Strange Famous

I'd be interested to know how he is seen.

There was a huge perception in Europe that Blair was Bush's poodle and I guess that was somewhat felt by anti-Bush people in the US, while pro-Bush people had a positive view of Blair.

Brown - a physical bully, a pathological "right man" - if nothing else is nobody's poodle, and I think before people started to realise what having a leader who was borderline OCD meant his dour, glum personality was seen as a refreshing change from Blair's perceived lightweight stature.

I really am interested to understand which version of Brown gets over internationally - is it the strong man, the "serious man for serious times", or the OCD, misanthropic, bullying control freak who cannot make decisions?

__________________
"Do not tell lies, and do not do what you hate,
for all things are plain in the sight of Heaven. For nothing
hidden will not become manifest, and nothing covered will remain
without being uncovered."

The Gospel of Thomas

Aladdin Sane

Gordon who?

Honestly, I think that is how he is seen by most Americans.

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Ceterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam.

highthief

I don't think the average American could name another world leader.

The people on this board are, of course, much more informed, but ask the average Joe who Brown, Sarkozy, Harper or Merkel are and you'll get a blank look.

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Si vis pacem parabellum.

sapiens

Don't forget Mexico. I bet the average American citizen near me has no idea who the leader of Mexico is (and I live near the border).

Strange Famous

So was Blair the exception to the rule then?

And there must be some other exceptions, like Chavez, or Berlusconi?

__________________
"Do not tell lies, and do not do what you hate,
for all things are plain in the sight of Heaven. For nothing
hidden will not become manifest, and nothing covered will remain
without being uncovered."

The Gospel of Thomas

ASU2003

I couldn't pick Gordon Brown out of a line-up. And I have no idea what his political views are. I have eard the name before though.

I don't think I am alone in this over here. Sorry.

We have enough problems dealing with the American political landscape to worry too much what is going on in foreign countries.

Seaver

I thought Blair was well spoken and charming. Brown I really haven't heard too much about to be honest, the media here is a little pre-occupied with our own situations over the past year to touch too much on European politics.

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"Smite the rocks with the rod of knowledge, and fountains of unstinted wealth will gush forth." - Ashbel Smith as he laid the first cornerstone of the University of Texas

dippin

I taught a class on global issues at a top 20 US university.

Halfway through the class, I did a little experiment. I showed them pics of a few people. 3 could correctly identify the president of China (even if just by the title, not name), 2 the Premier of India, 9 the president of Mexico, all of them could identify Blair ( it was just a couple of years after the start of the Iraq war). In contrast, all of them knew who Kevin Federline was, who Britney Spears was, and so on.

The American educational system spends little to no effort to teach world history or global issues, and the American media is more interested in entertainment than news.

CNN international and the regular CNN, for example, are completely different in their tone and approach.

So unless Gordon Brown does something major regarding Iraq or Afghanistan, he simply won't get the air time over here.

Willravel

He supports the Iraq War, he's an Israel apologist, he's a lapdog to the US, and he's in no way a bridge to old Labour. He's a centrist at best in a time when England needs a strong, independent, Labour PM. Yeah, I've heard the OCD stories, and the bully crap, but I don't really buy it as positive. His strength feels artificial, forced.

I never really liked Blair, he was a pussy, but Brown's not really any better from what I've gathered. He's Blair if he played rugby in college.

telekinetic

I'm just providing another "Gordon who?" data point.

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twisted no more

SSJTWIZTA

...and now i feel ignorant.

__________________
First they came for the Jews and I did not speak out because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for the communists and I did not speak out because I was not a communist.
Then they came for the trade unionists and I did not speak out because I was not a trade unionist
Then they came for me And there was no one left to speak out for me.
-Pastor Martin Niemoller

asaris

I think I'm reasonably well informed about world affairs -- I know who Gordon Brown is, for example -- and I don't have any real idea of what he's like. I imagine that's the case for well over 90% of Americans; even if they know who he is, they don't have any opinion of him.

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"Die Deutschen meinen, daß die Kraft sich in Härte und Grausamkeit offenbaren müsse, sie unterwerfen sich dann gerne und mit Bewunderung:[...]. Daß es Kraft giebt in der Milde und Stille, das glauben sie nicht leicht."

"The Germans believe that power must reveal itself in hardness and cruelty and then submit themselves gladly and with admiration[...]. They do not believe readily that there is power in meekness and calm."

-- Friedrich Nietzsche

Randerolf

I'm teaching in China and a couple of my brightest middle schoolers knew Brown.

As an American, I say that Brown is his own man and doesn't mind throwing his weight around. I've got no clue on his pet issues or stances though.

After a walk the other day, I tried to remember the name of the leaders of Mexico and Japan. Vincinte Fox was the old one ... and only retired ones came up for Japan -- nothing current. sigh

Locobot

Even though I really wish Blair would have stood up to Bush, he did make the best case for the Iraq war (I still disagreed). I feel towards Blair the same way I do toward Hilary Clinton and the pack of Dems that initially supported the invasion of Iraq, they made mistakes but it doesn't necessarily cancel out the good things they've done. Blair was bright, on point, a sometimes amazing orator, and--I think this is hugely important for Americans--entertaining. I would stop every time when I saw Blair being questioned by the House of Commons on C-Span, that was great even when I barely understood the issues.

Brown seems like someone who is probably closer to my own political views, but my basic impression is that he is like an old tenured professor who has been teaching the same class for 30 years. He seems smart, but seems to lack passion and, while not a bad speaker (see GWB), is thoroughly uninteresting to listen to. I haven't caught him on C-span yet, but I'm pretty sure I would change the channel after a few minutes.

dohrk

He is great on Hell's Kitchen.

Randerolf

A perfect statement.

But, I liked his work on Good Eats better.

n0nsensical

I know who he is, but not much about him, other than some douchey drug policies.

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"Prohibition will work great injury to the cause of temperance. It is a species of intemperance within itself, for it goes beyond the bounds of reason in that it attempts to control a man's appetite by legislation, and makes a crime out of things that are not crimes. A Prohibition law strikes a blow at the very principles upon which our government was founded." --Abraham Lincoln