Ames at one of my favourite must-read blogs, "Submitted to A Candid World", recently wrote an article comparing the rise of Tony Blair and New Labour before his election in 1997, with the victory of Obama and what he called the "New Democrats" in 2008. Indeed, the similarities are uncanny. Both came to power after deeply unpopular opposition governments, both achieves stunning victories, both campaigned the simply but effective mantra "time for a change". But not long after Tony Blair took power things began to unravel, and it turned out that under the glossy sheen and behind the 100 watt smile, things were not what they seemed. What had seemed like the greatest victory for the left in a generation began to turn sour. Could the same happen with Obama?