America is Finished.

[Guaranteed]

What happened to my country? It's gone.

http://www.cnn.com/2004/LAW/06/28/scotus.enemy.combatants.ap/index.html

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Supreme Court ruled narrowly Monday that Congress gave President Bush the power to hold an American citizen without charges or trial, but said the detainee can challenge his treatment in court.

The 6-3 ruling sided with the administration on an important legal point raised in the war on terrorism. At the same time, it left unanswered other hard questions raised by the case of Yaser Esam Hamdi, who has been detained more than two years and who was only recently allowed to see a lawyer.

In a separate ruling, the high court said it would not rule on the merits of U.S.-born terrorism detainee Jose Padilla's case.

The administration had fought any suggestion that Hamdi or another U.S.-born terrorism suspect could go to court, saying that such a legal fight posed a threat to the president's power to wage war as he sees fit.

<more>

---------------------------------------
If this doesn't get you angry, nothing will. This is not America.

On edit: THIS is why we have the 2nd Amendment, folks.

[Old_Growth]

1. Welcome to Bushworld....

Guilty until proven innocent (even if you get that chance)

[radwriter0555]

19. Welcome to Nazi America...

It's here... the republicans are creating it, living it, wallowing in it, as we speak.

Now, unless we RISE up, we are no better than the germans who ignored the ash from auschwitz, right?

The question is, when do we say "enough is enough!"

[GiovanniC]

2. Sixth Amendment

"In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defence." (Emphasis mine)

Just in case anyone (like the FUCKING Supreme Court) forgot what it said.

[Pow_Wow]

9. I don't think they care what it says

how do you impeach these people?

[orthogonal]

13. it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government

"--That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security....

The history of the present King... is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world....

For depriving us, in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury:"

[Guaranteed]

38. We should all be getting very familiar with that particular document

right about now.

[donco6]

21. Referring to your tagline cartoon.

Actually, Bush said, "Go ask Lak-uh-laktar Ba-uh-bulimia"

[GiovanniC]

28. It's Suddenly Out of Date, Today

Since we successfully handed over Iraq to the Iraqis! O happy day!

[donco6]

35. I just love those!

"You know that guy Abe Lincoln" oh man, if it weren't true it wouldn't be so funny.

[Sandpiper]

3. delete

[porphyrian]

4. I, for one, am not giving up my country to these traitors. -n/t

[hatrack]

5. And just how will s/he challenge their treatment in court?

Without charges, and without trial, and without counsel? That would be rather difficult, I think . . .

I guess we know why Iraqi "sovereignty" went off two days early now.

[Mandate My Ass]

12. Exactly

You can protest in court but they'll just trump it with the word terrorist and it's back to the gulag.

This is blatantly unconstitutional. We're officially a banana republic.

[leftofthedial]

6. This is unimaginable in America

The President can order anyone arrested and held for any reason, just be declaring they are a "terrorist"?

How can even these Supreme assholes rule that?

[cthrumatrix]

7. there seems to be confusion -- LB says that this is a "bush defeat"

Journalists screw SCOTUS rulings up


Bush lost on all three of these rulings


Padilla: 2nd Appeals kicked his ass. SCOTUS is letting that stand. Therefore, Bush loses.

Hamdi: Hamdi has right to lawyer and right to challenge in US court. That basically eviscerates "enemy combatent" main purpose-secret arrest with no court challenge

Gitmo: Court says detainees have access to US court. *HUGE* loss for Bush, as it extends the Courts to all areas under US control-which Gitmo is by treaty.



see the LBN thread

[amber dog democrat]

22. This is encouraging.

Good chance it won't go the way Bush wants.

[Spazito]

8. The rulings are NOT in bush's favor...

He lost all three with the Hamdi one giving some kind of weird cover that the President has the right to....but the US detainee has the right to challenge it in court.

The Court did not rule on the Padilla case which means the lower court ruling stands and bush lost that one.

The Gitmo case is a clear cut and huge loss to the admin.

[Guaranteed]

34. Oh, well that's GREAT!

"Hey, guard! I want to challenge my captivity in court! Where's my lawyer?"

"YOU!! Shut UP and get back on the pile!! Now where's that gosh-darned broom?"

[Individualist]

36. Exactly!

The SCOTUS decision is another step in destroying the constitution.

[southernleftylady]

10. But notice the spin on some channels "Terror Detainees Win Right .."

Terror Detainees Win Right to fight theU.S. Courts
nice spin uh?

[cthrumatrix]

11. crazy headlines....journalist's don't know how to "spin this"

US Supreme Court says US courts can rule on foreign detainees
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1503&ncid=701&e=1&u=/a...

Enemy Combatants Win Right to U.S. Courts
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=558&ncid=701&e=1&u=/ap...

Bush Can Hold Citizens Without Charges
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=558&ncid=701&e=2&u=/ap...

Court: Foreign Terror Suspects Can Use U.S. Courts
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1896&ncid=701&e=3&u=/n...

