Joe Lieberman names citizenship-stripping bill "the TEA Act"

[Matariki]

http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2010/05/06/lieberman_tea_act/index.html

Faced with the successful arrest and interrogation of an American citizen who failed to commit a terrorist attack, Joe Lieberman introduced a bill aimed at stripping Americans of their citizenship if they're terrorists. (But only if they are connected to foreign terrorist organizations. Feel free to join the KKK and stay an American.)

Lieberman originally said American citizens should be "deprived automatically of their citizenship ... when they are apprehended and charged with a terrorist act," which, even for Lieberman, is pretty insane. He's moderated that a bit, though it's unclear how his new citizenship-stripping bill would actually work. You're a non-citizen if the State Department is really sure you're aiding a foreign terrorist organization? If you're actually convicted of aiding foreign terrorists? (The aim of the bill seems to be to send these sudden non-citizens to tribunals instead of civilian courts, though it looks like accused terrorists would be able to fight the attempt to revoke their citizenship.)

But Joe, having quickly lost support from Chuck Schumer, has literally named this affront to the Constitution the "Terrorist Expatriation Act" -- or, "the TEA Act." Hey, I wonder which reactionary white populists he's looking to appeal to with a name like that?

[still_one]

1. There is NOTHING in the Constitution that allows someone to be deprived of their

Citizenship

Everytime nonesense like this comes out I become outraged that Gore picked this person for his VP

[Bonobo]

3. Lieberman is the reason I voted for Nader. Doesn't seem so crazy now, does it?

Lieberman could have become president.
It was a terrible decision by Gore...bordering on slimy.

[still_one]

5. Agreed it was a terrible decision for Gore to choose him, however in my view

Gore as president, even with LIEberman, would have still been better than what bush did to the country

[Bonobo]

10. Agreed 100%, but if Gore had died, Lieberman WOULD have been President.

And that is fucking scary in light of his current misbehavior.

[adamuu]

30. Still better than GWB, no?

I don't get it.

[roguevalley]

41. since gore is still breathing it was a continguency that wasn't going to happen

[Segami]

7. File that away with McCain picking Palin. McCain could have also become president with Palin waiting

in the wings just a heart attack away from controlling this nation and its military might.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

27. And let's not forget you were GHWB's heartbeat away from President Quayle for 4 years.

A Fantastic Four comic even played that as a doomsday scenario.

[doc03]

11. Lieberman's bullshit plays good on Faux and the

teabaggers eat it up. Lieberman is the Rethug hero.

[harkadog]

19. Have you ever had or read a passport?

It lists five conditions the U.S. government may use to strip you of your citizenship. This law would just be one more condition to the list. So if the passport conditions are constitutional then adding other conditions would be also.

[MattBaggins]

31. "under certain circumstances, you may"

Pretty wish-washy bit of nonsense eh? Still need an actual court to strip that citizenship away, not just random accusations from state department officials. That crap written in passports is just that, crap.

[harkadog]

39. You think some State official just made up random language?

It comes from the U.S. Code. The ways to lose citizenship are detailed in 8 USC 1481. This was written by Congress not the State Department. This law would just add another section to the Code.

[tinymontgomery]

2. Lets add if you work against

America's interest like Lieberman.

[MattBaggins]

33. How about his good buddy McCain

who sat on the board of a "charity" that was a front to funnel money to terrorist groups in South America.

We need to start an Official DU list of people to De-Americanize
Pat Robertson--->Charles Taylor
McCain--->USCWF
Erik Prince and all of Blackwater--->Mercs
The Palins--->AIP

[BlueIdaho]

4. Lets not forget "Heck of a truck Brownie's" pathetic pandering as well!

What a pair of unpatriotic asshats.

[howaboutme]

6. Just how does Joey Lieberman get a chairmanship?

When there are true American patriots and Democrats such as Bernie Sanders who deserve it? What gives Joey, a non-Democrat and an independent and UN-constitutionalist, the clout or support to hold a major chairmanship of Homeland Security, when there are true patriotic Democrats that are forced to languish on the sidelines?

[Prophet 451]

8. Wanker

Actually, make that "partisan hack, shameless pandering wanker".

[Matariki]

9. Guilty until proven innocent

The lack of logic is astounding. The idea of stripping a person of their citizenship so they can't be tried in court of law makes guilt or innocence irrelevant. Maybe just a phone call from a disgruntled neighbor...

[tsuki]

12. I wonder if all "terrorist" organizations will be included, or just the

ones that the new "Sheriff Joe" doesn't like.

[Segami]

16. How about American Citizen treasonous SPYS who sell our secrets to other nations

and jeopardize american lives and place our nation's security infrastructure at risk?

[tsuki]

25. I was thinking about the large group of Irish-Americans who supported

the IRA in the '70's. Or the number of Americans who joined the Canadian Force prior to 1941. Or those who supported Allende in Chili.

If you don't trust the government to deliver health care, how could you trust them with your citizenship?

[Generic Other]

13. How different than Executive Order 9066?

Where an entire ethnic group was stripped of its rights with a single stroke of a pen.

Yeah. Been there. Done that. It sucked then. Sucks now.

[HipChick]

14. Can we strip Palin of the citizenship...Todd pals around with AIP?

[eShirl]

15. What a terrible man. n.t

[Nikki Stone1]

17. Why is Joe still caucusing with the Dems?

?????

[BrklynLiberal]

18. Touch decision as to whether LIEberman or McCain is the bigger asshole.

[SalmonChantedEvening]

20. Joe Lieberman: A Pubic Embarrassment.

[fishwax]

26. that he is

:puke:

[Arkana]

21. Democrats better kill this little monster in the fucking cradle.

It'll have no problem getting a vote, since Republicans wouldn't block a bill that would give them a way to label more Democrats and brown people terrorists.

[FreeJG]

22. Now they're going to kill off the tea baggers....

for them, nice while it lasted.

[jmondine]

23. It should be renamed the "Lieberman is a Ho" act

[Hubert Flottz]

24. I'm more afraid of guys like LIEberman than I am a fucking "Terra-ist"

A terra-ist ain't that ignorant and selfish.

[femmedem]

28. And to think this guy was CT's attorney general...

I live in CT, and I was hoping Lieberman wouldn't run again. But this looks like he will. x(

[lunatica]

29. I guess that makes Lieberman a Teabagger then

People have to start laughing at him. He's taken way too seriously and he loves it. I say point a finger at him and start laughing.

[howaboutme]

35. That's why he's "Joey" to me

Lieberman's persona represents why the USA is in decline. He's interested in himself and he's not the only one either.

[saltpoint]

32. At this point, I'm almost surprised Lieberman didn't call for public

be-headings.

He's been off the sentient indexes for some time now.

[Mr Rabble]

34. This bill would never withstand the legal challenges-

This is a clear violation of the UDHR, to which the US is a signatory.

These people are totally insane.

[spanone]

36. i'm so sick of joe the fucking politician....

[MilesColtrane]

37. I've said it before. I'll say it again.

Lieberman will declare Republican within six months.

Time to give the Independent facade, Failgunner Joe.

[Canuckistanian]

38. Joe's not too smart, is he?

He's hitching his political future to a permanent (although vocal) minority.

Also, wasn't he like, a lawyer? Didn't he learn about citizenship rights in law school?

[Scurrilous]

40. K & R

:thumbsup: