Molly Ivins: Habeas Corpus, R.I.P. (1215 - 2006)

[kpete]

Molly Ivins: Habeas Corpus, R.I.P. (1215 - 2006)

Posted on Sep 27, 2006
By Molly Ivins

With a smug stroke of his pen, President Bush is set to wipe out a safeguard against illegal imprisonment that has endured as a cornerstone of legal justice since the Magna Carta.

AUSTIN, Texas—Oh dear. I’m sure he didn’t mean it. In Illinois’ Sixth Congressional District, long represented by Henry Hyde, Republican candidate Peter Roskam accused his Democratic opponent, Tammy Duckworth, of planning to “cut and run” on Iraq.

Duckworth is a former Army major and chopper pilot who lost both legs in Iraq after her helicopter got hit by an RPG. “I just could not believe he would say that to me,” said Duckworth, who walks on artificial legs and uses a cane. Every election cycle produces some wincers, but how do you apologize for that one?

The legislative equivalent of that remark is the detainee bill now being passed by Congress. Beloveds, this is so much worse than even that pathetic deal reached last Thursday between the White House and Republican Sens. John Warner, John McCain and Lindsey Graham. The White House has since reinserted a number of “technical fixes” that were the point of the putative “compromise.” It leaves the president with the power to decide who is an enemy combatant.

This bill is not a national security issue—this is about torturing helpless human beings without any proof they are our enemies. Perhaps this could be considered if we knew the administration would use the power with enormous care and thoughtfulness. But of the over 700 prisoners sent to Gitmo, only 10 have ever been formally charged with anything. Among other things, this bill is a CYA for torture of the innocent that has already taken place.

more at:
http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/20060927_molly_ivins_habeas_corpus/

[opihimoimoi]

1. Reason and Sanity gonna have a hard time choking this one down

Damn......How sickening these Republicans are...

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

4. The Senate Dems could stop it....

:sarcasm:

[Ilsa]

20. They'll find a way to make it HER fault that her legs were shot off.

They will find a way to make the listener question Duckworth's competency as a pilot and so it "must be" her fault. These people know no shame. After all, Slimeball Coulter et al did the same to Max Clelland.

[opihimoimoi]

28. Its always someone elses fault...Blame Game in play here...thats all they

have

[marmar]

2. Stalin would be jealous...

:cry:

[Bluestater2008]

21. Read Article I, Section 9 of the Constitution

We can stop it in the Senate by using the cloture rules. Watch what the Senators do, then hold them accountable.

[newyawker99]

26. Hi Bluestater2008!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Richardo]

3. Crap you scared the shit out of me. I saw 'Molly Ivins' and 'RIP'...

...must....learn....to.....read....whole....subject line. :eyes:

[tanyev]

6. Me too. Whew!

[Nickster]

12. OMG, I did the same thing. Wheeeewwwww! n/t

[krkaufman]

31. And me. n/t

[Yupster]

25. Her picture was in the paper this Sunday

She looks very ill. She's fighting cancer I think.

[JuniperLea]

5. "the power to decide who is an enemy combatant"

You... me... anyone who posts on that radical, terrorist supporting DU...

[rodeodance]

7. this bill is a disaster just waiting to happen.

[rodeodance]

8. and since they will have immunity from presecution--it WILL happen.

[acmejack]

9. Mistakes happen.

Oh shit-We thought he was a teeroist sympathizer. He wouldn't sign the confession, how were we to know we had a weak heart? We only inflicted serious pain, never amped it up over 20...

[gully]

10. I never thought I'd see a day this dark.

I thought the stolen election was the worst, then the war, now I shudder to think what can "top" this.

[datasuspect]

14. removal of dissidents into camps?

we're terrorist enablers, doncha know.

[gully]

15. So I hear.

The next thing you know they'll eliminate term limits due to a national emergency. :eyes:

[datasuspect]

17. a coordinated "smart bomb" attack

(coordinated by the GOP that is) on several american cities would stir the pot sufficiently. i can hear it now "continuity of leadership," "strong resolve of this administration in the war on terror," "other generic justificatory spin." the apparatus is already in place.

the wildest dreams of conspiracy theorists could never have anticipated the devolution into totalitarianism of the US.

at this point, nothing will shock me.

