No game-changer

Andrew

This speech brought back childhood memories of the old Latin Mass - lots of inexplicable standing up and sitting down, which apparently made sense to the fidgety grown-ups even if it disrupted the flow somewhat.

As to G20, I wonder if our abiding memory will consist of much more than the monumental paralysis of the M25 around Watford ("...a gridlock that began, as everyone knows, in America...").

TrevorsDen

Seems to me Browns trip ought to have the opposite of a bounce (what on earth can that be?).
He is photographed being made up on the plane.
He is photographed being greeted at the white House with his trouser leg stuck in his sock (for comparison, what would Bush hating lefties have made of that?).
His meeting with Obama has all the hallmarks of being a shambles. Nothing but bland platitudes came out of it (that is the positive spin - the other opinion is that Britain was given a clear snub).
The speech to Congress really was just full of bland platitudes.
It seems highly likely that this Congress address was put up to placate Brown and engineered by the Kennedy's.

Is there any evidence that the French president and German Chancellor as well as the US president are going to wald the walk for Brown at the G20? The arms length way brown was treated by the White House does not bode well for him.

mac

"Brown needed to hit a home run with this visit but only succeeded in getting on base."

But it won't stop the BBC propagandizing Brown's resounding 'triumph' for the remainder of the week, though. Nearly as many 'standing ovations' as Tony Blair. What a statesman.

What an utter jerk.

luke

It was a strong performance from Brown today and it was good to see a British Prime Minister so warmly welcomed by both houses of congress.

To be honest, I cant help feeling the only way you can see the trip negatively is if you put major political expectations on it. This was always very unlikely. When was the last time a foreign trip caused a bump in the domestic polls?

I suspect the same thing will now happen about the G20. It is simply politically nieve to think that an international summit will effect the political doorstep.

But this will all keep Brown moving - and in that respect I suppose it buys him time.

Thomas Cussans

Lots of phrase making, most seemingly gravely considered, all with an obvious eye on the sound bite most likely to be picked up, and precisely no specifics.

As with Brown's ever more desperate hopes that the G20 meeting will reveal him as a commanding global figure, the whole bore the inescapable hallmarks of a man on the run.

In short, a pitiful attempt to present himself as the historic shaper of an new era, Roosevelt reborn.

This was gesture politics at its most self-congratulatory vacuous.

I was particularly struck by his attempts to put himself forward as speaking for 'Europe'. I suspect Sarko and Co. may have quite a bit to say about that.

3 out of 10.

teledu

Slightly OT. Got this from another site and it made me laugh.

" Our unelected leader Broon has decided to change the Union Jack to a symbol that has more meaning...
Yes! Its going to be changed to a condom.
Well lets face it, it more accurately reflects the governments political stance.
A condom allows for inflation, halts production, destroys the next generation, protects a bunch of pricks and gives you a sence of security whilst your being screwed."

strapworld

Sad to see Luke taken in by this charade.

Trying his utmost to cling to the shirt tails of Obama. It was the most sickening, grovelling piece of a.... licking I have ever witnessed.

If he thinks he can con all the British people, as he has apparantly conned Luke, then God help us.

What a two faced man. Hiding behind the bible. If he was a Christian he would apologise and resign for causing so much misery. He has, yet again, shown that it is all about SELF.

Arty

There is so much more than economic collapse going on in Britain and Europe - social collapse.

Dear old Gordy didn't even get close to that.

brian kelly

I thought it a was heavy and leaden and with the same old meaningless and fatuous phrases [this time with the new 'seize the moment'- no lightness at all. I have to say that I had to look away from the tv at times as i found it embarrassing and demeaning to him and our country. It was too fulsome and servile. No, I didn't like it - and as for an Honoury Knighthood for Kennedy - a nasty bully from a nasty family who is certainly no friend of our country [but significantly a friend of Brown which is how honours are handed out under this govt - and looking for a quid pro quo, no doubt]. I think he said in one of grandiose statements he said something like '...America, I and the rest of the world...': What about our little old country, then, whom you are supposed to be representing.

Wilhelm

American John Bolton called Gordon Broon an Islamo loving communist.

Austin Barry

I was amused by Sen. Dianne Feinstein's off-the-cuff comment on Brown on Newsnight: "He has had a very substantial role in this economic crisis." Indeed.

Tom Pride

Fought on the sands of Tunisia, the beaches in Normandy and the bridges over the Rhine.

What f@*+ing bridges over the Rhine? The Germans blew them up.

Who cares about the truth, the facts or the accuracy. The sound bite beats all.

The history graduate doesn’t even have any respect for history.

(And if you think I am upset – just back from the gym where I had to watch the speech on the screen as I cross-trainered away. Saw a few youthful Congress persons though!)

Colin

Can someone, anyone, please tell why on earth ted kennedy has been granted an honourary knighthood?

Patrick

Sadly I missed the Speech of a Lifetime. But I am sure that the Son of the Manse reminded the Interns and Staff Members, bussed in for the event, that the woes of the World started in America. The Detroit Branch of the Northern Rock to be precise.

