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Yesterday, at the Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing, the Attorney General of the United States said the following:
"...the Constitution doesn't say that every individual in the United States or every citizen has or is assured the right of habeas corpus. It doesn't say that. It simply says that the right of habeas corpus shall not be suspended."
Orwell couldn't have come up with anything this twisted. Habeas corpus is arguably the single most important right in the Constitution. The Constitution also explicitly states the only times in which denying someone that right can even be considered. We are not being invaded, nor is there a rebellion. The Bush administration has tried various legal means to get around this fundamental right before, but nothing as despicable as trying to claim that, despite the clear intention of the framers and centuries of precedent, it is not a right guaranteed to all.
Of course, they clearly haven't thought this through all that well, because if 'the writ of habeas corpus shall not be suspended' doesn't guarantee the right of habeas corpus to all, then 'the right to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed' is equally impotent, and if Bush's Attorney General neutered the Second Amendment the Republicans could pretty much kiss their main constituencies goodbye.
Mr Gonzales should be impeached and disbarred. Mr Bush should also completely repudiate this reading of the Constitution (which, of course, will never happen) or be impeached as well (which, of course, will also never happen despite being earned many times over).
"...the Constitution doesn't say that every individual in the United States or every citizen has or is assured the right of habeas corpus. It doesn't say that. It simply says that the right of habeas corpus shall not be suspended."
Orwell couldn't have come up with anything this twisted. Habeas corpus is arguably the single most important right in the Constitution. The Constitution also explicitly states the only times in which denying someone that right can even be considered. We are not being invaded, nor is there a rebellion. The Bush administration has tried various legal means to get around this fundamental right before, but nothing as despicable as trying to claim that, despite the clear intention of the framers and centuries of precedent, it is not a right guaranteed to all.
Of course, they clearly haven't thought this through all that well, because if 'the writ of habeas corpus shall not be suspended' doesn't guarantee the right of habeas corpus to all, then 'the right to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed' is equally impotent, and if Bush's Attorney General neutered the Second Amendment the Republicans could pretty much kiss their main constituencies goodbye.
Mr Gonzales should be impeached and disbarred. Mr Bush should also completely repudiate this reading of the Constitution (which, of course, will never happen) or be impeached as well (which, of course, will also never happen despite being earned many times over).