In article , Persephone
wrote:

On Thu, 12 Jun 2008 13:50:08 -0400, Bill
wrote:


From Salon.

Thursday June 12, 2008 10:51 EDT
Supreme Court restores habeas corpus, strikes down key part of Military
Commissions Act



In a major rebuke to the Bush administration's theories of presidential
power -- and in an equally stinging rebuke to the bipartisan political
class which has supported the Bush detention policies -- the U.S.
Supreme Court today, in a 5-4 decision (.pdf), declared Section 7 of the
Military Commissions Act of 2006 unconstitutional. The Court struck down
that section of the MCA because it purported to abolish the writ of
habeas corpus -- the means by which a detainee challenges his detention
in a court -- despite the fact that Constitution permits suspension of
that writ only "in Cases of Rebellion or Invasion."

Good news indeed -- though it's hard to guess when there will be any
practical application.

The practical application is that the United States is retuning to the
rule of law. Now those held by authorities will have the right to ask on
what grounds they are being held, whether they were arrested by bounty
hunters in Iraq or Afghanistan or were arrested in Chicago for having a
big mouth. Maybe, now we can get an injunction on torture as well.

It is interesting to me, that in talking to friends from "banana
republics", how similar our situations have become.

Not as hot today. Down from 94F yesterday. Peas are bearing the brunt of
the heat. Need to repot to keep small plants from drying out. And I need
to finish up using my compost/manure tea. It's running out of time.
This is another of the tenuous 5-4 decisions that should alert us
Court junkies (and anyone we can influence), to the terrible dangers*
that await us if McBush is elected, with the power to appoint
reactionary Justices as the old-tymers die or retire. Stevens is 88
and several other are no spring chickens.

* for just one, back to the coat hanger for our daughters and sisters;
McBush is a staunch "pro-lifer", which is their term for opponents
of a woman's right to control her own body.

Persephone
--

Billy
Bush and Pelosi Behind Bars
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9KVTf...ef=patrick.net
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l0aEo...eature=related