Confirmed: Obama's Thoughtful, Historically-Rich Gift of a Blockbuster Video Val-U-Pak Doesn't Even Fucking Work in England

As long suspected -- though no one in the American media would dare to ask. They didn't even cover the story, so of course they wouldn't want to make it even more embarrassing.

Yes, indeed, Super-Diplomatic Ultra-Charming Globe-Trotting Mega-Sophisticate forgot that American-coded DVD's won't work in British DVD players:

Alas, when the PM settled down to begin watching them the other night, he found there was a problem.

The films only worked in DVD players made in North America and the words "wrong region" came up on his screen. Although he mournfully had to put the popcorn away, he is unlikely to jeopardise the special relationship – or "special partnership", as we are now supposed to call it – by registering a complaint.

A Downing Street spokesman said he was "confident" that any gift Obama gave Brown would have been "well thought through," but referred me to the White House for assistance on the "technical aspects".

A White House spokesman sniggered when I put the story to him and he was still looking into the matter when my deadline came last night.

Yes, it's a sniggering matter, no doubt.

Gee, which White House spokesman routinely sniggers and giggles at every fucking question put to him?

I have no idea who it could have possibly been. But let's just say he's the Gibbs who keeps on gibbing.

Thanks to Ken.

Bleg: Canceled. Slublog came through.

Chris Matthews' Spin? If Matthews mentions this (which of course he won't), perhaps he can argue this is Barack Obama's thoughtful, diplomatic way of saying, "You're so important to me I'm trying to force you to spend at least 50 more hours visiting in America."

By the Way: For those idiot liberals arguing this is no big deal...

Really? Not a big deal?

Then why did the PM's office leak this embarrassing detail and call to complain?

If they weren't pissed, they'd have let it slide.

They didn't. Their own diplomacy is sending the signal, loud and clear, that We are not amused.

Is it too much to ask that Obama get the most basic, simple diplomacy right?

posted by Ace at 03:41 PM

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