Brothers Dan and Brian wrote earlier this week about the pushback the Obamanauts are encountering in their efforts to shut down Gitmo and ship the terrorists into the US. It seems that unbelievable assertions such as Rep. Adam Schiff’s (D-CA) blathering that terrorists should get the “same due process as our own troops” and that somehow trying to keep terrorists out of America is a slam against corrections officers are beginning to chip away at the public’s willingness to accept a Gitmo shutdown.
I just ran across this April 3rd Rasmussen survey indicating that Americans are overwhelmingly opposed to shipping Gitmo terrorists into our country. Seventy-five percent of Americans oppose this terrorist relocation program, with only thirteen percent in favor. In addition, the public overwhelmingly opposes the Gitmo Terrorist Welfare Program proposed by National Intelligence (?) Director Dennis Blair.
Just 36% now agree with the president’s decision to close the prison camp for suspected terrorists at the Guantanamo Naval Base in Cuba. Forty-six percent (46%) oppose closing the prison camp, and 18% are undecided.
This marks an eight-point drop in support for Obama’s decision since he announced it in late January when voters were almost evenly divided on the issue. Last November, only 32% thought the prison should be closed.
The opposition to shipping Gitmo refugees back to the US appears to be across the political spectrum, although the Democrats continue to show blind allegiance to Obama and his policies.
Fifty-eight percent (58%) of Democrats agree with Oabama’s decision to shut the Guantanamo prison camp, while 68% of Republicans – and 54% of voters not affiliated with either party – are opposed to it.
But 64% of Democrats agree with 88% of Republicans and 76% of unaffiliateds that Guantanamo inmates should not be released in the United States.
Similarly, 83% of Republicans, 66% of Democrats and 79% of unaffiliated voters say safety is more important than fairness in determining where the terrorist suspects are released.
Missouri Senator Christopher “Kit” Bond came down hard on the Obamanauts in today’s Republican radio address. The Hill reports:
“While President Obama has no plan for what to do with these killers, he has pledged to close the terrorist-detention facility in January to fulfill a campaign promise,” Bond said in the weekly Republican radio address. “This is a dangerous case of putting symbolism over security.”
Bond, the ranking Republican on the Senate Intelligence Committee, called Obama’s proposal a “ready, fire, aim” strategy.
“When it comes to national security decisions, I prefer aiming before shooting, which is why I keep calling on President Obama to tell us, the American people, how his plan to close Guantanamo will make our nation safer,” he said.
And this past Thursday, Missouri’s Rep. Roy Blunt was one of the co-sponsors of legislation to permit states to have a say on whether Gitmo terrorists can be housed in their state.
The Leftists continue to position the Gitmo closing as a kindhearted thing to do, to right the wrongs of the eeevil Bush administration and to make up for the cruelty of our tortuous practices (oh, by the way: half of Americans think “enhanced interrogation” is acceptable) . Thankfully, the GOP is reminding Americans of why the terrorists are in Gitmo in the first place, via the video shown in Brian’s post from yesterday. It is worth showing again:
If there is one thing the American public understands, it is what happened on 9/11 and who did it. The Democrats have returned to a 9/10 mentality. We must continue to remind the American people that Obama and the Democrats will not keep us safe with their approach to national security and terrorism. Already, Obama’s troop withdrawals from Iraq are resulting in more American and Iraqi deaths. The shutdown of Gitmo could also result in additional violence against Americans. The Obama administration’s incompetent actions must be stopped, and fortunately the public seems to be figuring this out.
Is Public Opposition Enough To Stop This?!
IJB Saturday, May 9th at 1:38PM EDT (link)I’ve seen nothing from the Obama Admin. that indicates that public, or even Congressional, opposition will stop them from something they’ve made up their mind on.
I think Gitmo terrorists will be housed in the lower 48 by Christmas.
