What Tony Blair thinks about John McCain

Updated: more on Blair and McCain's dealings

At the end of the interview Murad and I conducted with Tony Blair about his Faith Foundation, I had time for a final question. This one about politics, not religion.

I noted that in his recent speech on faith Mr Blair had included this arresting statement:

I sometimes say to people that in modern politics, the dividing line is often less between traditional left vs. right; but more about open vs. closed.

Now he tells us, I said to him.

And then I asked which politicians on the right he regarded as on his side, the open side, of the new argument. He replied:

I think you can see the Republicans in the US who are on the pro-immigration side of the debate, on the pro-free-trade side, the Americans who are Democrats but protectionist. I think the thing that has come home to me most since leaving office is just the speed at which the world is opening up.

No names. He's too smart for that. But I think it's pretty obvious what he is saying.

Comments

[John Chuckman, Toronto, Canada]

I think by "the world opening up," Blair means the bounty of American sinecures that keep appearing for him. A regular cornucopia of fees, gratuities and honorariums.

Oh, well, it does keep Cherie happy. Can you imagine what she's like when unhappy? Like waking up to a scene from The Night of the Living Dead.

Tony likely qualifies as the most pampered elder poodle in the world, like one of those dogs that are left millions by an adoring dead blue-haired mistress.

Well, Tony is certainly a worthy figure to quote on current affairs, isn't he? He was such a success at it.

He and his chum Bush have left a mess behind them that will require a generation to set right.

Actually, when you think about it, you have to wonder why anyone would want to become president this time around and inherit a maelstrom.

[Candadai Tirumalai]

John McCain shared George Bush's views on easing the path to citizenship for Hispanic illegal immigrants who have been in the United States for some years. But, partly to put distance between himself and George W., McCain has stressed the need to secure the borders for the sake of national security.
On the Democratic side, campaign advisers to both Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton have got into trouble for championing or hinting at free trade in a way the candidates, who enjoy strong support among labour unions, have disowned. Mark Penn was demoted, and the Obama adviser who told the Canadian ambassador privately that his candidates's protectionist views on free trade should not be taken at face value has been muffled.
In recent years Tony Blair has been through a lot, and his political-philosophical emphases have shifted.

[BlairSupporter]

I agree Mr Finkelstein. Even when you have to read between the lines, a style Mr Blair has had to perfect since leaving office in order not to rock too many boats, he still seems to be much more of an all-round political thinker and speaker than any other I am aware of. As a result he makes Brown and crew look like they're struggling to master the English language, not to mention politics.

Which isn't hard of course, since it's true.

[Radniecki]

Agree or disagree with Bush/Blair's war in Iraq, don't look for any leadership from the leftists Clinton or Obama. They and their ilk are trying to convert Americans into socialist wimps. Look for McCain to win the presidency and the Dems to retain control of Congress. After two disasterous years of non-leadership in Congress, the Repubs will take back the house in 2010, and the senate in 2012. The majority of centrist Americans aren't ready to become the whimps Hillary and Obama would like us to be.

[Takekaze]

Tony Blair... the man who's responsible for the UK falling on it's knees in front of all those muslim immigrants, and also for letting them in unchecked, unchallenged, in masses. His time as PM brought the UK where it is now, Brown is just continuing from where Blair left. Thanks to him there's now ethnic cleansing in some neighborhoods in London and other cities. Muslims get special treatment even by the legal system (not a justice system anymore). British police officers get put into courses that deal with how to be tolerant towards Sharia law. Blair sowed it all, Brown's reaping the fruits. Bravo Tony, well done. Winston Churchill would rotate in his grave would he know what Tony has done to GREAT Britain.

That he's so eloquent with English doesn't change the fact that he's betrayed his own people with his lousy job as PM.

[Pam Littleton, Lewisville Texas]

I surely hope you are right, Radniecki.

And to John Chuckman: I'm sure Reagan was wondering the same thing when he ran against Carter in 1980. Why bother, when such a mess was left behind? Our economy was in shambles, and 25% of our military were on food stamps so they could survive. It took Reagan 8 years to undo the havoc Carter wreaked in 4.

[Dave]

"the line is between open and closed".

Classic softheadedness.

Open to what? Closed to what? Just like the word "progressive"... progress toward WHAT?

In the examples Blair gives at the end of the article, he's actually just saying 'there are leftist Republicans and there are conservative Democrats'. And clearly he's on the side of the left, no matter which party.

And when Blair says "Its come home to me... the speed at which the world is opening up" is codespeak for "conservatives are antiquated, get with the 21st century and become socialist".

Same old poop.

[Thom]

RE: John Chuckman, Toronto, Canada
Yeah, wish we in the United States could sit next to a powerhouse knowing we were protected no matter what we allowed in our doors or what we spouted. Well, maybe not protected from what we allow in the door. Actually it is all the wishy washy types that made the world a mess that GWB hasn't had much luck cleaning up.