Why not hold terrorists right here in Ga.?
Here’s something I have a hard time understanding. (And yes, as I’m often reminded, there are apparently many things I have a hard time understanding. With this one, I’m confessing my confusion up front.)
Last week, Defense Secretary Robert Gates told a Senate committee that 50 to 100 prisoners still held at Guantanamo Bay cannot be safely released or transferred to other countries and will have to be held in the United States once Guantanamo closes. The Pentagon wants $50 million to build or expand facilities to hold those prisoners at sites yet to be selected.
Now here’s the point that perplexes me. Members of Congress are acting as if Gitmo detainees are some evil combination of Chuck Norris and Harry Houdini, likely to escape into the countryside and wreak havoc. According to them, Americans are terrified to have Gitmo inmates imprisoned anywhere near them.
“Communities are going to be upset about this,” Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky warned Gates. “This is a very important issue and it deals with public safety, as we all know. We haven’t been attacked against since 9/11. We like that, and we’d like for that record to continue.”
Gates said he understood.
“I fully expect to have 535 pieces of legislation before this is over saying ‘not in my district, not in my state,’” he told McConnell. “We’ll just have to deal with that when the time comes.”
Gates wasn’t kidding. As of last week, 14 resolutions had been introduced in the House seeking to bar detainees from being held in a dozen states, including Colorado, home of the federal “supermax” prison.
The Senate is on record as well, voting 94-3 in 2007 to oppose bringing Gitmo inmates here because of the danger they supposedly pose to national security.
“It is safer for American citizens if captured members of al-Qaida and other terrorist organizations are not housed on American soil where they could more easily carry out their mission to kill innocent civilians,” the resolution said.
Two of the three “nay” votes came from Vermont senators, suggesting the Green Mountain State hasn’t entirely lost the spirit of Ethan Allen. But to hear Congress, the rest of the country has gone soft.
Personally, I have a hard time believing that we have really come to this, that Americans are truly terrified as easily as some of our leaders claim to believe. Do we really fear that our enemies are some sort of terrorist supermen who cannot be safely held in federal high-security prisons?
Sen. Sam Brownback of Kansas, home of both a federal penitentiary and a high-security military prison at Fort Leavenworth, claims to think so.
“Please not at Leavenworth,” Brownback told Gates at the hearing. “This is a hot topic in my state.”
Now, I’ve been to Fort Leavenworth, and I expect Brownback has as well. The idea that Gitmo detainees could escape from there is frankly implausible. Furthermore, I’d wager that every federal and state high-security prison in the country holds inmates who are much more dangerous to public safety than the Gitmo detainees. For starters, I’d name Brian Nichols, the man who killed four people while in custody at the Fulton County Courthouse.
In fact, I’d bet that if released into the general American prison population, most of the “fearsome” Gitmo detainees wouldn’t last the day.
But even here in Georgia, our leaders act as if we’re shaking in our boots. U.S. Rep. Phil Gingrey, Republican from Marietta, has sponsored a resolution adding Georgia to the list of states terrified of Gitmo prisoners. The legislation, HR 817, is co-sponsored by the six other members of our Republican delegation.
“No question —- it’s a ‘not-in-my-backyard’ resolution,” Gingrey told me. “We do fear that even with lots of guards and parapets and razor wire at our prisons, these guys are SO bad —- remember Daniel Pearl and David Berg —- what in the world would they do if they somehow got out?”
The better option, he said, is to keep the prisoners at Gitmo, where escape would be impossible.
Personally, I’d be tickled pink if Osama bin Laden himself were imprisoned right up the street at the Atlanta Federal Penitentiary, just 3.1 miles from my home, according to Google. Throw them all in there —- Khalid Sheikh Mohammad, the whole bunch of them. If you’ve seen the place, you know they wouldn’t be going anywhere they weren’t supposed to be going.
But the problem is, there’s too much political gain to be had by telling the American people they ought to be scared, very scared, by the mere presence of such men on American soil.
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146 comments Add your comment
Cherokee
May 4th, 2009
7:21 am
Fear is how Bush stayed in power for a second term – why would Republicans change their tactics now? As one of the other posters says here so often, Republicans have been so successful recently, they shouldn’t change a thing.
Bud Wiser
May 4th, 2009
7:22 am
50 to 100 prisoners.
50 to 100 bullets.
Nice match.
Obozo ordered the execution of Somali teenagers without ‘due process’ that apparently is going to be given to the child still in US possession.
So whats the big deal about having some sort of swift tribunal with summary executions?
Problem solved.
Screw what the world thinks. The French and NATO and Portuguese have already been stopping these thugs for a fresh cup of coffee then turning them back loose onto te high seas. Their opinions are worthless.
I Report :-)/ You Whine :-(
May 4th, 2009
7:23 am
Now here’s the point that perplexes me. Members of Congress are acting as if Gitmo detainees are some evil combination of Chuck Norris and Harry Houdini, likely to escape into the countryside and wreak havoc. According to them, Americans are terrified to have Gitmo inmates imprisoned anywhere near them.-bookman
I’m not reading through the proposed legislation to see what you cherry picked-
1) Recruitment of jihadists from the general population, most inmates are brainwashed Obozo liberals anyway, so how much effort would it take to turn them into suicide bombers with a release date?
