UK DUer's: How is Tony Blair regarded, in general? Reviled? Respected?

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

Pitied? Or is it like the US where there's 40% who hate him, 40% who thinks he can do no wrong, etc...

I used to like the fact that unlike half of American politicians, the guy was at least articulate, a good speaker who could put sentences together. Now I can't stand to look at his snivelling enabling poodle's mug.

[MajorFlaw]

1. Good question. I've always thought that Blair's decision to support shrub

on Iraq was more a decision to not let that issue harm our longstanding alliance. Shrub has shown that he will punish anyone who doesn't cooperate. Just think, we could be boycotting Bass ale and Stilton cheese. Even though Blair makes a much better case for the war than shrub does, not convincing but better, I can't blame him for supporting a butt headed American president.

[T_i_B]

4. Boycott Bass ale anyway!

Trust me, it's not the best British brew by a long stretch. The Iraq war is the one thing that has turned a lot of people on the left against Blair, although many equally feel that there is still little alternative to new labour.

On the whole I would think that Blair is seen as being very much the policitian, and he pretty much IS new labour.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

2. AM (UK) Kick

:kick:

[porphyrian]

3. I think he's a great magician, but he should stop with all the...

...living-in-a-box-on-a-post gigs.

...

[Spentastic]

5. Tony Blair?

He's the best conservative Prime Minister this country has ever had.

[muriel_volestrangler]

6. poll results from 3 weeks ago

Last year 51% thought Mr Blair trustworthy, compared with 39% now.

Just 33% think he is in touch with ordinary people - a fall from 42%.

But of those questioned 63% regard the prime minister as competent - down just 5%.

Mr Howard (Conservative) is regarded as competent by 52%, trustworthy by 33% and in touch with ordinary people by 29%.

According to the poll, Mr Kennedy (Liberal Democrat) is seen as competent by 53%, trustworthy by 58% and in touch with ordinary people by 53%.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/3796325.stm

Amongst British DUers, he's generally despised. Personally, I had a bit of respect for him until the Iraq debacle - which seems to have exposed him as a power worshipper.

[0007]

7. Blair was pushed by John Major, now a big Carlyle Group player

'Tis all money in the bank for Blair and a promise of a big high paying job in the future.

Blair knows junior is one dumb son-of-a-bitch.

[Atlanticist]

10. Pushed by John Major !!!!????

I don't think so - Labour were sick of opposition after 18 years and decided they had to have a modernising centrist leading the party. Many members of the Labour Party have been suspicious of him since he became leader with all that guff about the 3rd way and "new" labour etc etc.
Given that Blair is a trained barrister and his missus is a QC (senior barrister) pulling in > $500k pa, I'm not sure Blair's looking for a Cheney/Major type big bidness role. May be wrong - he just doesn't seem the venal type.

Here's the story on Blair - very clever, very articulate, very courageous (Kosovo is a case in point), very well-intentioned - he has done alot of good stuff domestically in Britain. He's redistributed wealth from rich to poor, he's made the left respectable in Britain for the first time in a generation, he has an outstanding chancellor, he's rescued the health service by pouring in billions to ensure good quality (FREE!!!!) healthcare, and generally projects a favourable image of Britain around the world, but but but.


IRAQ

He's seen as not having levelled with the British people on Iraq, and this along with all the spin stories in 2000/2001 have simply damaged his credibility in the eyes of the British people. He's just not trusted any more, and every time we see pictures of him hobnobbing with dim son, I'm sure your average Labour party activist will want to throw something at the TV.

So much talent, energy, vision, courage, all broken on the wheel of Iraq.

My 2 cents.

PS I definitely agree with your final comment!!! In 2002 Blair was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honour by Dim Son - he's still "too busy" to collect it LOL.

[Skittles]

8. My mum is a Brit and she used to love Tony Blair

she despises him now as much as she has always despised Bush.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

9. It's sad... I guess I look at Blair as someone with a huge amount

of potential. Obviously very intelligent, well spoken and not inconsiderable charm, decent looking. I know nothing of the man's history prior to the current Iraq debacle and how he got to be PM.

But he's pissed all that away on GWB.

Shrubya on the other hand I see as having very limited if any gifts. Despite the fraudulent Ivy League degrees, he is dumb, poorly spoken and has little natural charm. His potential is defined only by what can be handed him by family/cronies and he has absolutely maximized that, even overdrawn it by a substantial degree.