ArchPundit

Rich gave me permission to post a paragraph of his exclusive interview with Paul Froelich (but still go subscribe)

The state’s newest Democrat said his dissatisfaction with the Bush administration also played a role in his decision. Froehlich claims to have been against the Iraq War since before it began, said he is horrified at President Bush’s abuse of Habeus Corpus (which Froehlich claimed is the thing that “separates a free system from an unfree system”), has been very bothered by the national party’s “harsh rhetoric” on immigration issues and has disagreed with his fellow Republicans on environmental issues.

Immigration, the Iraq War, and the environment can be dismissed as opportunism by the cynics, but I think the point about Habeus Corpus is what sets it apart. No doubt local issues played the primary role in his decision, but the limitations on Habeus Corpus are one of the most shocking abuses of power by this administration. It’s not one that gets you a lot of votes either because most voters don’t know much about so they don’t understand it stands as the key right in developing a fair judicial system in the English speaking world.

I can be wrong, but that struck me as a very telling complaint from a legislator and how much the parties have rotated from just 10-15 years ago in Illinois.