Spector Signals That He Will Join Dems To Restore Habeas Corpus

[kpete]

Legislators may reconsider suspending habeas corpus for detainees
By Lesley Clark and Margaret Talev
McClatchy Newspapers

WASHINGTON - President Bush's victory in getting the rules he wanted to try suspected terrorists could be diminished.


The top Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee signaled this week that he'll join prominent Democrats in seeking to restore legal rights to hundreds of suspected terrorists confined at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and elsewhere.


While the measure to restore the right of habeas corpus has almost no chance of passing before Congress adjourns later this week, the message is clear: When Democrats take over in early January, the issue could resurface.


The Military Commissions Act of 2006, which Bush signed into law in October, prevents detainees who aren't U.S. citizens from challenging their detentions in civilian courts. But Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Arlen Specter, R-Pa., who voted for the legislation despite his opposition to stripping such rights from detainees, on Tuesday reintroduced legislation to restore those rights. A similar measure sponsored by Specter failed by three votes in October.

more at:
http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/nation/16179513.htm

[mod mom]

1. How radical-what a maverick!

[Wickerman]

2. Now that, my friends, is an example of bipartisanship

I know for Repubs bipartisanship means Dems caving to every ill-conceived scheme to limit our liberties but this is a good effort.

[depakid]

3. Agreed

Nice to see the shoe on the other foot- though I don't expect that many Republicans will follow suit.

Mt guess is that Bush will finally be forced to get out his veto pen.

Query: will the so called "mainstream" media label him an obstructionist?

[TechBear_Seattle]

4. Wow! Imagine that

A Repug willing to restore one of the fundamental civil rights that his own party stole "for the good of the nation."

Will wonders never cease!

[A Simple Game]

5. Why doesn't he just go home and stay there?

He was against it before he was for it before he was against it...

Too little to late Senator! Big deal, you know there is no veto proof vote.

He could have stopped this legislation the first time.

Spector has a conscience of convenience. He does the same thing on most controversial legislation, plays both side of the fence, and then votes against the interests of the common person every time.