Blair 'is EU president candidate' [Archive]

arkitect

Jul 15, 2009, 09:31 AM

Oh god… say it ain't so…
Not officially confirmed, of course.

Blair/Berlusconi/Sarkozy… what a triumvirate of smugness that'll be.

Ex-prime minister Tony Blair is the UK candidate for president of the European Council, Europe Minister Baroness Kinnock has apparently confirmed.

At a briefing for journalists in Strasbourg, Lady Kinnock said the UK was supporting Mr Blair for one of the most powerful posts in the EU.

Asked if this had been discussed with Mr Blair, she said the government "would not do that without asking him".

Link… (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8152099.stm)

Mord

Jul 15, 2009, 09:34 AM

http://heesey.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/picard-headesk.jpg

BoyBach

Jul 15, 2009, 11:35 AM

The only place Mr. Anthony Blair should be going is the Hague. Instead, it's all aboard the EU gravy train. C**t.

arkitect

Jul 15, 2009, 11:38 AM

The only place Mr. Anthony Blair should be going is the Hague. Instead, it's all aboard the EU gravy train. C**t.

Alas, not Den Haag, just Brussels.
Don't think him and Cherie didn't have this all mapped out years ago.

BoyBach

Jul 15, 2009, 11:51 AM

Alas, not Den Haag, just Brussels.
Don't think him and Cherie didn't have this all mapped out years ago.

I think Lord Sleazy-Mandelson of the Whole Wide World has it all mapped out, and his aim is to get his master back into a position of power.

What next, Blair's bezzie mate George to be the leader of the UN?

arkitect

Jul 15, 2009, 12:02 PM

I think Lord Sleazy-Mandelson of the Whole Wide World has it all mapped out, and his aim is to get his master back into a position of power.

Saw this in the Guardian a while back… the more things change, etc.

http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2009/7/4/1246733130964/Lord-Mandelson-and-Alista-001.jpg

Axl Rose

Jul 15, 2009, 12:36 PM

I live in the US, but what does this president of the EU have power over??

Queso

Jul 15, 2009, 12:40 PM

An extremely good reason to ensure the Lisbon Treaty does not get ratified.

Nobody has yet given me a good reason as to why the EU even needs a president.

arkitect

Jul 15, 2009, 12:40 PM

I live in the US, but what does this president of the EU have power over??

Here you go:
Here (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/President_of_the_European_Union) and
Here (http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/the-big-question-what-is-the-role-of-the-eu-president-and-who-are-the-leading-candidates-797156.html)

Federalists hope and Euro-sceptics fear that the council President – a kind of super-speakership - will develop eventually into a true, directly-elected European presidency. Hence, the importance of the first appointment… Like the US presidency in 1789, the job will be defined, maybe forever, by the eminence of its first incumbent.

Eraserhead

Jul 15, 2009, 01:30 PM

Saw this in the Guardian a while back… the more things change, etc.

http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2009/7/4/1246733130964/Lord-Mandelson-and-Alista-001.jpg

Who are the other guys?

arkitect

Jul 15, 2009, 01:33 PM

Who are the other guys?

Alastair Campbell… ;) The woman I have no idea.

Original Link… (http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jul/05/david-frost-mandelson-campbell)

leekohler

Jul 15, 2009, 01:34 PM

Wow- even George Bush wouldn't try this. :eek:

arkitect

Jul 15, 2009, 01:44 PM

I am just waiting for Gordon Brown to "Officially" deny it… then we'll know it is true.

:DWow- even George Bush wouldn't try this. :eek:
Maybe Bush has his sights set on becoming UN Secretary General come 2011?
Imagine the havoc he could wreak. :eek:

BoyBach

Jul 15, 2009, 01:46 PM

I am just waiting for Gordon Brown to "Officially" deny it… then we'll know it is true.

