UK-US relationship, not so special anymore?

[Agelastus]

Nixon said it was dead back in the 1970's.

It's alive, in public, when the USA want something, and dead when the USA doesn't; to a lesser extent, the same is true in the other direction as well.

In private it seems to be very real. From what little is on the internet (Wikipedia even!) regarding what Grumbler hinted at, it seems to be alive and well. If you can trust the internet, of course...

[derspiess]

Will Obama reset it?

Yes.  But instead of a button, he gives an ipod to the Queen so she can listen to all his speeches.

[Agelastus]

Will Obama reset it?

Yes.  But instead of a button, he gives an ipod to the Queen so she can listen to all his speeches.

Well. that would still be a better gift than DVDs that won't work in Gordon's player... 

[garbon]

The U.K.

[derspiess]

Well. that would still be a better gift than DVDs that won't work in Gordon's player... 

Dunno.  I'd rather stare at a blank screen, while trying to play an out of region DVD than have to listen to another Obama speech.

[Eddie Teach]

Don't be a h8erboi.

[AnchorClanker]

It surprises me not at all that many British politicians did not understand what was special about the "special relationship" and still don't.  Many US politicians suffer from the same ignorance.

"The UK's relationship should be principally driven by the UK's national interests within individual policy areas. It needs to be characterised by a hard-headed political approach to the relationship and a realistic sense of the UK's limits."

That statement exemplifies the ignorance.  The whole point of the special relationship was that both countries could pursue the principal of national interests while cooperating, because US and UK national interests were so close.

I think this largely remains true, though Britain's relationship with Europe is now more important than its relationship to the US.

The special relationship was always most strongly expressed in ways other than diplomatic, though.  Those ways were highly classified, though (and may still be), and as far as I know are ongoing, so I am not surprised many don't know much about it.  The cooperation of the US and UK in the black world is probably absolutely unique.

Yes.  A convenient leftover from WWII and the Cold War.  The fact is... we need each other.

[Richard Hakluyt]

One thing I find interesting is that the UK population seems to respond positively to the US Democrats getting the presidency; but, for as long as I can recall, it seems to me that the USA is better disposed towards the UK when the Republicans are in the driving seat 

[Barrister]

One thing I find interesting is that the UK population seems to respond positively to the US Democrats getting the presidency; but, for as long as I can recall, it seems to me that the USA is better disposed towards the UK when the Republicans are in the driving seat 

There's a similar dynamic in Canada.  Everyone seemed to be pulling for Obama, but McCain wasn't the one talking about renegotiating NAFTA...

[Palisadoes]

One thing I find interesting is that the UK population seems to respond positively to the US Democrats getting the presidency; but, for as long as I can recall, it seems to me that the USA is better disposed towards the UK when the Republicans are in the driving seat 

I think it was more to do with getting rid of Bush than being pro-Democrat, as such.

[Sheilbh]

One thing I find interesting is that the UK population seems to respond positively to the US Democrats getting the presidency; but, for as long as I can recall, it seems to me that the USA is better disposed towards the UK when the Republicans are in the driving seat 

I think it's a bit hit and miss.  Because our relationship is so close I don't think there are deep forces either driving us apart or drawing us together, those things are sorted and we're very, very close indeed.  So the rest is style and to do with the leadership far far more than policy (though they can influence policy).  I don't think you can point out any particular party differences (Clinton was quite anglophilic when Blair was around, Nixon never was; Labour's been historically as much if not more desperate to prove their Atlanticist credentials than the Tories).  It boils down to personalities of leaders I think.

And on foreign policy Parliament doesn't matter

[DGuller]

Will Obama reset it?

Yes.  But instead of a button, he gives an ipod to the Queen so she can listen to all his speeches.

The ipod would be a much better gift, I would think.  You can only press the button once, but you can listen to Obama's speeches over and over and over again.

[Sophie Scholl]

I saw this in a movie once: Love Actually.

[Eddie Teach]

I saw this in a movie once: Love Actually.

That scene was annoying. A gratuitous "fuck you, America" in a romantic comedy? 

[Strix]

Will Obama reset it?

He is the new Messiah. I imagine he will resurrect it.