The Mail vs Tony Blair

Abernathy · **Posted:** Sun May 20, 2012 5:44 pm

Perhaps it speaks volumes that the Mailites fear Blair's return to front-line politics, but despite that I do think it would be something of a mistake. Far from the toxicity of his image as the PM that took us into the futile adventure of Iraq (though he was re-elected only 2 years later, so was he truly that unpopular?), I think that's still how he is remembered, but his reputation for avaricious money-making has contributed even more adversely to his public image. It can only be bad for the Labour Party's prospects.

Big Rob · **Posted:** Sun May 20, 2012 6:19 pm

Well none of that sort of stuff affected TB when he was in charge. He always struck me as a bit of weasel however what really matters to a significant number of people (significant enough to get Labour back into power) is:

1) Having gainful employment.
2) Having a financial peace of mind.

Now I am no fan of Blair however his leadership saw both of the above. That's how he got away with what he did. As long as you have those two then the rest follows.

bluebellnutter · **Posted:** Sun May 20, 2012 8:59 pm

I don't think Iraq will prove as toxic a legacy as it appeared at the time as the years go past personally. Especially for as long as Iraq remains (relatively) stable. I don't think many people will really begrudge an attempt to remove Hussain.

Abernathy · **Posted:** Sun May 20, 2012 9:17 pm

bluebellnutter wrote:

I don't think Iraq will prove as toxic a legacy as it appeared at the time as the years go past personally. Especially for as long as Iraq remains (relatively) stable. I don't think many people will really begrudge an attempt to remove Hussain.

Yes, but it is the deception involved in taking us into war. The ignoring 2 million people on the streets of London. The closeness to the most reactionary and useless US president nlivng memory. It's those things, rather than the fact that Saddam has gone - Blair's own justification, not shared by many - that will be remembered. that's pretty toxic.

Big Rob · **Posted:** Sun May 20, 2012 10:13 pm

Abernathy wrote:

Yes, but it is the deception involved in taking us into war. The ignoring 2 million people on the streets of London. The closeness to the most reactionary and useless US president nlivng memory. It's those things, rather than the fact that Saddam has gone - Blair's own justification, not shared by many - that will be remembered. that's pretty toxic.

OK Iraq was about as toxic as it gets. However Blair still beat Howard.

"Are you thinking what we're thinking?".

Yes, the Tories failed to beat Blair after the debacle that was Iraq.

Abernathy · **Posted:** Sun May 20, 2012 10:49 pm

Yup that's true. But the Tories in 2005 were still utterly ineffectual, and the economy was still by and large tikkity boo. So the electorate clung to nurse for fear of something worse.
But Blair was gone two years later.

Abernathy · **Posted:** Sun May 20, 2012 10:52 pm

Uncanny. Just uncanny.

Big Rob · **Posted:** Sun May 20, 2012 10:55 pm

A white blank square?

That is uncanny....

davidjay · **Joined:** Tue Feb 17, 2009 8:24 pm **Posts:** 3841

Abernathy wrote:

Yup that's true. But the Tories in 2005 were still utterly ineffectual, and the economy was still by and large tikkity boo. So the electorate clung to nurse for fear of something worse.
But Blair was gone two years later.

They also reduced the Labour majority by a fairly hefty number. Another twenty or so and it might have been enough to keep them out in 2010 as well.

Abernathy · **Posted:** Sun May 20, 2012 11:34 pm

Big Rob wrote:

A white blank square?

That is uncanny....

okay, let's try again. Failures of technology aren't down to me, Robbo.

Abernathy · **Posted:** Sun May 20, 2012 11:37 pm

Ebedding ain't happening, it seems.

Try this:

http://m.youtube.com/index?desktop_uri=%2F&gl=GB#/watch?v=-FnmnuDiVno

davidjay · **Joined:** Tue Feb 17, 2009 8:24 pm **Posts:** 3841

A little thing like fact won't stop them green arrows. On the death of Al-Megrahi:

Quote:

Remember it was BLair who let him go! Shaking hands with Gaddafi and selling out Yvonne Fletcher (God bless her)
- Tone, Proud to be British!, 20/5/2012 14:10

Malcolm Armsteen · **Posted:** Sun May 20, 2012 11:51 pm

Looked like you were trying to link to the mobile version.

Abernathy · **Posted:** Sun May 20, 2012 11:57 pm

I'm a tadge bewildered, Malc. That vid is of folk on a motorway.

Malcolm Armsteen · **Posted:** Mon May 21, 2012 12:02 am

That's what I got when I followed your link. Made my scrotum pucker.

The Mail vs Tony Blair

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