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Posted on 09/28/2006 8:54:10 AM PDT by MNJohnnie
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1709588/posts?page=1
House passes detainee bill
Republicans pushed a bill supported by President George W. Bush to set rules for interrogating and trying terrorism suspects through the U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday and Senate Republicans were expected to follow within a day.
The House passed the bill 253-168 largely along party lines, dismissing warnings from Democrats that courts would strike down the plan for failing to meet judicial standards.
Republicans who control both chambers want to send the bill to Bush by the weekend, when lawmakers head out to campaign for November elections that will determine control of Congress.
The bill sets up procedures to try foreign terrorism suspects at the U.S. prison camp at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The Supreme Court struck down Bush's original plan, saying it violated U.S. and international standards.
As Senate debate on the bill got under way, Republicans defeated an attempt to pass an alternative that Democrats said would meet Supreme Court standards and help restore America's image, damaged by harsh treatment of detainees at Guantanamo Bay and abuses at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq.
The Senate was expected to pass the bill on Thursday, after considering several other amendments.
Republicans, seeking to polish their terrorism-fighting credentials in the final days of their campaigns, depicted the new rules as tough but fair.
"By formally establishing terrorist tribunals, the bill provides a critical tool in fighting the war on terror and it provides a measure of justice to the victims of 9/11," said Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, a Tennessee Republican.
House Armed Services Committee Chairman Duncan Hunter, a California Republican, said the bill provides "basic fairness in our prosecutions but we also preserve the ability of our war fighters to operate effectively on the battlefield."
But Human rights groups and many Democrats said the deal gave Bush too much latitude to allow harsh interrogations and to deprive detainees of legal rights.
Rep. Ellen Tauscher, a California Democrat, said agreeing to "such an ambiguous compromise would allow the president to define torture when and how he sees fit."
Rep. Louise Slaughter, a New York Democrat, said the bill sends a signal that "America's leaders are willing to abandon our values ... in favor of thuggish tactics they hope might make them safer for a little while."
Democrats also predicted the courts would find the bill unconstitutional because it deprived detainees held without charges of the right to file legal challenges to their imprisonment.
Under a compromise worked out last week, the CIA will be able to continue aggressive interrogations, but supporters of the bill said agency interrogators would comply with the Geneva Conventions' requirement for humane treatment.
The bill also expands the definition of "enemy combatants," who can be held indefinitely without charges, to include those who knowingly support terrorist groups with arms, money and other activities.
Backers of the bill said that provision would choke off supplies to terrorist groups, but critics said it was too broad and could subject many more people to indefinite detention.
I like Ms. Pirro and I wouldn't blame her if she dumped that lowlife husband of hers. Who knows, it might even help her chances of winning!
If we could just convince the Dems to pull out of the political races. We would promise to give them the win. We would still be elected, but they get to claim the win.
LOL. I think you're on to something there.
I like her also; she was good for Westchester County.
WFLA needs to reset their advertisement timer. They are cutting Rush off in mid-sentence.
I have the same problem
I'd like to order a Pizza
See this about Allen and Guiliani;
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1709893/posts
He won't shut up period.
What cogent human listens?
He rarely talks about 3 Mile Island or the Iranian hostages(other than the ones in Gitmo).
DO you think Byrd might actually not get reeleced? Is the Governor a Republican? I totally can't remember. Would be a great way to get a Republican in the Senate if he is. :) And once in, that person would likely hold the seat. What's your take, as you are there, on all that?
Yeah I think that 4000 is dramatically low.
Nope Joe is a Dem
The REAL "new hope" for Democrats in the Senate is that they won't lose more than a seat or two. Allen will win. And the only GOPers that might lose are RINOS who if they lose it will because the conservatives in those states are isck and tired of RINOs and just aren't energized to vote for them.
I'm searching the net...but, those pictures must be under lock and key...can't locate any that could pass the mods...sorry.
;-(
Rush talking about this:
http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/060928/hewlett_packard_directors.html?.v=24
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