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Bush's Poodle Kicked to Curb; All very civilized, of course.
Topic Started: Sep 7 2006, 06:59 PM (354 Views)
Steve Miller
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Bull-Carp

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/08/world/eu....html?ref=world

Blair to Give Up Post as Premier Within One Year

By ALAN COWELL
Published: September 8, 2006

LONDON, Sept. 7 — Prime Minister Tony Blair announced Thursday that he would leave office within the next 12 months, bending to pressure after an open rebellion in his own party.

His announcement opened a troubled final chapter in a remarkable three-term premiership in which he moved from absolute political dominance of a prosperous Britain to fighting off open mockery about his closeness to President Bush.

Mr. Blair earlier said he would not run for a fourth term. Thursday’s announcement narrows the timetable for his resignation. It means that, around or well before next summer, Mr. Blair will resign the leadership of the Labor Party and make way for Gordon Brown, his finance minister, to take over as prime minister. For much of this week, Britain has been gripped by the spectacle of a brutal, behind-the-scenes power struggle between the men over the timing of Mr. Blair’s departure.

“This first thing I would like to do is to apologize, actually, on behalf of the Labor Party for the last week, which, with everything that is going on back here and in the world has not been our finest hour, to be frank,” Mr. Blair said on television. “But I think what is important now is that we understand that it’s the interests of the country that come first and we move on.’’

“I would have preferred to do this my own way,” he said. But he did not go as far as critics had wanted. Mr. Blair has insisted on setting the terms of his departure, the better to control how his legacy will be perceived during a time of steadily ebbing popularity.

For months the prime minister fought off calls to name a date for stepping down, despite the increasing fears that a delay would hurt his party in the next election and the growing unpopularity at home for his firm backing of American policy in Iraq and the Middle East.

It is not clear whether the political costs of allying Britain so closely to the United States would prompt Mr. Brown to change course, though his political allies have suggested that he is eager to bring home British troops from Afghanistan and Iraq and would strike a more independent stance. Mr. Brown’s brief has been managing the British economy, not foreign policy.

In his televised announcement from a schoolyard, Mr. Blair, alternately somber and testy, refused to name a specific date, saying he would act on his own timetable. It was not clear if that was enough to silence his critics, or whether further political bloodletting was in store.

An hour before Mr. Blair spoke, Mr. Brown pulled back from a final showdown with his onetime ally, pledging to abide by Mr. Blair’s decision on timing. The choreography of the appearances suggested that Mr. Brown was signaling his supporters to suspend their rebellion and observe what may be an uneasy truce. Indeed, the eight ministers who resigned from Mr. Blair’s government on Wednesday, calling on him to step down, remained silent on Thursday.

Temporarily at least, the maneuver spared Mr. Blair the same immediate fate as Margaret Thatcher, forced out of office by her own party in 1990 after months of maneuvering.

“I think the precise timetable has to be left up to me and got to be done in a proper way,” Mr. Blair said.

Speaking an hour earlier, Mr. Brown said, “I want to make it absolutely clear today that when I met the prime minister yesterday, I said to him and I repeat today: It is for him to make the decision” on the timing of his departure.

Taken together, the two speeches seemed intended to calm the turmoil within Labor’s ranks that risks imperiling the party’s electoral prospects. “We cannot treat the public as irrelevant bystanders in a subject as important as who is their prime minister,” Mr. Blair warned.

“It has been a somewhat difficult week, but I think it’s time now to move on and I think we will,” he said. It was not clear whether his tattered authority could sustain his ability to do that.

Doug Henderson, a Labor legislator and supporter of Mr. Brown, indicated that the pressure for an earlier ouster of Mr. Blair had not disappeared. ‘’People keep saying to me that the Labor Party must have a clear direction forward with clear priorities and a new leader before the elections in 2007,” he told Reuters.

The Machiavellian calculations underpinning both men’s behavior emerged from conversations with politicians and associates in both camps, some of whom requested anonymity because they were not authorized to reveal confidences.

A member of the Blair camp said that, before the summer break, Mr. Blair told a close friend that he was coming under renewed pressure from Mr. Brown to name a date he would step down, but the friend advised him not to because that would rob Mr. Blair of his remaining power. Mr. Blair followed this advice, hoping the pressure would decrease after the summer break.

But Mr. Brown continued to press, a person close to the Brown camp said. Brown allies were provoked by an interview with The Times of London on Friday in which Mr. Blair refused to set a date and by a memo, leaked to The Mirror, which showed Mr. Blair’s plans for a drawn-out farewell.
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Rick Zimmer
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Just another leader of a country who joined in Bush massive mistake who has rightfully lost his job for doing it.

This one is, of course, a big one.
[size=4]Violence is incompatible with the nature of God and the nature of the soul -- Benedict XVI[/size]
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ivorythumper
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I am so adjective that I verb nouns!
Of course, before that he was Clinton's lap dog and supported the Balkans War whenever WJC had a bimbo eruption-- back when you guys liked him.
The dogma lives loudly within me.
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Steve Miller
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ivorythumper
Sep 7 2006, 08:17 PM
Of course, before that he was Clinton's lap dog and supported the Balkans War whenever WJC had a bimbo eruption-- back when you guys liked him.