That's Europe's best hope! If Brown supports Blair then his campaign is doomed. ;)

Eraserhead

Jul 15, 2009, 01:57 PM

Wow- even George Bush wouldn't try this. :eek:

Blair is better liked than Bush - and other than Iraq was competent.

leekohler

Jul 15, 2009, 01:58 PM

Maybe Bush has his sights set on becoming UN Secretary General come 2011?
Imagine the havoc he could wreak. :eek:

George Bush is sitting in Crawford sipping mint juleps on his porch. He's also probably collecting a lot of money from all the people whose pockets he lined. He doesn't care about politics.

Queso

Jul 15, 2009, 02:23 PM

Blair is better liked than Bush - and other than Iraq was competent.
I don't think the Cash for Peerages affair exactly covered him in glory.

BoyBach

Jul 15, 2009, 02:49 PM

Blair is better liked than Bush - and other than Iraq was competent.

That's like saying Peter Sutcliffe was a nice bloke if you overlook the murders. ;)

His role in the Iraq War (probably treasonous and a war crime) is not something to be overlooked lightly.

I don't think the Cash for Peerages affair exactly covered him in glory.

Or Bernie Ecclestone and his £1 million donation. "I'm a pretty straight sort of guy." Of course you are Tony, of course you are.

Macky-Mac

Jul 15, 2009, 03:52 PM

Wow- even George Bush wouldn't try this. :eek:

hmmmmm, now there's an idea......maybe Bush SHOULD be EU president! :D

Eraserhead

Jul 15, 2009, 04:19 PM

That's like saying Peter Sutcliffe was a nice bloke if you overlook the murders. ;)

His role in the Iraq War (probably treasonous and a war crime) is not something to be overlooked lightly.

Good points guys.

oscillatewildly

Jul 15, 2009, 04:40 PM

I live in the US, but what does this president of the EU have power over??

The US :D

It is up to the Irish, but they will have to keep holding elections until they vote yes.

As for Blair - if you kicked him in the balls he would still grin. 'My Name Is Blair' will never happen.

Cheers,
OW

opinioncircle

Jul 16, 2009, 10:41 AM

Oh god… say it ain't so…
Not officially confirmed, of course.

Blair/Berlusconi/Sarkozy… what a triumvirate of smugness that'll be.

Link… (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8152099.stm)

Well we Europeans are going to look smart once again, damn...

arkitect

Oct 29, 2009, 01:15 PM

So after officially denying that they are lobbying for Tony as Prez, No. 10 finally spilt the beans yesterday.

And today Gordon's telling everyone who will listen:

Gordon Brown has said Tony Blair is an "excellent candidate" to be the first president of the European Council, at a meeting of EU leaders in Brussels…

Mr Brown told a meeting of socialist European leaders they should "get real" and grasp a unique opportunity to get a "strong progressive politician" as president.

He reportedly said Mr Blair had consistently been a passionate and hard-headed champion for Europe.
Link… (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8331301.stm)

So there we have it.
Hopefully commonsense will prevail and the other EU members will say "No; Non; Nee; Nein; Ne; Nie or όχι!"

leekohler

Oct 29, 2009, 01:16 PM

That is damn scary. If this happens, I have to seriously question the sanity of Europe.

edesignuk

Oct 29, 2009, 01:17 PM

Hopefully commonsense will prevailhttp://upc.edesignuk.com/uploads/smilies/4-rolling.gif

All hail Sir Lord President High Chancellor Blair.

arkitect

Oct 29, 2009, 01:18 PM

http://upc.edesignuk.com/uploads/smilies/4-rolling.gif

All hail Lord President High Chancellor Blair.

