I think if you went all Olbermann and did a "Stupidest Person in the World" thing, I think "Stupid" would be Nancy Pelosi, "Stupider" would be the people accusing Nancy Pelosi of covering up torture even though they also say torture is legal and necessary, and "Stupidest" would be...Harry Reid. Reid is joined by the Republicans in Congress in arguing that a) closing Gitmo will mean dumping Khalid Sheikh Mohammed out on Main Street in a small town in Kansas and b) America has the world's worst prisons, and so weak are we as a nation are technological incapable of preventing a dangerous convict from escaping.
Here's some of Reid's arguments against providing money from the closing of Guantanamo right now:
REID: I’m saying that the United States Senate, Democrats and Republicans, do not want terrorists to be released in the United States. That’s very clear.
QUESTION: No one’s talking about releasing them. We’re talking about putting them in prison somewhere in the United States.
REID: Can’t put them in prison unless you release them.
QUESTION: Sir, are you going to clarify that a little bit? …
REID: I can’t make it any more clear than the statement I have given to you. We will never allow terrorists to be released in the United States.
"Can't put them in prison unless you release them." In fairness, that line wasn't written by Reid but by his political consultant, Yogi Berra. And Reid's stance on this is driven by principle --the principle that he doesn't think he can win re-election in Nevada unless he buys into the dumbest GOP talking point that's come down the pike since...well, maybe ever, which is saying something. In fact, this reminds me of those stories you hear from the '50s about the female ex-actress candidate who was tarred as a "thespian."
Look, everybody. Some Gitmo detainees who were not hardcore jihadists -- including some who are probably innocent -- will be released abroad, as scores were under George W. Bush; some actual bad guys will be tried in American courts, and some...well we're going to have to figure out what to do about bad guys where the evidence was garnered by torture and other unlawful measures. You can think Dick Cheney for thwarting the prosecution of sworn enemies of the United States. But no matter what happens in these cases, I can assure you nobody who is held at Gitmo will be released into the United States population, and no one is escaping from a supermax-type prison, of the type where some terrorists are ALREADY JAILED.
But I do think the United States will be a better and safer place when Harry Reid is released back into the general population, in January 2011.
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There are 435 congressional districts, Will, and the majority of them are represented by Democrats. I can promise you that all 435 representatives will do everything in their power to stop the transfer of Gitmo detainees to facilities in their districts...it's not just Reid. Perhaps instead of his ridiculous statement about closing Gitmo within the year before he even had an inkling of a plan what he was going to do with them, Obama should have kept it as-is and instead worked on addressing the confusion that abounds because people mix up Gitmo with Abu Ghraib.— Vandy- Comment removed.
- I'll repeat my suggestion from a previous post. Why not re-open Alcatraz and let Pelosi and her San Francisco constituents enjoy the experience? Reopening the prison will create new jobs in that community, so Madam Speaker can bask in the glow of boosting SF's economy while the liberals out there can be an eyewitness to make sure the detainees are afforded every accommodation.— Vandy
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- As a Dem, if we need to lose a seat, Reid's would be the first I toss to an R. He's been a total failure as Senate Majority Leader.— TBogg_Is_GOD
- Obama admitted at his press conference announcing the closing of Gitmo that not all of the follow through plns were in place. He had to ask one of his staff what the plan was going to be. The response was that it was being worked on. Right in front of the press. Their reaction? Silence. They were basking in his general goodness and in awe of the messiah.— Ramon
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- bill a: Quite unfortunate as the results just prove he is an idiot.— tokar
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- Hmmmm. Let's see. Reid wetting his pants about non-existent dangers? Check. Reid has an opinion that lines up with Attytood Republican toadies? Check. Yup, given that he's met both those criteria, I have to agree, Will. He's definitely stupid. On an "atomic scale," (h/t, bpphilly). LOL!— Talking point sleuth
Will Bunch, a senior writer at the Philadelphia Daily News, blogs about his obsessions, including national and local politics and world affairs, the media, pop music, the Philadelphia Phillies, soccer and other sports, not necessarily in that order.
E-mail Will by clicking here.
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