Tony Blair eschews ripcords, asks to quietly deplane

Scotland's Daily Record

BLAIR 'BACKS KERRY'
Nov 1 2004

Tony Blair has privately admitted that he wants Democrat John Kerry to win tomorrow's US election.

The Prime Minister has acknowledged to at least two confidantes that a Kerry win would be a 'lifeline' for his own political future.

If Kerry does triumph, the result will undoubtedly help draw the poison out of the Iraq debate in Britain in the run up to a general election It would mean Blair could focus on the future of Iraq - not the disasters of the past.

And it may also soothe fractured relations within the Labour Party.

Whaa? It's a little light on background, "confidantes" etc, but since political wife Cherie Blair just got through blasting Bush on his Human Rights record vis a vis Guantanamo and Abu Ghraib in New York last week, it's safe to say Number 10 Downing Street is seeing some kind of writing on the wall.

The conservative Telegraph had a similar bit, as did the Independent....

Telegraph Why Blair secretly wants his partner in war to lose

Last Thursday, Stan Greenberg, the Democrat pollster who is advising John Kerry, flew in to London for a private meeting with Labour's most senior strategists....

Ouch. Okay, so he went to see Blair's people. Big deal. They probably didn't answer the doo--

Independent Revealed: Blair's secret mission to woo Kerry

31 October 2004

Tony Blair has sent one of his closest advisers on a secret peace mission to mend relations with John Kerry, the United States presidential challenger, The Independent on Sunday can reveal.

News of the confidential meeting comes as the campaign enters its final 48 hours, with the candidates running neck and neck. Mr Blair is concerned that he will appear isolated if George Bush loses in Tuesday's poll, because of his support for the Iraq war.

Wonder if we really will have to wait 6-18 months to learn How many times Tony Blair talked Dubya down off the ledge?