A Tent Of Gold
December 27, 2008 10:44 AM Subscribe
This post was deleted for the following reason: Crappy writeup of non-story, meh. -- cortex
I so want a "$150 bronze platypus paperweight from an Australian official," but it has to be from an Australian official. Not just any old $150 bronze platypus paperweight is going to work for me.
And this isn't really that big of a news story. The article says she doesn't get to keep any of the stuff, which does beg the question...where's it go?
Flagging as "News of the Weird."
posted by cjorgensen at 10:52 AM on December 27, 2008 [1 favorite]
And this isn't really that big of a news story. The article says she doesn't get to keep any of the stuff, which does beg the question...where's it go?
Flagging as "News of the Weird."
posted by cjorgensen at 10:52 AM on December 27, 2008 [1 favorite]
THIS IS MY SURPRISED FACE.
posted by loquacious at 10:52 AM on December 27, 2008
posted by loquacious at 10:52 AM on December 27, 2008
The phrase "raked in" is unnecessarily inflammatory and bad journalism.
posted by Nelson at 10:53 AM on December 27, 2008 [2 favorites]
posted by Nelson at 10:53 AM on December 27, 2008 [2 favorites]
Really, considering that she doesn't get to keep any of it, this doesn't strike me as that interesting.
posted by gsteff at 10:59 AM on December 27, 2008
posted by gsteff at 10:59 AM on December 27, 2008
Given the rumors about Condi's roommate, I think the kings of Jordan and Saudi Arabia aren't going to get anywhere with that jewelry.
posted by jonp72 at 11:03 AM on December 27, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by jonp72 at 11:03 AM on December 27, 2008 [1 favorite]
"... a $6 assortment of nuts and dried fruit from the Dalai Lama to Mrs. Bush"
Gen. McAuliffe to the Germans: NUTS!
14th Dalai Lama to Laura Bush: NUTS! And dried fruit!
posted by DecemberBoy at 11:05 AM on December 27, 2008 [1 favorite]
Gen. McAuliffe to the Germans: NUTS!
14th Dalai Lama to Laura Bush: NUTS! And dried fruit!
posted by DecemberBoy at 11:05 AM on December 27, 2008 [1 favorite]
Yeah, I'm not sure what the point is here. Are we supposed to be outraged? It's not like we'll see Condi out on the streets in really swank jewelry; it's headed to the Archives like all the other gifts. Technically, we should probably thank her, tough economic times and all. Maybe we could melt some of it down to support a bailout.
I think the "interest" that headline is meant to generate is sadly gendered. She's a woman, she got fancy jewelry, and somehow, that seems more shady than Colin Powell getting some art or Warren Christopher scoring a gilded desk set.
posted by donnagirl at 11:08 AM on December 27, 2008
I think the "interest" that headline is meant to generate is sadly gendered. She's a woman, she got fancy jewelry, and somehow, that seems more shady than Colin Powell getting some art or Warren Christopher scoring a gilded desk set.
posted by donnagirl at 11:08 AM on December 27, 2008
> put all in case
jeweled necklace:
Done.
ring:
Done.
bracelet:
Done.
earrings:
Done.
> score
Your score is 343 [total of 585 points], in 289 moves.
This gives you the rank of Secretary of State.>
posted by 7segment at 11:09 AM on December 27, 2008 [10 favorites]
With donnagirl on the gender bias. Heads of state and lead government officials get silly and outrageous gifts all the time; I don't know why this piece is focusing on Sec. Rice as somehow unique. And this isn't really noteworthy unless she kept the stuff, which she didn't. So...
posted by foxy_hedgehog at 11:22 AM on December 27, 2008
posted by foxy_hedgehog at 11:22 AM on December 27, 2008
It doesn't really matter how much anyone got, because they don't get to keep any of it. There is a four-person team of people paid quite well to handle gifts to the White House -- search for "gift" on this list -- and they will make sure everything goes to where it belongs (national archives? presidential library? garage sale? eBay?).
posted by pracowity at 11:29 AM on December 27, 2008
posted by pracowity at 11:29 AM on December 27, 2008
The article says she doesn't get to keep any of the stuff, which does beg the question...where's it go?
If that one episode of the West Wing where they inadvertently accept the gift of a terrorist flag with hilarious consequences is true, they go irretrievably into a vast archive in the White House basement.
posted by cillit bang at 11:30 AM on December 27, 2008
If that one episode of the West Wing where they inadvertently accept the gift of a terrorist flag with hilarious consequences is true, they go irretrievably into a vast archive in the White House basement.
posted by cillit bang at 11:30 AM on December 27, 2008
They're State Gifts. Condi accepted them on behalf of the USA, they get archived away (maybe displayed at the White House or something). She derives no personal gain from them. This is ridiculous stupid fake 'journalism'.
posted by dirtynumbangelboy at 11:32 AM on December 27, 2008
posted by dirtynumbangelboy at 11:32 AM on December 27, 2008
The phrase "raked in" is unnecessarily inflammatory and bad journalism.
Yep.
The article says she doesn't get to keep any of the stuff, which does beg the question...where's it go?
To the National Archives. They are considered 'gifts to the American people' and if the recipient wants any of them, they need to purchase them at fair market value.
posted by txvtchick at 11:36 AM on December 27, 2008
I gave this post a favourite, but as it's an Official Favourite on behalf of the People of Canada, it had to be forwarded to a dusty basement for cataloguing rather than remain in your possession.
posted by CKmtl at 11:38 AM on December 27, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by CKmtl at 11:38 AM on December 27, 2008 [1 favorite]
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Dalai Lama: Master of Subtlety
posted by terranova at 10:50 AM on December 27, 2008 [2 favorites]