US Attorney General Questions Habeas Corpus

Well, ain't this just a kick in the family jewels.

In yet another attempt to create legitimacy for the Bush Administration's many questionable legal practices, US attorney General Alberto Gonzales actually had the audacity to argue before a Congressional committee that the US Constitution doesn't explicitly bestow habeas corpus rights on US citizens. In his view it merely says when the so-called Great Writ can be suspended, but that doesn't necessarily mean that the rights are granted. The Attorney General was being questioned by Sen. Arlen Specter at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on Jan. 18. The MSM are not covering this story but Colbert is (Comedy Central, the Colbert Report - video is called 'Exact Words' though I'm having a little trouble playing it from work on my Linux workstation). From the Baltimore Chronicle and Sentinel commentary:

While Gonzales's statement has a measure of quibbling precision to it, his logic is troubling because it would suggest that many other fundamental rights that Americans hold dear (such as free speech, freedom of religion, and the right to assemble peacefully) also don't exist because the Constitution often spells out those rights in the negative. It boggles the mind the lengths this administration will go to to systematically erode the rights and privileges we have all counted on and held up as the granite pillars of our society since our nation was founded.

I am heartened, at least, that this has not escaped notice, nor is it just passed over by the media. Methinks Gonzales has learned to channel Janet Reno's spirit...