That the U.K.'s socialist newspaper The Guardian now opines that British PM Tony Blair ranks amongst the worst British leaders in history is reason enough for me:
I love this guy! Err, chap!
As a student at the incredible post-modern salon of technocracy known as Britain's University of Bath in the late 70's, I came to know that conservatism was in my blood. Ask me, sometime, to blog about my interaction with legendary local MP Tony Benn! Ye shall learn of Anglo-Communism, Lenin in tweed, and Utopia-Most-Grand.
This week the other Labour Tony, the Tony of our generation, was off to Ulster. A place we in the States would refer to as a "bad neighborhood" - though, mind you, not because he had any compulsion to do so. Blair's domestic popularity, as the Guardian piece indicates (again, as we say in the States), just plain sucks. Big time. It would behoove Blair to stay away from trouble spots. Like Northern Ireland. And The White House Iraq policy. He has already 'caught it' in major ways at home, ways we Americans have had little coverage of in our media, for stepping up on behalf of George W. Bush in steadfast ways. Ways of a true friend - ways that defy loyalty itself, regarding Iraq. This is the kind of loyalty which canland one in HOT water with populist, jingoist, spineless politicians of every stripe.
In the end, Blair's work on these (oh, so very hard) issues will earn him lasting respect and admiration. Place in History kind of respect. Though as a warrior for peace, Blair may well experience the kind of election vagaries which Winston Churchill himself experienced - as tests to his character. And, like Churchill, it will work out that the entire planet may once again benefit from the idiocy of the British, and their overwhelming tendency to cast off the giants among them. Giants like Tony Blair.
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