The Economist and Stelzer are making Blair noise too, though their effect on European opinion at popular or governmental levels is quite possibly negative. That's really my point. In the effort to keep "Blair favourite" on the boil, they've run out of firewood. But it's also possible that even weak pro-Blair stories are considered better than yielding ground to anti-Blair stories.
And you can bet we'll hear more "leave Tony alone", "why all this hatred?", "stop Blair-baiting" stories.
The Economist and Stelzer are making Blair noise too, though their effect on European opinion at popular or governmental levels is quite possibly negative.
I'm not sure about the negativity of the governmental level effect of The Economist... It probably brought out Faymann's reaction, but the question is the new members and Portugal. *Lunatic*, n. One whose delusions are out of fashion.
Thus looking at how those odds change over time will be one indicator of how public perceptions are changing (and perhaps also some semi-informed insider trading).
The very fact that Mary Robinson is on the list at the present time is a good start. Lets see how the odds change... notes from no w here
It's also the use made of it by one or two eager beavers in the political press, who didn't even notice there was anything wrong with Paddy Power's crap.
But on half a field of non-starters, and with a possible front-runner missing? If they did that in horse-racing they'd be up in court.
Not at all. The runners haven't been declared yet and anyone can propose anyone at the moment - Mary Robinson probably coming from left field as far as many Heads of Government are concerned. The fact that Lipponen isn't mentioned merely means few in Ireland/UK have heard of him and none have asked to lay a bet. (There's an opening for you - you'll get good odds on a first bet...;-))
The fact that this qualifies as "news" on a slow news day in the MSM (which repeats the "President of Europe" crap) says more about the MSM than the PP marketing strategy which specialises in quirky news attention grabbing stunts. It's in the entertainment business, not Europolitics, and shouldn't be taken any more seriously than that.
I suspect the MSM seized on it because it does offer some kind of list and some way of measuring the relative perceived chances of many of the key players - late entrants notwithstanding. As I said above it will be interesting to see how the odds change based on where the bets are laid based on what the MSM say based on what some would be insiders say based on what some insiders may or may not have said. notes from no w here
As for the "political commentary" people that featured it, I don't think people who are paid to do political analysis and commentary are unaware of what they are doing.
interesting to see how the odds change
Can you be serious?