I know. :o:o
But I am ever optimistic.

takao

Oct 29, 2009, 03:14 PM

funny how the german "spiegel online" more or less talks about Blair getting stabbed in the back before even getting started:
from the article:
The socialist party europe rather wants to fight for the EU head for foreign relations according to spanish PM Zapatero and leave the president to the conservatives

The 4 head comision by the european party responsible for choosing the candidate are: Zapatero himself, austrian chancellor Werner Faymann, SPE head Rasmussen (Denmark), and german SPE fraktion head Martin Schulz
anybody want to take a guess how much chance that commission will give Blair ?
current (conservative ) presidental favorite is Dutch Jan-Peter Balkenende since being backed by Angela Merkel and
Luxemburgs Jean-Claude Juncker (backed by Benelux + Austria) for the socialists

other speculations for foreign relations head candidates include: Frank Walter Steinmeier as less controversial than Blair, british David Miliband, or often proposed a women like Vaira Vike-Freiberga/Tarja Halonen

the austrian Candidates for different positions will be very likely former conservative chancellor Wolfgang Schüssel or with less chances former social democrat chancellor Alfred Gusenbauer ... though either of both would be a surprise

Queso

Oct 29, 2009, 04:03 PM

...more or less talks about Blair getting stabbed in the back...
Now that would get my vote ;)

remmy

Oct 29, 2009, 04:17 PM

Thank you there are alternatives, although I sadly do not know any of those listed above. The way the media was going on Blair seemed to be the only candidate :eek:. Wish the British media looked more at Europe and less at the US.

takao

Oct 29, 2009, 04:51 PM

Now that would get my vote ;)

they used the phrase "Dolchstoß" = "dagger stab" which is quite connected to "betrayal" in meaning so i suposed it fits ;)

Thank you there are alternatives, although I sadly do not know any of those listed above. The way the media was going on Blair seemed to be the only candidate :eek:. Wish the British media looked more at Europe and less at the US.

well that's why i answer because even in the last weeks in german + austrian press Blair's comments have quite often been rather looked at being ridiculous and rather illusory .. even more so after the US backing during the iraq war and more important that Blair didn't support the PES candidate for EU Commission presidency in 2004
which means the Benelux + Austrian PES members will vote against him flat out .. and i suppose Spain and Germany won't side with him either

Blue Velvet

Oct 29, 2009, 05:11 PM

well that's why i answer because even in the last weeks in german + austrian press Blair's comments have quite often been rather looked at being ridiculous and rather illusory .. even more so after the US backing during the iraq war and more important that Blair didn't support the PES candidate for EU Commission presidency in 2004
which means the Benelux + Austrian PES members will vote against him flat out .. and i suppose Spain and Germany won't side with him either

The UK is also not a member of the Euro, nor is it a signatory to the Schengen Agreement. However, I have no problem with Tony Blair filling this post because they're torn between wanting someone they can all agree on versus someone who has some global standing. They want someone who will open doors but they don't want someone who has baggage. Henry Kissinger put it like this:

If I want to call Europe, who do I call?

I don't really care, to be honest. Like it's going to matter who fills an unelected, mostly diplomatic-centred and ceremonial post. If Putin, Obama or Jintao want to talk to France about its role in Iran's nuclear processing, they're not going to call the President of Europe.

takao

Oct 29, 2009, 05:25 PM

The UK is also not a member of the Euro, nor is it a signatory to the Schengen Agreement. However, I have no problem with Tony Blair filling this post because they're torn between wanting someone they can all agree on versus someone who has some global standing. They want someone who will open doors but they don't want someone who has baggage.

and that are all reasons why Blair wont get enough support

Henry Kissinger put it like this:

currently in europe he would call Solana

whose position then gets restructured after the Lisbon treaty into the "High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy" which i was talking about before
which is what the PES wants opposed to labour who rather be fancy "president" with no real influence and give away the more important position to the conservatives

I don't really care, to be honest. Like it's going to matter who fills an unelected, mostly diplomatic-centred and ceremonial post. If Putin, Obama or Jintao want to talk to France about its role in Iran's nuclear processing, they're not going to call the President of Europe.

that's the whole point why Blair wont be getting his "president" ...

Blue Velvet

Oct 29, 2009, 05:41 PM

that's the whole point why Blair wont be getting his "president" ...

And that would be a shame for one good reason:

The political entertainment value of Tony Blair, EU President, working with and lording it over a British Tory government, customarily split from top to bottom on all matters related to Europe. Heh.

