Radical

Peter King, the Republican congressman from Iowa (not the strange man who talks about coffee when he is supposed to be talking about football) no longer even pretends to believe in the Constitution.  In talking about the arrest of the man suspected of the attempted Times Square bombing- who, despite having a funny name, is an American citizen- King said,

“I hope that [Attorney General Eric] Holder did discuss this with the intelligence community. If they believe they got enough from him, how much more should they get? Did they Mirandize him? I know he’s an American citizen but still,” King told POLITICO.

Really?  "But still"?   Is King really that afraid of these guys?   And, honestly, if eagerly wanting to destroy Constitutional rights doesn't make you an enemy combatant, I don't know what will.

Look, if this guy is guilty, I hope he is prosecuted under the full extent of the law.  We are in bizarre times when the phrase "of the law" is somehow weak and squishy and possibly even traitorous.  Foreign terrorist suspects are a gray area, in which I am on the side of civil courts, for a number of reasons, but I admit there is an argument.   I think what it comes down to is that if the bomber was a Tea Partier, an anarchist, an anti-abortion loon or any kind of traditional American terrorist, we wouldn't be having this debate.  His crime is compounded by the belief behind it, which, while surely not better, is hardly worse than anyone else willing to slaughter for an imagined Kingdom of Heaven.  

Also, Glenn Beck is in favor of Miranda rights for this guy based on his citizenship.  When Beck is more sane than top Republicans (and Joe Lieberman), the swing has officially gone around the bar.

(link thread via Sullivan)