Do you hate Tony Blair?

[owtth]

Yes he has bridged the cap between Tory and labour by being a half-assed representation of either one.

Oh really? Details pls.

Here's a link http://WWW.IWillLieToYouAndYouWillSwall ... ePrick.Com are you familiar with that whole Iraqi thing or do you believe that it's all in their best interest once they get over those pesky bombs?

[Horwood Beer-Master]

...However, what I saw of him in the rare clips of House of Commons Question and Answer sessions and his speeches, he comes across as quite well-spoken and intelligent...

These two things are all too easily conflated.

I recall in the immediate aftermath of Blair stepping down as PM, on some BBC discussion show (it may have been 'This Week') they were discussing Blair's legacy, and one of the guests they had on was a senior Labour figure (I don't remember who, but someone well known) who Blair had worked under during the 80's.
Anyway, this senior Labour figure, who otherwise was pretty-much heaping praise on Blair, made one throwaway remark which seemed significant to me, he said that Blair seemed to him to possess "a remarkable lack of intellectual curiosity for a politician" (or words to that effect anyway - I may not have that quote word-for-word correct, this was some time ago).

the thing is - I watched him in the British Iraq War hearings - what? Like 6 months ago or so - not long ago anyway. They televised them on C-SPAN here, as I recall. He did fabulously, and his command of the facts was quite good. If he was not intelligent, he would not have been able to handle those hearings as well as he did. Even if he was lying through his teeth, he had to be not only well-spoke, but also intelligent to do as well as he did.

His "command of the "facts"" only indicates he has a good memory, and swotted hard before his performance on replies for what he was likely to be asked (the same as he used to do for PMQ's as well), plus remember he's from a legal background, so he's well practiced in rhetorical skills. There are many people in the legal profession who are not all that bright, but none who are not smooth talkers nonetheless.

[Pensioner]

He is a fucking bastard, some of the guys who fought in Iraq would have to pay with an arm and a leg to buy his book, oops they did.

[Horwood Beer-Master]

He is a fucking bastard, some of the guys who fought in Iraq would have to pay with an arm and a leg to buy his book, oops they did.

You stole that joke from Private Eye, didn't you?

[Posse Comitatus]

Yes he has bridged the cap between Tory and labour by being a half-assed representation of either one.

Oh really? Details pls.

Here's a link http://WWW.IWillLieToYouAndYouWillSwall ... ePrick.Com are you familiar with that whole Iraqi thing or do you believe that it's all in their best interest once they get over those pesky bombs?

Yeah.

[Posse Comitatus]

also claims that he's not intelligent are just ludicrous and really rather petty (much like rather a lot else of the criticism levied against Blair here, which generally seems to tend towards the lolworthily shrill and venal).

[owtth]

This is a song about a superhero named Tony it's called Tony''s Theme

I'm really popular and everyone loves me

He has a book out, it's a true story of how he didn't tell a true story. Nobody got hurt though except a few thousand who died in terrible agony. That's OK though 'cause Tony is Ace.
TONY, TONY, TONY, TONY, TONY, TONY.


Edit: Sorry if Tony sending a shit load of your countrymen off to die for nothing is a little petty, but I'm shallow like that.

[Posse Comitatus]

Yeah he is rather ♥

[Coito ergo sum]

...However, what I saw of him in the rare clips of House of Commons Question and Answer sessions and his speeches, he comes across as quite well-spoken and intelligent...

These two things are all too easily conflated.

I recall in the immediate aftermath of Blair stepping down as PM, on some BBC discussion show (it may have been 'This Week') they were discussing Blair's legacy, and one of the guests they had on was a senior Labour figure (I don't remember who, but someone well known) who Blair had worked under during the 80's.
Anyway, this senior Labour figure, who otherwise was pretty-much heaping praise on Blair, made one throwaway remark which seemed significant to me, he said that Blair seemed to him to possess "a remarkable lack of intellectual curiosity for a politician" (or words to that effect anyway - I may not have that quote word-for-word correct, this was some time ago).

the thing is - I watched him in the British Iraq War hearings - what? Like 6 months ago or so - not long ago anyway. They televised them on C-SPAN here, as I recall. He did fabulously, and his command of the facts was quite good. If he was not intelligent, he would not have been able to handle those hearings as well as he did. Even if he was lying through his teeth, he had to be not only well-spoke, but also intelligent to do as well as he did.

His "command of the "facts"" only indicates he has a good memory, and swotted hard before his performance on replies for what he was likely to be asked (the same as he used to do for PMQ's as well), plus remember he's from a legal background, so he's well practiced in rhetorical skills. There are many people in the legal profession who are not all that bright, but none who are not smooth talkers nonetheless.

