U.S. Rep. Justin Amash opposes defense authorization bill, calling it "anti-liberty"

[harvey007]

Source: Grand Rapids News

U.S. Rep. Justin Amash, R-Cascade Township, is speaking out against a defense bill being debated in the U.S. Senate this week, calling it “one of the most anti-liberty pieces of legislation of our lifetime.”
According to the American Civil Liberties Union, the National Defense Authorization Act will allow the U.S. military to declare national territory part of the "battlefield" in the “War on Terror.”


Read more: http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2011/11/us_rep_justin_amash_opposes_de.html

[msongs]

1. don't worry, obama will veto this bill. uh huh, uh huh nt

[defendandprotect]

22. +1 --

[kristopher]

39. ACLU statement

ACLU Lens: Senate Takes Up New Detention Authorities Again Tonight – We Need Your Help!

The Senate’s back in session today, ready to begin once again on the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Perfectly timed for the Senate’s return, the San Jose Mercury News ran an incredibly compelling op-ed today by Floyd Mori, the head of the Japanese American Citizens League on the bill’s detention provisions.

As Mori eloquently states:
Although the details of the indefinite detentions of Japanese-Americans during World War II and the proposed indefinite detentions of terrorism suspects may differ, the principle remains the same: Indefinite detentions based on fear-driven and unlawfully substantiated national security grounds, where individuals are neither duly charged nor fairly tried, violate the essence of U.S. law and the most fundamental values upon which this country was built.

These provisions have proven to be a huge sticking point, with the White House firmly against their passage. The Obama administration has issued a veto threat for the bill based on its opposition to the provisions and, last week, the Director of National Intelligence, James Clapper, wrote to Sen. Dianne Feinstein outlining his concerns.

The Senate will be debating the NDAA this week and will begin voting on amendments as early as tonight. One amendment we’ll be watching for this week was offered by Sen. Mark Udall (D-Colo.). The Udall amendment would strip the detention provisions and mandates a process for Congress to use an orderly process to consider whether any detention legislation is needed. It’s not too late to call your senator and urge them to vote YES on the Udall Amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act.

http://www.aclu.org/blog/national-security/senators-demand-military-lock-american-citizens-battlefield-they-define-being

[ieoeja]

50. Technically, this is more like indefinite detentions of German-Americans and Italian-Americans. n/t

[Raster]

62. President Hope and Change?

Yeah, that's happening.

[xoom]

2. It's good that he is standing up to this.

[L0oniX]

3. so uhm OWS could be declared a battlefield ....just what they want.

[harun]

41. +1

[Edweird]

4. A republican is on the same side as the ACLU? Where are the Dems? WTF is going on?

[Lucky Luciano]

10. It's embarrassing. nt

[hootinholler]

12. I bet things are gonna get weirderer n/t

[AllyCat]

14. They AUTHORED this POS. I'm so sick of these legislators I could scream

A Republican standing up for the rights of the people? Really? What is he afraid of?

[provis99]

20. by "they" you should include the Democrats.

Levin co-sponsored the Senate version, and the House version passed with overwhelming Democratic support.

[AllyCat]

43. I was answering the question "where are the Democrats"

so in my response, I am squarely placing the blame for this at Levin's feet. And not just him...look how many Dems in the House voted for this!!! That is what makes me so angry. The Democrats are NOT fighting for us. I think OWS has made that point painfully clear.

[woo me with science]

29. No shit. nt

[AllyCat]

37. Self delete.

responded to wrong topic

[duhneece]

38. That's bizarro-world nt

[SixthSense]

45. Where are the Dems? I'll tell you where they are

Anyone who has been in DC long enough - a tiny handful of exceptions notwithstanding - can most likely be found on Wall St. (or the equivalent for another big industry) raising money from people who want you and me kept under control no matter how brutal the methods necessary.

[Bozita]

5. The comments at MLive are very supportive. A lot of RWers post there.

I want to know why Carl Levin (D-MI) co-sponsored that bill in the Senate.

[David__77]

7. On average, both parties are pretty "anti-liberty."

...

[tblue]

24. Damn but that's sad.

I want my party back.

[harmonicon]

11. Because Levin is not a senator for us, but for the "defense" industry.

Anything that will help the defense industry is what he'll vote for. Maybe this bill would mean more money for arms manufacturers, military contractors, etc. If so, he'll vote for it.

