Blair sets departure date
I'm surprised no-one has posted this yet. Anyroad, as Lyntons bestest pal, I would like to say this to him.
Good riddance to bad rubbish and don't let the door hit your arse on the way out.
linky
So, what does the Orgahs think of the man? Should have gone sooner? Or should he have given it, say, another 10 years?
American viewpoints especially welcome. You lot love him over there.
There are times I wish they’d just ban everything- baccy and beer, burgers and bangers, and all the rest- once and for all. Instead, they creep forward one apparently tiny step at a time. It’s like being executed with a bacon slicer.
“Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it whether it exists or not, diagnosing it incorrectly, and applying the wrong remedy.”
To learn who rules over you, simply find out who you are not allowed to criticise.
"The purpose of a university education for Left / Liberals is to attain all the politically correct attitudes towards minorties, and the financial means to live as far away from them as possible."
Re: Blair sets departure date
Isn't it funny, you guys loved Clinton and we loved Blair? Maybe that's the answer, Slick Willy in Westminster and tony Tony comes to DC?
I think it's sad and unfortunate that our current administration has no concept of perception in the world at large. Rather than being viewed as a partner, with his own concerns and own decisions to make, our ham-handedness allowed Blair's enemies to portray him as a lapdog.
I understand he may not have had the greatest run with domestic policy. I think we know a thing or two about that as well.
All I have to say is I hope the 'special friendship' can survive Gordon Brown. Things are definitely going to be different this summer.
Edit: What am I worried about. If it could survive "W" (I think we all know how popular he is at large in the UK), I think it can survive anything. Perhaps Louis licking his chops waiting in the wings might be a tad premature.
Last edited by Don Corleone; 05-10-2007 at 15:43.
"A man who doesn't spend time with his family can never be a real man."
Don Vito Corleone: The Godfather, Part 1.
"Then wait for them and swear to God in heaven that if they spew that bull to you or your family again you will cave there heads in with a sledgehammer"
Strike for the South
Re: Blair sets departure date
I think the UK as a whole has been an over the top gracious friend. The fact that Blair stuck with it in Iraq even in later stages of the event strikes me as suspect. I think he might have thought that loyalty would equal influence, sadly he mistook the current bush with his father.Originally Posted by InsaneApache
That said, I dont know a great deal about his domestic policies to comment at length, the northern Ireland bit the last few days is a nice end for him, but wasnt the momentum heading in this direction anyway, with or without Blair?
I think his stand on the environment is noble and I had hoped that the influence or "capital" he had attained with Bush through his loyalty would have gotten more out of the Bush admin by way of pushing green issues.
In the end Im conflicted about Blair in relation to the U.S. Im not sure his intentions were national or global (by way of influence), that said he certainly set up good will with the american voting public for his loyalty and that might pay dividends down the road.
There are few things more annoying than some idiot who has never done anything trying to say definitively how something should be done.
Sua Sponte
Re: Blair sets departure date
You've only got 48 more days of Blair. I suggest long walks, hand-holding, maybe writing each other a poem. Savor these last few precious moments of your PM.
Re: Blair sets departure date
*looks at the anti-bristishism thread*
Well, I wish him all the best, now that he finally made a good decision.
"Topic is tired and needs a nap." - Tosa Inu
Re: Blair sets departure date
Good guy, especially for a liberal. Best of luck to him. Hopefully the Brits will find someone with testicles to replace him, but I fear they've become very French on the Island lately.
RIP Tosa
Re: Blair sets departure date
Blair a liberal?
There are times I wish they’d just ban everything- baccy and beer, burgers and bangers, and all the rest- once and for all. Instead, they creep forward one apparently tiny step at a time. It’s like being executed with a bacon slicer.
“Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it whether it exists or not, diagnosing it incorrectly, and applying the wrong remedy.”
To learn who rules over you, simply find out who you are not allowed to criticise.
"The purpose of a university education for Left / Liberals is to attain all the politically correct attitudes towards minorties, and the financial means to live as far away from them as possible."
Re: Blair sets departure date
Oh yea, after announcing his decision to step down today in his constituency he takes a private jet back to London...
What an eco warrior.
On the thread topic...the only reason I can think of that I want him to stay is that his replacement could be worse...
"England expects that every man will do his duty" Lord Nelson
"Extinction to all traitors" Megatron
"Lisa, if the Bible has taught us nothing else, and it hasn't, it's that girls should stick to girls sports, such as hot oil wrestling and foxy boxing and such and such." Homer Simpson
Re: Blair sets departure date
He's going on my birthday.
it's the **** that happens while you're waiting for moments that never come
Re: Blair sets departure date
I'd be happier about him going if it didn't mean we're headed for a Britain under Cameron...
There was a lot of promise in Blair, backed up by an incredible pr machine in the first years. Just think what kind of a PM he could have been and be remembered as if the promises had matched up to his obvious skills! I guess his time in office will be remembered as a wasted oppurtunity for real, effective change.
"The facts of history cannot be purely objective, since they become facts of history only in virtue of the significance attached to them by the historian." E.H. Carr
Re: Blair sets departure date
curious you quoted me, but thus my response....
Based on my comparative of what we have here in the U.S. he's far more seasoned a combantant in the eco war, but far be it from me to praise someone from another country
There are few things more annoying than some idiot who has never done anything trying to say definitively how something should be done.
Sua Sponte
Re: Blair sets departure date
I like Tony Blair - personally, he's quick witted and charming; politically, he got it wrong on Iraq but has overseen significant improvements in most areas of British life (economic, educational, health, Northern Ireland, even crime).
But I was about to curse him for being a war criminal this evening when I heard a rumour on the Channel 4 News that the official secrets trial concluded today concerned a discussion between him and GWB over bombing Al Jazeera. Thankfully, I checked online and found out he argued against such a move (apparently to be carried out against AJs HQ in Qatar, although some say GWB was not serious in his proposal to bomb an allied country).
However, the fact that my immediate reaction was to believe he was colluding in such a despicable move does underline that he has lost even my trust in his judgement.
Re: Blair sets departure date
Who knows? Maybe the Liberals will suddenly wina majority -- or even those SNP chaps. Now there'd be a bit of fun.
"The only way that has ever been discovered to have a lot of people cooperate together voluntarily is through the free market. And that's why it's so essential to preserving individual freedom.” -- Milton Friedman
"The urge to save humanity is almost always a false front for the urge to rule." -- H. L. Mencken
Re: Blair sets departure date
I read it earlier today, but, like everybody else here, we didn't want to rob you of your glorious moment.
My opinion of Blair is ambiguous. I think the bad aspects will be posted by plenty of others in this thread. As to the good, here's something for all you British to ponder about: over roughly the past decade, which country has seen the most progress, has had the better understanding of the challenges and opportunities of globalisation, has had the better government: France under Chirac, America under Bush, Italy under Berlusconi, Germany under Schröder, or Britain under Tony Blair?
Sink your teeth into that one, IA.
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