There were two important votes in the Senate yesterday that were not covered in today's JG. The first was a bill to restore Habeas Corpus for all US detainees and was filibustered by Senate Republicans. I still cannot believe that the Republican Party has embraced such fascist positions. Who would've thought that the Republican Party would become a party that does not support a person's right to challenge their detention in a court of law? Would we want our own citizens to be detained in other countries with no recourse? Shameful.
The second was the Webb amendment that would require active duty troops to have one day at home for every day they are deployed. This was a very simple common-sense amendment. Our troops continue to have their deployments extended (up to 15 months) while receiving less time at home to spend with their friends and families. Once again the Republicans filibustered the amendment. We see time and again that the Republicans talk about supporting the troops while the Democrats actually do it.
These two filibusters are yet another example of how out-of-touch the Republican party has become. Just for those keeping score, the Republicans in congress are on pace to use the filibuster 3 times more than any other time in history. They are, once again, going to get crushed in the next election. It amazes me that more and more of them continue to follow this president past the political event horizon. I think when it's all said and done we'll likely find that no President has done more to destroy his own party than President Bush.
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7 comments:
First of all legal residents of the US are detained by the Mexican police many times. Research the Internet to see the stories.
I know of two couples from Fort Wayne that had problems in Mexico.
The first was just a shake down by the local police. They held them until they paid a $5,500 bail. The Mexican police allowed them to call family in the US but they dialed the phone numbers and listened in.
When the $5,500 was wired to the police they where left go. No charges or nothing.
Their only crime was getting off the beaten tourist path.
The second couple where in a car and was stopped for speeding. The police said they where doing 80 plus in an area that was marked 60. I do not remember the numbers for a fact.
None the less the officer ask if they could pay the fine right to him. They said they did not have that much money on them.
He took them to jail after having them park their rental car along the road. After three days they where told they could go. They took a cab back to their car was.
The car had been stripped of the tires and radio. The side window shattered also. They called the police and was told it was too bad. They left their car there. They would not make a report.
So when they called the rental place and learned they would have someone out but they would have to pay for the damage and tires. The insurance they took out did not cover thief nor damage from a breakin.
We could debate the issue of the detainees all night long. I have some issues with it but also I understand the need for it.
So we're shooting for the Mexican system? Good to know...
I wouldn't say the Republicans fillibustered these worthy bills. They threaten to fillibuster and the Dems don't have the vote to close discussion. What the Dems need to do is call their bluff and go ahead and make the Republicans stay up all night a couple of days and then take it to the people. The Republicans liked to scream for up and down votes when they had control and the Dems. severly restricted their threats to sue the nuclear options. Now EVERY bill has to deal with the nuclear threat. This would provide great opportunities for gotcha moments.
But for some reason they refuse to call their bluff. Dems are being cowards.
jeff,
Are you calling them Nazis? :-)
Nope, just pointing out that they have fascist tendencies.
BTW, they did force a filibuster about a month ago and it didn't do any good other than to get the media to start calling their tactics "filibuster" which they had largely refused to do until then...
they didn't filibuster, the Dems just kept the senate in session. The party in power can't filibuster. Even if the media makes comments, why not force their hands? Majority of Americans support their ideas of cutting troops.
I realize the minority is the filibsterer. Cloture votes are the equivalent to filibusters in today's Senate. Some media sources have gone so far as to say a bill was "defeated" 56-43 without telling the public that the vote was a cloture vote and that a majority did support the bill...
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