One senator finally says 'enough'

[waxman]

"As Justice Robert Jackson said in his opening statement at Nuremberg: “That four great nations, flushed with victory and stung with injury, stay the hand of vengeance and voluntarily submit their captive enemies to the judgment of the law is one of the most significant tributes that Power has ever paid to Reason.” "

the law and constitution parts of that were great but Jackson may have fogotten how to count in his preamble, four great nations? off the top of my head Great Britain, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Brazil, Mexico, USSR, China, Poland, South Africa etc....and the USA...

[Steven S. Dallas]

Great Britain, France, the US, and the Soviet Union were the only nations that negotiated the conduct of the trials.

[knumbskull]

Spectacular speech. I'm sick and tired of politicians who don't stand for and uphold our great founding principals.

We can't un-read what Freezerburn posted.

LOL. But you can stop reading after the first couple sentences when you realize he is an absolute hopeless moron.

[Chainsaw_Willie]

people like freezorburn scare me. There are so goddamned many of them, unable to think critically, unwilling to see the big picture, afraid of what they've been told to fear, willing tools of the man.

[Purveyor of Slack]

How about those preferential loans from CFC Senator Dodd took.....yeah thats a real 'moral' politician....

Hmmmm..........yep an issue relating to a mortgage DEFINITELY negates any ability to stand up for our core beliefs as a country.

Yep. Good koolaid huh?

[Purveyor of Slack]

people like freezorburn scare me. There are so goddamned many of them, unable to think critically, unwilling to see the big picture, afraid of what they've been told to fear, willing tools of the man.

+1


At least 25%....... and thats all you need. It may not win an election but its more than enough to intimidate when needed.

[mr_gyptian]

From Dodd's speech on the FISA bill on the floor:

------------snip------------
My father, Senator Tom Dodd, was the number two American prosecutor at the famous Nuremberg trials. And I have never, never forgotten the example he set.

As Justice Robert Jackson said in his opening statement at Nuremberg: “That four great nations, flushed with victory and stung with injury, stay the hand of vengeance and voluntarily submit their captive enemies to the judgment of the law is one of the most significant tributes that Power has ever paid to Reason.”

Mr. President, what is the tribute that Power owes to Reason?

That America stands for a transcendent idea.

The idea that laws should rule, not men.

The idea that the Constitution does not get suspended for vengeance.

The idea that this nation should never tailor its eternal principles to the conflict of the moment, because if we did, we would be walking in the footsteps of the enemies we despised.

The tribute that Power owes to Reason is due today. I know that we can find the strength to pay it. And if we can’t? We will all have to answer for it.

There’s a famous military recruiting poster that comes to mind. A man is sitting in an easy chair with his son and daughter on his lap, in some future after the war has ended. His daughter is asking him, “Daddy, what did you do in the war?” And his face is shocked and shamed, because he knows he did nothing.

My daughters, Grace and Christina, are six and three. They are growing up in a time of two great conflicts: one between our nation and its enemies, and another, between what is best and worst in our American soul. And someday soon, I know I am going to hear that question: “What did you do?” I want, more than anything else, to give the right answer.

That question is coming for every single one of us in this body. Every single one of us will be judged by a jury from whom there’s no hiding: our sons, our daughters, our grandchildren. Someday soon, they’ll read in their textbooks the story of a great nation, one that threw down tyrants and oppressors for two centuries; one that rid the world of Nazism and Soviet communism; one that proved that great strength can serve great virtue, that right can truly make might.

And then they will read how, in the early years of the 21st century, that nation lost its way.

We do not have the power to strike that chapter. No, Mr. President—we can’t go back.

We can’t un-destroy the CIA’s interrogation tapes. We can’t un-pass the Military Commissions Act. We can’t un-speak Alberto Gonzales’s disgraceful testimony. We can’t un-torture innocent people. And perhaps, sadly, shamefully, we cannot stop retroactive immunity. We can’t un-do anything that has been done in the last six years for the cause of lawlessness and fear.

We cannot blot out that chapter. But we can begin the next one, even today. Let its first words read: “Finally, in June 2008, the Senate said: ‘Enough.’”

I implore my colleagues to write it with me. I implore my colleagues to vote against retroactive immunity and vote against cloture tomorrow morning.
--------------------snip---------------
http://dodd.senate.gov/index.php?q=node/4476

Pretty damn good speech.

