[Andrew1978]

Eric Holder is who?

[Kthzltje]

Eric Holder is who?

a Democrat, therefore Dinodoc passionately hates him.

[Navzrrqt]

Why didnt they just keep him forever in military prisons? Why risk a trial at all?

[JonatonM]

Unless you actually live under a rock you should realize there are dozens of reasons to hate Eric Holder beyond the fact that he is a Democrat.

Or maybe someone has absolutely no interest in this ****.

I remember being your age and thinking **** mattered and was important Apathy will come.

[bebeacc]

Unless you actually live under a rock you should realize there are dozens of reasons to hate Eric Holder beyond the fact that he is a Democrat.

Go on...

If this is all you can say, you really need to work on expanding your repertoire of right wing talking points.

[bomondus]

He must be against access to porn.

[spounnypneups]

Holder's Department of Justice ended a civil suit originally brought by the Bush administration against members of the New Black Panther Party for alleged voter intimidation due to an apparent lack of evidence. This has caused controversy amongst conservative commentators, since some former members of the department, including J. Christian Adams, accused Holder and the Justice Department of dropping the case due to racial prejudice. Other pundits have pointed out that DOJ officials at the end of the Bush Administration said that the facts of the case did not constitute a prosecutable criminal violation and refused to pursue this course of action before Obama was inaugurated. Maybe this. I wouldn't be surprised if he fell for the Republicans playing the race card.

[Joesred]

hey Al, whats the deal with that black panther thing? What was their defense, or argument as to why they were standing around a polling place with billy clubs?

[Opinion_counts]

hey Al, whats the deal with that black panther thing? What was their defense, or argument as to why they were standing around a polling place with billy clubs?

I don't know. They never showed up in court, as far as I understand. Probably "we can congregate wherever we want" or something. New Black Panther Party leadership, as far as I understand, didn't condone the act and the guy was 'suspended' from the Party for a while. That's the extent of my knowledge of the incident.

[tevyrefficy]

hey Al, whats the deal with that black panther thing? What was their defense, or argument as to why they were standing around a polling place with billy clubs?

This new organization is not to be confused with the Black Panthers of old but both organizations have had controversy with respect to brandishing weapons (like 'observing' around police making arrests, something which I understand happened a lot in the past).

It's skirting the edge of the law, especially in areas where unconcealed weapons (open carry) are not illegal. I think these guys knew and still know what they're doing... they do enough to get their point across but come just shy of flat-out breaking the law.

I think there was some law about brandishing potential weapons within 100 feet of a polling station or something that these guys could have been got on but apparently no one felt the need to prosecute.

[XqrkN4a0]

I seem to recall a couple things that Holder did that I didn't like, but I can't remember what they were now. Does that help?

[bZEUWO4F]

when I heard it was a polling place with a very high minority population I figured these guys were overly self important crusaders there to protect the voters from white intimidation.

In their minds, they probably were. Who knows what these guys were thinking.

[anaisdannyxys]

The man hasn't aged much or even changed his look in at least a decade

2000:

I remember him! He played a key role in the Battle of Endor and the destruction of the second Death Star.

[codespokerbonus]

I remember him! He played a key role in the Battle of Endor and the destruction of the second Death Star.

Do they all look alike to you?

[paulaglober]

I am more surprised the case wasn't called on mistrial given the admins previous statements of presumption of guilt. All are entitled to a fair trial and hanging.

[Lymnempomma]

Do they all look alike to you?

Most of them.

[Adimonnna]

What a reprehensible concept, putting non-military people to trial in non-military courts. I hope he gets what he deserves.

Paranoia not withstanding, the process of discovery in criminal proceedings does not lend itself well to ongoing attemtps to ferret out future attempts of terrorism. Although these people are technically not state sanctioned military, the parralels in training techniques and commonality of purpose warrant a different approach, such as any of the three previously afforded techniques recommended by congress.

[pIp83Uns]

Paranoia not withstanding, the process of discovery in criminal proceedings does not lend itself well to ongoing attemtps to ferret out future attempts of terrorism. Although these people are technically not state sanctioned military, the parralels in training techniques and commonality of purpose warrant a different approach, such as any of the three previously afforded techniques recommended by congress.

It makes no sense at all to put them infront of a military court. They're not subject to military law, nor protections (see gitmo).

They are civilians and are subject to a civilian court. If terrorism cases do not work under current systems, then feel free to introduce reforms. The current military tribunal system is a farce, an embarrassment, and a clear attempt to ensure convictions rather than deliver justice. To many Americans, these are the same as the people are presumed guilty, so a sentence is justice.

[BebopVT]

It's convenient to label them "official" combatants in some way when it comes to punishing them but "unofficial" when it comes to the rights granted combatants under international treaties.

Sucking and blowing.

Truth. We've already screwed the pooch by treating them as "enemy combatants" instead of troops in terms of detaining them and the rights we afford them.