This week has been kinda busy in the world of politics and my own narcissistic one. Cos of that I couldn't quite keep up (you may have noticed). So, instead, I'm gonna do a totally retro news round-up! (Maybe it's not worth an exclamation point level of excitement but heyho who's complaining?!
Numero Uno:
General Assemblies are fun aren't they? Well they are if you're name begins with G and ends with addafi. The Libyan leader launched into a 1.5 hour lecture on the first day of the meeting of world leaders. Although the rest of the world has now affirmed their feelings that he is, well, nuts Gaddafi did manage to garner nearly as many international press inches as Obama. Ramblings of a dictator mad with power or clever PR pitch? You decide (me personally I'm gonna go for a bit of both.)
Other highlights included G-Obama's virtual hug for the rest of the world, performed using his trademark charisma and slick vocal talents. Brownie also did Britain rather proud, sounding like the blunt and dignified leader he could so easily be. His speech, notably, was very different in both material and message than Obama's, which quite frankly makes a-freakin' change. Carla Bruni, of course, provided the glamour for the event.
Numero Dos
The annual conferences of the major party's of the Great British isles started! The Lib Dems recycled the Conservative conference of last year, but with far less impact - it was notable that they got fewer column inches than last year even though they're in a far stronger position. Sarah Brown passionately, and rather movingly, defended her husband - finally giving him a human face. And that great political commentator The Sun changed alliances. Luckily, G Brown had the sense to realise how un-bothered by this he really should be. And as they say in all great and predictable cliffhangers....tbc.
Just Keep Rollin' On
So, you thought these two were buddies eh?
Well, that might just be wrong. Earlier this week Darling suggested that Labour "has lost the will to live" (the rest of the world thought it went missing a while ago). GB hasn't exactly had the best premiership he could have wished for: recession and the expenses controversy have kind of ruined any chance of that. However, it is the Cabinet behind him that have appeared, at best, incompetent. Much of the post-recession initiatives were not introduced by Darling but by former chancellor Brown. Lord Mandelson had to be drafted in, in what was essentially a life-raft type action. And one of the few women to have stuck it out, Harriet Harman, was directly implicated in the expenses scandal forcing Gordy to have to make excuses on her behalf. So with a little thing called a conference just a few days, that Cabinet is going to have to have a serious talking to from boss man. And seriously, what happened to teamwork?!
If you can't beat them, nuke them
What do you do if your presidential predecessor set up a plan for a new missile facility? A facility widely supported in the U.S. because national defence should be the priority. A facility that represents the animosity of the rest of the world to the U.S's wide use of nuclear weapons. A facility considered by the Russians as in their back yard (because Poland to the Russians is just Russia on a freedom holiday). And you're trying to push through a rather controversial healthcare bill.
Well you scrap it of course!
Yes Obama has decided to keep on detoxing the White House of the Bush era. First off, the prez is perfectly aware that relations with Russians are a tad important - the Cold War anyone?! Also, he's a Liberal. And a good proper liberal Liberal, and therefore by definition he can't like nuclear weapons. There are a multitude of other reasons for a change of US heart. Maybe Obama is a Yoko Ono fan and would like a free concert. Maybe he's got a bit of a retro flower power vibe going on atm. But really it's probably cos later on this week the UN General Assembly is taking place - somehow I don't think the timing is accidental. B.O. is, at heart, just a politician after all. PR opps are in his blood.
But then again maybe, just maybe, this is suggesting big things for the US. And maybe Obama just shot them a hoop.
Progress Report
End Of year 8 Months Report
The biggest speech of the year happened this week and no I'm not talking Kanye and Taylor! I'm thinking more along the lines of the whole joint meeting of the houses thing that Obamarama has been up to. In this early part of his term Obama has had to face many trials including the economy, healthcare reform and an internationally mortifying climate change policy. No wonder all the assessments of his first year have....hang on! Obama is only 8 months into his first year! Why on earth are pundits assessing his first year now?! Well I believe it is because of two vital things:
The issue with all of this is that when it actually is the end of Obama's first year they'll all be running dry on fresh ammo. But that doesn't really matter as I am of the opinion the Right is gambling on the fact that Obama's position may well have improved by the end of the year. Which means that the journo's are, indeed, kicking a man when he's down. So worthy! So noble!
As for the notoriously liberal Rolling Stone's August issue? Quite frankly it's just pretty.
- Timing
- The political stance of your given
criticjournalist
The issue with all of this is that when it actually is the end of Obama's first year they'll all be running dry on fresh ammo. But that doesn't really matter as I am of the opinion the Right is gambling on the fact that Obama's position may well have improved by the end of the year. Which means that the journo's are, indeed, kicking a man when he's down. So worthy! So noble!
As for the notoriously liberal Rolling Stone's August issue? Quite frankly it's just pretty.
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