Dems Propose "Restoring the Constitution Act of 2007"

Democratic Senator Christopher J. Dodd of Connecticut hits the nail on the head in explaining the need for this legislation, which would define the ambiguous term "combatant" and generally restore detainees rights.

I take a backseat to no one when it comes to protecting the country from terrorists," Dodd said in an e-mail statement yesterday. "But there is a right way to do this and a wrong way to do this. . . . In taking away their legal rights, the rights first codified in our country's Constitution, we're taking away our own moral compass, as well.

Too bad it's only now we're seeing people loudly challenge the right-wing assertion that defending detainees' rights means being "soft" on terrorists or on security in general.