Why Tony Blair fears the coming of President Kerry

[Feanorcurufinwe]

Martin Kettle
Tuesday February 17, 2004
The Guardian

If there is one thing that Tony Blair has never underestimated, it is the importance of an American presidential election in shaping the dynamics of British domestic politics. Until now. For years, Blair's analysis of American politics has been simple, strategic and, ultimately, determinist. He believes that we live downstream from them. He believes that what happens in the US defines the limits of the possible for Britain, and thus for the Labour party.

Long article, and it's worth reading the whole thing, but due to copyright rules, I will fast-forward to the final three paragraphs.

To most Labour supporters - indeed it would not be an exaggeration to say to most people in Europe - the prospect of President Kerry is almost too good to be true. The ameliorative possibilities for international affairs from a Kerry victory are immense. If ever there was a US presidential election that exposes the lazy lie that it does not matter which man wins, it is this one.

You might think, therefore, that behind the doors of Downing Street there is also a new optimism about the possibilities opened up by the turn of events in America. Given the axiomatic importance Blair attaches to US presidential politics, you might assume the prime minister's mood has lightened, as he contemplates the possibility of a 2005 general election conducted in the light, not of a triumphalist Bush re-election but of Bush's deposition by his more internationalist Democratic challenger.

But I fear that you might be wrong. If Bush is defeated in November, does that actually make Blair stronger or weaker? Would a Kerry victory give fresh credibility to Blair the Labour prime minister or toll the knell for Blair the Bush ally? Inside Downing Street there is much disagreement about all this. It is a mark of the political cancer caused by the Iraq war that it cannot be assumed that Blair wants Kerry to win. It is the ultimate pessimism that Blair may even prefer to see Bush re-elected.

http://politics.guardian.co.uk/labour/comment/0,9236,1149645,00.html

My comment to Poodle: :nopity:

[Feanorcurufinwe]

1. Shameless kick for those who might find this interesting.

[RogueTrooper]

2. The Brownies have been trawling this story

for a couple of weeks ago. They are just shit stirring.

This was posted yesterday.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

4. I don't understand your post.

What are you trying to say?

[Feanorcurufinwe]

5. ???

'shit stirring' ? What do you mean?

[Nicholas_J]

3. Members of Blairs government

Have already had meetings with Kerry (A guy named Brown, who is one of Blairs ministers)

Why Tony Blair fears the coming of President Kerry

Clinton made Labour credible, now the Democrats threaten Bush's ally

Martin Kettle
Tuesday February 17, 2004
The Guardian

If there is one thing that Tony Blair has never underestimated, it is the importance of an American presidential election in shaping the dynamics of British domestic politics. Until now. For years, Blair's analysis of American politics has been simple, strategic and, ultimately, determinist. He believes that we live downstream from them. He believes that what happens in the US defines the limits of the possible for Britain, and thus for the Labour party.
Everyone knows about the practical lessons that Blair's Labour party learned from Bill Clinton - the campaign tactics, the triangulation, and even what became the third way ideology. What fewer people grasp is the overriding importance that Blair attached to the fact that Clinton won.

http://politics.guardian.co.uk/labour/comment/0,9236,1149645,00.html


No 10 unease at Brown's contacts with John Kerry
By Francis Elliott, Deputy Political Editor
15 February 2004


John Kerry, the frontrunner to challenge George Bush for the US presidency this autumn, has held a series of private meetings with Gordon Brown. The Senator set to win the Democratic nomination has links with the Chancellor stretching back over a decade.

Mr Kerry once even offered to send a private plane to ferry the Chancellor to a meeting with him in the US, The Independent on Sunday has learnt. Friends of Mr Brown last night admitted that the close relationship between the pair was likely to discomfort Downing Street.

http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/politics/story.jsp?story=491464

Blair is worried about the labour party replacing him with someone more amenable to Kerry if Kerry wins.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

6. Yeah! Let's dump Poodle along with Bush!

[NV1962]

7. Blair? Old Europe...

Mwahahaha!

:evilgrin:

[Feanorcurufinwe]

8. LOL!