
| Msg # 280 of 620 on ZZUK4446, Thursday 10-29-25, 2:26 |
| From: NY.TRANSFER_NEWS@BLYTHE.O |
| To: ALL |
| Subj: The Blairs: Tony & Cherie's American Dre |
[continued from previous message] This year's camp began last weekend, and while Downing Street denies that Mr Blair will attend, just being in town at the same time as "the Grove" ensures that Mr Blair has timed his visit to perfection. Many of the guests at Mr Shultz's party last night will either be members or have attended as guests. Perhaps someone will give Mr Blair an invitation to a future camp when he has more time for such events. For now Mr Blair remains a leader trying to promote national interests. Few would deny the sincerity of his interest in subjects such as gene research or computing advances. But as the PM nears the exit it becomes harder to counter suspicions that personal calculation is playing a part. Take, for example, Mr Blair's host. Mr Shultz, in addition to being Ronald Reagan's secretary of state, is now a member of the board of Bechtel, the giant US engineering firm. The company is bidding for lucrative contracts to build facilities for the 2012 Olympics in London and is expected to be a key player in the nuclear decommissioning programme that will cost British tax-payers billions. Mr Blair will also meet John Chambers, the chief executive of Cisco Systems, a company that stands to make a fortune from his ID card scheme, and Mervyn Jacobsen, the founder of an Australian biotechnology company that wants to expand into Europe. No one is suggesting there is anything improper in these meetings: only that they may prove useful contacts for Mr Blair. John Major reportedly told friends when he left politics in 2001 that he intended to keep his head down, work hard for five years and then retire. With a clutch of lucrative directorships and a few well-chosen lecture tours, he is estimated to have boosted his earnings to around #1m a year. That figure seems likely to be dwarfed by Mr Blair. As the response to his forthcoming address to the Los Angeles World Affairs Council makes clear, the signs could hardly be more encouraging. A spokesman simply said: "It was an immediate sell-out." [Additional reporting by Adeline Tan and Kitty Donaldson] Situations vacant: Dream jobs for him Blair Foundation A base for a globe-trotting role as world statesman, semi-official mediator (a sort of right-wing Jimmy Carter) and high-value lecturer. A foundation could attract a lot of US money for Blair's priorities: promoting democracy; slowing climate change; developing Africa. UN Viceroy In Palestine, Darfur or a humanitarian disaster yet to occur, he could be a UN viceroy, emulating Paddy Ashdown's role in Bosnia, and drawing on the negotiating skills that produced the Good Friday Agreement and that kept Nato together over Kosovo. Best-Selling Author A fluid stylist and persuasive writer, his memoirs would be a publisher's top trophy, but he may pull his punches on his rows with Gordon Brown, who might be prime minister by then. Vicar Or he could take to preaching in a more spiritual fashion, developing his interest in theology and inter-faith dialogue. Would give him more time at home with his six-year-old son. The only question is, which church would have him? Dream jobs for her European Court Judge "I would love to be a judge," she once said, and she's on the first rung, as a Recorder. Her husband's job is assumed to have held her back; it might still be a problem after he steps down. Her expertise in human rights law makes her a natural for the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg. Unesco Ambassador Her work for children's charities and promotion of women's rights around the world make for a strong CV for a job near the top of the global quangocracy, at the UN's educational, scientific and cultural body. After-Dinner Speaker Already commands controversially large sums of money for little in the way of revelations about life at No 10. Could develop this sideline - and even really spill the beans once she moves out. Chat Show Host Or she could change places on the daytime TV sofas, where she gave a skilfully bland performance on Richard and Judy, and turn gamekeeper for the media she hates. Golden Handshakes Yo, I'm Tony. And what can you do for me? Power players the PM will meet could help to smooth life after Downing St THE POWERFUL ONES Rupert Murdoch 75 Australian-born US citizen and the world's most powerful media mogul, Murdoch admired Blair's support for Bush over the Iraq war, which was backed by his titles worldwide. He may publish Blair's memoirs, and offer a seat on his board. Arnold Schwarzenegger 49 The former actor and bodybuilder is Governor of California. The "Governator" shares Blair's concern about global warming, and through him America's richest state could lead the way. George P Shultz 86 The economics expert was Ronald Reagan's Secretary of State. He once said: "Oh, you know. I am Secretary of State. My trips aren't successful. I just talk to people." Just talking to people is Blair's thing, and Shultz can get him in to see almost anyone. John McCain 69 Senator for Arizona and favourite to be Republican presidential candidate in 2008. Supported Blair's pressure on Clinton to threaten military force in Kosovo. If he or Hillary Clinton gets to the White House, Blair will have unprecedented access to the next president. THE INFLUENTIAL ONES Henry Kissinger 83 German-born former US secretary of state, a prolific author and one of the biggest draws on the lecture circuit, who could pave the way for Blair, not least by opening up an address book to die for. Mervyn Jacobson 64 The Australian founder and CEO of Genetic Technologies Ltd. Biotechnology is a complex subject in which Blair has long taken an interest, often with negative political consequences, as over GM food, but to which he may want to return. Philip Bronstein 51 Media magnate and editor of the San Francisco Chronicle, California's largest daily newspaper. Former Pulitzer Prize finalist and former husband of Sharon Stone. Movers and shakers listen to him. Lawrence Summers 51 The free-market economist recently resigned as president of Harvard University after his remarks about women's abilities. Friend of Gordon Brown and former World Bank chief economist, an obvious adviser on global poverty to the Blair Foundation. THE RICH ONES Bill Gates 50 Former chairman and co-founder of Microsoft Corporation and pioneer in global philanthropy, Gates, personally worth #27bn, now dedicates much of his time to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation set up to alleviate poverty and ignorance in the US and globally. Charles "Chuck" Schwab 70 Founder of Charles Schwab and Co, a stockbroking and financial services firm that has now recovered from the bursting of the dotcom bubble six years ago. He has an estimated personal wealth of #1.7bn. John T Chambers 57 The CEO of Cisco Systems is politically savvy and has donated to both Republicans and Democrats. Has a salary of #1m plus #100m in share options. Repeatedly voted most influential US CEO, he can make introductions in any US boardroom. Bono 46 Irish frontman of rock-group U2 and campaigner for the cancellation of African debt. Personally worth more than #164m, he is a friend of the Labour Party. He has both musical and political credibility on an international stage. * ================================================================ NY Transfer News Collective * A Service of Blythe Systems [continued in next message] --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05 * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2) |
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