Letter by Dem's Wall Street Why Democrats Oppose Military Commission Act

[Monkeyman]

Not a bad letter in the Wall Street Journal

Your assertion "Democrats on Al Qa eda," Review & outlook. Oct.2) that Democrats will not be tough on terrorism because many of us opposed the Republican's Military Commission Act is offensive and untrue. The party of Wilson,Roosevelt, Truman, Kennedy and Clinton takes a back seat to no one in protecting our nation and our people.We have always fought for freedom and confronted tyranny-- and do so today.

Our national security interests are best served when we interrogate and try terrorist suspects in a manner that comports with our American values; produces convictions that will withstand appeals; and honors our international commitments, thereby protecting our troops who fall into enemy hands. We believe the Republican bill failed on each point.

If anything, the Military Commission Act is not tough enough on terrorist because there is no certainty the act will withstand the scrutiny of the Supreme Court. If the act is tied up in litigation and eventually struck down, convicted terrorist could have a "get-out-of-jail-free" card. During the debate on legislation, we pointed to numerous constitutional challenges that will likely be brought against the act, such as that it unlawfully strips federal courts of jurisdiction over habeas corpus claims; creates ex post facto laws in violation of Article 1; purports to make the president the final arbiter of the Geneva Conventions ,in violation of Article 3; and because of the way it is written, may apply to U.S. citizens -as well as non-citizens - and allow coerced testimony in violation of the 5th, 8th and 14th Amendments.

Steny H Hoyer (D-MD)
House Democratic Whip

Ike Skelton (D-M)
Ranking Democrat
House Armed Service Committee

[sinkingfeeling]

1. Good letter, except the Congressmen need to work on their plurals.

[flyarm]

2. MY HUSBAND AND I HELPED IKE GET ELECTED MANY YEARS AGO

a wonderful wonderful man!!

My husband used to hunt with his brother!! in the Lexington Area of Missouri!

Ike is a truely wonderful man!! ( and damn honest!!)

fly

[ClassWarrior]

4. I've always wondered...

...is he any relation to Red Skelton? He looks an awful lot like him.

NGU.

[flyarm]

5. no...n/t

[annabanana]

3. Damn Good Letter!

This insupportable Military Commission Act has to be brought up again and again and again until the American people can see it for what it is.

(edit: nominated)