Goodbye charisma, hello new politics (Adam Teladia)

Goodbye charisma, hello new politics

August 14, 2007 12:02 AM

I was recently reading Goodbye charisma, hello new politics an article by Alastair Campbell in the Observer on Sunday August 5, 2007.

In Goodbye charisma, hello new politics Alastair Campbell raises some interesting points. In Goodbye charisma, hello new politics Alastair Campbell tries to explain why Blair-Clinton relationship worked although I never really thought of Tony Blair as a policy wonk and thought he was more a sound bite politician I agree with the idea that Tony Blair and Bill Clinton were to an extent political soul mates who shared values and analysis of what needed to be done in the world.

However in explaining the Blair-Bush relationship I think Alastair Campbell raises an important point about why it is interest of both countries that the Prime Minister and President have a good relationship Alastair Campbell says "The US-UK relationship is a real one, with important economic, diplomatic and cultural ramifications". Therefore I believe that no matter what party future Prime Ministers and Presidents will be from we will see that the Prime Minister of UK and President of USA will always have a friendship or relationship which will be more important to them then their relationships with other foreign leaders.

Alastair Campbell also uses the article to point out the similarities between Gordon Brown and Hillary Clinton. Alastair Campbell believes that Gordon Brown and Hillary Clinton are both serious, substantial and unflashy which may signal how we could be entering the era of post-charismatic politics. I am not sure if Hillary Clinton is serious, substantial or unflashy however those would certainly be words that I would think of if asked to describe Gordon Brown. Given all the flash that people had to put up with during the Blair years I think people are now looking for something different from the Prime Minister and Gordon Brown has certainly created the impression that he is that difference what we will have to wait and see is if that difference in appearance, look and presentation also leads to a difference in approach, policy and strategy.