Brown seems to be every bit the bush kiss ass that Blair was.

[Philosoraptor]

I watched the press conference with bush and brown yesterday, and holding back the vomit as bush laughed and joked his way all through it, chuckling, giggling, smirking all the while discussing horrors he's decreed, and the thing that struck me the most was brown's strident effort to assure us all that he backs bush and his masturbatory, highly profitable war 100%.

We once revolted against the crown, now we've merged with Great Britain in the name of business and commerce. I'm not impressed mr. brown, and now I know why you are called mr. brown, cause you've got your head half way up bush's royal arse.

[Kagemusha]

1. We'll know Brown by his deeds.

He doesn't need a massive blow-up with Bush right now, either way. A small blow-up was apparently not an option. We'll see what he does with his breathing room.

Life will go on.

[UKProPeace]

3. yep, think it will be worth watching Browns deeds

Interesting he chose to meet with the leaders of France and Germany before meeting with Bush in my opinion...As i've said elsewhere, Brown's a big strategist, and an "Atlanticist", I watched the news conference last night Brown's tone was very business like, Bush kept on trying to make friendly gestures towards Brown if you noticed? Brown was having none of it, he remained slightly removed from that, and stuck to what he wanted to say.....It will be interesting what is recommended to parliament when the MPs return regarding withdrawing from Iraq...I'll save my own verdict on Brown until then, up until now, he's acting more like a left wing Labour leader than Blair ever did.

[Double T]

2. The UK has the SOS, different Prime Minister...........

Hope the U.S. doesn't get the SOS, different President.

[tanyev]

4. Maybe they've got photos or phone conversations on him, too.

[lonestarnot]

5. So we now have a brown poodle to deal with instead of a white one.

[KharmaTrain]

6. He Wants His Troops Out Of Iraq In One Piece

Let this be a reminder of what a future Democratic President will face when handed the Iraq mess.

Remember, Brown wasn't elected...his rise was negotiated...a way to get Blair out without the Liberals having to go through a bruising election. Brown surely had to accept a moderate approach to things to give him and Blair some distance. He can't cut bait yet since he still has troops in harms way and this was neither the time nor place to make a move. That will come soon...and far away from the bullying of booshie.

This was a photo-op that will mean little in 6 months from now as Brown will have pulled the remaining UK forces from Iraq, quietly and safely.

[T_i_B]

7. Not quite like that

Remember, Brown wasn't elected...his rise was negotiated...a way to get Blair out without the Liberals having to go through a bruising election.

Actually Gordon Brown as Chancellor was prime minister elect for many years and when Blair stood down the other potential challenger (an unknown leftie called John McDonnell) failed to even get enough nominations to get his name on the ballot paper. it wasn't so much "negotiated" as nobody else in the Labour party can match Gordon Brown for internal support and experience anyway.

BTW, the Liberals are a separate party, the Liberal Democrats, who are the 3rd party behind Labour and the Conservatives.

[KharmaTrain]

9. Thank You For The Clarification

My point is that Brown can't just change course like he was elected on some mandate of change. Brown is a far more seasoned and pragmatic politician...and right now that's not a bad thing.

I also see Brown positioning himself to try to be a rare honest broker here. By not alienating booooshie while reaching out to Europe, like he already has done, he can be a moderating force for now and then be of real assistance with a Democrat in the White House in 2009.

Ooops...I did mistake Labour for Liberal...my bad!

Cheers...

:hi:

[LeftishBrit]

8. Not sure...

I don't think Brown is going to turn out to be an ultra-leftie or anything; but I don't think he'll be quite the poodle that Tony was. Firstly, he is less messianic. Tony let himself be used by Bush in part because he had an almost Victorian belief in his ability to know how to govern other countries For Their Own Good, and, since we've not had an Empire for the last 60 years or so, he got involved in running his ally's Empire. I don't think Broon has the same attitude. Secondly, Broon wants his party to be re-elected in two years' time, and if he keeps us in the Iraq quagmire, this may not happen.

He will be polite to Bush; but I don't think he'll obey him quite as much as Tony did. I certainly hope not!

On domestic issues, I do fear that he may not be a great departure from Blair; but on foreign policy, including amount of time spent up Bush's rear end, I think he'll probably be an improvement.