Shortly after Democrats won majorities in Congress last November, we asked our readers what changes they should make first. From a list of 140 possible changes, your #1 response was "Restore Habeas Corpus - access to courts for all prisoners of the U.S."
http://www.democrats.com/change-poll-results-1
Habeas corpus, which permits the accused a fair hearing in front of a neutral judge, is the most fundamental check on executive power in our Constitution. The United States Supreme Court asserted that habeas "is the fundamental instrument for safeguarding individual freedom against lawless state action."
Today, Senate Judiciary Committee chair Patrick Leahy (D-VT) sent us this message:
"Many of you may recall the hasty passage of the Military Commissions Act in the weeks leading up to last year's election, a bill that set new rules for trying detainees, in particular those currently being held at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba.
"The passage of this bill was a profound mistake, and its elimination of habeas corpus review was its worst error. Righting this wrong is one of my top priorities, and on the first day of this Congress I joined with Senator Arlen Specter to introduce the Habeas Corpus Restoration Act (S. 185). This bipartisan bill already has 17 cosponsors, but it faces a crucial vote in the Judiciary Committee this Thursday so we need your help.
"Please e-mail your home-state Senators today and urge them to protect our fundamental liberties by supporting the Habeas Corpus Restoration Act!"
http://www.democrats.com/peoplesemailnetwork/113
Iraq Idea: Better Than Calling Congress
We've got to keep the pressure up on Congress to end the occupation of Iraq, but right now it is only Iraq's Parliament that has begun taking steps to legally require that the occupation end. A note from you, as an American, to the Iraqi Embassy in Washington, D.C., might help move the Iraqi government where Congress dares not go. There are always ways to find hope if we look outside the box and reach out to our brothers and sisters across barriers. Please take a moment to sign this petition to the Iraqi government:
http://democrats.com/node/13188
Read about an heroic Iraqi woman who inspired this idea:
http://afterdowningstreet.org/node/23375
23 Anti-War House Primary Nominations So Far
Last week, we asked you to nominate anti-war candidates who could challenge the 58 "Bush Democrats" in Democratic primaries in 2008. As of today we have 23 nominations for 15 of the 58 races.
We are using the list of 58 Representatives who voted against the McGovern Amendment on 5/10/2007. If they change their position to oppose the endless occupation of Iraq, we will cross them off our list.
If you would like to nominate a candidate for one of the races below, click on the link and post a comment below their picture.
http://www.democrats.com/primary-2008-list
Over 23,000 have signed our pledge to vote against every Senator and Representative who approves funding to continue the disastrous Iraq War. Sign it now and tell your friends:
http://www.democrats.com/iraq-vote-pledge
Let's do it for Cindy Sheehan - and for her beloved son Casey.
4 Co-sponsors for Cheney Articles of Impeachment
Thanks to grassroots organizing by local activists, freshman Rep. Yvette Clarke (D-NY) became the 4th co-sponsor for Rep. Dennis Kucinich's Articles of Impeachment for Dick Cheney (H. Res. 333). She joins Janice Schakowsky (D-IL), William Lacy Clay (D-MO), and Albert Wynn (D-MD).
Clarke writes, "When the American people voted on November 7th, they asked for a change in direction by electing the Democratic party in the House and Senate. I have heard the loud cries of my constituents, and they want accountability. My support of HRes 333 reflects the voices of the residents of central Brooklyn."
http://atlantaprogressivenews.com/news/0169.html
On Tuesday, Cheney's former chief of staff Scooter Libby was sentenced to 30 months in prison and a $250,000 fine for perjury and obstruction of justice in the investigation of the criminal outing of covert CIA operative Valerie Plame. Libby refused to tell investigators the truth for one reason: to protect his boss Dick Cheney, who appears to have instructed Libby to out Plame to punish her husband Joe Wilson for exposing Bush's pre-war lies.
Urge your Representative to hold Cheney accountable by co-sponsoring H. Res. 333:
http://www.democrats.com/peoplesemailnetwork/73
Help us organize a Congressional District Impeachment Committee in your district:
http://democrats.com/cdic-find
Forward this message to everyone you know!
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Help RESTORE Habeas Corpus and the Constitution
Habeas corpus, which permits the accused a fair hearing in front of a neutral judge, is the most fundamental check on executive power in our Constitution. The United States Supreme Court asserted that habeas "is the fundamental instrument for safeguarding individual freedom against lawless state action."
HABEAS CORPUS ACTION PAGE:
http://www.democrats.com/peoplesemailnetwork/113
Today, Senate Judiciary Committee approved the Habeas Corpus Restoration Act (S. 185), a correction of the miscarriage of law making from last year which had shamed us all, the Military Commissions Act which purported to strip detainees at Guantanamo of all human rights.
Our activist friends at Democrats.com have an action page to continue to support S. 185, in the which could now come up for a full vote in the Senate at any time. We encourage all our participants to speak out through the page above.
NATIONAL CHENEY IMPEACHMENT POLL CONTINUES TO CLIMB
And while we are speaking of the Constitution, yet more crimes of the greatest offender of them all, Dick Cheney, were exposed this week. As reported by the Washington Post on Thursday, Cheney was the primary bully in pushing for the illegal wiretaps, even going so far as to block the promotion of a senior Justice Department attorney who had the integrity to raise concerns about them. There is a link to this article on the action page for the National Cheney Impeachment Poll.
IMPEACHMENT ACTION PAGE:
http://www.usalone.com/cheney_impeachment.php
which now has more than 63,000 votes, of which 99.37% of your friends and neighbors have voted "Yes" to impeach. Not only that, but 6 members of the House have already signed on as co-sponsors of H.R. 333, for articles of impeachment against Dick Cheney. And all the other 429 are waiting for is to hear from more of us to speak out. So let's DO it.
You can vote yes or you can vote no. Your choice. We are not asking people to predict whether he will be impeached of not. The question is, "SHOULD he be impeached?" All you need to participate is to have an opinion on that question.
Please take action NOW, so we can win all victories that are supposed to be ours, and forward this message to everyone else you know.
usalone67:98198
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Vote in the National Cheney Impeachment Poll
http://www.usalone.com/blogvoices.php?Cheney%20Impeachment%3F
Add this text to your own email and blog signatures!
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Bring Back Habeas Corpus
The Senate Judiciary Committee has sent to the Senate floor a bill to restore habeas corpus. Sign the petition, write letters, join in the discussion. This is not a battle our society can afford to lose.
http://www.crooksandliars.com/2007/06/07/bring-back-habeas-corpus/
Source:
http://www.tompaine.com/articles/2007/06/07/restore_habeas.php
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Senate Judiciary Committee Votes to Restore Habeas
http://www.commondreams.org/news2007/0607-10.htm
http://freepage.twoday.net/search?q=Habeas+Corpus
http://freepage.twoday.net/search?q=impeach
http://omega.twoday.net/search?q=impeach
