Blair

On the cover this week is an omnious photo of Tony Blair with the words "The Final Days of Tony Blair". The Leader article compares Blair's current situation with former Prime Minister Harold Wilson. Wilson resigned at the top of his game. Like a John Elway, a Jim Brown or a Walter Payton he went out while he was ahead. The Economist suggests that Blair do the same thing.

I love British politics, Prime Minister's Question Time and Tony Blair. He is well-spoken and well-educated, but is a proven political snake. Even his recent victory with his education reform bill, while some see as weakness, I see as a strength in his ability to get Conservatives to vote for the bill and save it from a Labour mutiny. I will admit that it does show that Blair's policies and reforms right now may not conform exactly with the beliefs of future Prime Minister Gordon Brown and those in the Labour Party that would rather pledge their allegance to him.

I think the suggestion of the Economist is reasonable. Tony Blair has been a great Prime Minister and his legacy should not be tarnished by staying in office too long, gettting involved in political squabbles. However, there is important work to be done and his ability to work with the Convservative party may allow him to build a coalition that will allow him to push through some amazing reforms as a "lame duck". Something his friend on this side of the Atlantic has not been able to do.



P.S. Wouldn't it be wonderful if Clinton and Blair got together after Blair retires. They could work towards some solutions for some of the world's most serious problems.