Quotes of the Day

Sarah Palin:

“Al Qaeda terrorists still plot to inflict catastrophic harm on America, and he’s [Obama] worried that someone won’t read them their rights..."*

Barack Obama:

"The reason that you have this principle [habeas corpus] is not to be soft on terrorism. It's because that's who we are. That's what we're protecting," Obama said, his voice growing louder and the crowd rising to its feet to cheer. "Don't mock the Constitution. Don't make fun of it. Don't suggest that it's not American to abide by what the founding fathers set up. It's worked pretty well for over 200 years."

The U.S. Constitution, Article 1, Section 9, Clause 2:

The Privilege of the Writ of Habeas Corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in Cases of Rebellion or Invasion the public Safety may require it.

*For a discussion of why Palin's comment not only trivializes an important issue but is fundamentally wrong, go here.

The Supremes Rescue Habeas

Money Quote from today's 5-4 ruling:

"The laws and Constitution are designed to survive, and remain in force, in extraordinary times."

And this:

Security subsists, too, in fidelity to freedom's first principles. Chief among these are freedom from arbitrary and unlawful restraint and the personal liberty that is secured by adherence to the separation of powers

Any police-state action can be justified as necessary for "our safety." What I take the Supremes to be saying is security, yes, but not at the cost of illegal suspension of civil liberties.