Inside the G20 media centre
The media centre here at the ExCel Centre is a case study in the lunacy of summit journalism.
Around a million accredited reporters are spread out in a cavernous space (room does not adequately describe it) and all are tapping away at their laptops.
Since only a dozen or so have any hope of getting a question at the press conferences, most are here for no good reason at all. They could be watching the whole thing in a suite in the Dorchester, or, frankly, at home in Ulan Bator. Although here the sandwiches are free (given that everyone here is being paid for by media organisations -why?) and the Champagne too (joke).
The halls hum with conviviality as old friends meet and old rivals lock horns: "My dear chap, I see you splashed the Russia stuff, grave mistake" or "we knew about the iPod long before it was public" etc etc.
At European summits, they give away tacky mementos of the nation holding the meeting. I still have a Portuguese beach towel which leaves you wet however much you use it.
What should they have given away here, I wonder - money would have been rather welcome and rather apt...
Hello, I'm 
© MMIX~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~49~RS~)
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Justin: If they had given away money, it would have been Monopoly money or something that would spend about as well. Considering the state of the world economy, that would have been appropriate too!!
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Now that is funny !!
But someone has beaten you to the free money thing...
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2009/apr/02/hugh-muir-fred-goodwin
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Justin,
Do you feel insulated from the protests or are is there some indication they're going on outside (beside reports on the news)?
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On the subject of journalistic lunacy, it seems slightly silly that the BBC is sending correspondents(i.e. Mr Webb) *to* London to cover events, haven't they got enough journalists in London already?
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Dear British Freinds,
Please accept our apologies in the name of America, for the classless gestures of our new President...We are terribly embarrased by the DVDs followed by Ipods...
Hey Demmies remember all the arrogance of the "United States of Canada and Jesusland" when Bush won in 2004? Remember you sending Apologies to the world on behalf of ALL Americans? It's payback time!
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"Since only a dozen or so have any hope of getting a question at the press conferences, most are here for no good reason at all."
Would that include the BBC's North American Editor? Nice to get a free flight home though, if only for a day or so before it's on to Paris. Time enough though to do a little shopping for things (food?) not readily available in D.C.
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Phew! And a good time was had by all. Now what?
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Video of reporters filming the protesters' smashing the Royal Bank of Scotland's windows struck me as pretty tame, really. I'm wondering if it's summit fatigue or if we've all finally just gotten used to the idea that on a global scale we're going to hang separately if we don't hang together.
Besides, the real news is happening here at home: AG Holder dismissing the case against Alaska Senator Ted Stevens. Now THAT has some political bite and interest. Think of the twists and permutations and the whoknewwhatwhens?!
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@jonathanp89: Webb is there as part of Obama's touring party who are heading onto Europe (Strasbourg/Baden-Baden, Prague) and Asia (Ankra).
Who knows, he's close enough to "Western Asia" to visit there too.
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First non-UK journalist Question, well done. Impressive Question, shame about the evasive answer.
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Picked out for a question by President Obama. Looks like your trip was not in vein. Side stepped your question however and gave a bit of a fudge of an answer. Mind you a good day at the office I'd think.
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All you reporters were lucky. You were either at the beginning or ending of Capitalism. Maybe like Fukuyama wrote, at the end of history. Either way, the G20 is a historical and well as hysterical event. However more news seemed to be taking place outside of the event than inside.
The crowds outside were fired up with anger. Some called them anichrists, but I call them ordinary people mad as hell and refusing to take it anymore. Wait until it happens over here. The Vietnam Protest, like the Boston Tea Party reflect what the real American is all about.
Arlene Spector is under fire because he dared to put country ahead of Party; Isreal is in Rejection Mode, and we will have to wait until next month's Netenyhu visit to see if the U.S. Congress has changed its address from Tel Aviv back to Washington, D.C.
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Justin:
Thanks for the excellent insight into the Media Centre at the G-20 in London....
~Dennis Junior~
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# 5 VinaTamara wrote:
"Dear British Freinds [sic]"
"Please accept our apologies in the name of America, for the classless gestures of our new President...We are terribly embarrased by the DVDs followed by Ipods..."
