Why is Tony Blair so unpopular?

[YankeePorker]

MC Bodge said:

is is this the most consensual thread ever?

Yes, we all seem to agree on at one major issue!

He's a lying .

[rich888]

AJS- said:

For me he symbolises the whole post politics era we live in. Totally unencumbered with any principles and guided by no ideology other than an unwavering belief in his own self-aggrandisement.

People compare him to Thatcher who was also divisive, but you can look back and say that Thatcher did stuff that she believed in and people voted for it. She closed and privatised national industries because she believed in the market. She cut services because she believed in low taxes and she sold off council homes because she believed in private ownership.

What did Blair do? Mass immigration - I can only think because recent immigrants are more likely to vote Labour. Promoted welfare dependency and a bloated public sector, presumably for the same reasons. Invaded Iraq and hammed up his war leader act, ensuring a fortune for his retirement. Then as his swansong he passed the whole, sordid mess over to that dimwit Brown just before it went bang, and he went off to make a shed load of money off the back being a successful world leader; calling himself Middle East Peace Envoy, of all things.

It's almost beyond parody of a shameless fraud reaching the highest levels and milking it for all it's worth.

It's hard not to have some grudging admiration for his flagrant opportunism. He is a consumate politician. Unfortunately he is also an utter st of a man, and if I could go back to 1994 and carry it off successfully I would put a bullet through him.

Spot on... now get in the queue

[rohrl]

fatboy b said:

There"s one answer to the thread title. He's Labour.

That doesn't make any sense.

He's incredibly unpopular with Labour voters. Just look at any of the comments under an article he's written for The Guardian if you doubt me.

No prospective Labour leader who stood up and said they admired and agreed with Blair would stand a hope in hell of being elected.

[slow_poke]

rohrl said:

That doesn't make any sense.

He's incredibly unpopular with Labour voters. Just look at any of the comments under an article he's written for The Guardian if you doubt me.

No prospective Labour leader who stood up and said they admired and agreed with Blair would stand a hope in hell of being elected.

They reckon he's a Tory.

[rohrl]

slow_poke said:

rohrl said:

That doesn't make any sense.

He's incredibly unpopular with Labour voters. Just look at any of the comments under an article he's written for The Guardian if you doubt me.

No prospective Labour leader who stood up and said they admired and agreed with Blair would stand a hope in hell of being elected.

They reckon he's a Tory.

That's substantially true, but it doesn't make fatboy b's post make any more sense.

[rich888]

barryrs said:

BJG1 said:

I think Blair and New Labour did a lot of good which often gets overlooked because of their obvious failings. I don't think he was great on balance, but he deserves credit for the excellent work he did in Northern Ireland, introducing the minimum wage, devolution of power to Scotland and Wales, getting rid of most hereditary peers in the HoL and huge cuts in hospital wait times.

Here's a really good, balanced article: http://www.economist.com/node/16004271

Few points.

Mo Mowlem did all the hard work in Ireland and tony swept in for the photo calls.

National wage minimum wage set at a rate designed to keep wages low and keep workers reliant on state handouts in the form of tax credits.

Devolution designed to maintain labour strong holds in traditionally non conservative areas. Which has bitten them firmly on the arse.

Can't really comment on the HOL.

Mass manipulation of NHS waiting lists in order to give the appearance of improvement. In my own case I was asked for holiday dates so the hospital gave me a date while I was away. I refused the date, target met by offering a date within 6 months, actual wait 18 months.

I accept all governments are self serving however tony took it to a whole new level in my view.

Yes you're correct with your comments, especially with regard to Mo Mowlem who did all the work in Northern Ireland peace process, yet it was Blair that grabbed all the glory hoping that this would be his legacy, except that many of us know the truth and will remember Anthony Blair for nothing more that a self-serving warmonger... anyone care to add to the list?

[SeeFive]

Aside from the many screw ups he presided over, my undying memory of Blair will be that he was arguably the UKs first prime minister who put his own popularity ahead of what had to be done for the good of the country. He was a showman.

