasn’t the issue, so much as the Obama speeches on it.
A framed picture is one thing.
But, a campaign speech???
Seriously???

“Wow, the partisan blinders are on today. The G20 meeting was a success for our President. In partership with the other major countries in the world, they agreed to some significant principles to help put the world economy back on course.”
What significant principles? The principles of a One World Banking System and creation of money out of thin air to save us? The principle of giving more power to the very people who created this financial crisis in the first place?

My favorite bumper sticker this week:
“I agree to treat your President with the same respect with which you treated mine.”
Although I didn’t vote FOR Bush, I voted AGAINST Kerry and Gore.

Just remember…IPOD spelled backwards spells DOPI! LOL! ( that’s a long O & a short I, for those that don’t “get it”.)

Is this what our country is all about? Seriously what does it matter what he bought the Queen. It was a gift. Is that how you judge other people by the gift or $ amount of gift the give. What a pathetic society we live in. Proper etiquette, give me a break. That is the problem with humans, we are always worried about what’s wrong and what’s right. In the end our God will judge us and that is all that matters.

silky wrote: “‘Dumbest … president … ever’ Yeah, good thing he’s back in Texas where he belongs”
It ain’t gonna work anymore.
Barack H. Obama, or whatever his name is and nationality might be, appears to be a textbook example of an intellectual and moral fraud, as well as the most current example of a total manufacture of the advocacy/adversary media.
And, no, I don’t care if he affirmatively actioned his way through Columbia and HLS. When he produces his transcripts, ones that are verifiable and credible, we can find if he attended there and/or graduated. And find truly how much of a wunderkind he is or is not.
Meanwhile, he really is as dumb as a rock. Those parchments he purportedly has mean nothing.
He’s an embarrassment to our country.

Actually, I don’t see what all the fuss is about. These types of gifts to heads of state are mostly symbolic. AND LOOK WHAT THE QUEEN GAVE TO PRESIDENT OBAMA! Finally the U.S. has a dignified President–but some people just have to make something out of nothing.

essentially, he made her a ‘mixed tape’. i love the ‘mixed tape’…it’s thoughtful and sweet. plus the rare rodgers and hart book.
and all he got was a signed pic in a silver (plated?) frame. oy.

i find it really interesting, how there is a lack of free speech on this site. say whatever negative thing you want about any/all the u.s. presidents, no prob. speak out against the royals, and you are censored. and this, coming from abc news? perhaps an exposé is in order. thank goodness for ‘screen capture’!

“And, no, I don’t care if he affirmatively actioned his way through Columbia and HLS. When he produces his transcripts, ones that are verifiable and credible, we can find if he attended there and/or graduated. And find truly how much of a wunderkind he is or is not.”
More………FOOOOIIIILLLLLL PLEASE!!!!!

Tacky, tacky, tacky….For one thing her Majesty already has an Ipod and 2nd there is a little office known as the State Department (Hillary Clinton) that is suppose to brief the President on proper protocol with gifts and behavior when going to foreign countries. I’m waiting to see the “For Sale” signs along the shores of the US given that China pretty much holds all the paper they can call on the loan any time. Fair thee well to the good ole US of A. Thanks Obama, you are a sell out and you took us all along for the ride.

“”And, no, I don’t care if he affirmatively actioned his way through Columbia and HLS. When he produces his transcripts, ones that are verifiable and credible, we can find if he attended there and/or graduated. And find truly how much of a wunderkind he is or is not.”
More………FOOOOIIIILLLLLL PLEASE!!!!!”
The person who wrote the original post had valid points. Why are Obama’s records locked away from the eyes of the public?
You couldn’t even get hired as a store manager at Target without official college transcripts.
You couldn’t even get hired at Target without proof of citizenship.
But you can get elected president.
And one of Obama’s typical sad, empty apologists responds to every valid question qith a reply of “more tinfoil” (because they have no actual answers) as if anyone with questions about the leader of the free world is insane.
That is the response one would expect from a Russian living in the Soviet era. Or a communist party member living in China today.

“When he produces his transcripts, ones that are verifiable and credible,”
Let me guess, you believes the anonymous guy on the internet with fake credentials who says Obama COLB is fake.
“we can find if he attended there and/or graduated. And find truly how much of a wunderkind he is or is not.”
ROFLMAO!
He graduated Magna Cum Laude from Harvard Law and obviously did well enough at Columbia to get into Harvard Law.
One stops wondering how Bush was elected twice when one sees the combination of gullibility and ignorance of the right wing.