2) Granting rights under the US Constitution to foreign born enemy combatants, duh.
3) Revealing US national security secrets in the courthouse.
How about a new Supermax, just for them, you know, something like Gitmo?
In fact, I’d bet that if released into the general American prison population, most of the “fearsome” Gitmo detainees wouldn’t last the day.
Yeah, they’ll be longing for the olden days of the water board and the 4 square meals a day.
Bud Wiser
May 4th, 2009
7:24 am
Cherokee, first on post, first off topic.
You people just can’t get past Bush, can you?
What a bunch of whiners.
Redneck Convert
May 4th, 2009
7:26 am
Well, if they let these Gitmo prisoners loose up here in Forsyth County I’ll have to hide under my bed with my anti-tank weapon and the two machine guns I use for hunting and self-defense. Somebody needs to understand they’re towel-heads and not just criminals. They’ll slit your throat and put your head on a pole. It’s bad enough we got one of Those People in the White House and a bunch of libruls that want to take our money and guns. But no, they ain’t content with that. Now they got to talk about turning a bunch of savages loose amongst us.
Anyhow, if they turn these people loose I’ll have to quit my job and stand 24-hour guard duty in front of the trailer. They’ll go after the missus first and maybe Sister Dusty next. I hear they really like super-plus-size women so much they want all women to wear robes so even the skinny ones look fat.
It’s a awful world we’re living in. Good thing we got a whole bunch of manly men here in GA that ain’t afraid of anything. Have a good day everybody.
I Report :-)/ You Whine :-(
May 4th, 2009
7:28 am
Remember the raucous whining from the pinkos that the Vitter diaper episode got?-
http://www.drudgereport.com/afd.jpg
hahahahahahahaha, freaks.
kitty
May 4th, 2009
7:32 am
Actually I am more afraid of gang members than I am of Al Queda. They are more likely to hurt me or my family than one of those guys. I guess it pays to play on our fears. Heaven knows the GOP is so good at it, but people are seeing through it now. I am more afraid of gulags which is what Gitmo represents.
jt
May 4th, 2009
7:43 am
Stupid people are easily terrified.
Taxpayer
May 4th, 2009
7:51 am
Well, what do you expect from a pack of tough-talking, gun-toting, church-going, torture-approving GOPers, Jay?
Ray
May 4th, 2009
7:57 am
Kitty,
“I am more afraid of the gulags which is what Gitmo represents.”
If one of these animals came into my home, he would get a very warm reception from my 12 gauge. But it doesn’t end there. Look at Salmund Rushtie, the country of Denmark….. both did something to rile the Muslim fanatics. It doesn’t take much to Jihad most anyone or anything… Just one of their religious leaders saying that you or your family should not live anymore. If one of these cretins did escape and harm any American citizen, the politicians in that district would have to answer for it. That means losing an election. Hence, a 94/3 vote. Nothing means more to these apes than losing an election.
Don’t agree with your GOP comment. This must represent a real shift from the way you felt on Sept 12th. How soon we forget.
Susan Myers
May 4th, 2009
7:58 am
I don’t live my life in fear. If anyone gets killed or injured by another human being in this country, it will most likely be a fellow American citizen who will be responsible. There is no justification for people to fear terrorists jumping out from every corner. That type of thinking is irrational. And people who attempt to ratchet up that type of thinking are fearmongering.
Taxpayer
May 4th, 2009
7:58 am
And, if these GOPers were to secede, who would pay for their security…blankets, that is. And nightlights. Who could they hire for minimum wage to fight off all the evil people. After all, they want to run off all the ones that used to build their houses and make their carpet and cut up their chicken and pick their peanuts….
Notadittohead
May 4th, 2009
8:02 am
Jay – The ‘escape’ talk is a red herring. They won’t escape, not on their own. Either a lefty judge will turn them loose, or their buddies will take a school full of children as hostages for their release. Neither can happen at Gitmo. Now you understand why the Brits, French, Austrians, and Australians said “no thanks”? You still want them in the penitentiary in Atlanta?
Mrs. Godzilla
May 4th, 2009
8:03 am
What’s it worth?
Last I heard it cost roughly 40 grand a year to keep a person in
custody… Let’s make a deal. Perhaps a cost plus contract.
If the state where able to make a healthy profit, I suspect they’d be more amenable to the idea.
Daedalus
May 4th, 2009
8:04 am
Right on JT!
The Repubs here are wetting their pants in fear just like their brave GOP CongressDopes — like Gingrey.
ty webb
May 4th, 2009
8:05 am
We already have terrorists being held in Georgia. They’re enrolled at Ga Tech.
