Posted on 09/28/2006 10:32:54 AM PDT by SmithL
The Senate, siding with President Bush shortly after he personally lobbied lawmakers at the Capitol, rejected a move Thursday by a leading Republican to allow terrorism suspects to challenge their imprisonment in court.
The vote paved the way for final passage of Bush's plan to establish "military commissions" to prosecute terrorism suspects in legislation that also spells out violations of the Geneva Conventions, a treaty that sets international standards for the treatment of war prisoners.
Republicans say the bill is necessary to ensure that terrorists can be brought to justice and that CIA personnel will not be charged with war crimes when interrogating these suspects.
Barring any last-minute hiccups, the bill could reach the president's desk as early as Friday.
Bush had gone to Capitol Hill earlier Thursday, urging senators to follow the House lead and approve the plan. "The American people need to know we're working together to win the war on terror," he told reporters as he left.
The Senate voted 48-51 against an amendment by Sen. Arlen Specter that would have allowed terror suspects to file "habeas corpus" petitions in court. Specter contends the ability to such pleas is considered a fundamental legal right and is necessary to uncover abuse.
"This is a constitutional requirement and it is fundamental that Congress not legislate contradiction to a constitutional interpretation of the Supreme Court," said Specter, R-Pa., chairman of the Judiciary Committee.
Three Republicans voted with Specter but others in the GOP caucus contended that providing terror suspects the right to unlimited appeals weighs down the federal court system.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
"Backstabbing Specter" bump!
I hope Spectre is properly Red-assed over this. He is such a jerk.
Exactly. Headline should be "Specters Backstabbing Stunt Backfires".
I wonder who these were?
Specter...you can just bite me. :(
Thank God.
As usual, "Just say NO to RINOs".
Well, the question seemed to be whether we wanted Specter or an even-further-left Dem in that seat. Lesser of two evils.
Let me guess: Chafee, McPain, and Goober?
Specter is a senile jerk, on Iraq, Bush needs to untie the hands of the military and make a few quick and useful examples of our might. They only understand force and death.
Another Specter cunning stunt?
I did want to ask if he was good friends with Lynn Stewart.
Google her name and tell me what you think!
Specter= Exhibit two at why the "New Tone" never worked in DC.
This is absolutely insane!
Specter, and others like him, actually believe we should fight a war in the courtroom. I'm astonished at the level of depraved indifference toward the future existence of the United States.
Is incremental treason still treason? I think so.
The other three were Chafee, Smith (OR), Sununu.
Republican Weasel Wing = McCacain, Spector, Warner, Graham, Hagel..... :)
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.