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Don’t Blame Obama: Only 6 Democratic Senators Voted To Fund Closing GITMO
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Far left progressives constantly bash Obama for not closing GITMO, but a closer look at the facts reveals that their blame has been misplaced.
On January 22, 2009 as one of his first official acts in office, Barack Obama signed an executive order to close GITMO within one year. On that day Obama said, “This is me following through on not just a commitment I made during the campaign, but I think an understanding that dates back to our founding fathers, that we are willing to observe core standards of conduct, not just when it’s easy, but also when it’s hard.
In May 2009 only 6 Senate Democrats voted NO on the amendment to, “To prohibit funding to transfer, release, or incarcerate detainees detained at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to or within the United States.”
Progressive heroes Chuck Schumer, Byron Dorgan, and Russ Feingold all sided with the Republican minority and voted to deny Obama the funding that he needed to close GITMO and relocate the detainees. Only six Democrats stood with the president on closing GITMO, Durbin, Harkin, Reed, Levin, Leahy, and Whitehouse. The rest of them caved to fear tactics and voted with the Republicans.
Fast forward to December 2009, Obama signs a presidential memo ordering Attorney General Holder and Defense Sec. Gates to acquire the state prison in Thompson, IL as a replacement for GITMO.
In May 2010 the Democratically controlled House Armed Services Committee votes unanimously to prohibit the opening of any GITMO replacement facility in the United States, and the dream of closing GITMO was dead.
This timeline is important because it demonstrates that the Obama bashing far left’s retelling of “Obama breaking his promise and not closing GITMO” bears little relation to reality. The president tried repeatedly to close GITMO only to be stymied by a Democratic Congress who saw its numbers bolstered in 2008 based on their vow to work with Obama. After the election, congressional Democrats took their gain of 21 House seats and 8 Senate seats, and promptly put their own political survival ahead of the Obama agenda
If far left progressives want to be angry, they should be upset with the behavior of the Democratic Senate. However they must keep in mind that Democratic Senate was never what they thought it was. The Reid Report has a great post up debunking the myth that Obama ever had a progressive majority to begin with,
Of the 56 Democrats and 2 Independents caucusing with the Senate majority when Barack Obama took office, (there were two seats unfilled, due to a disputed race in Minnesota that wasn’t resolved until July, and the former Obama Senate seat in Illinois) — 17 represented red or red-leaning states…Another 27 represented blue or blue leaning states…The remaining 12 repped swing states.
The president never had the great progressive majority that the Obama bashing left believes existed. At best Obama was 16-18 progressive votes short on every measure. The Democratic majority of 58 Dems and 2 Independents in the Senate lasted for exactly 5 months in 2009.
The howls from progressive critics that, “Obama lies” are the cries of a group of whipped up followers who have been consistently and consciously misled by their leadership.
I know better than to believe that facts will be enough to help them see reality. The Obama bashing left is a kissing cousin of the same people who protested Obamacare while at the same time screaming don’t touch my Medicare!
Anyone who wishes to hold their leadership accountable, whether it is the President of the United States or the local dog catcher must understand the facts before they can carry out their civic duties, as watchdogs who aren’t tethered to facts end up watching the wrong things and eventually they aimlessly float away on a sea of opinion.
Deprogramming the brainwashed takes time, and it is my sincere hope that if enough of us keep administering the antidote of facts and truth, maybe a few of these poor lost souls will awaken from their ideologically induced stupor and return to political reality with the rest of us.
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majii
Jul. 16th, 2011 at 6:43 pm
Thanks, Jason! When I hear someone on the left accuse President Obama of lying about closing GITMO, it makes me wonder two things: whether they know that with the help of democrats in Congress, closing GITMO became an impossible promise for the president to keep, and how well-versed on the Constitution the person is because he/she doesn’t seem to understand that Congress must appropriate the funds to close the facility before the actual process of closing it can even begin. I’ve found that those who persist in blaming President Obama for GITMO not being closed seem to either believe in fairy tales wherein Congress plays no role or accepts no blame if something doesn’t get done, or they think the Constitution established the presidency as a dictatorship.
