Graph showing how Democratic support for closing Guantanamo changed after Obama backed off

[tularetom]

42. Obama has apparently never heard that it's easier to beg forgiveness than ask permission

Sure, the president does not have dictatorial powers.

But he's not a eunuch either. He doesn't work for congress. He doesn't have to get congress's permission before he does something. He's the head of one of the three supposedly equal branches of government and he is the commander in chief of the armed forces as well as the CEO of the bazillions of civilian federal employees in the country.

As much as I dislike the bastard, if Cheney would have wanted Gitmo closed he would not have gone hat in hand to congress and asked them if he could close it, he would have taken it upon himself to close it and dared congress to stop him.

And that's exactly what Obama ought to do. If Boner and the asshole house republicans don't like it, what are they going to do about it? Impeach him? Shit, they're probably going to do that anyway.

In government, if you act like you have the authority, you'll usually have it.

Do I think he should close Gitmo? Fuckin A, he said he would and that's part of the reason I voted for him. Twice. He never said he'd close it if Boner and Cantor would let him.