Korean Job Discussion Forums

[stevemcgarrett]

I must admit I've always liked Tony Blair. Although he represents a party whose fringe element I deplore, he himself is a consummate moderate. And it is deliberate moderation that takes the day.

Bill Clinton could be something of a moderate when his wife wasn't steering him far left. At his best he was a moderate, as when he adopted if not embraced welfare reform. But he was and is a relentless womanizer. Still, he has a solid, genuine relationship with Bush, Sr. It's no accident because Bush Sr. is the quintessential moderate.

Tony Blair, in my view, was a progressive with a practical compass guiding his every action. He had conviction, borne as much from a secure belief in God as in the potential of his country to do what is right in the world.

I will forever admire his quiet-spoken tenacity, his wit, his sharp mind, his ability to articulate an idea, and his youthful energy.

His steadfast commitment to the cause of ridding the world of terrorism and his staunch support of the special relationship almost go without saying, as in this quote:

[Big_Bird]

Good Riddance!

[jinju]

[Scouse Mouse]

Blair was a great Prime Minister. He truly loves his country and wants what is best for the country and its people. He has made a few errors over the years, but he is human. He never made his mistakes from greed but instead he made because he loved his country and believed he was doing the right thing.

Whist some people think Gordon Brown will not be as successful as Blair, I am not so certain. He is probably the most successful Chancellor we have ever seen and his fiscal management is amazing. Scotsmen and money? Probably!

Brown loves his country. His heart is as good as Blairs and his head is arguably better. The only thing he lacks is the political savvy to survive in British Politics, but I am sure that will come to him pretty quickly. It has been difficult for him to shine when in Blairs shadow, but once he is allowed to do so I feel he too will be a great leader. I only hope the British public will allow him a 4 year term to prove himself.

[Big_Bird]

I hope so too Scouse Mouse.

[endo]

FARE THEE WELL, MS. STEVIE AND THESE STUPID AZZ THREAD TITLES IN CAPS!!!

[Neil]

Marks out of ten for Blair

Foreign policy in terms of geopolitics: 2 (Ireland and Kosovo comprehensively outweighed by Iraq)

Foreign policy in terms of debt, aid, poverty: 8

Education: 7 (smaller class sizes, investment in things we are weak in such as science and foreign languages.....but the school ranking system is leading towards too many tests putting pressure on kids.)

Economy: 8 (Minimum wage, record numbers of employed, low inflation...all good stuff)

Health: 5 (bit of a cock up, they have invested in the NHS but the cash has been squanded.)

Personal freedom and liberty: 1 (ID cards, fox hunting ban, smoking ban...all rubbish IMO.)

Transport: 2 (It's still probably the worst in the developed world)

Crime: 6 (Difficult to say as I don't live there anymore, I'd say London at least seems safer than 10 years ago but that could be an age thing.)

Devolution: 3 (Good idea in theory but as the next PM will be a Scotsman, representing a Scottish constituency telling English people, who pay to keep the country going, that whilst they have to pay for their kids to go to University those people who voted for him do not, it's been badly implemented).

State reform: 4 (Hasn't really reformed the upper chamber as much as I hoped.)

Overall domestic: 6
Overall world: 2

[BS.Dos.]

I think only the impetuous will decry Blair's tenure as wasted. Many, including myself, will see that in retrospect, much in the UK has changed for the better over the last decade, but and as with much in politics, opinions tend to only dwell on the present rather than the past.

While history will probably reveal Iraq to be the word most synonymous with Blair's premiership, many would be wise to remember the fact that he alone, amongst many generations of failed predecessor, was successful in brokering peace in Northern Ireland.

As for Gordon Brown, James Cameron has more than a realistic chance of de-throning Labour in terms of being a more media savvy leader who is able to deliver a competent sound-bite and who lenses reasonably well. I wouldn't be surprised if Brown goes the same way as James Callaghan, ousted after a couple of years having not ever won a general election.

Either way, the current global political shift (Sarkozy in, Blair out, Bush going) looks interesting.

[catman]

Blair wanted to be the next Churchill. He failed miserably. I'm glad he is leaving with the Iraq War as his legacy.

[Nowhere Man]

[stevemcgarrett]

Nowhere Man:

You found his turning shocking because you're an ideologue first and a pragmatist second.

Blair was the same person with both presidents. His religious convinction and sense of obligation to the special relationship outweighed his partisan loyalties.

In other words, he wasn't as petty as people like you on this thread who can't bring themselves to give the man his due.

That's also a sure sign of immaturity.

[twg]

[Nowhere Man]

[stevemcgarrett]

Nowhere Man:

You're right. It's called principle--or conviction--or resolve.

[Nowhere Man]

OR, RATHER, HE ABANDONED PRAGMATISM AND JOINED BUSH AS AN IDEOLOGUE.

OF COURSE YOU CAN'T SEE THAT BECAUSE YOU'RE AN IDEOLOGUE, TOO.

A HIGHLY IMMATURE ONE AT THAT.