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karen brooks
Jul. 16th, 2011 at 7:01 pm
I thought everyone knew this. None of them wanted Gitmo in their back yard.
Are there really people who don’t understand government to this extent? Where do they come from, This is nuts. Please tell me these people aren’t on the left. CLUE! Donate to progressive and liberal senators and congressional representatives.
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Mike Kay
Jul. 16th, 2011 at 7:06 pm
but, but, but… if he only used the bully pulpit!
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Sarah Jones
Jul. 16th, 2011 at 7:07 pm
Thanks for this Jason. The issues of illegal detainment and military trials cannot be ignored, and by blaming Obama and letting the Senators off in this debate, we’ve only prolonged this issue. The fact that we let law and order fall by the wayside because no one has the b*lls to step up to the plate is maddening. They all want law and order, but some place else please.
The Obama DoJ (stuffed with the Bush fundies) is a huge disappointment to me (or rather, I didn’t expect things would get better, but I did hope they would throw those illegal appointees out), but the Senate had dropped the ball as well.
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buckeyewill
Jul. 16th, 2011 at 7:07 pm
Mr.Easley, you could have included Health Care Reform. Even without the Public Option, Conservative Dems were concerned about the pricetag.
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Sarah Jones
Jul. 16th, 2011 at 7:10 pm
And ALEC had already fought that war for the huge healthcare industry sector. We were lucky we got anything. The corporations run this place.
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JustNosy
Jul. 16th, 2011 at 7:08 pm
Third option, majii, would be that they are Rove inspired right-wing trolls who take pleasure in stirring the pot. It’s a tactic that works so well. Look! Over here. See the nice shiny object, aka Gitmo? They’re busy trying to split us up so we stay home rather than vote for Obama.
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Cathy
Jul. 16th, 2011 at 7:09 pm
Thank you for this article. I believe that extreme positions (and accompanying partial truths) on both the left and right can be very detrimental to our government. A system that makes compromises for the good of all the people is successful–we can’t all have everything we want, but we can still make our country better by working together.
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buckeyewill
Jul. 16th, 2011 at 7:11 pm
Oh, as for GITMO, it’s NIMBY. No one wanted to jail people deemed to be terrorists…..who got great health care from the Government.
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Centerist Cynic
Jul. 16th, 2011 at 8:08 pm
Too many Americans live in a fantasy land where the President is someone like Harry Potter who can wave a magic wand and make things all better. Too few realize Congress must first pass a law before the President can sign it into law. Thanks for the great piece.
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Ingarose
Jul. 16th, 2011 at 8:55 pm
Absolutely right. Yes, people really think that the president can do magic. Just watching several TV channels one gets the feeling that people and pundits want the president to have all the answers.
Gee, I thought we got rid of kings, yet the public only wants a king to tell them what to do and straighten out everything.
Personally, I am not on the side of those who think that our president can do no wrong. Thinking that Obama is doing everything right is just as wrong as those who thought that Bush could do no wrong.
Once upon a time humanity got rid of kings and queens (ok Britain likes them for show), why can’t we get rid of the idea of ONE president? Get a few wiser people together to mesh things out.
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dave™©
Jul. 16th, 2011 at 8:21 pm
Yeah, the last thing any “progressive” should do is complain about Obama’s complete and total inability to get the things he claimed he wants passed by his own party. Especially when he had to deal with a 70% approval rating and solid majorities in both houses of Congress.
It’s all eleventy dimensional chess and he’s the master! Now shut up and sign that donation check!
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mike
Jul. 16th, 2011 at 8:36 pm
Did you build that strawman all on your own? Wow. Let me fill the rest in for you “Mean old Obama supporters dumb motherfu*kers said do not criticize dear leader!”
Let us know when you turn 5 and they let you read the actual words on the page which do not say anything about not criticizing the President but do say a lot about not being a dumb mother fu*ker when you do it.
