What Bush's Win Means for Blair

The BBC ^ | November 6, 2004 | Andrew Marr

[RWR8189]

By Andrew Marr BBC News political editor

Mr Bush won his second term this week

As the dust settles, as second reactions form, the American elections look like making life harder for London, not easier.

Party campaigners are already drawing lessons - Bush's success in setting the agenda, the early failures in the Kerry campaign, the lethal effectiveness of the flip-flop attacks made on the Democrat challenger.

But for the rest of us, the more interesting questions are about the extent to which the underlying issues and, of course, the result of the American elections bear on British politics now.

The war on terror and Iraq played well for Bush in a way that Tony Blair cannot quite bank on Andrew Marr

The war on terror and Iraq played well for Bush in a way that Tony Blair cannot quite bank on. The attack of 9/11 shocked and altered America in a unique way. Here, linking the war on terror with Iraq has been more widely questioned - and often ridiculed.

Nor has the pro-family agenda, pushed by the religious right in the US, have anything like the same resonance and purchase in British politics. In general, we should beware false familiarity.

Many of Blair's Labour colleagues are no fans of President Bush

That British politicians talk easily about Condi, and Rumsfeld, the State Department and the fly-over states, masks how different those politics actually are, a democracy in which moral issues outplayed economic ones.

All that said, Tony Blair, taking comfort from the re-election of another war leader, is already grappling with the fresh problems that brings.

From his first congratulatory phone call to George Bush onwards, through every public and private pronouncement he has made, the prime minister has hammered away at the importance of the Middle East peace process.

Then there is Kyoto, and Africa. Mr Blair hopes George Bush re-elected is George Bush calmed, a second-wind leader readier to heed outside advice.

President Bush: will his second term be more inclusive?

Others, who also know the man well, think it will be the opposite, and that George Bush freed to be more himself will not be entirely comfortable for Mr Blair.

Certainly, as he had been about the only man in the Labour Party with reason to root for the president, his disappointed pro-Kerry colleagues are even grumpier about that relationship.

The same probably goes for old Europe - the great Blair straddle, between Washington and Brussels, will become a more painful act.

[Perdogg]

I think Blair might be the target of frustrated Brits who could NOT oust Bush.

They are going to take out their anger on Blair.

[You Dirty Rats]

Wishful thinking by the BBC. Dubya's win helps Blair. The successes in the next couple of years in Iraq and elsewhere in the Middle East will be credited To Dubya, Blair and other staunch friends.

[madameguinot]

Another 'Bush re-election disadvantage' article.

And it's from the BBC.

[Names Ash Housewares]

Since UK lefitsts tried to screw over Bush. Maybe we can help Blair somehow?

[Perdogg]

should we help Blair??? I heard he was Kerry. Was this true? If so, why should we help him?

[tophat9000]

Since UK lefitsts tried to screw over Bush. Maybe we can help Blair somehow?

Best to let them be we resented them sticking there noises in our politic it's a sure bet people in the UK would feel the same

[Savage Beast]

"Tony Blair, taking comfort from the re-election of another war leader..."

Remember when the BBC was respected throughout the world as a source of truth and information rather than a disinformative propaganda machine?

"Mr Blair hopes George Bush re-elected is George Bush calmed, a second-wind leader readier to heed outside advice."

He has always been ready to heed outside advice--or inside advice. The source is important. The advice must be sound.

He's not likely to heed advice from a mendacious and unreliable source such as the 21st century BBC.

[Sparky1776]

I fear you may be correct, I'm in touch with the UK daily and they seem to not ony hate Bush but embrace the Hollywood view of the world. I pray I'm wrong.

[shubi]

We should write emails and letters to key districts in England urging them to vote for Blair's opponent. That will make them vote for Blair.

(Its what made Clark county in Ohio go for Bush, as leftist Brits urged voting for Kerry)

[Smoote]

"We should write emails and letters to key districts in England urging them to vote for Blair's opponent. That will make them vote for Blair."

Now that's a good idea!

Blair was willing to risk his political future to do what he thought was the right thing in Iraq. As did both Howard in Austalia and President Bush here. There is no question imho that Blair deserves our support but any direct interference on our part will have the opposite effect on the UK electorate I fear.

[OldFriend]

Blair is coming to Washington next week.

[Paladin2]

When one hears Blair supporting the WOT and necessary actions in Iraq, one wishes Bush had the same oratorical skills. Blair seems to recognize the stakes of his foreign policy alignment with the US and Australia (and Poland, et. al.).

His internal policies may be way different, but Blair would seem to deserve ALL the support those of us in the US can provide (that may be to just STFU (except in private) - witness the backfiring of the UK letter writing to that county in Ohio).

[Max Combined]

"They are going to take out their anger on Blair."

If the worst happens, it is no big deal. Tony has had a good run. His wife sucks.

[McGavin999]

A lot of good things are going to happen in the coming months, and even the BBC is not going to be able to hide it. I sincerely hope Blair gets re-elected because the Torie leader has been horrid (why can't they find another Maggie Thatcher?) As a matter of fact, the entire Torie bench has been awful on the war. What the Brits need is a charasmatic leader who can bring out the wonderful, stoic Brit backbone that HAS to be still there.

[montag813]

To me it means that Blair should shut the hell up about "mideast peace" being the "most important issue in the world today". It is not. The liquidation of Islamofascism is. Someone needs to straighten Arabist Tony out.

[AnimalLover]

With the President's significant win, perhaps they have
learned that the American people do not buy the bull----
propagated (?) by the Democrats and friends!