What makes for brilliant writing, in English at least? A subtle combination of perhaps three big things. Clarity, Energy and Wisdom. Clarity of message, combined with clarity in delivering it. Energy in both thought and language. Wisdom in cutting through the infinite hubbub of facts and arguments out there and looking bluntly at things that […]
It is always a pleasure to see a leading Singaporean politician in top form. See this elegant and ideas-rich speech to the Asia Society on 11 November by Singapore Senior Minister Mr Goh Chok Tong. Several lively judgements: For the last two hundred years or so, the international system has […]
Russia, says the Guardian, is opting for a charm offensive to try to see off the deployment of sophisticated US missile defence systems in Poland and Czech Republic. It did not take long for the Obama team to encounter the complexities of Poland and points East: President-elect Obama has spoken […]
Proposition 8 passed in California, defining marriage as a union between a man and a woman. Who backed it? People like these: There are so many other groups in the exit polling that voted for Prop 8 overwhelmingly (as in, more than 60%): * The elderly (65+) * […]
In the impressive, civilised atmosphere of good natured transition from Republican President to Democrat President in Washington, some people are even finding a good word to say about President Bush. This is a generous and touching media tribute. Note especially the care with which President Bush is preparing for a […]
Remember the mighty Spengler’s prediction only a few weeks ago? Thus: … McCain will win in November, and by a landslide, barring some unforeseen event. Obama is the most talented and persuasive politician of his generation, the intellectual superior of all his competitors, but a fatally insecure personality. He no doubt […]
Obama won by some six million votes among well over 100 million cast. He also outspent McCain. Massively: The Illinois senator harvested more campaign cash than anyone before him, using both the Internet and traditional high-roller dinners to bring in more than $650 million from some 3 million donors for […]
Maybe not: Think about it this way: if aging hack John McCain, unable to enthuse his own base, running after a disastrous eight years of a George W Bush Administration in the face of an utterly hostile mainstream media, a collapsing economy, and the as-yet undetermined aftermath of an unpopular foreign […]
One of the best things about writing a blog is that like an exotic plant it somehow grows in strange directions and shapes and thereby introduces you to all sorts of new people round the planet. Such as someone who saw my post on PM Qualities and posted a positive comment, Andrew Cooper. Check […]
Finally, the USA votes. As observed from the depths of Oxfordshire, England this campaign shows the strengths and weaknesses of US-style democracy in vast proportions. The strengths? A succession of epic battles – anyone remember Hillary? The leading candidates making it to this point have shown astonishing leadership, stamina and […]
