As Congress awaits the administration’s plans to close Guantanamo Bay, Democrats are suggesting it might not be a bad thing if President Obama shutters the facility unilaterally.
While Democratic leaders are being careful not to implore Obama directly to cut Congress out of his decision-making process, they are giving the president ample political cover to use executive authority to shutter the controversial detention facility.
“This president, time and again, has said that he wants to do everything in his power to close Guantanamo before he leaves. The Republicans in congress continue to do everything in their power to stop it,” said Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), the Senate’s second-ranking Democrat, on Tuesday. “I think there reaches a point where Congress is just being stubborn. They are just opposing everything he suggests, and he has to make decisions in the best interests of the country, and I think closing Guantanamo is one of them.”
So here let me answer my own question in the headline. Yes!
It is beyond obvious that the Republicans are NEVER going to agree to close Gitmo and give Obama yet another victory, so if he wants to keep one of his biggest campaign promises he has no choice but to go it alone.
Anybody of a differing opinion?
This would be a spectacular Solstice gift for all humans.
ReplyDeleteI think he should do it. F*** those obstructionist S.O.B.s. They determined to commit treason while he was still taking the oath of office, so he doesn't owe them anything.
ReplyDeleteAgreed. They are a bunch of treasonous SOBs. Every last one of them. Close it. Stop the torture. If we haven't convicted someone of something in FOURTEEN years, let them go.
Delete+++++++++
DeleteCouldn't hurt America's image one bit. One less American needle in the eyes of ISIS. Of course, Repubs will say it makes "us" look weak. The "us" being warmongers who descended on Irag, etc. and wreaked havoc & threaten to bomb Iran if elected. If we (apparently) can't bring the Bushes, et al. to trial, this is a good alternative.
ReplyDeleteThe president won't need to use an executive order to close Gitmo. As commander-in-chief he can close it any time he wants and without consulting congress at all. We're at war (according to the criminal cabal that was in office before Obama) and because we are at war congress has no say about how the war is conducted by the commander-in-chief. Congress declares war (AUMF) and that's the end of it for them other than funding.
ReplyDeleteRepublicans in congress will try to stop Obama through the court system and they will lose. He will close Gitmo, with their cooperation or without it.
He's trying. But those in the House and Senate do not want the prisoners being held in institutions in their states. They see it as a sure way to lose their seat in Congress. Their jobs outweigh the threat to the US that Guantanamo is a recruiting tool. And for the life of them, they can't figure out a way to explain the advantage of shutting down Guantanamo to their closed minded constituents.
ReplyDeleteIt needed to be shut down years ago. Its way past time.
ReplyDeleteHe's failed to keep many empty promises like most presidents. This needs to be done. I think most politicos want it done truthfully. I know the president holds little power and doesn't affect the country in the ways they're often blamed or credited for. But he can do this. Presidents don't affect the economy. Obama hasnt defended good cops the way he should.
ReplyDeleteBut close it. Should've been done years ago.
Yes I know every thing in dc is calculated. People are against gay Martiagr when they need to be and for it when it's right politically.
>>He's failed to keep many empty promises
DeleteOh fuck you. He's kept more promises than any president in history and the promises he hasn't managed to keep is because of a recalcitrant right wing faction and blue dog dems who really should be republicans. There are SO MANY things he has tried to do that he's been blocked on. If he were a dictator, this country would be in the best shape it's been in it's entire history, but unfortunately, the assholes who decided that they would block all everything just to be spiteful and resistant have had a hand in delaying and blocking him from fulfilling those promises. So again I say, FUCK YOU with your bullshit empty promises statement.
Good for you wanting Guantanamo closed! The president did a whole lot of the things he promised. You just don't like what he promised-- so cry me a river.
DeleteAbsolutely! The majority of Americans want him to close it!
ReplyDeleteFuck the obstructionists/Republicans! They are going down in 2016 and I can hardly wait to watch their reactions! Most especially those sitting in the United States Congress that have done nothing of significance for the near past two terms President Obama has served.
Screw their sorry asses on all levels of our government throughout the country.
Shut it down in Cuba and reopen it in Miami.
ReplyDeletePoint out how many jobs it will create for the local economy.
He should do it and dare the Republicans to impeach him for breaking the law. (IIRC, Congress passed a law that said no funds could be used to transfer Guantanamo prisoners.)
ReplyDeleteIt doesn't matter what laws congress passes trying to tie the hands of the commander-in-chief at war. They are unconstitutional. Congress doesn't get to micro-manage a war.
ReplyDeleteThe president can move Gitmo prisoners anywhere in the world to a military prison overseas or a federal prison within the united states.
The republicans can try to take him to the supreme court over it but they will lose. They can try to impeach him and they can expect an outcome just like when Newt tried to impeach Bill, i.e. significant loss of seats in congress.
Bring it on!
I'm not sure why Obama didn't close Gitmo a long time ago. The place costs us a fortune. We've spent $5 billion running it since it opened in 2002. In 2013, it cost $4.5 million PER DETAINEE.
ReplyDeletePresident Obama should just announce that he is refusing to continue wasting taxpayers' money like this, and he's sure his fiscally conservative Republican friends will understand. It's all about framing. How many Americans are in favor of spending close to $5 million every year on each one of these "terrorists"? Not many, I'd say. Do the deed, and let the Republicans be the ones standing up and insisting this is a good idea. Even your low-information GOP voter can understand this argument -- especially your low-information, lottery-ticket-buying GOP voter.
OT Tactical:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.chron.com/news/us/article/Sheriff-indicted-after-a-shooting-that-he-called-6628223.php
A resounding yes for me, and make it a destination vacation package so people can see for themselves the damage GWB and his evildoing henchmen set into motion.
ReplyDelete