Posted on 11/12/2004 2:06:43 PM PST by Uncledave
Blair appears to cringe at 'poodle' query
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
WASHINGTON -- It was the last question Prime Minister Tony Blair wanted asked, and he seemed to cringe as President Bush answered it.
"The prime minister is sometimes, perhaps unfairly, characterized in Britain as your poodle," began the questioner at a joint appearance by the two leaders Friday at the White House. "I was wondering if that's the way you may see your relationship? And perhaps, more seriously, do you feel for the -"
Blair broke in: "Don't answer 'yes' to that question," he mockingly admonished Bush, prompting laughter.
Joking aside, Bush offered a serious answer.
"Plenty capable of making his own mind. He's a strong, capable man," the president said. "When times get tough he doesn't wilt. You know, when the criticism starts to come his way - I suspect that might be happening on occasion - he stands for what he believes in."
An endorsement of his leadership qualities from the American president, no matter how hearty, is of little help to Blair.
A wide section of the British public deeply dislikes Bush, viewing him as a unilateralist. The detention of four Britons without trial at Guantanamo Bay, his refusal to sign the Kyoto global warming protocol, his rejection of an international criminal court, and his invasion of Iraq without a specific green light from the United Nations add to his unpopularity.
Blair's critics are unlikely to be swayed from their conviction that the prime minister doggedly follows U.S. foreign policy without exerting any real influence.
No wonder Blair appeared a bit uncomfortable. Still, he couldn't resist offering a little self-defense.
"As long as I remain prime minister of our country it will carry on being strong - not because that's in the interests of America simply or in the interests of the international community, but because I believe passionately it is in the interest of Britain," Blair said.
Mr Blair, As an American, you have my complete admiration. You exemplify Integrity.
Thank you for being our ally.
It's funny. The four reasons this reporter gives for Bush's unpopularity in Britain are four of the reasons he is such a great leader. That we refuse to accept a Eurocentric view of US interests absolutely drives the Euros and our traiterous MSM nuts.
Wow!! I love the editorialized comments!
I could easily say this 'reporter' appears in a snit because Blair & Bush are genuine allies, verbally slammed the press, and probably is still suffering a hangover since Bush was re-elected.
Blair and Bush are my heros. No one is going to ever remember this reporter 100 years from now.
I don't get your Milwaukee reference
"I would answer that question by saying that some of the British media are, perhaps unfairly, characterized as being the poodles of Labour and the socialist left. I was wondering if that's the way you may see your relationship?"
ping
My sympathy to the real British who have to deal with these morons much as we have to deal with out own "rodent" problem.
A clearly biased, yet pointless, question.
Someone from the London Times.
I think they answered his moronic question as well as could be expected. Afterwards, however, they should have had the Secret Service detain this clown on the way out and beat the S$!t out of him.
Now, now. Britain has it's damfools just like we do. And they are our strongest and best ally alongside Australia.
This reporter was from The Times if I heard correctly. They usually have a left bent to their vision. Something like this from The Telegraph would have been even more disappointing.
A lot of the Brit press that I saw at that presser today epitomized smarmy. And cheap.
Prairie
I smell troll.
why?
Agree. A rude jerk.
I bet this reporter also thinks a "statesman" was buried in a Middle East sand trap today.
A unilateralist...how horrid. If the man would have just signed some crooked oil deals with Saddam and slipped Yasser a few bucks under the table, we could have had him over for cocktails and all would be well.
Europe isn't serious enough to avoid being conquered by Islam.
sorry. misinterpretation of the post. my bad.
my sentiments exactly
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.