Not only a good memory, but an ability to articulate it. Both of those things are indicators of a good intellect.

There are plenty of dumb lawyers, yes, and it's usually not hard to determine which ones.

[Posse Comitatus]

The whole Iraq thing was pretty cool though. Especially the bit where they toppled a mass murder.

Sorry if Tony sending a shit load of your countrymen off to die for nothing is a little petty, but I'm shallow like that.

See above. Specifically the second sentence.

[owtth]

Strange that, I went to college with a few Iraqis about fifteen years ago, all females, in the UK. Haven't heard from them in a while. Things aren't what they used to be what with them being liberated and all. I hope they're still alive to enjoy the freedom that has been cast upon them, I've tried to find out but I think telecommunications comes a bit further down the road than luxuries like running water, security, or electricity. Still it's fun to speculate about all this crap when it's happening to folks so far away eh? At least we get to choose who is in charge.

[Posse Comitatus]

Oh you knew some iraqis once did you? Lovely. Gives your views on the matter such authority.

[Tigger]

...However, what I saw of him in the rare clips of House of Commons Question and Answer sessions and his speeches, he comes across as quite well-spoken and intelligent...

These two things are all too easily conflated.

I recall in the immediate aftermath of Blair stepping down as PM, on some BBC discussion show (it may have been 'This Week') they were discussing Blair's legacy, and one of the guests they had on was a senior Labour figure (I don't remember who, but someone well known) who Blair had worked under during the 80's.
Anyway, this senior Labour figure, who otherwise was pretty-much heaping praise on Blair, made one throwaway remark which seemed significant to me, he said that Blair seemed to him to possess "a remarkable lack of intellectual curiosity for a politician" (or words to that effect anyway - I may not have that quote word-for-word correct, this was some time ago).

the thing is - I watched him in the British Iraq War hearings - what? Like 6 months ago or so - not long ago anyway. They televised them on C-SPAN here, as I recall. He did fabulously, and his command of the facts was quite good. If he was not intelligent, he would not have been able to handle those hearings as well as he did. Even if he was lying through his teeth, he had to be not only well-spoke, but also intelligent to do as well as he did.

His "command of the "facts"" only indicates he has a good memory, and swotted hard before his performance on replies for what he was likely to be asked (the same as he used to do for PMQ's as well), plus remember he's from a legal background, so he's well practiced in rhetorical skills. There are many people in the legal profession who are not all that bright, but none who are not smooth talkers nonetheless.

Not only a good memory, but an ability to articulate it. Both of those things are indicators of a good intellect.

There are plenty of dumb lawyers, yes, and it's usually not hard to determine which ones.

Wow. In my opinion he was one of the worst public speakers I've ever come across. Maybe because here in the UK we got all of the shit he puked out without filters, but his hesitant speech, umming and erring all the fucking time was cringe-worthy. And, he's a cunt. Did I say that already?

[Posse Comitatus]

Wow. In my opinion he was one of the worst public speakers I've ever come across. Maybe because here in the UK we got all of the shit he puked out without filters, but his hesitant speech, umming and erring all the fucking time was cringe-worthy. And, he's a cunt. Did I say that already?

These both work rather nicely.

[Pappa]

...However, what I saw of him in the rare clips of House of Commons Question and Answer sessions and his speeches, he comes across as quite well-spoken and intelligent...

These two things are all too easily conflated.

I recall in the immediate aftermath of Blair stepping down as PM, on some BBC discussion show (it may have been 'This Week') they were discussing Blair's legacy, and one of the guests they had on was a senior Labour figure (I don't remember who, but someone well known) who Blair had worked under during the 80's.
Anyway, this senior Labour figure, who otherwise was pretty-much heaping praise on Blair, made one throwaway remark which seemed significant to me, he said that Blair seemed to him to possess "a remarkable lack of intellectual curiosity for a politician" (or words to that effect anyway - I may not have that quote word-for-word correct, this was some time ago).

the thing is - I watched him in the British Iraq War hearings - what? Like 6 months ago or so - not long ago anyway. They televised them on C-SPAN here, as I recall. He did fabulously, and his command of the facts was quite good. If he was not intelligent, he would not have been able to handle those hearings as well as he did. Even if he was lying through his teeth, he had to be not only well-spoke, but also intelligent to do as well as he did.

He was given an incredibly easy ride in those hearings. In general people were amazed here that he wasn't given a grilling at all.