Gonzales: ‘I Haven’t Really Thought About’ Habeas Corpus

[kpete]

Gonzales: ‘I Haven’t Really Thought About’ Habeas Corpus

Under the Bush administration, U.S. citizens can be detained as enemy combatants and arrested without being charged of any crime.

At today’s House Judiciary Committee hearing, Rep. Brad Sherman (D-CA) asked Attorney General Alberto Gonzales whether any U.S. citizens are “being held today, for over a month, who have been denied habeas corpus or access to an attorney.” Instead of giving an answer, Gonzales replied, “You’re asking me a question I hadn’t really thought about.”

Sherman then followed up and asked whether there any “U.S. citizens being held now by foreign governments or foreign organizations, without access to attorneys, as a result of rendition.” Gonzales again said, “It’s just — quite frankly, I hadn’t thought about this.”

VIDEO AND TRANSCRIPT:
http://thinkprogress.org/2007/05/10/gonzales-habeas-2/

[wtmusic]

1. You go Brad - my rep finally getting off his ass and holding someone

accountable.

I might actually cough up some $$ for you next time around.

[hobbit709]

2. Just what the hell has he thought about?

:puke: :wtf: :nuke:

[Skidmore]

3. He's been too busy serving pleasu..er...at the pleasure..to think period.

[JitterbugPerfume]

4. The Attorney General hasnt thought about habeas corpus????

mind boggle

[Burma Jones]

5. This Administration is looking more like Rufus T. Firefly's every day

Hail Freedonia!

[stellanoir]

6. "No one ever could have anticipated. . ."

having the highest law enforcement official in the land who was so utterly clueless about the importance of the rule of law.

Who would never really think of doing his job, instead of covering *'s butt, and legalizing sadism.

Egads this guy is so unbelievably creepy and totally unqualified.

Ughhh

[Disturbed]

9. Habeas Corpus is so pre 911.

It is one of those quaint, irrelevant concepts that is no longer needed in the Busholini Regime of the "War On Terror".

[NewJeffCT]

7. In his defense, he did say before that habeus is not a right guaranteed

by the Constitution. So, it might not be something he ever worries about if it doesn't exist in his bizarro-mind.

[struggle4progress]

13. Gonzales says the Constitution doesn't guarantee habeas corpus

Attorney general's remarks on citizens' right astound the chair of Senate judiciary panel
Bob Egelko, Chronicle Staff Writer
Wednesday, January 24, 2007

One of the Bush administration's most far-reaching assertions of government power was revealed quietly last week when Attorney General Alberto Gonzales testified that habeas corpus -- the right to go to federal court and challenge one's imprisonment -- is not protected by the Constitution.

"The Constitution doesn't say every individual in the United States or every citizen is hereby granted or assured the right of habeas,'' Gonzales told Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing Jan. 17.

Gonzales acknowledged that the Constitution declares "habeas corpus shall not be suspended unless ... in cases of rebellion or invasion the public safety may require it.'' But he insisted that "there is no express grant of habeas in the Constitution.'' ~snip~

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/01/24/MNGDONO11O1.DTL

[Prophet 451]

8. So, let me get this straight

The nation's highest law enforcement official hasn't considered the role of habeus corpus?

Gonzo, WHAT THE FRACK HAVE YOU BEEN DOING WITH YOUR TIME?

[progressoid]

10. Sweet Jesus.

[tabasco]

17. Say it again. Sad days for our Nation. n/t

[DemGa]

11. Incredible. Heckuva job.

[SpiralHawk]

12. Why do republicons HATE America?

Why are republicons lacking in honor?

[bonzotex]

14. I heard that one and was struck dumb....

Hadn't hought about it?
The Attorney General of the United States?
Habeas Corpus?
My fucking God!

How mind numbingly stupid, obtuse, unqualified and pure-wet-shit-for-brains do you have to be to get impeached in this Country?

[pberq]

15. So why is this guy still AG???

[lonestarnot]

16. Probably true in that he obviously doesn't think about much of any fucking thing.

[intheflow]

18. Gonzales is saying too much.

He should just answer everything "I haven't really thought" and leave it at that since it's evident that's what is really going on.

[rasputin1952]

19. My eyes hurt now, after bulging out their sockets...

The rule of haebeus corpus is the very basis of our entire judicial system. Gonzo never read the Constitution, nor its Amendments apparently.

Article I Sect 9, 2nd pargraph spells it out quite nicely, only "Cases of Rebellion or Invasion the public Safety may require it."

We are not in Rebellion, (yet), nor have we been Invaded, (yet). TYhose are the only two instances where H. Corpus can be induced, and only for the public Safety at the time of insurrection or invasion.

He's an asshole, and needs to go.

I'm sure gladf he wasn't a lawyer that was actually used by anyone before he became the worst AG this nation has seen, (makes me wish Ashcroft was back, at least he had some principles!). By the time you were done being defended by this asshole, you'd be on Death Row for 10 unpaid parking tickets!

[Greyskye]

20. Hell, I'd do a better job then Gonzo

And I'd really suck, as I'm totally unqualified to be the A.G. Then again, evidently, so is he. :eyes: