Conservative leaders support Obama's Gitmo plan

[TheCouga]

Conservative Trio Supports Transferring Gitmo Detainees To Illinois

Republicans in Congress are gearing up to fight a new White House effort to relocate detainees at Guantanamo Bay to a prison facility in Illinois. But on Sunday, a group of highly respected conservative figures lent their support to the transfer, calling it necessary to "preserve national security" while simultaneously avoiding "sweeping and radical departures from an American constitutional tradition."

In a joint statement prepared by the Constitution Project, David Keene, founder of American Conservative Union, Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform, and former representative and presidential candidate Bob Barr say moving suspected terrorists to the Thomson, Illinois prison facility, "makes good sense." Taxpayers, they note, have already invested $145 million in the facility, which has been "little used." And the surrounding community, they add, could benefit from increased employment once the prison becomes filled.

"The scaremongering about these issues should stop," they add, noting that there is "absolutely no reason to fear that prisoners will escape or be released into their communities."

It's nice that these people are finally coming around and standing up for the Constitution--a couple years too late, but now is better than never!

[mtutiger]

Originally Posted by TheCouga

Conservative Trio Supports Transferring Gitmo Detainees To Illinois



It's nice that these people are finally coming around and standing up for the Constitution--a couple years too late, but now is better than never!

Barr, Norquist, and Keene have been in favor of this for a while, I believe.

[Mark The Shark]

Originally Posted by TheCouga

It's nice that these people are finally coming around and standing up for the Constitution--a couple years too late, but now is better than never!

If the Constitution applies to Guantanamo, why not keep them there? That's still "standing up for the Constitution."

[JohnJMS]

Wow. 3 GOP members supporting Obama means conservative leaders support his plan?

This is like having a thread titled

Democratic/Liberal Leaders Don't Support Health Care

because the following Democrats voted "NO" on HR 3962 (the House Health Care bill):

John Adler, Jason Altmire, Brian Baird, John Barrow, John Boccieri, Dan Boren, Rick Boucher, Allen Boyd, Bobby Bright, Ben Chandler, Travis Childers, Lincoln Davis, Artur Davis, Chet Edwards, Bart Gordon, Parker Griffith, Stephanie Herseth Sandlin, Tim Holden, Larry Kissell, Suzanne Kosmas, Frank Kratovil, Dennis Kucinich, Betsy Markey, Jim Marshall, Eric Massa, Jim Matheson, Mike McIntyre, Michael McMahon, Charles Melancon, Walt Minnick, Scott Murphy, Glenn Nye, Collin Peterson, Mike Ross, Heath Shuler, Ike Skelton, John Tanner, Gene Taylor, Harry Teague


Someone needs to tell Couga that political parties, as well as conservatives and liberals, don't vote in unison. Sheesh.

[billms]

Originally Posted by Mark The Shark

If the Constitution applies to Guantanamo, why not keep them there? That's still "standing up for the Constitution."

Gitmo is bad PR. You may think that is not worth considering - and its not worth *everything* but I think its worth something. Certainly this much.

[billms]

Originally Posted by JohnJMS

Wow. 3 GOP members supporting Obama means conservative leaders support his plan?

These are not three random conservatives. Grover Norquist in particular has been an extremely influential voice - one of the most important over the last 15 years. Certainly not in the realm of foreign policy or justice - but one of the most influential voices none the less.

You are right - its not a majority and they do not speak in unison. Which is exactly Couga's point - that these three stand out as different - so how can you suggest that he thinks they vote in unison?

[Mark The Shark]

Originally Posted by billms

Gitmo is bad PR. You may think that is not worth considering - and its not worth *everything* but I think its worth something. Certainly this much.

So really, closing Gitmo is "standing up for public relations!"

I can see why you'd couch it the other way. Standing up for PR isn't as sexy as standing up for the constitution.

[pfife]

Originally Posted by Mark The Shark

So really, closing Gitmo is "standing up for public relations!"

I can see why you'd couch it the other way. Standing up for PR isn't as sexy as standing up for the constitution.

I don't think anyone here is guilty of running from the PR issue - many here have made the argument, repeatedly, that Gitmo is a recruiting issue for terrorists.

[TheCouga]

Originally Posted by Mark The Shark

So really, closing Gitmo is "standing up for public relations!"

I can see why you'd couch it the other way. Standing up for PR isn't as sexy as standing up for the constitution.

Showing the rest of the world the power of the principles in our Constitution is good PR.

How's that?

[pfife]

Renouncing Islamism: To the brink and back again - Johann Hari, Commentators - The Independent

[TheCouga]

Originally Posted by pfife

I don't think anyone here is guilty of running from the PR issue - many here have made the argument, repeatedly, that Gitmo is a recruiting issue for terrorists.

It's also a symbol of our aggression towards Latin America, which is being used as a rallying point against US interests in the region.

[Mark The Shark]

Originally Posted by TheCouga

Showing the rest of the world the power of the principles in our Constitution is good PR.

How's that?

You have lawyer-speak down cold!

[billms]

Originally Posted by Mark The Shark

So really, closing Gitmo is "standing up for public relations!"

I can see why you'd couch it the other way. Standing up for PR isn't as sexy as standing up for the constitution.

Standing up for the constitution was the first part. That was settled. Now that things have changed I agree with you - as I think we discussed before - there do not appear to be any fundamental legal issues with leaving them at gitmo.

Congrats mark! Your side lost the war but wins on the secondary naming battle!

[billms]

Originally Posted by Mark The Shark

You have lawyer-speak down cold!

Not true, unless he sent somebody a bill.

[pfife]

Originally Posted by billms

Not true, unless he sent somebody a bill.

you're on fire dude