A Question for the Brits
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Roxanne Appleby
Masterpiece
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"The cemeteries of the world are filled with indispensable men."
Winston Churchill
(Sorry, I'm not a Brit, but Winnie's words are always worth remembering.)
Winston Churchill
(Sorry, I'm not a Brit, but Winnie's words are always worth remembering.)
matriarch
Rotund retiree
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When Tony Blair first won the election, it was a wonderful relief to get rid of the damn tories....he was a breath of fresh air, new ideas, new personalities.
Towards the end, he lost the plot a bit, but I still respect all the things he and his government did to make life better for some. In the absence of a Social Democrat government, labour was the next best thing. Anything better than a Tory one.
Gordon Brown was an incredibly good Chancellor, and after his 10 years in the position the economy in Britain has never been better (overall, as a country, not talking about individuals - there will always be those in need).
Unfortunately, I don't think he has it in him to be a very sympathetic PM. I hope I'm wrong, but I don't think so.
Towards the end, he lost the plot a bit, but I still respect all the things he and his government did to make life better for some. In the absence of a Social Democrat government, labour was the next best thing. Anything better than a Tory one.
Gordon Brown was an incredibly good Chancellor, and after his 10 years in the position the economy in Britain has never been better (overall, as a country, not talking about individuals - there will always be those in need).
Unfortunately, I don't think he has it in him to be a very sympathetic PM. I hope I'm wrong, but I don't think so.
Brown first: he's not got off to a very goods start, one might have thought ten years of power might have taught him something about presentation. Apparently not. He's intent on dismantling Blair's political empire, acting a little childish, without realising he's been an important part of that same empire. Above all, his political immaturity bothers me more than anything else about him.
Brown lacks Blair's charisma, at least, that is the face he presents, whether he has a 'touchy feely' part to his character will emerge after he's attended a few EU and World summits, earlier reports suggest he's excellent at curing insomnia.
To answer your other questions: I'm sorry Blair feels the need to step down, I'm sorrier that it is his own party that has forced him to make the decision. He has aged dramatically in the last four years and possibly health issues played a small part in his decision. The real mistake was to allow an agreement between the two to become public, it shows a good deal of naivity, on the other hand Labour had been out of government for 18 (?) years and might have been expected to act naively - it was certainly in evidence in the early years, courting the pop world, actors and artists is not quite what the British expect from their politicians.
Will Britain suffer negatively?: I doubt it. Our economy is in good shape and speaks louder than politics.
Brown lacks Blair's charisma, at least, that is the face he presents, whether he has a 'touchy feely' part to his character will emerge after he's attended a few EU and World summits, earlier reports suggest he's excellent at curing insomnia.
To answer your other questions: I'm sorry Blair feels the need to step down, I'm sorrier that it is his own party that has forced him to make the decision. He has aged dramatically in the last four years and possibly health issues played a small part in his decision. The real mistake was to allow an agreement between the two to become public, it shows a good deal of naivity, on the other hand Labour had been out of government for 18 (?) years and might have been expected to act naively - it was certainly in evidence in the early years, courting the pop world, actors and artists is not quite what the British expect from their politicians.
Will Britain suffer negatively?: I doubt it. Our economy is in good shape and speaks louder than politics.
ishtat
Literotica Guru
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!
If Blair had gone by 2003 the notices would have been favourable. Iraq and his ass kissing of Bush has earned him a degree of (justified?) contempt. In the end many Brits began to see him as a dishonest spin merchant. His reputation in UK is much lower than overseas.
So far as Brown is concerned, keeping UK out of the Euro was brilliant as was handing over the setting of interest rates to the Bank of England. His taxation of Pension fund earnings has however impoverished many in the lower middle income groups but not enough to effect him politically. Intellectually he is much smarter than Blair but probably lacks Blair's touchy feely instincts.
Having lived in UK and the USA I can say that the Brits have a much more cynical view of politicians than Americans (truly!!) and that in the past an ex prime ministers chief characteristic was his "exness" He doesn't count any more and that at least seems a laudable tradition.
If Blair had gone by 2003 the notices would have been favourable. Iraq and his ass kissing of Bush has earned him a degree of (justified?) contempt. In the end many Brits began to see him as a dishonest spin merchant. His reputation in UK is much lower than overseas.
So far as Brown is concerned, keeping UK out of the Euro was brilliant as was handing over the setting of interest rates to the Bank of England. His taxation of Pension fund earnings has however impoverished many in the lower middle income groups but not enough to effect him politically. Intellectually he is much smarter than Blair but probably lacks Blair's touchy feely instincts.
Having lived in UK and the USA I can say that the Brits have a much more cynical view of politicians than Americans (truly!!) and that in the past an ex prime ministers chief characteristic was his "exness" He doesn't count any more and that at least seems a laudable tradition.
scheherazade_79
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I'm really going to miss Tony. Didn't always agree with his policies, but he gave the impression that even when he fucked up big time, it was always with the best intentions.
He was a good leader. I didn't feel embarrassed to have him representing the UK at international conferences and political gatherings.
As far as Gordon goes... I dunnow. He's just so austere. You kind of half expect him to ban alcohol, or cohabiting, or gay rights. When I picture him at home, he doesn't sit on an armchair or sofa - he has a wooden church pew... And he doesn't watch the TV at night, either - instead he reads the Bible.
I know he's not like that, but that's the impression he gives.
I'm not a Tory nor Labour supporter, but I think David Cameron would make the better PM. Gordon has no personality.
He was a good leader. I didn't feel embarrassed to have him representing the UK at international conferences and political gatherings.
As far as Gordon goes... I dunnow. He's just so austere. You kind of half expect him to ban alcohol, or cohabiting, or gay rights. When I picture him at home, he doesn't sit on an armchair or sofa - he has a wooden church pew... And he doesn't watch the TV at night, either - instead he reads the Bible.
I know he's not like that, but that's the impression he gives.
I'm not a Tory nor Labour supporter, but I think David Cameron would make the better PM. Gordon has no personality.
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