Daedalus
May 4th, 2009
8:09 am
Nice logic DittoHead — except the Supremes court has already ruled that the detainees at Gitmo cannot be held forever without legal process and there is nothing stopping the Gitmo detainees sympathizers from taking hostages while they are still at Gitmo. Housing them in a prison stateside wouldn’t make a difference — except to allow the GOP and Faux News to stir up the base and make y’all afraid, very afraid.
georgian by birth floridian because I'm lucky
May 4th, 2009
8:09 am
A serious concern would have to be a convergance of other members in prison and the ability of these networks to set up stronger footholes in our country in which to conduct their operations.
Many prisions are infested with gangs, as sad as it may be to many new inmates or those that are weak, their only means of survival is to join a gang. Many times these members mentioned turn out ot be loyal followers of the gang/ terrorist organization.
That would be my only concern is that these 50-100 would be in close quarters with a group who based on past convictions have obviously not shown a history of wise decision making. Therefor increasing the risk of bringing terrorist cells here to GA.
I thought GITMO was a good place to keep them, but somehow that got closed down, strange, guess we didn’t think out where the inmates would go.
Ray
May 4th, 2009
8:12 am
Susan,
What a stupid comment. “I don’t live my life in fear”. Neither do I but I am realistic enough to not want to invite disaster. How many 12 gauge shotguns do you have in your house and how willing are you to use them on an intruder? Nottadittohead has a good point. What if some judge rules that some of these animals are not guilty and they are allowed to be set free. Want them for your next door neighbor? How about taking one or two of these “misunderstood” unfortunates to lunch or invite them over for tea. Just watch your daughters if you have any. They don’t have much respect for women, or haven’t you noticed.
Susan Myers
May 4th, 2009
8:13 am
The G”No!”P seceding would be great! They could all move to Texas. They already have a guy living there
with “presidential experience”.
He also has long experience as a traitor,
having deserted his military obligation,
and betrayed in-field CIA operatives.
It’s a win-win!
Taxpayer
May 4th, 2009
8:15 am
Release them in Texas. Show them where Bush lives so they can go ask him why he approved the use of torture. That should make for some interesting reality TV. Invite Cheney to the event as well.
Susan Myers
May 4th, 2009
8:17 am
Sweet Ray @ 8:12,
Awwww! Thanks for your concern for my safety.
Joey
May 4th, 2009
8:18 am
I suspect that it is not much the fear of jailing the “detainees” in one of our states which is causing the uproar. Each of thse elected official is concerned about re-election. Housing the detainees is not worth the risk to these perpetual candidates.
Regular citizens, however, are more likely concerned about the eventual release of these detainees. Are there one or two or five or twelve of them willing and able to put together a suicide attack? Can we trust our Federal Government to not make a mistake here, regardless of who is in political power?
Joe Matarotz
May 4th, 2009
8:20 am
The last time I checked, Bush was out of office and the Democraps controlled both houses of Congress. So who is mongering fear, Jay? There should be plenty of Blue states willing to house these nefarious ne’er-do-wells. You need to talk some sense into your liberal media buds in other states and help them see the light.
Midori
May 4th, 2009
8:21 am
Bud attacks someone for going off-topic, right after he launches a diatribe about how Obama ordered the Somolians taken out.
Why don’t you set up a fund for their family, since you’re so concerned about them being “wrongfully” killed for attacking and taking US citizens hostage?
georgian by birth floridian because I'm lucky
May 4th, 2009
8:21 am
Are they going to take a tour bus taxpayer, there were others who gave their approval, or at the very least they knew and said nothing, until it was a political advantage.
Que Nancy Pelosi-
I am sure it was just an oversite on your behalf to leave off other top officials and leaders of the gov’t at that time, and was not an example of you only commenting on half of the facts.
You do think what Pelosi did was wrong too don’t you?
Goober
May 4th, 2009
8:23 am
There may be some horse farms on the market before long and we could put Gitmo on one. The neighbors would keep them away from the property line.
By the way, Susan Myers and Paul didn’t behave on Free Swim day. I think they wanted to go skinny-dipping. It got plumb mushy.
ByteMe
May 4th, 2009
8:25 am
Buncha wussies in Congress. We know how to deal with people like this.
1. Notify the town ahead of time.
2. Drive them in a bus to “downtown” Cairo, GA.
3. Open the door and kick them off the bus without handcuffs or leg irons. Drive the bus away.
They’ll all be dead within the hour and no one will have seen a thing.
Problem solved.
RW-(the original)
May 4th, 2009
8:26 am
For all the mindless leftist arguments I’ve heard about why we need to close Gitmo I’ve never heard the one that says we should put untried terrorist suspects into the general convicted prison population because they’ll probably get murdered and be out of our hair.
Impressive Jay B! Did you make this one up on your own? Just be sure your happy band of prison murderers don’t waterboard one of the untried suspects before they gut him.
Now I axe ya. Since you like to make believe the law says making someone fear for their life is torture and you write that putting them in the federal prison system means their likely demise at the hands of their new roommates and claim that’s a good thing, aren’t you advocating torture?
Taxpayer
May 4th, 2009
8:29 am
georgian by birth,
do tell us precisely what approval Pelosi gave and for what. Surely, someone as all-knowing as you has that information at your fingertips. Share it with us, won’t you.
