Saturday, June 7, 2008

McCain Not a Supporter of Habeas Corpus

If elected president, Senator John McCain would reserve the right to run his own warrantless wiretapping program against Americans, based on the theory that the president's wartime powers trump federal criminal statutes and court oversight, according to a statement released by his campaign Monday.

McCain's new tack towards the Bush administration's theory of executive power comes some 10 days after a McCain surrogate stated, incorrectly it seems, that the senator wanted hearings into telecom companies' cooperation with President Bush's warrantless wiretapping program, before he'd support giving those companies retroactive legal immunity.

Perhaps the only reason I am saddened that Senator Hillary Clinton is not the Democratic nominee (and even the next president) is because I'd relish seeing all of these right-wing supporters of civil rights violations wring their hands and wail at the thought of Hillary Clinton wielding such power...

I truly hope the country gets it right in November and elects Barack Obama instead of Grandpa Munster.

32 comments:

BAWDYSCOT said...

Well Gramps ain't rolling back the Power of the Presidency to a pre-Teddy time; I didn't think he would. I don't think Obama will either. It just isn't in the nature of someone seeking a job of this type to want to get into the job and say lets rollback this position to where the Founders intended it.

Ceroill said...

It's not in the nature of government to reduce it's power level.

csm said...

Habeas Lawyers for Obama

csm said...

Barack Obama on Habas Corpus

coreydbarbarian said...

i think if mccain wants to be seen as his own man (and not bush part III), he should try adopting a policy that bush has not.

BAWDYSCOT said...

Bob, that is because it isn't in the nature of humans to give up power, especially humans who have sipped at that trough for a long time.

BAWDYSCOT said...

I get your point csm, but I wasn't just talking of habeas corpus; I was talking about the whole salami. I don't see Obama rolling back the job to the pre-T.R. time frame. I could be wrong(I have been before) and I would like for you to tell me "I told you so" because I love this country more than my love of being right; I am just not that optimistic right now.

csm said...

Oh, you're almost certainly correct, Bawdy. But there is a big, glaring difference between the two positions and I like Obama's much, much better.

Anonymous said...

Wow, you guys are hilarious. Can I interest you guys in a bridge in Brooklyn? Anyone who would believe anyhting Hussein has "said" is a fool. Look at his past and you see him for the socialist cowardly bigot the man REALLY is. I'll take Grandpa over Herman anyday and I'll sleep better. Suppose Abe, FDR and TR were not supporters of Habeous either?

csm said...

Flippity floppity McCain? How can a self-respecting right-winger support a flip flopper?

coreydbarbarian said...

and anyone who uses barack obama's middle name to refer to him is an absolute fool. ya wanna talk bigoted, there ya go.

get a grip.

BAWDYSCOT said...

Anybody who believes most of what ANY current politician says is a fool.

Anonymous said...

Obama's middle name is off limits? Why? Do you read somehting negative into his middle name? I'm a Rodham supporter, still will be and this new messiah pulled every diry trick possible to smear the Clintons. Rodham revealed the guy for what he is and Sidney is a much better choice.

Talk about a flip-flopper. First Iran wasn't a threat a day later it is a threat. Calls his bigoted preacher a wonderful man then quits his church for political gain. The coward won't even go to Iraq but he believes he knows better than our current leaders on the ground. Not the kind of Change I want to see.

Ceroill said...

Interesting. Why don't you insist our current crop of 'leaders' or their families (for those too old) volunteer to serve in Iraq? Why just Obama? Whether right or left, I don't see any politicians sending their kids into active military service overseas.
But then, it's pretty much always been that way, hasn't it? Soldiers have gone on to become politicians, but I can't recall one politician who became a soldier.
If military service is the only measure of courage, or patriotism, then many great men and women must have been cowards and haters of their country, including many presidents.

coreydbarbarian said...

anonymoose, you're not fooling anyone. no "hilary supporter" would refer to obama as a socialist, or cowardly, or bigoted.

you, my friend, are a douche.

csm said...

I would say he is a "giant douche" (or maybe a "turd sandwich").

Anonymous said...

My bad here. I now see why this blog is so irrelevant. I didn't realize I was speaking to a couple illiterates. Somehow I knew you would, go to the name-calling since you have no arguments or relevant points. Grandpa Munster is all? What a bunch of losers.

Barrack Hussein Obama should go to Iraq WITH Sidney to view what is going on for himself. Hell, his name fits right in. See how that works? If Hussein really wants to be president he should be courageous and visit our troops and the situation.

As for you barbarian (probably a sniveling little coward as well), there is many Rodham supporters who won't support this douche bag. Barbarians yes, maybe but not wise Americans.

Good Day

csm said...

Amusing response. If one is going to wield accusations of illiteracy then one should double, even triple-check the grammar in his/her ridiculously worded (and ungrammatically formulated) comments.

If you want to read more about Granpa Munster here, do a search. I've posted about him before.

