A Coup against the American Constitution

KPFA Radio 94.1 FM ^ | November 14, 2001 | Professor Francis A. Boyle

[tberry]

"All of this nonsense of about "rights." How quaint!"

That is probably what the first King George said in the 1770's

I'm sure that is what you will say too until it is your rights that are taken. Naturally this will be done by necessity to "protect us". Then my bet would be that the "rights" won't be quit so quaint.

[Austin Willard Wright]

Err...we agree. That was sacarism, or at least a poor attempt it. I was responding to another poster who poohed, poohed, the danger.

[SKI NOW]

"It is perhaps understandable that Americans would forget to celebrate Constitution Day given the recent tragedy and the current national crisis. But if we forget our Constitution — its meaning and its purposes — we do so at our peril."

A fine piece of writing by Mr. Hornberger. Your attempt at a strawman argument though was duly noted.

These military tribunals do not deny Constitutional protections to citizens of the U.S. Those citizens who collaborated with the terrorists will be tried as they should by a jury trial. Non citizen terrorists will learn of their fate by a military tribunal. Both should have their necks streched like the jackals of Nuremberg. This was an act of war against our country and should be treated that way.

[packrat01]

Bump what you said.

tberry, from the post:

That opens us up for reprisals. It opens up our own armed forces to be denied prisoner-of-war treatment.

Talis have already promised to torture our troops, and drag them through the street. I believe they will/would.

The Talibums are getting more than they deserve by getting a fair trial.

[jerod]

The Privilege of the Writ of Habeas Corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in Cases of Rebellion or Invasion the public Safety may require it.

Article 1, section 9 of the United States Constitution.

These military tribunals are obviously constitutional within your country. Enough said?

[Osinski]

One was the Gore Commission report on airline safety and security, the airlines, FAA and the Republican lead congress did not implement it.

Har har. That just like a liberal for ya....blame anybody else for your own actions. The ghostwriter findings of the Gore Commission report were sold to the highest bidder...it this particular case, the airlines. Get outta here and go back to the DU...you'll fit in perfectly. Plenty of erroneous information, and a crew to assure you that you're quite right.

[sam_paine]

I don't like the usurpations by this DOJ, even in "time of war."

But the Bill of Rights doesn't protect us upfront, it only exists in reality when you go to court. And even then the BOR only protects "We the people of the United States," not Saudi Nationals hiding in Afghanistan (or here).

So I expect OBL to get no relief from Dershowitz or the Constitution, and sadly, I expect the DOJ to overextend and prosecute citizens with their new-found police state zeal.

But I expect (and hope) that such overreaching will backfire against the DOJ in the courts where these protections were really meant to take effect. And the DOJ, by reaching too far, may lose well-meaning prosecutions on "Constitutional Technicalities" like the 4th Amendment. They should be careful in their prosecution. God Bless America.

[JimRed]

The latest figure I’ve read is upwards of eleven hundred aliens, Arabs, Muslims, who have just disappeared somewhere.

Perfect! There should be no prisoners taken in Afghanistan, Syria, Lebanon, Egypt, Iraq, Iran, Pakistan, Lybia or here at home...just disappearances of terrorist criminals.

Then we can let the word out through these lefty one-worlder UN loving so-called journalists that all their poor misunderstood pals are missing!

[jerod]

What's it like to have a pervert, and a stupid peanut farmer, as your biggest Heroes?

[ohioman]

Where in the hell is the Barf alert for this TRIPE!

[Zviadist]

Exactly what Constitutional rights do foreign terrorists who have vowed to destroy America have?

Uh, if we don't have an open trial how do we know they are indeed terrorists? Is that so difficult to understand?

[ohioman]

You are full of SHIITE! FDR (A damn democraT) did the same thing with German Saboteurs caught in this country during WWII. Even though I can't stand Democrats, FDR was right-as is Bush!

[TightSqueeze]

Uh, if we don't have an open trial how do we know they are indeed terrorists?

Thanks for asking, since these slimeballs have not proven themselves worthy of being citizens of the world, let alone citizens of the USA, my answer would be the duck&dunk method.
First, if it looks like a duck, then if it quacks like a duck, call me old fashioned, but I will believe it is a duck.

Next

Trial by dunking stool, if he lives then he must be a terrorist possessed by evil powers, take him out back and shoot him, if he dies he probably wasn’t a terrorist and allah will save him. No harm no foul, BTW this method is only applicable to non-Americans, real citizens have true rights under the law.

[Teacher317]

There are those who you can trust, and then there are those who you can't. I trust George Bush and I give him credit for the conditions he placed on this order.

Yes, but what happens when a Clinton-esque power-monger (Edwards of NC?) is elected in 2008, and they decide to make REALLY good use of this new power? You may trust the current White House occupant, but the rule he made will last us much longer than his 8 year tenure. (giving him the benefit of the doubt for 2004, of course)

[Zviadist]

Trial by dunking stool, if he lives then he must be a terrorist possessed by evil powers, take him out back and shoot him, if he dies he probably wasn’t a terrorist and allah will save him.

Osama would be proud of you. You have learned his absolutist teachings very well.

[NewAmsterdam]

Good going Zviadist! For all the talk about how 'everything changed' after 9-11 there have to be people who keep their heads and say: but certain things ought NOT to change, like the rule of law! I am planning an article about this debate in America as I can gather from the articles posted here. Could you send me a few good pieces or suggestions if you have some? Thanks!

[Khepera]

Sorry

bimp (BARF)

Hows that?

[Zviadist]

Could you send me a few good pieces or suggestions if you have some? Thanks!

Right on. I'll do a little shopping...

Here's one alternative perspective:

posted here.

[Khepera]

Non Citizen rights? They need their own constipation.