While I have lauded Blair's stance on Kyoto recently, this is not why he is my hero this week.
The New York Times:

LONDON, Nov. 9 - The House of Commons rejected a crucial provision of the government's antiterrorism bill on Wednesday by a vote of 322 to 291, handing the once-invincible Prime Minister Tony Blair his first Commons defeat since he came to power eight years ago.

It was a startling outcome, all the more so because Mr. Blair had staked so much on the vote, recalling two of his cabinet ministers from abroad and making passionate last-minute pleas to wavering legislators from his Labor Party. In the end, 49 Labor members broke ranks and helped reject the government's proposal, which would have increased to 90 days the time that terror suspects can be held without charge.

While I am not entirely certain that I agree with Mr. Blair on this issue, he is my hero this week for standing for something he obviously believes in, and not succumbing to political pressures. Bravo, Mr. Blair. Bravo.

In lieu of having a hack this week, I thought it would be prudent to remember all Veterans, and espcially the anniversary of the end of the First World War, which ended in 1918, on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, inside a railroad car in France.

And if you do not realize why World War I is important and its aftermath so relevant to today, I suggest you read David Fromkin's A Peace to End All Peace.

Hero/Hack appears every Friday at Jokers to the Right.

Posted by Ryan S. on Friday, November 11, 2005 at 12:18 AM | Permalink |