Who said anything about not liking him?

Seems like a decent sort to me - although it appears that this time he hitched his wagon to a falling star.
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ivorythumper
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I am so adjective that I verb nouns!
Steve Miller
Sep 7 2006, 09:15 PM
Who said anything about not liking him?

Quote:
 
Just another leader of a country who joined in Bush massive mistake who has rightfully lost his job for doing it.


Rick seems to have cancelled his membership in the fan club.
The dogma lives loudly within me.
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John Jacob Jingoism Smith
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I'm no fan of Bush. But I really appreciate that the Brits under Blair have stuck by us in these very difficult times. The Brits may really need us one day for something big, and as they say- "if you want to have a friend, you need to be a friend". They have been our friend.
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ivorythumper
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I am so adjective that I verb nouns!
That it is true, Jingo. I am not sure whether after the Lend Lease Act and the Marshall Plan that Great Britain is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the United States, or that through the Barge the US is a wholly owned subsidiary of Great Britain. But either way they've made good friends.
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George K
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Finally
LEAK: Draft of Tony Blair Resignation Speech

by Scott Ott

(2006-09-07) — Prime Minister Tony Blair’s spokesman today attempted to distance him from excerpts of a draft resignation speech, reportedly written by the beleaguered British leader, that’s making the rounds on the Internet.

According to the unverified manuscript, Mr. Blair plans to say, “Sadly, I must acknowledge that many of my own countrymen and even members of my own party have become Bin Laden’s poodles.”

“They’re demonstrating the same equivocating spirit that cheered Neville Chamberlain’s appeasement of Hitler and later drove Churchill out,” Mr. Blair allegedly wrote. “It’s the same fickle attitude that celebrated the fall of the Berlin wall in 1989, then turned around and brought down Margaret Thatcher the very next year. Psychologists have a word for this condition.”

With this week’s resignation of eight of his own cabinet members, Mr. Blair said he’s “freshening the resume” and looking at his options, including a potential Defense Secretary post in the administration of U.S. President George Bush, “in the event that Congress comes down with the British flu and runs Rumsfeld off.”
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Jolly
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Geaux Tigers!
Steve Miller
Sep 7 2006, 10:15 PM
ivorythumper
Sep 7 2006, 08:17 PM
Of course, before that he was Clinton's lap dog and supported the Balkans War whenever WJC had a bimbo eruption-- back when you guys liked him.

Who said anything about not liking him?

Seems like a decent sort to me - although it appears that this time he hitched his wagon to a falling star.

You like him?

Then why call him names?
The main obstacle to a stable and just world order is the United States.- George Soros
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Steve Miller
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Jolly
Sep 8 2006, 06:03 AM
Then why call him names?

Because the reason he is stepping down is the same reason he has earned the nickname "Bush's Poodle" with the locals.

It's not my name for him - it's theirs. I just report it as it as it comes to me.
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John D'Oh
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IMO, the reason for all the bickering has less to do with Iraq and more to do with an unspoken gentleman's agreement that Blair has had with Gordon Brown, his heir apparent, that he will step down before the next election (actually, I think it was originally before the last election). The fact that Blair has prevaricated and tried to avoid resigning will be driving the miserable old Scottish Presbytarian absolutely mad, and he has a few supporters. If there's anything more oxymoronic than a gentleman's agreement between two politicians, I'd love to see it.

For those who think Blair leaving will be a good thing, just wait and see. It will be a choice between the aforementioned miserable Scotsman, and a bunch of ****ing Tory ****ers whose only real policy is that they don't like Europeans and want to leave the EU, a crashingly stupid idea even by the Tory party's standards. 'Keep the pound British! We won't be dictated to by a bunch of Kraut bankers!'. Morons. There is no British empire, and somebody needs to smack this piece of wisdom into Conservative Party central office with a piece of sharpened wood, preferably coated with the same stuff that poor Steve Irwin was knobbled with. Not that it would make much difference.
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phykell
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I'll be relieved when he's gone, however, my particular dislike of him is nothing to do with any special relationship he has with George Bush. No, it's his domestic policies (and some foreign) I disagree with, like the way he's introduced so many more and diverse methods of taxation, none of which is means-tested and how he's failed the British people so completely over immigration and law and order, education and health. I despise his poorly thought out legislation, his pandering to various corporations and the way he imagines himself as some sort of "peoples' PM".

Incidentally John, there's no way Brown becoming the next PM is a fait accompli not given what Charles Clarke has recently said about Brown's conduct. I think we may well see an ugly leadership battle...
The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way it's animals are treated. - Ghandhi

Evil cannot be conquered in the world. It can only be resisted within oneself.

