Comments on: NEW POLL: would you support Tony Blair as the first President of the EU? http://www.libdemvoice.org/new-poll-would-you-support-tony-blair-as-the-first-president-of-the-eu-16680.html Our place to talk - an independent website for supporters of the Liberal Democrat party in the UK. Sat, 11 Feb 2012 08:55:56 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Dave McCullough http://www.libdemvoice.org/new-poll-would-you-support-tony-blair-as-the-first-president-of-the-eu-16680.html#comment-101422 Dave McCullough Thu, 05 Nov 2009 16:44:45 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/?p=16680#comment-101422 Jock, because no one else has done it succesfully and so why not take advantage of one fo the great communicators being at the helm of Europe? We lib dems have done a bloody awful job at it so ill take what i can get. perhaps you disagree because you dont want someone selling Europe because you dont agree with the whole idea? it certainly sounds like it. secede to your hearts content. good luck though: We conspiritorial federalists have made it impossible anyway. peace! Jock, because no one else has done it succesfully and so why not take advantage of one fo the great communicators being at the helm of Europe? We lib dems have done a bloody awful job at it so ill take what i can get. perhaps you disagree because you dont want someone selling Europe because you dont agree with the whole idea? it certainly sounds like it. secede to your hearts content. good luck though: We conspiritorial federalists have made it impossible anyway. peace!

]]> By: Tom Papworth http://www.libdemvoice.org/new-poll-would-you-support-tony-blair-as-the-first-president-of-the-eu-16680.html#comment-101324 Tom Papworth Wed, 04 Nov 2009 10:54:18 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/?p=16680#comment-101324 I do wish there had been an option for "He is the wrong man for the wrong job." There should not be a President of the European Union. I do wish there had been an option for “He is the wrong man for the wrong job.”

There should not be a President of the European Union.

]]> By: Tom Papworth http://www.libdemvoice.org/new-poll-would-you-support-tony-blair-as-the-first-president-of-the-eu-16680.html#comment-101323 Tom Papworth Wed, 04 Nov 2009 10:50:25 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/?p=16680#comment-101323 While I share the general aversion to the idea of Tony Blair as president of Europe (or anything else), is raising this as a question on LDV not a little like shooting fish in a barrel, or inviting George Bush to Climate Camp? While I share the general aversion to the idea of Tony Blair as president of Europe (or anything else), is raising this as a question on LDV not a little like shooting fish in a barrel, or inviting George Bush to Climate Camp?

]]> By: Jock http://www.libdemvoice.org/new-poll-would-you-support-tony-blair-as-the-first-president-of-the-eu-16680.html#comment-101300 Jock Tue, 03 Nov 2009 15:53:43 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/?p=16680#comment-101300 I'm sorry, why should the President of the Council be the person to "sell us Europe"? Let alone anyone else? Where can I sign up for Oxford to secede? I’m sorry, why should the President of the Council be the person to “sell us Europe”? Let alone anyone else?

Where can I sign up for Oxford to secede?

]]> By: Dave McCullough http://www.libdemvoice.org/new-poll-would-you-support-tony-blair-as-the-first-president-of-the-eu-16680.html#comment-101299 Dave McCullough Tue, 03 Nov 2009 15:50:49 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/?p=16680#comment-101299 yes. despite what we, as Lib Dems, think about his decision to go to war in Iraq, we can't deny he is a first rate politican with excellent communications skills. This is vital if we are to get across the pro-European message in the UK. he might have disappointed during his time as PM on European issues, but he is still a pro-European and we would be foolish to try and stop him just because of our national, political differences. I would personally welcome his appointment here in Brussels. yes. despite what we, as Lib Dems, think about his decision to go to war in Iraq, we can’t deny he is a first rate politican with excellent communications skills. This is vital if we are to get across the pro-European message in the UK. he might have disappointed during his time as PM on European issues, but he is still a pro-European and we would be foolish to try and stop him just because of our national, political differences. I would personally welcome his appointment here in Brussels.

