Does Blair want to BE Bush?

I see in the news that Blair is planning to give police more power to detain and question civilians without charging them (or even accusing them) of crimes.





Also included in this measure is a proposal to allow police to seize papers and certain other personal items without charge or warrant.





It seems that Blair's Bush-envy continues to prompt unnecessary, civil-liberty squashing, Patriot Act style legislation. Does Blair really think this is a good idea, or does he just want to be like his hero, George Bush?

Does Blair want to BE Bush?
I don't know that he's trying to be like Bush. I'd say its more a case of his being infected with the same brand of hysterical cowardice as Bush, or at least of his propagating and exploiting such hysterical cowardice.





He has the advantage of not laboring under the Bill of Rights. If I understand this law you're talking about right, I don't think it would be constitutional here.





I am constantly amazed that people who are so quick to claim


that freedom is worth dying for are even quicker to insist on giving up their freedom if some schmuck on tv tells them there's even a scintilla of risk involved in keeping it.





If there are dangerous foreigners or immigrants among us, maybe it would be better to deport their kind in general, not out of malice but simply so that the rest of us can live our lives under the laws our ancestors fought and died to enact.





But of course it would take actual leadership of some sort to successfully enact a policy like that.
Reply:no he does not want to be bush. bush is of no higher rank than he. they are both puppets.
Reply:He wants to be Bush's babe. And the police should stick to the business of arresting criminals and not the psychic business of "Preventing" crime - which they are mostly unqualified to do.
Reply:Blair is trying to enforce the laws in his country? Why that filthy stinking rat bastard, how dare he? Who does he think he is? As everyone knows, criminals will arrest themselves if they're just given half a chance, he doesn't need to go all Nazi on them.


EDIT


Total freedom is not possible. Anarchy is total freedom but it leads directly to chaos and tyranny. There has to be a balance between freedom and security, and to assume you can have both absolutely is unrealistic.
Reply:Had he been, he would not have Left his seat of PM
Reply:No one wants to be Bush.





Civilians can be questioned already, and if they have nothing to hide have nothing to worry about.





The trouble with warrants is the fact they take time and hold up investigations, meaning innocent people may be held longer than need be. If the warrant is going to be issued anyway, why bother waiting?





The trouble with bringing in new laws to stop search and arrest people, is everyone assumes it means we are heading toward a police state. If the govt did nothing towards controlling these crimes would the public prefer that instead? Almost certainly not, especially when they are on the receiving end of a crime. As crime changes and technology changes, so will the laws change in which to deal with them. Some for the better, some not. But im pretty certain Blair has made a big enough name for himself without wanting to be Bush. Mick
Reply:You outline your arguments in an intelligent fashion, but obviously approach it from a stand point of civil liberties...this is admirable, but I am of the opinion that civil liberties have gone too far...When you say Blair is planning, I presume you mean Blair as in the UK Govt...the last time I checked, the Prime Mininster did not propose legislation on this own account...it is generally a cabinet decision after a good deal of consultation.


The powers can only be used on reasonable suspicion that a crime has been or is about to be committed...That sounds entirely reasonable to me....If a bomb has been planted and exploded is it not reasonable to ask people leaving the area to account for their movements and identity.


I fail to see how as an obviously intelligent person, you can follow the shallow media statement that Blair is a poodle of Bush or as you say wants to be Bush....What Rot.


He stood by the American Govt. following the mass murder of 9/11 and I for one think he was right to do so...Ok, I will agree that the Iraq escalation was a move too far...but it is not generally the Iraq people who don't wish the Coalition forces to be there, but insurgents from Iraq and Syria who have their own agenda, and do not wish a western Super power in the area, who may bring stability and challenge their own position as regional powers.


So to answer your question, No Blair does not want to be Bush...although I suspect the American people wish that Bush was as articulate as Blair and must think it mad that we want to get rid of him before an election in much the same way we got rid of Margaret Thatcher.
Reply:Thought Blair and Bush were blood brothers
Reply:Stupid question.





and your 23 minutes ago comment is complete rubbish:





1. Blair is not resigning his seat, he is stepping down as Leader of the Labour Party. This will mean the Queen will have to invite the leader of the majority group in Parliament (which will be Gordon Brown) to form a Government, in effect making him PM.





2. Blair is stepping down in June, not July.





3. He hasn't been saying this for months - the media have been speculating about it for months.

art