The Gitmo Deadline
EmailSome media outlets are running a story saying that White House sources are acknowledging for the first time that Guantanamo prison might not be closed by January 22, 2010, as pledged by President Obama.
That's not quite right. Actually, White House Homeland Security czar John Brennan in August made such an admission.
As we reported at the time, when asked if they would make the deadline, Brennan said, "I don’t have a crystal ball. At this point it is unknowable exactly how many people will be transferred next week, month, several months and what the conditions on the ground will be on Jan. 1 and Jan. 21. … Everybody is doing everything possible in the administration to realize the president's goal.”
That said, some White House officials are now saying more definitively that it's likely they won't make the deadline.
They have yet to find a new prison to house Gitmo detainees, they have yet to establish new rules for military tribunals, and they have several detainees who can be released for whom they have yet to find new home countries.
More than 235 detainees remain in the prison.
-jpt
Sen. DeMint: GOP Race Could Go Until Convention 
Obama Avoids Questions on Contraception Rule
But at the UN, Mr. O said that was something he should be congratulated for. What gives? That was 2 days ago.
Posted by: Elle | September 26, 2009, 9:32 am 9:32 am
A willy unnecessary and artificial deadline. A self-inflicted fiasco.
The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Saturday shows that 30% of the nation’s voters Strongly Approve of the way that Barack Obama is performing his role as President. Thirty-nine percent (39%) Strongly Disapprove giving Obama a Presidential Approval Index rating of -9.
Posted by: Fascist Hyena | September 26, 2009, 10:06 am 10:06 am
Isn’t it just great to see that “EVERYTHING” BO promised to do to get VOTES isn’t happening……… and Government run press is still trying to cover his rear end by making excuses for BO
Posted by: reprovemedia | September 26, 2009, 10:25 am 10:25 am
Liar. I wish Mr. Obama is not a great liar.
Posted by: young_voter | September 26, 2009, 10:31 am 10:31 am
This is one promise I am glad he cannot keep and a perfect example of what Rush meant when he said he hopes Obama fails.
Posted by: Mike in Costa Mesa | September 26, 2009, 11:41 am 11:41 am
GITMO has bowed to far left jeers, giving detainees many many privileges that common prisons in the U.S. are not allowed. Yet the majority, by their own admission would kill any American given the opportunity.
Posted by: BB | September 26, 2009, 11:50 am 11:50 am
Mark the date- January 21, 2010.
That’s the date that Obama, to great fanfare and press adulation, promised to have Gitmo closed.
Then mark another date: May 21, 2010. That’s the date by which all combat troops are out of Iraq. Long ago I predicted the number of troops in Iraq would not change, but Obama would simply redesignate them as “non-combat.”
Posted by: drjohn | September 26, 2009, 12:28 pm 12:28 pm
I was never sure if Obama was pandering to the manufactured outrage of the left over Gitmo by signing that executive order, or if he held the Bush administration in such contempt, (and himself with such high regard) that he thought he could close it down with a good speech or something. Pride goeth before a fall, Mr. President.
Bush sent over 500 detainees home before Obama took office. It doesn’t take a genius to realize that the ones who remained were the hard cases and that a new administration might want to learn a bit about them before closing Gitmo. Ready, fire, aim, Mr. President.
Gitmo is a $200 million facility, perfectly suited to the purpose of isolating and housing extremely dangerous men until the Obama administration knows exactly what it intends to do with each of them. Spending millions more to bring them here to facilities that have not been designed for them, where they can mingle with the general prison population, and ultimately be released here, is not only an empty gesture, it’s nuts.
Posted by: Bridget aka mmm mmm mmm Barack Hussein Obama | September 26, 2009, 1:09 pm 1:09 pm
“Long ago I predicted the number of troops in Iraq would not change, but Obama would simply redesignate them as “non-combat.”
And you were wrong.
What else to expect from “doctor” who thought chemo was an experimental treatment for cancer.
Posted by: Ryan C | September 26, 2009, 1:26 pm 1:26 pm
“Just like how he says he’s being bi-partisan. Even though his actions belie that statement”
Obama has been bipartisan.
Its the Republicans who have bet on whipping up hate and doing nothing as their strategy.
You would know about that with your experience spreading the Ashley Todd hoax.
Posted by: Ryan C | September 26, 2009, 1:27 pm 1:27 pm
Sure Gitmo will close by Jan2010.
And if you believe that then you probably believe Obama will get our troops out of Iraq in 2010 too.
