Terrorist Expatriation Act
So comes now the esteemed Senator from Massachusetts, Scott Brown, who is co-sponsoring the above named act. In short, it states that if a naturalized citizen is found to have aided a foreign terrorist organization, s/he may be stripped of their citizenship. (This in response to the recent arrest of a naturalized citizen for the attempted Times Square bombing).
Well, don't you just see the fun this is going to create. Let's see, here. We're now creating two classes of citizens (born and naturalized) where before there was, in fact, only one. (Note of interest here: Arnold Schwarzennegger is a naturalized citizen). Also, we've created two classes of crime: foreign terrorist organizations and domestic terrorist organizations. Apparently the home-grown variety is somehow better, inasmuch as you won't get your citizenship yanked for supporting them.
I don't believe I've seen a more blatant example of pandering in all my life.
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In other, and somewhat more surprising news, Glenn Beck reportedly said that the suspect in the said bombing, one Faisal Shehzad, had "...all the rights under the Constitution. We don't shred the Constitution just because it's popular". (This in response to declarations by some conservative politicians and pundits that the suspect should not have been read his Miranda rights). Somewhat to my surprise, I gotta go with Glenn Beck here-let's be fair; when he says something right, give him credit. You read someone their Miranda rights because, in the US, they are, you know, *rights*. You have the *right* to remain silent. You have the *right* to an attorney. (You know the rest of the song).
(Yes, I know there's an exception for public safety, blah blooh blee. Some people have been watching too much "24").
Well, don't you just see the fun this is going to create. Let's see, here. We're now creating two classes of citizens (born and naturalized) where before there was, in fact, only one. (Note of interest here: Arnold Schwarzennegger is a naturalized citizen). Also, we've created two classes of crime: foreign terrorist organizations and domestic terrorist organizations. Apparently the home-grown variety is somehow better, inasmuch as you won't get your citizenship yanked for supporting them.
I don't believe I've seen a more blatant example of pandering in all my life.
--
In other, and somewhat more surprising news, Glenn Beck reportedly said that the suspect in the said bombing, one Faisal Shehzad, had "...all the rights under the Constitution. We don't shred the Constitution just because it's popular". (This in response to declarations by some conservative politicians and pundits that the suspect should not have been read his Miranda rights). Somewhat to my surprise, I gotta go with Glenn Beck here-let's be fair; when he says something right, give him credit. You read someone their Miranda rights because, in the US, they are, you know, *rights*. You have the *right* to remain silent. You have the *right* to an attorney. (You know the rest of the song).
(Yes, I know there's an exception for public safety, blah blooh blee. Some people have been watching too much "24").