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Ayotte Proposal: "An Unmitigated National Security Disaster"

by: William Tucker

Fri Oct 21, 2011 at 06:11:20 AM EDT

Early this morning, the Senate killed an amendment offered by Sen. Kelly Ayotte that would have prohibited the United States from prosecuting foreign terrorist suspects in civilian courts. Sen. Patrick Leahy spoke against the amendment, saying it would "tie the hands of our national security and law enforcement officers in their efforts to secure our national security."

I find it deeply troubling that the Senate would prohibit the administration from trying terrorists in our Federal courts. While there may be a place for military commissions in our overall approach to dealing with terrorism suspects, they remain mostly an unproven tool. The federal courts have dramatically more experience with handling these types of cases and have a proven track record of success.

This amendment would deprive Federal law enforcement of a critical tool in bringing terrorists to justice. It usurps the Attorney General’s constitutional responsibilities. This is not the path forward.

Amnesty International was more direct in condemning the proposal.

If this amendment passes, it would be an unmitigated national security disaster, removing a keystone — federal trials — which serve to keep this country safe.

The definition of character is to do the hard right, not the easy wrong. It’s a great punch line to say you are tough on terror and that we should just lock them all up and throw away the key. But if you can’t prosecute terror suspects then you can only hold them for the duration of the conflict — and then they get to walk free.

William Tucker :: Ayotte Proposal: "An Unmitigated National Security Disaster"

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Ayotte Proposal: "An Unmitigated National Security Disaster" | 8 comments

Fear is the most important tool (0.00 / 0)

to keep the money flowing to the military-industrial complex that Ike warned us about so many years ago. If we can be convinced that these people are so terribly scary that we can't dare to have them tried in our country, then we will allow the economic lifeblood of our country to continue to be pumped into the black hole of "defense," AKA corporate welfare in the weapons industry.
Kelly is doing her job for her constituents on K Street. She's trying to scare us into continuing a failed policy because her masters get rich off of it. She has shown NO sign at all of representing the people of NH. She is a travesty of a Senator.

by: Lucy Edwards @ Fri Oct 21, 2011 at 06:11:12 AM CDT

by: you @ soon

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Kelly Ayotte is an unmitigated national security disaster. n/t (0.00 / 0)

In the immediate aftermath of the financial crisis, the Fed/Treasury lent, spent, or guaranteed $28 trillion to save the banking system.

by: StraffordDem @ Fri Oct 21, 2011 at 08:12:29 AM CDT

by: you @ soon

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It's safe to say (4.00 / 2)

Kelly Ayotte is an unmitigated disaster on every level.

by: susanthe @ Fri Oct 21, 2011 at 13:17:03 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

slightly off-topic but funny (0.00 / 0)

Kelly Ayotte's name came up during the October 20 House Petitions & Redress committee. The complainant told us that she had contacted Kelly Ayotte's Senate office and they were (no surprise!) useless. One of the Democrats asked about Jeanne Sheehan's office's response. One of the Republicans on the committee said something about how Sheehan was in the "other district." After a minute or two of (bipartisan) confusion, it turned out that this rep did not know that U.S. Senators are elected at-large. This is a rookie state rep, but she is a fairly powerful one: she is in leadership and the Speaker appointed her to the prestigious Joint Committee on Legislative Rules.

I have to reason to believe there is a video of this incident: an occasional BlueHampshire commenter was at the hearing with his camera. (If he or she wishes to step forward and/or publish the video, I would not be displeased, but it's his or her call.)

by: TimothyHorrigan @ Fri Oct 21, 2011 at 18:10:21 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

oops, my bad... (0.00 / 0)

I should have said "Joint Legislative Committee on Administrative Rules" not "Joint Committee on Legislative Rules."

Although the state reps on JLCAR are mostly very good, the Speaker wants to reduce the importance of Administrative Rules. So, maybe he was deliberately trying to interfere with the committee's work by putting a few idiots on it- or maybe he actually thinks highly of this particular rep.

by: TimothyHorrigan @ Fri Oct 21, 2011 at 18:17:11 PM CDT

[ Parent ]