[ObaMania]

32. Probably because Detroit is already a battleground?

:shrug:

[harun]

42. A lot of Philadelphia is too.

[DeSwiss]

6. K&R

“I'm for truth, no matter who tells it. I'm for justice, no matter who it is for or against. I'm a human being, first and foremost, and as such I'm for whoever and whatever benefits humanity as a whole.”
~Malcolm X

[OnyxCollie]

8. K&R. nt

[alp227]

9. He may be a Tea Party supporter but he has his bright spots

such as opposing the "In God We Trust" resolution.

[blkmusclmachine]

13. You didn't expect them to NOT use those new laws they wrote for themselves after 9/11, did you?

[hourglass1]

15. further evidence

... genuine public servants have been left behind by both parties ...

[lovuian]

16. they really are afraid of a civil war and a revolution

if America has the Military running our country verses the police ...then we run into a dictatorship

[Response]

26. Yeah, but not to worry.

The iron hand will be covered in soft velvet.

[Fokker Trip]

31. Mmmm cozy, soft velvet. nt

[No Elephants]

17. War on terror, war on poverty Both have the same amount to do with actual war.

[guitar man]

18. Good for him

Whatever party and/or ilk he is, he's right about this, it's an abomination. :grr:

I'm afraid we are going to have to fight it out in the streets at some point. I have always sincerely hoped we could have a peaceful revolution , but it looks like we are being denied the means to do it peacefully, so.... :(

[bertman]

19. This abomination of a bill IS A BLIGHT ON THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY. Levin is a traitor

to the Constitution and Bill of Rights.

REC.

[truedelphi]

27. Word. Such a shame that a bunch of lawmakers can undo the Constitution and

The bill of rights, knowing that the SCOTUS could care less.

[Bluenorthwest]

34. Levin is an anti-equalit piece of shit,.

And an exploitative flip flopper pledged to self service. This unmitigated creep voted for DOMA. Now he's against DOMA. Of course, there would not be a DOMA at all if not for assholes like Levin, bigoted, soul dead, and corrupt as anything.

[a2liberal]

21. This guy also has a really nice FB page (he's basically a libertarian)

Obviously I disagree strongly with the economic side of his libertarianism, but his Facebook page (not sure if I'm allowed to link it) has explanations of every single vote he makes. This is useful for his direct constituents (I'm not one) in that they know exactly why their rep voted how he did. It's also useful for everyone when trying to figure out exactly what is going on in the House (what's being voted on, etc.) as it's a lot clearer (to me at least) than the official government sources.

Fun note: he got lots of hate from his Tea Party fans on FB for voting against the "In God We Trust" thing recently (and some love from his more Libertarian fans and even liberals for that vote)

[harmonicon]

35. His constituents probably aren't even aware of it.

He's from very near the district where I grew up and still vote. Democrats don't even bother running for lots of offices around there, and the voters that vote Republican won't look into the candidates much. I imagine that this guy has a job for life unless redistricting changes things an awful lot in the area.

[Pacifist Patriot]

36. He's a kid, maybe he'll mature out of the economic libertarianism.

Well, one can hope. He actually sounds really intriguing.

[AllyCat]

55. I may not agree with his politics most of the time, but at least he is responsive

to his constituents.

[walerosco]

69. ofc, the only people making any

sense in the republican party are those with libertarian leaving. That is why it baffles me that most people here thin libertarians are more dangerous that conservatives, why 10 reasons not to vote for Ron Paul is posted every other week and reason and why Romney or Gingrich post are filled with people suggesting that they are not extreme and can be tolerated because they support individual mandate and global warming.

[a2liberal]

70. I have some ideas

the reason libertarians are dangerous is that they believe in completely unregulated markets and government doing basically nothing. even the most hardcore conservatives who are not libertarian see the place of some regulation, etc. and some govt help for people (as long as their buddies profit too)

of course if you're a liberal who cares more about the liberty part than the economic part then libertarians look better too you than conservatives.

i used to think i was one of those liberals but i don't really know anymore (probably still am)

[krabigirl]

23. good for him.

[Ter]

25. This guy is a 30 year old Ron Paul

He even voted against the Patriot Act.

