Is the Illinois GOP really that scared of mutant terrorists?
The Obama administration is seriously studying the use of a prison 150 miles from Chicago as a site to hold inmates now imprisoned at Guantanamo. The move is being embraced by Illinois Democrats, but GOP House members from Illinois have signed a letter to the president opposing the move:
Dear Mr. President:
According to the Chicago Tribune, your Administration may transfer up to 200 Al Qaeda terrorists from their detention facility in Guantanamo Bay a prison in Thomson, Illinois, 150 miles from Chicago.
If your Administration brings Al Qaeda terrorists to Illinois, our state and the Chicago Metropolitan Area will become ground zero for Jihadist terrorist plots, recruitment and radicalization.
Furthermore, since Thomson is located in the Northern District of Illinois, any civilian prosecution of Al Qaeda terrorists would occur in Rockford or downtown Chicago.
As home to America’s tallest building, we should not invite Al Qaeda to make Illinois its number one target.
The United States spent more than $50 million to build the Guantanamo Bay detention facility to keep terrorists away from U.S. soil. Al Qaeda terrorists should stay where they cannot endanger American citizens.
As elected officials in the State of Illinois, we urge you to put the safety and security of Illinois families first and stop any plan to transfer Al Qaeda terrorists to our state.
That raises a question: Are these guys really craven cowards, or are they merely willing to play craven cowards in an attempt to gain political advantage? Do they really think that Chicago, “The City of Big Shoulders,” has become Chicago, the City of Frightened Whiners?
The Brotherhood of Mutants Marvel Comics
In fact, if you embrace the attitude reflected in that letter, we ought to just quit fighting al Qaida altogether — that way, maybe they won’t be mad at us anymore.
Personally, the most charitable explanation I can think of is that the GOP has gotten al Qaida and the Muslim Brotherhood confused with the evil Magneto and the Brotherhood of Mutants. They seem to think that Islamic terrorists can melt steel prison bars by staring at them, that they can shape-shift themselves right out of federal Supermax custody.
Even as political theater, this strikes me as a loser. The American people do not want leaders who treat them as cowards.
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162 comments Add your comment
mm
November 16th, 2009
10:33 am
Republicans are cowards that politicize everything.
AF
November 16th, 2009
10:36 am
It doesn’t matter where the people held at Guantanamo are jailed in the US. The Republicans will object. They are not about solving problems. They are only about the GREAT “NO”.
Zedd
November 16th, 2009
10:46 am
No worries, the Republicans will attach an ammendment to the health care bill or one of the budget bills that will prevent the transfer of Guantanamo inmates to US prisons.
Call it like it is.
November 16th, 2009
10:47 am
Jay you are completely reaching on this and trying to paint this as the Republicans are the only ones who have an issue on this is silly. Even worse trying to paint them as cowards or whinners is insulting at best. I am sure you could go to Chicago and find plenty of Democrats that do not want these guys in their backyard. Any American who still has a thought or image of 9/11 can see what these guys and their croanies are capable of. I for one would not want them jailed in Atlanta where attention could be drawed to our city and its surrounding communities, does that make me a coward?
Jay I just didnt realize how brave you and the left are. I am surprise your not using your full potential. Stop writing this dribble and go suit up Captain Caveman and go fight for America.
Jackie
November 16th, 2009
10:48 am
For all those at Guantanamo found guilty and put in jail in the US, who will protect those found guilty from the prisoners?
I am afraid they would not last very long.
Finn McCool
November 16th, 2009
10:49 am
Call It Like It Is,
Cowards
Bosch
November 16th, 2009
10:51 am
Jackie @ 10:48 – I dont’ mean this disrespectful, but the only thing I can think of in response to your post is:
So?
Finn McCool
November 16th, 2009
10:52 am
AF, the Republicans like to say “Yes” to only one thing: Lowering taxes.
They love living in ‘Murica but somebody else is gonna have to pay for it to exist.
Finn McCool
November 16th, 2009
10:55 am
If the Democrats really wanted a Republican or two to support health care reform, they could just lower somebody’s (anybody’s) taxes and a few of them would go limp.
[I'm about to get on the road so I have to submit all my rants before I log off! heh heh heh]
Jackie
November 16th, 2009
10:57 am
@Bosch
I think the best way to punish those that perpetuated this upon us is to keep them in jail for the rest of their natural lives. Killing them quickly is too easy. Let them sit there knowing they will never leave the facility they are assigned.