Notadittohead
May 4th, 2009
8:31 am
The fate of detainees should be adjudicated in an international tribunal. Their cases do not belong in US civilian courts.
maxwell
May 4th, 2009
8:35 am
Ray…you say “What if some judge rules that some of these animals are not guilty and they are allowed to be set free. Want them for your next door neighbor?”
Right Ray (are you scared), if by chance some judge ruled one or two of these detainees not guilty I doubt very much they are going to give him/her a new suit, ten dollars and point them in the direction of the bus stop.
I suspect they would be transported to the nearest general aviation facility loaded on a Gulf Stream and whisked away to the country they came from.
As several of the other posters have said…repugs thrive on the fear issue! Just like you……….
Ray
May 4th, 2009
8:36 am
Not-So Sweet Susan @817,
I don’t give a Tinker’s Damn about your safety. But if even one of these “detainees” is set free due to some liberal judge interpreting the law to his benefit, they will be considered a hero by several million Muslims. With our porous borders, we have no security from additional Muslim animals establishing more cells and more danger to our way of life. No one should be admitted to this country, even for a short time, who is a threat or a danger to our citizens. But thanks to our Congress and our courts, our safety is more at risk every day. If you don’t have the foresight to see this, step aside for someone who does. These ridiculous opinions of yours, especially the one about the 101st Airborne division or a recent blog…. if anyone has doubts about how stupid some of your comments are, you have just to hit the keys a few more times and all doubt is erased.
sd
May 4th, 2009
8:40 am
There is a special row in Colorado’s supermax where the most violent, and most infamous prisoners are. No one there will ever be free. There is no reason why these suspects couldn’t also be housed there if they are guilty of crimes.
Taxpayer
May 4th, 2009
8:41 am
Our fearless GOPers here in Georgia just cannot seem to moan enough about the prospects of losing jobs building F-22s or refining tritium or plutonium but they don’t want to deal with their prisoners of war. Just think of all those potential jobs feeding and guarding and torturing those prisoners and they would all be right here in Georgia, a red state, a defender of all that is GOP.
Ray
May 4th, 2009
8:46 am
Maxwell,
I don’t know where you have been living for the past several years but decisions by liberal judges don’t seem to follow logic. “Swept away on a Gulfstream jet”…. in your dreams. Your liberal Congress will probably try to “rehabilitate” them, give them a welfare check every month and counseling. They will live in government housing and have children who are American citizens. All the time, they and others like them will be snickering up their sleeve at how stupid their American benefactors are while they are planning their next attack. We weren’t very successful with the Mexicans… what makes you so sure we will do any better with the Muslims?
George American
May 4th, 2009
8:48 am
Release them in S. W. Atlanta. They won’t last a day there either.
AmVet
May 4th, 2009
8:48 am
This would NEVER have happened under the corporate criminal coddlers known as BushCo.
And the moronic neo-cons tell us how the poor “free market” multi-nationals deserve even more corporate welfare, not less.
WASHINGTON (CNN) — The White House will unveil reforms to the nation’s international tax code on Monday intended to close loopholes for overseas tax havens and end incentives for creating jobs overseas.
The two components of the president’s plan include reforms that ensure the tax code does not handicap companies seeking to create jobs at home, as well as reforms that reduce the amount of tax revenue lost to tax havens.
The White House is targeting companies that use loopholes in the law that allow them to legally avoid paying billions in taxes. It also focuses on wealthy individuals who break the law by creating hidden overseas accounts.
The Obama administration plans to raise $103.1 billion by removing tax advantages for investing overseas and will use that money to help make a tax credit permanent, the officials said. The administration also hopes to raise $95.2 billion over the next 10 years by cracking down on overseas tax havens.
The White House, under the plan, would eliminate the “check-the-box” provision which allows corporations to designate overseas subsidiaries as branches of the company, not subjected to taxes. This tax loophole enables companies to avoid paying U.S. taxes.
One senior administration official said it has cost the U.S. government $86.5 billion over 10 years and is “the most unjustified loophole in the international tax system which needs to close down.” It is a legal practice, the officials said, involving “companies taking advantage of a very bad law.”
Don’t Miss
* Tea parties protest spending and taxes
* Bizarre tax laws
The U.S. government also loses about $9 billion in tax revenue from wealthy individuals who use illegal tax havens overseas, a senior administration official said.
Mrs. Godzilla
May 4th, 2009
8:49 am
Ray…
I couldn’t quite figure out what you are afraid of, then I read your 8:46.
You appear to be afraid of….everything and everybody.
Observer
May 4th, 2009
8:50 am
What’s wrong with leaving them at Gitmo and simply offering them all of the due process guarantees in the Constitution?
That way, they would get the representation of an attorney and access to the court system but breaking out of prison would not be a concern.
BDAtlanta
May 4th, 2009
8:50 am
Hmmm, fewer than 100 supposed Islamic nutcases/fundamentalists on the loose in the countryside or countless Christian wingnuts/fundamentalist on the loose in the countryside?
