Blair most likely WILL be president

Biggins

Despite all those that are repeatedly saying that the "No" side is/was blowing smoke about Blair going to be president, TOMORROW on the front page MAIN HEADLINE of the British Times, they are announcing that it is MOST likely that Blair WILL be the first EU president.

Tomoprrows front page:


The news sites tonight have been showing copies of tomorrows papers and this story is being repeated to some variation in a lot of them.
Now I have read the previous links supplied from both sides stating their case one way or another with examples of previous statements, papers comments etc - however its become quite clear now, all those are now just that - past history. What will appear on tomorrows front page of the British Times is likely to be the future!

Todays paper!

namloc1980

He was President of the European Council twice before....big deal. This is WAAAYYYY overblown. What is the problem with Blair BTW...(let me guess....IRAQ??)

prinz

There is no such thing as President of the EU :mad: Do you know who the current incumbent of the office Blair might (unlikely) hold? Because there is one you know, right now!!! Go spread that!!

PaulieD

The Yes sides waffles will come back to bite them in the coming months.

turgon

President of European Council

prinz

PaulieD wrote: »

The Yes sides waffles will come back to bite them in the coming months.

Could you link where in Lisbon the job of EU President is advertised?

marco_polo

Congratulations on the 1,000,000 the thread on this topic.

He might be he might not be. Just because a pro Labour paper is building him up does not mean it is a certainty.

namloc1980

PaulieD wrote: »

The Yes sides waffles will come back to bite them in the coming months.

What waffles???? Blair certainly has the chane of becoming the next President of the European Council. But it is IN no way decided...but even if he does get it he wouldn't be the worst choice....plus he has experience as he was in the EXACT SAME ROLE TWICE IN THE RECENT PAST!!!

procure11

PaulieD wrote: »

The Yes sides waffles will come back to bite them in the coming months.

Paulie,are you giving up already?
It is still too close to call as far as I know

ei.sdraob

namloc1980 wrote: »

He was President of the European Council twice before....big deal. This is WAAAYYYY overblown. What is the problem with Blair BTW...(let me guess....IRAQ??)

well ironically the "leader" of the no side (DG) has hired the people and generals directly responsible for that war

http://boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=62283094&postcount=68

just saying...

anyways whats this obsession with Blair?

meglome

Firstly there is no fúcking position of President of Europe. Secondly Blair could be elected to the role of President of the European council. But so could twenty other people. And the fúcking sky could fall down. I need a fúcking break.

Funglegunk

ei.sdraob wrote: »

anyways whats this obsession with Blair?

He's a politician!!! Do you want a politican as PRESIDENT OF EUROPE?!?!

Biggins

meglome wrote: »

Firstly there is no fúcking position of President of Europe. Secondly Blair could be elected to the role of President of the European council. But so could twenty other people. And the fúcking sky could fall down. I need a fúcking break.

They are CREATING the new position.
Go buy the British Times tomorrow!

marco_polo

It appears to be a part of a formerly secret campaign building. Doesn't meand the 27 member states will buy it.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article6859525.ece

Tony Blair’s former chief-of-staff is spearheading a diplomatic push designed to make him the first president of Europe, The Times has learnt.

Disclosure last night of the role being played by Jonathan Powell threatens to undermine the former Prime Minister’s insistence that he is not actively campaigning for the post. Mr Powell is said to have toured the capitals of Europe in recent weeks on behalf of the man whom he worked alongside for more than a decade in Downing Street.

He is known to have visited Brussels on at least one occasion in recent days to discuss Mr Blair’s chances with senior officials. This weekend the former chief-of-staff is expected to be in Paris and is scheduled to travel to Prague for talks with a Czech Government that is holding out against ratification of the Lisbon treaty.

turgon

Biggins wrote: »

They are CREATING the new position.

No they arent. They are merely changing the way the President is selected, and the length of time he serves.

procure11

turgon wrote: »

President of European Council

That speaks for the whole of europe in the international scene
Represents the EU in the UN and acts as the de-facto head of state of Europe.Stop being haughty!

ei.sdraob

Biggins wrote: »

They are CREATING the new position.

1. who is "they"?
2. what position?

Biggins wrote: »

Go buy the British Times tomorrow!

3. British :rolleyes:

namloc1980

Funglegunk wrote: »

He's a politician!!! Do you want a politican as PRESIDENT OF EUROPE?!?!

