Tony Blair Says Something Sensible!

[Zacs-Master]

Cameron to win next election!
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/ed-miliband/11187285/Tony-Blair-Miliband-has-failed-to-connect-with-voters-and-is-doomed-to-election-defeat.html

[ToraToraTora]

QM/agchristie:I'm just commenting on the article in the telegraph that the OP has provided. TB used different phrases but he's saying Labour will lose and Ed's blown it, I agree with that I wasn't attempting a word for word facsimile.

[Svejk]

I think they're suggesting the article is all lies, ttt.
Must admit it's all a bit 'allegedly' and 'reportedly'.
He probably did say it, though. ;-)

[ToraToraTora]

Yes well they would wouldn't they. Lets see if TB hits the Telegraph with a suit then eh?

[Svejk]

I heard he said 'why would they spend 5 years getting the car back on the road, and then hand the keys to the fool that wrecked it'. ;)

[ToraToraTora]

good analogy!

[agchristie]

I am merely pointing out that the Telegraph article is pure hearsay and a typical example of ambiguity where reporting of Blair is concerned.

One example being the criticism of Blair making numerous trips to Jerusalem and not Gaza in his role as Peace Envoy. The press failed to point out that his office is based in Jerusalem. There are many more examples that I wont go into.

Whatever people make of Blair's role in the Iraq war etc, it suits the right wing press to continually distort facts on issues involving him.

[Quizmonster]

Well said, Ag.
When I was in the pub waiting for friends the other day, I picked up a copy of the Sun lying on the bar. It, too, referred to Mr Blair's supposed comments, except that it used the word 'claimed' rather than 'apparently' when seemingly quoting him.
In other words, both it and the Telegraph were simply fabricating a tale that they knew would 'fly' with their readerships. A perfect example of what Have I Got News For You invariably referred to by using the word, 'allegedly'.
Who seriously believes the Tories have "put the car back on the road", when they've just been slapped with a bill for billions that even the Prime Minister had no idea was coming!
They've long sung Thatcher's praises for slinging her handbag around Europe and getting a rebate. Didn't they realise that rebates have an inevitable corollary...charges!

[agchristie]

Here's the reality...

http://news.sky.com/story/1360075/tony-blair-denies-saying-miliband-cant-win

[Gromit]

Labour with a majority of 12.

I suspect it will be less or even a hung parliament.

Either way, it looks like Cameron and Clegg are toast.

[ToraToraTora]

so why aren't the libel suits flying? I think Tony knows a lawyer!

[agchristie]

TTT - ///so why aren't the libel suits flying?///

There is that much misinformation from small minded sections of the press, I would imagine he does not have the time or inclination to arrange for all the potential litigation.

There comes a time when, in his case, you just give up trying to explain oneself to try to deflect all the nonsense that flies around.

[Quizmonster]

Aw, come on, TTT, you can't seriously be contending that the press invariably print the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, can you? Nor can you possibly imagine that, every time they concoct a 'news' item, the victim instantly begins a law-suit!
Since the British press is about 80% right-wing, someone such as Mr Blair is a constant target of the "Let's run this up the flagpole and see who salutes it" approach. And, if you read these articles closely, you will invariably find they are riddled with words and phrases such as seemingly, supposedly, allegedly, apparently, it is claimed that and so on. The minute you see these you know that what you are reading is just foundationless pie in the sky. If they had an actual nameable source, they would name it, simple as that.

[ToraToraTora]

of course not QM but when a clear libel has taken place and the libellee can prove it then it'd be a turkey shoot. His Tonyness could slap down the nasty old Torygraph and get a good few grand payout which he could pledge to charity in a fit of "it's not about the money" piety and he'd look like a saint in the Daily Mirror/Guardian! What's not to like? unless of course........

[Quizmonster]

I'm no lawyer, TTT, but in law, there is a world of difference between libel...defined briefly as (quote) "any malicious defamatory publication"...and something which a newspaper editor could claim to have been true to the best of his knowledge, given the source he received the information from.
The Telegraph article did not in any way at all 'defame Mr Blair maliciously", it simply told its readership something with no supporting evidence of its truth. That's what I accused it of and were that a crime, most of the British press would have disappeared long since!