I’ll take the Muslim ones. The christian fundamentalists have put together alot more explosions on our soil than the Muslims. Let’s see … Oklahoma City federal building, abortion clinic bombings, lots of black churches over the years….
Mrs. Godzilla
May 4th, 2009
8:52 am
Here’s an off topic but clever graphic…..
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2009/5/4/727612/-Open-Thread
George American
May 4th, 2009
8:54 am
Good points, Ray.
I think these dangerous, vicious terrorist and their enviable escape, home invasions, and murder of American families makes a great movie script.
Who do you think should be the star?
I’m leaning toward Mel Gibson.
Swami Dave
May 4th, 2009
8:55 am
The more accurate description would be prudent caution.
Why would any state want to risk facilitation of contacts between the existing criminal element / gang-dominated culture that currently infests our prisons with the militant anti-American terrorist prisoners for Gitmo? Why would any state open its prison systems up to the scrutiny of activist liberal judges conveying Constitutional rights onto non-citizens whose main philosophical goal is to kill ACTUAL citizens and destroy the culture of our country?
The -risk- of escape is not the most dangerous risk that America would face housing these parasites and viruses domestically. The risk that they would spread their plans and connections within our prison systems [in which, by the way, Islam is probably ALREADY the fastest spreading religion] harbors much higher danger to Americans.
This is simply another unintended (but largely predictable to anyone with more than half a brain – which would explain the confusion among liberals) consequences of this stupid political decision that pays off the peacenik, surrender-American-advantage, blame-America kook wing of the Democratic party to the detriment of all other Americans (most of whom recognize the lunacy).
Let the America-hating collectivists at Kos or Huff&Puff house these parasites of whom they are so enamoured and concerned.
-Swami Dave
ByteMe
May 4th, 2009
8:55 am
AmVet: Let’s see which bought-and-paid-for Congresscritters try to defend the current tax code… especially the ones who were front-and-center for the Teabaggin’ crowd.
Donovan
May 4th, 2009
8:55 am
Is everybody missing the real debate on Gitmo? What is wrong with keeping these Islamic cockroaches locked up on an island away from us? There is no reason to let them come to our homeland and further the argument of security and legalities. This stupid notion of torture and inhumane treatment of radical Muslims is a fabrication of their liberal defense lawyers and left wing world organizations that make the ACLU look like heros. Do we listen to socialist Europe and Amnesty International or do we listen to the military who has done a fine job of keeping these crazed prisoners away from us. Gitmo works. Gitmo is the perfect place for them. Obama is a naive politician whose judgement has been repeatedly challenged in the past. Let these prisoners rot in the Caribbean sun for their deeds and ideology that they forced upon us on the battlefields and in their urban rat holes.
RB from Gwinnett
May 4th, 2009
8:59 am
Can anyone explain why we’re spending time and money figuring out where to put these prisoners of war in the US when we already have them in a secure place on US soil at Gitmo? What exactly is the value and purpose for moving them? Who benefits and in what way? They’re still prisoners and still being held by the US. Do you fools think the world will somehow be happier with us if we hold them in Leavenworth instead of Gitmo?
This is nothing more than another political game being played with taxpayer money. Enough already.
ByteMe
May 4th, 2009
9:00 am
Swami Dave: GREAT use of meaningless buzzwords in your 8:55! Keep up the good work.
Bosch
May 4th, 2009
9:01 am
I don’t know why anyone around these parts would be scared to house the Gitmo inmates in Atlanta – people are packing heat all around. They are proud of it. Bring ‘em on!!!
TnGelding
May 4th, 2009
9:01 am
I Report
/ You Whine 
May 4th, 2009
7:28 am
He’s a comedian, for goodness sakes. And a darn good one.
Ray
May 4th, 2009
9:01 am
Mrs G,
If Bush and Company had been better at their job, we wouldn’t have had a 9/11. What do you think has changed? Has our Congress become more accountable? Are we now enforcing our border laws with more dependability? Do we now have more millions in our country who are not citizens producing about 4M new “citizens” per year. Do we have a President now who is any better at ensuring our safety than the last one? Our country is like a sieve. That’s not security. That’s stupidity. And, yeah, I fear that this has become a threat to our country and it’s citizens as does most of the American electorate. Not everything and everyone….. just the right ones.
sd
May 4th, 2009
9:02 am
The people on Bombers Row do not have contact with prisoners who are scheduled to be released.
The idea that these people, if convicted of terrorism, would even see another prisoner who would be released is nonsense.
Look up “Bombers Row” and find out who we are currently housing. These people in Gitmo are not any more dangerous than them.
Susan Myers
May 4th, 2009
9:02 am
Would you trust the Republican party with children?
There’s reason to fear this bunch.
http://www.armchairsubversive.org/
Mort Merkel
May 4th, 2009
9:07 am
Take the $50 million, fix up the unused asylum buildings at Central State Hospital in Millegeville and house them there. We get historic preservation and the feds get their prisoners housed.
TnGelding
May 4th, 2009
9:08 am
I thought the fear was they would have to be given a fair trial and the circus it would create.
