National Defense Authorization Act sent to W.H.
The Senate on Thursday sent a defense policy bill to President Barack Obama, who has said he would reluctantly sign it after months of fighting over the handling of suspected terrorists, especially those who are U.S. citizens.
The vote was 86-13.
Continue ReadingThe House passed the bill 283-136 on Wednesday after weeks of negotiation on provisions governing the detention of suspected terrorists under a White House veto threat. The White House lifted the veto threat just hours before the House vote as it became clear that the compromise package in the final bill had broad bipartisan support.
Likewise, House Republicans, who had sought tougher measures, did not carry out their threat to block the legislation when it became clear that a majority of senators would not accept them.
“Those who say that we have written into law a new authority to detain American citizens until the end of hostilities are wrong. Neither the Senate bill nor the conference report establishes new authority to detain American citizens – or anybody else,” said Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin (D-Mich), one of the key negotiators on the issue, who at times expressed frustration with the administration and opponents of the provisions over what he called “misstatements” about what they contained.
The bill would create a legal basis for the detention of suspected Al Qaeda terrorists and their allies and require military custody for foreign terrorists who attack the United States. It also favors military trials for suspected terrorists, subject to a presidential waiver, and extends for one year the ban on moving detainees from Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to the United States.
In order to satisfy the administration and other opponents’ concerns, the final legislation states that nothing in it may be “construed to affect existing law or authorities relating to the detention of United States citizens, lawful resident aliens of the United States, or any other persons who are captured or arrested in the United States.” The Supreme Court has said U.S. citizens can be held by the military as enemy combatants, but the law is unclear on whether that includes those captured inside the United States and the issue is hotly disputed.
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Charles Hoskinson
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Read all 41 comments in our forumWow, so that's how the Senate works...
It's been 959 Days Since Reid's Senate Passed a Budget.
The NDAA if passed will only go to further stifle our Constitutional Rights without the approval of the Americans, just as the Patriot Act was adopted WITHOUT public approval or vote just weeks after the events of 9/11. A mere 3 criminal charges of terrorism a year are attributed to this act, which is mainly used for no-knock raids leading to drug-related arrests without proper cause for search and seizure. The laws are simply a means to spy on our own citizens and to detain and torture dissidents without trial or a right to council. You can read much more about living in this Orwellian society of fear and see my visual response to these measures on my artist’s blog at http://dregstudiosart.blogspot...
Every other news site on the planet besides MSNBC and Politico are saying that this bill absolutely does allow for the detention of US citizens without the right of said US citizen for an attorney or trial.
John McCain is the biggest traitor and fascist to ever walk the halls of our Congress. He should be immediately arrested and tried for treason.
From MSNBCs own news site, article having been revised:
The second provision would deny suspected terrorists, including U.S. citizens seized within the nation's borders, the right to trial and subject them to indefinite detention.
"Obama says he will reluctantly sign it."
Will he also reluctantly read it???
Congratulations, Congress. You've managed to turn the USA into the USSR!
They should all be tried for TREASON!
Democrat or Republican, anyone who votes for this bill must pay a price for abrogating our rights - protests at their homes and offices, challengers in primaries, floods of emails and calls.
If you want to know the names of House members are who voted for it go to this link - http://clerk.house.gov/evs/201...
It is up to us now. We can't depend on the President, the Congress, either party, or the judiciary. If freedom is to be preserved (or regained) we must do it. We the people.
Take any and all actions you can. Write to Congress. Form discussion groups with friends. Have a teach in. Go to a protest. Join a group. Run for office. Help a campaign. Fight back.
Don't just sit and take it.
This is disgusting. I hope everyone who voted for this is haunted by the vote.
Obozo has me both soooooo confused ( and dizzy ) with his constant never ending flip-flopping. He must REALLY be driving you Democrats who support him NUTS ! He don't mind having US Citizens "whacked" who he says are Islamic terrorists. But he is mad at Sherrif Joe in Arizona for stopping people they believe may be illegal aliens ? When GW Bush put the Patriot Act in place he was a SOB...but when Obozo keeps it in place ...that is okey-dokey with you Democrats ? He says he is all for jobs...but is against the Keystone pipeline project which will create 20,000 jobs ? Most of which will be UNION jobs which is one of his main voters base. And NOW he is going to sign this bill ? He is starting to make Comrade Stalin look like Danny Thomas compaired to himself !
We have to stop this tyranny now fellow citizens of the US. I have been on nearly every political site that this is being discussed on and there is outrage across the political spectrum.
This is no time for partisan bickering. This affects us all in spite of our political leanings or other beliefs.
I knew that there would be a time soon that our government would finally go too far and we would not take it any longer. Today is that day.
Next they are coming for our freedom of speech rights, and our ability to assemble quickly. The bills name is SOPA.
Just another example of " Change You Can Believe In " huh ?
I've been reading comments over at the Huff Post for about an hour now. I'm not sure Obama has any support left from Dems, Liberals, or even progressives now, after signing this piece of tripe.
SOPA is next. It will pass and Obama WILL sign it. It goes hand and hand with this act of treason.
Remember all, Dems AND Repubs both supported this tyranny. Vote for Ron Paul in 2012.
@Bleddyn Capricornius Your right both parties voted this Bill in . BUT Obozo is the Captain of the " USS Hope and Change " his signature on this paper makes it the law of the land. So HE is the one who must pay the piper in the 2012 election FIRST and FOREMOST. As well as all the others who voted for it.
Every other news site on the planet besides MSNBC and Politico are saying that this bill absolutely does allow for the detention of US citizens without the right of said US citizen for an attorney or trial.
Every other news site on the planet besides MSNBC and Politico are saying that this bill absolutely does allow for the detention of US citizens without the right of said US citizen for an attorney or trial.
Not sure what is up with those double posts. Strange.
Every other news site on the planet besides MSNBC and Politico are saying that this bill absolutely does allow for the detention of US citizens without the right of said US citizen for an attorney or trial.
As soon as he signs it he needs to be impeached. This was the last thing I hanged my head on for Obama, but this is just crossing the line. This violates, at least, seven amendments of the constitution.
Everyone who voted for this and the entire Obama administration needs to go to JAIL!!!
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