Guantanamo

9/11, Barack Obama, Debra Burlingame, Eric Holder, Gitmo, Guantanamo, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, KSM, September 11, World Trade Center

WSJ: ‘officials’ say military commission at Gitmo for KSM

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Yesterday, the Wall Street Street Journal reported:

Attorney General Eric Holder said Wednesday a decision is near on where to try Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and other confessed plotters of the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks. A key New York lawmaker flatly ruled out Mr. Holder’s earlier choice of federal court in New York City as a venue, and officials say the most likely outcome is a military commission trial at Guantanamo Bay, where the accused men are now held.

That may explain why Human Rights Watch has launched a taxicab video campaign:

The “man-on-the-street” style video, filmed around parts of Lower Manhattan, features more than a dozen anonymous city residents, from formally dressed bankers to street vendors, who speak directly to the camera, declaring, “I’m a New Yorker.” The speakers proclaim their support for the trials to be held in the city: “Here, here, because the crime was committed here,” one says. The advertisement ends by urging viewers to “stand up for 9/11 trials in New York” and suggesting a visit to the group’s Facebook page.

Gridlock, high security, and enemy propaganda would happen here, in lower Manhattan, at the same time the National September 11 Memorial and Museum was opening, if Khalid Sheikh Mohammed is brought to trial six blocks from the World Trade Center, as Debra Burlingame explained on Fox News with Megyn Kelly:

Obviously, Human Rights Watch has no regard for the safety, livelihoods, and opinions of New York City residents and Americans in general.

We will soon learn whether President Barack Obama shares their indifference.

Barack Obama, Bob Etheridge, Gitmo, Ground Zero, Guantanamo, Renee Ellmers

Did North Carolina voters ask liberal Bob Etheridge ‘Who are you?’

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Congressman Bob Etheridge was the only Democrat incumbent from North Carolina in a toss-up race to end Election Day behind in votes in their Congressional District.

Election night results in the four North Carolina ‘toss up’ races

Congressman Bob Etheridge’s grabbing a “reporter” by the arm and striking him in the head this past June likely contributed to his apparent defeat in the midterm election. (Etheridge has stated he will ask for a recount if the vote is within one percent after the absentee ballots are counted and the race is certified.)

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Yet also look at the 111th Congress voting records for the four “at-risk” Democrats running for reelection in North Carolina:

NC-2 48.6% Etheridge – 49.5% Ellmers
HEALTH CARE BILL Yes
STIMULUS PACKAGE Yes
TARP Yes
ENERGY BILL Yes

NC-7 53.8% McIntyre – 46.2% Pantano
HEALTH CARE BILL No
STIMULUS PACKAGE Yes
TARP No
ENERGY BILL No

NC-8 52.9% Kissell – 44.0% Johnson
HEALTH CARE BILL No
STIMULUS PACKAGE Yes
TARP N.A.
ENERGY BILL No

NC-11 54.3% Shuler – 45.7% Miller
HEALTH CARE BILL No
STIMULUS PACKAGE No
TARP No
ENERGY BILL Yes

In addition, Congressman Etheridge consistently voted for closing Guantanamo Bay and for bringing Gitmo detainees to the U.S. for a civilian trial. Coupled with his weak response to Renee Ellmers’ ‘No Mosque at Ground Zero‘ campaign advertisement, they served to highlight Etheridge’s alignment with the politics of President Obama:

Bob Etheridge has never thought building this mosque and community center so close to Ground Zero is a good idea, spokesman Mike Davis said in a statement Tuesday. Davis labeled the ad a political tactic designed to distract voters. [Davis later added that Etheridge had not previously commented because it was “a New York” issue.] …
Etheridge has the clear financial edge in the race, sitting on more than $1.2 million as of his latest campaign filing. Ellmers has raised $355,000 to date, which her campaign notes is more than any of Etheridge’s previous GOP challengers have raised.

Renee Ellmers ran against Congressman Etheridge’s liberal voting record. He stood out as compared to the more conservative Democrats in North Carolina and that likely also contributed to why he lost the NC-2 election.