Upholding the Constitution

David Vines, 12.24.2009

Intern, The Huffington Post

There is no "oh, well, except for terrorists" clause to the Sixth Amendment. And that is what makes our country so great.

Downtown Dispatch: Fear and Anxiety Grip Lower Manhattan as It Braces for the Terror Trials

Julie Menin, 12.18.2009

Host of "Give and Take," seen on NBC In New York and juliemenin.com

Emotions bubbled to the surface in lower Manhattan this week. Neighborhood activists lambasted Eric Holder's decision to hold the KSM trial in the shadow of the World Trade Center site.

Prosecuted Pot Provider Accuses Obama of Entrapment, Uses Campaign Promises in Defense

Dave Maass, 12.23.2009

One pot provider facing criminal charges has filed a motion in court accusing the administration of entrapment, because Obama pledged to stop prosecuting medical-marijuana providers whose operations are consistent with state law.

The Prosecution of Ted Stevens & Don Siegelman

Rebecca Abrahams, 12.17.2009

Freelance Film and Television Producer

While the DOJ is making a point to review Republican corruption cases, like Ted Stevens, not one Democrat case has been completely overturned.

NRA Members For Reasonable Gun Restrictions

Paul Helmke, 12.11.2009

President, Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence

it is time for Congress to start listening to the American people -- including NRA members and gun owners -- instead of responding to the dictates of NRA bosses.

Gaps in Protection for Us and the President

Paul Helmke, 12.10.2009

President, Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence

We want security not only for the president and our top officials, but also for ourselves and our families. Yet as a nation we make it very easy for dangerous people to arm themselves.

Obama Is "Bush Light"

Mike Papantonio, 12.01.2009

Senior partner of Levin, Papantonio, Thomas, Mitchell, Echsner & Proctor

The engine driving the impending train wreck for Obama and his spineless advisors is that he made promises that turned out millions of supporters. That promise was that we were going to see "change." Soon we began to see "Bush Lite."

NYC Trial Of High-level Terror Masterminds Will Violate Civil Liberties -- Of Americans

Heather Robinson, 11.30.2009

Former Senior Writer for the New York Daily News

To put it simply, in bringing these men to civilian trial the Obama Administration is allowing for the possibility that they may be released at some point, unless the trials are kangaroo trials.

The KSM Trial And Republican Attacks

Lincoln Mitchell, 11.25.2009

Assistant Professor in the Practice of International Politics, Columbia University

For many Republicans, none more so than Rudy Giuliani, the KSM trial is merely an opportunity to get some media attention and take a cheap shot at the president.

Friday Talking Points [102] -- Harry Reid's Glacial Progress Grinds On

Chris Weigant, 11.21.2009

Author, Political Commentator, and Blogger (ChrisWeigant.com)

Harry Reid thinks he's got enough votes, but then this is the reason why the vote keeps getting pushed back -- because he's obviously still scrambling for the final few votes before he moves ahead.

New York's Tough Enough for Terrorist Trials

Michael Winship, 11.21.2009

Senior writer at Bill Moyers Journal on PBS

Most of us who live not far from Ground Zero, and who were here on 9/11, see New York as an appropriate and just venue, and aren't afraid that the trial will result in terrorist retribution.

KSM: Ready For His Closeup?

Michael Smerconish, 11.19.2009

Columnist, Radio Host

Sen. Arlen Specter would like to see Khalid Sheikh Mohammed's trial be televised, stemming from a prosecutorial belief that trying him in a federal civilian court is the right decision.

Quakers and Shakers: Giuliani and Paterson Unlikely Bedfellows in the Axis of Anxiety

Adam Hanft, 11.21.2009

Political Columnist, CEO of Hanft Unlimited

Tough-guy Rudy Giuliani and touchy-feely David Paterson are in unlikely and violent agreement: making Manhattan Ground Zero for the Khalid Sheik Mohammed trial is a very bad idea.

If You Believe Guantanamo Makes Us Safer You Should Have Been Here Today

David Danzig, 11.21.2009

Deputy Program Director at Human Rights First

Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, 11/18/09 - Legal proceedings, such as they are, rumbled to life again today at Guantanamo Bay. Pre-trial issues in the case of M...

Holder Acts Like a Patriot As Republicans Continue to Shriek in Terror

Allison Kilkenny, 11.19.2009

Radio host, writer, allisonkilkenny.com

When contrasted with the recent statements by Attorney General Eric Holder on the KSM trial, the Right really does look like a bunch of sniveling cowards.

Khalid Sheikh Mohammed And An Independent Department Of Justice

Chris Weigant, 11.18.2009

Author, Political Commentator, and Blogger (ChrisWeigant.com)

The upcoming trial of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed has revealed that a whole lot of people have totally and utterly forgotten the way our system of justice is designed to operate.

The Forgotten Defendant of Guantanamo

Stephen Paul Smith, 11.18.2009

Human Rights Watch legal intern, Co-author, 'The Guantanamo Effect'

Military commissions were created under Bush to circumvent legal protections. Under Obama, the underlying purpose remains the same. The new commissions offer little hope for swift and decisive justice.

Virginia Tech Survivor With Hidden Camera Films Dangerous Gun Sales at Gun Shows

Paul Helmke, 11.18.2009

President, Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence

At gun shows in 43 states, felons, gangsters, wife-beaters, and the dangerously mentally ill can buy assault weapons, semi-automatic pistols and other firearms with no questions asked.

Khalid Soup

Spencer Green, 11.17.2009

Visit Mr. Green's website parallelfilmguide.com

(INT. NEW YORK SOUTHERN DISTRICT COURTROOM - 2010 - Judge Rittenhouse (Margaret Dumont) is behind the bench, as U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara (Zeppo) an...

What the GITMO Debate Should Look Like

Nathan Havey, 11.17.2009

New Media Communications/Political Consultant, Videographer, Feminist

Friday the 13th has a reputation for being the scariest of day-of-the-week/date combinations. The Obama administration selected last Friday (the 13th ...

Detainees Moved to DMV; Could Be Held There 'Indefinitely'

Andy Borowitz, 11.17.2009

BorowitzReport.com

While Eric Holder did not indicate how long the detainees might be held at the DMV, he did say that the DMV "is capable of detaining them indefinitely."