| Jamie Dupree |
Terror Trial Politics II
As lawmakers returned to work this week, Republicans wasted no time rushing to the floor to denounce the move to try 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and others in a federal court in New York City.
"These are not bank robbers," said Sen. George LeMieux (R-FL). "These are people we are at war with."
"Why are we affording them extra rights?"
"Congress has made clear civilian courts are not the appropriate place to bring terrorists to justice," said Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX).
As I've mentioned, this battle seems certain to keep going, because the budgets for both the Justice Department and the Pentagon have not been finished.
And that gives Republicans the perfect opportunity to try to block the use of any tax dollars for the trials, for transporting detainees from Guantanamo Bay to the United States, and even from using another prison in the USA to house those terrorists.
Late in the day, GOP lamwakers in the House accused Democrats of backing off plans to appoint negotiators for the budget bill that deals with spending in the Justice Department.
As I had figured, Republicans were planning to force a non-binding vote that would have been on a GOP motion to stop the transfer of detainees to the US.
"Bringing terrorists to the United States for trial is a mistake," said Rep. Frank Wolf (R-VA).
"Democrat leaders should immediately allow Congress to block President Obama's ill-conceived campaign pledge to close the Guantanamo Bay facility and transfer detainees to the U.S.," said Rep. Jerry Lewis (R-CA).
Remember, the Congress holds the Power of the Purse.
The Executive may want to do something, but if the Congress doesn't fund the money, it doesn't happen.
This legislative battle isn't going to end anytime soon, and it will be a real test for Democrats.
What others are saying
- It will be a real test for........the objectivity of the press too. And so far you guys are failing it miserably.
Mr. Dupree has asked a few questions but avoided the tough ones, like
1) Why is the Obamessiah content to try some terrorists in tribunals but not others? How is that decision made?
Who makes that decision?
2) How many lawyers in the Justice Department have volunteered to defend terrorists in the past?
3) Why is it appropriate to have an Attorney General who has actively sought pardons of terrorists now attempting to prosecute them?
I think if the Bush Justice Department had an Attorney General who had defended, say, Exxon, or tobacco companies, or who had success in litigating against environmental groups, the left would have howled, and we would have head said howling becuse the Jamie Duprees of the world would be handing them the michrophones to howl into. Remember the flap over the very idea that Attorney General Ashcroft held prayer meetings prior to a day's work?
Do we see a similar flap over the number of those in the Justice Department who have pardoned terrorists, defended them, etc, etc?
What say you, Mr. Dupree?
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