Andrew Sullivan argues here that, seen from a British context, Obama is a ‘one nation’ Tory. It’s an interesting idea, but the argument is a stretch. While ‘one nation’ Tories tend to be more interventionist that their Thatcherite counterparts, they typically retain a certain innate wariness about how far the power of the state should extend, a wariness of which there is little trace in Obama’s busybody scheming. What’s more they tend to be a skeptical lot, doubters and pragmatists who may believe in adapting to “change” where necessary, but would be reluctant to embrace it as mantra. Wide, overarching visions are, by and large, just not their thing. Present Disraeli, the prototypical one nation Tory, with Obama’s musings, say, on creating a “kingdom” right here on earth, and he would, I am sure, laugh. If you want a British analogy to Obama, it’s probably more fruitful to look at the Labour Party of the first half of the Twentieth Century, at Nye Bevan, George Lansbury and Clem Atlee. If it’s a one nation Tory you’re looking for, John McCain, for better and for worse, and however imperfectly, comes somewhat closer.