A BuzzFlash Reader Contribution

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Why Are Senators Afraid of the Law?

A BUZZFLASH READER CONTRIBUTION
by Marjorie L. Swanson

What is it about the American system of checks, balances, and laws that the Republican Party fears so much? Why did 49 United States Senators vote on Thursday to deny access to our courts to foreign suspects held at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba? This in spite of the fact that the Supreme Court granted such access.

And why did 5 democratic Senators join this disgraceful action? Cheer the 4 patriotic republican Senators who bucked their party to cast a vote for the honesty and integrity of their country. FYI: Faux Democrats voting yes: Conrad, Landrieu, Lieberman, Nelson and Wyden. Republicans voting no: Chafee, Smith, Specter and Sununu.

What is it these Senators fear? That these people who have been held without being charged for years might get a chance to prove their innocence? If you are sure these are criminals then bring them to trial and prove it. Like we say out here in the flyover, put up or shut up.

Why would the Senate of the United States of America vote to restrict the law concerning prisoners? We already know that only the rich can actually get a fair trial in this country. Good defense lawyers are simply too expensive for the ordinary working man or woman. Now it seems our senate wants to even deny access to the courts to some people.

Don’t argue that they are foreigners. If we imprison them, then we are morally and legally responsible to see that they are treated fairly and with all due respect for the law.

If we are truly a nation of laws then granting access to our courts is obviously the right thing to do. The laws that protect us must be for all or they are just a sham.

And there is always the chance, that given access to the courts and the laws that some of these “detainees” may actually be proven innocent. Kind of like all too frequently American prisoners, in American prisons, are proved to be innocent after many years of incarceration.

I don’t want the guilty set free. I want their sorry butts locked up and the key thrown away after we have proved them guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. That’s how you keep the moral high ground, Senators. That’s how a nation of laws functions.

Marjorie L. Swanson
Kenosha, WI

BUZZFLASH READER CONTRIBUTION