Blair at Levenson
Discussion
OK, Leveson.
Got to hand it to the bloke, he's a tremendous communicator. Much as I dislike the bloke, even being pleased that he's married to that Cherry woman (proving there is a just a vengeful god), I felt I had to admire his performance in the witness chair today.
He was never going to say anything useful of course, and no one would have thought we were going to find out the truth with regards his affair with Murdoch and NI, but he's a real smoothie, isn't he. You have to give that to him.
The Cameron team must be thinking: If only.
Blair is superb at what he does. If only what he does didn't make me so damned furious.
I used to practise giving evidence in court as no matter how good your case, if you say the wrong thing, or even the right thing badly, then a conviction can go out of the window. I was a little smug when watching Blair. I thought that good as he was, any jury would spit on his evidence.
He's the sort of bloke who would come into your office, move some of your files and sit on the corner of your desk, unasked and all smiles, completely unaware of the reaction just being there caused.
You just have to hate him, don't you. Even after this gap, seeing his smile brought it all back.
Couldn't we keep a Abu Nohands-a and send Balir to the US, or even Syria?
Got to hand it to the bloke, he's a tremendous communicator. Much as I dislike the bloke, even being pleased that he's married to that Cherry woman (proving there is a just a vengeful god), I felt I had to admire his performance in the witness chair today.
He was never going to say anything useful of course, and no one would have thought we were going to find out the truth with regards his affair with Murdoch and NI, but he's a real smoothie, isn't he. You have to give that to him.
The Cameron team must be thinking: If only.
Blair is superb at what he does. If only what he does didn't make me so damned furious.
I used to practise giving evidence in court as no matter how good your case, if you say the wrong thing, or even the right thing badly, then a conviction can go out of the window. I was a little smug when watching Blair. I thought that good as he was, any jury would spit on his evidence.
He's the sort of bloke who would come into your office, move some of your files and sit on the corner of your desk, unasked and all smiles, completely unaware of the reaction just being there caused.
You just have to hate him, don't you. Even after this gap, seeing his smile brought it all back.
Couldn't we keep a Abu Nohands-a and send Balir to the US, or even Syria?
Alongside Clinton, Blair is a modern master of being utterly compelling in these situations.
Reagan was great at the grand speech, but light between the soundbites delivered from the White House lectern. Everyone from Adenauer to Eisenhower spoke the great words, but working through, dissecting the debate of an argument, often charming your way through at times a hostile reception, it's hard to think of someone better. Golda Meir maybe. Nkrumah too.
Reagan was great at the grand speech, but light between the soundbites delivered from the White House lectern. Everyone from Adenauer to Eisenhower spoke the great words, but working through, dissecting the debate of an argument, often charming your way through at times a hostile reception, it's hard to think of someone better. Golda Meir maybe. Nkrumah too.
I'm not a fan of Blair but he is a former PM and I don't want to see him torn to shreds in this or any other courtroom. I would extend the same courtessy to Brown, who I loathe. I think Jay & Leveson struck the right balance and showed the respect a man who lead the country is entitled. The prize pratt from rent-a-crowd deserves a good kicking imho.
Today we received a demonstration of how severely lacking David Cameron is at this sort of thing. Tony Blair's appearence was supposed to be big news, but it wasnt, the press will go with pasty-caravan-u-turn tomorrow. Blair is an expert at saying words, making you feel like you've heard an answer but actually saying nothing. He's always calm, cool and so rarely seems to snap and accidentally give the media a freebie to run with - such as Cameron and his 'muttering idiot' remark the other day, Blair doesnt snap that easily.
Borghetto said:
I'm not a fan of Blair but he is a former PM and I don't want to see him torn to shreds in this or any other courtroom. I would extend the same courtessy to Brown, who I loathe. I think Jay & Leveson struck the right balance and showed the respect a man who lead the country is entitled. The prize pratt from rent-a-crowd deserves a good kicking imho.
He lead the Country all right. Into two unnecessary wars and down the economic toilet.He deserves no respect at all, he may be an ex PM but he's still a
. 
AM04ARO said:
He was very smooth and came across as quite likeable.
Trouble is that is what duped so many into going along with his policies.
He fooled me. I voted for him. If the tories had not turned themselves into an unelectable laughing stock by their internecine battles then I might not have done but I must admit to a certain anticipation when he got voted in. Yet I was impressed by Major. I still don’t know why I voted against him.Trouble is that is what duped so many into going along with his policies.
Even then it took me some time to realise my mistake. Yet knowing what he is like and the knowledge that he took us into two unwinnable wars for no particular reason and, apparently, no exit, yesterday I could still see why he fooled me.
A dangerous man.
dave stew said:
Face it, there are a lot of 'old school' politicians who are trained lawyers (Blair, Clinton etc) but both Cameron and Miliband are professional politicians who haven't really worked outside of their parties. in their lives
Fixed.Blair fooled most people (Even Thatcher said the country was safe in his hands, remember), but Cameron is worse as he's effectively the Tories answer to Blair (at a time when no-one wanted that answer anymore), which is why he's arrogant, ineffective and frankly useless.
Blair's fake pauses always grated with me, they set my teeth on edge the way Thatcher's patronising tone does.
Sadly, the kind of people who WANT to be politicians are exactly the kind of people who should never be let near public office...
M.
Edited by marcosgt on Tuesday 29th May 07:37
Is there really any point to this "inquiry"?
So we find that politicians are too close to the media. Then what? Nothing will change as, as the above posts suggest, image is king. Even amongst an intelligent voter base.
Politicians know the media are powerful. They will never distance themselves from it. The voters are suckers - it doesn't matter what someone stands for, or what they've done. A nice suit, a smile, some rhetoric and away you go.
He embodies everything that is wrong with this country.
No one will go to prison or pay a price as a result of Levenson, nothing will change. It's just a complete waste of time, money (how much is it costing the taxpayer?) and oxygen.
So we find that politicians are too close to the media. Then what? Nothing will change as, as the above posts suggest, image is king. Even amongst an intelligent voter base.
Politicians know the media are powerful. They will never distance themselves from it. The voters are suckers - it doesn't matter what someone stands for, or what they've done. A nice suit, a smile, some rhetoric and away you go.
He embodies everything that is wrong with this country.
No one will go to prison or pay a price as a result of Levenson, nothing will change. It's just a complete waste of time, money (how much is it costing the taxpayer?) and oxygen.
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