LONDON — The recent Group of Eight summit in Hokkaido was one of the least memorable summit meetings. Every G8 spews out cliches; the Hokkaido meeting was no exception. Leaders at the meeting were generally a mediocre lot.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy were probably the most impressive, but it is too soon to say whether they have earned their place in history. President George W. Bush is on his way out ("about time," for many observers).
Gordon Brown, the British prime minister, lived up to his reputation as a dour son of a Scottish minister of religion by allowing himself to be compared to Heathcliff, the anti-hero of Emily Bronte's classic novel "Wuthering Heights." His reputation for indecisiveness led to commentators referring to him as living on "Dithering Heights."