The Official United States of America Presidential Race Thread

Skeen.

 

tip of the hat to Drederick Tatum

 

The boxer from the Simpsons? What is his relevance?

 

Drederick Tatum spoke in that manner, like Mike Tyson did/does.

 

SO...
Ten days into the Obama administration, what are your thoughts? Some very interesting things have happened.

I shall reveal my probably predictable thoughts later.

 

TBH there's been a lot of news here on the domestic front to keep attention away from Obama. But I have noticed he has:

Not started any wars - good
Ordered closure of Guantanamo Bay prison within a year and end of torture techniques - good, even though man in charge says it can't be done
Spoken to the Muslim world in a friendly, non-confrontational way on Al Arabiya - good
Overturned a lot of Dubya's orders like the ban on funding international family planning orgs - good
Kicked some environmental ass-good
Made a start on getting $819bn economic stimulus through - don't know if it will be effective but good that he's doing something.
Continues to annoy the hell out of Fox News presenters who are terrified of his communist policies- good

What's not to like?

 

Thankfully, his closure of Guantanamo and stopping of torture is just for show, so its not the disasterous decision that it could have been.

But what really pisses me off about America is that they say 'could care less' to show apathy. Do they not get the gramatical ****-up that they are making?

 

Its good the prison has closed and all, but where do you think all the wrongfully tortured prisoners are being released? Thats right, back home.

Some of them in America.

So, lets say the American government has kept you imprisoned illegally for no real reason except they thought it would be a good idea because you are called Mohammed? Then they tortured you illegally, using many illegal techniques.

You aren't going to be too thrilled with America eh?

Something to chew on. They have created radical Islamists, and then they are putting them into American society again.

 

why hasn't he arranged for them to go to more legal prisons?

 

because legally they've done nothing wrong

 

This is true. The whole idea of using Gitmo to detain 'people of interest' was to dodge the American due process of law. Personally, I'd like to see them be given fair trials and released, then sue the US government in our own court system for civil retribution if not criminal. My god I would love it if Cheney died in prison. Rumsfeld could do with a stretch of hard time, too. At any rate, many of these guys should never worry about where their next meal will come from or whether or not their kids will be healthy or get a good education.

The fact is many of the people held did absolutely nothing, but just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time and look just like the bad guys. I agree that these men have most likely been minted into extremists, so we have to hope that they are truly NOT bad people and will find a place in their hearts to forgive. That is a long shot... Countries like Ireland and Finland may help with this.

Another fact is that some of those that did absolutely nothing wrong just hadn't had a chance to but would and will. Finding a home for them will be difficult and most likely they'll go back to Afghanistan to serve time before a regime change releases them.

I would also like a few of those imprisoned to be convicted in a fair trial to make me feel like the whole friggin thing wasn't a total sham, but I doubt this will happen at this point.

 

Many of them were people turned in by friends or family to pick up the $3000-$25000 reward offered during the Afghan invasion - a country where you can buy people for about $10. I sincerely doubt anybody turned in could have been proven to be Al Queda.

Cheney, Bush and Rumsfeld should all be shot. The three most corrupt people to ever take up office.

The Tamiflu non-scandal alone should be enough for Rumsfeld to be put up against a wall and shot.

 

Update:

we are on to the serious issues now...

 

Quality

 

I agree with that guy twice over, both for the 90s rap group and the comedy show. Mr Wendel yeaaaaaaahhh.

As for Guantanamo, I don't have a clue about any of the individual cases involved. Whilst I wouldn't want my government to be hamstrung by the moral highground in the need to protect us, I think the previous US regime used the 911 attacks as an excuse to obliterate any shred of human rights for the law abiding American public. Note that distinction. I don't give a stuff about human rights for convicts or convicted terrorists. They can flay them alive for all I care, but by eroding the liberties of the people you are supposed to be protecting, you miss the point entirely.

I've never understood how G'mo is in Cuba, but Cuba is essentially an enemy of the US. Can you help me here Fitz? I could ask my parents' neighbour, who is a refugee from Cuba, but I've never remembered to when speaking to him. As a side issue, his garden is something to behold. It's beautifully manicured with a pristine koi pond.

 

I liked Mr Wendel too.

Gitmo is one of the pieces of booty from the Spanish-American War, "Remember The Maine!", Teddy Roosevelt's charge up San Juan Hill, etc.

We never gave it up even after the Cuban Revolution simmered down, and it's probably one of the legal justifications for why the USA won't recognize the Castro regime.

As relations thaw, it will be interesting to see how a new friendly Cuban government will handle the issue of Guantanamo Bay. Most other possessions/places of the era, like Subic Bay in the Phillippines, have long since reverted back to the country to which they are attached. Maybe they can get a few locals onto the base to set up a house and fishing dock, then petition to join Puerto Rico?

 

i love arrested development!