Video: Parliament bids Blair farewell with standing ovation
posted at 9:13 am on June 27, 2007 by Allahpundit
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As Dubya so eloquently put it, “This guy can really . . . he can talk.” A nice scene in Parliament here this morning, one that Bush himself won’t be receiving in any guise, I expect. He’s already tendered his resignation to the Queen; Gordon Brown will be sworn in shortly. Click the image to watch.
He did say a word about Iraq before leaving:
Blair opened his comments by expressing condolences to the families of fallen soldiers, but said soldiers in Iraq are fighting for “the security of this country and the wider world.” And he described British troops as “the bravest and the best.”
A report issued yesterday by a think thank pointed to the British strategy in Basra as what not to do in transitioning Iraq from occupation to self-rule.
Here are a few of his greatest hits, assembled back in May when he set the date for his resignation. FYI, his appointment as lead Middle East envoy for “the Quartet” is almost a done deal. Exit question: He’s got a silver tongue and plenty of experience in peace negotiations thanks to his work in Northern Ireland, but is Tony Blair really a guy who’s going to inspire conciliation in Arabs right now?
Update: According to Bertie Ahern, Blair’s already accepted the position as envoy.
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I still want him to move to New York and run for mayor, where he’d be appreciated.
Number 2 on June 27, 2007 at 9:24 AM
I think the world of Mr. Blair. While we would probably get in a bar fight on social issues, he was there standing up with us when push came to shove. As far as M.E. envoy….well I can’t decide. Is this just another example of GW handing a friend a parachute? Would Dinnerjacket or Assad really take him seriously? He is one smart cookie so he might be the right guy for the job, but after Meiers, Chertoff, Gonzales and Brown I have to wonder what GW is thinking here.
Limerick on June 27, 2007 at 9:39 AM
Damn straight stand up. Showed quite a bit of chutzpah in his later years. Gutsy little Brit.
MadisonConservative on June 27, 2007 at 9:45 AM
Aye! Low skullduggery politics indeed Tony.
sonnyspats1 on June 27, 2007 at 9:50 AM
If Tony becomes our ME Envoy does that put him under the direction of Condi rice? I wonder how that will play out if it happens.
sonnyspats1 on June 27, 2007 at 10:01 AM
Tony Blair is a better and more loyal American than 50% of Republican politicians and 80% of Democrats.
Sugar Land on June 27, 2007 at 10:16 AM
If it makes you feel any better, I’m sure the Israelis don’t trust him, either. Too much pro-Palestinian rhetoric without leavening (which is prohibited only during Passover).
Attila (Pillage Idiot) on June 27, 2007 at 10:26 AM
Goodbye Tony – you were a good leader.
My only problem with Blair was his close relationship with Bill Clinton. How can you trust anybody who was so buddy-buddy with the slick one? I hope Blair took a good long shower with anti-scum soap after every encounter with Billy Boy.
OBX Pete on June 27, 2007 at 10:34 AM
I always forget Blair’s a liberal because I like him so much.
aero on June 27, 2007 at 10:58 AM
I wish Mr. Blair all the best. His dedication to his country is a rare commodity. His ablitity to work with President Clinton and President Bush goes to demonstrate his effectiveness as a world leader.
NORBZ1 on June 27, 2007 at 11:10 AM
Three Cheers for Tony Blair.
He was a great friend to America. I will never forget him sitting in the audience when Bush addressed Congress after 9-11.
A great man.
gatewaypundit on June 27, 2007 at 11:23 AM
The man certainly had class. And he had guts to stand for what he believed which is certainly more than can be said for some in this country. We would have our differences – but at least he understood one of the greatest issues of our lifetime. Much respect.
whatthecrap on June 27, 2007 at 11:25 AM
I can’t warn people about this enough. People lump us in with Truthers when we say the whole “global warming” thing is all about creating a New World Order… but not only do we recognize that, but it’s proponents have said it, what do you think Kyoto was a stepping stone to, and to cherry on top is that this Brown states that this is exactly what needs to be done to combat global warming:
http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=070312082025.2ra592h4&show_article=1
These aren’t just misguided environmentalists folks.
