The Gong Show.

It is well seen that there aren't very many days left in the Presidency of Gorge Walker Bush. Mr Bush will next week dish out "Freedom" Medals to various of his pals from the last eight years of his Presidency with former British Prime Minister Tony Blair being one of the recipients.

"Former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair will receive the highest civilian award in the US - the Presidential Medal of Freedom - next week. In his last week in office, President Bush will award the medal to Mr Blair, former Australian PM John Howard and Colombian President Alvaro Uribe. All three leaders had been "staunch allies" of the US, particularly against terrorism, said the White House."

Mr Smith wonders whether in the long sweep of history Blair will be remembered for his efforts on behalf of "freedom" or for his part in leading the West into the disastrous war in Iraq.

Sarko for PM.

It may have been over the top ...

It may have been in French ...

It may not even have been that good ...

But the speech made by French President Nicolas Sarkozy to a joint session of the Westminster Parliament was delivered with real passion and with a hint of Gallic charm. It made Mr Smith realise just how much he is missing former PM Tony Blair. Tony may have went off the rails a bit towards the end, but at least he seemed to care about what he was trying to do and it came across. Unlike the current PM sadly.

Blair Force None.

So Gordon Brown yet again wastes no time in stamping his authority on government by abandonning plans for the UK government to buy new aircraft to fly members of the Royal Family and senior politicians around.

"Gordon Brown has scrapped plans to buy two private jets to carry himself and the royal family around the world, it was revealed yesterday. Instead, the government is scaling back proposals made by former premier Tony Blair, which were expected to cost taxpayers £100m, and will buy only a small plane for trips around the UK."

Good to see Government cutting back unnecessary expenditure in these times of economic uncertainty, or is it? Presumably there was a justifiable case made for the aircraft previously which has now been reversed. Perhaps the decision is more about good PR than what is actually good for effective government?

Tony and Barney.

Mr Smith wishes to highlight the latest example of the "special relationship" between former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and US President George W. Bush ... the annual Whitehouse Barney Cam footage.

During the clip, Tony even owns up to something which the average Scot probably knew but wished to dis-believe namely his comment to Barney that "As someone born in Edinburgh, Scotland, it's always good to see the Scots doing well. (Barney looks at the camera, tilts his head and a "boing" sound effect is heard. Barney's daydream ends and he's sitting with Miss Beazley on Mrs. Bush's lap in front of the Christmas tree in the Blue Room.)"

Cheesy. But one thing is very certain, it is very unlikely that current British Prime Minister Gordon Brown will feature in W's last Barney Cam spoof next year. They may share some initials in their names but that is about as far as the "special relationship" goes between George and Gordon.

Flying visits.

So, "SCOTTISH Labour spent a staggering £48,520 flying former Prime Minister Tony Blair to Scotland during April's election campaign."

As the article points out each of Tony' three visits to Scotland probably cost the Scottish Labour Party more votes than it won them. And he was on his way out anyway.

Very expensive way to make a meaningles point, and what about the carbon footprint?

Tony's Scottish chums.

Mr Smith was very interested to read in today's Times the details of recent visitors to former PM Tony Blair's Official Buckinghamshire country residence, Chequers. Scots were well represented on the list of 85 visitors, but only one MP representing a Scottish constituency, Jim Murphy, managed to make it along Chequers' famous driveway, but TV presenter Lorraine Kelly did manage to have her name added to the guest list.

Mr Smith wonders what new Prime Minister Gordon Brown's Chequers' invite list will look like when we get to see it next year?