(no subject)

[lafinjack.livejournal.com]

If you haven't heard, New York was under attack by an idiot. As opposed to past idiots, this idiot happens to not only be brown and born in Pakistan, but is also an American citizen. This last bit introduces hoops that our proud lawmakers must jump through to maintain their integrity on terrorism:

“Obviously that would be a serious mistake until all the information is gathered,” John McCain said when asked whether the suspect, Faisal Shahzad, should have been Mirandized.

“What I was talking about was that we don’t have to Mirandize someone immediately. You don’t – before you charge them, there’s time that elapses,” McCain later clarified to POLITICO.

“I hope that [Attorney General Eric] Holder did discuss this with the intelligence community. If they believe they got enough from him, how much more should they get? Did they Mirandize him? I know he’s an American citizen but still,” Peter King (R-NY) told POLITICO.

Joe Lieberman has another idea: "I think it’s time for us to look at whether we want to amend that law to apply it to American citizens who choose to become affiliated with foreign terrorist organizations, whether they should not also be deprived automatically of their citizenship, and therefore be deprived of rights that come with that citizenship when they are apprehended and charged with a terrorist act."

Apparently he thinks domestic terrorist organizations should get a free pass.

So, aren't these the guys who keep harping on restricting the amount of power the federal government has over its citizens? They've previously tried to claim these powers only over unlawful combatants, but if they can invent a charge that lets them revoke someone's citizenship at the drop of a hat... the slope these men walk along is mighty slippery.

Comments

[mrbogey.livejournal.com]

'You think there is some deeper "Americaness" than merely being a citizen of this nation.'

Yes. Of course. Anyone can become an American though.

[futurebird.livejournal.com]

Tell me more. What do you have in mind?

[mrbogey.livejournal.com]

About what? Be specific.

[futurebird.livejournal.com]

Describe the deeper "Americaness" that goes beyond being a citizen of this nation.

[mrbogey.livejournal.com]

What, like I have to explain how you're supposed to love the ideals of this nation and bond yourself to it?

I kind of feel that you're asking me to explain the color blue.

[futurebird.livejournal.com]

What are the ideals?

[mrbogey.livejournal.com]

Wanting to randomly slaughter other Americans would not be one I imagine.

[futurebird.livejournal.com]

That's more like what I expect of humans... no matter what country they are from. Anything else?

[jerseycajun.livejournal.com]

Wanting to commit any violence against another American seems similar enough. You comfortable with redlining the fourth amendment out for all those accused of violent crime? Why stop there? Theft and other coercion represents a degradation against our fellow Americans. Surely they too are not worthy of due process. How many are we leaving out? Drug dealing/abuse? That's not very American either.

The ideals of this nation are found in the flawed, but honorable document which, coincidentally enough, contains the fourth amendment protecting the very people you seem to have no qualm in marginalizing.

The only possible way I can rationally interpret being more "American" is being more capable of placing the law above notions of personal feelings, opinions and differences. The more difficult it is to give the law its place over those things, to the benefit the worst of the worst; that, in my opinion is probably the only way to be "more American".

[johnny9fingers.livejournal.com]

Impressed.

[Tips hat.]

[mrbogey.livejournal.com]

Look, all I'm saying at this point is convict him, strip him of his newfound citizenship, and toss him in a hole.

If the guy confessed to wanting to slaughter Americans a year ago he'd not have even become one.

[a-new-machine.livejournal.com]

Yeah, except the issue is that here they want to strip him of his citizenship, then toss him in a hole, THEN worry about whether they're going to convict him. Y'see the order is important. Very important.