Blair opens secret talks to build bridges with Kerry

[cal04]

Tony Blair has secretly opened negotiations with John Kerry in an attempt to repair his damaged relations with the US Democratic presidential candidate.

At least one British minister has privately met senior campaign officials as part of a concerted effort to build bridges with the senator in recent weeks.

And in a further sign of thawing relations, Mr Blair is expected to give his blessing for a number of Labour MPs to attend Mr Kerry's "coronation" at the Democrat convention next month.

Peter Hain, the Leader of the House, has been sanctioned by Mr Blair to hold talks with senior members of the Kerry campaign during a visit to Washington this month.

http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/politics/story.jsp?story=528727

[Lucky Luciano]

1. So what is the secret?

Sounds like he is having open talks with Kerry! Also, this is a good sign. Blair would not do this unless he thought Kerry could win!

[tritsofme]

2. You would normally open relations with the opposition candidate

in an election, or with both candidates when there is no incumbent.

[Lucky Luciano]

3. You are probably right.

[Senior citizen]

4. If Kerry is talking with Blair, I doubt if Kerry would want

anyone to know that he's even considering helping Blair survive politically after Blair messed up so badly. My guess is that Blair would want his overtures to be secret because he's not sure if Kerry would be magnanimous enough to accept them. But in showing the world that Kerry can repair our relations with other countries as well as our reputation in the world, Blair is doing the right thing for a change. My guess is that as soon as Great Britain gets rid of Blair, for having played lackey to a chimp, Kerry will establish good relations with the new leadership.

[Lucky Luciano]

7. My point is that there is obviously no "secret" meeting

if it is being discussed here!

And I really do hope Kerry can repair the damage done. If I were president, then the first thing I would offer is an apology to the rest of the world and to say that "...what the previous administration had done does not reflect my values or the values of the American people - the proof is that they elected me. It is time to unite as people of the world again and I pledge to do my best to repair our sullied reputation by being truly just and ending arrogant unilateralism."

Of course this would not be politically correct to sayin a Washingtonian sense. It could alienate Kerry from the right in Congress and stymie him from getting his agenda through, but it would be cool to say!

[lastknowngood]

5. To hell with Blair let him burn in hell with his master

n/t

[salin]

6. Hope that Kerry and his folks are wary

Blair helped bush in the midterm elections. The bushies needed to push the war vote before the elections... but couldn't be too overt. Suddenly... Blair starts carrying the water - rushes out two dodgy dossiers (one plagerized from a grad student on data from pre gulf war, the other with the infamous sexed up 45 minute threat among other dubious claims)... gets the whole stage set for the IWR vote and the pre-midterm election set up against the democrats.

Blair continues to play the bush tune (still claiming those WMDs are yet to be found... but are there...) There has been speculation that he has been arm twisted into this situatin - and that could be the case. But he has already worked against the democrats - and I, were I the Kerry folks, proceed with great caution and skepticism - while being gracious on the surface.

Btw, didn't Blair forbid some Labor politicians from meeting with and supporting Kerry's efforts? Wasn't that just a couple of months ago? I know at least one DUer still believes that Blair's actions are in support of US democrats... but Blair has yet to actually act in such a way. A snake is a snake - and if the snake thinks his fortunes, for better or worse, are tied to the other guy... meet with him but don't let him let close enough to sink his fangs in... or at least have a healthy supply of antivenom closeby.

[truebrit71]

8. Fuck the poodle.

He's a disgrace to his party, and a bigger disgrace to his country.