RightWinged on June 27, 2007 at 11:27 AM
Tony the Tiger….He was Grrrrrrrrrrrrrreat! Bush on the other hand has turned into a soggy bowl of flake!
soulsirkus on June 27, 2007 at 11:41 AM
Hip, Hip Hurrahh! For Tony Blair the British Bulldog…
robo on June 27, 2007 at 11:58 AM
Little? At just over 6ft, he’s taller than the average American male!
cardindex7 on June 27, 2007 at 12:00 PM
Where can I find a video clip of Tony Blair’s speech to congress?
I couldn’t find it on c-span website.
Actium on June 27, 2007 at 12:06 PM
According to Britain, all Americans are cowboys from Texas.
And everything’s bigger in Texas!
MadisonConservative on June 27, 2007 at 12:11 PM
I’ll miss the old chap as a world leader but I’m sure we’ll be hearing more from him in the future. As our strongest ally, he certainly demonstrated strong character by not cracking under the pressure he was getting at home. No doubt his alliance with Bush cost him his role as PM.
thedecider on June 27, 2007 at 1:19 PM
Even though domestically he did a lot wrong. Tony Blair was a stand up guy and I wish him well. He does not deserve to be thrust into the middle East dealing with the lunatics of Hamas. I’ll bet that Cherie Blair will revert to her left wing roots soon.
Hilts on June 27, 2007 at 1:53 PM
the question has to be, did the Commons give TB a standing O because they wanted to give props for his service, erratic though it may have been, or were they simply cheering the fact that he is leaving #10?
my 5 -pound note is on the former not the latter. but i could be wrong.
Mike D. on June 27, 2007 at 2:55 PM
Blair took a beating and kept fighting on the Iraq issue, for that alone he’s got my respect. I think a lot of people forgot he was/is a social liberal. Didn’t come up much on this side of the pond.
PowWow on June 27, 2007 at 3:29 PM
Britain has an alliance with America. What was he supposed to do?
aengus on June 27, 2007 at 3:52 PM
Unfortunately, few have contributed to the state of Dhimmitude in Britain in face of all the Muslim activites there to the extent that he has. While his support in Iraq may be appreicated, point remains that thanks to him, the US had to delay dealing with Iran’s nuke (since Britain was 1 of the 3 nations negotiating with Iran, the others being France and Germany), while Britain itself has become an unsafe place for Jews, Sikhs, Hindus, thanks to the policy of appeasement of Muslims by Labour.
I’m rooting for the BNP to take over, nect time around.
infidelpride on June 27, 2007 at 4:45 PM
End of an era. Like Margaret, he made his mark, and now he moves on to other things. May Great Britain profit from his wisdom and learn from his (few) mistakes.
Good on yer’, Tony!
thejackal on June 27, 2007 at 9:12 PM
The world has few gutsy men at this critical time. This is one of them, and he’s not leaving the world stage.
No, and I fear for his life – however, he’ll represent Europe, Israel and the U.S. well, and for that I’m very thankful. And, he’ll communicate – something desperately missing from this W.H. and surprisingly from the state dept.
Entelechy on June 27, 2007 at 10:08 PM
Not fond of his domestic…let’s say “ineffectiveness,” but damn, did he know how to watch a friend’s back. Thank you, Mr. Blair, for your support of of a friend in need.
In thanking him, I also thank every last UK soldier/sailor/airman for helping us. Many of you have sacrificed for what may seem nothing if you watch American news channels, but your trials and sacrifices have not gone unnoticed by me. Thank you, and may God bless you in your efforts.
Here’s a toast to Mr. Blair and the UK troops fighting with us!! (Ironically, it’s Stongbow cider I’m toasting with).
American_Jihadist on June 27, 2007 at 10:34 PM
If I recall correctly, Rubert Murdock offered Mr. Blair a job once he left office.
- The Cat
MirCat on June 27, 2007 at 10:52 PM
He was consistent, and as far as can be seen without inside information, he governed as he believed. He didn’t cave in on issues of principle, and never reversed course on foreign policy.
None of that to say that his choices were all correct, just that you knew what you were getting when you dealt with him, and isn’t that what we want most in a national leader? Transparency and consistency.
I hope he keeps his hand in play, he’s an asset to Great Britain, and to the cause of liberty globally.
Freelancer on June 28, 2007 at 1:51 AM
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