[gully]

19. Must we bring back torches and pitchforks?

It seems our government has returned to medieval times, so what's good for the goose, as they say.

[CrispyQ]

23. ...what can "top" this

My mind won't even venture there.
I am stunned. I am sad.

AND I WANT MY FUCKING COUNTRY BACK!!!
:grr:

Yes, it is a very dark day. :hug:

[sinkingfeeling]

11. Molly's just being nice. She could have written, USA Democracy R.I.P.

1776-2006.

[truebrit71]

13. Molly hits it on the head. This Bill is the official warning to all of us.

...Fascism is here. Officially.

[Marie26]

16. This makes me sick

Literally. I feel sort of queasy & anxious, w/a sense of impending disaster. The Iraq invasion made me feel the same way - wanting to shake people & say "Can't you see what's happening??" But they can't, and one of the reasons, again, is the media spin. The media coverage of this bill is very weird. Normally, they'll have a point/counterpoint between a supporter & critic of a bill, or else they'll have a legal expert explaining what the bill means. They're not doing that now. Instead, the news just briefly mentions "a bill to prosecute terrorists," & moves quickly on the the Terrell Owens story. It's almost like they don't want people to understand what this bill means. Or worse, that the reporters themselves haven't bothered to read or understand this legislation. Did you see Bush going to the Capitol, again, to twist arms on this bill? When's the last time he's EVER done that? He's done nothing to pass legislation all year, now suddenly he's going to Capitol Hill twice in one week to get his precious torture law. This MATTERS to him, more than anything else. His eyes glittered in the press conference w/suppressed glee. He's finally getting what he always wanted.

[Bluestater2008]

22. Mainstream Media is bought off

Look at all the advertising you see on the news channels. They have been bought off by big business.

The Internet and forums like this will save us. Eventually the people will realize that we need government to protect us from the businesses who would sell their own mothers into slavery to make a dollar.

[Hugin]

18. So, this is what Martial Law looks like... Wasn't killing people already

against the law?

I'm so sorry to hear Duckworth is being treated that way.

*sigh*

[Melissa G]

24. Molly Calls us to Action, Not Fear. Take action Friends! Take Action

from the article...


Fellow citizens, this bill throws out legal and moral restraints as the president deems it necessary—these are fundamental principles of basic decency, as well as law.

I’d like those supporting this evil bill to spare me one affliction: Do not, please, pretend to be shocked by the consequences of this legislation. And do not pretend to be shocked when the world begins comparing us to the Nazis.

[indepat]

27. Sacrificing habeas corpus is a small price to pay for the joy of being led

by a man inspired and guided by God Almighty according to all followers/supporters who are, in effect, saying just that.

[opihimoimoi]

29. Some kinda God guiding Bush...the results of the guidance has been HORRID

[Roland99]

30. The God of Ignorance, Arrogance, Greed, Contempt, and pure Evil.

[Erika]

32. "its about torturing helpless people"

without proof they are our enemies.

W's legacy: tearing down any moral authority we had.

[deacon]

33. Amazing how a failed leader (iraq, etc.) is granted MORE power

he couldn't handle it before- so why is he being entrusted now? Of all people, due to this long string of failures- his incompetency is logged on the books, and of all people, he is the LAST one that should be granted more power.

[rman]

34. So essentially the US is now under Martial Law

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martial_law

(first posted by another DUer)

What is habeas corpus? It prevents dictatorship.

Habeas corpus can only be suspended during revolt or invasion. It is then, more than any other time, the president is a dictator and is not subject to the checks and balances of powers, in this case, the judicial branch. BushCo wants one more step toward a dictatorship. Please read the following links and know what is going on. Torture is only their excuse.


The erosion of the Great Writ
American Judicature Society
Editorial
October 25, 2005
http://www.thejusticeproject.org/press/articles/the-erosion-of-the-great-writ.html


Habeas Protection Campaign
Habeas Repeal Measures Increase Threat of Wrongful Convictions
Status of the Legislation in Congress
http://www.thejusticeproject.org/national/habeas/

[GreenTea]

35. Habeas Corpus - Gone....

The outage of our lives.

Treated like a hated relative.............

[arcos]

36. Well, Habeas Corpus didn't start in the US, and it won't end in the US nt

[mmonk]

37. Everybody make copies

and spread them throughout your neighborhoods.