Another BO promise broken....

In order to get elected, BO promised to close Guantanamo within 1 year. Well...you want to look at your calendar? What day is it today?
Personally I'm glad he didn't deliver on this one- the country is better off- but I did want to point out yet another broken BO promise to those who follow him blindly.

 

The others

Within days of taking office, Obama broke his pledge not to raise any taxes on those making less than $250,000 a year by imposing a tax hike of 61 cents on a pack of cigarettes. Measures the president supports would hike taxes by $2.1 trillion over 10 years, according to Americans for Tax Reform.
Just weeks after moving into the White House, Obama signed an executive order to shut down the detainee center at Guantanamo Bay and ordered it closed within a year. Nearly a year after he signed the order, the facility remains open.
The administration decided to try Khalid Sheik Mohammed and other 9/11 terrorists in a civilian court in New York rather than in a military court, prompting critics to predict a “public show trial.”
Obama traveled to Copenhagen, Denmark, in an effort to convince Olympics officials to stage the 2016 games in Chicago. They chose Rio de Janeiro instead.
Obama also traveled to Copenhagen for the much-ballyhooed climate change conference, but the bid to forge a broad alliance against global warming fell short, and the Obama-favored cap-and-trade legislation appears to be dead in Congress.
The president dithered for months before finally agreeing to send additional troops to Afghanistan, then drew criticism for setting a date for U.S. withdrawal. A recent Quinnipiac University poll found that less than half of respondents approve of Obama’s handling of the war overall.
Obama said he would end the war in Iraq. During the year since he took office, 473 more soldiers have died there and elsewhere, and troops remain in Iraq.
Obama’s efforts to seek a diplomatic solution to Iran’s nuclear program have produced no results, and the Islamic Republic appears more determined than ever to acquire nuclear weapons.
Diplomacy also has failed to rein in North Korea’s nuclear weapons and missile programs.
When mass demonstrations against the Iranian government broke out in June, Obama angered and disappointed opponents of the regime by sidestepping any condemnation of Iran’s use of force against protesters, and said the Islamic Republic had time to regain “legitimacy” in the eyes of the Iranian people.
Despite a campaign pledge to allow C-SPAN to televise congressional meetings, Obama and the Democrats have rebuffed a request from C-SPAN to air healthcare discussions and the final version of the healthcare bill will now be hammered out behind closed doors.
Obama also pledged to usher in a new era of bipartisanship, then went more than six months without meeting with Republican leaders on healthcare.
Obama stirred outrage when he appeared to bow to Saudi King Abdullah at a G-20 meeting in London, a move the Washington Times called an “extraordinary protocol violation.” Despite the criticism, the president also bowed to Japanese Emperor Akihito during a November visit trip to Tokyo.
Candidate Obama vowed that no lobbyists would work in his White House. President Obama waived that rule in June for Deputy Defense Secretary William Lynn, who was a registered lobbyist for a defense contractor. Other lobbyists serving in the Obama administration include Ron Kirk, U.S. Trade Representative, and Cecilia Munoz, intergovernmental affairs director at the White House.
Obama angered ally Israel by calling for an end to new Jewish settlements in the West Bank, then backed down when Israel’s prime minister refused to halt new construction.
The Obama White House launched an all-out attack on Fox News in an attempt to stifle opposition to its liberal policies, only to see ratings for the cable network soar.
Obama had to accept ultimate responsibility when the so-called underwear bomber incident exposed serious gaps in the system for detecting and preventing terrorist plots.
Security at the White House itself was shown to be porous when two uninvited guests crashed an event honoring the prime minister of India.
Obama nominated former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle to be Health and Human Services secretary. Daschle withdrew his name amid a growing controversy over his failure to accurately report and pay income taxes.
The confirmation of Hilda Solis as Secretary of Labor was stalled when it came to light that her husband had paid about $6,400 to settle numerous tax liens against his business dating to 1993.
At his Senate confirmation hearings, it was revealed that Treasury Secretary nominee Timothy Geithner had not paid $35,000 in self-employment taxes for several years. He also deducted the cost of his children's sleep-away camp as a dependent care expense, when only expenses for day care are eligible for the deduction.
Annette Nazareth, who was nominated for Deputy Treasury Secretary to help Geithner, withdrew for undisclosed "personal reasons" following a month-long probe into her taxes and other matters.
President-elect Obama designated New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson for appointment to the Commerce Secretary position. A month later, Richardson announced his decision to withdraw his nomination as a result of an investigation into improper business dealings in New Mexico.
Obama appointed Van Jones to be the administration’s “green jobs” czar in March. But he became embroiled in controversy over his past political activities, including his 1990s association with a Marxist group and a public comment disparaging Congressional Republicans, and resigned in September.
Nancy Killefer stepped down from consideration to become the government’s first chief performance officer when it was learned her past performance included failure to pay taxes for her household help.
In July, Harvard University professor Henry Louis Gates Jr., was arrested at his home by Cambridge, Mass., police officer Sgt. James Crowley, who was responding to a report of a break-in, and charged with disorderly conduct. Obama created a furor by commenting that the Cambridge police acted “stupidly” in arresting the African-American teacher. That led to the Obama-moderated “Beer Summit” between Gates and Crowley, which Townhall.com called “the most demeaning moment of any president in recent memory.”
When the administration announced that the U.S. Census would be directed by the White House under the auspices of Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, Republicans warned that will politicize apportionment of House seats, redistricting, and distribution of federal aid.
Obama appointed as his Secretary of Commerce Sen. Judd Gregg of New Hampshire, who had voted in 1995 to abolish the Commerce Department. In the face of reports that the administration would move the Census, typically run by the Commerce Department, out of Gregg’s jurisdiction, he withdrew his name from consideration.
When British Prime Minister Gordon Brown became the first head of government to visit the White House, Obama let word out that the bust of Churchill that Prime Minister Tony Blair had presented to the U.S. as a gift from the British people had been returned to the British Embassy.
Obama also canceled a joint news conference with Brown and excluded British reporters from covering Obama’s press conference, an act the London Daily Telegraph called “rudeness personified towards Britain.”
A month later he gave a gift to Queen Elizabeth: An iPod full of his own speeches.
Obama eased travel and remittance restrictions on Cuba. But Fidel Castro later said Obama "misinterpreted" what his brother Raul had said. Cuba would not be willing to negotiate about human rights, Castro insisted.
Obama and his staff vacillated on whether to prosecute those who carried out “enhanced interrogations,” first saying that CIA operatives carrying out orders were in the clear, then later saying it would be up to Attorney General Eric Holder to decide whether some officials should be prosecuted.
The stock market hit a seven-year low, with the Dow dipping below 7,000, after Obama likened the market to political “tracking polls,” suggesting they’re unimportant.
In the first appearance ever by a sitting president on late-night television, Obama remarked to Jay Leno that his bowling ability is “like Special Olympics, or something.” He soon issued an apology for his insensitive remark.
Obama betrayed allies Poland and the Czech Republic by canceling plans to build a missile defense shield in those nations to guard against an attack from Iran. Obama reportedly wanted Russia’s help in resolving the nuclear weapons issue in Iran, but Russian President Dmitri Medvedev said he would not "haggle" over Iran and the missile shield.
In his inaugural address, Obama called on Americans to adopt a spirit of sacrifice. But the $49 million cost of his swearing-in ceremony was triple the cost of Bush’s first inaugural.
Obama said in February that approval of his $787 billion stimulus package was urgent. Congress got its work done on a Friday, but Obama and his wife Michelle flew off on Air Force One to Chicago for the Valentine’s Day weekend and dined at a romantic restaurant before flying back to Washington on Monday to sign the bill.
Obama promised workers at Caterpillar Inc. that his stimulus bill would save their jobs. Caterpillar CEO Jim Owens later said there would be more layoffs at the company.
Obama pledged during his campaign to slash earmarks to no greater than 1994 levels, which would be 1,318, according to the Washington Times. Then he signed into law some 9,000 earmarks, totaling about $5 billion.
Obama promised in February to crack down on executive pay for companies that take “exceptional” amounts of bailout money. But he did nothing to stop 73 executives from AIG, which has received $170 in bailout funds, from taking home bonuses of up to $6.4 million.
Obama’s promise of a public option in the healthcare reform plan — a government-run insurance plan that would compete with private insurers — has died in the Senate. His plan to allow lower-cost drug imports into the U.S. was also defeated.

