So Rudy Giuliani was in London Wednesday, wrapping himself in the transitive glory of four British prime ministers. Modern conservatives only seem to be aware of two figures in all of history, and since nobody from the Lincoln family is available for photo ops, it’s inevitable that they’ll find their way across the Atlantic to flatter themselves by association with their favorite historical symbol (however badly they understand him), Winston Churchill.
Even when they meet the real avatar of transatlantic conservatism, they can’t seem to get Winston out of their heads, as the Telegraph article linked above suggests:
“Margaret Thatcher is so popular in America because she carried on the tradition of Churchill,” said David J Blumberg, a Giuliani fundraiser.
“She’s the kind of Briton we idolise for her grit and determination. Rudy fancies himself as – and I think is – the same character, the same strong defender of liberty and freedom.”
Rudy fancies himself a lot of things, including Savior of New York, and Expert on War and Terror, but it’s particularly disturbing to see how he indulges in the same sort of self-aggrandizing fantasies as the current White House occupant, who has allowed himself to be convinced by his own flatterers that he is, indeed, Churchill reincarnate. Rudy, I suppose, will be Churchill reincarnate, redux. Look out, world.
At any rate, the Guardian has a good piece on the visit and the increasing importance of the UK as a campaign battleground. As the article points out, with a population of 200,000 American expats, Britain has both money and votes. Most importantly, though, it has the power to confer legitimacy. In some respects, this is deserved: the UK is both a longstanding ally and an important source of political ideas and inspiration. On the other hand, one sometimes can’t help but laugh at the would-be American aristocrats who arrive on British shores to parade around as though someone had decided to coronate them. It’s a way of acting out fantasies that can’t really be fulfilled, of making the most of their delusions of grandeur.
And Rudy seems susceptible:
Rudy Giuliani went on the trans-Atlantic campaign trail Wednesday, schmoozing with conservative idol Margaret Thatcher and bragging about his international credentials.
“I’m probably one of the four or five best known Americans in the world,” Giuliani told a small group of reporters at a posh London hotel as onlookers gathered in the lobby to gawk at actor Dustin Hoffman, who was on a separate visit.
Hm. By the evidence, then, Dustin Hoffman must be one of the three or four best known Americans in the world. So who are the top two-and-a-half? And why aren’t they running for President?
2 Responses to “Rudy’s Adventures in Albion”
Rudy is a little to full of himself. How vain to say that he is one of the 4 or 5 best known people in America.
Something to say?
it was actually churhill’s granddaughter who compared churchill to giuliani, not the campaign. i wonder who would know better, churchill’s family or you???? ahhahahahahaha
don’t worry, im sure there are some neville chamberlain relatives for hillary and hussein obama to take photos with.
Left by matt
September 20, 2007 at 2:55pm