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June 12, 2010

Chariots of Fire, it’s Not

By Michael Shaw

<p>Stefan Rousseau/AP</p> <script type="text/javascript">AKPC_IDS += "14547,";</script>

Stefan Rousseau/AP

So, maybe Gordon Brown wasn’t a singular doof as much as he was indicative of the modern, male British Prime Minister compelled to overcompensate for England’s power deficit on the world stage.  Memories of the empire, and all that.

Theories aside, though, David Cameron could use someone to save him from his own narcissistic impulses — especially his belief that he’s one among equals when he gets out there with the boys “in theater.”

Here are the next three shots in the CharlotteObserver slideshow.

(caption: Britain’s Prime Minister David Cameron centre right, goes for an early morning run with British soldiers, at Camp Bastion in Helmand Province, during his two day visit to Afghanistan, Friday June 11, 2010.)

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  • http://www.agrippinaminor.com/wp/ Wayne Dickson

    Choose your photo-op carefully! In this one, everyone else is running easily. Cameron is flushed and mouth-breathing. (Wonder how he’d look if he were running in beach sand, as in the movie?) In the second, I love the body language and facial expression of the guy to our right. The last is so obviously staged as to be embarrassingly GWB-worthy.

  • paulo

    At least he isn’t wearing a jacket with a patch that says “PM” on it and a St George and the dragon.

  • futurebird

    I didn’t see this photo so negativly- He doesn’t look that “flushed” to me he looks like a man running and politics aside the image reads very positively to me. Few people can run at all, he seems to be in good shape to me and running with people is such a great way to bond. I do find it cute that they are staying back to be polite, but I don’t think this is a “bad” photo op.

  • futurebird

    I enjoy the other photos too. He seems to be trying everything out. Even though I am aware that it is a photo-op I still think “oh how humble!” when looking at the photos and I’m tempted to like him becuase of them. Then I remember how cynical politics can be.

  • Molly

    My first thought was, “What’s Tom DeLay doing in this picture?” Then, I wondered why someone would go jogging in a polo shirt and a black one at that? Then, I wondered if he collapsed after this was taken, or at least puked. He looks like he’s heading into the land of distress.

  • bystander

    There’s a variety of observations one could make about the image leading this post, but I would observe two.
    1. Brown’s running style. Like “taste,” there’s no accounting for it, but the PT folk I’ve worked with would caution against a “heel strike” style. It stands out for me here, because it looks so different than those he is running with.
    2. Where’s his water bottle? Or, is someone else carrying his with theirs?

    Oh, what the heck. I’ll toss in one more.
    3. The difference in leg muscle definition between Brown and his running mates.

    Whole thing spells cheesy photo-op to me.

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