Talking about NI.

"A Jack of all trades, - and a Master of none!"

Quite noticeably the problems of the Middle East, have increased substantially since Blair's theory of non-intervention as a road to a peaceful solution appears to have problems in the implementation!

Like a spoiled child with a surfeit of toys, his attention span seems very short-term, - but then his real goal is that permanent EU Presidency.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, he now presumes to lecture, preach, and no doubt to proselytize, to others on the joys of religion and it's effects on the global economy.

They do say that there is none so passionate or bigoted, as the recently converted, it is certainly the case with the 'born again' non-smoking fraternity, an surely applies equally to the religious convert, - how many months ago was his conversion to Catholicism?

Now he turns to something where he can see an even bigger opportunity to 'trouser some extra cash', for little effort. He sees his soul-mate Gore doing his snake-oil salesman's act, and thinks, - no,- he knows, he can do just as well, so he joins the Master of the Scam, as a partner or as an apprentice, is yet to be seen.

I think both would be wise to count their fingers and check for watch and wallet after any face-to-face meetings!

Surprising how true so many old sayings still have a ring of truth about them - in this case; "Bird's of a feather flock together!"

Among Blair's astonishing repertoire of skills is an unsuspected academic ability. He has been appointed a Howland Distinguished Fellow at Yale University - where he will lecture on how religion can help reconciliation.

Is there no end to the versatility of Tony Proteus Blair ?

Here is one of my favorite Blair Moments

However like Bill Clinton, Blair does not have the taste and dignity to fade away like past leaders are supposed to do. Him and Billy boy are going to make Carter look good by the end of their days

While we are all watching the doings of one of the amateur architects of NuLabour's social and fiscal strategy,

Gosh, do I take from the above that Tony Blair isn't all that well liked on ATW? :0)

While we are all watching the doings of one of the amateur architects of NuLabour's social and fiscal strategy, and marvelling at his ability to 'multi task', the real tragedy of his gross ineptitude is playing out on the global financial stage. His partner - the one they call Prudence, is now sitting in the political equivalent of an electric chair.

The collapse and tentative rescue today of one of the major American banks may well give the simpletons among us a cheap thrill, until you really appreciate just what it means for all of us.

"The global contagion from America has been fitful so far, with lethal bursts followed by bouts of eerie calm, just like 1930. Canada has stalled. Japan is teetering on the edge of recession. Tokyo's stock market has suffered the worst New Year slide since World War Two, led by Honda, Sony and the export giants that live off the US market. The Nikkei index is down a third since July. The Shanghai bourse has dropped even harder. China is having to jam on the brakes to curb inflation."

"No open economy can avoid the ugly fall-out of an American slump. Yet Britain is doubly at risk. It duplicated the errors of the US bubble, and must suffer the same fate. The UK is merely nine months behind. America tipped last autumn.

This then is the darkening world closing in on Mr Darling. He has few defences. The Brown spending spree over the last five years has led to the worst deterioration in public finances of any major country, according to Standard & Poor's.

British household debt is 103pc of GDP, 'surpassing the highs seen in America at the peak of the credit boom.'

One can only blush at Mr Darling's claim that Britain has the "most stable" economy among the big powers.

Coupled with all the 'off balance sheet " and other tricky accounting tricks used by Brown, our national debt and liabilities are in excess of 150 billion pounds, that is three times the 'official deficit', as declared by the Chancellor.

I think all the 'green penalties and taxes' to get us all to be better citizens will be totally unnecessary when the perfect fiscal storm hits these shores. Perhaps relative poverty will achieve what diktat failed to do.

At Blair's insistence we put all our eggs in one basket, basing much of our fiscal prudence and faith in the financial sector, and at the expense of what little manufacturing capability we retained after the Tory sell-off. To call it a 'service based economy' just had to be a joke!

Blair's legacy - a broken decrepit economy, and a reputation for being 'one slippery son-of-a-bitch'

DT Link

Dawkins,

What is there to like?

Well, he was/is less of an adulterer than John Major—he who gave the expression curry favour a whole new meaning :0)

Dawkins,

I suppose you are correct there - as far as we know!, although I really cannot imagine any politician without at least one skeleton in the cupboard.

Whatever did she see in Major, - the ultimate 'grey man'? just shows, you cannot judge a book by it's cover, - he must have had Seinfelds 'special move'. :-)