The nearest thing

O tempo que passa não passa depressa. O que passa depressa é o tempo que passou
Virgilio Ferreira




"As Tony Blair executed the nearest thing he has ever come to a "night of the long knives",
Labour MPs were pondering a couple of key questions.

Reshuffle aims to end speculation over Labour leadershipIs the surprisingly radical government reshuffle actually the renewal and rejuvenation they have been pressing for to take them through to an historic fourth term in office?
Or is it, as former minister Frank Dobson has suggested, simply rearranging the deckchairs on the Titanic when what is needed is a new man at the helm?
The prime minister has acted swiftly, almost brutally, in an attempt to both switch attention away from the damaging local election results - which it may well succeed in doing - while also suggesting he is recasting a government that still has plenty to do, with him firmly at its head.
To that extent, it was being seen by some as a suggestion that he has no plans to go anywhere soon.
Critics, on the other hand, claim his axe wielding is a sign of panic in a man beset by problems and who knows he is losing his authority and his grip on power.
It is certainly noticeable that Mr Blair has moved to place his most trusted loyalists in the most important cabinet posts - John Reid, Margaret Beckett and Geoff Hoon forming a sort of Praetorian Guard around their emperor. Even John Prescott keeps his key cabinet fixer role."
BBC News-5.5

crisdovale