Previous PMs had conviction to do the things that made them unpopular, or acted against public groundswell when it was necessary and the right thing to do. Blair just seemed to do what would make him popular at the time, but when the reality of the outcomes set in with the masses, it seems that it bit him in the arse. So he left Gordon Brown to dumbly agree to be the fall guy while he swanned off to print money - and sure, it is tough to imagine a better candidate than Brown I agree.

Blair changed UK politics for the worse, and until we get another conviction politician (whether I agree with their ideologies or not) like Tony Benn or Margaret Thatcher LEADING this country, we will all suffer his legacy. They are all made in his mould today because he has set the bar for the new style, popularity focussed leader.

[Otispunkmeyer]

fatboy b said:

There"s one answer to the thread title. He's Labour. Luckily it looks like Labour are maing themselves unelectable for a good few years. Let's hope the Tories have a few terms in office to completely sort out Labour's mess.

Edited by fatboy b on Sunday 16th August 21:14

If he'd been a lib dem, a green or a conservative it wouldn't matter. The reason is... hes an ahole. Nothing more.

[hairyben]

SeeFive said:

Aside from the many screw ups he presided over, my undying memory of Blair will be that he was arguably the UKs first prime minister who put his own popularity ahead of what had to be done for the good of the country. He was a showman.

Previous PMs had conviction to do the things that made them unpopular, or acted against public groundswell when it was necessary and the right thing to do. Blair just seemed to do what would make him popular at the time, but when the reality of the outcomes set in with the masses, it seems that it bit him in the arse. So he left Gordon Brown to dumbly agree to be the fall guy while he swanned off to print money - and sure, it is tough to imagine a better candidate than Brown I agree.

Blair changed UK politics for the worse, and until we get another conviction politician (whether I agree with their ideologies or not) like Tony Benn or Margaret Thatcher LEADING this country, we will all suffer his legacy. They are all made in his mould today because he has set the bar for the new style, popularity focussed leader.

Thank you, it took 8 pages but we got there. Blair was not "right" or "left" and anyone who paints him as either is only massaging their own bias. He was whatever it suited him to be in light of the days company that could be schemed to fit the web of BS that personified him. He did whatever and befriended whoever aided him, he took one in the rear from bush while trying to be in bed with europe too. He gave the "left" their much-needed schools and hospitals while they grinnned and overlooked the terrible pfi debts being racked up. As said he probably thought the war would win him some of the right. He crowed about getting more people in uni to do worthless degree's while saddling them with debt. Uncontrolled immigration has/is driving down living standards for those at the bottom and it has facilitated the likes of "zero hours contracts", another social wrong plugged with huge amounts of benefits tax money.

Everything was visual and spin. He probably ranks as a psychopath due to such a complete lack of underlying priciples other than his own enrichment. Lets not go godwin just yet but so many other infamous leaders worked to a plan that was bigger than them; blair was just a petty used car salesman slimeball that too many people were too facile to see though, and you see the echo's of it in others today.

[oakdale]

hairyben said:

SeeFive said:

Aside from the many screw ups he presided over, my undying memory of Blair will be that he was arguably the UKs first prime minister who put his own popularity ahead of what had to be done for the good of the country. He was a showman.

Previous PMs had conviction to do the things that made them unpopular, or acted against public groundswell when it was necessary and the right thing to do. Blair just seemed to do what would make him popular at the time, but when the reality of the outcomes set in with the masses, it seems that it bit him in the arse. So he left Gordon Brown to dumbly agree to be the fall guy while he swanned off to print money - and sure, it is tough to imagine a better candidate than Brown I agree.

Blair changed UK politics for the worse, and until we get another conviction politician (whether I agree with their ideologies or not) like Tony Benn or Margaret Thatcher LEADING this country, we will all suffer his legacy. They are all made in his mould today because he has set the bar for the new style, popularity focussed leader.

Thank you, it took 8 pages but we got there. Blair was not "right" or "left" and anyone who paints him as either is only massaging their own bias. He was whatever it suited him to be in light of the days company that could be schemed to fit the web of BS that personified him. He did whatever and befriended whoever aided him, he took one in the rear from bush while trying to be in bed with europe too. He gave the "left" their much-needed schools and hospitals while they grinnned and overlooked the terrible pfi debts being racked up. As said he probably thought the war would win him some of the right. He crowed about getting more people in uni to do worthless degree's while saddling them with debt. Uncontrolled immigration has/is driving down living standards for those at the bottom and it has facilitated the likes of "zero hours contracts", another social wrong plugged with huge amounts of benefits tax money.