Unpublished vents:
Gitmo
Wednesday, January 7, 2009 11:52 AM
To: vent@ajc.com
Why should any other country take the Gitmo detainees? We have plenty of federal prisons here, but then they’d have to be given a fair trial.
A handful of the detainees at Gitmo need to hang. The rest need to be freed.
It’s going to be interesting to see what the black messiah does about Gitmo.
ByteMe
May 4th, 2009
9:11 am
So let me get this straight: Republicans are all about locking up everyone for anything to get them out of society (and off the voter rolls). So now we have the largest percentage of prison population in the world. Everyone from sociopaths to psychopaths to regular drug users… all out of the mainstream and into the prison system.
And they’re afraid to put a few more sociopaths in with the mix?? Just because they’re MUSLIM sociopaths??
Buncha wusses.
williebkind
May 4th, 2009
9:11 am
As I read this blog I see many of you blame the GOP for fear tactics. I suggest you go back to previous elections(those before Bush, yes there were elections before Bush, Bush was not the only Republican president, Bush is gone) and see how the progressive liberals screamed out fearful tactics to the American people suchas, by lowering the percentage of increase for lunch at schools, we were going to starve our children. There are many more! Too many to write.
I do not care what you do with the terrorist. I do not live in a city. That is where a terrorist will act. I just hope they take out more liberals than Americans.
You progressive liberals do better promoting vile disgusting human behavior than accusing other parties using fear tactics.
Mrs. Godzilla
May 4th, 2009
9:12 am
Ray
You have made a breakthrough!
Your statement “If Bush and Company had been better at their job, we wouldn’t have had a 9/11″ says so much more that just the words you posted.
You, Ray, are going to be OK.
TnGelding
May 4th, 2009
9:14 am
Susan Myers
May 4th, 2009
9:02 am
Unfortunately, the list of Democrats would probably be just as long.
We’ve got to develop a better understanding of our sexuality with better education and counseling.
Bud Wiser
May 4th, 2009
9:15 am
Someone needs to read this to certain people here, and try to make her understand:
di·a·tribe Pronunciation: \ˈdī-ə-ˌtrīb\
Function: noun
Etymology: Latin diatriba, from Greek diatribē pastime, discourse, from diatribein to spend (time), wear away, from dia- + tribein to rub — more at throw
Date: 1581
1: archaic : a prolonged discourse
2: a bitter and abusive speech or writing
3: ironic or satirical criticism
As anyone paste a third grade education can read and understand, what I wrote at 7:22 does not fit any of those parameters. Other than a reference to Obama as Obozo ( a ‘pet’ name, if you will, with apologies to the real Bozo the Clown), my statement was fact, pure and simple.
Some here are simply too stupid, narrow minded, and/or racist to understand – must be from watching all those Good Times reruns on TV.
jt
May 4th, 2009
9:17 am
Willie did have a good point.
Republitards are terrified of “man-made disastor makers”.
Libtards are terrified of the sun or C02 or lard.
RB from Gwinnett
May 4th, 2009
9:17 am
How stupid can you get to think you should capture people shooting at your troops on a foreign battlefield and then release them IN YOUR OWN COUNTRY AMONG YOUR CITIZENS. Are you people really serious with this line of thinking?
These people weren’t abducted from their local checkers game on some Bagdad street corner. At a minimum, they’re captured enemy combatants who were actively trying to kill your neighbors kids you keep whining about. Do you liberals ever actually think?!!
Taxpayer
May 4th, 2009
9:20 am
Here is some more off-topic taxing information but along the lines of what AmVet presented. There are also plenty of pretty pictures for the GOPers to look at.
williebkind
May 4th, 2009
9:20 am
Mrs. G. 911 was planned during the Clinton administration. Didnt you get the memo? Is this more liberal fear tactics using disinformation to the poor uninformed masses.
Bosch
May 4th, 2009
9:22 am
Williebkind’s ironic comment at 9:11:
Wishing people who don’t think like him dies during terrorist attack.
Nice.
TnGelding
May 4th, 2009
9:25 am
Bud Wiser
May 4th, 2009
9:15 am
You might have mentioned they had tried to seize an American freighter and were holding the captain hostage.
RB from Gwinnett
May 4th, 2009
9:25 am
willieb, don’t you know in the liberal simple mind the muslim world didn’t start hating us until Bush enacted his failed foreign policies? Never mind the USS Cole, WTC I, embassy bombings, barracks, etc during Clinton’s term and the fact none of these morons can cite any Bush foreign policy that caused 911. Those are simply facts that don’t fit the BDS model fed to them by moveon.stupid.
jt
May 4th, 2009
9:27 am
There is absolutely NO IRONY in willies comment. Cmon Bosch, get a dictionary.
Mrs. Godzilla
May 4th, 2009
9:27 am
willie @ 9:20
everybody knows advanced tickets are cheaper!
williebkind
May 4th, 2009
9:28 am
Bosch: I believe your are promoting socialism. I think Stalin killed more people than Hitler. But I guess it was the conservatives fault, right because they have the forefathers view of a republic.