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nk007
Jul. 16th, 2011 at 10:42 pm
There is nothing wrong about complaining about President Obama. There is nothing wrong about criticizing President Obama. But shouldn’t the complaints and criticism be based on facts? Do the so called “pure” progressives have to use right wing tactics, of making up facts, to bash President Obama? Must we excuse the “pure” progressives from their failure to understand the American political system, which is based on divided power between the three branches of government? I would have no problem if the criticism was that President Obama failed to use his persuasive power to convince the Congress to support his efforts to close Guantanamo. But it is a bold faced lie to claim that Obama lied by not fulfilling his pledge to close Guantanamo! May be you missed what Jason tried to get across: having majority Democratic members does not equal having majority “pure” progressives. Even your darling, Russ Feingold voted against closing Guantanamo. I also didn’t see Barnie Sanders on the list of six who sided with the President. I suppose that must be the vote he missed.
In my humble opinion, the “holier than thou progressives” really need a refresher course in history and politics. As JFK realized, there are limits to Presidential powers. As powerful as he may be, a president cannot act as dictator. And so for the use of the “bully pulpit” the preacher has to have a congregation ready to receive the message.
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Oldsun
Jul. 16th, 2011 at 10:50 pm
Nobody ever said that you could not criticize Obama, however, you need to use facts and not your own opinion. When you do all you do is sound like the Tea Party. And as for getting things done Obama has done more in two years than any President has in 8 years the only one whom did more was FDR and he needed 12. Facts the enemy of the GOP, Tea Party and the firebaggers.
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sundaro
Jul. 16th, 2011 at 8:57 pm
Funny thing tho: we still hold people there without legal procedures or day in court; in land of law there can never be anybody who cannot be tried or released! This is the politics of fascism and the president condoned it! Never mind we didn’t put them somewhere else!
The real scandal is this exceptionalism.
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mike
Jul. 16th, 2011 at 9:19 pm
I think you mean the Pentagon condoned it, unless you think any president has authority over those Fascists, in which case you would be smoking happy crack and I’d like some please.
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sundaro
Jul. 16th, 2011 at 9:26 pm
Last thing I heard, he’s the commander in chief.
The buck stops there!
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mike
Jul. 16th, 2011 at 9:35 pm
Silly me I gave you the benefit of the doubt, but I get it now. Evil power exists only in the White House, and he runs the world. While you comfort yourself with that little fantasy, rest assured the rest of us are working around the power structure as best we can to actually get something done.
No president has controlled the Pentagon for a very long time, but I’m sure your opinions are more valid to you than anyone else’s experience or reality.
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nk007
Jul. 16th, 2011 at 10:47 pm
But do you know who controls the purse? Can the President unilaterally finance the closing of Guantanamo and relocating the people held there to mainland American prisons/detention camps? I am really disappointed that people who claim to be progressives are as ignorant of the American political system as are the teabaggers.
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sundaro
Jul. 17th, 2011 at 5:37 pm
My point is not about finances or how much a president CAN do.
The president is the one who sets the tone and the direction he wants the nation to take.
He did not even TRY to address the abomination of having prisoners of war-undeclared as it may be- being held for YEARS without legal representation or court of law. Hundreds of people, grabbed apparently under weird circumstances, 86 year old goatherds or 14 old kids, then being held for years ,just because someone said the magical word “terrorist”.
Now there are some 170 who cannot be tried or set free, because no court of law would admit ‘confessions’ recorded under torture ( which WE don’t do or condone or seek from others, right?), but somehow by someone are qualified as too “bad” to let go.. so they are kept INDEFINETLY in cages!!!!.. and we argue finances of moving Guantanmo..
America wonders why ‘they’ hate us so much:
it’s not for envy of our freedoms- it’s the total disregard
of respect of human rights when it concerns someone ‘else’.
“Real politiker” like Mike collect their checks from the power- that -is and can’t afford the intellectual liberty to ask the essential question: what does a stance on human right mean in day-to day politics?
Not much, apparently.He only thinks within the boundaries of what is ‘possible’ and calls it good.
I envy them their sleep… Not.
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mike
Jul. 16th, 2011 at 9:37 pm
On my way out and I see this. Can any of you argue without strawmen? “ALL left”? Where does it say that? NOWHERE. Congratulations for knowing something. You might try to spread it around.