]]> By: Jock http://www.libdemvoice.org/new-poll-would-you-support-tony-blair-as-the-first-president-of-the-eu-16680.html#comment-101231 Jock Mon, 02 Nov 2009 08:03:29 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/?p=16680#comment-101231 Nonsense. We have half of the G8. At least they are answerable to their people. Nonsense. We have half of the G8. At least they are answerable to their people.

]]> By: caela http://www.libdemvoice.org/new-poll-would-you-support-tony-blair-as-the-first-president-of-the-eu-16680.html#comment-101230 caela Mon, 02 Nov 2009 06:56:52 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/?p=16680#comment-101230 While it is tempting to regard this choice as all about Tony Blair, there is much more at stake than that. The choice -- or failure to choose -- Tony Blair will prove to be more important than Lisbon itself. It will define the agenda of the EU for at least the next decade. Possibly even more. Blair == strong president == strong Europe. Choosing a strong player in the international stage would be seen by the world as wanting to be a strong player in the world stage. Choosing an unknown bureaucrat will give the world a reason to ignore or downplay the political capital and weight that the Lisbon treaty could give the EU. The power is shifting eastward, the rules are changing. Tony Blair and Lisbon may well be the game changer EU countries needs to rise alongside eastern powers. Otherwise, they may risk being a large and irrelevant institution like the UN. While it is tempting to regard this choice as all about Tony Blair, there is much more at stake than that. The choice — or failure to choose — Tony Blair will prove to be more important than Lisbon itself. It will define the agenda of the
EU for at least the next decade. Possibly even more. Blair == strong president == strong Europe. Choosing a strong player in the international stage would be seen by the world as wanting to be a strong player in the world stage. Choosing an unknown bureaucrat will give the world a reason to ignore or downplay the political capital and weight that the Lisbon treaty could give the EU.

The power is shifting eastward, the rules are changing. Tony Blair and Lisbon may well be the game changer EU countries needs to rise alongside eastern powers. Otherwise, they may risk being a large and irrelevant institution like the UN.

]]> By: Ron http://www.libdemvoice.org/new-poll-would-you-support-tony-blair-as-the-first-president-of-the-eu-16680.html#comment-101211 Ron Sun, 01 Nov 2009 19:23:41 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/?p=16680#comment-101211 I WOULD NOT VOTE FOR TONY BLAIR FOR ANY OFFICE I BELIEVE HE IS A WAR CRIMINAL AND IS GUILTY OF CAUSEING THE DEATHS OF VERY MANY PEOPLE INCLUDING MANY OF OUR OWN SERVICE MEN AND WEAMEN.. HE SHOULD A COURT TO ANSWER THESE CHARGES. R.DYER, . I WOULD NOT VOTE FOR TONY BLAIR FOR ANY OFFICE I BELIEVE HE IS A WAR CRIMINAL AND IS GUILTY OF CAUSEING THE DEATHS OF VERY MANY PEOPLE INCLUDING MANY OF OUR OWN SERVICE MEN AND WEAMEN.. HE SHOULD A COURT TO ANSWER THESE CHARGES. R.DYER, .

]]> By: BlairSupporter http://www.libdemvoice.org/new-poll-would-you-support-tony-blair-as-the-first-president-of-the-eu-16680.html#comment-101106 BlairSupporter Fri, 30 Oct 2009 17:28:33 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/?p=16680#comment-101106 To Cllr Smith: Ref: "I have also read Norman Baker`s `A Strange Death of David Kelly’ and remember well Charles Kennedy`s principled stance based on plain reasoning as to why the L/D`s did not vote for the original intervention in Iraq. in 2003." How did I guess that? Have you also read this? http://puschiii.wordpress.com/2009/10/29/why-iraq-is-no-reason-to-reject-president-blair/ If Blair does NOT become EU President it will not be because of the silly "war criminal" accusers. To Cllr Smith:

Ref:
“I have also read Norman Baker`s `A Strange Death of David Kelly’ and remember well Charles Kennedy`s principled stance based on plain reasoning as to why the L/D`s did not vote for the original intervention in Iraq. in 2003.”