Yep if someone going to die because of liberals I can not think of a better choice.
TnGelding
May 4th, 2009
9:29 am
williebkind
May 4th, 2009
9:20 am
Clinton didn’t get that “intelligence” briefing in August and wasn’t sitting in an elementary school room on 9/11.
Soothsayer
May 4th, 2009
9:29 am
Companies who shelter profits in international accounts stand to lose billions if Obama’s plan becomes law. Under the existing regulation, those companies pay taxes only if they bring the profits back to the U.S. If they keep the profits offshore, they can defer paying taxes indefinitely — and many do.
AT LONG LAST! A return to sanity!
georgian by birth floridian because I'm lucky
May 4th, 2009
9:30 am
Taxpayer your comments from,
May 4th, 2009
8:29 am
georgian by birth,
do tell us precisely what approval Pelosi gave and for what. Surely, someone as all-knowing as you has that information at your fingertips. Share it with us, won’t you.
This was my first post on this subject a mere 9 minutes before you claimed I said something I never did, may have alluded to but you took what you wanted, and left the rest of my comment.
- I wrote”Are they going to take a tour bus taxpayer, there were others who gave their approval, or at the very least they knew and said nothing, until it was a political advantage.”
Did you catch the part about OR at the very least they KNEW, pelosi even has publicly stated they came in and told us what was going to happen, and so on about how it was not a discussion, and said nothing.
See she knew what was happening down there and only when it was advantageous to use in a political election and arena did she and others decide to mention it in opposition to the public.
Those are facts sir, go look them up I am not your teacher, not my job to make sure you are ready.
Do you honestly think that Bush was only person who knew what was going on?
Do you think only republicans had knowledge of the events?
If you answered no to either of those I assume it was an honest mistake on your behalf to not include any others except for Bush and republicans.
If you answered yes to either of those questions then I would love the number of your dealer, I have a party next week, with those kind of narcotics I am sure to have a hit of a get together.
Appologies for the length of time it took for a response, I was looking into renting a tour bus.
Kamchak
May 4th, 2009
9:31 am
George American @8:54
Nah it is just a typical episode of Walker Texas Ranger with the wingnuts having the usual wet dream they are the title character.
Midori
May 4th, 2009
9:31 am
a lot of you wingnuts should take lessons from Jack Kemp.
A real statesMAN.
jt
May 4th, 2009
9:31 am
Obama should “emminent domain” a certain ranch in Crawford,texas and build a prison.
Mrs. Godzilla
May 4th, 2009
9:32 am
willie,
if you’re keeping track Mao killed more than both those two put together!
williebkind
May 4th, 2009
9:32 am
TnGelding: You are correct but Clinton was releasing Osama bin laden and a gusher on a blue dress.
williebkind
May 4th, 2009
9:34 am
What another socialist killing millions? Mrs G. that sure is good promotion for becoming a socialist country.
Copyleft
May 4th, 2009
9:35 am
So, these prisoners… what have they been proven guilty of, exactly?
Simple question, but I’ll bet most folks don’t have an answer. Including the government.
Midori
May 4th, 2009
9:36 am
Willie,
you’re not doing justice to your cause/claims by posting such stupidity as your 9:32.
When, please tell us, did Bill Clinton “release” Osama Bin Laden?
And what does sex have to do with it?
Just as Bush proved he could’nt walk and chew gum at the same time, Bill Clinton proved just the opposite.
georgian by birth floridian because I'm lucky
May 4th, 2009
9:36 am
Swami Dave @ 8:55,
Great point that is the real threat of housing these gitmo detainees.
But of course it must be because ALL of us think they are going to escape and then rape and pillage.
Just ask any of the far left lean, if and when we do not expressly agree with everything they say or offer then it is because we either hate or are affraid of someone or something.
Remember all who is not far left is now deemed undesirable.
Just hope they don’t start housing us seperate too.
RB from Gwinnett
May 4th, 2009
9:36 am
TN, can you please share with us how many intelligence briefings Bush was given in the month of August, how many “threats” were being made all over the world, and which ones he did and did not act on?
Only in the simple mind of a liberal can you think the only intelligence briefing the man had was warning him of 911 (including the date, apparently, since you bashed him for reading to a class that day) and he did nothing with it. You’re a fool, TN. A simple minded fool.
Midori
May 4th, 2009
9:37 am
Copyleft,
it is my understanding that those found innocent, or shouldn’t be there in the first place, are being released to their home countries.
williebkind
May 4th, 2009
9:38 am
Midori: You are the epitome of the blind leading the blind.
Your morning jolt: Mitt Romney's swipe at Sarah Palin | Political Insider
May 4th, 2009
9:38 am
[...] Some opinion: Jay Bookman asks, why not hold terrorists right here in Georgia? [...]
Paul
May 4th, 2009
9:39 am
[[But the problem is, there’s too much political gain to be had by telling the American people they ought to be scared, very scared, by the mere presence of such men on American soil.]]