"Our" apologies? "We are terribly embarrased" Is that the Royal We? I thought that went out with Queen Victoria.
Pres Obama was recently elected POTUS. AFAIK he got the highest % vote of a Democratic candidate since the Johnson landslide nearly half a century ago. And again, AFAIK, all reputable polls show his personal popularity remains high - in the 60s. And also, AFAIK, however popular he is in the US, he's even more popular abroad, and certainly in the UK. [And indeed in Ireland.]
Said popularity is no doubt boosted by thoughts of his 'classy' predecessor ['Yo Blair', 'We must put food on our families', etc etc etc.] Not to mention that 'classy' li'l ol' gal who would have been a heartbeat away from the Presidency if Obama had lost. [You betcha.]
Anyway - it's very clear what entitles Pres Obama to speak on behalf of the USA. What exactly, apart from delusions of grandeur, entitles you?
In your last posting you opined that "...it is clear that most here suffer from PDS (Palin Derangemnt [sic] Syndrome..."
This was a common ploy of Republicans, and still is. If anyone criticised Bush or Palin, this proved they were mentally ill, ie suffering from 'BDS' or 'PDS'. The thought that it might be perfectly rational to criticise either or both did not seem to occur.
Having said that, you may rest assured that the one thing that concerns the citizens of the UK at present is not recession, unemployment, the credit crunch or bank failures. No - it's what type of presents Obama gave the PM and the Queen. Why, I hear there have been riots in London on this very topic.
And if the best you come up with to attack Obama is his choice of gifts - well, the letters O, D & S do spring to mind....
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"Dear British Freinds,
Please accept our apologies in the name of America, for the classless gestures of our new President...We are terribly embarrased by the DVDs followed by Ipods...
Hey Demmies remember all the arrogance of the "United States of Canada and Jesusland" when Bush won in 2004? Remember you sending Apologies to the world on behalf of ALL Americans? It's payback time!"
Sorry Vina. The thing is, you see, the iPod was a really good idea, not embarrassing at all. Perhaps you should try to be less fuddy-duddy? The Queen got on really well with the Obamas. There, OK now?
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John-in-Dublin (#14), I'll drink a Smithwick's to that!
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14, john-In-Dublin -
Very well said. I would add that we (of course I appoint myself to speak for all Americans) are embarrassed by posts like #5. Well, I know I am anyway.
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I am having difficulty understanding post #5 "Dear freinds" (sic). Would someone please explain to me what, "United States of Canada and Jesusland" means? Also, when and how it was used.
As for the apology from some Demmies (I take that to mean Democrats) following the re-election of Bush in 2004, it was appreciated by many, [john-In-Dublin, would I be exaggerating if I said, almost all?] from outside of America. I for one, of course cannot speak on behalf of all Canadians, appreciated the gesture.
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#5
Tammy,
We seem to forget the original score for 'The King and I' signed by Richard Rodgers that the Obama's gave Queeny. Not only witty but highly valuable.
Nothing to apologize for in that.
Fortunate Sam
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18, timewaits
At some point (I don't remember if it was after the '04 election) someone made up a map showing two North American countries. The lower one, made up of all the red states, was called "Jesusland," and the upper one, which comprised Canada and all the northern blue states, was labeled "The United States of Canada." I still have a copy of this map on my refrigerator. I found it very amusing then and still do. I also feel wistful, as of course Vermont on the map is part of the US of C.
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@Jordan D: Strange last time I checked Turkey was in negotiations about joining the European Union and therefore could really be classified as part of Europe. Granted Ankara sits in the "Asian part" of Turkey but really I would not class it is Asia. Europe seems more appropriate than Asia. Heck even Middle East or CIS seems more appropriate. When I think of Asia I see images of Beijing, Thailand etc not Turkey.
@VinaTamara: Dear American Friends, the Queen was apparently very taken by the iPod and really got on very well with the Obamas, especially the First Lady. Its not every day the Queen lets someone put their arm around her (even if they are the First Lady). General opinion of those who I spoke to at work about it, is that the iPod was a great idea and shock at what a change in administration has done to how British people now perceive America.
