DANCE WITH THE ONE WHAT BRUNG 'YA:

Why Snub the Tories? (Anne Applebaum, September 1, 2004, Washington Post)

Last week, just as [Liam] Fox and his chums were getting ready to go off to New York, a British tabloid printed an account of a recent telephone conversation between Michael Howard, the leader of the British Conservatives, and Rove. It seems that Howard was planning to visit Washington this spring but had in the meantime been critical of Tony Blair, the British prime minister, who is in turn President Bush's close personal friend. As a result, Rove was less than encouraging about the prospects of a warm reception in Washington. "You can forget about meeting the president," he said. "Don't bother coming. You are not meeting him."

Howard indirectly confirmed the truth of the report by issuing a statement on Saturday. "A Conservative government would work very closely with President Bush or President Kerry, but my job as leader of the Opposition is to say things as I see them in the interests of our country," he said. "If some people in the White House, in their desire to protect Mr. Blair, think I am too tough on Mr. Blair or too critical of him, they are entitled to their opinion. But I shall continue to do my job as I see fit."

Indeed: Being critical of one's opponent is a major part of a political leader's job description. But being friendly to one's friends -- and the Tories are historically the Republicans' friends -- ought also to be a major part of any senior White House adviser's job description. Being friendly to people who might be leaders of an allied country is usually par for the course as well, and it costs surprisingly little.

Tony Blair is our ally. The Tories aren't; nor are they conservative any longer.

Posted by Orrin Judd at September 1, 2004 8:48 AM