The Guardian is leading on Tony Blair's prospect of being European Union president "sinking". Typically, much of the debate about this was viewed through an exclusively British prism - especially the discomfiture of Gordon Brown or David Cameron having to deal with Blair, in what EU leaders want to be an important role. (The reduction of important institutional developments to BLAIR vs BROWN and BLAIR vs CAMERON tells you everything you need to know about British media).But the EU has its own self regard. It has a communitaire ideal, which wants to set aside "narrow" national interests for the greater good of the union as a whole, and give strong representation to the smaller member-states. (Which is why Luxembourgeois politicians are so popular on the Commission). It isn't so much who's the biggest hitter, but who has worked with the EU?
Judged on this, Britain continually falls down. The key quote comes from Jean-David Levitte, who is Sarkozy's senior foreign affairs adviser (think Charles Powell). He said: "The UK is not in the eurozone, nor in the Schengen [free travel area in the EU] and it has a number of opt outs. These are not advantageous in this search for a candidate."
Two-speed European Union? Here is is. Welcome to the slow lane.
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In retrospect the title should have been "Blair blocked in big boss bid".
Shut the FUCK up.
The aggressive certainties of the adolescent. Oooh, I could pat you on the head!