Russ Feingold speaks up for habeas corpus

Posted by Lindsay Beyerstein at 9:22 AM on September 28, 2006.

A fighting Democrat denounces torture bill on Senate floor.

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Senator Russ Feingold denounced the torture bill on the Senate floor today. His statement is available in in print and on mp3.

This is how real Democrats talk:

One of the most disturbing provisions of this bill eliminates the right of habeas corpus for those detained as enemy combatants. I support an amendment by Senator Specter to strike that provision from the bill. I ask unanimous consent that my separate statement on that amendment be put in the record at the appropriate point.

Habeas corpus is a fundamental recognition that in America, the government does not have the power to detain people indefinitely and arbitrarily. And that in America, the courts must have the power to review the legality of executive detention decisions.

Habeas corpus is a longstanding vital part of our American tradition, and is enshrined in the U.S. Constitution.

As a group of retired judges wrote to Congress, habeas corpus “safeguards the most hallowed judicial role in our constitutional democracy – ensuring that no man is imprisoned unlawfully.”

Mr. President, this bill would fundamentally alter that historical equation. Faced with an executive branch that has detained hundreds of people without trial for years now, it would eliminate the right of habeas corpus.

You want tough on national security? Russ is tough. He just told the president of the United States that he's on the verge of destroying our constitutional democracy! The weak Democrats are the ones who are too timid to uphold the Constitution.

Lindsay Beyerstein a New York writer blogging at Majikthise.

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First Choice [Report this comment] Posted by: NoPCZone on Sep 28, 2006 10:16 AM Current rating: Not yet rated [1 = poor; 5 = excellent] If he chooses to run, Sen Feingold is my 1st choice for President in 2008. [« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5] Good, but not good enough.. . [Report this comment] Posted by: lb on Sep 28, 2006 10:17 AM Current rating: Not yet rated [1 = poor; 5 = excellent] I completely agree with Senator Feingold's statement. So why isn't someone starting a filibuster? [« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5] » RE: Good, but not good enough.. . Posted by: breakthesky While we were sleeping [Report this comment] Posted by: Sushi on Sep 28, 2006 7:53 PM Current rating: Not yet rated [1 = poor; 5 = excellent] You realize we just lost one of our most precious rights on the senate floor today? Yep, the right to seek council. Americans can now be "disappeared" and jailed without council of an attorney, hearing the charges against them or any such Writ of Habeas Corpus rules applying. All one has to do is be declared "terrorist" for ANY reason (posting this?) and you are detained without recourse. Think this just applies to "terrorists?" This applies to ALL Americans as well. Good fucking luck next time you are pulled over or taken from a line boarding a flight because you are on some list and don't even know why and will never find out. Ever wonder how the Germans ended up with Nazi's in charge without people standing up against them? Turns out there was a fight, it was just not heard by the common people because no one was paying attention and the media was owned/threatened/stood-to-profit by supporting the ruling party. They divided people up using race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, political and religious persuasions so everyone thought it excluded them from condemnation. Descent was quickly and easily quashed. "With us or against us"; comply or die. Fascism: corporations controlling government. You might wonder why I keep up on such political things. Our generation was being devastated by the Viet Nam War-for-Profit and we got wise and called them on it. While I was at the tail-end of the "conflict" and wasn't affected directly (because most of my close friends fortunately had high draft numbers) we were faced with our contemporaries becoming fodder for a profiteering war-machine. America was lied to, our news was skewed ( I saw the "real news" -forbidden to Americans- while in England.) Our generation finally stood up to the entrenched power structure with the only power we had, our voices. No one was doing this for us, we had to do it ourselves. I pay attention now, not because we, ourselves are in danger ( not yet), but because the same people who previously profited unabated are now back in power, stronger than ever. Our country is being robbed while we sleep. We are living in dangerous times, yet people seem unaware that the biggest danger is from our own complicity. Too "busy" watching game shows I suppose... [« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

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» RE: Good, but not good enough.. . Posted by: breakthesky