see you in the kitchen later on

The Obamas hosted last night's leaders' dinner at the UN. That means spending two hours - two hours - greeting people on arrival. The NYT's Helene Cooper was assigned to do the pool report, and so got to observe the Obamas at close quarters as each leader (plus partner) came up the red carpet. The result is a cross between Foreign Affairs and Grazia that's so entertaining it's been published in full on the Times' blog. It should be read in its entirety, but in the meantime here's the British arrival:

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Mrs. Brown get hugs, kisses, more hugs, more kisses, handholding, you name it. Mrs. Brown holds Mr. Obama’s hand during the photo op. She’s the first woman to bring a handbag, a really cute black patent leather number with gold chain strap.

The special relationship is back on track!

ps I also have another reason to like Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell after reading this.

Comments

[ejoch]

I wonder if they still have that rule, once dinner finally starts, where no-one can be served anything until the President has been. and is then everything served to everyone else simultaneously so his dinner doesn't get cold??