Here's your soulmate:
Message 19696693
As commented further on, an apple that has not fallen as far from the tree as it thinks.
I WOULD lock them up for the duration of the war.
There's a small problem.
Amendment V.
No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.
and
except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger
applies to the armed services, NOT to civilians.
What are you going to charge them with? This?
Amendment I
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
The charge is exercising rights granted in the Constitution? You serious? Any lawyer who lost THAT case should be disbarred.
But if you do charge them, this comes into play:
Amendment VI.
In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defence.
You really think you can find a jury that would convict?
Or are you just not going to bother with that petty paperwork?
If that's the plan, I'll be easy to find. I'll be on the OTHER side of the barricade shooting at you when the revolution starts. Because I really don't think my people, these Americans, are going to take this lying down. If you want a dictatorship, you'll have to fight for it.
MORTAL INTERNAL ENEMIES
Here's the Constitution:
law.emory.edu
Here's the US Code:
www4.law.cornell.edu
Find me the part that says you can lock people up just because you don't like their politics.
Go ahead. Find it. Even the Patriot Act doesn't go that far and there are parts of it that are unlikely to withstand a trip to the Supreme Court.
This is NOT a "public discourse" as envisioned by the Founders
This IS a public discourse as envisioned by the Founders. They held it themselves during an undeclared war with France in the early 1790's and during the War of 1812. During that war with France, some dolts like you got the Sedition Act passed. It did something like what you want. It had a sunset clause in it. It went over so well that when it quietly expired, it was not repassed and nothing like it has ever been tried since. There is no doubt that any Supreme Court in the last 180 years would have thrown it out.
It's OUR fault they were able to seize the power.
They being who? The Democrats? They last held office in January 2001. At that point Bill CLinton rode off into the sunset like a good President should. Just like his predecessor George Bush 41 did and like the current President will in 2004 or 2008.
This is a DEMOCRACY, sonny, not a dictatorship. Neither you nor those that think like you get to call all the shots. Sometimes you do. And sometimes you have to play loyal opposition with the certain knowledge that your turn will come soon enough. |
