Politicians whose careers spookily mirrored those of others

[Phony Moderate]

I'll start with two pairs actually - Ted Heath/Margaret Thatcher (UK) and Malcolm Fraser/John Howard (Australia). Heath and Fraser were both elected on a right-wing economic platform but were criticised by elements of their respective parties for not fulfilling those platforms. Thatcher and Howard both served in their cabinets and both would eventually seize the leadership of their respective parties and go onto become Prime Minister. Each served almost exactly the same length of time (around 11 1/2 years) and each led their party for about 15 years (though Howard did it in two seperate spells). Meanwhile, Heath and Fraser became somewhat bitter and criticised the right-wing direction that their parties took, and at the time of their deaths both were probably more popular on the other side of the political divide than on their own. In contrast, Thatcher and Howard are both idolized by their own parties.

[Oswald Acted Alone, You Kook]

I can't believe I'm saying this, but FDR and Hitler.

[TheElectoralBoobyPrize]

Clinton and Gingrich. Both spent a brief time amount of time in academia before running for office, both lost a House race in 1974, and both eventually won institutions that their party had trouble winning (the presidency and the House respectively). Also they were both southerners and both had sex scandals with subordinate employees.

[🦀🎂🦀🎂]

Brian Mulroney, Margeret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan.

[Dr. Cynic]

Brian Mulroney, Margeret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan.

Mulroney and Thatcher certainly mirror each other. Mulroney and Thatcher were both considered charismatic right wingers who dispatched colorless moderates (Clark and Heath).

[Boston Bread]

Mulroney's legacy is a lot different than Thatcher's in the sense they never became a model that the right aspired to. Indeed Mulroney's rule ended with a revolt on his right flank, leading to Reform, while I doubt the British right had that much dissatisfaction with Thatcher.

[Phony Moderate]

Many of today's Thatcher admirers admire her more for her 'backbone' and whatnot than for her actual policies.

[Oswald Acted Alone, You Kook]

Mulroney's legacy is a lot different than Thatcher's in the sense they never became a model that the right aspired to. Indeed Mulroney's rule ended with a revolt on his right flank, leading to Reform, while I doubt the British right had that much dissatisfaction with Thatcher.

You don't remember the mass celebration of her death?

[🦀🎂🦀🎂]

Well both Mulroney and Thatcher bit off more than they could chew, and after a brief respite under a bland new leader their parties would be wiped out, and locked out of entire swathes of the country even now.