U.K. government meltdown

Prime Minister Gordon Brown is having a very rough term. First, President Obama didn't give him the well-deserved attention when he came to visit (and received DVDs as gifts which can't be played in Britain). Then an investigation by the Telegraph revealed how members of parliament and cabinet officials exploited allowances to fund their lifestyles. And the latest bad news for Brown comes as multiple resignations from his top cabinet ministers.

One of the resignations is from Home Secretary Jacqui Smith, evidently in trouble for filing expenses for a couple of her husband's pornographic movies, among other things. She also blacklisted American talk show host Michael Savage from entering the country for his views. Savage is filing a libel suit.

U.K. Home Office Secretary expensed husband's X-rated movies?!

British P.M. Gordon Brown and his party is in the middle of an embarrassing storm prepared to shake up the government. Apparently many of them have been expensing all sorts of goods and services, most of them unrelated to their work.

What caught my eye is Home Office Secretary Jacqui Smith's expense: two X-rated movies her husband watched, although she did repay.

Yes, this is the same Jacqui Smith who's banning talk show host Michael Savage from entering the U.K. for his conservative ideas. After the revelation of her husband's curious taste in video, I'd think that she would understand what freedom of expression means!

I don't know much about British politics, but it's safe to say that this woman is a fool.

Her Majesty receives video iPod from Obama, loaded with his voice

Well, it's better than what P.M. Gordon Brown received (25 DVDs not playable in the U.K.).

Go Merkel, go!

British P.M. Gordon Brown plans to present a "Global New Deal" to G20 leaders, suggesting a $2 trillion stimulus to end the recession. He and President Obama can definitely be buddies, and maybe the Global New Deal ought to include efforts to remove the DVD region codes so that Brown can view those gifted movies from Obama. However, German Chancellor Angela Merkel already showing some backbone to criticize Brown's plan, and there are other leaders who agree with her (e.g. Spanish finance minister Pedro Solbes).

All I can say is, "Well done, ma'am!" Maybe Merkel can talk some sense into our spending-happy President...

Latest Obama foreign policy gaffe

British P.M. Gordon Brown shouldn't feel so bad receiving DVDs from President Obama which, by the way, don't play in the U.K. thanks to anti-piracy measures. He should be glad he's not in French President Nicolas Sarkozy's shoes.

What describes President Obama better? Rookie president of the year? The political virgin? Barack "On no!" Obama?

I'm proud to be American, but right now our President's embarrassing me a little bit...

Obama gifts DVDs to British PM Brown

Okay, no matter how you spin this, it's totally embarrassing for Americans. British Prime Minister Gordon Brown gives the President a very, very thoughtful gift:

During his historic trip to Washington, Gordon Brown gave Barack Obama an ornamental pen holder made from the timbers of the Victorian anti-slave ship HMS Gannet - once called HMS President.

The unique present delighted Mr Obama because oak from the Gannet's sister ship, HMS Resolute, was carved to make a desk that already takes place in the Oval Office in the White House, after being presented by Britain to the US in 1880.

And what does the Prime Minister get in return?

Twenty-five classic American movies on DVDs. Seriously?