How did I guess that?

Have you also read this?

http://puschiii.wordpress.com/2009/10/29/why-iraq-is-no-reason-to-reject-president-blair/

If Blair does NOT become EU President it will not be because of the silly “war criminal” accusers.

]]> By: Cllr Patrick Smith http://www.libdemvoice.org/new-poll-would-you-support-tony-blair-as-the-first-president-of-the-eu-16680.html#comment-101105 Cllr Patrick Smith Fri, 30 Oct 2009 17:08:17 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/?p=16680#comment-101105 The appointment of Tony Blair to the post of Chair of the Council of Ministers would be wrong as the post itself is supernumerary in the context of the oligarchical and supra national Treaty of Lisbon. Should a Chair be required if the rueful Czechs do decide to ratify the Treaty of Lisbon, than Paddy Ashdown would be the most appropriate democratic choice for Chair of the Council of European Ministers, as he has the greater understanding and respect for diversity. I have also read Norman Baker`s `A Strange Death of David Kelly' and remember well Charles Kennedy`s principled stance based on plain reasoning as to why the L/D`s did not vote for the original intervention in Iraq. in 2003. The appointment of Tony Blair to the post of Chair of the Council of Ministers would be wrong as the post itself is supernumerary in the context of the oligarchical and supra national Treaty of Lisbon.

Should a Chair be required if the rueful Czechs do decide to ratify the Treaty of Lisbon, than Paddy Ashdown would be the most appropriate democratic choice for Chair of the Council of European Ministers, as he has the greater understanding and respect for diversity.

I have also read Norman Baker`s `A Strange Death of David Kelly’ and remember well Charles Kennedy`s principled stance based on plain reasoning as to why the L/D`s did not vote for the original intervention in Iraq. in 2003.

]]> By: littleoleamerican http://www.libdemvoice.org/new-poll-would-you-support-tony-blair-as-the-first-president-of-the-eu-16680.html#comment-101092 littleoleamerican Fri, 30 Oct 2009 14:43:10 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/?p=16680#comment-101092 Yes - MacShane is correct; Tony Blair should be the president of the EU Council. I have never heard of any of the other candidates. If most of the world hasn't heard of them, it must mean they haven't done anything significant during their political lives. Totally boring, ha? I would hope that whoever is chosen, would speak English. Sorry if that sounds arrogant, but I'm an American, after all. People pay attention when Tony Blair speaks. When you are intelligent, experienced and have charisma to boot, I don't see there is any other logical choice. Yes – MacShane is correct; Tony Blair should be the president of the EU Council. I have never heard of any of the other candidates. If most of the world hasn’t heard of them, it must mean they haven’t done anything significant during their political lives. Totally boring, ha? I would hope that whoever is chosen, would speak English. Sorry if that sounds arrogant, but I’m an American, after all.
People pay attention when Tony Blair speaks. When you are intelligent, experienced and have charisma to boot, I don’t see there is any other logical choice.

]]> By: Jock http://www.libdemvoice.org/new-poll-would-you-support-tony-blair-as-the-first-president-of-the-eu-16680.html#comment-101082 Jock Fri, 30 Oct 2009 13:02:29 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/?p=16680#comment-101082 BlairSupporter: I thoroughly agree, we have ID cards, detention without trial, mismanagement of the economy, undermining of democratic rights and a whole host of domestic reasons for not wanting to inflict him on the poor unsuspecting people of Europe. Still, with Gordon's backing it's looking less and less likely... :-) BlairSupporter:

I thoroughly agree, we have ID cards, detention without trial, mismanagement of the economy, undermining of democratic rights and a whole host of domestic reasons for not wanting to inflict him on the poor unsuspecting people of Europe.