It’ll be interesting to see what happens then…
I'm not so sure
jazzycmk Saturday, May 9th at 1:52PM EDT (link)If we know one thing about this administration it is that they are entirely poll-driven. If there is overwhelming opposition to this, they won’t risk Obama taking a hit to his precious approval rating (even if it means he takes some grief from his far left base. After all, what are they going to do? Vote Republican?)
They have done some unpopular things, like reversing the ban on federal funding for international abortions, but they have done things like that in a very understated, low-key way that didn’t get a lot of media attention (whereas if their polling tells them something is popular (like reversing Bush stem cell restrictions), they have a very public signing event).
With this one, Obama already put a very public stake in the ground. He won’t be able to quietly transfer all the Gitmo detainess here without the public taking notice.
jcmk
“90% of people don’t care about your problems…..and the other 10% are glad you have them” - former football coach Lou Holtz
I Have To Say, I Reject This Interpretation of The Obama Admin.
IJB Saturday, May 9th at 3:32PM EDT (link)If we know one thing about this administration it is that they are entirely poll-driven.
I actually don’t agree with this view at all, and am baffled why it’s actually a fairly dominant view on this site.
What you’ve said describes the Clinton Admin. to a ‘T’.
The Obama Admin. is a totally different outfit from everything I’ve seen. These guys will, in fact, do so-called “unpopular” things as long as it fits in with their extremist Leftie viewpoint.
I’ve seen nothing from this Administration to indicate anything but that they are, in fact, “true believers” who will implement any policy they favor, popular consequences be [darned].
That’s what makes them so scary - I think they’re virtually immune to popular opinion, which makes some of us question what their ultimate endgame is…
Don't confuse strategy with tactics
civil_truth Saturday, May 9th at 4:15PM EDT (link)The Obama administration’s strategy is straight out of the hard left wish list. But at this point in time, they’re not immune to public opinion; they don’t control all the levers of power yet.
So what I’ve seen going on is that behind the scenes where they have deniability, they will push to the limit of what they fell they can get away with. They just practice the Chicago way - and they don’t take prisoners. The directions they’re pushing is quite consistently left.
But when they have to put a public face on their actions, then they are heavily poll-driven. This is why we see so many reversal and clarifications on their announcements, because they will tack if enough of a headwind develops. And then Obama with the collusion of the media will go out and explain how we’ve always been at war with Eurasia, which the
Ministry of Truthlapdog media will then amplify.And Rightly So!
Hello Again Civil truth
avgamerican Sunday, May 10th at 7:39PM EDT (link)I was trying to reply to IJB, I must have twice clicked the wrong reply. But anyway, I have to agree more with IBJ on this. Polls may not be enough to curb BHO. As I told a friend, the Jeremiah Wright video should have been the end of BHO. It wasn’t and in fact his popularity soared past Hillary. These are different times. I am willing to say later and hopefully will say I was wrong about this assessment.
Blind Americans and Marxist Candidate
avgamerican Sunday, May 10th at 7:02PM EDT (link)That’s my view. What made this election feel different to me was how this guy could get elected in the first place. And right I don’t believe BHO will be moved by polls. That’s what makes him so dangerous. A combination of mysterious popularity by blind Americans and a marxist candidate. What does that equal?
I agree
avgamerican Sunday, May 10th at 7:18PM EDT (link)That’s what made this election feel eerily different to me. A combination of a mysterious popularity of a blind electorate and a marxist candidate equals what?
Now that he has almost complete power, do Americans think he will be controlled by the polls?
It's nice to see that an avgamerican can master 'reply to this'
$peciallist Sunday, May 10th at 8:21PM EDT (link)well done
and he's a good Kowalski also
gekster Sunday, May 10th at 10:32PM EDT (link)A political party cannot be all things to all people.
It must represent certain fundamental beliefs which must not be compromised to political expediency, or simply to swell its numbers.
Ronald Reagan
Every deer hunter in Michigan still likes to take a shot at a squirrel, rabbit, or even a troll every now and then.