And Obama should do no such thing as go anywhere with McCain IMHO. Sure, Obama should visit Iraq - and he has said that he will. There is no reason why he needs to do it with Yosemite McCain.

csm said...

For those who are not South Park viewers, perhaps this will help my previous comment make a little more sense.

Anonymous said...

Yes quaint a Southpark viwer. I think I really understand now. You hide behind your cartoons and ignorance. I actually agree with you CSM. The great uniter turning his nose up at traveling with one of America's war heroes. You are right, Hussein doesn't deserve the privilige. Thanks for the correction.

By the way Cerolli, McCain has/had a son serving in Iraq. You should check your facts before making such blanket statements.
Also Teddy Roosevelt was a politician in multiple roles for many years before becoming a soldier.

coreydbarbarian said...

okay, the votes are in:
"giant douche" it is.

BAWDYSCOT said...

Is it too late to get in my vote for "turd sandwich". ;)

Ceroill said...

Anon, my bad. And just call me Bob, it's easier to spell. Oh, and thanks for reminding me about Teddy. He was an exception in so many ways.

Anonymous said...

You are welcome Bob. Thanks for being civil. For those who find Obama to be a poor choice for president, this site is for Clinton supporters who have said "No deal" to Obama.

Just Say No Deal

coreydbarbarian said...

g'luck wit dat.
if i had 2 venture a guess, i would predict that fewer than 7.5% of last weeks hilary supporters will actually refuse to vote 4 obama in november.

of that < 7.5%, i'd also guess that at least 2.5% never intended 2 vote democrat in the 1st place (operation chaos).

Ceroill said...

Anon, no problem. I know several folk whom I disagree with on various things, but we are still friends. I try to be civil to everyone. Some folk have different conversational styles than others, including those here who get a bit robust in their usage, shall we say. They're still good folk, as I believe the vast majority of people are. However, when you have hundreds, millions, billions of different individual points of view there is bound to be friction, even amongst those who generally agree on most things.

coreydbarbarian said...

here is a great example of why hilary's supporters will not vote for john mccain.
not gonna happen.

BAWDYSCOT said...

I realize Mr. Kucinich is the Democrat's Ron Paul, but you have to hand it to him for this...

Kucinich presents Bush impeachment articlesDavid Edwards and Mike Sheehan
Published: Monday June 9, 2008


An Ohio Democratic lawmaker and former presidential candidate has presented articles of impeachment against President George W. Bush to Congress.

Thirty-five articles were presented by Rep. Dennis Kucinich to the House of Representatives late Monday evening, airing live on C-SPAN.

"The House is not in order," said Kucinich to Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), upon which Pelosi pounded her gavel.

"Resolved," Kucinich then began, "that President George W. Bush be impeached for high crimes and misdemeanors, and that the following articles of impeachment be exhibited to the United States Senate. ...

"In his conduct while President of the United States, George W. Bush, in violation of his constitutional oath to faithfully execute the office of president of the United States, and to the best of his ability preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States, and in violation of his constitutional duty to take care that the laws be faithfully executed, has committed the following abuses of power..."

The first article Kucinich presented, and many that followed, regarded the war in Iraq: "Article 1 - Creating a secret propaganda campaign to manufacture a false case for war against Iraq."

On several occasions, Kucinich referenced RAW STORY and its noted investigative news chief, Larisa Alexandrovna, as source material for the articles. Two of the RAW STORY pieces Kucinich mentioned are viewable here and here.

Kucinich, a 2004 and 2008 Democratic candidate for the White House, abandoned a prior attempt to begin impeachment proceedings against Bush in January of this year.

In April of 2007, Kucinich presented impeachment articles against Vice President Dick Cheney, but the effort went nowhere. Kucinich exclaimed that "impeachment may well be the only remedy which remains to stop a war of aggression against Iran."

Before leaving office in January 2007, then-Democratic Rep. Cynthia McKinney--currently a Green Party presidential candidate--introduced articles of impeachment against President Bush as her last act in Congress, but that effort also was fruitless.

Follow-up articles: Mainstream media yawns as Kucinich offers impeachment - Impeachment resolution gains co-sponsor - Kucinich to push for referral of impeachment resolution to Judiciary Committee.

coreydbarbarian said...

i was just telling my boss about kucinich's effort! i've gotta hand it to him; he follows his heart on these things. the vast majority of dc's politicians prolly wouldn't dream of doing it, even the ones who believe bush deserves impeachment.

i noticed a followup article titled "mainstream media yawns.." and it aggravates me. then again, most everything the msm does aggravates me anymore.

also noticed cynthia mckinney is a green party presidential candidate! who woulda thunk it? and where's fcc/anonymous when ya need him? i'm pretty sure he's out campaigning for her as we speak...

Ceroill said...

Bawdy, the two links to stories did not make it into the final post.

csm said...

Kucinich is great. I doubt he'll make much headway with this, but I heartily congratulate his efforts!

BAWDYSCOT said...

Looks like the Supreme Court doesn't agree with Bushlite or McCain. I guess a lame duck can be a good thing.