In misfortune, Gordon Brown’s cheerfulness is profoundly sad | Politics | The Guardian

Gordon About to Slobber

The title of the story tells the story. David Hare writing in the Guardian has this to say:

Gordon Brown‘s grave was dug many months ago but for some reason – who knows why? – he’s refusing to jump in. On a freezing Bank Holiday Monday, just before the prime minister appeared at a rain-lashed Ipswich marina, the weather cleared up and the sun came out. It’s such a long time since Doctor Brown had even a whiff of good luck that you wondered whether he’d recognize it when it came along.

Oh dear such fulsome praise for our soon-to-be former PM. he continues with this:

In person – and this was the first time I’d seen him in 20 years – Brown’s flesh appears weirdly neon-lit and his hair is snow-dusted in a way appropriate to a man named World Statesman of the Year by the Appeal of Conscience Foundation in 2009.

Oops surely it will get better for the soon-to-be ex-leader of Labour. No sorry it continues:

A room packed only with hand-picked Labour supporters was never likely to prove much of a challenge, but questions like: “What do you regard as Labour’s greatest achievements?” were sycophantic beyond the call of compassion. However, Brown’s mood was sincerely upbeat – “I am fighting for my life”, he said – and his language attractively formal – “What have I got to report to you?”

Gosh, surely he must have something good to say about our soon to be ex-leader. Nope it continues:

A weird and silly day, but at its centre a man who, in misfortune, exerts a real fascination. You can interpret the prime minister’s good spirits either as the fatalism which comes when you know the game is up, or as the confidence of someone who believes he knows something we don’t.

Either way, my mind went to Chekhov. I have never seen anyone in whom cheerfulness is so profoundly sad.

Never mind I’m sure the Guardian will say something good about him soon. Perhaps on Friday when he is an ex-resident of No10.

In misfortune, Gordon Brown’s cheerfulness is profoundly sad | Politics | The Guardian.