Dick Durban (D), Illinois
redneck_hippie Saturday, May 9th at 1:55PM EDT (link)said he was fine with bringing terrorists to Illinois because, he said, nobody ever escaped from Marion (Illinois Federal Penitentiary). Does he not know that Marion is no longer one of two federal supermax penitentiaries?
http://www.langonigraphix.com/marionlockdown.html
It became a medium security prison in September of 2006.
“We must not lose our faculty to dare, especially in dark days.” - Churchill in March, 1942.
Remember NY-23; translation: RINOs Have No Base.
Maybe there are some faculty vacancies at the University of Chicago
David123 Saturday, May 9th at 1:59PM EDT (link)David123
They could be graduate lecturers:
redneck_hippie Saturday, May 9th at 2:22PM EDT (link)The Politics of Mass Incarceration, 1945 – Present
HMRT 23100 (=HIST 27108)
Instructor: Jessica Neptune, Graduate Lecturer
Tues/Thurs, 12:00-1:20 pm
“We must not lose our faculty to dare, especially in dark days.” - Churchill in March, 1942.
Remember NY-23; translation: RINOs Have No Base.
This is wonderful BS...
$peciallist Saturday, May 9th at 2:04PM EDT (link)oh, I mean….this is Wonderful!, bs
Academic additions
fisk2521 Saturday, May 9th at 3:32PM EDT (link)Maybe Obama can get them a job at a university - - Berkley??? Maybe Bill Ayers has some openings in his department.
LDavis
If they are sent to US prisons
DerKrieger Saturday, May 9th at 4:06PM EDT (link)…maybe they will run into one or two patriotic prisoners serving life who will simply kill them. If I were in jail, I’d do it.
“In questions of power, let no more be heard of confidence in man, but bind him down from mischief by the chains of the Constitution.” - Thomas Jefferson
“I cannot undertake to lay my finger on that article of the Constitution which granted a right to Congress of expending, on objects of benevolence (OBAMACARE – mine), the money of their constituents.” – James Madison
More likely they'll become cosseted celebrity prison Imams
blooch Sunday, May 10th at 5:58PM EDT (link)for adoring Nation of Islam inmates, and their wonderful transformation from terrorists to teachers will be gushingly reported in the MSM. Any incidents of their martyrdom at the hands of Aryans will just crank up the Mumiacs.
“I have to admit that Karl Marx (1818-1883) was a smart man. He was, in many ways, a psychologist.”–drealoth
Alcatraz?
SteveLA Saturday, May 9th at 4:13PM EDT (link)I think these terrorists should be moved to a remodeled Alcatraz…why?
Alcatraz has a certain historical context.
Alcatraz is close enough to Berkeley to allow Code Pink to come for easy visits.
Paroled terrorists will have to stay in San Fran, and will add to the “diversity” of that city.
Alcatraz, Terrorists and San Francisco values goes together like no other combination that I can imagne.
Giants need more fans now that Barry is gone…OK that’s the Dodger fan talking now.
______________________________________
Competency over ideological purity
Why remodel it.?? nt
mbecker908 Saturday, May 9th at 4:17PM EDT (link)Visitors
SteveLA Saturday, May 9th at 4:20PM EDT (link)mbecker
Even you’re not so hard hearted that you would want Cope Pinkos to not have nice visitor centers and such when they came to visit.
Geesh what are you mean to Terrorists and Code Pinko?
______________________________________
Competency over ideological purity
Yes I am.
mbecker908 Saturday, May 9th at 4:46PM EDT (link)And if they want to visit let them swim out.
For one, we need to set up waterboarding rooms using our newest technology
civil_truth Saturday, May 9th at 4:40PM EDT (link)…plus some good old fashioned torture chambers.
But seriously, security would be rather inadequate in its present condition. Especially given the fact that you’d have to secure yourself from an external attack as much or more as from internal rebellion, given the environs.
And Rightly So!
Not if you do it right.
mbecker908 Saturday, May 9th at 4:47PM EDT (link)On the trip out, you chain the “inmates” together on the deck of the boat and then you make them swim the last mile.
External attack wasn't referring to "inmates" on their way
civil_truth Saturday, May 9th at 5:04PM EDT (link)I was referring to local “rescuers” from the adjacent communities.
