Sen. Specter: 'Vigorous' Disagreement on Detainee Bill

NewMax ^ | September 24, 2006 | Carl Limbacher

[Kaslin]

The chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee said Sunday he has a problem with the Republican agreement on rules for the interrogation and trial of suspects in the war on terror.

President Bush is pushing Congress to put the agreement into law before adjourning for the midterm elections, but Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., said Sunday he "vigorously" disagrees with the habeas corpus provision of the bill.

The provision would allow legal counsel and a day in court to only those detainees selected by the Pentagon for prosecution. Other terror suspects could be held indefinitely without a hearing.

"The courts have traditionally been open to make sure that individual rights are protected, and that is fundamental," Specter said on CNN's "Late Edition. "And the Constitution says when you can suspend the writ of habeas corpus, in time of rebellion or invasion. And we don't have either. So that has to be changed, in my opinion."

Specter scheduled a hearing on the issue for Monday. Otherwise, he said, most of the legislation is a "big improvement" over what Bush originally proposed

[Kaslin]

Can we get rid of Specter?

[antceecee]

From your lips to God's ears....

[muawiyah]

If he's just figuring this part out he's on the wrong committee.

The other part of the process is that if this legislation is needed before we put these people on trial and then execute them, then passage does little more for them than advance their date with death.

Why did anyone think the Supreme Court Liberals would do anyone a favor.

[skinkinthegrass]

Can we get rid of Specter?
We're cursed w/ the "Old Scottish Law" Senator....will someone, PLEASE SHUT HIM UP...thank you.

[Wuli]

McPain has enlisted Specter's help because the compromise on interrogations was more in GWB's favor, so Specter is now charged with getting even - and this within the President's own party!!!!!; can you believe these RINO slime?

[volunbeer]

I swear that a democrat in that Senate seat would cause much less harm than Specter has.

[taxcontrol]

Specter should read the Constitution a little closer.

Article 1, section 9-

....
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.
....

From Dictionary.com, here is the entry for "invasion"

–noun 1. an act or instance of invading or entering as an enemy, esp. by an army.
2. the entrance or advent of anything troublesome or harmful, as disease.
3. entrance as if to take possession or overrun: the annual invasion of the resort by tourists.
4. infringement by intrusion.

I would postulate that terrorists can easily be identified by all 4 definitions.

[onyx]

Please, somebody post that cup of STFU coffee.

[tobyhill]

The Supreme Court ruled that the detainees are subject to POW status and are not US citizens so they aren't entitled to habeas corpus any which way it's looked at. Specter just couldn't stand being out-RINOed by the others.

[nonliberal]

Well, so much for Santorum's candidacy.

[Prov3456]

Frankly, President Bush has only himself to blame. Because he wanted to keep a Senator "with seniority" in that Pennsylvania seat, he backed Senator Spector over the challenger, Pat Toomey, which resulted in Spector's victory in 2004.

Had the President stayed out of that primary battle, Pennsylvania might now have a true conservative Republican Senator (Toomey) or a Democratic Senator in that seat. Either way, that person would not have been the chairman of this committee.

[Prokopton]

I swear that a democrat in that Senate seat would cause much less harm than Specter has.

I agree. Better the enemy in front of us than behind us stabbing us in the back.

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

Isn't this pussilanimous asshole one of 100 senators. He can cast his vote and then shut his pie hole.

Add this to Bush's rather long list of f*ups.

[beethovenfan]

Senator Sphincter strikes again.

[kcvl]

Since when do TERRORISTS who want to KILL US have 'rights' in this country?!!!

[TeleStraightShooter]

And the Constitution says when you can suspend the writ of habeas corpus, in time of rebellion or invasion. And we don't have either

I'd like to know when the constitutional rights enumerated in our USC were extended to the battlefield.

[photodawg]

The courts have traditionally been open to make sure that individual rights are protected, and that is fundamental," Specter said on CNN's "Late Edition. "And the Constitution says when you can suspend the writ of habeas corpus, in time of rebellion or invasion. And we don't have either. So that has to be changed, in my opinion
'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''

This statement is the biggest bunch of B.S. I've ever heard on this issue. When has the United States ever been invaded since becoming a sovereign 50 state nation? the closest we have come have been Pearl harbor and 9-11. In both instances we declared war, stated our intentions, identified the enemy, and subsequently detained enemy combatants. I cannot believe that over half of the U.S. Senate wants to give legal rights to the enemy. doesn't that totally defy all logic to the purpose of identifying your enemies in the first place,which would be to defend the citizens of the United States from attack?

[nj26]

"McPain has enlisted Specter's help because the compromise on interrogations was more in GWB's favor, so Specter is now charged with getting even - and this within the President's own party!!!!!; can you believe these RINO slime?"

Exactly. Give an inch, they'll be emboldened to demand a mile!

McCain and Specter have out-witted Bill Frist, again.

[Jaysun]

Specter is a mad fool with a frothy mouth. He has all the characteristics of a dog except loyalty.

[airborne]

Can we get rid of Specter?

We tried, but the GOP ignored the people who supported Toomey, because keeping the (R) is more important than anything, even conservative values.