Yeah right- "A source close to Mr Obama's top team..."

[masuki bance]

His staff are being warned to get a firmer grip now he has passed the 50-day mark in the White House, and prevent a repeat of the mistakes that marred the last seven weeks.

A White House official last week passed details to The Sunday Telegraph of Mr Obama's desire to avoid a repeat of such errors as the inept handling of Gordon Brown's recent visit to Washington.

The concession came as allies of Mr Obama have begun breaking cover to question his performance and leadership on the economic meltdown and public diplomacy.

A new poll revealed that the president's personal approval ratings have slumped to levels below those of George W. Bush at the same stage of his first term, undermining the common assumption that Mr Obama is enjoying unusual levels of public popularity. The Rasmussen survey found that Mr Obama enjoys the confidence of just 56 per cent of voters, with 43 per cent who do not have confidence and a third strongly disapproving of his early performance.

Mr Obama has now told his staff to learn from the errors made during Mr Brown's visit and to ensure that the protocol is observed when he meets the Queen later this month.

Administration officials have been warned to be better prepared for the high profile series of international meetings over the next few weeks, during which Mr Obama will travel to Europe for the G20 meeting in London, roll out a new strategy for Afghanistan at a Nato summit and make his first appearance in a Muslim nation - Turkey.

A source close to Mr Obama's top team telephoned this newspaper last week to say that White House officials now regard it as "a mistake" to have returned the bust of Winston Churchill that the British government loaned George W. Bush - a story first reported by The Sunday Telegraph - and then to have sent the prime minister home with a gift of 25 DVDs after his visit to Washington.

"Clearly it was a mistake, and they want people to know that they know that," the source said. "There is a collective desire to learn from the experience. They pride themselves on attention to detail. They didn't have their eye on the ball... they all know they've got to do better."

Mr Obama is due to call at Buckingham Palace shortly before the G20 meeting.

The source said: "The point was made that the protocol people need to be absolutely sure they are on top of everything to do with meeting the Queen and make sure that everyone knows what is expected. The Queen won't be getting any DVDs."

The admission came as Mr Obama faced and upsurge of criticism from influential and previously devout supporters among American commentators, halfway through what Mr Obama hopes will prove the most consequential first 100 days since Franklin D. Roosevelt.

So far he has had a radical economic stimulus approved by Congress, but faces accusations that he and his team, who regard themselves as great communicators, have made presentational errors.

...

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/barackobama/4991247/Barack-Obamas-aides-admit-errors-are-making-him-less-popular.html

Bullshit anonymous sources.

[dkf]

1. The DVD thing was weird.

You'd think protocol is the first place they would have put experienced staffers.

[ClarkUSA]

2. Telegraph always does this "unnamed staffer" crap to Barack... it's a Rupert Murdoch rag.

[muriel_volestrangler]

3. No, it's owned by the (still right wing) Barclay brothers

(nothing to do with the bank), who bought it from Conrad Black.

They're odd people: http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2008/dec/12/barclay-brothers-sark-democratic-election

[ClarkUSA]

11. Read this: "Murdoch (Rupert that is) extends his Daily Telegraph links"

So Murdoch's British company, News International, is now printing the Telegraphs. And his Australian division owns a large
stake in the company subbing some of the Telegraphs. Rupert rules.

[Jackeens]

12. Murdoch's company only prints the Telegraph, the loathsome Barclay Bros still own it. n/t

[ClarkUSA]

24. Well, doesn't that make it a Murdoch rag, literally?

[muriel_volestrangler]

28. Not when you're looking at it on the internet, no

and his group is not the sole printer of it, either. So, no, it is not a 'Murdoch rag'.

[ClarkUSA]

30. Um, a former News Ltd. exec's "staff of 140 is now subediting about 1800 pages a week."

The really fascinating bit comes in the paper's explanation of Pagemasters, which was set up in 1991 by AAP,
of which Rupert Murdoch's Australian company, News Ltd, owns 47%... Its staff of 140 are now subediting
about 1,800 pages a week.

The chief executive, Bruce Davidson, is a former News Ltd executive. He says Pagemasters hopes to expand
further: "There is no doubt the centralisation of the production of newspapers is on the radar of a lot of
publishers not only in Australia, but around the world."

It's obvious that the Barclays and Murdoch have found a way to split the cost of pushing rightwing propaganda
while a Murdoch empire protege is "subediting" a significant amount of news copy. Whatever the percentage
ownership/influence is, I still contend that the Telegraph is indeed a Murdoch rag... literally and figuratively.

[muriel_volestrangler]

31. "the travel, motoring and money pages"; and Fairfax co-owns that company

So, not sub-editing this article; and when they do, it's a company co-owned by Murdoch's biggest competitor in Australia. If you're looking for how the owners are cutting costs and jobs, worldwide, this is it; but it's not relevant to whether the sources for the article in the OP are trustworthy.

[ClarkUSA]

33. Unnamed sources are never "trustworthy" no matter what the paper.

Murdoch's partnering participation in the publication and printing of The Daily Telegraph, coupled with the paper's rightwing
anti-Obama slant during the 2007-2008 campaign season, certainly is "relevant to whether the sources for the article in the
OP are trustworthy."

If you think outright ownership of a paper is the only thing that confers influence, then I'm afraid you're either a bit naive
because I'm exceedingly cynical that such a clear demarcation of philosophical influence exists when money and politics
are involved, especially given Murdoch's track record.

