Vote 'Yes' for President Tony Blair?

meglome

PrivateEye wrote: »

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article6857807.ece

Wow. This could have been a huge, huge issue in the campaign had it been more common knowledge me thinks. Thoughts?

There is no position of President of the EU.

And this is the third thread about it, at least.

And he's a long way off getting the job of president of the European Council.

PrivateEye

So, The Times got it wrong?

johnwillnot

moogester wrote: »

The Times are still banging on about Tony Blair.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article6857807.ece#cid=OTC-RSS&attr=2015164

I was under the impression that this wouldnt be possible until the treaty came into effect

They have been planning this for years.

Tony Blair's star in the ascendant as presidency chances grow

One of Tony Blair’s most fervent supporters could hardly contain his enthusiasm at the prospect of the former Prime Minister becoming the first president of the European Union. “Imagine what it would be like,” he said. “Tony arriving at the UN in New York or negotiating with the Chinese in Beijing. Who else would stop the traffic like he would?”

While it is fair to say that Jean-Claude Juncker, the Prime Minister of Luxembourg and a leading rival, would probably not cause gridlock in Manhattan, not everyone anticipates a “President Blair” with such glee.

But whatever David Cameron, assorted European socialists and Gordon Brown may feel, the chances look reasonable that Mr Blair will be handed the keys to the new Résidence Palace. The £280million showcase complex, being built to accommodate the offices of the European president and new EU foreign minister created by the Libson treaty, is only one of the prizes on offer. The remuneration package is expected to include a €267,000 (£242,000) salary, chauffeur-driven car and a personal staff of about 20.

There will be no jet or official residence, however. Instead, the Blairs may find themselves using a generous housing allowance to rent a European bolt-hole to supplement their London townhouse and Buckinghamshire country estate.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article6857807.ece#cid=OTC-RSS&attr=2015164

moogester

Emperor Blair of the European Union :rolleyes:

http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa135/moog1968/emperorbliar.jpg

namloc1980

PrivateEye wrote: »

So, The Times got it wrong?

They are misrepresenting. There is no President of the EU. It is President of the European Council...a position that has existed since 1975. Plus Blair has already been the President of the European Council in the past........twice in fact.....and it wasn't the end of the world then and it won't be now.

prinz

PrivateEye wrote: »

So, The Times got it wrong?

Yes they did. Appalling journalism. The role they talk about is the President of the European Council which as of tonight is held by the Prime Minister of Sweden. Blair is not a likely candidate to hold that post IMO.

johnwillnot

K-9 wrote: »

Are you actually telling people this crap?

What you say is actually true if you vote No and stands a good chance of not being true if you vote Yes.

Vote No, Brown is guaranteed to be President. Vote Yes, there is no guarantee whatsoever Blair will. Opposition seems to be gathering against Blair and the EU usually goes for compromise candidates.

Blair to be named EU President 'within weeks' if Irish vote Yes

The former prime minister's candidacy for the new post will be rushed through as quickly as possible if Ireland votes "Yes" in its referendum on the Lisbon Treaty on Friday.

Mr Blair is among the favourites to become the first President of the European Union, a role that will restore him to the world stage and boost his long-term income.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy has thrown his weight behind a Blair bid. When French foreign minister Bernard Kouchner was asked yesterday if Mr Blair was the only real candidate, he said: "For the moment, indeed". The former premier has refused to rule himself in or out of the running, but said that "it is good to have fans" for a possible candidacy.

namloc1980

johnwillnot wrote: »

Blair to be named EU President 'within weeks' if Irish vote Yes

The former prime minister's candidacy for the new post will be rushed through as quickly as possible if Ireland votes "Yes" in its referendum on the Lisbon Treaty on Friday.

Mr Blair is among the favourites to become the first President of the European Union, a role that will restore him to the world stage and boost his long-term income.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy has thrown his weight behind a Blair bid. When French foreign minister Bernard Kouchner was asked yesterday if Mr Blair was the only real candidate, he said: "For the moment, indeed". The former premier has refused to rule himself in or out of the running, but said that "it is good to have fans" for a possible candidacy.

What are trying to prove???? Blair was the President of the European Council TWICE in the past...that's right TWICE. What is your point ??

johnwillnot

namloc1980 wrote: »

What are trying to prove???? Blair was the President of the European Council TWICE in the past...that's right TWICE. What is your point ??

moogester wrote: »

According to the Times, European Council President is a new role.

THE LISBON Treaty would create a new post of European Council president and beef up the existing role of the high representative for common foreign and security policy.

Under the existing EU treaties the presidency of the council of ministers passes every six months, on the basis of equal rotation, between member states.

At the moment Sweden chairs the European Council, which means its government and diplomats organise the work programme of the union and represent the EU at major international events.

Under the Lisbon Treaty it is envisaged that the new European Council president would be nominated by EU leaders for terms of 2½ years.

His/her function would be to chair meetings, co-ordinate work and represent the EU internationally.

A president of the council could serve a maximum of two terms.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2009/0926/1224255282287.html

Read post by moogester above.

What else are the Government not telling us?

Tabnabs

Tony Blair is in line to be proclaimed Europe’s first president within weeks if the Irish vote “yes” in today’s referendum.

Senior British sources have told The Times that President Sarkozy has decided that Mr Blair is the best candidate and that Angela Merkel has softened her opposition.

The former Prime Minister could be ushered into the European Union’s top post at a summit on October 29.

Ms Merkel, the German Chancellor, was opposed to Mr Blair because she believed that the post should go to a country that had adopted the euro but British sources said that she may now be “biddable” if Germany and France get plum posts in the new European Commission.