That statement is just HILARIOUS

meglome

Biggins wrote: »

They are CREATING the new position.
Go buy the British Times tomorrow!

Who is 'they'? We are the EU as much as anyone is.

ei.sdraob

procure11 wrote: »

That speaks for the whole of europe in the international scene
Represents the EU in the UN and acts as the de-facto head of state of Europe.Stop being haughty!

So he/she will be like McAleeze

a puppet with no power

:cool:

marco_polo

Biggins wrote: »

They are CREATING the new position.
Go buy the British Times tomorrow!

But looking at the TEU article here it says it is the President of the EU Council, with an extended term and a different metthod of appointment and has no mention of an EU President.

Is your version of the treaty different to mine?

ei.sdraob

namloc1980 wrote: »

That statement is just HILARIOUS

I want a lawyer for President! and he has to be afro-american to keep up with the neighbours

namloc1980

Biggins wrote: »

They are CREATING the new position.
Go buy the British Times tomorrow!

Do you know that the position has actually existed since 1975.....our own Liam Cosgrave was the 1st in the position....that's right.

Bertie was the President a few years ago. A swedish man called Frederik Reinfeldt is the current President....shock horror. Get Facts Straight.

procure11

turgon wrote: »

No they arent. They are merely changing the way the President is selected, and the length of time he serves.

Nice one!
So essentially he/she would be selected (not elected) to represent the EU as a political body..and you think that is great :rolleyes:

meglome

namloc1980 wrote: »

That statement is just HILARIOUS

It would be funny but they don't know the difference and yet want to vote No to an EU treaty when they don't even know anything about the EU.

I'm off before I get myself banned.

marco_polo

procure11 wrote: »

That speaks for the whole of europe in the international scene
Represents the EU in the UN and acts as the de-facto head of state of Europe.Stop being haughty!

This is indeed a twist in the tale :eek:

Oh wait.

http://unispal.un.org/UNISPAL.NSF/361eea1cc08301c485256cf600606959/13850bd9411e8e0985257607004edb0c?OpenDocument

Presidency Statement on evictions in East Jerusalem

The Presidency of the European Union reiterates its serious concern about the continued and unacceptable evictions in East Jerusalem, notably the evictions by Israeli authorities of two families from their homes in the Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood on Sunday 2 August 2009.

The Presidency recalls that house demolitions, evictions and settlement activities in East Jerusalem are illegal under international law. In addition, the actions taken by the Israeli Government contravene repeated calls by the international community, including the Quartet, to refrain from any provocative actions in East Jerusalem. These actions confirm a worrying trend that runs counter to the creation of an atmosphere conducive to achieving a viable and credible solution to the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians.

procure11

ei.sdraob wrote: »

So he/she will be like McAleeze

a puppet with no power

:cool:

What exactly does he/she need that power for, if respective countries have their own heads of state and parliament.

Biggins

ei.sdraob wrote: »

1. who is "they"?
2. what position?

3. British :rolleyes:

Well for those that seem to can't even work out who "they" is, its the heads of the EU with the most influence, swing votes and power - gee, that was hard work working that one out!

And whats wrong now with the British times!
All of a sudden when they now report a story, some are automatically treating it like its the Sun newspaper.
Is this because they just don't like the story I suspect? :rolleyes:

turgon

procure11 wrote: »

So essentially he/she would be selected (not elected) to represent the EU as a political body

So you openly admit you haven't even informed yourself about the issue? Because it is an elected position, ye know.

ei.sdraob

procure11 wrote: »

What exactly does he/she need that power for, if respective countries have their own heads of state and parliament.

to keep conspiracy theorists in employment

ei.sdraob

Biggins wrote: »

Well for those that seem to can't even work out who "they" is, its the heads of the EU with the most influence, swing votes and power - gee, that was hard work working that one out!

And whats wrong now with the British times!
All of a sudden when they now report a story, some are automatically treating it like its the Sun newspaper.
Is this because they just don't like the story I suspect? :rolleyes:

not at all i just find this obsession with Blair amusing

/

procure11

turgon wrote: »

So you openly admit you haven't even informed yourself about the issue? Because it is an elected position, ye know.

For informational purpose can you explain how he/she would be elected democratically?

