GOP Filibusters Bill Restoring Habeas Rights To Detainees

AP:

The Senate narrowly rejected legislation on Wednesday that would have given military detainees the right to protest their detention in federal court.

The 56-43 vote fell four shy of the 60 votes needed to cut off debate on the bill, co-sponsored by Sens. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., and Arlen Specter, R-Pa. It was a blow for human rights groups that say a current ban on habeas corpus petitions could lead to the indefinite detention of individuals wrongfully suspected of terrorism.

President Bush and conservative Republicans counter that the ban, enacted last year, was necessary to stem the tide of legal protests flooding civilian courts.

Read the whole story: AP

Comments

[CarmanK]

Before the Patiot Act and suspension of Habeas Corpus this government had the tools to gather the information necessary to prevent a terrorist attack. Before 9/11 The FBI,CIA and NSA believed there was a real threat on the horizon but failed to connect the dots. Bush/Cheney wanted this war "for oil" and promoted an imperial presidency saluted by the 109th Republican controlled Congress. The Democrats need some powerful talking points and have to curtail the expansion of Bush's powers by obstructing new proposals that weaken the constitution.Just let the Republican manure float to the top where its putrid smell is beginning to sicken the American public. The world already knows, what Americans have been slow to accept, that Bush is full of bull manure and it stinks.

[RanTalbott]

Unfortunately, there are few "powerful talking points" to be had: most of the real disagreement is in the policy wonk details like what the proper procedures and safeguards are for wiretapping and espionage-LEO information sharing, _some_ of which is necessary and proper. Most Americans will tune out that debate to go watch "Survivor" or "Dancing with the Has-Beens".

Except for some of our racial minorities, and some political refugees, Americans have never seen their government engage in widespread abuse of civil liberties, and sincerely believe "it can't happen here" (or, if it does happen, will only happen to "bad guys"). It's hard to get such people worked up about the _potential_ imposition of fascism, but easy to scare them with the prospect of another 9/11 because they've actually seen it, and have no effective way to protect themselves from it.

[EricABlair]

Stop saying the Republicans filibustered the amendments you know that is not true. It involve that ridiculous agreement the dems and republicans cooked up where they have to have 60 votes to pass an amendment or they would filibuster. Too bad the democrats are afraid to make the opposition actually make good on their threats.

[eugenegerard]

KEEP YOUR HEAD IN THE SAND. You are part of a criminal enterprise.

[eugenegerard]

REPUKES are Un-American FASCISTS.

[FredFlintsone]

Why do Republicans HATE our constitution?

[Where is Jesus?]

Fuck all the sorry Repuklicans! They filibuster every piece of legislation the Dems try to pass. Bipartisan, my ass! Let their voting record be shown to expose them for the traitors they are. They stop good legislation at every turn. The American people know what's going on here and they are going to make the Repukes pay dearly by voting their rotten asses out in 08. They are traitors!

[johnfrankweaver]

I wish a candidate, a Congressman, a scholar... SOMEONE would write a detailed paper or speech briefly outlining the ways in which adamantly upholding American ideals in the world has historically made the United States more powerful and influential: the Marshall Plan, the Truman Plan, promotion of democracies in Europe, Japan, etc. Because of these efforts - which were guided by our better angels - the world is better, the people in the effected places are better off, and the country is stronger. Compare that with our current policies - which have been guided by some of our shared national demons - and it seems obvious which is the smarter course of action.

[patriotscholar]

Amendment VI of the Constitution says:
"In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the state and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the assistance of counsel for his defense."
This amendment may not be changed by Congress. The Constitution may only be changed by a Constitutional Referendum, and has to be ratified by all states.

[NoFactsJustTruth]

The TRUTH of the matter is, that much of what OUR government does IS Unconstitutional, yet whether by agreement to mutual benefit or just because there is INTENTIONALLY no oversight by even a democratic CONgress, most ALL violations have gone unchallenged for quite some time. If few take the challenge to court, the violations are absorbed by their impunity, and 'their' favorable courts will help THEM, not the Constitutional challenger.
Let's hope those judges understand integrity.