Steve.W

Recently on a Speccie forum I suggested that Brown should ham it up a bit while giving his speech in America, they love actors etc, and he did! I'm so flattered that he should have read my words but a bit surprised that the Americans present also saw fit to join in and ham too. Were they taking the piss? I shall have to watch what I say from now on.

David Short

No change in Coffee House either. Forsyth Brown-bashing as usual.

I heard some of GB's speech and was quite impressed by his vigour. Apparently he is quite an engaging character but freezes on TV (no ham, like Blair). Obviously that side of him came out in Congress.

Every week it's the same stuff about Brown.

For my money, I'd predict a Lib-Lab victory, and it will be welcome. It will give an opening to backtrack more on having too much 'defence' commitment abroad for no reason, and to cancel the ID card system.

Brown may not be able to win, but I don't believe Cameron has it in him either. It would be a cakewalk for just about any other Tory leader but him.

Tom Pride

Colin

Services to driving . . . . or was that banking? Err, no sorry, Prince’s Trust.

Wilhelm

Cut off Broons hands and he would be speechless.
He speaks with those awkward hand movements.

Steve

The only comment on the speech i can see on CNN News is when he gave Ted Kennedy an Honorary Knighthood. Any politician praising a Kennedy is going to get praise. (Incidentally-Kennedy awarded a Knighthood for services to peace in Northern Ireland? What a disgrace, we all know what side he was on.) The main memory i have of this trip is the hastily arranged news conference with a polite but indifferent President and a quite frankly embarrassing P.M. grinning inanely at his new best buddy and leaning forward towards him like some star struck teenager. Pathetic, and this idiot is our leader!!

TomTom

How much did Ted Kennedy put into Labour Party funds ?

Brown is hilarious - a despised politician talks to another forum of despised politicians about all getting into the same boat and steaming into the same iceberg

William Lambton

Brian Kelly is the only person here so far to have referred to the speech as embarrassing. May I join him? I watched and listened to Gordon Brown's speech on my own on a large TV set, made a special detour to do so. To be absolutely blunt I was horrified. The man did not exude confidence. He was clearly very nervous, muffed a quantity of short words, usually at the beginning of sentences. His left arm jerked up and down as if on the point of making a sweeping gesture, but backing off barely after it had started. There was no warmth.

I do not think many Americans will remember the speech, those who watched it. It seemed to drift, hover. Brown in fact appeared deeply ill-at-ease, forcing out words.

Content-wise, one gets fed up with people who do not know war blathering on about the exploits of their fathers, who did (and largely shut up about it). Must we thank America for her intervention in Europe during WW2? To quote Stimson: "The two nations fought a single war, and their quarrels were the quarrels of brothers." Our relationship with the US has never been easy. We fought for our mutual survival.

It is a great mistake to imagine the Americans love us, and a sign of weakness should we court their affection. Should they fear us still, a little, then all to the good. But, in Gordon Brown they would have - with great indulgence - seen just another puppy going 'Yap, yap'.

Austin Barry

Colin

For services to venality, corruption and cowardice. Brown's kinda guy.

DIswiss

Whilst the meglo-maniac continues to posture on the world stage, the devastation,misery,and anguish
continues for thousands of Brits
back home.

What a nauseating national embarrassment he is.

Roll on the election.I hope he likes gardening.

Ray

Ah, David Short. Ever the eternal optimist!

rmh

Brown made a reasonable speech, but like Bobby Zamora, if you start enough games you eventually score a goal.

Did he have his sock out this time?

TrevorsDen

David Short is proof that one is born every minute.

As for "Fought on the sands of Tunisia, the beaches in Normandy and the bridges over the Rhine.
What f@*+ing bridges over the Rhine? The Germans blew them up."

I must say I found this passage of Browns speech particularly sickening - and totally hypocritical.
A deliberate piece of flamboyant rhetoric solely designed to garner an ovation. Fancy that just using the deaths of our soldiers (which he has left under equipped and vulnerable) to get a cheap round of applause.

Kennedy - its clear to me that this knighthood was given just to secure brown his speech. What are the odds of some lobbying from Hyannisport??

TrevorsDen

And err, from Guido

"this morning's Washington Post:
...Several dozen members of Congress skipped the speech. Their seats in the chamber were taken by House and Senate staff and other guests."

Austin Barry

Brown should cut out the perennial two-West-Highland-Terriers-facing-each-other hand gestures - or at least occasionally open the fingers to give the impression they're barking.

C Powell

Isn't Ted Kennedy being given his K for services to underwater swimming?

Don

Will the G20 meeting in April be marked by a massive riot?

Merlin

"No matter where it starts, an economic crisis does
not stop at the water's edge."
I wish he'd had the courage of his convictions and said it started in America!

andrew@la-drutiere.com

Merlin, a courageous Gordon Brown, surely an oxymoron?

sandy

Isn't Ted Kennedy's K for arranging GB's invite to address Congress?

Verity

His K is for the heroic avoidance of traffic tickets while driving drunk. Well known to every traffic cop in DC and doubtless a valued source of income.