German sources insisted that it was far from clear that Ms Merkel had changed her mind and there were suggestions in Paris that Mr Sarkozy was happy to be seen to be backing Mr Blair because he knew that Ms Merkel would scupper the appointment.

Mr Blair, whose claims are being advanced by ministers in London, will not enter the race unless he is certain of winning. He is wary of giving up his many other commitments, spanning business, the Middle East, climate change and his Faith Foundation.

If the Irish ratify the Lisbon treaty — the result will be declared tomorrow — only the signatures of the Polish and Czech presidents will be needed for full ratification. Warsaw is expected to come on board swiftly. President Klaus is harder to predict but diplomatic sources expect him to agree quickly, possibly after receiving a sweetener from Germany.

The decision presents a dilemma for the Conservatives, whose conference takes place next week. David Cameron remains committed to a referendum on the treaty. He has declined to say what he would do if the treaty were ratified before the general election.

Despite pressure from Eurosceptics, he would be unlikely to hold a referendum if he came to power after ratification, which would mean renegotiating Britain’s relationship with the EU, but a Europe with Mr Blair at its head would worry Tories even more.

Ms Merkel has touted Jean-Claude Juncker, of Luxembourg, for the role, but the backroom dealer would hardly set European pulses racing. It is understood that President Sarkozy proposed Felipe González, of Spain, privately to Ms Merkel, but that she was suspicious of endorsing the Socialist.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article6857807.ece

PopeBuckfastXVI

IBTL

meglome

Jesus how many times can we listen to the same bullshít story. I reckon I've seen it at least ten times.

And there is no role of EU president, it doesn't exist.

humanji

I'm not a fan of newspapers in general, but I'm kind of shocked how ill-informed the Times is.

ixtlan

There will lots of candidate for this role, and I think it unlikely to be Blair.

For goodness sake... this paper is not even sure France and Germany would back Blair... and with Britain that's only 3 of the minimum 15

Ix

Sully

Will Bertie run? :P

Robbo

Thank you for your well informed and factual copypasta.

Biggins

Sully wrote: »

Will Bertie run? :P

Aye, as soon as he gets his taxes sorted out and gets his tax clearance certificate! :rolleyes:

namloc1980

not again!! the times should be ashamed of themselves for such shoddy, shamelessly sensationalist journalism. not to mention factually incorrect.

suimhneas

meglome wrote: »

Jesus how many times can we listen to the same bullshít story. I reckon I've seen it at least ten times.

And there is no role of EU president, it doesn't exist.

come the end of october when you are proven wrong where do we come to find you?

Sully

suimhneas wrote: »

come the end of october when you are proven wrong where do we come to find you?

Right here, where we will be wondering when abortion, euthansia, privatisation of health care, a new world army, and a new min. wage will be coming.

namloc1980

suimhneas wrote: »

come the end of october when you are proven wrong where do we come to find you?

please quote the passage in the treaty that says 'EU president'

akkadian

moondogspot wrote: »

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/blair-steps-up-fight-to-be-crowned-first-president-of--eu-1662928.html



Tony Blair for president of the EU? Do we want someone like him speaking for us on the World

Stage? ....I know I don't. What's your opinions?

Edit : View free-man's post below for more articles

so we would have been better off if the Mongols took Europe, or if the Persians did, that's clear now, didn't se3e that coming, who knew?

eurojedward

I like tony blair its a shame he went out the way he did.

akkadian

eurojedward wrote: »

I like tony blair its a shame he went out the way he did.

actually, he's not so bad I think, but when you look at the overall lack of transparency in the system, nationally, continentally, and globally, it's clear to me that the wrong side won it all those thousands of years ago.

P. Breathnach

akkadian wrote: »

actually, he's not so bad I think, but when you look at the overall lack of transparency in the system, nationally, continentally, and globally, it's clear to me that the wrong side won it all those thousands of years ago.

Is that a wish that Neanderthal man should have come out on top?

drunkmonkey

akkadian wrote: »

actually, he's not so bad I think

tell that to her http://www.lowculture.com/archives/images/iraq30k_kids_03.jpg

as far as i'm concerned he's a lying murdering bastard and should swing by the neck over burning tar.

akkadian

drunkmonkey wrote: »

tell that to her http://www.lowculture.com/archives/images/iraq30k_kids_03.jpg

as far as i'm concerned he's a lying murdering bastard and should swing by the neck over burning tar.

good point but that's more the fault of the rednecks on the battle field.
Tony Blair did look visibly more jaded ever since Iraq2 etc.

prinz

drunkmonkey wrote: »

tell that to her http://www.lowculture.com/archives/images/iraq30k_kids_03.jpg
as far as i'm concerned he's a lying murdering bastard and should swing by the neck over burning tar.

Do you want to be bombarded with pictures of Halabjah and the likes? How do you know her family haven't been attacked by insurgents? Could have been a gay relation, or a translator, or at the market doing some shopping on the wrong day yadda yadda ad infinitum.

drunkmonkey

prinz wrote: »

Do you want to be bombarded with pictures of Halabjah and the likes? How do you know her family haven't been attacked by insurgents? Could have been a gay relation, or a translator, or at the market doing some shopping on the wrong day yadda yadda ad infinitum.

You've complelty missed the point:rolleyes:
There were no insurgents in Iraq before Blair and Bush pushed through an illegal war with fabricated evidence. They both should be put to death but judging by Tonys Blairs apperance he's already haunted by the deaths of hundreds & thousands of innocent people. He's a war criminal and i'm disgusted somebody could even suggest he play a key role in this New Europe were trying to build.

prinz

drunkmonkey wrote: »

You've complelty missed the point:rolleyes:
There were no insurgents in Iraq before Blair and Bush pushed through an illegal war with fabricated evidence.

Do you know what happened in Halabjah, and who was responsible? :rolleyes: