Political Quotes

“we are a nation at war. There is no doubt that America must devote all of its energy and resources to defeating terrorism and stopping those who attacked us on 9/11 and would attack us again. But we are also a nation of law. No one from the highest ranks in America to the lowest is above the law--even during a war. That is what makes America special and in many ways different from other nations. Today, across the street from where we meet in the Senate, the United States Supreme Court handed down a decision reminding the Bush administration that no President is above the law. The Court rejected the Bush administration's decision to turn its back on treaties and laws that have served America so well for generations. The Supreme Court held that the Bush administration must comply with the Uniform Code of Military Justice and the Geneva Conventions in its treatment of suspected terrorists. Why did this matter come before the Supreme Court? Because, with no input from Congress, the Bush administration set aside our treaty obligations and agreements and created new rules for detaining, interrogating, and trying detainees. They claimed that the Congress had no voice in the matter and the courts had no right to review what this President decided. The administration claimed that it could act as legislator, executive, and judge when it came to the treatment of these prisoners. But today the Constitution prevailed.…”