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I'm not sure what one would get Her Majesty as a gift...
If I were head of State or a Cabinet Member, here's some things I may like from the UK:
A replica of my coat of arms. (While my grandfather was armigerous, I may not be...at least, not without the proper alterations.)
A sword, with something to do with my family or nation.
A good quality reprinting of Blake's "Illustrations to the Book of Job"
A suitable collection of UK Hymnals/Hymnbooks.
A replica of a London Police Box (AKA TARDIS.) (Perhaps even a fullsize one...)
Something having to do with Portmeiron.
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Ref 5, Vina
"Please accept our apologies in the name of America, for the classless gestures of our new President...We are terribly embarrased by the DVDs followed by Ipods..."
Would you have preferred a Merkel-style back rub, a Yo Blair, vomiting on a PMs lap or just a little "classy" persuasion such as you are with us or against us?
President Obama and our First Lady are young people, and like most people their age they value things that may or may not be appeal to elder statesmen or a Queen, but the latter certainly did not seem offended by the gift and carried on very well. Our President and his wife are doing a splendid job and are getting the kind of enthusiastic welcome that eluded his predecessor.
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5, VinaTamara.
Earth to mars....
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The evening television news is reporting that the "touching" incident was initiated by the Queen, in which case there is no breach of protocol.
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I don't see anything wrong with DVD's and Ipods or silverframed pictures of the queen as gifts - I'd like them all. Its a bit weird to snipe about gifts anyway - reminds me of Veruca Salt
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@poincianakings (#21): Take it or leave it, with the Asia issue. I'm hankering that Obama's going to have an add on after Turkey before going back to the US. Especially as his press secretary said that the Turkey trip/speech wasn't going to be the "big 100 day speech" in a Muslim country.
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#9. SamTyler1969: "We seem to forget the original score for 'The King and I' signed by Richard Rodgers that the Obama's gave Queeny. Not only witty but highly valuable."
If it really was the score of 'The King and I', I would agree, but most news reports simply say that it was a "songbook" signed by Rodgers and who was the composer of 'The King and I' (or Oklahoma!). I also read that it was a book with lyrics by Lorenz Hart, whose work was far more sophisticated than that of Oscar Hammerstein. A wittier choice might have been Cole Porter's 'Jubilee' or perhaps 'I and Albert'. Definitely not 'Always' - the muscalisation of Wallis Simpson and Edward VIII!
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23. At 00:10am on 03 Apr 2009, saintDominick wrote:
President Obama and our First Lady are young people, and like most people their age they value things that may or may not be appeal to elder statesmen or a Queen, but the latter certainly did not seem offended by the gift and carried on very well
25. At 02:34am on 03 Apr 2009, Gary_A_Hill wrote:
The evening television news is reporting that the "touching" incident was initiated by the Queen, in which case there is no breach of protocol.
Hmm. Things change, you know. It's probably the boys: they tend to hug and touch people as well. Most do. Must admit I was surprised seeing HM put her hand round Michelle Obama's waist, not something you see often at all, but it must mean they were getting on OK. And as for the iPod -- Her Maj might be in her eighties, but that doesn't mean she doesn't appreciate these things. The boys again -- they gave her an iPod a few years ago, apparently, and they, like most young people who've grown up with it, text her on her mobile all the time . . .Still I'd have thought they'd have hoped granny would get an iPhone. . .
Anyway, maybe she was pleased (like everybody else here, I think) to see a US President who seems thoughtful, clever, human and relatively normal for a change.
(PS: I saw so many 'reports' in the US media that seem to be stuck in some fifties Hollywood black-and-white film of Britain. Pin-striped suits and bowler hats??? )
Oh, and why do people keep referring to Obama as though he's about 20?
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#29 British-ish
You are spot on - things do and have changed!
It looked as though all the G20 leaders were impressed with Obama. The relationship between Obama and the Russian President looked almost jovial! There actually may be a new world order, but little to do with the current crisis in the economy - it's Obama stupid!
