Prime Minister of United Kingdom, address to Joint Session of Congress, 7/17/2003 13:00 PDT (Full transcript – courtesy of New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2003/07/17/international/worldspecial/17WEB-BTEX.html?position=&pagewanted=print&position= ) (Rerun in C-SPAN tomorrow morning around 3:00 AM PDT, 6:00 EDT)

I was going to apologize to other members about introducing a political topic to this board once again, but I will follow Blair’s advice on this one

What a speech!!!  I feel proud to be an American and an Anglophile!  After a few weeks of intense hobbying while avoiding all serious news, I am glad that I caught Blair’s speech live this afternoon on FNC.

I am proud of America because for almost a century, US are the vanguard of individualism and the bulwark against the tides of tyranny and totalitarism.  People in Europe and East Asia are largely free because of many sacrifices by US.

I am proud of America because through its stance on market economy and free trade, hundreds of millions of people around the world have better lives than any time in the history of human race.

I am proud of America because of its generosity towards foreign students and immigrants, millions like me get the chance to follow their dreams, free of shackles of traditions and the ways of the old worlds.

I am proud of America because of its courage to right the wrong of its past and set the example of a multi-racial society for the rest of the world to follow.

I can go on and on but the last but not the least reason I am proud of America – the freedom it offers me to go anywhere and do almost anything I want.  (Compare to Europe, US is more puritan especially relating to sex.  Then again, there are much less class and social status consciousness in US than the rest of the world.)

Now, back to more hottie hunting.

as the next Churchill ... believe me!

i'm not one for politix on this board (well, maybe within reason, and certainly as long as *I* talk about it then it's definitely ok) but i will say this with all due brevity:

Tony Blair can be MY friggin' president ANY DAY! (*)

regardless of your views, he's a standup guy with real VALUES and a solid (as opposed to shaky/flexible/for-sale!) moral and ethical foundation.


--

(*) Footnote: what am i saying, just about ANYONE is welcome to be my president! LOL


[don flak-jacket, insert ear-plugs, seek shelter]

The job he's obviously been going for is Governor of our 51st state.

Reon't ever apologize for your values. Tell the world why you're proud of America. – Tony Blair

Spec, you & I feel much the same about political discussion on these boards, but in this case I thought I'd chime in & thank you for the post.  

I didn't catch the speech, but regardless of what was said in total, but if we're talking only about pride in this country & why there are reasons for it, I agree wholeheartedly with your sentiments.  

I've been around long enough to remember many administrations, never agreeing completely with any of them, but also not letting that get in the way of how I feel about having been fortunate to have been born in this country not the pride I feel in what we've done from almost our inception.  Is what we've done always been perfect?  Absolutely not!  But what nation can lay claim to perfection?  And if the US had somehow adopted & made work (in strictly our own selfish interests) an isolationist policy, would the rest of the world have been better or worse off?

We as a nation are who & what our citizens are, not who our political leaders of the moment happen to be...we transcend them---always have & hopefully always will.

They are EVIL.  They aren't quite American.  They aren't quite British.  They aren't quite French.  They are totally EVIL.  See for yourself.  The truth is out there.

... she's totally freakin' HOT!  LOL

------ [excerpt] ---------------------

General Claire is the founder of what state-approved scholars term "modern Realpolitik" or "Happy Think". She brings a loving and caring aesthetic to totalitarian government. Understanding the need for the world's non-Canuck portion to become civilized through Canadian missionary/military work, General Claire is passionate about bringing the joys of Canadian rule to the uninitiated. General Claire is usually the spokestyrant for CWD as she is more comfortable with the adoring public than her counterpart.

General Claire enjoys cooking, watching television, and falconry.

Blair knows where his bread is buttered.

While other posts on this subject are amusing (General Claire IS hot, BTW...she can conquer me anyday!) or almost nostalgic sounding in the way they choose to focus on the upside and gloss over the downside of American greatness (and I agree, this IS a great country, in many ways...and certainly stronger than any other), I would like to point out something that I am sure will invite many intense flames:  

George W. Bush is directly responsible for the termination of close to 15,000 human lives, Iraqi or not, from an invasion (not a war) that was in no way, shape or form "necessary" to our national security, and most of the citizens of this country bought the lies and sanctioned it, or were too busy watching "American Idol" to care.

Okay, guys...tell me how wrong I am and how I don't deserve to live in this great country with our great president.  As Radiohead says, "Hail to the Thief!".

BTW, anyone who thinks Canada wants to be the 51st has not been paying attention to their media of late.  Canadian opinion of the American government is at an all-time low...but who cares about a bunch of Canucks anyway, right?

