Admin messing with the courts, pushing for mandatory sentences

[babylonsister]

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2007/06/17/administration_pushes_for_mandatory_sentences/

Administration pushes for mandatory sentences

By Lara Jakes Jordan and Matt Apuzzo, Associated Press | June 17, 2007

WASHINGTON -- The Bush administration is trying to roll back a Supreme Court decision by pushing legislation that would require prison time for nearly all criminals.

The Justice Department is offering the plan as an opening salvo in a larger debate about whether sentences for crack cocaine are unfairly harsh and racially discriminatory.

Republicans are seizing the administration's crackdown, packaged in legislation to combat violent crime, as a campaign issue for 2008.

In a speech June 1 to announce the bill, Attorney General Alberto Gonzales urged Congress to reimpose mandatory minimum prison sentences against federal convicts -- and not let judges consider such penalties "merely a suggestion."

Such an overhaul, in part, "will strengthen our hand in fighting criminals who threaten the safety and security of all Americans," Gonzales said in the speech, delivered three days before the FBI announced a slight national uptick in violent crime during 2006.

Judges, however, were livid over the proposal to limit their power. "This would require one-size-fits-all justice," said US District Judge Paul G. Cassell, chairman of the Criminal Law committee of the Judicial Conference, the judicial branch's policy-making body.

more...

[Nikki Stone1]

1. It's all about profits for the privatized prison system

Gotta compete with low paid Chinese workers

[kurth]

2. Next: Bush administration requests emergency funding for very large prisons

and federal detention centers.

[babylonsister]

5. They've already been built or are in the process; maybe they just

want them filled.

And yes, Halliburton got the contracts.

[hobbit709]

3. Let's start with mandatory minimums of say

20 years for perjury and obstruction of justice ala Scooter.

[Hubert Flottz]

4. Maximum for Scooter Libby!

[rodeodance]

6. oh god. so Dems will be painted as weak on crime. damn

[babylonsister]

8. Only if the Dems allow them to frame it that way; I'd approach this from

the court's point of view. Stop messing with the judicial system, Gonzales et al.

[MiniMe]

7. Fine, lets start with Scooter n/t

[VP505]

9. If Gonzo

and his cronies want to overhaul the Judiciary its likely to prevent any of the Bu$hCo criminals from being convicted, and has little to do with justice.

[HCE SuiGeneris]

10. Time to make use of all those idle detention facilities.

What a great idea!

:sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: