Can we all at least agree that region locking is complete BS?

YES!! The whole region restriction thing is part of the neanderthal Hollywood film industry trying to tamp down on "piracy."

It is idiotic and futile. Brown seriously needs to get a region-free DVD player--they are only like $40.

;-D

Usually handed out by some fellow wearing a domino mask and a striped shirt.

Cartoonish errors lead me inexorably to cartoonish imagery.

And Michael, I'm not in the least convinced this can all be laid off on Obama's staff.

Nor am I, which is why I specifically accused Obama of apathy on this. We're not really in disagreement here.

Wasn't Obama supposed to improve our world image and create good will towards America.

Quite so. Obviously, Obama isn't delivering. And here's the thing;

Compare this to Bill Clinton, who made it quite clear he really didn't care much for foreign policy even well before election day. The result of that was sending our miltary to more places on more missions than any presdient in history.

There are liberals among us who when contemplating foreign policy would claim that much use of the military (assuming of course a Republican was doing the sending) constitutes outright failure in foreign policy.

Follow the trendlines as established to see where that leads us in the next four years.

And Michael, I'm not in the least convinced this can all be laid off on Obama's staff. First, because I'm not convinced they're not working at his direction. Secondly, because even if they're not, any presdient tends to surround himself with people who are of a mind like to his own. Even absent direct orders to what we ended up with... (And we'll never know, I suppose the answer to that question, nor that I'd beleive what we were told if they decided to address the question)...I'm unconvinced Obama wasn't of a mind of what we got, anyway.

Wasn't Obama supposed to improve our world image and create good will towards America.

Maybe he was making a creative statement about copy protection.

But probably not. I actually agree with Bithead, I don't think Obama really gave a crap about giving Gordon Brown a gift just for coming across the pond. Even if the DVD's worked, they were a about as thoughtful as a gift card to Walmart. Probably most of his wonkish staff felt the same way. Maybe he just needs to hire someone from a social club to handle these things, instead of political intellectuals.

I'd say he's off to a jolly good start. Jolly good.

/for Stupid, this is sarcasm

OMG... I thought people in this thread we basically just kidding around. But, no, you really believe this is a big issue. Wow.

Remove the name "Obama".
Insert the name "Bush", or "McCain".
Recalculate your response.

I wonder, if the Obama suppoerts are starting to see how badly they've screwed themselves.

OMG... I thought people in this thread we basically just kidding around. But, no, you really believe this is a big issue. Wow.

Either Obama is not effectively communicating appropriate priorities to his staff, or they are not competent to act appropriately on head of state priorities. Either way, the buck stops with Obama.

Or, they ARE in fact acting directly on his order,and correctly reflecting his lack of care in the matters at hand. Which also drops neatly in Obama's lap.

Dude, I know the technical issues.

My point is I think I'd be more worried about the fact that I apparently have access to better technology in my basement than does the Prime Minister of our closest ally than I would about the fact that one of Obama's flunkies picked up the wrong box set.

I think you'd best be more concerned that our own WhiteHouse exhibits such a lack of understanding of the simplest of technical issues... and the lack of planning and forethought. It doesn't take a great deal to foul up international relationships, and Obama's already succeeded in doing that with the Brits, and in more than this.

To Micheal's point, wars have started this way.

The left is so dedicated to the fine art of international relationships and negotiations, and yet can't pull off something this deucedly simple? How are we to take this foulup in light of the tasks ahead with nations and cultures far less friendly to us on the near horizon? [/ScornDripping]

I note Mark Steyn, this morning, noting the same article as James:

When the president and his Teleprompter visit London for the G20 summit in a couple of weeks, it would be a tragedy were Barack Oprompta to rise for his big speech to find nothing but the words “Wrong Region” flashing on his screen (although I’m sure the Queen would be very polite and string along and make all the swells stand up and join the toast to “Ron Region”, whoever he is).

But don’t forget, folks: Somewhere in Texas a village has been reunited with its idiot, and we now have the whip-smartest administration of David Brooks’s lifetime.

I wonder, if the Obama suppoerts are starting to see how badly they've screwed themselves.

Along with the rest of us, of course.

They seem astonishingly inept across a wide array of responsibilities, which certainly does not reflect well on their boss or his judgment.

But, to be fair, their ineptitude hasn't killed anybody yet.

They seem astonishingly inept across a wide array of responsibilities, which certainly does not reflect well on their boss or his judgment. (I hope they will not be getting taxpayer-funded bonuses!)

Secondly, there were dozens of small slights embedded in Obama's complete lack of attention to the Brown visit, from possible errors in communication all the way to getting the bum's rush in the schedule so there would be plenty of time for Obama to meet with Boy Scouts and other miscellaneous people.

Either Obama is not effectively communicating appropriate priorities to his staff, or they are not competent to act appropriately on head of state priorities. Either way, the buck stops with Obama.