I'd be hypocritical if I said we don't need this, but that's not the point of your post.

see thrax, I told you I was more leftwing than Obama

No, he's just found out that he can't operate as far to the left as he's like.

awwwwwwww COME ON GIVE ME THIS ONE VICTORY

This is the first condition necessary before declaring martial law.

Remember; in the USA; the president of the United States; is also the Commander and Chief of the US Military. This bill gives the president infinite ability to detain US citizens indefinitely. All they need to do is accuse you of terrorism.

As if that wasn't enough... the bill also REQUIRES military detention. Good luck with your "fair" military tribunal; instead of trial by jury.

Basically; from the second you are accused of something you are held within the executive branch and no other branch including the judicial system has the authority to get you out.

This is unlimited power for the executive branch. Martial law is coming.

Mr. deadcode, may I interest you in one of my beautifully handcrafted tin foil hats?

Lol; go ahead and call me crazy. But the bill clearly allows indefinite detention of Americans without trial by the US military.

Wake up dude... it's a bad law.

WAKE UP SHEEPLE!

If Bush tried to enact a law like the one above people such as Veta would be staunchly against it.


Wait a minute!

Who says I'm not against it - I wrote a long-winded response to deadcode earlier then erased it and decided to take the route of comic relief.

The gist was basically that the US government had already done far worse under similar circumstances and I cited a bunch of wikipedias and whatnot (e.g. alien and sedition acts, marshall law under lincoln, japanese internment, etc). Then I noted that if the powers that be want this law to pass then it will pass - regardless of what power you think we may collectively have as voters.

Ultimately all this stuff will get ruled unconstitutional once the SCOTUS becomes liberal again or... no longer under the thumb of private interests.

But maybe that's just my fatalistic outlook on grim circumstances, that's what a European upbringing will do to you I suppose.

Lastly, Rob: do you remember when we discussed what we would like in a distant future regime? I brought up Starship Troopers and how I thought that was a very likely scenario - a fascist world government, while prosperous, nonetheless neglected many personal freedoms we have today. I think we both said we'd be okay with that. I think that's where we are headed.