Blair in push for Bush second term [plans US trip to boost President's re-election]

Sunday Mirror ^ | February 8, 2004 | Chris Mclaughlin

[ejdrapes]

BLAIR IN PUSH FOR BUSH SECOND TERM
He plans US trip to boost President's re-election

TONY Blair is to make a controversial visit to Washington to boost President Bush's campaign for a second term in the White House.

The Prime Minister has decided that a defeat for his close coalition partner in the November US presidential election would damage his own chances of re-election in Britain.

And he has privately told aides that the election of an American leader who opposed the war in Iraq could jeopardise the special relationship between Britain and the US.

The trip is expected to go ahead before the summer, a critical time in the presidential race which has already started.

Mr Blair believes victory by a Democrat critic of the war over Republican Mr Bush would reflect on his premiership as a rejection of the Iraq campaign. Democrat front-runner Senator John Kerry has piled pressure on Mr Bush over the failure to find weapons of mass destruction, though he supported the conflict at the time.

His main rivals for the Democratic nomination, Howard Dean, is a clear opponent of the war.

Mr Blair is feted in America, where he is praised as a strong leader who stood by the United States at a time of crisis. His presence beside Mr Bush during what is expected to be a five-day tour would shore up the President's public image and remind voters of the coalition victory which brought down Saddam Hussein.

Mr Blair will not take part in any direct electioneering, but his presence at such a critical time for Mr Bush could have a significant effect on voters.

The visit, which has been pencilled in for the Spring, will go ahead in spite of Mr Bush's surprise decision to announce an investigation into the accuracy of intelligence about WMDs before the Iraq invasion.

It left an embarrassed Mr Blair with no choice but to set up an inquiry into the reliability of British intelligence.

Diplomatic rules forbid a leader from one country getting involved in the politics of another. Former President Bill Clinton was incensed when he discovered that the Tories had been involved in helping his Republican opponents in his first election campaign for the White House. They were said to have supplied "black propaganda" about his days at Oxford, including allegations he smoked cannabis.

A spokesman for Number 10 said the PM's travel plans were never publicly discussed in advance. "But we never get involved in another country's internal political affairs."

[tkathy]

If Blair truly does this, he will make a huge difference in the election. This is the best news in a long time, if true.

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

Cool. Thanks, ej.
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Mr Blair is feted in America, where he is praised as a strong leader who stood by the United States at a time of crisis. His presence beside Mr Bush during what is expected to be a five-day tour would shore up the President's public image and remind voters of the coalition victory which brought down Saddam Hussein.

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(click pic)

Ping for PM Blair!

[Pippin]

WTG, TONY BLAIR!!!

[McGavin999]

Tony Blair is well aware of the situation in Iraq and just how important it is to the world. Electing someone like Kerry, who undermined our military both in his testimony before congress when he returned from Vietnam, and with his votes to defund the CIA and crush military spending over the years, would be a disaster to the middle east.

He's not meddeling in US politics, he's looking after Britain's best interests.

[Ohioan]

I checked out your thread, expecting to find indignation, but found only adulation.

It is sad, when even at what is probably the leading American Conservative web venue, the posters appear to genuinely welcome the idea of a British Fabian Socialist leader, coming over to America to tell us how to vote!

It is true that America and Britain got quite close during World War II, and again when Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan were in office. But this is not that; and some of you are being very naive indeed.

Will some of these well meaning folks also suggest that we try to influence Britain into sticking with Blair, against the British Conservatives?!! Talk about following notions of the moment, over long term interests and beliefs.

William Flax Return Of The Gods Web Site

[blackie]

Ping for PM Blair ~ Bump!

[bushfamfan]

The funny thing is that he is socially and domestically almost aligned as a Demonrat here in the States, but Tony has too much decency and honesty to resort to their lows. He is a great friend to the United States, a great world leader and a great man. He is great in getting the facts out about what we dealt with in Saddam Hussein and Iraq and how insane the criticisms are. But you've got a ruthless media attempting to smear him and our President.

[oceanview]

when is this trip?

gee, makes you wonder if some other revelation might come around that time. WMD in Syria anyone?

[prairiebreeze]

Bump for PM Blair supporting President Bush

Ping

[onyx]

PM Blair is a smart man and an astute politician. He knows the dangers of a democrat president.

[windchime]

Thanks for the ping!

[Peach]

God bless Tony Blair.

[pittsburgh gop guy]

A couple of things....

1. Blair will not do anything political to promote Bush.

2. Blair shouldn't do anything "political" to promote Bush. Foreigners getting involved in US politics is just bad. Didn't we learn that lesson from all the Chinese involved in getting $$$ for Clinton?

3. If Blair did do something blatant to politically support Bush - it would not help Bush all that much and might end up hurting Bush. The press would discover that foreign influence is bad, which they ignored in recent history (see the end of #2 above!).

[Mo1]

PM Blair is a smart man and an astute politician. He knows the dangers of a democrat president.

You mean like Clinton?

[Valin]

TONY Blair is to make a controversial visit to Washington to boost President Bush's campaign for a second term in the White House.

I guess it's true what they say about politics making strange bedfellows. Not the first time we've seen this, Churchill and FDR come to mind.

[prairiebreeze]

Precisely! Although the Mirror would never state, report or infer anything like that.

Tony Blair witnessed firsthand, and as a world leader, the apathy and cowardice of another American president when it came to the subject of Saddam Hussein. Then he saw, like we all did, the attacks on the Cole, 9-11 and others.

Blair is no fool. I realize he's more socialistic than many here are comfortable with, myself included in certain respects. But he recognizes a bully and danger and a threat when he sees it. And he wasn't afraid to jump into the fray when America finally had a REAL leader as President.

I hope the article is true and that he comes to visit. It'll make the RATS tear at their fur.

Prairie

[onyx]

Yes, Blair knows that Clinton left the world a very dangerous place. I do not agree with PM Blair's domestic liberalism, but I'll never forget his courage and leadership after 9/11.

You know, the press tried to make us believe that Clinton and Blair were tight friends, and I think it/that was a lie. I'd bet the farm (if I had one) that Blair is much better and closer friends with President Bush.

[prairiebreeze]

I have a farm. I'll bet it for you. :^D

Prairie

[Alamo-Girl]

Buuump!