'Gordon Brown travels to United States for summit with President Obama' ran the tagline on News 24 throughout Monday evening. Still can't quite get used to that Pesident Obama. But that's what you call a high class problem.
In a minor coup Brown has become the first European leader to walk the hallowed halls of The White House with America's first black President (you know Monsieur Sarkozy would have loved to whisk Carla over there for another round of glamorous photos). In doing so, he opens up a new chapter in the 'special relationship.' In the age of celebrity, it may even become the first of the special relationships to be given the 'joint name' treatment. Does Brobama work? It certainly works better than Thatchan. But not as well as Blush (which is actually a word.) But I digress.
Are they trying to distance themselves from the cosy yet stern performances of Bush and Blair? Could well be. There were no grand pronouncements infront of the world's press on The White House Lawn. Instead they sat side by side in the Oval Office and casually chatted to a few, no doubt carefully selected, political journalists. I doubt the snow, the excuse given for the relocation inside, was the real reason for this.
Despite these changes, there was obviously lots of posing for the cameras and lots of pontificating about how much they lurrrrvwe and admire each other. Brown was keen to refer to Obama as 'Barack'. It was almost like Smashy And Nicey on a "we're great mates" tip.
There was the slightest sliver of realism from Obama. He mentioned, albeit with a big smile, how Brown would always only ever speak glowingly of him whilst actually in America. I wonder if he remembers Brown, not unfairly, explicitly blaming America for the onset of the global economic crisis not so long ago? He might have been secretly thinking, "you better not start talking that same shit once you get back home buddy. And yeah i did remove that bust of Churchill! And what?" Or words to that effect...
Once all that was done with, there was the very serious business of trying to sort out the global economic crisis. Brown's aim was to get Obama to agree to his 'world trade agreement' so he can look like an important world statesmen and have some good comebacks when Cameron tries to chuck it during Prime Minister's Questions. He seems to have been successful in winning that endorsement. If he can meaningfully cement the union at next month's G20 summit, and become a senior partner in a clear and concise international economic recovery plan alongside the man billed as 'the world's most popular politician', come election time he will be able to argue, quite effectively, that replacing him while in the middle of that work would be stoopid stoopid stoopid.
He must also be secretly hoping that some of Obama's magic dust, and global popularity, will rub off on him. But it will be truly hilarious if he tries to copy his soaring oratory. That alone might lose him an election and undo any good work done this week.
His speech to Congress proved that, while he speaks with far more passion than before, thankfully he hasn't done it yet. He did praise Obama for giving the world renewed hope in itself. Senator Edward Kennedy got a massive shout out with the honourary knighthood. But will tax havens really be outlawed? Hmmm.
Meanwhile, the new administration really kicks itself into gear with Hillary Clinton's first trip to The Middle East as Secretary Of State. Mahmoud Abbas laid some of the same demands he's been laying out for months (end to the bloackade, checkpoints etc...) All that remains to be seen is whether Clinton intends to listen to them. She reckons the Obama Administration is 'vigorously engaged' in finding a lasting peace in the region, but on whose terms? On the bright side, at least talk of two state settlements have re-emerged. That's at least better than hastily arranged ceasefires.
Image: Downing Street Flickr