Democrats lines up with Republicans in the 90-6 vote that came on the heels of a similar move a week ago in the House, underscoring widespread apprehension among Obama's congressional allies over voters' strong feelings about bringing detainees to the U.S. from the prison in Cuba.
The President readied a speech for Thursday on the U.S. fight against terrorism, at a time when LIBERALS have chafed at some of his decisions. Yes, you read that right, even his fellow liberal colleagues think he's extreme.
Obama has vowed to close the prison by January 2010, and the Senate's vote was not the final word on the matter.It will take congress at least a month to complete work on the legislation, giving the White House time to pursue a compromise that would allow the president to fulfill his pledge. I'm against both obviously, but closing Gitmo is one thing and bringing terrorists to the U.S. is another. Regardless if a compromise is agreed upon, and Gitmo is eventually closed, i believe this legislation will prevent the terrorist detainees from ever touching U.S. soil.
Obama's maneuvering room was further constrained when FBI Director Robert Mueller told a congressional panel that he had "serious concerns" about bringing Guantanamo Bay detainees to prisons in the Unites States.He said that among the risks is "the potential for individuals undertaking attacks in the U.S." You think? All due respect but you don't need to be the FBI director to have that concern. It seems most Americans do, except the one that most Americans chose to lead us.
Additionally, U.S. District Judge John Bates ruled this week that some prisoners--but not all--can be held indefinitely at Guantanamo without being charged, thus increasing the pressure on the administration to develop a plan for the men held there.
After the Senate vote, the White House released a statement saying that, "The president understands that his most important job is to keep the American people safe and he is not going to make any decisions or any judgement that imperils the safety of the American people."
Of course he's not, now that Congress somehow has come to their senses.
Republicans, for the first time since the election, are gaining the upper hand against the White House, with demands that none of the remaining 240 detainees should end up on American soil." The American people don't want these men walking the streets of American neighborhoods,"Senator John Thune said."The American people don't want them held at a military base or federal prison in their backyard, either."
Harry Reid,the Senate majority leader, rattled my Republican aggression, said that he wanted a "comprehensive, responsible plan" from the White House for closing Guantanamo.
We know it's a bad idea when Harry Reid is agreeing with us.
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