Archive for January 21st, 2009
From June 7, 2007
Prior to Barack Obama’s inauguration a big deal regarding Guantanamo Bay was made regarding a reversal of Bush policy on the terrorist detainees and the location of their incarceration. An executive order was to be made immediatley following Obama becoming President.
Here it is.
In one of his first acts in office President Obama has ordered the U.S. government to suspend prosecutions of prisoners at Guantanamo Bay for 120 days, military officials said Tuesday.
Papers filed at the U.S. prison camp said the request is made “in the interest of justice and at the direction of the president of the United States.” It seeks a delay in proceedings until May 20.
“The judges will receive the requests and review them, and we anticipate a ruling soon,” said Cmdr. Jeffrey Gordon, a Defense Department spokesman.
Tuesday’s directive was issued verbally through Defense Secretary Bob Gates, according to a military official.
This is a big deal?
A Reagan – Iranian hostage release inauguration moment?
No, it is more symbolism over substance or Plus Ca Change from Obama.
Ed Morrissey explains why the Obama decision is nothing but delay.
In this case, justice delayed is not much of a change at all. Did Obama not have an idea of how to proceed when he took office? A four-month delay only means that the detainees will have to wait that much longer to see any adjudication of their status. Why not allow the tribunals to proceed, at least to get a finding of fact from them? If Obama wants to invalidate the process later, he can also invalidate their findings. It’s difficult to see what Obama expects to get from a further delay, especially since one of the main complaints about Gitmo has been the length of time the men have been held without adjudication.
The delay would only be meaningful if Obama intended to free all of the Gitmo prisoners, something that the ACLU has urged. Somehow, I don’t think Barack Obama would be that foolish. It would be tough to win re-election as the man who set Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and the other 9/11 actors free simply to win favor from Europe’s elite.
In the end, Obama’s policy may not be that different from the Bush Administration. Campaign rhetoric is one thing; actual governance is another.
Here is another example of Barack Obama’s policy positions having an expiration date. Now, this is real change.
Technorati Tags: Barack Obama, Guantanamo Bay
Tags: Barack Obama, Guantanamo Bay
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Day By Day by Chris Muir
Reverend Joseph Lowry’s benediction at Barack Obama’s inauguration yesterday certainly set the tone for a post-racial Presidency – NOT.
So, has Brack Obama’s inauguration heightened tensions between white Americans and everyone else? A them vs. us mentality in the culture?
Remains to be seen. But, Lowry did not make a good start.
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The Day By Day Archive
Technorati Tags: Day By Day, Barack Obama, Joseph Lowry
Tags: Barack Obama, Day By Day, Joseph Lowry
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CNN has learned Gen. David Petraeus is returning to Washington to attend the meeting President Barack Obama is planning to have Wednesday with the Joint Chiefs and his wartime commanders.
That meeting is expected to involve discussion of troop levels in Iraq and Afghanistan and the new president is expected to tell commanders he wants them to plan to have combat forces out of Iraq in sixteen months– as he promised in the election campaign.
Petreaus will have just arrived from Afghanistan and Pakistan and is expected to brief Obama on the latest developments in that troubled region.
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Perhaps or he may wait a while.
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Address Gun Violence in Cities: Obama and Biden would repeal the Tiahrt Amendment, which restricts the ability of local law enforcement to access important gun trace information, and give police officers across the nation the tools they need to solve gun crimes and fight the illegal arms trade. Obama and Biden also favor commonsense measures that respect the Second Amendment rights of gun owners, while keeping guns away from children and from criminals. They support closing the gun show loophole and making guns in this country childproof. They also support making the expired federal Assault Weapons Ban permanent.
How, precisely, does the Obama Administration plan on "making guns in this country childproof"? Mandatory trigger locks?
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Beats me, Jim
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Well, isn’t this special? After overstaying her visa, ignoring a federal deportation order for years, escaping apprehension in Boston, and taking refuge in Cleveland, the destitute illegal alien aunt of Barack Obama somehow found her way to Washington, D.C., today for her nephew’s inauguration.
Federal immigration officials couldn’t find her, but she was spotted by several media outlets and partygoers around the Beltway.
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But, ICE could not find her. Snort
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U.S. stocks sank, sending the Dow Jones Industrial Average to its worst Inauguration Day decline, as speculation banks must raise more capital sent financial shares to an almost 14-year low.
State Street Corp., the largest money manager for institutions, tumbled 59 percent after unrealized bond losses almost doubled. Wells Fargo & Co. and Bank of America Corp. slumped more than 23 percent on an analyst’s prediction that they’ll need to take steps to shore up their balance sheets. The Dow’s 4 percent slide was the most on an Inauguration Day in the measure’s 112-year history, according to data compiled by Bloomberg and the Stock Trader’s Almanac.
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The stock market does not have much faith in Obama.
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How about objective, Helen?
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Waving cardboard red, white and blue "W"s, thousands welcomed George W. Bush and his wife on Tuesday to their post-presidential home in Texas. "The presidency was a joyous experience, but as great as it was, nothing compares with Texas at sunset," Bush said to cheers from the crowd of about 25,000 as former first lady Laura Bush stood at his side. "Tonight I have the privilege of saying six words that I have been waiting to say for a while — it is good to be home."
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Frustration Mounts After Many With Tickets Wait Hours, Only To Learn They're Not Allowed In
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The crowd packed on the west side of the Capitol grounds serenaded President Bush in mocking fashion when he took to the inaugural stage alongside Vice President Dick Cheney.
"Nah nah nah nah, hey hey, good-bye," a section of the crowd chanted.
The crowd packed immediately below the podium received Bush in stony silence when he took his seat on the stage surrounding the podium where Barack Obama was scheduled to take the oath office to become the 44th president of the United States.
The jeers are among the final public feedback Bush will receive as president.
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Some folks have no class. But, remember President Bush was termed out and won two terms despite their jeers.
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