[catbyte]

61. Bingo. Hands off business, restrict gay & women's rights

[Ter]

64. Ron Paul actually has a mixed record on gay rights

He did vote to repeal DADT, and certainly is not as rabid as Santorum on gays. He also opposes a Federal Marriage Amendment, but thinks states have to right to either ban or legalize it. There's a lot worse out there than him on that issue.

[freshwest]

28. Hurray for the Tea Party.

:sarcasm:

[Douglas Carpenter]

30. this kind of bill does have very disturbing implications.in the long run. Good for Congressman Amash

for bringing this to light.

[City Lights]

33. Good for him!

:thumbsup:

[catbyte]

48. Even a broken clock is right twice a day

Justin Amash is the Rep for my district in MI and he's the worst sort of bagger. He wants to dismantle the EPA because "the market" will regulate pollution and businesses know best. Life also begins at conception, among other things. He's nuttier than Ron and Rand Paul put together and an embarrassment to the state of Michigan.

Diane
Anishinaabe in MI

[City Lights]

58. Thanks for those details!

I figured he was part psycho, but as you said, even a broken clock is right twice a day. My rep is Joe "deadbeat dad" Walsh. :hi:

[catbyte]

60. Yikes! 2010 is the year when the voters went collectively insane

:hi:

[greiner3]

40. Sorry;

I thought this was about the 'singer.'

[Vattel]

44. I hope Obama is serious about his veto threat.

[EnviroBat]

46. God Damn, the fascism is accelerating exponentially now...

Since I studied European history back in high-school, and the rise of Nazi Germany, I always though, "Jeeze, that could never happen again, especially here in America..." Fuck was I wrong...

[Lint Head]

47. The SOB's that put this together are NOT looking out for the nations security.

Something else is going on here and this piece of shit needs to stop.

[KeyserSoze87]

49. Wait a minute, this guy is a Republican? I must be in Bizarro World right now.

:wow:

[ieoeja]

51. Democrats wrote the PATRIOT Act in 1998.

Republicans opposed it using all the correct arguments against it. In reality, most of them opposed it just because it was written by Democratic legislatures and the Clinton White House. Al Gore chaired the committee that planned it.

[patrice]

52. Support the Udall Amendment!

[valerief]

53. Who doesn't believe we're a police state now? nt

[christx30]

54. This is a

boiling frog moment if I ever saw it. They are doing it so slowly that we haven't even noticed it. There will be a few protests, and it'll be light, but mostly people are going to just eventually shrug their shoulders and move on with it. You'll hear the occasional story about a "right wing nutcase" that is caught stockpiling weapons or some such being killed in a raid and you'll say something along the lines of "Well, that's what he gets for x." X being "not paying that tax" or "having illegal guns" ect. But it's people like that that are fighting this thing. I don't think the general population of the US will be fighting in the streets. Maybe pockets of resistance here and there. 10 at the most. But they are going to be painted as terrorists or racists, and will never get widespread support. This will become another dictatorship, and in 20 years no one will be left alive that remembers anything else. My kids are going to be 25 and 22 by then. They'll end up in some school, being trained how to be good workers, with the State as their God, and they will love Big Brother.

[avaistheone1]

56. > TAKE ACTION

Tell the Senate NO to Indefinite Military Detention

https://secure.aclu.org/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=3865

[katty]

57. OK Obama, take a stand and VETO this trash

[totodeinhere]

59. Good for him. Even though I am a life long Democrat, when a Republican does something

that is right I will praise them for it, and when a Democrat does something that I don't agree with I will let that be known as well. I hope that more Democrats and Republicans alike will join Rep. Amash in opposing this fascist legislation.

I probably do disagree with him on most issues however, so I certainly would not endorse him. But he is right on this one.

[joshguitar]

66. +1 /nt

[joshguitar]

67. +1 /nt

[Uncle Joe]

63. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, harvey.

[humbled_opinion]

65. Obama has a very poor record on civil liberties...

Much of the damage that Bushco did is still in place, Obama changed very little. Let's see how about Hillary Clinton and Dennis Kucinich ticket for 2012. That is guranteed to fix the majority of problems in this country right now. It wins on all fronts....

I can dream can't I?

[annabanana]

68. And THIS is why they're working so hard at shutting down the internet

When the populists, left and right make common cause they will have a for-real revolution on their hands.