The Fishpimp's Supreme Court Nominee

This is a largely apolical blog, but I have to give propper respect to U.S. District Judge John Coughenour, the judge in the trial of Ahmed Ressam, for his comments at the sentancing. In case you don't remember, Ressam is the fellow who got busted bringing in explosives from Canada in an attempted plot to blow up LAX. Here's the final section of his statement:

"I would like to convey the message that our
system works. We did not need to use a secret military tribunal,
or detain the defendant indefinitely as an enemy combatant, or
deny him the right to counsel, or invoke any proceedings beyond
those guaranteed by or contrary to the United States
Constitution.

I would suggest that 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. We can deal with the
threats to our national security without denying the accused
fundamental constitutional protections.

Despite the fact that Mr. Ressam is not an American citizen
and despite the fact that he entered this country intent upon
killing American citizens, he received an effective, vigorous
defense, and the opportunity to have his guilt or innocence
determined by a jury of 12 ordinary citizens.

Most importantly, all of this occurred in the sunlight of a
public trial. There were no secret proceedings, no indefinite
detention, no denial of counsel.

(***Cue "Battle Hymn of the Republic" here***)

The tragedy of September 11th shook our sense of security and
made us realize that we, too, are vulnerable to acts of
terrorism. Unfortunately, some believe that this threat renders
our Constitution obsolete. This is a Constitution for which men
and women have died and continue to die and which has made us a
model among nations. If that view is allowed to prevail, the
terrorists will have won.

It is my sworn duty, and as long as there is breath in my
body I'll perform it, to support and defend the Constitution of
the United States.

We will be in recess."

Damn! Makes me proud to be an American! Someone should turn this scene into a movie and punctuate it with a ringing smash of the gavel and a cheering gallery of patriotic citizens. You can't write stuff this good. I just hope the story doesn't get burried in the news and everyone gets to think and talk about what has been stated by this Ronald-Regan-appointed judge. I'd write more, but I'm going to go put a stars & stripes bumpersticker on my Ford truck now.