Judge sentencing would-be LA bomber, blasts Bushco

[G_j]

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2005/07/27/state/n235930D68.DTL

Judge chides Bush administration's anti-terror tactics while sentencing would-be LA bomber

By GENE JOHNSON, Associated Press Writer

Wednesday, July 27, 2005

(07-27) 23:59 PDT Seattle (AP) --

The sentence itself was fairly straightforward: An Algerian man received 22 years for plotting to bomb the Los Angeles airport on the eve of the millennium. It was what the judge said in imposing the term that raised eyebrows.

U.S. District Judge John C. Coughenour said the successful prosecution of Ahmed Ressam should serve not only as a warning to terrorists, but as a statement to the Bush administration about its terrorism-fighting tactics.

"We did not need to use a secret military tribunal, detain the defendant indefinitely as an enemy combatant or deny the defendant the right to counsel," he said. "The message to the world from today's sentencing is that our courts have not abandoned our commitment to the ideals that set our nation apart."

He added that the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks have made Americans realize they are vulnerable to terrorism and that some believe "this threat renders our Constitution obsolete ... If that view is allowed to prevail, the terrorists will have won."

..more..

[babylonsister]

1. Ah, this judge warms my heart's cockles!

Nice to see someone who stands up for what he believes and isn't afraid to express those beliefs!

[blue sky at night]

2. I am sure he will be drummed out of..........

office or found dead of an "apparent suicide".

[GreenPartyVoter]

3. Good!

[earthboundmisfit]

4. Now THIS is a judge worthy of promotion & appointment.

He truly RESPECTS our Constitution.
I hope Judge Coughenour will go far!:)

[alarcojon]

5. Bad judge!

No SCOTUS nomination for you! B-)

[G_j]

14. yep

[babylonsister]

6. Nom. to highlight one of the good guys! nt

[Eloriel]

7. I'll second that emotion n/t

[peace4all]

8. think I'll use these quotes in a LTTE

he really nails it

[jsamuel]

9. Right On!

:D

[sunnystarr]

10. Sensenbrenner will be on his ass

and criticize the sentence and order the judge to to change the sentence and give him life or the death penalty. It's part of his new job description.

[G_j]

11. & Pat Poberts will start the "investigation" n/t

12. bush and company

Bush and company seem like they really relish taking the power and making things happen. Something like ethics is just an annoying hindrance. That is why all these power hungry guys are surrounding bush for a chance to jump in and do something and express their egos, rumsfeld, rove, cheney. He got them all in the door. I think of Bush's line in that taped phone conversation where he said "I want to lead, that is why I wouldn't smoke pot", or something similar. What does he equate leadership with? Running around invading people, stomping on the constitution? Puzzling. I don't get his psychological motivation. :freak:

[StaggerLee]

13. True patriot!

:patriot:

[bunny planet]

15. Brilliant. That needed to be said.

How long before forced retirement for this judge do you think?

[tk2kewl]

16. Gee... I wonder why he wasn't considered for SCOTUS?

:shrug:

[nyhuskyfan]

17. The full story...

Is that he only became a judge because his wife was on the judicial committee that appointed him. His wife holds all the power in that family -- Judge John actually still wets his bed.

I'm afraid I've already said too much.

[G_j]

18. ==

this "desk-jockey" wife no doubt single handedly anointed him, bypassing any judicial committee. :sarcasm:

[DistressedAmerican]

19. Well Stated On His Part! Kicker!