Crazy Uncle Orrin loves the flag, but hates everything it stands for. What an ass. REPUBLICAN Sen. Arlen Specter has a great quote about this issue:

“The Constitution of the United States is explicit that habeas corpus may be suspended only in time of rebellion or invasion. We are suffering neither of those alternatives at the present time. We have not been invaded, and there has not been a rebellion.” – Sen. Arlen Spector

Then again, so did Benjamin Franklin:

“Those who would trade liberty for security deserve neither.” Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790)

The ACLU’s Find Habeas blog has an exciting (and pretty predictable) post up. Find Habeas is the best blog for breaking news on this constitution violating issue.

And this is actually “breaking news,” not CNN-style “breaking news,” where the story broke a week ago. The Senate Judiciary Committee just voted for the Specter/Leahy habeas restoration bill. The committee sent it to the floor with no amendments, no debate and on almost a party line vote (with the GOP sponsor, Senator Arlen Specter from Pennsylvania voting in favor).

Kudos to all the Democratic senators who showed up and waited for a quorum (critical mass for a vote); Senator Feinstein came in just under the buzzer.

Senators voting aye: Leahy (D-Vt.), Specter (R-Pa.), Kennedy (D-Ma.), Biden (D-Del.), Kohl (D-Wis.), Feinstein (D-Cal.), Feingold (D-Wis.), Schumer (D-N.Y.), Durbin (D-Ill.), Cardin (D-Md.), Whitehouse (D-R.I.).

Senators voting nay: all the other Republicans (Hatch, Grassley, Kyl, Sessions, Graham, Cornyn, Brownback, Coburn).

READ MORE HERE
So, there you have it, Utah voters. Great job. Super. Every member of our Federal delegation voted for this giant violation of our constitutional rights, and, each and every one of you who voted for them is responsible. The next time I hear one of these Republican Party party-line voters talk to me about the Constitution, I’m probably going to punch them in the mouth.

I guess that means no family reunion for me this summer.

UPDATED:

One good issue post deserves another HERE. Richard Warnick at One Utah and I used the same Specter quote and reference material. That’s always entertaining.