And I suppose FDR was responsible for the loss of 10's of thousands of lives during WWII for (finally) standing up to tyranny.  If you have any question about whether or not we should have been in Iraq, or Afghanistan for that matter, ask: the families of ANYONE that died on 9/11; any Chaldeon; any emigrant from Iraq.  You probably think it's all about the oit, too, don't you?  God bless George Bush, and God bless you, too.  You have every right to live here and voice what ever opinion you wish, no matter how misguided it may be.

Blair is principled enough to grit his teeth, bend over, split apart his cheeks and grudgingly accept an international (not to mention home front) royal "reaming" all while standing in line at the soup kitchen this great land of ours has become. perhaps he's doing it for the future preservation of Anglo-American relations or perhaps because he has some ingrained opposition to tyrrany (yes tyrrany!) ... that stupid bastard!  one thing is for sure, no one can say that he did it to win over the love of his voters or to advance the cause of the Labour Party [sic]

OTOH,

Bush HAS no principles. at least none that can't be purchased by the Republican Party Headquarters at Springfiled {Bob Dole, Krusty the Clown, Mr. Burns, Count Chocula, Dr. Hibbert, Rainier Wolfcastle and the little green alien!}


--- [another lame attempt at political humour [sic] ---

Q: What is the TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE?
A: Dubya's secret codename for his administration's plans for that National Arctic Wildlife Refuge in Alaska


(*) this post is flame-proof since it came with a disclaimer in the heading.


[OK Computer]

Reon't let those shifty Canadians lull you into a false sense of security.

Ah yes, token military spending, decriminalizing pot, legalizing gay marriages, you're buying Shania's & Avril's CDs and Celine Dion is in Vegas.. it's all coming together..

-Anya

PS How can you not like a country whose national symbol is a BEAVER?

can not hold by law. The President of the United States who ever he or she may be, MUST be native born as in born in any of the fifty states.

Now if it could be conclusively proven that TB was born anywhere in the US, and then was immediatly sent to GB for the rest of his life, that would be different but somehow I doubt that is the case.

Now if the "Swartzenegger Amendement" to the Constitution were ever passed then that wojld be different.

Have a good one!

He doesn't give a crap about the UK, only himself. He sells out any minister who disagrees with him, disregards his advisors if they disagree with him and thinks himself above the law. His 'policies' are destroying the UK but, like Gov Davis, he believes he is indestructable and heaven-sent correct.

In my recent trip home I did not find one person who had anything decent to say about him and all my friends are socialist/labor party supporters.

So please, if you all love him so much, please keep him.

-- Modified on 7/18/2003 10:24:24 AM

having ordered a gangland Mafia-style "hit" on that overly-critical weapons-inspector that they just dug up, eh?

if you are so PROUDLY and defiantly critical of Tony Blair why use a handle?  why not give us your true TER username?

i routinely criticize (the CRAP) out of "my" president and i'm PROUD of what i say and why i say it and in fact ... my very RIGHT to say it (without hiding my "shame" or "guilt")

why wouldn't you be?  

just curious really.

Reon't ever apologize for your values. Tell the world why you're proud of America. – Tony Blair

At the very least, Bush should fire his speechwriter and ask Blair to borrow his.  Just when the media seems to finally hit a soft spot with the faulty intel, Blair comes in and makes the whole argument seem REALLY small in comparison to the global good it achieved.  George, let Blair do the talking and you play the Clint Eastwood strong silent type.  He's better at the talking thing.

Do you get the feeling that somewhere Dan Quayle is banging his head against the wall?

If I may give my opinion, It's not about the oil. It's all about Israel. Iraq happened because Israel feels Iraq is a threat to them. 9/11(bless their souls, and there families)happened because the arab world is sick of our intervining in the Arab/Israeli conflict.
I feel the US should stop aiding Israel, & the many nations that we have to "buy" there cooperation, and instead focus our energy, & money to the people here in the states.
Also we must stop our open immigration policy. It's draining our few remaining resources.

I used the Brit alias since that is my chat alias that everyone knows me by, and it explained I was British without having to type the same. Anyway, for what its worth, here is my username.

Its funny that it is impossible to criticise Mr Blair in this country without being attacked. Doesn't matter if its in public or on a bulletin board.

Anyway, since this is a forum on the noble hobby of escorting I'll keep my opinions to myself in future.

no, by all means don't. all opinions are welcome. truly.