[muriel_volestrangler]

34. And did the Guardian co-owning Trafford Park influence what appeared in the Telegraph?

Yes, the Telegraph is right wing (and has been for 100 years); but Murdoch does not control it, or influence its news reporting, such as this article. I'm sorry you didn't understand the British media industry, but you shouldn't have misled people by commenting as you did. Those of us in the British Isles, more familiar with it, thought it better to correct the impression you gave.

[ClarkUSA]

35. Equating the Guardian's influence to Rupert Murdoch's is somewhat specious at best.

Your opinion carries no more weight with me than mine does with you, your pompous "those of us" attitude nothwithstanding. Unless
you sit on the BoD of The Daily Telegraph, it's certain you know no more than I do and are being at least as equally "misleading" with
regards to your protestations of Murdoch's innocence; however, I do believe you're rather lamentably naive to think Rupert Murdoch
is aiding The Daily Telegraph in publication and printing and not asking for -- and getting -- influence in return from the Barclays.

[muriel_volestrangler]

18. Printing is not the same as publishing

If you follow the link from yours, you find:

The Daily Telegraph and the Sunday Telegraph will print their first copies at News International print plants from Monday night, July 14.

Telegraph Media Group's titles will switch to the new presses, which will allow them to have colour on all pages for the first time, after the company made a deal for News International to take over the printing of its titles around the country.

The Scottish run of the Daily Telegraph will be the first title printed at the Newsprinters' Eurocentral site in Scotland, part of News International's £650m investment in new presses that includes sites at Knowsley and Broxbourne.

Telegraph Media Group will then transfer printing the remaining print run at Trafford Park Printers - jointly owned by Guardian Media Group and TMG - to Newsprinters' Knowsley plant in August.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2008/jul/11/telegraphmediagroup.newsinternational

As my link said, the Barclay brothers own the Telegraph group.

[ClarkUSA]

25. See reply #24.

[Medusa]

26. Most of the British newspapers print lies

and "off-the-record" comments from "those close to" so and so that were never said, but came instead straight from the editor, the writer of the article, or some drunk at the local pub. If you've ever spent any time in England, the papers there are full of their later retractions which are rather an art unto themselves.

[ClarkUSA]

27. rofl! Well-said and oh-so-true.

Witty, too. :thumbsup:

[firedupdem]

4. What a load of right wing bullshit! They covered all the talking

points. They have nothing.

[Jennicut]

5. His polls #'s have NOT slumped though. Its only Rasmussen

saying that. Gallup still has them at 62%. This is such a right wing lie.

[jefferson_dem]

6. I do think the DVD gift thing and the return of Churchill's bust was weird at least...

and a mistake at worst.

Full disclosure: I am NOT the source close to Obama's top team. :)

[masuki bance]

8. Can you provide phone records?

[asphalt.jungle]

7. the telegraph is not a credible newspaper

next we'll be reading about what glen beck thinks about obama.

[boppers]

9. To hell with their queen.

Silly brits, they still haven't figured out that we don't worship our leaders like they do? And thus, they need to learn to respect *our* protocols?

:evilgrin:

[regnaD kciN]

10. It's the Daily Torygraph...

...and best taken about as seriously as the Moonie Times.

[snowbear]

13. I detect a pattern with this OP.. He keeps dragging in these same types of articles..

.
.

And oddly, he rarely participates in other people's threads.. just enjoys dragging in somewhat controversial articles. Guess he thinks no one here notices?


...

[JoePhilly]

14. With everything else going on .... DVD???? REALLLY??????

Man ... if this is the best that the right came come up with ... who cares.

[Lex]

15. The Telegraph = The Globe here (Batboy et al.)

nt

[vaberella]

19. Exactly...I was the Telegraph?! That newspaper doesn't have credibility.

If the Guardian said it, I'd take notice (even though they've turned weird). But if isn't the Times or Guardian----most are a waste.

[amandabeech]

23. Surely you must mean the Independent, not the Times.

The Times of London is a Mooney paper.

The Guardian wasn't happy with the Obama protocol staff much, to tell the truth.

[muriel_volestrangler]

29. The Times is the one that's Murdoch-owned (nt)

[snowbear]

20. Sad when so many here are citing the Telegraph, WND, CNS, Faux..

.
.

WTF is going on?

[monmouth]

16. Another "source" I heard about was that Gordon Brown loves films

and was thrilled to receive the gift....

[rox63]

17. Which Obama "top team" would that be?

The White Sox or the Bulls? :shrug:

[Danger Mouse]

21. It's so refreshing to read right-wing garbage from overseas.

:)

[Norrin Radd]

22. Heads of state shouldn't be giving each others artifacts, or parts

of artifacts. That stuff belongs to the people, in museums.

[Jennicut]

32. Totally agree. I think the DVDs were more appropriate actually

[depakid]

36. Well, if the source didn't actually say it- someone should have

Some of the apologia's around here for the diplomatic bungling were just pathetic.

People (and administrations) only learn from mistakes when they acknowledge them- something EVERYONE ought to have learned over the past 8 years.

[rocktivity]

37. If the Obama White House "want people to know" that THEY know they've "made mistakes"

why are they letting the people know ANONYMOUSLY?

:crazy:
rocktivity