I don't know the British political issues to assess or form an opinion on any of them, but I have been rather impressed by the rancourous opposition to Blair as an indication that the electorate can largely discriminate between substantive issues and mere personality. For to say that Blair is "articulate" is an understatement in the extreme. His combination of charm, eloquence and debating skill is unmatched by any public figure in my memory. I never miss a chance to watch him perform, always with total fascination. If he is deceitful, I would understand the fury of the opposition, but I would be even more impressed by his skill.