Democracy: Unclear on the Concept
Obama has made the decision to try many of the Guantanamo prisoners in civil courts. As usual, the hypocritical cries respond. Representative Lamar Smith and other of my home state House members are whining. John Cornyn said "These terrorists planned and executed the mass murder of thousands of innocent Americans. Treating them like common criminals is unconscionable."
Let's remember, it was Shrub, the Republican travesty, who decided the prisoners would not be classified as Prisoners of War. It was his choice and the Republicans solidly backed him. Given that choice, the prisoners deserve the Constitutional protections anyone held by our government deserves. However, just as the arbitrarily apply their religious texts, they choose to think that the Constitution and Democracy only matter when they agree with the far right.
Then there's the question of "planning". Timothy McVeigh didn't just plan. He killed hundreds and was still treated like a "common criminal", since he was. We arrest, try, convict, jail and execute murders all the time. We even, surprise, surprise, do that to mass murderers.
Republicans made the choice to define those captured people as civilians. They have no right to complain that the people are now, finally, getting their days in court -- Days promised by our Constitution and a foundation of a Democracy.
Let's remember, it was Shrub, the Republican travesty, who decided the prisoners would not be classified as Prisoners of War. It was his choice and the Republicans solidly backed him. Given that choice, the prisoners deserve the Constitutional protections anyone held by our government deserves. However, just as the arbitrarily apply their religious texts, they choose to think that the Constitution and Democracy only matter when they agree with the far right.
Then there's the question of "planning". Timothy McVeigh didn't just plan. He killed hundreds and was still treated like a "common criminal", since he was. We arrest, try, convict, jail and execute murders all the time. We even, surprise, surprise, do that to mass murderers.
Republicans made the choice to define those captured people as civilians. They have no right to complain that the people are now, finally, getting their days in court -- Days promised by our Constitution and a foundation of a Democracy.