Posted on 12/16/2009 11:46:31 AM PST by markomalley
Americans remain opposed to closing the Guantanamo Bay prison in Cuba and moving some of the terrorist suspects being held there to U.S. prisons: 30% favor such actions, while 64% do not. These attitudes could present a significant roadblock for President Obama at a time when he seeks congressional approval to move terrorist suspects from Guantanamo to a converted state prison in northwestern Illinois.
President Obama signed an executive order after his inauguration that called for the closing of Guantanamo, and he recently reiterated his commitment to doing this in his West Point speech on Afghanistan. The plans announced this week represent the first concrete effort to follow through on his promise, but occur in the context of continuing opposition from the American public. About two-thirds of Americans in the Nov. 20-22 poll oppose such a move, virtually the same as measured last May.
Republicans on Capitol Hill this week have been highly vocal in their negative responses to the proposed move. Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, for example, was quoted as saying, "The administration has failed to explain how transferring terrorists to Gitmo North will make Americans safer than keeping terrorists off of our shores in the secure facility in Cuba."
McConnell and the other GOP lawmakers who have spoken out against the move are clearly representing the sentiments of rank-and-file Republicans across the country, only 8% of whom favor closing the prison and moving prisoners to the U.S.
(Excerpt) Read more at gallup.com ...
There is a Nuclear Power Plant twenty miles north of the “sleepy little town”.
The whole Gitmo fiasco is a perfect illustration of liberalism. It is stupid.
How the polling question is worded makes a difference.
Gitmo’ is not closing, it’s just being moved North. What a B0z0.
The midwest is the lowest? COntrary to what I would have expected!
Someone help me here. I always thought the main problem with Gitmo wasn’t that it was in Cuba. I thought that it was because men were being held without being charged and etc.
Simply put, how does moving these men from Cuba to Illinois solve the problem? Won’t the people still be being held without due process (so called by the left)?
Furthermore, if the plan is to ultimately give these guys due process (again, so called), why go the expense of moving them?
Is it possible that these guys would be moved to Illinois, a human rights victory declared, and then never charge these guys?
If so, it would be so empty—political theatre at its worst.
I guess if the left could deal with Clinton banging away in the Oval Office and committing perjury in a sexual harassment case, then they can also deal with an empty human rights jesture.
For the record, it’s ~20 miles south, Cordova IL, just north of the Quad Cities. But your point is well taken.
Nobody wants it in their neighborhood
None of this matters.
What “We the People” think or want.... no longer matters.
The “Will of the People” is being ignored and thrown out with our constitution.
Obama won.... and Michelle is finally proud of her country... that’s all you need to know.... so shut up and do what you’re told.
A better question is who was listening during the election.
This is one of the things he promised to do yet he was elected.
I wonder if these people, who are “glad about the jobs”, have given any thought to what happens when they bring these dirtbags to their doorsteps...
How many of these creeps have family, extended family and “friends”? How many of these will want to live near the prison, now that they have the chance? What do the good residents there believe will happen when these CHUDs choose to move in and take over this “sleepy little town”?
And aren’t most of those “jobs” a lie since these are MILITARY prisoners?....just askin’...
And the Byron Reactors are about 30 miles north east..
Congressman Manzullo who represents this district has made the point that it is the concentration of detainees that has allowed the enemy to point at it and use it to rally supporters and recruit members - not the fact that it’s located in any particular area.
But now when Al Queda points at the map, they will be pointing at the heartland of the USA rather than the tip of a communist-controlled island.
Has anyone considered what Fidel and his brother think of this? My guess is they’re happy to have them gone from Cuba. Wonder why? And I wonder if they have asked their new friend Barack for this favor?
Byron is over 100 miles to the east (and a bit north) of Thomson. Not to nitpick but this *is* my backyard...
Once the prisoners are removed from GITMO Barry will probably announce the closing of the base and the returning of it to the Castro boys after he creates jobs and resets our relations with Cuba by building a billion dollar resort there for the Communist elites as reparations for our imperialistic occupation.
Obama serves the citizens of the WORLD, he will not dignify your question with an answer. Hopefully, we still have one free election left to voice our disapproval. I am not sure this is the case.
I live right up the road in Wisconsin and have Nlaw family all over Illinios.
I was just ball parking - as the bird flies - but I don’t think it’s 100 miles..
Google map directions says 54 miles - let’s call it a split.. either way, it’s pretty close and Bryon is one of those pretty PWC reactors with the attractive (simpson) towers that the muzzies would love to topple..
Doubt they could ever pull it off - but who knows....
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