Here are some of the reasons WHY they voted No to the Defense authorization Bill, which once signed into law, will make the Bush era of "no right to due process, because we think you're a terrorist" -- a permanent fixture of American jurisprudence.
Occupiers In D.C. Protest Indefinite Military Detention and Domestic Use of Military Legislation
by Scott Galindez, Reader Supported News, OB Cal -- Dec 15, 2011
[...]
We are in danger of losing our most precious heritage not because a band of thugs threatens our freedom, but because we are at risk of forgetting who we are and what makes the United States a truly great nation,” said Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.), whose district includes Ground Zero. “In the last 10 years, we have begun to let go of our freedoms, bit by bit, with each new executive order, court decision and, yes, act of Congress.
This NY City Rep would rather protect civil liberties, that extend these over-reaching powers. Smart man.
Why I Voted Against the National Defense Authorization Act
Al Franken, U.S. Senator, Minnesota
huffingtonpost.com -- Dec 16, 2011
Yesterday, the Senate passed a bill that includes provisions on detention that I found simply unacceptable. These provisions are inconsistent with the liberties and freedoms that are at the core of the system our Founders established.
[...]
The Founders who crafted our Constitution and Bill of Rights were careful to draft a Constitution of limited powers -- one that would protect Americans' liberty at all times -- both in war, and in peace.
As we reflect on what this bill will do, I think it is important to pause and remember some of the mistakes this country has made when we have been fearful of enemy attack.
Most notably, we made a grave, indefensible mistake during World War II, when President Roosevelt ordered the incarceration of more than 110,000 people of Japanese origin, as well as approximately 11,000 German-Americans and 3,000 Italian-Americans.
Sanders Statement on Defense Authorization Bill
by U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders, VT-I
sanders.senate.gov -- Dec 15, 2011
"The bill continues to authorize heavy spending on defense despite the end of the 9-year-old war in Iraq. [...] At a time when we have tripled defense spending since 1997 and spend more today on defense than the rest of the world combined, I get concerned that my deficit-hawk friends say we've got to cut Social Security, Medicare, education, health care and other programs that help working families, but when it comes to defense spending the sky is the limit.
"This bill also contains misguided provisions that in the name of fighting terrorism essentially authorize the indefinite imprisonment of American citizens without charges. While we must aggressively pursue international terrorists and all of those who would do us harm, we must do it in a way that protects the Constitution and the civil liberties which make us proud to be Americans."
Indefinite Military Detention Measure Passes On Bill Of Rights Day
by Michael McAuliff, huffingtonpost -- Dec 15, 2011
[...]
"We as Americans have a right to a speedy trial, not indefinite detention," said Sen. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.). "We as Americans have a right to a jury of our peers, which I would argue is ... not enlisted or military personnel sitting in a jury. You cannot search our businesses or place of business or our homes without probable cause under the Bill of Rights."
"You cannot be deprived of your freedom or your property without due process of law, and that, I would say, is not indefinite detention," added Kirk, who voted for the bill. "I would actually argue that no statute and no Senate and no House can take these rights away from you."
The 13 senators who voted against the bill were
Dick Durbin (D-Ill.),
Ben Cardin (D-Md.),
Al Franken (D-Minn.),
Tom Harkin (D-Iowa),
Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.),
Ron Wyden (D-Ore.),
Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.),
Jim Risch (R-Idaho),
Rand Paul (R-Ky.),
Mike Lee (R-Utah),
Jim DeMint (R-S.C.),
Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and
Tom Coburn (R-Okla.).
Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.), whose district includes Ground Zero, on NDAA 2012
Up with Chris Hayes -- Dec 17, 2011
video link
Chris Hayes gives his thoughts on NDAA 2012
Up with Chris Hayes -- Dec 17, 2011
video link
Seantor Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) articulately explains his No vote against NDAA 2012
Up with Chris Hayes -- Dec 17, 2011
video link
Funny you would think with the demise of the world's No. 1 Terrorist, (finally!)
that the American Congress, could find the gumption to once again, start upholding the Constitution, that they -- the Terrorists -- had initially set out to destroy?
If we continue to dismantle the protections in our Constitution -- such as due process, and speedy trials, and the ability to face our accusers in a court of law, and the right to privacy, and the right to be secure in our papers and effects, etc. etc.
-- don't They -- the Terrorists -- end up winning, in the long run, anyways?
"Be afraid, be very afraid."
... but perhaps not of those that you might think. I shudder to think of the volumes of data they are accumulating on each and every presumably innocent American. The mind should reel, given the context of Ike's sober warnings ... about that unstoppable ...
legacy of war
by jamess -- Apr 27, 2009
