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Blair to win EU presidency

Posted by James Macintyre - 19 November 2009 11:50

An unlikely punt

Will Blair come through at the 11th hour? Credit: Getty Images

Predictions: a mug's game. Particularly when you're going against the grain of media and political consensus. But blogs are nothing if not controversial, so I am going to stick my neck out and say that -- contrary to conventional wisdom -- Tony Blair will emerge as the unexpected winner of the race to become EU president tonight. We'll see.

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22 comments from readers

David North
19 November 2009 at 12:05

Of course he will.

It's all part of a pre-ordained bildenberg agreement.

A 'YES' man if ever their was one.....

Tim J
19 November 2009 at 12:08

Courageous. Good on you, though I suspect TB's a bit too controversial for Euroland.

swatantra nandanwar
19 November 2009 at 12:10

Give the man a break!. Everyone deserves a second chance to redeem themselves, even Blair.

guydenning
19 November 2009 at 12:48

Tony Blair 'an unlikely punt' - a spelling mishtake surely...

Marcus Beltran
19 November 2009 at 12:53

@guydenning: "Tony Blair 'an unlikely punt' - a spelling mishtake surely..."

Oldie but goody.

Sonofnuff
19 November 2009 at 13:07

Insanity to give it to Blair.

Having said that, wonder how much it's costing him to get it?

Don't call lying to the public & Parliament a very good recommendation...Opps sorry forgot.

No doubt that's a requirement for a European President.

Matt Oliver
19 November 2009 at 14:30

I still remember you prediction at the start of the year that after a blip following the local elections that Labour would be leading in the polls by the end of this year?

I'll keep my money in my backpocket.

Stepney
19 November 2009 at 15:00

I remember that too Matt.

As a political journalist I'm afraid Junior has a significant amount to learn.

The wisdom of not spraying around lunatic predictions being one of them.

James
19 November 2009 at 15:32

From my new year predictions:

Gordon Brown will resist calls for a 2009 general election, hoping that time will fully restore his reputation.

The economies of both the US and the UK will, as Barack Obama has warned, get worse before they get better, with the house-price crash continuing and unemployment in the UK passing the totemic three million mark.

Splits will emerge between Obama and his secretary of state, Hillary Clinton, with the latter pushing for a more interventionist foreign policy.

Afghanistan will prove Obama's nemesis: there will be renewed bloodshed and no solution to the conflict.

Europe will remain a headache for Cameron...Cameron will have to decide whether to ditch his own commitment to a referendum.

Alistair Darling will remain Chancellor of the Exchequer.

Ed Miliband will emerge as the up-and-coming politician of 2009 and come to be regarded as Brown's natural successor.

Ash Jones
19 November 2009 at 15:33

Of course he will, its already pre-set.

Welcome to the face of the New World Order

madasafish
19 November 2009 at 16:20

You should take your pills before you post.

Graham
19 November 2009 at 18:14

No way woule I stand, bow, salute, shake hands with or otherwise acept that war criminal as president, with luck he will be changed before his term is out, thus finishing off the EU presidentcy once and for all.

Khan
19 November 2009 at 21:11

Oh well you were wrong, I guess even the EU do not need a war criminal as its President.

James Matthews
19 November 2009 at 21:18

Maintaining your usual standard of accuracy then.

The Gipper
20 November 2009 at 01:52

Nice works James. Spot on as per usual. Did you get this from the same source that provided you with the 'Exclusive' from the Obama camp?

FAIL.

Abdel hameed m.sadiq
20 November 2009 at 04:09

Tony Blair deserves a new post as EU president for many reasons1-A global swindler 2-A professional liar3-An arsonist and a terrorist4-A motivator of global terrorism.5-An example in weakining EU as a future prestigious Union,to make EU just a blind follower for USA bloody and selfish interests.,I believe that Blair is still weighing his options and sitting in his dark kitchen preparing clandestine final meals to weaken EU prestigious future,never trust liars because they will never inspire

Official View
20 November 2009 at 05:54

Macintyre 0 Conventional Wisdom 2

JennyinOz
20 November 2009 at 06:03

Oops! Good thing you didn't put money on it! (Or did you?) Still, glad you got this one wrong and that Blair didn't win.

Irene
20 November 2009 at 12:45

On the ball as ever I see!

Abdel hameed m.sadiq
20 November 2009 at 13:41

with the vanishing hopes of the former British PM Tony Blair,and appointing the Belgian Prime Minister as the first president of EU,EU will prosper better,and enjoy a real independent life.

The Gipper
20 November 2009 at 16:31

Nice set of predictions there James...

From my new year predictions:

Gordon Brown will resist calls for a 2009 general election, hoping that time will fully restore his reputation.

Wow - you're telling us that Brown will continue to be indecisive and wait out his term? Get that man a pint...

The US economy appears to be stabilizing somewhat although a double dip recession is highly likely given the failed stimulus and cash for clunkers. As for the UK, you guys are in a mess - thanks to Gordo. Given the catastrophe last year, it's hardly surprising that things were likely to get worse... Unfortunately leaders in the UK and US have done their utmost to make sure they do.

Splits will emerge between Obama and his secretary of state, Hillary Clinton, with the latter pushing for a more interventionist foreign policy.

Again, hardly the most prescient. Hillary has regularly demonstrated her hawkish side - just look at the election. That being said, Clinton has - by and large - behaved herself and has not said too much to suggest she's straying away from 'the line'.

Afghanistan will prove Obama's nemesis: there will be renewed bloodshed and no solution to the conflict.

This is hardly a prediction, is it? After all, it's been clear for a while now that Afghanistan was going to be a mess. That's kind of like me saying a year ago "things are going to get worse for the Detroit Lions".

Europe will remain a headache for Cameron...Cameron will have to decide whether to ditch his own commitment to a referendum.

I'll give you that one. Although I believe the Tories are much more focused on winning the election than initiating an internecine conflict over Europe. But Europe will always be a headache for the Tories.

Alistair Darling will remain Chancellor of the Exchequer.

I don't think Brown had much of a choice. Had Darling walked back in June - it would have been over.

Ed Miliband will emerge as the up-and-coming politician of 2009 and come to be regarded as Brown's natural successor.

It certainly depends, but then again, we all know your reasons for pushing Ed, don't we?

So, from the list it seems like most of your 'predictions' are more like a number of crises that have absolutely no short term solution. That's more of a lazy observation than a prediction, don't you think?

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
21 November 2009 at 13:51