nytimes.com — Geneva Conventions sidestepped; basic habeas right to challenge imprisonment cancelled; coerced evidence allowed; torture allowed; secret evidence allowed; judicial review blocked; U.S. residents could be detained indefinitely with no hope of appeal. Nearly all Senate Republicans voted Yes.
Sep 28, 2006 View in Crawl 4
quilnerSep 29, 2006
No, the bill does _not_ give the president the power to declare american citizens as enemy combatants. The New York Times is wrong. Read the bill. These powers apply only to non-U.S. citizens.
tubatechnoSep 29, 2006
Thats the best opinionated sensastionalism that I've read today. Thank you.
bitcloudSep 29, 2006
It makes me sick... it makes me feel physically and violently illWe sit back as a couple of soldiers fall on their swords for torturing people in Abu Ghraib because they "Acted alone". Then we find out that it was *indeed* requested from the VERY top, and we've all suddenly forgotten how enraged we were by those photos.I no longer give a f**k what 'arguments' you have to suggest bush is a good man, or whether it's the right thing. I know its the polite thing to listen to, and engage in debate on issues, but I no longer give a s**t. If you think bush is doing whats the best for USA, the economy, the world, peace, white people, black people, christians, jews whoever - YOU ARE WRONG.It's no longer open to debate whether or not he is to be removed from power. HE MUST BE REMOVED one way or another. We knew this all along, and yesterday action could be taken, but today if you act, you WILL be labelled a terrorist, you WILL be sent to a secret prison by bush's SS, and you WILL be tortured. It's that f**king quick. I'm in Australia, so there's little I can do, so WHEN THE f**k ARE YOU GOING TO ACT!??Just so you know, my posts are normally rational, calm and open minded, but this issue is closed. You live in a tyrrany, and not just any tyrrany, but one with 200,000 WMDs & unmatched military powers.How can you act? 1. March on congress2. Target companies in collusion with the government, lobbiests and others who own congressmen - Call spam, email spam, picket their offices, pies in the face - call news crews so it get's covered.3. Make posters, stencils, grafitti (LOTS - EVERYWHERE - do it in broad daylight if you must)- make sure the world knows that enough is enough, and that they can come out.4. Be creative.I know he's wrong, you know he's wrongThis is NOT a debate. REMOVE BUSH NOW.
dashifenSep 29, 2006
Whether or not the Civil War was a high point for freedom depends on point of view. I do not support slavery, but the Civil War was not about slavery until the Emancipation Proclamation in January of 1863. The war started in 1861 when the South seceded, granted over their slavery rights, and the North went to war to "preserve the Union" which, of course, presupposes that you think the North and South were at all unified to begin with. Fact of the matter is that the South had the right and the North was the aggressor in that situation. Many agree that if it hadn't been for the Emancipation Proclamation, the North probably would have lost due to lack of morale and not enough troops. They were fighting a war that seemed to have no purpose while the South was defending their rights and their homeland.
babakshiraziSep 29, 2006
You know why people don't fill up the streets? It is because every time you see a protest, the protesters are a bunch of hippie looking losers that think they are smart, but are in reality a bunch of idiots. They protest against the war, globalization, environmental policies and fur. They even signed petitions to ban dihydrogen oxide, better known as H20, or water. Most people think globalization is good, it gives jobs to people who otherwise would be doing jack s**t. Most people think global warming is not caused by their SUVs, especially since we've had ice ages and tropical periods all throughout the Earth's history w/o SUVs even existing. Most people don't car abour fur either. Wear it if you want to and it's nobody's business.So, why aren't more people in the streets protesting? Because most of us have jobs and would not want to take a day off to be seen with a bunch of losers that usually protest everything.
rderveloySep 29, 2006
"me listens to the Bush speech and is inspired by a true American...I can't wait to go vote a straight Republican ticket in November. All you Leftist weenies will be crying on your blogs once again, while Republicans and our volunteer army ONCE AGAIN save your worthless hides from those who would do you harm.You're welcome!"I'm sorry, but I've had enough. People like you never think of anyone but yourselves and you never think of the long term consequences of your actions.With this law, anyone who unwittingly aids a terrorist organization, cell, someone who eventionally turns out to be a terrorist can be labeled an enemy combatant, even US citizens.As an enemy combatant, you can be tortured, imprissoned indefininately, never be able to view the evidence against you, nor can you appeal your status as a enemy combatant.Let's say that you donate some money to your church, mosk, or whatever and that money is somehow sent to a terrorist cell or organization without your knowlege or even the knowlege of the people that you gave the money to.OOPS!!! You're now an enemy combatant!! Guess what? The next thing you know, your rights have been stripped, and you won an all-expenses paid vacation to a secret military prison where you can be tortured and quite possibly never seen or heard from again.Sound like fun? I don't think it is, but maybe you do.
maxdraxSep 29, 2006
Two (or three) wrongs don't make a right.Past abuses of power and the lessons learned from them make today's trespasses even more egregious.
beanloverSep 29, 2006
I do.
kristovSep 29, 2006
I really have a hard time understanding people like you that condone torture. America is suppose to be better than this. And I think we were until fear took us down this horrible path. Its not too late - think for yourself - this what is right and admit that putting the Republicans in power behind this crazed lunatic was the wrong thing to do.We can't heal until we admit to ourselves what is going on.
fastfwdSep 30, 2006
I’d say that ‘tyranny’ pretty much sums up the Bush Administration. I can only hope that the pendulum will swing hard and fast back the other direction.