I find it a better means of retribution than the state putting them to death or tacitly “allowing” their demise.
Mrs. Godzilla
November 16th, 2009
10:57 am
Yep, they really are that scared.
stands for decibels
November 16th, 2009
10:58 am
If the Democrats really wanted a Republican or two to support health care reform, they could just lower somebody’s (anybody’s) taxes and a few of them would go limp.
They did. It was part of the 787 billion dollar stimulus bill, remember?
Those tax cuts, however, weren’t real because, well, they weren’t massive handouts to billionaires. Everyone knows you can’t have growth without massive handouts to billionaires.
Just like everyone knows that Al Qaeda terrorists are superhuman.
Boogers for the Children Fund
November 16th, 2009
11:00 am
“has gotten al Qaida and the Muslim Brotherhood confused with the evil Magneto and the Brotherhood of Mutants.”
All one in the same.
Perhaps some of these kind IL Dems might allow a few of the gitmo prisoners to take up residence in their humble abode. After all, they are harmless.
Typical dems handing off the problem to others.
Democrats…the party of Zero responsiblity.
Jay
November 16th, 2009
11:01 am
Call It, I would be perfectly comfortable having those mutant terrorists imprisoned at the Atlanta Pen, which is just three or four miles from my house as the crow flies. How about you? Does that notion terrify you? I suspect not. I suspect you recognize this as baseless fear-mongering but just won’t admit it.
Jackie, the Gitmo gang would be kept entirely segregated from the general prison population, with no contact whatsoever.
stands for decibels
November 16th, 2009
11:03 am
As home to America’s tallest building, we should not invite Al Qaeda to make Illinois its number one target.
We should only house the Gitmo guys in states with really really short buildings.
Finn McCool
November 16th, 2009
11:05 am
In the last year, wholesale prices of brand-name prescription drugs has increased around 9 percent in what some say is the largest increase since 1992. These increases are taking place even though prices around the country are generally falling. The industry insists its price increases have nothing to do with health care reform, which it has vowed to support by cutting $80 billion over 10 years from the nation’s drug bill. But critics contend that promise won’t mean much if prices keep increasing at the current pace, which would already add $10 billion to the nation’s health care costs. One expert says this isn’t the first time the industry has increased prices in anticipation of important legislation, noting that the same thing happened in 2006 when Congress added drug benefits to Medicare
http://slatest.slate.com/id/2235750/entry/1/
Boogers for the Children Fund
November 16th, 2009
11:05 am
stands for decibels
November 16th, 2009
11:03 am
LOL…or really really short people.
booger
November 16th, 2009
11:05 am
The issue is not fear for those with common sense. Guitmo is a building sitting on a piece of land. Neither the building nor the land has ever treated an inmate badly. Policies, and actions by people may or may not have treated them badly depending on your point of view. As a conservative, I think it it ridiculous to spend $100,000,000 to move a group of people from one buliding on a piece of land to another buliding on another piece of land. The policies and people have already been changed, so what’s the problem?
Mrs. Godzilla
November 16th, 2009
11:05 am
Yep…we started on Jay’s blog Saturday saying….they’re harmless.
All us dems….harmless harmless harmless…..
Some of us called them little lambs
Some of us called them sweetie punkin lovey bunnies
NOT
Boogers, quit being so snotty!
Bosch
November 16th, 2009
11:06 am
Jackie,
Again, I respectfully disagree – more because how I feel about the death penalty. I am for the death penalty, and if these people are found guilty, then I think they should be executed. Now, I know that will make these people martyrs in their own land, and I really don’t care about that to be honest. They are going to be martyrs regardless and I don’t want our tax dollars going to house these people. If they are found innocent, then let them go home – which in all liklihood they will have deep seeded resentement towards the US and could possibly become a terrorist. Again, that is not something I can control, but keeping them imprisoned because we are scared of what they might do is simply not, in my opinion, what our country represents and how it should be behaving.
mm
November 16th, 2009
11:13 am
Booger,
“Perhaps some of these kind IL Dems might allow a few of the gitmo prisoners to take up residence in their humble abode.”
Typical apples to oranges tripe from the right.
stands for decibels
November 16th, 2009
11:15 am
I don’t want our tax dollars going to house these people.
Not this dead, smelly dog again…
Look, you want to argue that the death penalty makes sense because it’s kewl to kill nasty ol’ terrists, make that argument.
