HUGH GRANT COULD GIVE TONY BLAIR LESSONS ON TOUGHNESS

Watching Tony Blair's stiff countenance during most of his press conference with Dubya reminded me of the scene in the film Love, Actually where GB Prime Minister Hugh Grant joins U.S. President Billy Bob Thornton for a press conference after Thornton has made it abundantly (and arrogantly) clear that he expects the UK to just fall in line with whatever he proposes, with little or no payback for Grant and his country.

Reporter: Mr. President, has it been a good visit?

President: Very satisfactory indeed. We got what we came for and our special relationship is still special.

Reporter: Mr. Prime Minister?

Prime Minister: I love that word "relationship." Covers all manner of sins, doesn't it? I fear that this has become a bad relationship. A relationship based on the President taking exactly what he wants and casually ignoring all those things that really matter to Britain. We may be a small country but we're a great one, too. The country of Shakespeare, Churchill, the Beatles, Sean Connery, Harry Potter. David Beckham's right foot. David Beckham's left foot, come to that. And a friend who bullies us is no longer a friend. And since bullies only respond to strength, from now onward I will be prepared to be much stronger. And the President should be prepared for that.

Bet the Brits wish Tony would take a page out of Hugh's book.