 

The reality is that he was probably quite naive about Gitmo, (and Iraq and Afghanistan), etc. As time goes on, he has been being more and more Bush-like on those things. Remember, Bush wanted to close Gitmo too. He didn't put a timeline on it because, well, he already knew the reality of it. Obama didn't apparently and therefor...timeline broken.

And, btw, it won;t be closed this year either. Even if that prison in IL was ready to take in prisoners (and it isn't), there would still be dozens who we can't do anything with.

 

Why do you say it isn't ready? I can be there in 10 minutes. I've driven by it hundreds of times. I've been in it. It was built (with haste) as a state of the art facility back in 2000. It houses (a handful of) prisoners now and was intended to be a super max prison from the get-go.

Blago inherited it and was never interested in fully funding it to open unless they closed down another, older, over-crowded facility somewhere else. Well, you close one down in another town, that town dies because there is no industry to sustain these little towns anymore. So it's been a big political hot potato ever since they built it. The state couldn't afford to open it on the side. Or so they say.
It sat empty for years and years. People were actually paid to use the facilities and open and close things once in a while so they didn't go bad.

Up until a couple years ago, the office chairs at the front desk check in still had the plastic wrap around them! The state committed very little funds to it and for a while, the county cops were asked to walk through and check on it once in a while. In their spare time.