I wonder if Senator Dodd would like to undo his "Friends of Angelo" mortgage?

"Countrywide gave Dodd VIP status and a 10-year mortgage at 4.5 percent in 2003. Points and other fees were waived."

Must be nice to be head of the Senate Banking committee.

I think his high horse threw a shoe.

[Jer]

people like freezorburn scare me. There are so goddamned many of them, unable to think critically, unwilling to see the big picture, afraid of what they've been told to fear, willing tools of the man.

That's why third parties are critical to our democracy.
Somebody has to draw off the all-important stupid vote.

Vote Barr & Root 2008!

[grrrr]

I think his high horse threw a shoe.

Comparison of a nice mortgage package and a totally corrupt, morally bankrupt administration = so reasonable right now!

[Toadman]

I wonder if Senator Dodd would like to undo his "Friends of Angelo" mortgage?

"Countrywide gave Dodd VIP status and a 10-year mortgage at 4.5 percent in 2003. Points and other fees were waived."

Must be nice to be head of the Senate Banking committee.

I think his high horse threw a shoe.

I got almost the same deal, and I'm just a regular pissant. Please don't turn me in though for taking what Countrywide was giving away to any Jack or Jill with a pulse. I hear if you were smart and savy about mortgages, you could get a house with no money down. You didn't even need to have a job.

[Toadman]

You are a moron. This debate is about revising FISA laws to further gut the 4th amendment in an unchallengeable manner and offering ex-post-facto immunity to companies that did this before this law would have made such violations "legal."

I was always under the impression that congress doesn't have the power as stated in the U.S. Constitution to establish ex post facto rulings...

Section 9 - Limits on Congress

The Migration or Importation of such Persons as any of the States now existing shall think proper to admit, shall not be prohibited by the Congress prior to the Year one thousand eight hundred and eight, but a tax or duty may be imposed on such Importation, not exceeding ten dollars for each Person.

The privilege of the Writ of Habeas Corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in Cases of Rebellion or Invasion the public Safety may require it.

No Bill of Attainder or ex post facto Law shall be passed.

[splat]

So,

Terrorist should have the same rights that are granted to American people. They should be granted legal counsel and the right to appeal. Also they should have the right to sue the US.

Are You people out of your mind? They Slaughter innocent people in the name of god. Your saying the right of a terrorist is more important then the rights of the innocent.

What the Supreme Court ruled was an embarrassment. This may lead to another terrorist attack. Terrorists should be shot on the battle and only taken Prisoner by accident.


"a little morality" My ass, this is more like "Total Stupidity"

Then I guess you'll be the first one to buck up and not whimper if your family gets nuked and the rest of the world says "Well, America, you had it coming, based on the tactics and behavior you have exhibited across the world and on your home soil."

Let's just keep escalating without conscience until we all kill each other. Brilliant.
Winning one battle is not the equivalent of winning a war.
Fuel to the fire....

[mr_gyptian]

Comparison of a nice mortgage package and a totally corrupt, morally bankrupt administration = so reasonable right now!

using your position as head of the Senate banking committee to gain favorable terms on a mortgage from a company that has contributed $25,000 dollars to you over the years = very reasonable right now.

you are such a fucking scab. If it was Trent Lott doing the same thing you'd be calling for his head.

[Tye 1on]

I got almost the same deal, and I'm just a regular pissant. Please don't turn me in though for taking what Countrywide was giving away to any Jack or Jill with a pulse. I hear if you were smart and savy about mortgages, you could get a house with no money down. You didn't even need to have a job.

But I have to agree with the above post. Even if these terms were available to the average schmuck, Dodd did not succeed in avoiding 'even the appearance of a conflict of interest', which is always the highest road to follow. Imho he failed at that.

However, I still feel this speech is one of the best i've read since Obama's speech on race. I agree with SSD's statement that it even brings out a bit of patriotism.

[grrrr]

you are such a fucking scab. If it was Trent Lott doing the same thing you'd be calling for his head.

You're such a fucking retard. If it was Trent Lott I wouldn't care any goddamn more than I do know. I'm not the one blinded by one sided belief in a religious...oops I mean political party.