Is Blair ashamed to accept highest honour from US?

[emad]

August 27, 2005

Is Blair ashamed to accept highest honour from US?
From Tom Baldwin and Anna Stroman in Washington
Times


MORE than two years have elapsed since Tony Blair was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal for being a “staunch and steadfast ally” of the United States in the war on terror, but Downing Street yesterday said the Prime Minister still does not know when he will pick it up.

This exceptional 772-day delay is beginning to raise eyebrows in Washington, where suspicions are growing that Mr Blair wishes to avoid being photographed receiving America’s highest civilian honour from President Bush.

Members of the Prime Minister’s inner circle have privately told The Times they think he is unlikely to receive the medal until after he has left office, which could prevent the ceremony taking place until 2008 or even 2009.

There is always a time lag between the decision to award the medal and its presentation, because each must be designed and minted individually. But records stretch back more than 15 years before any recipient can be found who waited longer than Mr Blair. That was in 1989, when a very elderly Aaron Copland finally picked up his award for his contribution to music after 1,142 days.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,11069-1752414,00.html

[emad]

1. But The Mob's other blue eyed boy only waited 22 days (1997):

THE LONG WAIT

Aaron Copland
1,142 days (1989)

Jesse Owens
554 days (1990)

Mother Teresa of Calcutta
518 days (1998)

Gerald and Betty Ford
371 days (1999)

Charles Schulz
352 days (2001)

Harry S Truman
322 days (1985)

Walt Disney
305 days (1969)

John Wayne
285 days (1980)

Sir Winston Churchill
190 days (1969)

Pope John Paul II
165 days (2001)

Simon Wiesenthal
141 days (1980)

Nelson Mandela
56 days (1998)

Frank Sinatra
22 days (1997)
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,11069-1752414,00.html

[Turbineguy]

2. I suspect

Mr. Copland was waiting for Ronald Reagan to leave.

[dogday]

3. Frank got off on that stuff

Visits from the President, medals etc, he really loved it. It really pissed him off when Kennedy cut off all ties with him....

[JohnyCanuck]

4. The real reward Tony won't delay in accepting

will be a prized ex-Prime Ministers' seat on the Carlyle Group's board of directors.

[CountAllVotes]

5. awwwwwwwwwwwwwww poor Tony

What, poodle boy not happy?

Awwwwwwwwwwwwwww .......

That's what Poodle boy gets for playing cards with the wrong person.

:nopity: cry me a river Poodle, :nopity: cry me a fucking river PIG.

:kick:

[leesa]

6. I'm ashamed that we're giving it to this war criminal.

[kitty1]

7. He knows what's going down with Iran and he doesn't want to....

be associated with the man who is going to be bringing about Armageddon.

[daleo]

8. He should get a silver dog collar

With a little bell on it. And a nice water dish.

[NYC]

9. Thank you, daleo.

:hi:

[daleo]

10. No problem.

I always like to take a shot at Blair, who richly deserves it.

[emad]

11. What, no rhinestone leash?

Always thought his relationship with shrub was totally S&M...