George Will (!): McCain's views on habeas ought to give voters pause

[Richardo]

(x-post from Editorial)

Something to hit the RW'ers with...

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/editorial/outlook/5847217.html

The day after the Supreme Court ruled that detainees imprisoned at Guantanamo are entitled to seek habeas corpus hearings, John McCain called it "one of the worst decisions in the history of this country." Well.

Does it rank with Dred Scott v. Sanford (1857), which concocted a constitutional right, unmentioned in the document, to own slaves and held that black people have no rights that white people are bound to respect? With Plessy v. Ferguson (1896), which affirmed the constitutionality of legally enforced racial segregation? With Korematsu v. United States (1944), which affirmed the wartime right to sweep American citizens of Japanese ancestry into concentration camps?

Did McCain's extravagant condemnation of the court's habeas ruling result from his reading the 126 pages of opinions and dissents? More likely, some clever ignoramus convinced him that this decision could make the Supreme Court — meaning, which candidate would select the best judicial nominees — a campaign issue.

<snip>

In Marbury v. Madison (1803), which launched and validated judicial supervision of America's democratic government, Chief Justice John Marshall asked: "To what purpose are powers limited, and to what purpose is that limitation committed to writing, if these limits may, at any time, be passed by those intended to be restrained?"

Those are pertinent questions for McCain, who aspires to take the presidential oath to defend the Constitution.

Read the rest - even with the occasional Will-esque conservatism in there it's a good piece.

[fascisthunter]

1. McCain is a Fascist Who also Supports Torture

He would have made a great soldier for Hitler's army.

[Richardo]

2. Well I don't drop the 'fascist' bomb at the drop of a hat.

But I understand your point.

[fascisthunter]

4. Look Up the Definition and Look at What the Man Supports Legislatively

and publicly. I'm not using any "bomb" at any drop of the hat. He is a fascist.

[Richardo]

7. Definition doesn't matter anymore - overuse has leached all the meaning out of it

Everybody thinks everybody's a fascist now.

[fascisthunter]

8. That's Not My Problem as Long as I Use it Well

I can't help what others say or do so I won't stop calling a a fascist a fascist.

[Youphemism]

3. You don't have to like his views to respect him...

When you want to test your viewpoint, George Will is the best litmus paper. His perspective may be skewed, but his research and supporting arguments aren't.

I wish he were on our side. If the media wanted to bolster its sales, it could do it very easily by sponsoring a week of "Oppose your own viewpoint" punditry.

If they did that, I'd be reading George Will every day of it.

[dems_rightnow]

9. Excellent point.

He's a severe rightie, but not a parrot. I enjoy him.

Hannity.... not so much.

[TheKentuckian]

5. McCain should be

hammered relentlessly hammered for flip flopping on the Constitution and being wishy washy at best on the Bill of Rights.

[dempartisan23]

6. thanks

great article

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

10. George Will frightens me...

Because every now and then he writes something so lucid that you'd swear he was one of us. This would be one of those times.