Smart news and commentary… where Paris and Brittany only appear as travel destinations. By EU-based, US journalist Denis Campbell and colleagues.

Posts Tagged ‘Tony Blair’

Bill Gates, Ruthless Philanthropist

By Denis Campbell • Aug 6th, 2008 • Category: Innovators

Mr. Gates has held many titles in his long career. From software developer to world’s richest man to, as some on the opposite side of a negotiating table would call him, ruthless genius… all titles fit him at different stages in his career. His retirement last month from day-to-day operations at Microsoft Corporation, the company [...]



The Brown Mutiny, Chapter One

By Denis Campbell • Aug 4th, 2008 • Category: Features

It begins with one whose ambition gets ahead of him or herself. Like the proverbial drip, drip, drip of the tiniest hole in the dyke, Labour front bench cabinet ministers sat silently for the first few moments of Gordon Brown’s holiday and then one-by-one began to stick toes or more in to test the waters [...]



Tony B’s Excelllent Adventure

By Denis Campbell • Jun 2nd, 2008 • Category: Features, Lead Story

You’d think the time pressure of being several G-8 nations’ lead representative trying to craft a last-minute, face saving Middle East peace deal for George W. Bush’s legacy (he only has 234 days left to his regime and sabre rattling/bombing Iran is still on the table) would be a big enough job. Or, trying to [...]



She Said What?!?!?!

By Denis Campbell • May 24th, 2008 • Category: Features

In yet another incident of foot in mouth disease, Senator Hillary Clinton yesterday voiced the unspoken/unthinkable fear of many by cravenly invoking the horrible memory of 1968’s assassination of Bobby Kennedy in California before a group of South Dakota news editors. Her half-hearted apology for the gaffe seemed as self-protecting and disingenuous as her explanation [...]



Full Contact Political Sport

By Denis Campbell • May 15th, 2008 • Category: Politics

Would George W. Bush stand for pointed questions on live TV from Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama or John McCain if forced weekly to endure a forum such as the UK’s Wednesday noon mosh pit a.k.a. Prime Minister’s Question time? This is a place where every member of the House, in theory, can ask questions of the PM and his government.  [...]



Labour’s Day of Reckoning

By Denis Campbell • May 1st, 2008 • Category: Politics

UK Prime Minster and Labour Party leader Gordon Brown is in an unenviable position today. Tony Blair rode off into the sunset just in time. While never close, the knives are now sticking out of Mr. Brown’s back as Mr. Blair (through high placed discreet sources), Labour front and back-benchers, the London and UK-wide Press, [...]



Gordon and Al - Separated at Birth?

By Denis Campbell • Apr 28th, 2008 • Category: Features, Politics

These two very bright, inquisitive, sometimes stiff politicians were bound from youth by strong Calvinist and Southern gentlemanly senses of duty. Gordon Brown and Al Gore are decent honourable men of service. They are true policy wonk lovers of detail who never look or feel comfortable in the supercilious glare of 24/7/365 media. They often [...]