Everything was visual and spin. He probably ranks as a psychopath due to such a complete lack of underlying priciples other than his own enrichment. Lets not go godwin just yet but so many other infamous leaders worked to a plan that was bigger than them; blair was just a petty used car salesman slimeball that too many people were too facile to see though, and you see the echo's of it in others today.

Two very accurate descriptions of the dreadful man.

[Mermaid]

oakdale said:

hairyben said:

SeeFive said:

Aside from the many screw ups he presided over, my undying memory of Blair will be that he was arguably the UKs first prime minister who put his own popularity ahead of what had to be done for the good of the country. He was a showman.

Previous PMs had conviction to do the things that made them unpopular, or acted against public groundswell when it was necessary and the right thing to do. Blair just seemed to do what would make him popular at the time, but when the reality of the outcomes set in with the masses, it seems that it bit him in the arse. So he left Gordon Brown to dumbly agree to be the fall guy while he swanned off to print money - and sure, it is tough to imagine a better candidate than Brown I agree.

Blair changed UK politics for the worse, and until we get another conviction politician (whether I agree with their ideologies or not) like Tony Benn or Margaret Thatcher LEADING this country, we will all suffer his legacy. They are all made in his mould today because he has set the bar for the new style, popularity focussed leader.

Thank you, it took 8 pages but we got there. Blair was not "right" or "left" and anyone who paints him as either is only massaging their own bias. He was whatever it suited him to be in light of the days company that could be schemed to fit the web of BS that personified him. He did whatever and befriended whoever aided him, he took one in the rear from bush while trying to be in bed with europe too. He gave the "left" their much-needed schools and hospitals while they grinnned and overlooked the terrible pfi debts being racked up. As said he probably thought the war would win him some of the right. He crowed about getting more people in uni to do worthless degree's while saddling them with debt. Uncontrolled immigration has/is driving down living standards for those at the bottom and it has facilitated the likes of "zero hours contracts", another social wrong plugged with huge amounts of benefits tax money.

Everything was visual and spin. He probably ranks as a psychopath due to such a complete lack of underlying priciples other than his own enrichment. Lets not go godwin just yet but so many other infamous leaders worked to a plan that was bigger than them; blair was just a petty used car salesman slimeball that too many people were too facile to see though, and you see the echo's of it in others today.

Two very accurate descriptions of the dreadful man.

He'd make a good US President.

[Smollet]

Mermaid said:

He'd make a good US President.

Now he's found God he'd be ideal

[Asterix]

Smollet said:

Mermaid said:

He'd make a good US President.

Now he's found God he'd be ideal

Where'd he find him?

Certainly not in the Middle East - it's Satan's rectum after a devilishly hot curry.

[Mermaid]

Asterix said:

Smollet said:

Mermaid said:

He'd make a good US President.

Now he's found God he'd be ideal

Where'd he find him?

In the bosom of his spouse, had been waiting to come out.

[rich888]

Mermaid said:

oakdale said:

hairyben said:

SeeFive said:

Aside from the many screw ups he presided over, my undying memory of Blair will be that he was arguably the UKs first prime minister who put his own popularity ahead of what had to be done for the good of the country. He was a showman.

Previous PMs had conviction to do the things that made them unpopular, or acted against public groundswell when it was necessary and the right thing to do. Blair just seemed to do what would make him popular at the time, but when the reality of the outcomes set in with the masses, it seems that it bit him in the arse. So he left Gordon Brown to dumbly agree to be the fall guy while he swanned off to print money - and sure, it is tough to imagine a better candidate than Brown I agree.

Blair changed UK politics for the worse, and until we get another conviction politician (whether I agree with their ideologies or not) like Tony Benn or Margaret Thatcher LEADING this country, we will all suffer his legacy. They are all made in his mould today because he has set the bar for the new style, popularity focussed leader.

