Last updated on July 1st, 2012 at 06:55 am
Earlier this morning, the United States Supreme Court gave the Constitution, which had become much attacked under the Bush Administration, a boost of high octane gas (at $5.65 a gallon…ok, kidding). The Court ruled that foreign terrorism suspects being held at Guantanamo Bay do in fact have rights under the Constitution and they are able to challenge their detention in U.S. civilian courts.
Justices Stephen Breyer, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Anthony Kennedy, John Paul Stevens and David Souter stood together to protect the US Constitution from being further stripped and burned by the Bush Administration. Together, they were the majority.
And in no surprise whatsoever to anyone, Justices Samuel Alito, Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas joined Chief Justice John Roberts in dissent.
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Chief Justice Roberts not only dissented but roundly castigated the majority justices for striking down what he deemed “the most generous set of procedural protections ever afforded aliens detained by this country as enemy combatants.”
Apparently Roberts and the openly neo-con cabal of justices believe that being drug into an island fortress of hostile captivity in a random dragnet, and then being held without any right for seven long years is generous and humane. I wonder if this is what Bush meant by compassionate conservatism?
This ruling is the third time the high court has stricken down and pushed back against the Bush Administration’s rampant and wanton destruction of the Constitution, and for its unlawful treatment of prisoners.
Frankly, it’s astonishing that in seven years of criminal and lawless behavior, there has only been three instances of push back from the Supreme Court. This administration has been allowed to get away with illicit, and often, sinister acts for far too long.
Thank goodness for the five justices who are still sane, who still possess reason, for protecting the Constitution, an idea totally foreign to the Bush folks.
Justice Kennedy wrote in his ruling, “The laws and Constitution are designed to survive, and remain in force, in extraordinary times.”
He should have added: especially, in extraordinary times.
So plain. So clear. So simple. And yet, sadly, totally ignored and forgotten by both the Bush Administration as well as too many Americans.
