Another in a series of shocking polls finding Americans moving firmly to the right and away from the views of the current Administration was released Monday.
In this study, respondents overwhelmingly opposed the closing of the detention center at Guantanamo Bay because -- wait for it! -- they believe the facility has strengthened national security.
Not what the Obama administration, the Democrat leadership, and their media minions have been claiming for months, is it?
Well, in another sign of just how disparate America's views are from the so-called journalists responsible for covering such, USA Today reported the following Monday:
Americans are overwhelmingly opposed to closing the detention center for suspected terrorists at Guantanamo Bay and moving some of the detainees to prisons on U.S. soil, a USA TODAY/Gallup Poll finds.
By more than 2-1, those surveyed say Guantanamo shouldn't be closed. By more than 3-1, they oppose moving some of the accused terrorists housed there to prisons in their own states. [...]
In the survey, Americans were inclined to accept the argument by Cheney and former president George W. Bush that the detention center had made the United States safer. By 40%-18%, they said the prison had strengthened national security rather than weakened it.
Those who want the prison to remain open feel more strongly on the subject that those who want to close it. A 54% majority of those polled say the prison shouldn't be closed, and that they'll be upset if the administration moves forward to close it.
Shocking, wouldn't you agree?
It will be interesting to see how this gets reported in the next 24 hours.
—Noel Sheppard is the Associate Editor of NewsBusters. Follow him at Facebook and Twitter.
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The most shocking aspect of
June 2, 2009 - 09:40 ET by Mitchell BlattThe most shocking aspect of this poll is that Democrats supporting keeping Gitmo open by a larger margin that Americans do based on their latest vote.
I don't mind Gitmo as long
June 2, 2009 - 09:44 ET by balboaI don't mind Gitmo as long as there was some kind of progress toward dealing with the prisoners, not just leaving them in limbo, untried.
It's unfortunate that we had
June 2, 2009 - 09:53 ET by eaglewingz08It's unfortunate that we had such a weak candidate like McCain last time who couldn't articulate any rational reason for keeping Gitmo open. He took away immigration, a wide swath of national security and called Obama qualified to be President. I am glad at least that despite the election of this tinpot greenhorn, the American people can still see through the koolaid he and his fellow dems are peddling.
When they surrender
June 2, 2009 - 09:54 ET by PoolPlayerWhen Al Qaida surrenders, their POW's will be released, just like in every other war. Let's remember who started it.
Don't worry bal, my tax dollars are going to "help" them.
June 2, 2009 - 09:56 ET by upcountrywaterlaptops for folk who don't read ENGLISH.
Reagan VS Carter and 0bama
We're at war
June 2, 2009 - 10:02 ET by boomerconWe're at war. They're at war. They got caught and got put in "Time Out", until the war is over.
Give them the option of continuing to war with us, "as is, where is" (ie. no weapons vs. our armed fighters), and they'l choose to just remain in "time out".
Learn to deal with reality, Bal.
"Learn to deal with reality,
June 2, 2009 - 10:07 ET by balboa"Learn to deal with reality, Bal."
Oh super.
→ But it's funny
June 2, 2009 - 11:01 ET by Cool ArrowI know reality isn't a simple concept because, by definition, it's neither simple nor concept.
"The only reason Clarence Thomas is on the court is because he's black". - Joe Biden
balboa
June 2, 2009 - 10:04 ET by well99POWs dont get trials.Unless they are clasified as war criminals.Name me which war where POWs were given trials.
Of course this fair trial
June 2, 2009 - 10:09 ET by mattmOf course this fair trial would have to be presided over by a radical muslim judge who has the life experience to understand the motivations of those poor downtrodden jihadists and be sympathetic to their plight and their cause.
Myopic. The "prisoners"
June 2, 2009 - 10:17 ET by NL207Myopic.
The "prisoners" you refer to are by definition war criminals.
Were they POW, they would be held until the war ends. i.e., when Bin Laden and his lot surrender. That hasn't happened.
