Personally I think rewarding this unscrupulous, mendacious, bullying tosspot with such a high level job would be wrong, but a British minister said earlier that the position should be given to someone who can 'stop traffic'. Is there anything in this? I can't imagine the Germans or the French are going to be able to swallow this particular pill and will most likely do everything in their power to block his maneuvering.
This article from the BBC
Germany's English-speaking crowd
In association with The Local
In association with The Local
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Tony Blair as EU President
Update: Spiegel says Blair is out of the running
Personally I think rewarding this unscrupulous, mendacious, bullying tosspot with such a high level job would be wrong, but a British minister said earlier that the position should be given to someone who can 'stop traffic'.
I certainly wouldn't object to seeing him thrown in front of traffic, but I doubt many drivers would stop if they recognised him, unless it was to reverse over him afterwards to make sure.
He's a well known figure, but I would have thought his close connection to the Iraq mess would rule him out as representative for all Europeans. However, they'll decide this by horse trading, I'm sure, so perhaps it will depend on how badly the British want him, and what they're prepared to give for it.
Sarkozy has already said he would support Blair actually. Personally I am not a fan of Blair but can see that it does need to be someone of his international clout and there does not appear to be anyone else in the frame with the same star quality. I can also see advantages in having a Brit shape the as yet undefined role and in having a Blair president when "Calamity Cameron" and his europhobic alliance become the government in the UK.
All hail President Poodle!
It's pretty pretentious of the British to think that we can sit snidingly at the sidelines of the EU and provide them with their president at the same time. Why would any European politician from any of the other 26 countries want a president from a country that is so sceptical of their project?
Sarkozy has already said he would support Blair actually. Personally I am not a fan of Blair but can see that it does need to be someone of his international clout and there does not appear to be anyone else in the frame with the same star quality.
I just don't get the logic...He lies to the parliment... clear, plain faced and knowing full well that he is lying and you decide that this is a quality you would feel worthy of someone who should represent us at such a level???
International clout??? says who? the international society of pathological liers...
To be honest it is mostly the Sun/Daily Mail reading demographic that oppose Britain's membership of the EU, anyone who knows anything knows that without the EU, Britain would be an isolated outpost clinging on to it's imperialistic past.
Well I agree, but unfortunately it's the Sun/Daily Mail readers who form the majority (or at least the most vocal) opinion in the country.
... they'll decide this by horse trading, I'm sure, so perhaps it will depend on how badly the British want him, and what they're prepared to give for it.
I'm equally sure the post will be filled after lots of horse trading. On the basis of this List of European Commissioners by nationality (Wikipedia), the new President should be a German or a Brit, the number on the left being how many bodies each member state has in key positions:22 Italy
21 France
13 Germany
13 United Kingdom
11 Luxembourg
10 Belgium
8 Ireland
8 Netherlands
7 Greece
6 Denmark
6 Spain
4 Portugal
2 Austria
2 Cyprus
2 Czech Republic
2 Finland
2 Hungary
2 Latvia
2 Lithuania
2 Poland
2 Slovakia
2 Sweden
1 Bulgaria
1 Estonia
1 Malta
1 Romania
1 Slovenia
As for Blair, he has such a winning smile and look how well he's done in bringing peace between the Israelis and Palestinians...
Huh? Wot? Who wrote that garbage?
I just don't get the logic...
He lies to the parliment... clear, plain faced and knowing full well that he is lying and you decide that this is a quality you would feel worthy of someone who should represent us at such a level???
Needless to say, I don't have a view of him that is quite as transparently distorted.
He lies to the parliment... clear, plain faced and knowing full well that he is lying and you decide that this is a quality you would feel worthy of someone who should represent us at such a level???
Needless to say, I don't have a view of him that is quite as transparently distorted.
the transparent distortion you're referring to would be a matter of perspective... would it not?If I view a leader who is willing to blatently lie to his people as unacceptable and you view it as not a major issue for someone who may go on to lead to EU... that my ~friend is the relativity of the individual's perspective.
I am happy to stand by my decision to expect more from those who represent me and mine.
So what you're saying BtC is that the decision about who the post should be awarded to should be a purely pragmatic one and not necessarily a moral one?
I don'tz think it should be either/or. The role is as yet undefined and Europe has an opportunity to shape it as something truly effectzive. Some candidates will be able to do that, others not. I believe that Blair has the qualities that mean he would be ideal. God help us if we select a commotose ex-Belgian premier instead ...
I believe that Blair has the qualities that mean he would be ideal.
What, like the ability to make 'tough decisions'? I take it you've heard about what's going on in Iran at the moment?
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