Tony Blair is outof 10 Downing Street but hardly out of mind and headlines, given his tough new job as Mideast envoy. After a tumultuous decade in power, it will take some time to adjust to the idea of Prime Minister Gordon Brown, especially given his charisma deficit. Blair’s legacy has been tarnished by his support for the Iraq war, which was unfaltering to the end. He said he was "truly sorry about the dangers" troops are facing in Iraq and Afghanistan. "I know some may think that they face these dangers in vain; I don’t and I never will. I believe they are fighting for the security of this country and the wider world against people who would destroy our way of life." Not only is President Bush going to miss Blair having his back in the wars, he’s also going to miss Blair’s articulate defense of Bush’s war-making.
Posted by Rhonda Holman
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22 Comments
bushy has lost his widdle poodle and will now have to tell lies without anyone holding his hand…
oh and how are those subpoenas setting cheney?
Maybe we will get relief yet from the worst administration and most corrupt in history.
all bushys cards are fallin down around him
God speed Mr. Blair. You were a great friend to our country and an articulate spokesman for yours.
Blair’s own popularity was driven south because of his unwavering defense of George W. Bush. When will Republicans wake up and realize the majority of the world has gotten wise to the Bush’s gang’s tricks?
I say good riddance Blair, don’t let the door hit you where the good Lord split you.
But, with him now being the Middle East envoy, just look for more bloodshed coming down the pike.
Ditto Outtie.
The new guy — forget his name — is more pro America than Blair. With a deeper insight than Blair. We should be good to go.
Yes, thank you Mr. Blair for your unwavering support for our great victory in bringing democracy to Iraq. Or was it saving the world from Saddam’s WMD? Or saving the Iraqi’s from Saddam and torture? Or mushroom clouds? Or al Qaeda? Or the Tooth Fairy?
Whatever it was, thank you, Mr. Blair.
It’s too bad that your entire country thinks you’re a poodle, but thanks anyway.
Next?
Rhonda Holman has been tarnished forever by her left leaning commentary and unnecessary editorial statements.
Tony Blair has integrity and character. A man to be admired.
We’re just switching one lap dog for another.
“Rhonda Holman has been tarnished forever by her left leaning commentary and unnecessary editorial statements.”
That statement reaches a new low for stupidity.
Republank is complaining about editorializing from the editorial staff of WE.
Christ.
XXX,
And a new high for hypocrisy, considering that Republican posts invented, completely false claims, to support his incorrect opinions.
Bush and Blair, globalist, traitor, birds of a feather flock together.
“Blair’s legacy has been tarnished by his support for the Iraq war…”
Is this opposite day? Tarnished, my ass. He pulled his reputation out of the gutter, caused by his love of Clinton the Rapist.
After seven years, why are Republicans still fixated on Bill Clinton’s cheney?
repuklican you must be joking
Rhonda a liberal PLUEASE she is nothing but a bush, Kline lackey like you.
WSits their motto…when all else fails blame the CLENIS
its all they have left
You know what is really funny is to see Republicans defend politicians like Blair and Liberman whom are more liberal on EVERY issue EXCEPT for Iraq than Kennedy is! I mean the Repukes sing the praises of a man they had nick named “Loserman” only a few years prior. That shows you how desparate they really are for friends. Because they have few left. And once the amnesty bill passes next week, they will have even fewer. When will the right wake up and smell the coffee? It is OVER! You had your day in the sun and the sun is setting!
Well, the English were smart enough to get rid of their war-monger. Too bad we still have ours.
For the clueless who failed to read, I took the phrases from Rhonda’s editorial and I said “her left leaning commentary” and never stated she was on the left.
:)
As a biographer and NPR interviewee said today, “Blair’s dream was to be Prime Minister. Brown’s dream was to lead the Labour Party.”
This guy’s REAL Labour Party, not the warmed over centrist Blair was.
No more Bush poodles . . .
On the dumb scale, England is number 3- only after the USA and Austrailia.
“On the dumb scale, England is number 3- only after the USA and Austrailia.”
America Haters: Start early, stay late.
Actually, Brown’s pretty centrist. For example, his fiscal leadership of Britain since 1997 has favored the middle class over the poorest Britons:
From his Wiki entry:”In practice Brown’s policies have resulted in the poorest fifth of households comparatively paying more tax and receiving a lower share of benefits since Labour’s election victory in 1997. The Centre for Policy Studies found that the poorest fifth of households, which accounted for 6.8% of all taxes in 1996-7, accounted for 6.9% of all taxes paid in 2004-5. Meanwhile, their share of state benefit payouts dropped from 28.1% to 27.1% over the same period.[20]”
The thing that’s most impressive to me, other than his ginormous brain, is what he’s done to prepare a substantial safety net to catch those in Britain’s middle class who suffer financial and displacement shocks from globalization. National healthcare spending was beefed up, the use of tax credits, paving the way for those displaced to attend University, and more: Brown has done yeoman’s work to ensure Britain’s support of WTO and free trade.
If the US since 1998 had created a tenth of the safety net that Brown has created for the UK middle class, then the US wouldn’t be facing the very real possibility that we’ll break or not renew GATT and NAFTA in the next few election cycles.
Just as FICA saved American capitalism in the Great Depression, so will Brown’s work of the past decade save Britain’s claim on national wealth.
The US, on the other hand, may very well see its economy shrink drastically as it pulls back (blinks, basically) from free global trade.
There’s a better than even chance that London will become the world’s new financial center, too.
He made a great, GREAT wonk, now we’ll see if he can lead.
They gave scruffy a new position.
Can Blair rehabilitate himself with this new position? Might he find it in himself to take an even-handed approach to Palestine? Might he actually support a viable two-state solution over Bush’s opposition? Might he support Lebanese sovereignty?
He has the opportunity. It is up to him.