But I guess your method works too if no one succeeds in completing their swim.
And Rightly So!
Why not Alaska?
clifwest Saturday, May 9th at 7:49PM EDT (link)I would send them to northern Alaska. I am sure that if the main stream media will get off of the backs of the Palin family, Governor Palin and the citizens of Alaska would be more than happy to have them as far north as possible. That way, we could give them a few blankets and send them on their way. Then, if all the sob-sisters in the United States want to guarantee their being comfortable, they could pay for it. Besides, it would give them a chance to learn what real terrorism is when they come nose to nose with a beautiful polar bear. Seriously though, I think it is time for us to ask what the terrorist leaders around the world would do with this group were the situation reversed? In other words, would they worry about the care and feeding of this many of their enemy? The answer is, of couse not. We keep saying that we have to be the example of compassion for the whole world to see while at the same time the terrorists are making fun of us as a nation of whimps! In my scale of priorities, say one to ten, the terrorists at Gitmo would rate a fifteen. If they are brought into the United States, I wouldn’t bank of their safety.
We have the old Adak Naval base out in the Aleutians.
Achance Saturday, May 9th at 7:53PM EDT (link)Adak was second only to Dew Line sites as a place to go after you’d really PO’d your commanding officer back in the day. Adak is actually closer to Japan than to Anchorage but has everything, theaters, stores, even a McDonalds before it was all just shut down. Easy to just drop off some prisoners and drop in food and supplies from time to time. No security needed because you wouldn’t make it a mile in that water.
In Vino Veritas
Man, that is a great idea
bs Saturday, May 9th at 8:02PM EDT (link)and if they wanna go west, they wind up in Russia.
Decorum is fo’ suckas - unless it’s one of the good guys
NO WAY! Send them to Hawaii
bk Sunday, May 10th at 9:09AM EDT (link)They can’t get involved in any plots to damage major oil facilities there, and they can help celebrate the new “Islam Day”.
They'll Assimilate
melvinwinter Saturday, May 9th at 8:57PM EDT (link)According to this Onion-style parody, detainees released into the U.S. won’t have much problem assimilating:
http://optoons.blogspot.com/2009/05/released-guantanamo-bay-detainees.html
They might fit in remarkably well in Obama's circle of friends <font color="MintCream">nt</font>
6eorge Jetson Sunday, May 10th at 10:28PM EDT (link)Hardin MT evidently wants the Gitmo detainees
ajl_mo Saturday, May 9th at 10:22PM EDT (link)http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=103545840
Hardin, Mont., Eyes Guantanamo Detainees
All Things Considered, April 27, 2009 · Officials in Hardin, Mont., want the Two Rivers Regional Detention Facility, their brand-new, but empty jail, to be the new home for terrorism suspects from the U.S. detention center in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Greg Smith, executive director of Two Rivers Authority, says the transfer could create jobs in the community.
Here’s a link from a MT TV station
http://www.kulr8.com/news/local/43501597.html
I read that as well a week or two ago. Upon reflection,
janis Monday, May 11th at 10:30AM EDT (link)I think the detainees would probably prefer Gitmo. Lord knows the winters in Cuba are kinder than in Montana, and, if you escaped in Montana, your odds of passing for a native are pretty low compared to Cuba. Besides, I was in Montana a couple of years ago and you would be hard pressed to find a place bristling with more American flags and guns than that state.
I have been reading books on Jimmy Carter era
antisocial Sunday, May 10th at 1:55AM EDT (link)and Iranian Revolution… I am stunned by the similarity in terms of so-called morals, friendliness and stupid foreign policy.
I hope Afghanistan and GWOT does not end up like Iran revolution…. With Carter on steroids that is definitely a possibility.
I don’t think releasing terrorists into US is going to happen. First of all this is unconstitutional. This administration doesn’t care much about constitution but I think that will be a move with extremely high political price. Also in a largely unnoticed event Senators Lamar Alexander of Tennessee and Richard Shelby of Alabama turned up the heat last week on the GITMO terrorist release and torture investigations.
