Justice Schmustice

Two stories in the news this week underscore exactly what happens when the Executive Branch believes that politics and practicalities, not law, rule the day. On Sunday, 60 Minutes reported on the case of Murait Kuranz who was detained at Gunatanomo Bay, interrogated and tortured only to be released when the DOJ admitted it had detained the wrong man. Similarly, former Governor Art Siegelman of Alabama was released from prison pending his appeal of his bribery conviction. The Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals, as well as the House Judiciary Committee believe Siegelman's advocates have raised a colorable issue as to whether his prosecution was the work of partisans in the DOJ and White House Advisor Karl Rove.(Alabama is a reliably Republican state and Governor Siegelmann had the temerity to keep getting himself elected as a Democrat.) Siegeleman's cause has been taken up by over forty State Attorney Generals from both parties. Both cases display a system of justice more akin to Moscow in the 1950s than anything intended in 1776.

Before you start ranting about the Bush Administration, bear in mind that this type of unprincipled abuse is not just the result of arrogance or incompetence. It stems from a certain set of beliefs about the Constitution and the power of the Executive, a set of beliefs usually championed by the GOP and its conservative allies; a set of beliefs often supported by authoritarian fear mongering. In other words, we must not forget that the Bush Administration had a lot of help and support in getting itself into this quagmire and we should not be fooled if the same ideas are peddled by a more respectable candidate.