[Guaranteed]

14. The founders of our country are rolling over in their graves right now.

Jefferson, Franklin, Adams, Washington.

I can feel their tears sinking into the soil around them.

This is the ultimate insult to those who died fighting for and creating what was a great country.

[Immad2]

15. angry does't describe it

f*ing livid might be closer :mad: :mad: :mad:

[Guaranteed]

17. Yeah. nt

[name not needed]

16. And nobody is going to care

because its all in the "war on terra". There should be blood running through the streets of Washington because of this, but the media will play this as another victory for the Busheviks. This country is fucked.

[GiovanniC]

18. Well, Many of the Media

Are saying it's a defeat for Bush. I need to look at the actual ruling, but what I've read so far looks like a defeat for democracy.

[Guaranteed]

20. They've taken away our rights to representation

and defined holding time.

Only AFTER the fact can one fight it.

[Individualist]

25. Doesn't that alone speak volumes?

The media have been, are, and will continue to whore for Smirk. It's spin!! The only reason they're saying it's a defeat for Bush is to divert attention to the fact that the right to know charges and have a trial have been taken away. :puke:

[Orangepeel]

23. No cause for panic: bushco just got their talking points out first

and reporters initially bought the spin. Bush lost 2 out of 3 and the 3rd was temporarily kicked on a technicality (the Padilla case filed in the wrong court).

[name not needed]

30. No cause for panic?

The sixth amendment was declared null and void! How the fuck is that not a big deal?

[Orangepeel]

41. It would be a big deal if that were so, but I'm not sure it is

there are many interpretations of the decision being put out by the news media and I don't think the one you are relying on is necessarily the one to believe.

It seems clear from the decisions that the government CAN'T hold either US citizens or the Gitmo detainees without trial. The "narrow victory" the story seems to be talking about is the court's refusal to rule in the Padilla case, but that was on a technicallity. Their ruling on the Hamdi case seems to have been a clear loss for buscho.

Anyway, I'll wait for a clearer interpretation than CNNs first stab at reporting before I give up on my country.

[Guaranteed]

24. DO NOT VOTE FOR NADER.

I don't care if you're in a safe state or not. I'm saying it: NO ONE is allowed to vote for Nader. This is too much.

I was the guy defending people's rights to go third party. No more. Not after this, nuh uh. I'm not letting my country turn fascist.

[mzmolly]

33. Thanks for *smelling the coffee* BGL. Times are too dangerous

to talk bullshit about coke vs. pepsi

:hi:

[Cheswick2.0]

42. hey welcome to ranks of those who will force ourselves to vote Kerry

because bush is clearly worse and will give us more insane right wing judges. Kerry at least will not do that.

[Guaranteed]

44. Well I was already doing that, I just

wanted to make sure that people had the opportunity to vote for a third party.

Like I said, no more. Just too much.

[peacetalksforall]

26. So the constitution revisionists are winning.

I'm worried. Our constitution is at risk. We need regime change. Or we need to divide the country formally.

[Guaranteed]

29. It's already fucked!

They just did it!

R.I.P. America
July 4th, 1776- June 28th, 2004

[stopbush]

27. So, * could declare John Kerry or any other Dem an "enemy combatant"

and that -as they say - would be that.

This is the power the SCOTUS has given to *.

You're correct. America as we knew it is finished.

[Guaranteed]

31. Yeah.

This business about "challenging their captivity" is garbage. If you don't have rights, you don't have rights, and no one's going to give them to you.

It's over.

[Maestro]

32. That would definitely lead to revolution.

They wouldn't be so dumb.

[Cheswick2.0]

45. They rigged the 2000 election...where was the revolution?

?

[Skidmore]

37. So wasn't this the sort of thing that all those

militias of the 80s formed to defend against? Where the heck are those rugged survivalists now? Oops, I forgot. They stole an election.

[Q]

39. "...the president's power to wage war as he sees fit.."

- As he sees fit? Where is congress in this equation? What if the 'president' is unfit for office? Suffering from delusions?

- Bush* and his RWing Court(s) are slowly but surely eroding the Bill of Rights into nonexistance. The SC has given him powers outside of the Constitution and crowned him a King above the rule of law.

[Zynx]

40. These were not favorable rulings to Bush at all.

Learn something about Supreme Court decisions before you declare the end of the Constitution.

[Guaranteed]

46. Yes, it IS.

What are you saying, that the detainees can "challenge their captivity?" That's the biggest pile of horseshit. If you don't have your rights, you can't ask for them. They have to be recognized up front.

[Cheswick2.0]

48. I think you need to look again

They have made a big assault on the bill of rights.

[PaDUer]

43. Freepers flipping out too...n/t

[Guaranteed]

47. Where? Link? nt

[PaDUer]

50. here you go...

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1161637/posts

[Arianrhod]

49. Oh, really?

So what are you doing with your 2nd Amendment rights to protect me from what the Supreme Court just did?