Human Rights and the Rule of Law
The Bushies and the Congresscritters pontificate frequently about spreading democracy and freedom and such, but when push comes to shove, as it has a lot lately, most of them stand firmly on the side of tyranny and oppression. The Senate's vote yesterday to deny prisoners/hostages (I don't care what BS term the Bushies use for them--they are prisoners AND hostages) at Gitmo the right to challenge their detentions in US courts. The Supreme Court ruled last year that the prisoners do indeed have that right.
Perhaps even more depressing than the 49 to 42 vote in favor of tyranny is that it wouldn't have been possible without Democrats. "Democrats" Conrad (ND), Landrieu (LA), Lieberman (CT), Nelson (NE), and Wyden (OR) voted for it, while Corzine (NJ) and Inouye (HI) didn't bother to show up and vote. Four Republicans, Chafee (RI), Smith (OR), Specter (PA) and Sununu (NH) voted against it.
If the rule of law doesn't apply to everyone, there is no rule of law. At least 49 US senators don't believe in the rule of law, including five Democrats. If the hostages at Gitmo have committed crimes, they should be tried. Otherwise, the US has no right whatsoever to continue holding them after nearly four years. This whole nasty business makes me furious. If Al Gore had rightfully assumed the presidency he won five years ago, we would have had a much better president. But the vice president would still have been a total scumbag. Go Cheney yourself, Joe.
Perhaps even more depressing than the 49 to 42 vote in favor of tyranny is that it wouldn't have been possible without Democrats. "Democrats" Conrad (ND), Landrieu (LA), Lieberman (CT), Nelson (NE), and Wyden (OR) voted for it, while Corzine (NJ) and Inouye (HI) didn't bother to show up and vote. Four Republicans, Chafee (RI), Smith (OR), Specter (PA) and Sununu (NH) voted against it.
If the rule of law doesn't apply to everyone, there is no rule of law. At least 49 US senators don't believe in the rule of law, including five Democrats. If the hostages at Gitmo have committed crimes, they should be tried. Otherwise, the US has no right whatsoever to continue holding them after nearly four years. This whole nasty business makes me furious. If Al Gore had rightfully assumed the presidency he won five years ago, we would have had a much better president. But the vice president would still have been a total scumbag. Go Cheney yourself, Joe.
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