Downing Street can only reach the US answering machine

Marbury

If the White House isn't staffed up enough to help coordinate a global recovery effort, that would seem to me a serious problem for all of us. I'm not sure the glee you express at the prospect of a failed G20 summit is entirely wise...

porkbelly

Brown hasn't figured it out yet: Obama has no interest in stopping the economic decline, at least not yet. He looks upon it as his 9/11, a catastrophe that paralyzes the opposition and turns the public into a quivering, terrified herd of sheep - the perfect conditions for ramming through his program to remake the United States. He needs the current crisis to continue for at least the next six months - and he knows that Bush will be blamed for it anyway (while he can take credit for any improvement). Poor Brown is looking for someone to throw him a life preserver - there's an anvil headed his way.

oldrightie

Ring, ring ring, ring.........bang, another Nokia hits the wall. I love it!

RW

I wonder which one-eyed Scottish idiot, brooding in his cobwebbed eyrie high above No 10, ordered the Cabinet Secretary to censor himself, lest he inadvertently cast a malevolent spell?

[monotonous Scottish voice]

"Obama will come... I have said he will come... I have said the Preciousss Obama is mine... I will not be contradicted, I will not...He will come and He will bless me forever...eternal electoral victory will be mine.... he will come... he *must* come..."

[soundtrack: the dull muffled thudding of Nokias bouncing off the padded walls]

Mitch

perhaps Obama is much like brown,useless and way out of his depth.
Possibly they are just ignoring him.

TrevorsDen

Marbury the G20 is not going to solve anything. Do you really think that a bit of a weekend get together in a country house can 'solve' anything? Could 'cure' anything?

Bretton Woods consisted of all the developed world - 44 nations. It lasted 22 days. And it only came fully into operation 15 years later. Agreement was easy even then - since there would only be one solvent nation at the end of WW2, America and it was picking up the bill.

The G20 has only one purpose to serve - to give Brown a fig leaf of respectability. To provide yet another episode of smoke and mirrors to disguise Browns ineptitude.
No matter what the result - the entire conference centre could sink through a crack in the earth's crust - we can be sure the govt will spin it as a great success.

Hysteria

Hello - this is the White House.

Press one for Economic Recovery Plans
Press two for green energy options
Press three for Middle East rapprochement
For all other foreign policy issues please hold for the next available guru

Hysteria

We take a day to work out the department's goals for the year. Annual budget cycle takes several weeks (for the corporation)

Any suggestion that a one day conference is going to solve anything is pure fantasy

Wilhelm

Why should America be interested in England ?

James J

Maybe our politicians should concentrate more on domestic issues rather than international grand standing. These conferences will achieve nothing.

Ted Foan

Hysteria - you forgot the usual preamble...

"This call may be recorded for training or security purposes."

Steve.W

Quote -

'They are totally focused on domestic issues'

No grandstanding? Gosh how wicked of them. And won't we be jealous if they sort their economy out before we sort ours.

I think the cost of the G20 should go on Brown's general election expenses. I might write to the Electoral Commission and say so.

Cheryl G.

As an American, I was mortified to find out how our 'glorious president' treated our greatest ally's PM visit. DVDs?! No state dinner?! Honestly, I'm devistated and embarassed. Sincerely, I'm SO SORRY! Please don't think that ALL Americans are like him or think like him.

CCTV

Which Blair Summit at Glenagles was the backdrop to suicide bombings in London ?

RobertD

Cheryl G,

Please don't feel at all embarassed. If Brown had been visiting to genuinely improve anglo american relationships then you would have cause for concern. However had that been the case I am sure that his reception would have been more welcoming. Brown was in the US only for his own political benefit, seeking some support for the US because he is incapable of dealing with any of the problems in the UK. In particular he was trying to pretend that he was not the cause of many of the current difficulties.

In the circumstances I think your President's response was appropriate.

Paul B

The Us president seems to be doing what hes elected to do. looking after the interests of US and its citiens, even though we may disagree and belive they will not work. Brown, when trying to contact the White House, via Cabinet Office and staff, is doing what he has always done,looking after his interests before the needs of the UK. Hes burnt toast, why should Obama want to associate with him. Cheryl, you have nothing to be embarrassed or ashamed about.

Sir Graphus

Can't blame the Americans at all. Since the "credit crunch" started, just about every one of Brown's public utterances has been to blame America, not him. Then, suddenly he wants their help; "oh please, please will you save my career for me; gratis."

What would you do in Obama's place?

Michael

What Sir Humphrey really doesn't like is the American system of importing about 4000 NEW top civil servants every time there is a change of government. He'd be out of a job in about 18 months.

RW

Really, Cheryl G, there is nothing to apologise for. Many of us on this side of the pond think Brown got exactly the treatment he deserved, no less and no more, and do not blame Obama in the slightest for refusing to be used as a stage prop in Brown's deluded grandstanding scenario, portraying hmself as the Economic Saviour of the World.

Obama probably thought "Jeez! Who the &*(% does this guy think he is?"

CS

***Downing Street can only reach the US answering machine***

Oh be fair to Obama. He won't be the first of us to leave his phone on answerphone to screen out annoying callers. I do it with my Mum all the time and just tell her next time: oh I must have been out shopping.

JONNY

"They don't suck. We appreciate them."
You see Cheryl G. you're not alone. Millions of Fox News viewers agree with you.
It's just that Obama is a pretty busy guy right now.
He has a lot on his plate - and in order of priority the Campaign for Brown's Re-election comes quite low.
Anyway Brown doesn't mind, I promise you.
On the contrary he's pleased as punch with his free DVD's. He now plays Gone with the Wind nightly as a cure for insomnia.
Reinventing himself as Rhett Butler.
You know... "My dear Scarlet I doan givva damn.."

Sam Armstrong

Surely British Prime Ministers are, in the new American psyche, something associated with wars that make people hate the US. Having a British poodle is something that nasty Bush Jr or Reagan would do. Cool socialists like Obama seek not the advice of the British.

Rhoda Klapp

I suspect, as I've said before, that Obama's regime does not really do abroad. 50% of the world is inside the beltway, most of the rest is in Illinois. It is not enough for them to say they are busy. The presidency is about juggling many things. It seems the ringing phone at 3 AM which was part of the Hilary campaign will not be answered whenever it rings. This is a good way to precipitate problems. And having your guys go around telling Brits your country doesn't matter is not only bad manners but also bad policy, they should keep us sweet just in case, no matter if GB is on the way out or not. What if Gordo decides to pull our guys out of AFG? (I wish). This shows it is amateur hour in DC. I hope they get a grip soon, this is not good for the world.

Verity

Jonny - "It's just that Obama is a pretty busy guy right now." Pathetic aping of American usage.

BTW, the quote is: "Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn."

JONNY

'Jonny - "It's just that Obama is a pretty busy guy right now." Pathetic aping of American usage.'

Thanks Verity but this crass descent into Americanism was actually meant to be ....deliberate. You're being a little slow today honeybunch.
On the other hand - your correction of the Rhett Butler put-down was bang on.
For sure you know your GWTW lady.