Senator Chris Dodd:
"America's moral standing, and with it the security of the United States, suffered another setback today, atop a pile of setbacks that has accumulated over the past six years. The outcome of this vote is both symbolic and tragic. Each of us in the Senate faced a decision either to cast a vote in favor of helping to restore America's reputation in the world, or to help dig deeper the hole of utter disrespect for the rule of law that the Bush Administration has created. Unfortunately, too many of my colleagues chose the latter, and my disappointment runs deep. But I will not rest my case with this vote. Instead, this defeat will only deepen my resolve to restore the rule of law and with it American security, for far too much is at stake - for every American - to simply give up the fight."
Comments
Terrorists, suspected terrorists, who are not legal citizens of this nation do not have/ and do not deserve 'habeas corpus'. Leave the constitution alone. Any challenges to it are disrespectful to the rule of law. This nation has survived over 200 yrs 'as is', suddenly we are supposed to adjust everything to suit the very ones that we are under attack from. Ridiculous!!
Wrong. The Constitution makes no distinction as to citizen or non-citizen. In addition, and perhaps most important, the rule of law aims to limit the government. As Justice Anthony Kennedy has explained, the agents of government may only do and must do what the law permits. In other words, the agents of government have to follow the rules of "Mother, may I."
The people, on the other hand, not only make the laws, but see that they are enforced.
Read a book, anonymous -- That's ridicule. I'm ridiculing you "Anonymous" because you're ridiculous. The rule of law is habeas corpus. It is the right to due process. Bush suspended the rule of law for anyone on his say-so. Bush disrespected the Constitution. He put himself above the law and you're his cheerleader.
"The Great Writ," the writ of habeas corpus ad subjiciendum dates from King Edward I. That's the year 1305! It was adopted as common law by the framers of our Constitution of the United States. In 1776, the suspension of habeas corpus was cited by the signers to the Declaration of Independence as a reason for the American colonies' moral superiority over a lawless King George.
And now we have another lawless King George. W. Bush. And we've lost our moral superiority. And you cheer. You're pathetic.
Robert Jennings
Ames, Iowa
Anonymous - you have it wrong - the Constitution was left along for over 200 years in regards to habeas corpus, that is until the Bush Administration decided that they didn't like the rule of law and decided to unilaterally decide that certain people can be locked away for the rest of their lives without a court proceeding or trial to ever determine whether they are legitimately guilty of a crime.
Detaining somebody indefinitely without needing any legitimate claim as to wrongdoing...Is that what the United States stands for? Is that how we want our citizens to be treated around the world?
If terrorists or suspected terrorists are truly guilty of a crime, then that needs to be proven for our government to take away their lives. If we execute punishments without proof of wrongdoing, then that makes us no better than the people our government is supposed to be protecting us from.
Dave Sommers
Albuquerque, NM
It's just as horrifying to see the mindless masses who unthinkingly sop up the nightmarishly Orwellian NewSpeak this administration keeps pounding us with.
Failure = success, bad = good, we are forever at war... All stinking nonsense.
We NEVER declared "War" - ONLY Congress can authorize that and they never did.
"War war war" - it's an occupation. Get a grip on reality.
And Sen. Dodd: Thank-you !!
It's just as horrifying to see the mindless masses who unthinkingly sop up the nightmarishly Orwellian NewSpeak this administration keeps pounding us with.
Failure = success, bad = good, we are forever at war... All stinking nonsense.
We NEVER declared "War" - ONLY Congress can authorize that and they never did.
"War war war" - it's an occupation. Get a grip on reality.
And Sen. Dodd: Thank-you !!
Not at all surprised! We are losing our freedoms in the name of Bush's war. We the people need to take some time away from TV, go out into the streets and protest before all of our rights have been taken away, just like Nazi Germany! Call your Senators and Representatives to stop this insanity before it is too late.