Blair Endures

[poliphilo]

Will he never leave us alone? No, apparently not. We're sick to death of him, but that's never going to stop him from popping up on our screens to explain how he always acted in good faith and how everything that went wrong was Gordon's fault.. Perhaps this is our punishment for having allowed him into power in the first place. Prime Ministers used not to persist like this. All the others I've known- even Margaret Thatcher- faded into the shadows once their time was up. This one appears to be different. Perhaps it's because he's guiltier.

I see his book has gone straight to the top of the best seller lists. I don't understand it. Why would people invite him into their homes? Why would they pay to read his excuses?

Comments

[idahoswede.livejournal.com]

What can you expect from a man who thinks George Bush is brilliant?

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

He has no shame.

[michaleen.livejournal.com]

I vote for "punishment".

Plus, Blair's rehabilitation is enabled by the press. They are, if anything, more culpable than he is, so they are just as eager to absolve everyone of their crimes. "No one could have known", &c.

It's essentially the same reason Bush and Cheney cannot be held accountable in this country. The wealthy, and those who aspire to wealth, will not abide one of their own being held accountable for his or her actions. Sets a dangerous precedent.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

He's not exactly being rehabilitated- he still gets bad reviews across the board- it's just that the media can't/won't ignore him. Everyone detests him, but we conspire to give him and his book publicity. In my very small way I'm doing it now.

I too would like to see him in the dock at The Hague.

[michaleen.livejournal.com]

Many thanks for the correction: rehabilitated Blair is not. Then again, don't forget that Nixon was politically active until he died and by the time the infernal host at last arrived to claim their own, the crooked bastard really had been rehabilitated. He was remembered at his funeral as a great statesman and said by then President Clinton to have lived to clear his name.

The pathology is similar, even if Blair is the lesser evil as a consequence of being the lesser man. Both lack the self-awareness and strength of character required to acknowledge their own failings. In time, though, Blair will be remembered as one of the greats. Given the horrific cost of his actions, I suspect his future elevation to sainthood is a given.

[unbleachedbrun.livejournal.com]

That's what you all get for allowing someone to become prime minister who refused to learn Received Pronunciation.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I suspect you'll find that he learned RP at his very posh boys school- and then dropped it for electoral advantage.

[petercampbell.livejournal.com]

I once met a girl who went to university with Blair - and he did, and he did.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Good to have that suspicion confirmed.

Mind you, I've modified my accent myself....

[endlessrarities.livejournal.com]

If a politician's going to write his memoirs, he/she should write it when he's in his eighties. History seems to be getting compressed these days. Instead of a lifetime, it becomes legit to navel-gaze when not even a generation has past. It's a bit yuk, I think...

Like so-called 'celebs' writing their autobiograhies while they're in their twenties or younger. WTF??

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I suppose they're afraid that if they leave it till they're in their eighties no-one- apart from the professional historians- will be particularly interested.