Jay – I’ll offer that’s a politically acceptable tact and that the real reason may have much, much more (for many Democratic reps) the reality that all the groups, visitors, monitors, exposers, advocates, etc. who were practically in residence at Gitmo to expose the cruelty and perfidy of the American captors, will not simply melt away. They will merely move to wherever the detainees are. And then these same critics of All Things Bush will have the microscope turned on them (facilities in districts or states they represent). And then these same senators and congressmen will become the architects, the facilitators, the enablers of persecution, ill treatment and violators of American values.
williebkind
May 4th, 2009
9:39 am
Have a good day y’all. May your socialist take over be delayed. But I am a product of public schools!
Kamchak
May 4th, 2009
9:39 am
Taxpayer
Thanks for the 9:20. Just goes to prove trickle down works–for some elite few.
Mrs. Godzilla
May 4th, 2009
9:40 am
willie, willie, willie
the “socialist” meme promoted by the rad-right has had no effect
on how the majority of Americans look at our most excellent President.
Only the mean, ignorant, frightened, weak in mind and body and soul
have fallen for it. Nothin’ personal…..
lkuhg
May 4th, 2009
9:40 am
is susan meyers an idiot
Susan Myers
May 4th, 2009
9:45 am
Ikuhg @ 9:40,
I haven’t seen anyone here by the name of Susan Meyers…
AmVet
May 4th, 2009
9:45 am
How does one deal with an entire political party whose core constituency views compromise as being a deserter? Messiers McCain, Specter, Hagel, et al?
Who sees the proper and normal political process of give and take as an infirmity?
Whose dogma requires that they see reason as godlessness?
What the hell has happened here, good people? And right before our very eyes.
Statesmanship is now weakness? And good governance is predicated solely upon bloodlust and mistargeted violence?
Over the previous eight years (and one could argue since 1980) we’ve witness countless inane sound bites, meaningless slogans, entrenched deception and corruption and the most simplistic, illogical and deadly thinking by any group of adults in our lifetimes.
And so we are here now – where a major political party has so shiite the bed, for so long, in so many ways, that they are the laughingstock of the American people and the world.
The Party of Lincoln an unmitigated disaster and embarrassment? Rudderless and unashamed?
And sadly, no tragically, a near total disappointment to the people of this great nation that they were supposed to serve.
Bosch
May 4th, 2009
9:45 am
May 4th, 2009 “Word of the Day”
“Perfidy.”
Nice one Paul.
Taxpayer
May 4th, 2009
9:47 am
georgian by birth,
the obvious inference from my post was that you start at the top — Bush and Cheney. Of course they are not the only ones that need to grilled but I did not think it necessary to list more to make my point. You, on the other hand added nothing about Rumsfeld or Bybee or any of the others in the Bush Administration that could have been mentioned. Now, did you really have a point that you wanted to make, other than wanting to try and pin something on Pelosi. Why not start by listing those ‘others’ that gave their approval that you refer to, no allusion required, and let’s go from there. Also, do you think that Pelosi, newly selected as minority speaker back when all this began, was under any obligation to not divulge anything that might be construed as classified. So, what if she knew something. What could she legally do with it and again what approval would she be giving to anyone.
Finally, you can take your stupid ‘narcotics’ comment and share it with your fellow Republican scum, Rush. I’m sure you two would hit it off instantly at one of your parties.
@@
May 4th, 2009
9:49 am
Dang, jay!
I drop in at Wooten’s to find that, when push comes to shove, the NYTs liberalism is nothing but empty talk. Here, I find you blowing your bleeding heart up with this one:
In fact, I’d bet that if released into the general American prison population, most of the “fearsome” Gitmo detainees wouldn’t last the day.
I’m not so much worried about escape. It’s their release that concerns me. It’s conceivable that if acquitted, we could more easily return/deport them to those countries who are refusing to accept them now…
with a clearer conscience, of course.
Leftist principles will always prove to be superficial.
TnGelding
May 4th, 2009
9:50 am
RB from Gwinnett
May 4th, 2009
9:36 am
I hope you feel better atacking me for posting two “simple” facts. It doesn’t change the fact that we were attacked after the briefing and he had failed to notify the FAA. He really looked reasuring as he sat there in that class dumbfounded for nearly 8 minutes and then allowed the SS to make him look like a coward. He thought he was history, but the gullible electorate fooled him, all because Kerry got photographed windsurfing.
He reportedly received a briefing every morning.
Yes, I’m simple, as are most of our problems. But I do think for myself and my opinions are my own. And what you think of me means absolutely nothing, but I’ll debate you on any subject, anywhere.
Midori
May 4th, 2009
9:54 am
then perhaps, Willie, you should gouge your eyes out.
perhaps your IQ
Midori
May 4th, 2009
9:54 am
then perhaps, Willie, you should gouge your eyes out.
perhaps your IQ will creep up a couple points.
Susan Myers
May 4th, 2009
9:58 am
Gingrey is a self-serving sleazebag that I wouldn’t trust as far as I could throw him, and I can’t throw greasy rich doctors very far. One thing I’ll compliment him on is his ability to keep his name before the constituents – he really is good at that.