Still, with Gordon’s backing it’s looking less and less likely… :-)

]]> By: BlairSupporter http://www.libdemvoice.org/new-poll-would-you-support-tony-blair-as-the-first-president-of-the-eu-16680.html#comment-101078 BlairSupporter Fri, 30 Oct 2009 12:25:08 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/?p=16680#comment-101078 You people who so blithely and casually accuse Blair of 'war crimes' need to work out how you manage to get the other 21 or is it 22 (out of then 25) European countries' leaders into the dock with him. See here for a breakdown on this and understand why it is a disingenuous argument put about by the anti-Blair, anti-war, anti-EU bedfellows for their own political agendas. http://puschiii.wordpress.com/2009/10/29/why-iraq-is-no-reason-to-reject-president-blair/ Tony Blair is CLEARLY the only man for this job, which is probably why he looks unlikely to get it. Politics in the EU too, folks. You people who so blithely and casually accuse Blair of ‘war crimes’ need to work out how you manage to get the other 21 or is it 22 (out of then 25) European countries’ leaders into the dock with him.

See here for a breakdown on this and understand why it is a disingenuous argument put about by the anti-Blair, anti-war, anti-EU bedfellows for their own political agendas.

http://puschiii.wordpress.com/2009/10/29/why-iraq-is-no-reason-to-reject-president-blair/

Tony Blair is CLEARLY the only man for this job, which is probably why he looks unlikely to get it.

Politics in the EU too, folks.

]]> By: Jock http://www.libdemvoice.org/new-poll-would-you-support-tony-blair-as-the-first-president-of-the-eu-16680.html#comment-101068 Jock Fri, 30 Oct 2009 09:50:36 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/?p=16680#comment-101068 <blockquote>It is very easy for people elsewhere to see a successful politician from a particular country and think he or she is universally admired in that country.</blockquote> If any of those with the power to make Blair president think he is "universally admired..." they obviously should not hold such power, for they are either fools or knaves.

It is very easy for people elsewhere to see a successful politician from a particular country and think he or she is universally admired in that country.

If any of those with the power to make Blair president think he is “universally admired…” they obviously should not hold such power, for they are either fools or knaves.

]]> By: Matthew Huntbach http://www.libdemvoice.org/new-poll-would-you-support-tony-blair-as-the-first-president-of-the-eu-16680.html#comment-101067 Matthew Huntbach Fri, 30 Oct 2009 09:45:20 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/?p=16680#comment-101067 Iainm <i> I must admit though, it is quite entertaining to watch so many people who were happy cheerleaders for the Lisbon treaty having a collective tantrum at the potential consequences. </i> The fact that one argues very strongly against some proposed candidate for some position does not necessarily imply one is against that position existing. You might as well argue that it is amusing to watch people who are supporters of democracy attacking some of those whom democracy sometimes puts in power. In this case it is important that people who are British should be particularly forceful in arguing why some particular British person is not wanted in this position. It is very easy for people elsewhere to see a successful politician from a particular country and think he or she is universally admired in that country. That is particularly so for the UK, where our electoral system distorts support so that the scale of electoral opposition to the Prime Minister is often not realised outside our country. Iainm


I must admit though, it is quite entertaining to watch so many people who were happy cheerleaders for the Lisbon treaty having a collective tantrum at the potential consequences.

The fact that one argues very strongly against some proposed candidate for some position does not necessarily imply one is against that position existing. You might as well argue that it is amusing to watch people who are supporters of democracy attacking some of those whom democracy sometimes puts in power.

In this case it is important that people who are British should be particularly forceful in arguing why some particular British person is not wanted in this position. It is very easy for people elsewhere to see a successful politician from a particular country and think he or she is universally admired in that country. That is particularly so for the UK, where our electoral system distorts support so that the scale of electoral opposition to the Prime Minister is often not realised outside our country.