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John D'Oh
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phykell
Sep 8 2006, 09:55 AM
I'll be relieved when he's gone, however, my particular dislike of him is nothing to do with any special relationship he has with George Bush. No, it's his domestic policies (and some foreign) I disagree with, like the way he's introduced so many more and diverse methods of taxation, none of which is means-tested and how he's failed the British people so completely over immigration and law and order, education and health. I despise his poorly thought out legislation, his pandering to various corporations and the way he imagines himself as some sort of "peoples' PM".

You're not going to vote Tory, are you, Phykell? <shudder>
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phykell
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John D'Oh
Sep 8 2006, 01:56 PM
phykell
Sep 8 2006, 09:55 AM
I'll be relieved when he's gone, however, my particular dislike of him is nothing to do with any special relationship he has with George Bush. No, it's his domestic policies (and some foreign) I disagree with, like the way he's introduced so many more and diverse methods of taxation, none of which is means-tested and how he's failed the British people so completely over immigration and law and order, education and health. I despise his poorly thought out legislation, his pandering to various corporations and the way he imagines himself as some sort of "peoples' PM".

You're not going to vote Tory, are you, Phykell? <shudder>

Not a chance but I won't vote for Labour while Blair is in power. Brown is just as bad in his own way and Clarke is an uncivilised bully...
The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way it's animals are treated. - Ghandhi

Evil cannot be conquered in the world. It can only be resisted within oneself.

Remember, bones heal and chicks dig scars
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John D'Oh
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phykell
Sep 8 2006, 09:59 AM

Not a chance but I won't vote for Labour while Blair is in power. Brown is just as bad in his own way and Clarke is an uncivilised bully...

Brown will just increase the tax on booze and fags so that everybody else is as miserable as he is. I kind of miss Old Labour. They were a bit thick, but at least they weren't smarmy.
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Rick Zimmer
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Phykel and John -- and any other Brits on the Board,

Do you think he can survive for almost a year?

It seems to me that his announcement has caused him to lose all real power. Everyone now knows -- both domestically and internationally -- that he cannot ensure the follow-through for whatever he proposes or agrees to. Tey know there is to be anopther government in a short while and it is THAT government which is the one to deal with.

I can't imagine that this is a situation that can last for very long -- or that it is a good idea to let it last very long.

As Brits, what do you think?
[size=4]Violence is incompatible with the nature of God and the nature of the soul -- Benedict XVI[/size]
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John D'Oh
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Rick Zimmer
Sep 8 2006, 10:07 AM
Phykel and John -- and any other Brits on the Board,

Do you think he can survive for almost a year?

It seems to me that his announcement has caused him to lose all real power. Everyone now knows -- both domestically and internationally -- that he cannot ensure the follow-through for whatever he proposes or agrees to. Tey know there is to be anopther government in a short while and it is THAT government which is the one to deal with.

I can't imagine that this is a situation that can last for very long -- or that it is a good idea to let it last very long.

As Brits, what do you think?

I'm a little out of touch with British politics, but I think he can survive a year as PM. What you've got to remember is that the post of Prime Minister can be many different things, since it's not a presidential system, and the level of leadership exerted will vary, depending on personality. All that will probably happen when Blair finally goes is that the Labour party will elect a new leader (probably Gordon Brown), most of the government will remain unchanged, and Blair will be switched with Brown, who's pretty much on the same page anyway.

I suspect that Labour may lose the next election, or it will be so close that the chances of a hung parliament will be fairly high. I don't know whether the Conservatives have really got over their childish obsession with Europe yet enough to be electable, and the Lib-Dems will do what they always do, wear brown woolly sweaters, smile winningly, and lose.
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phykell
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They don't call him "Teflon Tony" for nothing. I think he'll manage to stay on for the year because he's made such a big deal of it, however, who can really predict what will happen because of the type of people we're dealing with. Politicians are unpredictable and a generally disloyal bunch. Some will see this as an opportunity to end Blair's final term badly for him and there's also the element of a lack of unity which may lead to splintering of the current direction towards Brown's succession. Charles Clarke is definitely anti-Brown IMO and actually calling the Chancellor "stupid" is somewhat of a declaration of challenge to Brown. Personally, I think a Scottish PM is unlikely, and while Blair may just hang on to the PM-ship, it's not going to be easy and the political in-fighting will be bloody. Just right for the Conservatives to opportunistically win the next election.

You know what really irritates me? The fact that Brown and Blair trumpet the British economy as being of their own doing with no credit to the people who are actually doing the bloody work, and working harder than ever, certainly harder than all the Europeans with their 30+ days a year holidays and siestas ;)
The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way it's animals are treated. - Ghandhi

Evil cannot be conquered in the world. It can only be resisted within oneself.

Remember, bones heal and chicks dig scars
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phykell
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:)
The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way it's animals are treated. - Ghandhi

Evil cannot be conquered in the world. It can only be resisted within oneself.

Remember, bones heal and chicks dig scars
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