Thank you, it took 8 pages but we got there. Blair was not "right" or "left" and anyone who paints him as either is only massaging their own bias. He was whatever it suited him to be in light of the days company that could be schemed to fit the web of BS that personified him. He did whatever and befriended whoever aided him, he took one in the rear from bush while trying to be in bed with europe too. He gave the "left" their much-needed schools and hospitals while they grinnned and overlooked the terrible pfi debts being racked up. As said he probably thought the war would win him some of the right. He crowed about getting more people in uni to do worthless degree's while saddling them with debt. Uncontrolled immigration has/is driving down living standards for those at the bottom and it has facilitated the likes of "zero hours contracts", another social wrong plugged with huge amounts of benefits tax money.

Everything was visual and spin. He probably ranks as a psychopath due to such a complete lack of underlying priciples other than his own enrichment. Lets not go godwin just yet but so many other infamous leaders worked to a plan that was bigger than them; blair was just a petty used car salesman slimeball that too many people were too facile to see though, and you see the echo's of it in others today.

Two very accurate descriptions of the dreadful man.

He'd make a good US President.

Two very accurate descriptions of this snakeskin salesman who in any other life would be be held accountable for illegal warmongering.

As for making a good US president, unlike Bill Clinton who has so far escaped physical damage to his nether regions after having them massaged by another person who never engaged in any sexual matters, haha, Tony probably won't be so lucky. Cherie will probably chop his nob off when the truth comes out about his alleged playing around with the wife of Rupert Murdock. No wonder he looks so old and haggard nowadays, not so much war crime tribunal to fear, as as old bag with the hatchet whilst he sleeps, and she certainly looks the type to carry out such an assault!

[Mermaid]

rich888 said:

As for making a good US president, unlike Bill Clinton who has so far escaped physical damage to his nether regions after having them massaged by another person who never engaged in any sexual matters, haha, Tony probably won't be so lucky. Cherie will probably chop his nob off when the truth comes out about his alleged playing around with the wife of Rupert Murdock. No wonder he looks so old and haggard nowadays, not so much war crime tribunal to fear, as as old bag with the hatchet whilst he sleeps, and she certainly looks the type to carry out such an assault!

[Asterix]

Regarding Teflon Tony.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/culturenews/115...

Telegraph Article said:

"A pathological confidence-trickster."

Former Conservative MP and writer Matthew Parris summed up the view from many on both the right (Boris Johnson called him "a mixture of Harry Houdini and a greased piglet. He is barely human in his elusiveness. Nailing Blair is like trying to pin jelly to a wall") and possibly the left. Blair's colleague Claire Short accused Blair of being "reckless with our government; reckless with his own future, position and place in history".

[mph1977]

ash73 said:

prand said:

Looking back at his overall performance in office, it really does not seem deserved.

If we pretend Iraq didn't happen for a moment, I wonder what kind of legacy would he have?

he would have still be one of the architects of 'abolishing boom and bust ' and the every growing state ...

[rich888]

mph1977 said:

ash73 said:

prand said:

Looking back at his overall performance in office, it really does not seem deserved.

If we pretend Iraq didn't happen for a moment, I wonder what kind of legacy would he have?

he would have still be one of the architects of 'abolishing boom and bust ' and the every growing state ...

So aside from killing thousands of innocent civilians with an illegal war in Iraq, he may well bankrupt the UK by racking up record levels of debt.

Talking of which is of course the mounting £4.8 trillion + national debt which Blair, Brown, Balls and the rest of the over-spending Labour party seem to have conveniently forgotten about, if you have the time please take a look at this video 'Britain's Trillion Pound Horror Story', watch and weep: http://www.veoh.com/watch/v205926104rd9GssB

The video 'Britain's Trillion Pound Horror Story' is also available for viewing on YouTube, but not if you have a UK IP address - I wonder why that is?

And Cameron and Osborne aren't getting off the hook because they seem nearly as obsessed with spending our hard earned taxes on ever more stupidly expensive projects - just stop giving our money away because we just can't afford it!!!

[ATG]

Why? Because he was in power and people resent authority. A large chunk of the population now paint ludicrous caricatures of his personality and motivation and have concocted a fairy story version of history so that they can think of him as a pantomime villain. It is pretty idiotic, but not unusual. When history gets written with a bit more perspective in years to come, it ain't going to sound much like the current hysteria.