But as has been discussed,
June 2, 2009 - 10:23 ET by balboaBut as has been discussed, not all these people are guilty, are they? Some have already been released.
Balboa,
June 2, 2009 - 11:19 ET by AgnosticYou said you "don't mind Gitmo as long as there was some kind of progress toward dealing with the prisoners, not just leaving them in limbo, untried" but the mere fact that some prisoners have been let go after progress was made toward dealing with their guilt/innocence mean that you shouldn't have a problem because there are processes and progress has been made.
Also, there must be a lot of BOD being given to these prisoners considering how many have gone back to fighting after being release because they were assumed "innocent".
A person may be won over with logic and reason but the masses must be bought with spectacle and platitudes. - 2008 Elections
I say execute them
June 2, 2009 - 11:06 ET by Tom in NCI say execute them rather than feed and house these animals
→ That's heartless, Tom
June 2, 2009 - 11:10 ET by Cool ArrowLet's give them a fair trial, and then execute them.
"The only reason Clarence Thomas is on the court is because he's black". - Joe Biden
Cool
June 2, 2009 - 11:34 ET by RESTLESS 1If there's no reason to believe they have information, shoot them on the battlefield. To hell with the trials.
"This liberal would be all about socialize -- uh, uh, would be about basically taking over and the government running all of your companies."-Maxine Waters 2008
There has been progress
June 2, 2009 - 14:33 ET by CobraMan"I don't mind Gitmo as long as there was some kind of progress toward dealing with the prisoners, not just leaving them in limbo, untried."
There has been progress, bal. Hundreds of detainees have been released the last 6 years. Have you forgotten about that?
It's only the hard core, unrepentant, fanatics that remain, and they all have a military tribunal review, called a combatant status review, every year of their detention.
So, what more do you want for them?
The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States.
The US Constitution
Unless you're a fetus.
The US Supreme Court
Didn't forget anything.
June 2, 2009 - 15:00 ET by balboaDidn't forget anything.
So, it was a rhetorical "wish?"
June 2, 2009 - 15:52 ET by CobraManSo, bal, what do you "wish' for then?
The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States.
The US Constitution
Unless you're a fetus.
The US Supreme Court
→ Cobra
June 2, 2009 - 16:00 ET by Cool ArrowHe seems to wish for a response to his very weak attempt at a Socratic Dialogue.
Just tell him "I only know that you know nothing"
"The only reason Clarence Thomas is on the court is because he's black". - Joe Biden
I never wished for anything
June 2, 2009 - 16:01 ET by balboaI never wished for anything in my post. I said as long as there's progress processing the prisoners, I have no problem with Gitmo. Where do you see the word "wish".
Excuse me
June 2, 2009 - 16:14 ET by CobraManYou'll have to excuse me. Your statement that "as long as there was some kind of progress toward dealing with the prisoners, not just leaving them in limbo, untried." sounded like you wanted something more done for them. So, I take it you agree with the majority of the people then; that Bush did exactly the right thing with the prisoners and that Obama is wrong in closing Gitmo. Is that a correct assessment, Bal?
The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States.
The US Constitution
Unless you're a fetus.
The US Supreme Court
Pretty much. By closing
June 2, 2009 - 16:22 ET by balboaPretty much. By closing Gitmo, I don't know what it solves, really. Same problems, different locations. And NO ONE wants those prisoners.
I sometimes got the feeling that Bush wasn't going to do anything about the prisoners, whether they were terrorists or not.
Wrong feeling, I guess.
June 2, 2009 - 16:30 ET by CobraManIt looks like that feeling was wrong, doesn't it? After all, it was Bush who asked Congress to clarify the laws so that the detainees could legally face a military tribunal, was it not? Before that, there really wasn't any way to decide what to do with the prisoners. It's too bad that when Congress gave Bush the authority to detain those prisoners, they didn't also clarify what should become of them, as is their job.
Like you, i also feel that the prisoners are facing the best alternative available to them. For them, it's ether Gitmo or a foreign prison. If it was me facing that choice, I'd pick Gitmo every time!
The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States.