But it makes no economic sense whatsoever. It is much, much more expensive–and it MUST be much, much more expensive–to impose a death penalty, because for us to call ours a “justice system” you HAVE to have appeal phases to exhaust every last shred of reasonable doubt before an execution takes place.
The kind of legal defense a death penalty defendant has is mandated by a SCOTUS ruling. Put another way, killing a guy on the taxpayer’s dime cannot be easy or cheap.
So that’s a bogus argument. It would be, undoubtedly, far cheaper to keep guilty parties locked up for life than to run another appeal or three, with all the attendant legal costs.
mm
November 16th, 2009
11:18 am
I guess the righties conveniently forgot that the Bush administration tried Zacharias Mousawi (sp?)in Virginia. Hypocrisy rules for the GOP.
Joan
November 16th, 2009
11:22 am
I am surprised that you think Republicans are scared. We are the ones who have the guns. Why would be we scared? I figure these guys are going to the Chicago pen because this is Obama’s way of paying back some political debts. I would like very much for some investigative reporter with a little integrity to look into exactly whose back is being scratched that has resulted in the transfer to the Chicago pen. I guess I wonder too, why haven’t we just tried and executed these losers? Or take them out to the middle of the ocean and release them?
j$
November 16th, 2009
11:27 am
Obama Oil Exploration Initiative (OOEI):
Take them to Barrow, Alaska and give them a pick and and hoe.
Bosch
November 16th, 2009
11:28 am
sfd,
It would be interesting to see how much we spend on someone’s death penalty case vs. keeping them in prison for say 50 years. Do you know of any stats on this? I’m just curious.
I see your point, but if we are going to spend the money anyway, then in my opinion, it should be towards the path to the death chamber. And, of course, it also depends on what they were convicted of – if their actions caused the death of someone or plural.
mm
November 16th, 2009
11:30 am
Joan,
I guess you didn’t get the real facts on Fox News, but the Illinois governor suggested the prisoners be moved there.
The fact is the GOP doesn’t want dirty laundry aired during a trial.
Mrs. Godzilla
November 16th, 2009
11:30 am
Joan
Why would you be surprised?
Most folks buy guns BECAUSE they are scared .
Bosch
November 16th, 2009
11:31 am
sfd,
Actually I found something:
http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/costs-death-penalty
And I stand corrected. That’s interesting to think about actually, but it doesn’t change my mind about the death penalty.
TnGelding
November 16th, 2009
11:32 am
Just playing politics, as usual. And why not? We’ve proven how stupid and gullible we are.
stands for decibels
November 16th, 2009
11:34 am
It would be interesting to see how much we spend on someone’s death penalty case vs. keeping them in prison for say 50 years.
Well, the rule of thumb I see for max-security prisoners is around 30 grand per year. that is a lot of money, obviously. But compared to a legal team billing work at 250-500 per hour? And remember that’s just for their defense; our Justice department doesn’t work for free.
Kamchak
November 16th, 2009
11:35 am
I am surprised that you think Republicans are scared.
Why is it that you are surprised? The fear is spelled out in this passage of that letter:
If your Administration brings Al Qaeda terrorists to Illinois, our state and the Chicago Metropolitan Area will become ground zero for Jihadist terrorist plots, recruitment and radicalization.
And this one:
As home to America’s tallest building, we should not invite Al Qaeda to make Illinois its number one target.
And this one:
Al Qaeda terrorists should stay where they cannot endanger American citizens.
And finally, this one:
As elected officials in the State of Illinois, we urge you to put the safety and security of Illinois families first and stop any plan to transfer Al Qaeda terrorists to our state.
Reading is fundamental—geez.
Mrs. Godzilla
November 16th, 2009
11:35 am
mm
I think you hit the nail on the head……
I Report :-) You Whine :-( mmm, mmmm, mmmmm!
November 16th, 2009
11:37 am
They seem to think that Islamic terrorists can melt steel prison bars by staring at them, that they can shape-shift themselves right out of federal Supermax custody.
What about the ones already outside of the bars who would be able to kidnap and hold hostage the families of the prison guards?
Or bomb them?
Joan
November 16th, 2009
11:41 am
That was on the list of things I predicted would happen if Obama became president: The Sears Tower would blow. The market would crash (did in Feb); A major US corporation would move go offshore–Anheuser Busch; a terrorist would attack–Ft. Hood. So far I am batting 75%.
stands for decibels
November 16th, 2009
11:43 am
That was on the list of things I predicted would happen if Obama became president
Cite, please.