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Shiva (Moderator)
Jul. 16th, 2011 at 11:11 pm
Grow up. And you are not threatening anyone.
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Shiva (Moderator)
Jul. 16th, 2011 at 11:17 pm
I just got a laugh too. And you will see it soon
Threatening? Like when you say, “you spread the word”
That was my 2nd laugh
Bye junior
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nk007
Jul. 16th, 2011 at 10:10 pm
Wow! This is really an excellent post Jason! It really amazes me how the “holier than thou progressives” are very similar to the teabaggers: both groups could care less about facts; they also share a passionate hatred of President Obama.
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Shiva (Moderator)
Jul. 16th, 2011 at 11:15 pm
He refers to the ” “holier than thou progressives”” and does not indicate that iot includes all progressives.
Grow up
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Laurel
Jul. 16th, 2011 at 11:13 pm
Just build a compound in the middle of Death Valley and be done with it already. How is fair that we endanger an entire island full of people because some idiots are too scared to have some possible criminals in their backyard. Our prisons are full of criminals. Manson is in someone’s backyard and no one is complaining. Hell there are criminals in my own neighborhood that could do more damage than some possible terrorists. You know who I’m talking about, child molesters, rapists, stalkers, etc.
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nk007
Jul. 17th, 2011 at 5:38 am
O.K. I have no issue with that. But who ultimately decides to build a prison in Death Valley? The President? The Congress? The Governors of California and Nevada? Who? And What about the the objections that are certainly to be raised by Human Rights groups?
Instead of continuously bashing the President, genuine progressives should be out there educating the American people about the importance of honoring the country’s commitment to the rule of law. I know President Obama is expected to do everything but is that possible in a democratic society? I wish we all could all heed JFK’s call: “Ask Not What the Country Can Do For You, But Ask What You Can Do For Your Country.” Where are the disciplined organizations out there organizing, and lobbying the Congress about the imperative of closing the Guantanamo Detention camps? All the people who are in love with LBJ’s Civil Rights accomplishments, completely forget to point out that he had to respond to the continuous, and relentless, mass civil rights protests demanding equality. To ignore the massive civil rights protests, and simply give all the credit to President Johnson, is to falsify history. It’s really not enough to sit behind our computer keyboards and spew venom against President Obama when we have done absolutely nothing to educate the people, and the Congress, to support the causes we advocate. LBJ did not lead the Civil Rights Movement. He simply responded to it because it had mobilized both domestic and international moral support for its cause.
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800t
Jul. 16th, 2011 at 11:34 pm
I just want to say THANK YOU. I’ve been reading you for three years now. Sometimes you really piss me off, but you have never lied to me or had an agenda, near as I can tell. When I ask myself who I should believe, the fact that you have NO CORPORATE MONEY tells me that you dedicated yourself to this out of passion, not profit. Sometimes you tell me things I don’t want to hear and other times I disagree with you. But you have never lied to me. It’s hard to find independent news sources. Hell I’ll even give you some money if you ever tell anyone where they can donate, not that I have a ton to spare right now. Keep up the good work and don’t let the bastards get you down.
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jacksmith
Jul. 17th, 2011 at 1:46 pm
REALITY!!
( http://my.firedoglake.com/iflizwerequeen/2011/05/16/how-about-a-little-truth-about-what-the-majority-want-for-health-care/ )
( Gov. Peter Shumlin: Real Healthcare reform — http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8yFUbkVCsZ4 )
( Health Care Budget Deficit Calculator — http://www.cepr.net/calculators/hc/hc-calculator.html )
( Briefing: Dean Baker on Boosting the Economy by Saving Healthcare http://t.co/fmVz8nM )
START NOW!
As you all know. Had congress passed a single-payer or government-run robust Public Option CHOICE! available to everyone on day one, our economy and jobs would have taken off like a rocket. And still will. Single-payer would be best. But a government-run robust Public Option CHOICE! that can lead to a single-payer system is the least you can accept. It’s not about competing with for-profit healthcare and for-profit health insurance. It’s about replacing it with Universal Healthcare Assurance. Everyone knows this now.
