Political Quotes

“last week we had a debate and vote on whether an enemy combatant terrorist al-Qaida member should be able to have access to our Federal courts under habeas like an American citizen. Senator Bingaman is trying to strip that part of the amendment. He is consolidating the habeas petitions into the DC Court of Appeals, but habeas still lies with a standard you can drive a truck through. The court would look at the lawfulness of the detention which would allow, in my opinion, the ability of a terrorist to go into the DC Circuit Court of Appeals and start asking for Internet access under the right of counsel. It is a never-ending process that should never have begun anyway. I urge a ``no'' vote to make sure the right of appeal is consistent with the law of armed conflict and we do not have unfettered right of court access by enemy combatants to sue us over everything to undermine the war effort. I ask a ``no'' vote consistent with the last vote. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator's time has expired. The Senator from New Mexico.”