Jay
November 16th, 2009
11:44 am
“What about the ones already outside of the bars who would be able to kidnap and hold hostage the families of the prison guards?
Or bomb them?”
Yeah, what about them?
You mean al Qaida isn’t already out there trying to do as much harm as possible? You mean that the Mafia, the Mexican drug cartels and prison gangs don’t already have incentive to do those things?
What exactly has you so frightened? Maybe we shouldn’t put the names of dead soldiers in the paper, so al Qaida won’t know to attack them. Maybe we should hide the names of our congressmen?
Just how far do you want to push this lunacy? The funny thing is, you know better.
Doggone/GA
November 16th, 2009
11:45 am
“It would be interesting to see how much we spend on someone’s death penalty case vs. keeping them in prison for say 50 years. Do you know of any stats on this? I’m just curious.”
It very much depends on where they are. This site: http://www.dc.state.fl.us/pub/statsbrief/cost.html says that it costs “It costs $55.09 on average per day or $20,108 per year to keep an inmate in prison (FY0708)” date June 2009
Someone asked the same question on Yahoo Answers http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20081023052221AAkjPoI and teh figure there is $22,000 per year, and the answer is dated “1 year ago”
Bosch
November 16th, 2009
11:46 am
“But compared to a legal team billing work at 250-500 per hour? And remember that’s just for their defense; our Justice department doesn’t work for free.”
Didn’t Jay cover this topic the other day? I wasn’t around much for that.
I’ll admit that’s not a great way to spend our cash, but I don’t think we should do away with it. It’s a quagmire. And, yes, I’ll admit that with me, as with many people who believe in the death penalty is more about being vengeful – which isn’t a good trait, but still.
But again, you are right – that is a pretty bogus argument, from me – so thanks for pointing that out!
I Report :-) You Whine :-( mmm, mmmm, mmmmm!
November 16th, 2009
11:47 am
The Russians know that “cap and tax” would destroy the US economy, so they blackmail the dimwit liberals in their own ecoterror speak-
Russia’s Medvedev warns of climate catastrophe
Helping us along to our demise.
Normal
November 16th, 2009
11:49 am
Been real busy this morning and taking lunch now.
My thoughts are basically of surprise. I suppose I agree with Jay that the Illinois Senators are politically motivated, but it seems to me that trying them here is the most American thing to do, especially if they are associated with 911. They hit here, so try them here and if found quilty sentence them here and put them away for life here, and make their life a living hell of solitary confinement.
…And if you are truly worried about reprisals, bring our troops home to secure our borders and ports. Let them protect someone who appreciates their efforts.
Boogers for the Children Fund
November 16th, 2009
11:50 am
Perhaps the kenyan could regale the Gitmo prisoners with one of his grand speeches, ya know kinda “muslim to muslim”, then they might see the error their ways.
Or better yet and after said “regaling” the kenyan might have inspired them to scream “allah akbart” and they will take themselves out…of course leaving the kenyan untouched.
Midori
November 16th, 2009
11:54 am
Jay,
I must confess — I didn’t know you had it in you.
this is HILARIOUS!!!
Lord Help Us
November 16th, 2009
11:56 am
I say we ship them back to Afghanistan…so we can ‘fight them over there instead of fighting them over here…’
That worked out so well the first time…
Bosch
November 16th, 2009
11:58 am
Hi Midori! Have a nice weekend?
Bosch
November 16th, 2009
12:00 pm
In my opinion, most Americans are just generally scared – they are scared of people not like them, they are scared of losing their money, they are scared of getting sick, they are scared someone will rob them and kill them or their family, they are scared their identities will be stolen, they are scared of losing their house, they are scared of losing their stuff.
They are scared. And we perpetuate that in so many ways it’s hard to keep count.
Lunchtime!!!!
N-GA
November 16th, 2009
12:00 pm
It’s really AMAZING !!!
“According to the Chicago Tribune, your Administration may transfer up to 200 Al Qaeda terrorists from their detention facility in Guantanamo Bay a prison in Thomson, Illinois, 150 miles from Chicago.”
Those GOP congressmen must be FRENCH ! Guilty until proven innocent. lol
Midori
November 16th, 2009
12:02 pm
Hi Boschie — got a lot of work done
Doggone/GA
November 16th, 2009
12:03 pm
Oh, and BTW…the GOP leadership is not scared, they just want their base to be scared
N-GA
November 16th, 2009
12:04 pm
Why not put them in prison with Duke Cunningham or William Jefferson?