NEWSFLASH - American freedom died with a whimper

[Vinnie From Indy]

A Richmond based Federal Appeals Court handed down a decision a few days ago which confirms the right of the President to detain, indefinitely, any American deemed an "enemy combatant" without charging that person with a crime. In short, the Bill of Rights has been declared null and void. I would have thought that such a monumental ruling would have been bigger news. We are now subjects of Smirky the Lesser and the House of BushCo. Inc. I wonder if historians in the future will accurately capture the scope and power of the techniques developed by Madison Avenue to anesthetize millions of people to the theft of their freedom. It reminds me of the "boiling a frog" story. Ya gotta do it slow or the frog will notice.

[wtmusic]

1. Hopefully it will be appealed to SCOTUS

Have a link?

[MintOreoCookie]

2. The 4th Circuit Court of Appeals is made up of mostly conservative judges

Of course they are going to rule in favor of the Bush Administration. It will be interesting to see if they appeal the decision.

[CascadeTide]

3. every agency has a report

can't say it's been given much coverage though

http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/padilla09.html

[Vinnie From Indy]

5. great story by Mike Whitney on the subject

http://www.smirkingchimp.com/article.php?sid=22711&mode=nested&order=0

[leveymg]

4. Judge Roberts has already signed on to this position.

Ruled in favor of indefinite detention in a similar case he heard before the DC Circuit.

That should be reason enough to oppose him.

[wtmusic]

6. That's it for me

No excuse. Roberts must be opposed.

[Southsideirish]

7. We should all wear black ribbons in witness to this trajedy and to

indicate our being against Roberts's appointment.

[Jim__]

8. Where is the outrage?

You would think the press and the American people would be up in arms about this.

From the decision:

"The exceedingly important question before us is whether the President of the United States possesses the authority to detain militarily a citizen of this country who is closely associated with al-Qaida, an entity with which the United States is at war," Judge J. Michael Luttig wrote. "We conclude that the President does possess such authority."

But the United States is not at war with anyone; not really. And if the president wants to use such poweres you would think the minimum prerequisite would be a formal Declaration of War by the Congress.

I wonder who the president can throw in jail without charge or trial based on the "War on Drugs". If the American people don't fight this; then they deserve what they get.