Do you agree or disagree with B. Clinton's endorsement of Tony Blair?

[WI_DEM]

Poll question: Do you agree or disagree with B. Clinton's endorsement of Tony Blair?

President Clinton public ally endorsed a Labour victory in GB. Why did he do this? 1) Clinton is a good friend of the PM. 2) Blair has been a valuable ally of the USA--despite much criticism. But is it right for a leader or ex-leader especially one as influential as Bill Clinton to interfere and try and influence a foreign election?

Though I would probably say that Blair is very happy that Clinton endorsed him and despite his good relationship with GW Bush is holding his breath hoping that the "president" doesn't do the same. I can imagine a letter that Blair sends to Bush:

Dear George,
Thank you for your kind words. Yes, I will remember to add the phrase "and don't forget Poland" to my stump speech. Now as to that other suggestion--naturally I would love for you to public ally endorse me. The power of such an endorsement would be absolutely stimulating to our electorate. But after conferring with Cherie and of course, my cabinet, a decision was made that if you were to endorse me so soon after Bill has--it could cause a certain accusations of the US trying to interfere in our domestic elections and wild outcry's from my opponents. Not to mention that your own critics would accuse you of "following Clinton's lead." Ah, if only you had endorsed me before Bill! oh well, we will try and weather that storm.

Please give our love to Laura and yes a post-election trip to Crawford to confer at "the ranch" would be bliss, but I have a mountain of paperwork on my desk and may need to take a rain check.

Love,
Tony

Do you approve of President Clinton endorsing Tony Blair?

[Career Prole]

1. Never endorse war criminals.

There should be a rule written somewhere.

[onehandle]

2. Tony Blair or a Tory?

Sorry, but I gotta go with Blair.

The Tories back in power would fully align with our fascist leaders and things would get much worse in the world.

[Deja Q]

5. And what did Blair do again?

That's right. He teamed up with * on wanting to go in to Iraq.

It doesn't matter, though. Things will get worse. :-(

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

3. DLC and New Labour. Republican and Tory Lite.

Clinton sold out long abo and Tony Blair is of the same stripe.

[Deja Q]

4. Didn't we learn from Pope Smeghead XVI that such foreign involvement is

WRONG

?!

Clinton's been seemingly very cozy with the Bush family of recent. Perhaps Bush couldn't do it himself for obvious reasons?

[arwalden]

6. So Clinton Prefers Poodles?

[Verve]

7. Blair was duped by Shrub into thinking there were WMDs in Iraq.

He deserves a second chance.

[Benhurst]

9. If he were that dumb, he shouldn't be in Parliament. He is every

bit the war criminal Dubya is. He deserves to be on trial at The Hague, not returned to Number Ten.

[imenja]

11. one could argue the same about Kerry and the Dems

They voted for the Iraq War Resolution. They were also duped into supporting the war, and they should have known far better than to go for it. I wouldn't, however, submit them for prosecution for war crimes.

Labour has always been the left of the British political spectrum. Obviously New Labour is far more centrist, but as far as I'm aware the alternatives are worse. The Tories only oppose the war because Blair was behind it. You can guarantee that if they'd been in power, they've have gone along with Bush as well.

[Benhurst]

13. Blair was Dubya's co-conspirator.

The Democrats and Republicans who went along the Tony and Dubya Show may have been duped, but should have known better. At best their behavior was incompetent, at worst criminal.

I don't disagree about "New" Labour's being the better choice, which only illustrates the depths to which Britain has sunk.

[imenja]

15. self delete

wrong place

[graywarrior]

8. I smell something fishy surrounding Billy-Boy

But I say elect Blair, then throw him out after proving his lies about the war.

[DemonFighterLives]

12. Bill is getting scarier by the day

I don't know much about the Tories, but electing Blair and then throwing him out seems like a good plan. I wish we could throw dubby out too. :toast:

[imenja]

10. look at the alternatives

they are all further to the right.

[theboss]

14. Presidents and Ex-Presidents should stay out of foreign elections. Period.

I would be well and truly pissed if a foreign leader started campaigning here.

[imenja]

16. Since when do US presidents denounce anyone in a foreign election?

It just occurred to me that it is illegal for the US government or any of it's representatives to participate or fund in any way a candidate in a foreign election. Of course that law never stopped the CIA. But an open endorsement, isn't that unusual?

[sweetheart]

17. Clinton and Blair are extremely alike

I do not agree with clintonism or its british counterpart, "the third
way", rather it seems the lesser of evils. During clinton's presidency,
he committed war crimes as well, with his unilateral bombing of sudan
and the kosovo thing, so him and blair are very similar indeed.

I have no problem with clinton endorsing blair, as blair winning is a
lesser evil than the torys winning... and that's all it comes down to
in the end. As a realist, i'm simply hoping to keep the jesus freaks at
bay and have a civil society.

Blair will step down short enough; heck, the heir appearant has had to
campaign with him (Gordon Brown), so rather Clinton is endorsing the
future prime ministership of Rt.Hon.Mr.Brown. As Brown has strong
roots in helping to alleviate poverty and in achieving social equality,
i can only see this as a good thing, clinton's endorsement, as were
clinton to have endorsed Mr. Al Gore back in 2000 and campaigned for him,
we'd not be in this bloody mess.

[Caution]

18. Let's see. Tony Blair or a Tory...hmmm tough choice.