My fellow conservatives and Republicans are obsessing with this issue for political gain.  I will wait for them to repent.  I am afraid it might take the loss of rights for Americans or conservatives or followers of Christ before this will happen.

Well, it may be happening ALREADY.  I refer to the Blackwater trial.  Dan Miller writes at Pajamas Media that “Legal proceedings driven by political motivations do not constitute justice.”  Come again?  The blatantly political attempt to force KSM into a military trial, to the point of cutting off funds for the civilian trial, and the campaign to deny rights to terror suspects accomplanied by bad law and dubious history, is this not politically driven? 

I agree with much of Miller’s critique.  The Vice President ought not even be discussing a pending legal matter publicly.  Another nation ought not be publicly interfering in a pending civilian trial in our nation.  Biden should have whispered to the Iraqi officials in the case, “We’ll handle it without any interference from you.  By the way, where’s the oil money?”  I do not know the facts behind the  Blackwater matter.  Perhaps these men are innocent; I certainly hope so. 

Miller continues:

Moreover, long after September 28, the NSD prosecutors persisted in the improper use of compelled testimony — directly contrary to strongly worded advice from the criminal division’s “taint committee,” which had been established to prevent just that.

Compelled testimony?  Contrast the lament of Senator Collins that they did not interrogate the underwear bomber long enough:

“Less than one hour.  * * *  Then he was given a Miranda warning and a lawyer.  And not surprisingly, he stopped talking.”

No word on what to do.  Perhaps some “compelled testimony” might have resulted. 

Suppose Iraq had “compelled” some statements out of the Blackwater suspects?  What would be our reaction?  These statements were made under threat of loss of their jobs.  No waterboarding or torture was even hinted.  Yet, it is legally compelled testimony in violation of the Fifth Amendment.  Conservatives are outraged that the government elected to appeal this case.  Miller: 

Whatever may have been the reasoning behind the decision to appeal the judge’s ruling in the Blackwater case rather than to start over and do it right, it is offensive to see the Blackwater guards, let alone the U.S. judicial system, held hostage to the Obama administration’s political agenda. A war on sanity seems to have trumped the war on terrorism.

So it’s bad for President Obama to conduct a political trial, but its great for conservatives to politicize a national security trial.  Let’s try a modest proposal:  Give appropriate rights to all in American courts and use the courts to find the truth, not use the justice system as a political football.

Castle is an unannounced candidate.  This may be a push for party leaders to support him. 

I am interested in Castle especially because he has a keen interest in coins.  No more boring coins on Rep. Castle’s watch!  He is the father of the state quarter program and I am sure he has a hand in other new coinage ideas such as Lincoln pennies and Lewis and Clark nickels.  His most recent  numismatic accomplishment is the America the Beautiful collection:  A set of quarters with the national parks and similar features – one for each state and territory – on the back of the quarter.  As a history buff (I do not collect coins), I hope we keep the coin guy in the Congress.

UPDATE!  Castle will run for US Senate!  I would, if I were Rep. Castle’s campaign manager, think about a group – national group mind you – Coin Collectors for Castle!  Castle could raise millions from numismatists all over the USA!