House Resolution 6166 - Military Commissions Act of 2006

Submitted by Just some guy on

The House passed the legislation on Military Commissions today. The vote was 253 (FOR) - 168 (AGAINST). It was Roll Call 491.

Who voted for it?

Coble, Foxx, Taylor, Hayes, Myrick, McHenry, Etheridge and McIntyre.

Etheridge and McIntyre are bold because they're Democrats.

Who voted against it?

Miller, Watt, Price, Butterfield and Jones, Jr.

I commend those five that stood up against the Administration. I commend those who stood up for American values.

I sit in complete and total disappointment to the seven that voted for this resolution.

If you're a voter in Etheridge's or McIntyre's districts, call their offices, email them, write them. Tell them you're disappointed in their poor showing today. I beg you, do not ever vote for them again and tell your friends and family to do the same.

End their political careers. They do not deserve to be Representatives of North Carolina to the Congress.

Comments

OK....I need help here

Submitted by Betsy Muse on

What exactly did the legislation say. I've kinda not been paying attention the past few days for some unknown reason.


Click on the hat to see all Citizen Journalist files



***************************
Vote Democratic! The ass you save may be your own.

Thomas, Coble is in the northern part of Moore!

Submitted by momoaizo on

Can you link to the legislation text or point me in that direction?

No matter that patriotism is too often the refuge of scoundrels. Dissent, rebellion, and all-around hell-raising remain the true duty of patriots.

That's probably better...

Submitted by Just some guy on

for your blood pressure, SD :)

The legislation sets the guidelines for military commissions to try detained enemy combatants.

It sets the rules for evidence...Detainees (or their lawyers) can't see classified information being used as evidence. Instead, redacted documents can be reviewed by the defense. Also, statements can be written that summarize the classified documents.

Statements made under cruel and inhumane treatment prior to December 31, 2005 are admissible as evidence.

Evidence acquired without a search warrant is admissible. This impacts American citizens by violating our 4th Amendment right to freedom of unreasonable search and seizure.

It strips the right to habeas corpus from detainees (detainees would have no recourse to have an objective court review the conditions and reasons for their detention).

It grants the President the authority to interpret Common Article 3 of the Geneva Convention and direct appropriate methods of interrogation.

It also protects anyone in the Administration from prosecution for war crimes grandfathered back to September 2001.

Thomas S. Brock
www.brocknet.net
www.brocknet.net/WordPress/

OnslowCountyPolitics@gmail.com
http://onslowcountypolitics.brocknet.net

Thomas

What have YOU done today to make the world a better place?

Thomas, can I use some of this on my blog?

Submitted by momoaizo on

and do you mind explaining some things to a novist?

For instance, you say that the right to use evidence siezed without a search warrant violates American rights...but aren't they talking about illegal alien, enemy combatants? Or does this also allow this here at home if the government deems you an enemy combatant?

And if deemed so, does this mean that your right to habeas corpus is suspended?

No matter that patriotism is too often the refuge of scoundrels. Dissent, rebellion, and all-around hell-raising remain the true duty of patriots.

Of course, you can, Momo...

Submitted by Just some guy on

I have no problem explaining the bill. The more we know, the more we realize how truly destructive this bill is...

The bill does primarily apply to alien (non-American citizen) enemy combatants, however, the provision that some evidence may be used without benefit of being obtained with a search warrant applies to information within the United States. That means if you had an email on your hard drive that the American government believes has information related to some alien (non-American citizen) enemy combatant, it can be obtained and used during the military commission as evidence against the accused. In a trial against an American, even if that email were particularly damning, it wouldn't be admissible if obtained without benefit of a warrant.

Using the authority in this bill (HR 6166) the right to habeas corpus for Americans is not suspended (and one would hope could never be). While it is legally questionable the requirement for allowing the enemy combatants to have a right to habeas corpus, it is widely viewed (by many civil rights lawyers) that, since habeas corpus is such a key pillar of the American legal rights systems that it should be granted to anyon e tried within the American judicial system. The right to habeas corpus central to the detainee process because it allows a judge to review the circumstances and conditions of detention. The judge would be able to make checks to ensure that the detention is appropriate. Without this right, dentainees may be imprisoned for indefinite amounts of time with no recourse to cry foul.

I hope this helps. My mind is still quite cloudy with anger and frustration that the Congress is even considering allowing torture and with dealing with the dueling debates on the measures (House and Senate).

Thomas S. Brock
www.brocknet.net
www.brocknet.net/WordPress/

OnslowCountyPolitics@gmail.com
http://onslowcountypolitics.brocknet.net

Thomas

What have YOU done today to make the world a better place?

Oh...the Torture Promotion Bill...why didn't you say so

Submitted by Betsy Muse on

I mean sheesh....Military Commissions act is so sterile.....

We need to rename all these Republifuckup bills. This one is now known as the Dubya Gets his Rocks Off Torturing People Act.



Click on the hat to see all Citizen Journalist files



***************************
Vote Democratic! The ass you save may be your own.

Heard a statement on NPR

Submitted by momoaizo on

The bush admin say they removed Hussien because he tortured......now bush wants a congressional permission slip. Looks like he got it!

No matter that patriotism is too often the refuge of scoundrels. Dissent, rebellion, and all-around hell-raising remain the true duty of patriots.

I'm in E's district

Submitted by Leslie H on

:(

d@mmit.

Much as I like Cong. Etheridge, I cannot defend that vote.

But I can't do what you suggest, Thomas. I can't. I cannot NOT vote for Bob Etheridge on Nov. 7th. My Congressional option ... and the defacto vote I would be casting ... would be for a despicable (and I do mean despicable, even if I've misspelled it) little man who is so poorly educated and backwards that he's to the Right of 14th Century Fred.

This has been a very depressing and sad week.

"They took all the trees and put them in a tree museum Then they charged the people a dollar 'n a half just to see 'em. Don't it always seem to go that you don't know what you've got till it's gone? They paved paradise and put up a parking lot."