PaulieD

procure11 wrote: »

Paulie,are you giving up already?
It is still too close to call as far as I know

No, Procure, I am not giving up. I have put another 50.00 euro on a NO vicotry with BetFair. Great odds, 15-1.

namloc1980

procure11 wrote: »

For informational purpose can you explain how he/she would be elected democratically?

The would be elected by QMV by the European Council. The Council comprises the 27 Heads of Government of the 27 EU member states. Those heads of government are all elected as heads of government in their respective states through national democratic elections.

turgon

procure11 wrote: »

For informational purpose can you explain how he/she would be elected democratically?

Elected by the European Council. Sorry, I know you dont like to hear it but tis the fact. Article 15 Section 5 Lisbon TEU.

procure11

namloc1980 wrote: »

The would be elected by QMV by the European Council. The Council comprises the 27 Heads of Government of the 27 EU member states. Those heads of government are all elected as heads of government in their respective states through national elections.

Thats sounds more like elitist concensus than an election tbh!

marco_polo

procure11 wrote: »

For informational purpose can you explain how he/she would be elected democratically?

For the last 33 years the President of the European Council has never been elected.

turgon

procure11 wrote: »

Thats sounds more like elitist concensus than an election tbh!

The same elites that were elected head of government in their respective governments??? Your arguments falling apart pretty rapidly.

procure11

marco_polo wrote: »

For the last 33 years the President of the European Council has never been elected.

The difference now is that this is a full time job akin to an head of state .

namloc1980

procure11 wrote: »

Thats sounds more like elitist concensus than an election tbh!

When the Dáil ratifies a Law/Bill etc. is that 'elitist concensus'? It's called representative democracy!

ei.sdraob

namloc1980 wrote: »

When the Dáil ratifies a Law/Bill etc. is that 'elitist concensus'? It's called representative democracy!

does it worry anyone that we have to explain the diference between representative and direct democracy models in a politics forum?

:eek:

turgon

procure11 wrote: »

The difference now is that this is a full time job akin to an head of state .

The roll of the position isnt changing asfaik, just the method of (s)election and the length of term. I know its disappointing that it wont be the Mugabe-esque position that you want it to be but "you cant always get what you want."

free-man

marco_polo wrote: »

But looking at the TEU article here it says it is the President of the EU Council, with an extended term and a different metthod of appointment and has no mention of an EU President.

Is your version of the treaty different to mine?

Yes and they can change the title and term of the 'presidency' as soon as Lisbon is passed. How bout Tony Blair as EU President for 5 years?

turgon

ei.sdraob wrote: »

does it worry anyone that we have to explain the diference between representative and direct democracy models in a politics forum?

Well it might not matter by tomorrow either way. Irish Democracy 1916 - 2009.

marco_polo

procure11 wrote: »

The difference now is that this is a full time job.

Fixed

turgon

free-man wrote: »

Yes and they can change the title and term of the 'presidency' as soon as Lisbon is passed.

Let me guess, by the self amending clause?

procure11

turgon wrote: »

The same elites that were elected head of government in their respective governments??? Your arguments falling apart pretty rapidly.

Fairplay to you.
The difference is that that QMV was not used in voting them in.They were voted in by popular vote(thats democracy in my opinion),if the EU felt a need to have a full time president then they should be able to bear the cost of putting that to the european people.

marco_polo

free-man wrote: »

Yes and they can change the title and term of the 'presidency' as soon as Lisbon is passed. How bout Tony Blair as EU President for 5 years?

They can if all member states agree to it and amend the treaties and ratify it in accordance with their respective constitutional requirements.

free-man

marco_polo wrote: »

They can if all member states agree to it and amend the treaties and ratify it in accordance with their respective constitutional requirements.

Exactly.

namloc1980

procure11 wrote: »

Fairplay to you.
The difference is that that QMV was not used in voting them in.They were voted in by popular vote(thats democracy in my opinion),if the EU felt a need to have a full time president then they should be able to bear the cost of putting that to the european people.

President of the European Council only.....The European Council is just one of many institutions of the EU...Do you know what actual 'powers' this 'new' president that you object to actually has??

free-man

namloc1980 wrote: »

President of the European Council only.....The European Council is just one of many institutions of the EU...Do you know what actual 'powers' this 'new' president that you object to actually has??

Of course. But my point is that any organisation that would seek to hire a man who led an illegal war based on a lie should not be blindly trusted.

The EU may have been good for us in the past. I don't like the direction its going in now if they're willing to contemplate putting Blair on the payroll.