]]> By: Iainm http://www.libdemvoice.org/new-poll-would-you-support-tony-blair-as-the-first-president-of-the-eu-16680.html#comment-101044 Iainm Thu, 29 Oct 2009 21:42:46 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/?p=16680#comment-101044 I must admit though, it is quite entertaining to watch so many people who were happy cheerleaders for the Lisbon treaty having a collective tantrum at the potential consequences. I must admit though, it is quite entertaining to watch so many people who were happy cheerleaders for the Lisbon treaty having a collective tantrum at the potential consequences.

]]> By: Peter Laubach http://www.libdemvoice.org/new-poll-would-you-support-tony-blair-as-the-first-president-of-the-eu-16680.html#comment-101028 Peter Laubach Thu, 29 Oct 2009 18:19:14 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/?p=16680#comment-101028 There are absolutely no circumstances in which I could support this man undertaking any public office. He should dispatch himself to an enclosed monastery and reflect there on his conduct for the rest of his days. Sackcloth & ashes! There are absolutely no circumstances in which I could support this man undertaking any public office. He should dispatch himself to an enclosed monastery and reflect there on his conduct for the rest of his days. Sackcloth & ashes!

]]> By: alan http://www.libdemvoice.org/new-poll-would-you-support-tony-blair-as-the-first-president-of-the-eu-16680.html#comment-100995 alan Thu, 29 Oct 2009 13:12:15 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/?p=16680#comment-100995 The Headline would be "Euro President on Trial for War Crimes" No thanks. The Headline would be
“Euro President on Trial for War Crimes”
No thanks.

]]> By: Grammar Police http://www.libdemvoice.org/new-poll-would-you-support-tony-blair-as-the-first-president-of-the-eu-16680.html#comment-100993 Grammar Police Thu, 29 Oct 2009 13:04:58 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/?p=16680#comment-100993 Even ignoring whether Blair would be good at the job: one way to make the EU even less popular than it already is in the UK, would be to make Tony Blair president . . . Even ignoring whether Blair would be good at the job: one way to make the EU even less popular than it already is in the UK, would be to make Tony Blair president . . .

]]> By: Ed Randall http://www.libdemvoice.org/new-poll-would-you-support-tony-blair-as-the-first-president-of-the-eu-16680.html#comment-100991 Ed Randall Thu, 29 Oct 2009 11:53:58 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/?p=16680#comment-100991 I couldn't agree more with Will Hutton about Tony Blair as a candidate for the EU presidency: He wasn't a brave pro-European at home; he sided with American neocons and went on to lead Britain into an invasion of Iraq; he'd inflame British euro-sceptics [and vary many euro-philes]. And I couldn't disagree more with Hutton's conclusion, which is - despite all that - that Blair is the best British candidate because: Blair as EU President would give Britain an opportunity to lead the EU and provide Britain with an inside track on trade, security and financial issues. Phiiippe Sands has it right - lets keep looking for a : "President of the European Council [who is a] person of unimpeachable integrity and judgment, a unifier who can craft consensus at home and inspire respect abroad... Europe is entitled to someone who won't be the subject of inquiries. Europe needs a president who is associated with promoting modern values, including the rule of law and fundamental rights for all." I couldn’t agree more with Will Hutton about Tony Blair as a candidate for the EU presidency: He wasn’t a brave pro-European at home; he sided with American neocons and went on to lead Britain into an invasion of Iraq; he’d inflame British euro-sceptics [and vary many euro-philes]. And I couldn’t disagree more with Hutton’s conclusion, which is – despite all that – that Blair is the best British candidate because: Blair as EU President would give Britain an opportunity to lead the EU and provide Britain with an inside track on trade, security and financial issues.

Phiiippe Sands has it right – lets keep looking for a : “President of the European Council [who is a] person of unimpeachable integrity and judgment, a unifier who can craft consensus at home and inspire respect abroad… Europe is entitled to someone who won’t be the subject of inquiries. Europe needs a president who is associated with promoting modern values, including the rule of law and fundamental rights for all.”

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