Friday, January 17, 2003

 

A blogger named the Pontificator had these helpful quotes in his Wednesday story on the execrable Hamdi decision:

Quotes are in order.


First from Justice Brennan:

"The concept of military necessity is seductively broad, and has a dangerous plasticity. Because they invariably have the visage of overriding importance, there is always a temptation to invoke security "necessities" to justify an encroachment upon civil liberties. For that reason, the military-security argument must be approached with a healthy skepticism."

Second, from John Adams:

"Nip the shoots of arbitrary power in the bud, is the only maxim which can ever preserve the liberties of any people."

Third, from Benjamin Franklin:

"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety."

And finally, chilling words from J. Edgar Hoover:

"Justice is incedental to law and order."


I guess the moral of this story, boys and girls, is that if you're contemplating armed insurrection against this government (I'm speaking entirely hypothetically here, Mr. Ashcroft!), be sure never to leave the country at any stage in this process.

Then, if and when you're caught, you should be able to rely upon your express Constitutional right to be tried in U.S. courts for treason!

posted by Michael 12:41 AM