The US Constitution
Unless you're a fetus.
The US Supreme Court
No doubt. I gotta believe
June 2, 2009 - 17:50 ET by balboaNo doubt. I gotta believe Gitmo is pretty swanky compared to some kind of Midnight Express deal.
→ Thanks, bal
June 2, 2009 - 18:01 ET by Cool Arrow"Midnight Express" evokes an image of Obama taking off his shirt in front of an imprisoned Chris Matthews.
OOOOHHH Barry!
"The only reason Clarence Thomas is on the court is because he's black". - Joe Biden
lol
June 2, 2009 - 18:23 ET by well99Wow CA that is scary.
Midnight Express
June 3, 2009 - 00:40 ET by UnsaneI saw Midnight Express and had no sympathy whatsoever for that loser. The events depicted therein don't happen if he wasn't dumb enough to smuggle hashish. In TURKEY, no less!!!
Refer to a sentence that goes as follows in a little book I have called a "passport": "While traveling in a foreign country, you are subject to its laws."
"CONSUMED DEMOCRACY RETURNS A SOCIALIST REGIME" - Slayer, "Fictional Reality", from Divine Intervention (1994)
Gitmo probably a paradise
June 2, 2009 - 09:52 ET by PoolPlayerGitmo is probably a paradise as compared to Supermax prisons in the US. I'm sure if the detainees were given the choice between Supermax and Gitmo they would stay right where they are. With all of the Gitmo access by the press and by Democrat politicians there is no evidence of mistreatment, only inuendo and adjectives like Gulag, torture ... It's nice to know that the American people know the difference between left wing rhetoric (damn lies!) and the truth. Perhaps there is hope after all.
Supermax
June 2, 2009 - 10:32 ET by ricklailI don't know what the federal supermax is like but here in NC there is one prison that has what is known as a supermax. The inmate is in his cell for 23 hours. He can get out to exercise for 1 hour a day inside. When he is taken out he is in full restraints. They eat, shower, and crap in the cells. The toilets flush twice a day. The shower is turned on long enough to take a quick shower. There is no TV, radio or smoking. They can have visits from family but only for 1 hour a week where they are behind a glass and speak through a microphone not a telephone. This unit only houses the baddest of the bad. If the federal pen is like this then Gitmo is a five star hotel as compared to this.
Semper suprene nitens
Evolution
June 2, 2009 - 12:29 ET by GeneralAlIsn't it amazing that these Atheist lefties accept the idea of evolution yet reject is primary principle when dealing with terrorists? I'm talking about "The survival of the fittest principle."
The battle with these terrorists is a matter of the stronger overpowering and killing the weaker. If we excute the terrorists [After we give them a fair trial and find them guilty, as we know they are!], we are carrying out the principles of evolution!
Americans are
June 2, 2009 - 10:02 ET by motherbeltAmericans are overwhelmingly opposed to closing the detention center
for suspected terrorists at Guantanamo Bay and moving some of the
detainees to prisons on U.S. soil, a USA TODAY/Gallup Poll finds.
Let's hear it for good old American NIMBY-ism!! LOL
Not that I'm blaming them: who would want terrorists in their own neighborhoods when there is someplace else that they can be kept?
Let's have a lineup of all the Congressmen and Senators who will take them in their own districts. They talk a good game, but they don't even want landfills, for crying out loud!
I didn't think it was physically possible, but this both sucks and blows. -Bart Simpson
MB
June 2, 2009 - 10:06 ET by well99I think Hollywood or Beverly Hills would be perfect place to put them.
Or...
June 2, 2009 - 10:21 ET by Prester John...Boston, Cape Cod, NYC, Chicago, West Palm Beach, Minneapolis, Madison, Denver, Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, Berkeley, any town that has an Ivy League school in it.....
Re New Prison
June 2, 2009 - 10:58 ET by slickwillie2001I favor Martha's Vineyard or Nantucket. They are islands which should provide additional security.
West Palm Beach?
June 2, 2009 - 11:35 ET by ricklailThat's too close to our Blonde. I recommend the area where they would put the hose in if NC needed an enmia-Chapel Hill/Durham.