The message from the midterm elections was clear. The American people want real healthcare reform. They want that individual mandate requiring them to buy private health insurance abolished. And they want a government-run robust public option CHOICE! available to everyone on day one. And they want it now.
They want Drug re-importation, and abolishment, or strong restrictions on patents for biologic and prescription drugs. And government controlled and negotiated drug and medical cost. They want back control of their healthcare system from the Medical Industrial Complex. And they want it NOW!
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WILL NOT, AND MUST NOT, ALLOW AN INDIVIDUAL MANDATE TO STAND WITHOUT A STRONG GOVERNMENT-RUN PUBLIC OPTION CHOICE! AVAILABLE TO EVERYONE.
For-profit health insurance is extremely unethical, and morally repugnant. It’s as morally repugnant as slavery was. And few if any decent Americans are going to allow them-self to be compelled to support such an unethical and immoral crime against humanity.
This is a matter of National and Global security. There can be NO MORE EXCUSES.
Further, we want that corrupt, undemocratic filibuster abolished. Whats the point of an election if one corrupt member of congress can block the will of the people, and any legislation the majority wants. And do it in secret. Give me a break people.
Also, unemployment healthcare benefits are critically needed. But they should be provided through the Medicare program at cost, less the 65% government premium subsidy provided now to private for profit health insurance.
Congress should stop wasting hundreds of millions of dollars of taxpayer money on private for profit health insurance subsidies. Subsidies that cost the taxpayer 10x as much or more than Medicare does. Private for profit health insurance plans cost more. But provide dangerous and poorer quality patient care.
Republicans: GET RID OF THE INDIVIDUAL MANDATE.
Democrats: ADD A ROBUST GOVERNMENT-RUN PUBLIC OPTION TO HEALTHCARE REFORM.
This is what the American people are shouting at you. Both parties have just enough power now to do what the American people want. GET! IT! DONE! NOW!
If congress does not abolish the individual mandate. And establish a government-run public option CHOICE! before the end of 2011. EVERY! member of congress up for reelection in 2012 will face strong progressive pro public option, and anti-individual mandate replacement candidates.
Strong progressive pro “PUBLIC OPTION” CHOICE! and anti-individual mandate volunteer candidates should begin now. And start the process of replacing any and all members of congress that obstruct, or fail to add a government-run robust PUBLIC OPTION CHOICE! before the end of 2011.
We need two or three very strong progressive volunteer candidates for every member of congress that will be up for reelection in 2012. You should be fully prepared to politically EVISCERATE EVERY INCUMBENT that fails or obstructs “THE PUBLIC OPTION”. And you should be willing to step aside and support the strongest pro “PUBLIC OPTION” candidate if the need arises.
ASSUME CONGRESS WILL FAIL and SELLOUT again. So start preparing now to CUT THEIR POLITICAL THROATS. You can always step aside if they succeed. But only if they succeed. We didn’t have much time to prepare before these past midterm elections. So the American people had to use a political shotgun approach. But by 2012 you will have a scalpel.
Congress could have passed a robust government-run public option during it’s lame duck session. They knew what the American people wanted. They already had several bills on record. And the house had already passed a public option. Departing members could have left with a truly great accomplishment. And the rest of you could have solidified your job before the 2012 elections.
President Obama, you promised the American people a strong public option available to everyone. And the American people overwhelmingly supported you for it. Maybe it just wasn’t possible before. But it is now.
Knock heads. Threaten people. Or do whatever you have to. We will support you. But get us that robust public option CHOICE! available to everyone on day one before the end of 2011. Or We The People Of The United States will make the past midterm election look like a cake walk in 2012. And it will include you.
We still have a healthcare crisis in America. With hundreds of thousands dieing needlessly every year in America. And a for profit medical industrial complex that threatens the security and health of the entire world. They have already attacked the world with H1N1 killing thousands, and injuring millions. And more attacks are planned for profit, and to feed their greed.
Spread the word people.
Progressives, prepare the American peoples scalpels. It’s time to remove some politically diseased tissues.
God Bless You my fellow human beings. I’m proud to be one of you. You did good.
See you on the battle field.
Sincerely
jacksmith – WorkingClass :-)
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