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/05/07/holder-says-terrorists-wont-set-free/
http://senatus.wordpress.com/2009/05/09/alexander-asks-holder-to-investigate-members-of-congress-on-interrogation-tactics/
No you can’t - Moe Lane
——————————
The Emperor has no clothes!!!
——————————
Republicans who lost the Crap-and-Raid fight in the House -
Mary Bomo Mac (CA-45)
Mike Castle (DE)
Mark Kirk (IL-10)
Frank A. LoBiondo (NJ-02)
Chris Smith (NJ-04)
Leonard Lance (NJ-07)
John M. McHugh (NY-23)
Dave Reichert (WA-08)
just think about those of us who remember the Carter Years
kyle8 Sunday, May 10th at 8:47AM EDT (link)Its like Deja Voodoo all over again.
“Nothing works like freedom, Nothing succeeds like liberty”
Kyle
It really is.
bs Sunday, May 10th at 7:20PM EDT (link)Last week I was reading a book about the 70s, and the similarities really are stunning. President Fluffy couldn’t get closer to Carter if he was trying on purpose.
Decorum is fo’ suckas - unless it’s one of the good guys
I'm not sure what the "Obama Plan" even is
bk Sunday, May 10th at 9:12AM EDT (link)Bush’s plan was to keep the bad guys there, get a little tough with a couple of them, and release the ones to other countries he could.
Other than saying he won’t waterboard, I haven’t heard that much different from Obama. He says he’ll close it, but he has no plan to do so and says that they can’t all get released. Uh okay, what then?
I like the response from France or Germany or wherever it was. Obama asked them to take some of these scum and they said, “If they’re not terrorists, why don’t you just let them live in the US?” EXACTLY!
Why can't they go back to their home country
mom2oneson Sunday, May 10th at 9:41AM EDT (link)Why is it our responsibility if their home country wants them or not. If their home country doesn’t let them in that isn’t our responsibility. Why do we care about their long term stability when they are the bad people that attacked our soldiers.
It's too simple for them to understand
avgamerican Sunday, May 10th at 6:54PM EDT (link)I think the USA is the only country in the world ever charged with the responsibilty for the welfare of its enemies. Geneva Convention rules are only applied to USA directly and bureaucratically and cowardly ignored by the UN and others. You’re simple logic is the 1,000 lb gorilla in the room, the left can’t grasp.
“Speak softly, but carry a big stick.”
Theodore Roosevelt
The plan is to bring them here in this country
antisocial Sunday, May 10th at 8:16PM EDT (link)Once they experience the joy of living in a free and civil world they will be reformed. And….. that will send a message to the world about the greatness of this nation. Everybody will stop hating America… Then the troops will come home. Everybody will live happily ever after……
No you can’t - Moe Lane
——————————
The Emperor has no clothes!!!
——————————
Republicans who lost the Crap-and-Raid fight in the House -
Mary Bomo Mac (CA-45)
Mike Castle (DE)
Mark Kirk (IL-10)
Frank A. LoBiondo (NJ-02)
Chris Smith (NJ-04)
Leonard Lance (NJ-07)
John M. McHugh (NY-23)
Dave Reichert (WA-08)
Whaddaya mean no one wants the GITMO detainees in their backyards?
6eorge Jetson Sunday, May 10th at 10:22PM EDT (link)Why not?
I believe American's aren't interested in Gitmo Detainees...
realityunwound Monday, May 11th at 10:02AM EDT (link)What I can’t, for the life of me, understand, is why there is this HUGE disconnect between what people seem to think of his policies, and what people seem to think of him. I’m increasingly reading about people thinking his ideas are bad or dangerous, but his poll numbers are steady as the mail. I don’t get it.
http://www.realityunwound.com
aren't interested in detainees coming here, that is...
realityunwound Monday, May 11th at 10:03AM EDT (link)finish a thought. My bad
http://www.realityunwound.com