Comment at end
4th July, 2009
THE PRESS & THEIR AGENDA’D UNBALANCED PRIORITIES
The Hindu News update reports on the Fenner Brockway Medal which was awarded to Tony Blair on Friday in London by his friend Peter, now Lord Mandelson. It was awarded in honour of Mr Blair’s contribution to UK-India relations. Mr Blair said he “treasured” the UK-India relationship which grew from strength to strength during the last decade and said India “has an important role to play in the global scene now, not only in the field of economy but in tackling the growing menace of terrorism because of its long experience in dealing with the issue.” Also reported in detail at at The Telegraph, India
There may be some political and/or personal empathic thoughts flying through the ether in this photograph. I couldn’t possibly comment. But pictures paint a thousand words SO much more effectively than mere letters, as The Mirror mendaciously noticed recently.
Oh, all right then children. I’ll paint a picture story and add some captions.
So congratulations all round then.
SPROG BLOGS, TRUE TO FORM, TAKE THEIR LEAD FROM THE DAILIES
Note how this page ends if you are unsure about the RULES employed for misrepresentation of the facts …
Blair: “It’s true that I did a lot for you
I’d generously conclude that this trail-off and thus editing wasn’t necessarily meant with malice aforethought except that it does not point to a link with the FULL script. But, panic not, dear Truth Seekers, I’ll find one and come back to you with it. I promise.
I’m back! You knew you could trust me didn’t you?
This is the relevant section:
‘Blair said he had a special word of thank you for Peter.
It’s true that I did a lot for you. But you did even more for me, and that’s returned the favour, he told Mandelson.
It’s not often that I get the chance to say this publicly. For years he’s been a wonderful friend to me. He’s a brilliant man, a remarkable man and a very great public servant, Blair added.’
SO, WHAT’S THE STORY, MORNING GORY?
As John Rentoul noted here and Blair Foundation Watch here, THIS award with regard to relationships he built and fostered with one of the world’s coming powers over his ten years as prime minister was NOT the BIG story. Oh no, not in the slightest. Not on your nellie.
The BIG story for the British press and little bloggers was this – [where’s that picture board thingamejig …?]
Mr Blair sporting a black eye from a gym accident
Oh yes…
They were far more interested in these pictures and what it might really mean, if truth were told, hand-on-heart, swearing by the almighty press, honest-to-God!
WHO THUMPED TONY?
They weren’t satisfied with Mr Blair’s scant “don’t ask … in the gym” to Alastair Campbell at a funeral the other day, naturally. The Mail, ever notably useless at prioritising stories on Blair much less reporting truthfully, were no doubt hoping he’d been laid out cold by one of their regular commenters. They left us in no doubt what they thought.
If they were remotely right a security man’s head would have rolled by now. This ‘clunking fist’ … er… former prime minister goes nowhere without heavy protection, a sad reflection on our society.
You should have seen the other guy
According to Alastair Campbell’s blog‘s date the gym accident must have happened before 29th June, so it’s a lot less black in these pictures than it would have been a week or so ago.
Since we all have to be suspicious to write or even think these days I suppose I’d better add my two pence worth.
Cherie – how COULD you?
RELATED
1. BBC reports with mention of praise for Mr Blair’s work on India/Britain relationship: Barry Gardiner, the Labour MP who chairs Labour’s Friends of India, said Mr Blair had recognised, on becoming PM, that Britain’s relationship with India had become “too comfortable and unproductive”. He said he had changed it from one based on “old sentimentality” to one based on a “shared vision of modern and equal trading partners”.
2. SkyNews takes a slightly different angle, commenting on his greying hair. (Not so grey in every picture published today. Time to lay off the PhotoShop, fellas?!)
3. The Times – a straight-forward report, more or less
4. And apropos nothing much – David Miliband, The Foreign Secretary’s recent thoughts on India’s richness … er … poverty, there’s this gem. Give us a break! If I were a suspicious type I’d wonder if Tony’s much-rumoured hope for Miliband as his successor wasn’t in reality another little joke. After all the very idea of Labour prime ministers after Blair does seem to be the stuff of unlikely comedy.
5. And just WHO is leading the country NOW in this threat from Iran as British embassy staff are about to be tried? The EU? Ignore their weasel words. America? No Obama way! Gordon Brown? Forget it. David Miliband? Be serious.
ETCETERA
1. The Times: Alex Ferguson was right about Michael Owen who has just joined Manchester United. Just as Ferguson was right about Tony Blair! Some people just recognise winners.
2. The Times: Former anti-terror chief, Andy Hayman’s book banned: Copies of a book by Scotland Yard’s former anti-terrorism chief were hastily removed from bookstore shelves yesterday after the Attorney-General obtained a last-minute injunction. The decision to prevent sales of The Terrorist Hunters, by Andy Hayman, was issued by a High Court judge just before midnight on Wednesday after a hearing conducted by telephone conference call.
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So how do we trend THIS invented word?
Tony Blair 