Posted By Vicki McClure Davidson on April 1, 2009

By Vicki McClure Davidson * Frugal Café Blog Zone

Guess it’s really hard being a cool president in a strange land like England.

Pres. Barack Obama didn’t get the huge adoring crowds to which he’s grown accustomed. And he’s being asked tougher questions in the UK, which doesn’t seem fair at all. After all, he’s on a serious mission with the global economy woes and his socialist, bankruptcy plans for America. And he’s serious.

We know he’s serious because a number of journalists have reported that he looks grim and isn’t smiling. Grim and not smiling… like I said, it’s hard being president and not having his trusty teleprompter handy for dealing with the pesky UK press.

Maybe Obama was saving up all his smiles for his Buckingham Palace visit with the Queen, for when he gave her that special iPod with Broadway show tunes and his speeches loaded on it.

Maybe, just maybe, he realizes he’s in way over his head with all these other world leaders and it’s his “George Costanza face” that he’s showing. You remember that episode of Seinfeld when George explained how he would avoid work and questions he didn’t understand by walking around the baseball headquarters with a nasty scowl, muttering angrily to no one in particular while clutching a piece of paper? Classic Costanza. Seems to be working like a charm for POTUS. Keep looking grim, Obama.

Campaigning to be the president and actually BEING the president are simply not the same thing… he’s a quick study, that Obama. Hence, “Costanza Face.”

While conducting a press conference, one UK journalist, Quentin Letts, expressed his surprise at how uninspiring and downright boring Obama proved to be after all the hype he had heard. He was also critical of PM Brown’s behavior with Obama:

Allegedly the most charismatic politician in the world, Mr Obama was a disappointment. It sounded as though he had a blocked nose and so his lack of energy may have been a symptom of a cold. Jet lag, too. He probably wished he could have stayed in bed.

He spoke slowly, in a meandering manner. Some might say that he was thoughtful and professorial. Others might call his manner circuitous, even yarny. Am I saying that he was a bore? Oh dear. I find that I possibly am…

…Mr Obama fiddled with the cuff of one sleeve, Prince Charles-style, while Mr Brown hosed him down with treacle. The Prime Minister, fluffing with nerves in a couple of places, spoke of the president’s ‘leadership, vision, courage, dynamism, energy, achievements…’

On and on it went. Stop, man! But he would not. ‘A partnership of purpose, resilient, constant.’ We were in total love mode. For his part, Mr Obama stared at Mr Brown with two weary, slightly glazed eyes, his mouth agape.

When Mr Brown let him get a word in, it was ‘Gordon’ this and ‘Gordon’ that. Mr Brown had by now turned his profile to us and it meant we could see the silhouette of his pouchy-cheeked, greedy grin. His lips puckered, forming the shape of a robin’s beak, and he nodded slowly, repeatedly, at times even swallowing, so much was he salivating.

When he turned back to face us his eyes were narrow with creamy pleasure and he pushed forth his chin, stretching his lower neck. Now he placed his hands behind his back and bounced a half inch or so on the balls of his feet, relishing the sound of Solomon Obama’s replies to a few questions from the Press.

Those replies were, as I say, on the chewy side and came out at the speed of an action replay on Match of the Day. So slow, in fact, that at one point a man from the Guardian dropped his tape recorder on the floor. Mr Obama’s best moment was when he was charming about the Queen.

Our old donkey Gordon, by comparison to this American visitor, was for once Mr Eloquent, Mr Quick-Off-The-Mark. Mr Obama had managed to make Mr Brown look good. Another amazing achievement. They left with Mr Obama snaking an arm round his host’s shoulder and ushering him from the room. Very much an ‘I’m in charge’ gesture.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown, in the doghouse with the working class of the British Empire for his spendthrift ways (G20 protests and riots are all over London, although those seem to be directed more at the banks than at Brown), must have forgiven the lame ‘welcome to America’ gift given to him by Obama last month. You remember, that ridiculous DVD collection that he can’t watch on UK DVD players because it’s zoned incorrectly for the UK region?

Today, PM Brown seemed beside himself with giddy schoolgirl joy having his new buddy Obama there. He hung on every word Obama uttered, used exaggerated facial expressions for when Obama paused, and laughed uncontrollably when Obama told a joke. We know, we know, Obama telling a joke that is actually funny (and not slamming the disabled or a dead president’s wife) sounds like a joke in and of itself. But reportedly, he was funny. And the prime minister laughed, and laughed some more, and laughed some more. And when he wasn’t laughing, the prime minister was praising our POTUS. Over and over and over again.

Scary stuff, but it seems to have concluded happily with Obama putting his arm around Brown’s shoulder and ushering him out of the room like an annoying little brother.

Day 2 of the G20 should be interesting. Bring your popcorn.

DailyMail UK: Obama told a joke and Brown laughed… and laughed… and laughed… and laughed
Jim Blazsik: Obama-rama in Europe! The President who keeps on giving – 12 teleprompters
Two worthy reads on this subject at Gateway Pundit: Big Bust… Obama Bores the Brits to Tears and Dog & Pony Show… Gordon Brown Plays Lapdog For Obama

Categories: Conservatism, Economy, Government, International Relations, Media & Communication, Social and Political Climate
Tags: Buckingham Palace, G20, G20 Summit, Obama, PM Gordon Brown, POTUS, president, prime minister, Queen, Queen Elizabeth, teleprompter, UK