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I suspect the gift of pleasant intelligent company is the best gift of all.
Your welcome Mam.
(I wonder if they had some private giggles about what a prat GW was.)
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Something having to do with Portmeiron.
built on a 5/6 scale
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5. At 4:58pm on 02 Apr 2009, VinaTamara wrote:
Dear British Freinds,
Please accept our apologies in the name of America, for the classless gestures of our new President...We are terribly embarrased by the DVDs followed by Ipods...
----------------------------------------
That's OK Britain accepts you apology as long as you promise not to elect another thick headed morally corrupt ineffectual simpleton like bush again.
You all ready paid us all back by bankrupting the world. Dismissing peace an dismissing global warming.
but we understand that Global warming is just Gods way of turning up the heat.
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31, happylaze: "(I wonder if they had some private giggles about what a prat GW was.)"
I was wondering that myself. Sadly, I expect the Queen doesn't allow herself those delicious, satisfying indulgences. Not to fellow Heads of State anyway (but maybe there was just a tiny aside to Michelle; I'll allow myself to think so).
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About breaches of protocol, or in this case, sheer manners, did anyone (else) notice that after the photo call in the Throne Room at Buckingham Palace, all the men rose and walked about before their hostess, The Queen, did so? She's an old lady and manners would suggest that she be allowed to be the first to move from her chair, but the "best and brightest" of world politics appeared to have have not a shred of thought for their elders. Times may have changed but, as the saying goes, "manners maketh man" - and that has not changed.
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David_Cunard (#35), that's a good point. You said "all the men." What did Merkel do?
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Maybe, being an old lady, she did not want to get up and walk around, but indicated that the others could. I did not see this. Did she remain seated, or join them in their walkabout?
I thought that royalty does not "mingle" but sits and waits for others to come to them. Is this not correct, then?
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31, happylaze: "(I wonder if they had some private giggles about what a prat GW was.)"
It shocked the world. it is one thing for a country to elect a right wong extremist. That happens and if the individual has a brain then one can retain some confidence.
it is quite another when a supposed mature democracy elects a self confessed,lazy, ignoramus.
It wouldn't have mattered wha political leannings Bush had, he was too much of an idiot for them to matter.
Whether it was trying to get his hometown solicitor to become a supreme court judge or trying to give the King of Spain Spanish lessons Bush certainly set new standards for incompetence.
In some ways the US had a luck escape, it was just as well the rest of the world, particuarly europe, was there to get the slack.
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#36. Gary_A_Hill wrote: "David_Cunard (#35), that's a good point. You said "all the men." What did Merkel do?"
She followed suit. Click Here and then look at the video beneath the headline. The Queen appears to be the last to move.
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39, David -
I found it, though your link went to a "page not found." You're right, and not only did they all get up, it looks like they all ignored her. It looked very odd.
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17 Bere:
"I would add that we (of course I appoint myself to speak for all Americans) are embarrassed by posts like #5. Well, I know I am anyway. "
Brilliant!
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41, Swami -
Why, thank you. On behalf of all Americans, of course.
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This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the House Rules.
29. ish-ish.
"Oh, and why do people keep referring to Obama as though he's about 20?"
He has a youthful demeanor. His body is lean and slim and he has the loose-limbed stride of a young person. His smile is spontaneous and open. His following is young because his attitudes are young. Some people have the ability to move with the times. Maybe Obama is one of those. Don't we all know people in their '30's who are already set in their ways, and some in their '70's or '80's who are on top of things and look to the future? The Obamas to me seem younger than they are. Apparently I am not alone.
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#43. At 01:37am on 04 Apr 2009, David_Cunard
This comment has been referred to the moderators.
For pointing out who was the first to rise after the G20 group photograph with The Queen! The president of the nation from whence the name of the nuts comes from. In this case, it's the moderators who are nuts!
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45, David -
Which nuts? Brazil nuts?
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#46. bere54 wrote: "David - Which nuts? Brazil nuts?"
Correct first time!
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