Tony Blair Statement

This is the full statement given by UK Prime Minister Tony Blair regarding his future:

The first thing I'd like to do is to apologise actually, on behalf of the Labour party for the last week, which, with everything that's been going on back here and in the world, has not been our finest hour, to be frank.

But I think what is important now is that we understand that it's the interests of the country that come first and we move on.

Now, as for my timing and date of departure, I would have preferred to do this in my own way, but it has been pretty obvious from what many of my Cabinet colleagues have said earlier in the week.

The next party conference in a couple of weeks will be my last party conference as party leader.
The next TUC conference next week will be my last TUC, probably to the relief of both of us.
But I am not going to set a precise date now. I don't think that's right.
I will do that at a future date and I'll do it in the interests of the country and, depending on the circumstances, of the time.

Now, that doesn't in any way take away from the fact that it's my last conference, but I think the precise timetable has to be left up to me and has got to be done in a proper way.
Now, I'll also say one other thing after the last week.

I think it's important for the Labour party to understand, and I think the majority of people in the party do understand, that it's the public that comes first and it's the country that matters, and we can't treat the public as irrelevant bystanders in a subject as important as who is their prime minister.

So we should just bear that in mind in the way we conduct ourselves in the time to come.
And in the meantime, I think it's important that we get on with the business.
I mean, I was at a primary school earlier.
Fantastic new buildings. Great new IT suite. School results improving.
I'm here at this school that just in the last few years has come on leaps and bounds, doing fantastically well.
We've got the blockade on the Lebanon lifted, today.
You know, there are important things going on in the world.

And I think I speak for all my Cabinet colleagues when I say that we would prefer to get on with those things because those are the things that really matter and really matter to the country.
So it's, as I say, it's been a somewhat difficult week but I think it's time now to move on and I think we will.

And I know you've got reams of questions but I don't think it's very sensible for me to go into them now.

More Chicago Walkin' (Labor Day Weekend)

Chicago by Lake Michigan so reminds me of Roxas Boulevard by Manila Bay. It is all so pretty. This Labor Day weekend (Saturday to be exact), Carla and I took our post-pedicured toes to the test by walking along LSD (*"Lake Shore Drive" to the non-locals). Although we agreed to nothing, we slowly walked the street starting from my street (by Montrose, 4400 N) and headed towards hers hers (by Belmont,... probably between 2800 to 3000 N?-- let me check) -- AS IF we could go that distance, or maybe I should put... as if Carla could ;) . We chanced upon Abe on the way. He was headed to HIS apartment on 3600 N to change his shoes to more "walkable" ones. We waited for him at his building's roofdeck while he changed. There, I enjoyed one of the most awesome view of the Lake ever, breath-taking and beautiful. I wished that C were around to share the sight. When Abe was done, all 3 of us walked towards his parents place on Roscoe (3200 N) to pick them to join in the walk. Abe's parents, P and L, are really wonderful people. They are always very welcoming and warm. I remember how they embraced and welcomed me to their home many times when I was in Champaign, and even after. They also invited me to share their Jewish holidays with them, even though, I am not Jewish. Carla met Abe's parents for the first time, and she enjoyed the extensive Jewish art collection they had. By then, all of us (Abe's parents, Abe, his bro Maurie, Carla, and I) took a long walk along the Lake. I had wonderful conversations with Abe's mom. I always feel that spending time with her is a gift. She has such an enthusiasm for life, her family, and the friends of the members of her family. I absolutely love her. Her compassion for people (without being a self-righteous bleeding heart) and her philosophy and view and philosophy of the world is truly inspiring. I would like to grow old having that kind of gentle yet powerful effect on other people. At one point, the Rabbi seemed a bit tired, so we stopped and sat by the beach and just people watched and enjoyed the sight of people doing their watersports and sailing, and kiting. And then we walked more, and more, and more. Until Carla got tired (as expected!). It was a great afternoon, and a perfect light-jacket day to walk on the beach, before the inevitable chills come back to remind one that Chicago is the Windy City.

Abe, Carla and I capped the day with dinner at New Tokyo on at the corner of W Briar and Broadway. I had the shrimp and vegetable tempura bento. Carla had the (what else?) chicken teriyaki bento, and Abe had the salmon bento (and everything else that was left on our plates). I totally enjoyed mine. The sushis that came with the bento were awesome too. Burp, burp. Abe promised that we are coming back when he starts at Jenner & Block.

Trivia: Lake Shore Drive runs from 6600 N to 5500 S. That boils down (roughly) to about 12,300 blocks, north to south!

Photo: Window of the Newberry Library on Walton Street. To me, one of the most awesome buildings of Chicago.