The fact that the feds want to buy it (or are buying it) is a huge gift. They couldn't dump it fast enough. I'm positive the federal govt. could have gotten it for free if they wanted to.

But whatever small security additions they'd want to add to house terrorists would be minimal.

Now, do I want to see all of Guantanamo shipped up here? I really don't care about it. In the end, we're probably better off helping a small local economy in this country than sending the funds to Cuba to accomplish the same thing. I have a strong feeling though that there are people who prefer the remoteness and disattachment from American society, of it's current location. And it's likely not for public safety reasons.

 

He is the first I know of to hold a conference on open government behind closed doors.

"I think the real problem is that our current form of government has created a class of career politicians who are disconnected from the public and oly Constitutional limits to end this insanity will get us out of the mess." I think there is a much better fix which used to work and work well. We get the facts reported on the evening news instead of the liberal slant on the news, you might be surprised how things turn around.

 

They say they are going to upgrade the prison to 'beyond supermax' standards. Considering they haven't even acquired it yet and considering the pace of government action and considering both the security and political necessity of whatever upgrades they do, I think what I have read of a year to get it up and running is pretty reasonable. Beyond Supermax sounds like construction to me. I think it will be more than just taking the plastic off the chairs.

 

Can someone tell me what was so bad about Guantanamo?

 

Here...I found an article... from Huffington post, no less, and quoting a Democrat so I would say it is optimistic.

"The prison in rural western Illinois may not be purchased from the state until March and will need up to 10 months of construction, said Joe Shoemaker, spokesman for Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/12/23/illinois-prison-wont-be-r_n_401686.html

 

Wow. Alright. I guess these terrorists must be superhuman? Can't argue with what you've posted.

 

I really think it is two fold. One, they really do have to make it as secure as possible both from an escape from within and an attack from outside. An attack from outside really isn't something that happens with your normal 'Supermax' prisoner.

However, for the second part, I am sure there is a political element to it. Part of that is probably in touting the '3000 jobs' that will be created (I am sure many from construction and upgrades). Also, can you imagine the political fallout if they didn't do some kind of upgrade and something did happen? They would be accused of rushing it and not being prepared, etc.

 

Thanks for helping me prove the point- BO does not represent change & he is not a new kind of politician. He is just more of the same, so everyone who voted for him thinking otherwise was scammed!!

 

Good point David (well kind of). What does that say about anyone that anyone has voted for in quite some time and will continue to vote for?

 

BO was a 1 trick pony...the "new kind of politician" thing was the ONLY attribute he campaigned on- Not experience, not a track record. Others may claim to be a new kind of politician but we know they are full of it, right? BO convinced his voters he was something he wasn't, I call that a fraud. When the others claim we we take it with a grain of salt.
There is a difference.
It is almost like BO exploited his voters at a time when they were most vulnerable. Just doesn't sit right with me. And to come out and say "he just a politician" doesn't cut it either.
So the reason I oppose a BO presidency isn't that he is a liberal or that he's black, it's because I think he perpetrated a scam on 51% of voters.

 

Now you know why I said woud never have voted for him he smiled to much, just like Tony Blair.
Said that way before he was elected LOL

 

A famous Who song from the 1970's:

" Meet the new boss, same as the old boss" The song? " We wont get fooled again

They are all the same folks. It is corruption that must be ended.

Bush had his corporate cronys, is his case big oil and Haliburton. With the new boss, it is big medicine and his buddys who just received a no-bid contract to rebuild Afganistan ( want a link on that ? )

Bush had his wall street insider Bernake. The new boss has Bernake. Add Geitner as well.

Last boss proposed TARP, new boss voted yes on it. What? too big to fail? Nash, Studebaker, Packer, Tucker all failed, Merril Lynch failed.....did the world end?

Last boss had his special interest groups, military contractors and big oil. New boss has SEIU and pharma lobbys. Both were and are in the pockets of wall street.

Last boss spend like a drunken sailor, new boss spends like a drunken sailor. Old boss abandoned his " free market principles ", the new boss never had any.

They are the same.

 

That's just "letting the markets decide" though isn't it Jack? Folks let it get this way, and the right blends capitalism in with greed and exploitation. One could argue the people deserve exactly what they get.

They just had on the news tonight...some people in Haiti are making $1.25 an hour! There's capitalism you ya! Won't have to lose any profit paying Americans a decent wage. Good business opportunity for the right. Should be 10 years or so before it's rebuilt. That oughta guarantee slave labor for the next decade. Should look good on the spread sheets for investors.

 

Unless the candidate perpetrates a fraud on the voters in order to be elected......

(the same kind of fraud you accuse employers & the right of?)

 

Please explain further.
How is this a good business opportunity for anyone, keeping in mind of course, that the liberal wing of the democrat party is in control & make all the decisions on what happens & who participates.
To paraphrase BO handler Rahm Emmanuel "You can't let a good tragedy go to waste".