Habeas Corpus: More Congressional SHAME
We've just returned to the Middle Ages of western civilization, in the name of Homeland Security (read: protection of a corrupt and unruly, un-American administration from righteous consequences of their national and international actions against the human beings THEY fear - they fear for reasons they're UNWILLING to publicly disclose.)
In fact I'm myself given to exaggeration; and my knee-jerk, dramatic reference to the "Middle Ages" felt as if I might be exaggerating. However and alas, I fear Middle Ages is indeed the period of time, in Europe, between the 3rd and 14th centuries to which I refer. First arrival of the codification of habeas corpus, which legal writ was thrown out by this republican Congress yesterday (Sept 28, 2006) is dated 1305, Great Britain, under the rule of King Edward I.
"A writ of habeas corpus is a court order addressed to a prison official (or other custodian) ordering that a detainee be brought to the court so it can be determined whether or not that person is imprisoned lawfully and whether or not he or she should be released from custody. The writ of habeas corpus in common law countries is an important instrument for the safeguarding of individual freedom against arbitrary state action." - Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Habeas_corpus
"This procedure, part of English common law, was considered important enough to be specifically mentioned in the United States Constitution, which says, "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." (Article One, section nine)." - Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Habeas_corpus#History
Senators Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Arlen Specter (R- PA) have been working arduously to preserve habeas corpus and the rights of detainees to due process of law in these United States (so sanctified if you will, by our beloved Constitution, which is lifted up as that which marks the wonder of American Democracy.) Leahy and Specter have been in this struggle since early in this Bush administration when John Ashcroft was Attorney General. They will go down in history as tireless servants of citizen protection from government tyrrany, while this administration and the corresponding congress will be marked for an attempt to fly in the face of the Constitution of the United States of America.
"If the Administration and the Republican leadership of the Senate believe that suspending the writ is constitutional and justified, they should grant the joint request that Chairman Specter and I made last week for a sequential referral of the bill. Constitutional issues involving the writ of habeas corpus are at the center of this Committee’s jurisdiction. We can and should review this legislation thoroughly, and if a few habeas petitions are filed in the meantime, we will not lose the War on Terror as a result of those filings. If this Congress votes to suspend the writ of habeas corpus first and ask questions later, liberty and accountability will be the victims." - Senator Patrick Leahy, Vermont http://tinyurl.com/qkkxd
For SHAME ... and heaven help us.
In fact I'm myself given to exaggeration; and my knee-jerk, dramatic reference to the "Middle Ages" felt as if I might be exaggerating. However and alas, I fear Middle Ages is indeed the period of time, in Europe, between the 3rd and 14th centuries to which I refer. First arrival of the codification of habeas corpus, which legal writ was thrown out by this republican Congress yesterday (Sept 28, 2006) is dated 1305, Great Britain, under the rule of King Edward I.
"A writ of habeas corpus is a court order addressed to a prison official (or other custodian) ordering that a detainee be brought to the court so it can be determined whether or not that person is imprisoned lawfully and whether or not he or she should be released from custody. The writ of habeas corpus in common law countries is an important instrument for the safeguarding of individual freedom against arbitrary state action." - Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Habeas_corpus
"This procedure, part of English common law, was considered important enough to be specifically mentioned in the United States Constitution, which says, "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." (Article One, section nine)." - Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Habeas_corpus#History
Senators Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Arlen Specter (R- PA) have been working arduously to preserve habeas corpus and the rights of detainees to due process of law in these United States (so sanctified if you will, by our beloved Constitution, which is lifted up as that which marks the wonder of American Democracy.) Leahy and Specter have been in this struggle since early in this Bush administration when John Ashcroft was Attorney General. They will go down in history as tireless servants of citizen protection from government tyrrany, while this administration and the corresponding congress will be marked for an attempt to fly in the face of the Constitution of the United States of America.
"If the Administration and the Republican leadership of the Senate believe that suspending the writ is constitutional and justified, they should grant the joint request that Chairman Specter and I made last week for a sequential referral of the bill. Constitutional issues involving the writ of habeas corpus are at the center of this Committee’s jurisdiction. We can and should review this legislation thoroughly, and if a few habeas petitions are filed in the meantime, we will not lose the War on Terror as a result of those filings. If this Congress votes to suspend the writ of habeas corpus first and ask questions later, liberty and accountability will be the victims." - Senator Patrick Leahy, Vermont http://tinyurl.com/qkkxd
For SHAME ... and heaven help us.
posted by Andrea | 8:30 AM
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