FWIW, i'll give you my own knee-jerk reaction (aka thought process!) to your statement:

that this is yet another (possibly) American politico masquerading as a Brit in order to blast TB. when i checked to see if you had any posts on National and SD boards and realized there were none, i was almost sure of it. of course, i wouldn't know about chat rooms cuz i'm seldom if ever there.


but this REALLY intrigues me. you (and even here on this board, Carrie i believe) and most other Brits i know in "real life" (and that's quite many btw) do in fact seem to be virulently anti-TB. i guess i con't understand it.

i'm willing to believe that as an "outsider" there are things about him that we (Americans) don't know (that you guys do) and the fact that he stood by the US when all the UN shit started to hit the fan allowed him to score huge points with ordinary folks in THIS country, just as he was losing points with his own party. but just what is it that you guys know? can you tell us?


you know i like to think i'm a bit more well-informed than the average joe six-pack pro-Bush NRA-card-carrying pickup-truck-driving gun-rack-toating trailer-park-living Southern-flag-waving beer-guzzling baseball-cap-wearing hotdog-eating NASCAR-maniac WMD-crazed Republican-party Fallwell-praying "Bambi-hunting" - won't you PLEASE STOP ME before i offend *everyone* - and OTHERS! LOL

heck, i even believe the one PBS documentary i watched ("Blair's War") entitles me to pontificate willy-nilly on his virtues and merits and look down my nose like an assinine snob at every single person in this world that just happened not to have had the chance to check out TV guide that night and watch that damned documentary!  

LOL

hey, just be glad you don't know the REAL me!  


cheers!


oh wait ...

Ta Ta For Now!

Please forgive him for immediately attacking you as some sort of ringer when you disagreed with him. But after observing a number of his posts it is fairly typical.  Much like a politician as opposed to really wanting to examine why you disagreed with him it is just simpler to demonize the opposition and ascribe all sorts of offensive motives to your beliefs.

Please understand that not everyone in this country feels that way and feel free to express your opinions on this board.



-- Modified on 7/18/2003 2:52:09 PM

cuz evidently no amount of self-deprecating "humour" [SIC] will do




or




you tell me!

Singleton, it must be another really slow day.

if only my boss knew ... but knowing him, he's probably right here on this board! LOL

hence the need for the "subterfuge"

Reon't ever apologize for your values. Tell the world why you're proud of America. – Tony Blair

Interesting header.  It's indeed true that Tony Blair is telling the world why he's proud to be an American.  Maybe that's why he's so much more popular here than in Britain.

But on to serious matters.  It's becoming increasingly clear that all the pre-war justifications for invading Iraq were lies.  Beyond the current furor over the non-existent uranium, how about the rest of the WMD?  Too bad the roles of Afganistan and Iraq weren't reversed.  Afganistan has all those nice isolated mountain passes where some could plausibly be planted.  Open desert is harder.

Certainly there once were such weapons.  GW ought to know.  His daddy was head of CIA, and later VP when our country sent them to Iraq to be used against Iran.  Could it be that Hussein actually complied with those old UN resolutions and dismantled them?  Or would you rather believe he shipped them to the neighbor with whom he had such a long history of friendship and cooperation: Iran?  That's what GW would have us believe, and Mr. Blair can provide the convincing oratory.

I await your response, oh master of the argument ad hominim.

Oh, and Bob71466, if launching a war based on a bunch of lies is "REALLY small", just what is REALLY big?

Reon't ever apologize for your values. Tell the world why you're proud of America. – Tony Blair

I never gave a shit if any of the reasons given for Gulf War 2.0 were legitimate or not.  We finally finished what Bush the Elder should have done 12 years ago.  If you think it was easy this time, we were already through his forces last time.  All we had to do was keep driving to Baghdad.  Kind of like we did this time anyway.

Hussein was given many more than the zero opportunities he should have received to stay in power after Gulf War 1.0.  He spent 12 years playing cat and mouse with the U.N.  If he had nothing to hide, he should have bitten his lip and let the inspectors do their jobs.  Instead, he tried to act like the U.S. and defied the U.N. whenever he felt like it.  The nerve of some people.

I thought 12 years ago that we should have driven an M1A1 Abrams Main Battle Tank right up Saddam's hairy ass.  I was all for it this year as well.  I didn't, and still don't, agree with doing it without the consent of the U.N.  This war could be the beginning of the end for the U.N., a castration of it's power, a new era of American Isolationism, or a slippery slope into Imperialism.  Only one thing can be said with certainty.  The world will change.  It always is.

Just be glad you live in a country where your statements didn't result in your death.