From eavesdropping to The unPatriot Act to signing statements to the Military Commissions Act that eliminates habeus corpus and pardons war crimes like torture - 'ex-post-facto', OUR government has gone ultra-corrupt and their only out might be to maintain that universe, that they created in their mind to believe their own lies, until jailed, dead ...or insane.

[kevenseven]

What did Ben Franklin say?

"These quavering cowards who want to trade away my essential liberties for some deranged illusion of security give me a great pain in my arse!"

Or some such.

[themodernleader]

March 15, 2951 [NEWS RELEASE]. Shang Aai Lee has just released the new historical study: "Decline and Fall of the American Republic". His research shows clearly that American leaders at all levels of the public and private entities began to seek power and wealth at the expense of the common welfare as the American Republic declined. Among the actions undertaken were "the passing of popular laws that restricted the rights of citizens and aliens accused of crimes against the State." These laws such as the historically sacred law of haebus corpus was rescinded for aliens, traitors and finally, citizens of all descriptions.
On July 4. 2016 AD The first Supreme Leader Jimmy Jones, with the blessing of the Legislature permanently banned Articles I, IV, V. VI and 14th Amendment to the American Constitution. The media applauded this restriction on citizen duty and right. It was recorded that there was proclaimed a five day celebration wherein it was reported that drunken and riotous mobs and vigliante squads exacted revenge upon enemies of the Republic including political opponents of Supreme Leader Jones.
The "Decline and Fall..." is a testament to the truth that an Organization of self rule must be always maintained and safeguarded by its citizentry or the traditional forms of human governance and behavior will reassert themselves and return civilized people to the inscrutable, changeless matrices of nature.
It is a lesson for our place and time as we begin to relearn what was destroyed in the Dark Ages following the return of Messiahs.

[Destin]

It won't be long before the GOP is trying to deny the existance of our Declaration, our Constitution and the existance of our forefathers and patriots back in the day.... through legislation to outlaw and deny they ever existed. It's coming, just wait.

[kevenseven]

They hate us for our freedoms, so let's scrap our freedoms and maybe they will leave us alone?

[Destin]

It's high time for a hanging. Round em up and do it on the south lawn as a warning to all those who come after, DON'T TREAD ON ME!

[patriotscholar]

Can someone please explain to this poor idiot how habeas corpus, a fundamental right under the constitution, can simply be legislated away?
I thought that the only way the constitution could be changed was by a constitutional referendum.

[Destin]

It can't be, lol, if you read the Declaration of Independence, it's one of the inalienable rights of mankind. That's what the entire Bill of Rights is about, a reaffirmation of what's in the Declaration.

[RanTalbott]

Article I, Section 9: "The privilege of the Writ of Habeas Corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in Cases of Rebellion or Invasion the public Safety may require it."

[NoFactsJustTruth]

Save the list of votes on this one.

There is a reason that the right of habeus corpus has stood for 600 years.



ANYONE that voted AGAINST this should be made DOGMEAT when up for re-election.

[Danny]

It's wonderful that Specter, Sununu, Snowe, Gordon Smith, and another sane Senator came to their senses to vote the right way. We need to encourage them so that other SANE lawmakers will join them. All is well if we can undo this so-so response, and we're not FAR from sanity. Get on the phones to your Senators, patriots who have never reached for the phone. Do it, NOW.

[NoFactsJustTruth]

Danny, I think you're being naive if you DON'T assume these vote numbers were engineered behind closed doors to be this 'close', between ALL concerned.


OUR lovely Washington 'insiders' ONE-PARTY K-Street system...at work.

[DatelessNerd]

Today, Senate Republicans used procedural maneuvers TWICE (habeus corpus and time off for troops) that allowed them to kill legislation with only 41 votes.

Why haven't Senate Democrats been doing this for the past seven years? Why do they continue to give George W. Bush blank checks and rubberstamps?

Why are Senate Democrats telling the media that they "don't have the votes" to take a stand on the Iraq War, when it's obvious that they do?

It takes 41 Senators to end this Neocon nonsense, by withholding funding. Anyone who tells you they need 67, 60, or 51 is ignorant or lying.