“Let me guess, you believes the anonymous guy on the internet with fake credentials who says Obama COLB is fake.”
It’s not a birth certificate. That’s a fact.
COLB were avaiable to non-citizens. Birth certificates were not. Funny.
“He graduated Magna Cum Laude from Harvard Law and obviously did well enough at Columbia to get into Harvard Law.”
I tend to believe that, so why hide your transcript unless you had to apply on a student as an Indonesian citizen?
Wouldn’t an egotist like Obama who wrote two autobiographies love to show the world his awesome transcripts?
Wouldn’t Mr. tranparency love to allay people’s fears and suspicions? And with such a simple act as releasing your wonderful school transcripts…why on Earth not?
“One stops wondering how Bush was elected twice when one sees the combination of gullibility and ignorance of the right wing.”
Unfortunately it’s not just your mirror image compatriots on the right who are naive imbeciles eager to make bad voting decisions based on the letter behind a candidate’s name.

“It’s not a birth certificate. That’s a fact.”
Whatever it is it satisfied the FEC. It’s a non-issue.
“I tend to believe that, so why hide your transcript unless you had to apply on a student as an Indonesian citizen?”
Who cares? It’s none of your business. And what is the relevance of his undergrad grade anyway, when you graduate Magna Cum Laude from Harvard Law? It’s not like it took him 6 schools in 6 years to get a journalism degree or anything.
“Wouldn’t Mr. tranparency love to allay people’s fears and suspicions? And with such a simple act as releasing your wonderful school transcripts…why on Earth not?”
The transparency comment was regarding the U.S. Government, not his private life.
“One stops wondering how Bush was elected twice when one sees the combination of gullibility and ignorance of the right wing.”
Ain’t that the truth.
“Unfortunately it’s not just your mirror image compatriots on the right who are naive imbeciles eager to make bad voting decisions based on the letter behind a candidate’s name.”
That is true.

On a point of order Mr. Tapper, The Queen is HER MAJESTY, not Her Royal Highness. You twit.

“i believe Obama was trying to make it really clear to the Queen that time has changed by giving her an Ipod which is suppose to signify Global reconstuctioning. Those of us who might not understand… simply some of your old policies has to be modified..

“The transparency comment was regarding the U.S. Government, not his private life.”
If the qualifications for application (campaigning) and hiring (election) of the president of the U.S. government is not a governmental matter, then nothing is.
We’re not talking about his picks for the NCAA tournament or what music is on his personal iPod or even his past drug use. Those would be examples of his private life. Which, like a typical narcissist, he is all too willing to share with the public.

“If the qualifications for application (campaigning) and hiring (election) of the president of the U.S. government is not a governmental matter, then nothing is.”
His attendance and honors are a matter of public record and have been verified by Harvard. Following your logic, if he had said that he got an A in Con Law then I could see you having a leg to stand on. To my knowledge, he has never made mention of his grades.

“”As soon as you mention your college career as a factor in why you should be hired (as anyone who has graduated from college would surely do, and as Obama and his minions have done often to demonstrate his brilliance), you are required to produce a certified, authentic transcript.”
No, you’re not.”
Wanna bet? Apparently you’ve never worked in Human Resources.

“paul, your bias makes you irrational and quite nauseating.”
Hypocrite says what?
I am biased only against incompetants and those who would try to dupe the public and violate the constitution. You know, like Bush and Obama?
You are biased toward supporting one man and one party because they are your own — regardless of whether they are right or wrong. That is sick and anti-American. You are no better than Sean Hannity or Elisabeth Hasselbeck.
Nothing is more irrational and nauseating than that.

“Little things like the citizenship of the student and under what residential status they are attending would be much more interesting.”
ROFLMAO!
His transcripts would not have that info.
Obama is a natural born citizen of the United States, was over the age of 35 and had resided in the United States for at least 14 years when he was sworn in.
He met the Constitutional qualifications to be President.

“I doubt you’ve even applied for a job if you think you need your college transcripts at an application.”
I thought the same thing.

“I wouldn’t bet on that.”
Lol. I would. Considering he, y’know, already did.

I rarely get genuine laughs from this particular website. paul, you have provided a few today. Considering I have a blistering hangover and a cold, that is no small accomplishment. Thanks.

So this is where people from ACORN spend their time when not rigging elections.

Personally i think its a cool gift. You can tell what party (cough cough republican idiots cough) most people on here are from. Seriously, he won hes our president get over it and stop posting all this crap. Really, get a life, you no life, probably didn’t even graduate college nut jobs.

deepertake wrote: ” Finally the U.S. has a dignified President–but some people just have to make something out of nothing.”
A dignified President? The fool bowed to the Saudi King. You don’t bow to the King unless you are a subject of said King. He show a complete lack of understanding of protocol and it was a sign of complete weakness to the Saudies. I am sure the Saudies had a huge laugh at Obama over dinner that night for being so stupid and showing such weakness.

To those who think President Obama is dumb or stupid. Think about it what are you. He’s the president who are you. Will you every make it to be president.

hi viewers:
Barack H. Obama, or whatever his name is and nationality might be, appears to be a textbook example of an intellectual and moral fraud, as well as the most current example of a total manufacture of the advocacy/adversary media————————————-

but we already knew that when bonds wouldnt use them and they destroyed lowrys career