Can battered Blair survive?

[dArKeR]

By Chris Hampson
London Bureau Chief
NBC News
Updated: 6:51 a.m. ET July 13, 2004

LONDON - It was, according to the BBC’s respected political editor Andrew Marr, "a long night of the soul" for Prime Minister Tony Blair -– the point at which Britain’s battle-scarred premier reportedly came close to calling it quits.

What brought on this recent sleepless night? An unfortunate combo platter: increased violence in Iraq, poor poll ratings, and his Labor Party's dismal results in June’s local elections. Individually each could cause a politician indigestion and disturbed sleep. Taken together, they’re the stuff of nightmares.

Blair’s government is in mid-term, post-war doldrums. An election must be held sometime next year. And Blair -– once the Golden Boy -– is the subject of anxious mutterings. Maybe the man who led the party to two election victories, ousting the Conservatives after 18 years in government, just might be becoming a liability.

http://msnbc.msn.com/id/5424598

[bullimiami]

1. Thats a damn shame

I had thought Blair was a pretty reasonable, maybe a little too moderate, PM. Until Bushstink rubbed all off on him. I just dont get it. Hes got to go though and the Liberals need to overthrow him somehow because they are going to end up losing their support.

[LittleApple81]

2. Bush is snake-bit... everything he touches turns to shit. You never

associate yourselves with a snake-bit individual. What happened to Arbusto and ANY organization he has ever gotten involved with? Didn't Blair do his job before hitching his cart to this loser?

[democrat in Tallahassee]

3. why blair and not bush? bush started it.

why can't we get that kind of coverage for this giant mess o potamia?