Prospect of Barack Obama show causes UK to clear its decks

[djones520]

With an entourage of 500 staff, an armour-plated limousine and a fleet of decoy helicopters, America's new president will arrive for his first visit to Britain amid huge razzmatazz on Tuesday for the G20 summit. But it will be his closed-door meetings with world leaders that are likely to prove the most significant of the trip

Britain will get its first chance to see Barack Obama this week when a White House cavalcade - complete with armoured limousines, helicopters, 200 US secret service staff and a six-doctor medical team - sweeps into the UK.

Obama will fly into London for his first visit to the UK as president of the United States on Tuesday to take part in the G20 summit in the capital's Docklands area. He will not be travelling light.

More than 500 officials and staff will accompany the president on his tour this week - along with a mass of high-tech security equipment, including the $300,000 presidential limousine, known as The Beast. Fitted with night-vision camera, reinforced steel plating, tear- gas cannon and oxygen tanks, the vehicle is the ultimate in heavy armoured transport.

In addition, a team from the White House kitchen will travel with the president to prepare his food. As one official put it: "When the president travels, the White House travels with him, right down to the car he drives, the water he drinks, the gasoline he uses, the food he eats. America is still the sole superpower and the president must have the ability to handle any crisis, anywhere, any time."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/mar/29/obama-london-visit-uk-g20

I'm not even going to go into how much extra work that this little trip of his is causing the place I work at.   

[formerlurker]

With an entourage of 500 staff

Uh, is he kidding us right now??

[djones520]

Yeah, and guess whose responsible for getting all those people over there?  Commercial carrier?  Guess again...   

[Eupher]

Actually, I see this article as being highly critical of The One for the inflated levels of ostentation, using terms like "entourage", comments involving his armored limousine, and even down to The One getting a burger if he feels "peckish."

Obama's recent diplomatic gaffes involving the PM and the stupid last minute "gifts" are not winning over the UK press.

This article, for its length and level of detail, drives home the point that the same jerk who passed off a DVD collection from the WH gift shop is the same jerk that needs a staff of 500 to service his every need.

I wonder if they're going to bring The One's TP.

 

[miskie]

Obama's recent diplomatic gaffes involving the PM and the stupid last minute "gifts" are not winning over the UK press.

I LOVE the thoughtless gifts Obama presented, DVDs for a person who is blind in one eye, and severely sight impaired in the other - Not that it really matters much, as North America region 1 DVDs will have a tough time working in Britain's region 2 players.

[Black Swan]

Over-indulgence and over-rated.  If the rest of the world didn't hate us they will when this pair get done.  How disgusting. 

[Bluesuiter-Retired]

It will be interesting to see what the final cost will be.

We're supposed to suck it up, make do with less, yet I have yet to see "the messiah" lead by example by cutting back on luxuries.

It's almost as if "the messiah" considers the U.S. Treasury as his PERSONAL BANK ACCOUNT to spend as he wishes.

[Strider]

America is still the sole superpower and the president must have the ability to handle any crisis, anywhere, any time."

They think hauling around all his shit whever he goes is gonna increase his ability to solve a crisis??? .........

[Strider]

It will be interesting to see what the final cost will be.

We're supposed to suck it up, make do with less, yet I have yet to see "the messiah" lead by example by cutting back on luxuries.

It's almost as if "the messiah" considers the U.S. Treasury as his PERSONAL BANK ACCOUNT to spend as he wishes.

Are you kidding?
Nobody in Washington gives a shit!!!
There isn't a politician in office today that has suffered financialy from thier BAD decisions.....hell they just got a raise!!!

[TheSarge]

Yeah, and guess whose responsible for getting all those people over there?  Commercial carrier?  Guess again...   

Ms. Pelosi's not gonna be happy with Obama using all of her jets.

[Chris_]

Why aren't all the enviro-wackjobs screaming about this gigantic carbon footprint?   

[asdf2231]

As one official put it: "When the president travels, the White House travels with him, right down to the car he drives, the water he drinks, the gasoline he uses, the food he eats. America is still the sole superpower and the president must have the ability to handle any crisis, anywhere, any time."

They would have crucified Bush's administration for talking like this.

[SSG Snuggle Bunny]

Don't forget his 8-track library.

[Baruch Menachem]

Since he is going to europe, I can see bringing along his own TP.

And since this is england, a personal chef is in line too.

 :bow:All Hail the Obamamessiah!!

I met a traveller from an antique land
Who said: "Two vast and trunkless legs of stone
Stand in the desert. Near them on the sand,
Half sunk, a shattered visage lies, whose frown
And wrinkled lip and sneer of cold command
Tell that its sculptor well those passions read
Which yet survive, stamped on these lifeless things,
The hand that mocked them and the heart that fed.
And on the pedestal these words appear:
`My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings:
Look on my works, ye mighty, and despair!'
Nothing beside remains. Round the decay
Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare,
The lone and level sands stretch far away

[NHSparky]

And even with the current exchange rates, London is still one helluva expensive city.  Even the lowliest aide is going to be staying in a hotel that costs upwards of $300/night.  It wouldn't surprise me if this far exceeds the $45 Million the Clintons spent 10 years ago in Africa.

[Hawkgirl]

His arrogance has no limits.  Everyone was so concerned about the world hating us because of Bush....The world is going to hate us even more after this show of american waste....pun intended.

[AllosaursRus]

FOR CRYIN' OUT LOUD!!!!!!!!!!

This guy is an embarrassment! Those that voted for this cheap suit are going to pay if they acknowledge to me they voted this imbecile into office!

Americans are now going to have to hang their heads in shame whenever our president visits a foreign government.

My goodness, how would you like to have to work for this empty headed moron? How in the world do you explain to your Friends you have to wipe this guys butt every time he takes a crap?

500 staffers to go to a summit? Ya got to be kiddin me'!!!!!!!! Even the Mafioso can get by with a coupla dozen body guards! This guy needs 200??????

That still leaves 300 to operate the telepromter! GOOD GRIEF!!!!!!!

[franksolich]

Americans are now going to have to hang their heads in shame whenever our president visits a foreign government.

What's this "are now" bit, sir?

Some of us have been embarrassed by the spectacle for some months now.

[JohnnyReb]

My goodness, how would you like to have to work for this empty headed moron? How in the world do you explain to your Friends you have to wipe this guys butt every time he takes a crap?

You may have stumbled upon the reason he has had so much trouble appointing people to fill gummint jobs. .....and the line about the job may require some "paperwork".