I’ve been watching the BBC live coverage of the evening’s G20 dinner. Interesting to watch the BBC modus operandi. It all begins with sweeping positive comments for Gordon- Gordon “couldn’t have wished for better from Obama” blah blah… “could have scripted it himself” blah blah. Typical Gordon-boosting. That basic line is then refined with sometimes contradictory observations. The subtext to this has been unquestioningly about increasing regulation (taken for granted, never scrutinised, awaited with barely contained impatience). I’ve just heard, by the way, Bridget Kendall say that “no-one would say France and Germany are socialist countries”. It all rather depends on your definition. Communist no, socialist- I would say yes. There’s plenty more of stuff like that- I am sure you have noticed more…
I’ll add that I’ve just now heard Nick Robinson say that “not so long ago” Gordon “couldn’t have dreamed of such praise” as he got. What? Nick seems to be on a planet where that hasn’t been a recurring and obvious wet dream of the hapless Brown ever since the One descended to become POTUS- and also an entirely predictable gesture. He also seems to have attended a press conference where Obama wasn’t as routine and laid back as he appeared to me on screen.