Everybody's giving it to Blair by default....

[Some Moran]

Big line?

Tory's are worst and the Libdems will never matter.

[Maple]

1. Blair will be

removed by his party.

[tinnypriv]

2. If Hutton doesn't come up with something hard-hitting

Forget it.

[goforit]

3. Why is it so hard to find good leaders today!!!!..............

I think every leader in the World SUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!

[BallaFaseke]

5. Even Chirac?

n/t

[arcos]

7. Chirac SUCKS!

he was right on the war thing... but he is a right winger too!

[AP]

6. Blair is the best politician I've seen in my lifetime. I think he's

fantastic. He's taking Britiain towards the left in the only way that it can be taken left. And the transition will be permanent. It's not some BS one term skirmish that the Tories will easily defeat and roll back.

The fact that Blair is doing stuff that is permanent which isn't sexy enough or obvious enough to the far left is probably his biggest PR problem. However the working and middle class know the score.

History is going to look extremely kindly on Blair, and you can say that you heard it first from AP.

[Rooktoven]

8. I tend to agree, now that you say it...

I think many of us felt sad because of the war and all, but he has been a tempering influence. It was he, apparently, who talked the Bushistas out of attacking Iraq after Sept. 11 to instead hit Afghanistan.

I'm going to put the following theory forward--

He embodies the "Britain as our best friend" ideal. I think he had misgivings about the rationale, but figured the US would suffer more hatred in the world without any support, and basically made Britain deflect some of the heat of of us.

I know it's a stretch and it seems contrary to his own political self-interests, but maybe that was his motivation. Face it, TB is much like a mainstream member of the Democratic party.

[fabius]

4. I thought Libdems were picking up steam.

Regardless,

Blair is sorta like the British Bill Clinton, a consummate politician. Even if he's compromised by corporate influence and the Iraq war, he can sure talk his way out of a jam.

Bush on the other hand, can't talk his way out of a paper bag. If Shrub had Blair's speaking skills, he would be a lot tougher to beat.