December 3, 2008 2:46:26 AM CST
(Newser) – In the last few weeks, two giants of center-left politics—Hillary Clinton in America and Gordon Brown in Britain—have seen their electoral chances reduced to near impossibility. Both have struggled as uncharismatic politicians in a media age. But for one columnist in London's Times, their trajectories have more important parallels: not least, their support for the war in Iraq, the unspoken element in both of their downfalls.
As Anatole Kaletsky writes, Iraq prevented Brown from incarnating a real break from Tony Blair just as it legitimized Barack Obama as a Clinton opponent. As times got worse, their "triangulation"—basically, hypocrisy—on the issue cost Clinton and Brown the support of the liberal intelligentsia and the media. And these days, writes Kaletsky, "a left-wing politician who loses the support of this liberal constituency is probably doomed."
Source Times (UK)
Jun 4, 08 7:33 AM CDT The Democratic party's three top leaders wasted no time in calling on all outstanding superdelegates this morning to make up their minds by Friday. Only a few hours after Barack Obama laid claim to the Democratic presidential nomination, Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, and Howard Dean issued a carefully worded statement that pushes for closure but does not push superdelegates toward Obama, observes the LA Times. More »
Jun 4, 08 4:56 AM CDT Hillary Clinton's non-concession speech last night left the Obama campaign with a major headache, as the New York senator left open the possibility that she might demand the second spot on the Democratic ticket. Clinton managed to take some of the spotlight from Obama even on his biggest night—a reality that will dog the nominee whether she runs for veep or not, reports the New York Times. More »
Apr 2, 08 7:18 AM CDT Since his crash-and-burn run for president four years ago, Howard Dean has served as a decidedly low-key Democratic Party chairman, slowly building up state organizations while staying out of the limelight. Yet as the Clinton-Obama race wears on, many are wondering if Dean has the political acumen—or even the will—to rally a party in danger of fracturing. More »
Jun 25, 07 5:22 AM CDT Vowing to "heed and lead the call of change," Gordon Brown yesterday took the reins of Britain's ruling Labour Party before stepping into his new role as prime minister Wednesday. Brown is expected to loosen the close ties to Bush foreign policy that marked the Blair era and grew increasingly unpopular with the British public. More »
May 2, 07 9:08 AM CDT As he marked a decade in power, British prime minister Tony Blair said yesterday he'll step down within weeks. Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown is expected to succeed Blair, who stopped short of officially anointing Brown but told a Labour rally, "In all probability, a Scot will become prime minister of the United Kingdom." More »
Barack Obama • Hillary Clinton • Iraq • Gordon Brown • Democratic Party • Tony Blair • Democratic presidential candidates • Labour Party • Labour • triangulation