Semper suprene nitens
Was just thinking, we
June 2, 2009 - 13:03 ET by general companyHavent heard from Blonde in a while? Her insight would had been interesting the last few days.
My Gov. thinks I am dangerous, so be careful
"Television is a freak show" Bernie Goldberg
Rasmussen
June 2, 2009 - 10:08 ET by Karinpolls are showing the same thing. Just the fact that this bonehead signed his exec order on day 2 tells you that, as usual, the lefties never THINK. THINGS. THROUGH.
Speaking of Bonehead:
June 2, 2009 - 16:37 ET by needleHe is still running around the world sucking up to Islamist tyrants, and still bragging about how he is going to shut down GITMO.
Makes you wonder if boy-wonder IS. CAPABLE OF. THINKING. THINGS. THROUGH.
Impunitas semper ad deteriora invitat.
Most Americans oppose
June 2, 2009 - 10:31 ET by mattmMost Americans oppose closing Gitmo, oppose abortion, oppose government take over of private enterprise, oppose high taxes, support a tough response to terrorism, support religious freedom, believe in God.....etc.
Yet somehow these same people elected a quasi-marxist redistributionist who favors post-partum abortion, claimed he wanted to appease the terrorists, is taking over GM and others, and so so....
Either the polls are wrong, or the people got hornswaggled.
mattm
June 2, 2009 - 11:31 ET by PoolPlayerIt was the hope & change BS. They voted with hope and instead got short changed.
4th Estate = 5th column
June 2, 2009 - 16:46 ET by needleThe [unelected, but thankfully going-bankrupt – just not nearly fast enough] Fourth Estate is actually a “fifth column.”
Impunitas semper ad deteriora invitat.
Any maximum security prison
June 2, 2009 - 12:00 ET by Another Dead KennedyAny maximum security prison should suffice. You want terrorists killed? Stick 'em in prison with some white nazi supremacists, Mexican cartel drug lords, or some good ol' fashioned South Central gangstas. I hardly think the warriors of the middle eastern desert are any more dangerous than those we already have incarcerated.
That ultimate prison called Death
June 3, 2009 - 00:47 ET by UnsaneI like a maximum security prison called "Death". Ah, death, that undiscovered country from whose borne no traveler has ever returned (h/t to The Bard).
If I were President (entire blue states would empty into Canada between Election Day and the day of my inauguration doubtless, out of fear and disgust), I would head down to Gitmo. I would hold a press conference where I would announce to all the world I will follow the Geneva Conventions to the letter.
One of the first questions I would get would be from some mealy-mouthed reporter asking why he/she is hearing gunshots at a fairly regular interval in the background. I would answer, "We are following the Geneva Conventions to the letter. Enemy combatants can be summarily executed. Next question." Gunshots continue to punctuate the rest of the presser.
:-)
"CONSUMED DEMOCRACY RETURNS A SOCIALIST REGIME" - Slayer, "Fictional Reality", from Divine Intervention (1994)
Now that's just unsane!
June 3, 2009 - 12:04 ET by Another Dead KennedyNow that's just unsane!
Really?
June 3, 2009 - 12:17 ET by UnsaneHow?
I'm following the Geneva Convention to the letter. In that scenario, I wouldn't be doing anything different from what FDR did during World War II.
"CONSUMED DEMOCRACY RETURNS A SOCIALIST REGIME" - Slayer, "Fictional Reality", from Divine Intervention (1994)
Sorry, I guess I forgot the
June 3, 2009 - 12:37 ET by Another Dead KennedySorry, I guess I forgot the sarc symbol. If I had disagreed with you I would have used "insane" rather than "unsane."
Gitmo
June 2, 2009 - 13:39 ET by someloudthunderI don't understand. I really don't. All 8 years of Bush's office all we heard was "close gitmo!" "inhumane!" and now when Democratic representatives are told they are going to house some of these suspected terrorists they clam up and support Gitmo?
That's some good ol' fashioned double standard.