Eraserhead

Oct 29, 2009, 05:48 PM

That is damn scary. If this happens, I have to seriously question the sanity of Europe.

Blair has the strength that he's a world class figure and none of the other candidates are - regardless of whether Blair is an extremist Christian. That said I've changed my mind on him, I think he'd be terrible - I hope pretty much anyone else gets the job.

takao

Oct 29, 2009, 06:19 PM

Blair has the strength that he's a world class figure and none of the other candidates are - Blair isn't a candidate yet ... so far only Junker came out with being a candidate officially

and Blair's strenght is relative ... his "world class figure" means he is wildly known.. but sure not popular ... he is more looked at being as the "little puppy of washington" in the rest of europe .. hardly something wanted for a strong president

that said i just read that the retired Helmut Schmidt (SPD) and Richard von Weizsäcker(CDU) spoke out against him ... which very likely means to turn around germany he would have to get Adenauer and Brandt supporting him from their graves

Gelfin

Oct 29, 2009, 06:27 PM

http://upc.edesignuk.com/uploads/smilies/4-rolling.gif

All hail Sir Lord President High Chancellor Blair.

Well, okay, but only if he dresses like this:
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_GT0-g5YtYTw/R-E5hWHbJmI/AAAAAAAABBI/3_GmiljfYdY/s320/Lord+President+Pandad+IV.jpg

Queso

Oct 29, 2009, 06:51 PM

Well, okay, but only if he dresses like this:
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_GT0-g5YtYTw/R-E5hWHbJmI/AAAAAAAABBI/3_GmiljfYdY/s320/Lord+President+Pandad+IV.jpg
For Blair I think this image is more appropriate

http://therollerblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/ming_border.jpg

edesignuk

Oct 30, 2009, 05:16 AM

Blow to Blair's hopes of EU job

Tony Blair's hopes of becoming president of the European Council are fading after his supporters failed to secure the backing of EU leaders.

Earlier Gordon Brown said Mr Blair would be an "excellent candidate" but Downing Street is now less optimistic.

The BBC has learned No 10 has signalled that a defeat for Mr Blair's candidacy is now "a clear possibility".

Ratification of the Lisbon treaty moved closer after EU leaders in Brussels struck a deal with the Czech president.

Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt, whose country holds the EU presidency, said: "The road to ratification now stands open."

The BBC's Jonny Dymond in Brussels said Mr Blair's chances of becoming the first president of the European Council - a post created by the treaty - seemed "slimmer today than before".

Our correspondent said a lack of support from European socialist leaders has served to undermine Mr Blair's chances.

Earlier Mr Brown had told the leaders at a fringe meeting at the EU summit that they should "get real" and grasp a unique opportunity to get a "strong progressive politician" like Mr Blair as president.

However the leaders failed to back any prospective candidate and have now set up a three-man team to decide on their position.

Austrian Chancellor Werner Fayman, who will be one of the three on the panel, expressed doubts about Mr Blair's prospects.

Mr Fayman said: "My personal opinion is that the candidate ... should have an especially good relationship with (President Barack) Obama and not stand for a good working relationship with Bush." BBC (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8333192.stm).

Emphasis mine, for LOLz :D :p

CRAZYBUBBA

Oct 30, 2009, 05:24 AM

I'm glad that it looks like his candidacy is coming to an end. He's been a dangerous player in international politics and there's alot of ill will towards the man.

arkitect

Nov 19, 2009, 12:57 PM

Oh happy day! I'm off to celebrate.
:D
Gordon Brown has accepted that prime minister Tony Blair cannot become the first President of the European Council, Downing Street has said.
Mr Blair had never publicly said he was in the running for the job - despite vocal support from Mr Brown.
European Union leaders are gathering in Brussels to select their first full-time president and foreign affairs high representative.
Mr Brown has backed Labour peer Baroness Ashton for the foreign role.

Link… (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8369334.stm)