Chris Dodd Gets Gold Stars

Five Gold Stars for Chris Dodd

I did not get to put this up before the vote. However, it is important to post. Chris Dodd spoke eloquently and angrily regarding the push to exempt communications companies from any liability regarding trouncing Americans' rights.

The EFF has been at the forefront of this fight.



P.S. He won this round! But the fight is not over, rest assured.

Habeas Corpus Restoration Act

Take 10 minutes away from Survivor, CSI, X-Box or whatever else may be taking precedence in your life and contact your representatives to let them know how you want them to vote on the restoration of habeas corpus. They are your representatives, after all.

A quote from the site:

"We all want to make America safe from terrorism, but becoming a nation that sanctions the unlawful detention of its own residents -- detaining and jailing them without the chance to appear before a judge -- does not make us safe. Instead, it violates a value that we have held dear for centuries -- safeguarding our individual freedom before arbitrary state action."

I can tell you that my representatives, John Cornyn and Kay Bailey Hutchinson, both currently expect to vote against the restoration of habeas corpus. (What?) See how your representatives stand by clicking here or on the chart above.

Please take note that the Republicans are planning to fillibuster against the restoration of habeas corpus to counter the impact of the 2006 Military Commisions Act.

Whose freedoms are we fighting for?...
And where did my habeas corpus go?

Restore Habeas Corpus!

We have lost a safeguard against illegal imprisonment that has endured as a cornerstone of legal justice since the Magna Carta in 1215 A.D.

It happened when no one was paying attention--During the politically charged atmosphere of the 2006 mid-term elections, the United States Congress (Republicans and Democrats) passed the Military Commissions Act of 2006.

One of the most important and terrifying parts of this act is that it removes the protection of the Great Writ of habeas corpus. The Military Commissions Act allows the government to declare anyone they wish as "alien combatants". Anyone can be held indefinitely, without charges and then be denied all fundamental judicial rights including the ability to appear before a judge and contest the charges.

You can get involved here: DefendHabeasCorpus.org

Habeas corpus is the name of a legal action whereby people being detained (jailed, imprisoned, etc.) can seek relief from unlawful imprisonment. The Great Writ has been one of the most important tools to safeguard the freedoms of citizens and visitors against arbitrary government action for almost 800years!

"The Great Writ," a writ of habeas corpus ad subjiciendum is a court order addressed to a prison official (or other custodian) ordering that a prisoner be brought before the court so that the court can determine whether that person is serving a lawful sentence or should be released from custody. The prisoner, or someone on his behalf, may petition the court or an individual judge for a writ of habeas corpus.

3 Republican Candidates Support Torture!?!

It surprised me when I caught a piece of this at a restaurant last night. I thought I heard these people wrong. I went and looked it up on YouTube today and this is what I found:

During last night's GOP debate, Brit Hume set up a hypothetical situation in which 3 terrorist attacks occur at shopping malls in major cities. A fourth attack is thwarted and that would-be attacker, who we "know" has information about an impending, larger attack is captured and taken to Guantanamo Bay. The candidates were asked if "Enhanced Interrogation Techniques", including waterboarding, should be used to get information from the detainee.

All three said torture is acceptable!

McCain said he would use torture in the hypothetical situation presented. He said it would be a "million to one" scenario, but he would authorize and then railed on using torture.

Giuliani said, with no qualms, he would use "enhanced interrogation techniques" including waterboarding (to applause).

Mitt Romney said that he doesn't want them to have access to lawyers. He then said that,

"Some people have said we should close Guantanamo. My view is, we ought to double Guantanamo. (Lots of applause.) There is no question that in a setting like that where you have a ticking bomb and the president, not the C.I.A. interrogator, but the President of the United States has to make the call and enhanced interrogation techniques HAVE to be used, not torture, but enhanced interrogation techniques. Yes."

These people are running for president?

What habeas corpus?

This short video will give you an amazing look into the mind of Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and how the administration views the electorate. In the clip, Senator Patrick Leahy referring to the Military Commissions Act of 2006 that discards habeas corpus. Remember this act was passed by Republicans and Democrats in the House and Senate.

Specter: Now wait a minute, wait a minute. The Constitution says you can't take it away except in the case of invasion or rebellion. Doesn't that mean you have the right of habeas corpus?

Gonzales: "I meant by that comment that the Constitution doesn't say that every individual in the United States or every citizen has or is assured the right of habeas corpus. It doesn't say that. It simply says that the right of habeas corpus shall not be suspended."

Now, there's a quotable quote.