Posted by: kyle | September 26, 2009, 3:01 pm 3:01 pm
Obama is like an adolescent that needs an immediate high without thinking of the consequences down the road.
Looks like Obama’s grandstanding back in January that won him lots of immediate praise–just makes him look silly now.
It’s no wonder he has very little credibility.
Posted by: larry | September 26, 2009, 3:05 pm 3:05 pm
-Sure Gitmo will close by Jan2010.
And if you believe that then you probably believe Obama will get our troops out of Iraq in 2010 too.-
Yeah, any day now. It’ll be on CSPAN too.
Posted by: CB4 | September 26, 2009, 3:25 pm 3:25 pm
Another case of his mockingbird mouth overloading his hummingbird a$$.
Posted by: ceeLeelee | September 26, 2009, 4:15 pm 4:15 pm
“Obama has been bipartisan.”
Bipartisan: A Democrat talking out of both sides of his mouth.
Posted by: drjohn | September 26, 2009, 4:28 pm 4:28 pm
“The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Saturday shows that 30% of the nation’s voters Strongly Approve of the way that Barack Obama is performing his role as President. Thirty-nine percent (39%) Strongly Disapprove giving Obama a Presidential Approval Index rating of -9.”
The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Saturday, July 25th showed that 30% of the nation’s voters Strongly Approved of the way that Barack Obama was performing his role as President. Thirty-nine percent (39%) Strongly Disapproved, giving Obama a Presidential Approval Index rating of -9.
Gee, 2 months have passed and just look at the difference in those numbers!
As far as Obama’s overall approval rating at Rasmussen (the choice pollster of conservatives), on July 25th , there was a negative 2 point spread with 49% approving and 51% disapproving. Today, there is a 1 point positive spread with 50% approving and 49% disapproving.
Gee, 2 months have passed and…
Obama’s RCP job approval average is currently at 52.5% Approve and 40.7% Disapprove, with a positive spread of 11.8.
Posted by: Numeros | September 26, 2009, 5:27 pm 5:27 pm
“Obama has been bipartisan.”
How so?
Posted by: PD | September 26, 2009, 6:07 pm 6:07 pm
The left seems to be celebrating the fact that Obama’s approval index hasn’t changed in two months, which is a great deal of fun to consider.
It doesn’t need to change. When he’s at -9, no one in congress need fear him, and no one does. In Virginia, the GOP candidate for governor is showing ads with pictures of his opponent with Obama. Some Dems are running away from him,.
Posted by: Fascist Hyena | September 26, 2009, 6:52 pm 6:52 pm
Conservatives who were trumpeting about a precipitous dive in approval ratings can always crank up some Hank Williams Jr. and dance the Horizontal Slide until the Rasmussen Express goes their way again.
Posted by: Numeros | September 26, 2009, 8:53 pm 8:53 pm
Bingo! Nice the WH is finally getting smarter than a 5th grader!
Posted by: myopinion | September 26, 2009, 11:20 pm 11:20 pm
I certainly trumpeted the precipitous dive. It appears to have been permanent; all of his TV appearances and a joint address to the congress avail him nothing.
Where a short time ago this was a nation brimming with hope, now we have a floundering politician whose supporters have lost their enthusiasm.
A rather steady 38-40% of the electorate strongly disapproves of his performance. That is a devastating verdict. The number who strongly approve of him is more than 20% less than those who voted for him. The thrill is gone; the bloom is off the rose. Permanently.
Posted by: Fascist Hyena | September 26, 2009, 11:48 pm 11:48 pm
Conservatives who were trumpeting about a precipitous dive in approval ratings can always crank up some Hank Williams Jr. and dance the Horizontal Slide until the Rasmussen Express goes their way again.
Posted by: Numeros | Sep 26, 2009 8:53:08 PM
***
Too funny.
Posted by: Alyson | September 26, 2009, 11:56 pm 11:56 pm
Why should it be closed at all? Why is it more trouble than it’s worth? Who are you trying to please Barry-boy!
Posted by: JV | September 27, 2009, 3:14 am 3:14 am
Wishy washy! Or is that Whisy warshy? Obama is the worst president since Jimmy Carter. Hopefully he doesn’t stumble into a world war.
Posted by: Longez | September 27, 2009, 9:26 am 9:26 am
So Obama lied again. At least this one was a good lie. Where are the prisoners that we are acquiring now going? Has the press covered this at all?
Posted by: wheresmymoney | September 27, 2009, 2:22 pm 2:22 pm