Mr. Blair goes to Washington

[TimMooring]

The bush/Blair press conference this morning can be summarized as: umpteenth verse - same as the first. Even bushes welcome message compounded Blair's image problem. "Laura and I are pleased to welcome Prime Minister Blair, or as I like to call him Tony". I knew that Blair had picked up on bushes awkward glad-handing and would attempt to smooth the moment. He didn't disappoint: "Thank you George and Laura - blah, blah". Blair just can't help it. In contrast to bush he comes off as a genuinely empathetic human being. But their interaction only served to confirm his role as another pooper-scooper for bush. Unfortunately for both of them, recent events appear to have so emboldened the press that they asked direct, tough questions. Responses from the dynamic-duo were squirrellier than ever. When it was over I didn't know if they were going to reenter the WH or scoot up the nearest tree.

[BillZBubb]

1. Yap, Yap, Yap goes the Poodle!

BLiar is a joke. It's amazing how low the Brits have sunk.

[Endangered Specie]

2. Maybe the Liberal party will get some disgruntled labour vote

[DeepModem Mom]

3. Commentary from Sky News UK For. Affairs Ed. afterward --

He said it wasn't so much a press conference as "burning rubber," with no second questions or follow-ups. He said Bush and Blair are facing a "failure as big as Vietnam," and the jury is still out. He said the U.S. has no Iraq strategy, but is like a "punch-drunk boxer," fighting back, but not sure to make all fifteen rounds. He said Bush and Blair presented a united front.

I thought Tony was off his game, and not making sense. I think he may have finally passed the point where his eloquence can serve him as he explains and defends his alliance with George Bush and his policies.