I'm going to repost an TAKE ACTION diary I wrote immediately after Ried started with his nonsense regarding Gitmo. Why? Because after I initially posted this, a front page piece went up, and instead of taking action, the reaction to the Gitmo on this site IMHO turned into a mainly a huff and puff outrage fest rather than any directed action efforts.
Don't get me wrong, passion for change is great, but ranting on DKOS is useless in the real world if it doesn't lead to actions to PUSH our obviously cowardly congresscritters to make the changes we want! Just saying that our energy could have been better used rallying to call and email them, and then maybe we wouldn't have seen the disgraceful vote regarding Gitmo closing Gitmo.
Follow below for the ACTION DIARY I initially posted to call and email regarding Gitmo. Granted that it probably would have been better to have actually taken action BEFORE they voted, but at least we can show our displeasure, now.
After reading both buhdydharma's and Maimonide's excellent diaries, I hopped over to Huffpo and what do I see?
Democrats Pull Funding For Guantanamo Closure
Well that got a WTF from me. Reading further, the problem seems to be that our leader (sarcasm intended by the italics) is either worrying about re-election, again, or is listening to Limbaugh, or both!
"I can't make it any more clear," Reid said. "We will never allow terrorists to be released in the United States."
Soooo, being inspired by both the diaries mentioned above, I promptly did as recommended. I took action. I sent an email to President Obama thanking him for his position on Gitmo and encouraging him to stay the course. And I added that I was sending Senator Reid an email and calling him to express my outrage.
Go below for my email and quick link to give Reid hell.
RE: Gitmo
Dear Senator Reid:
I want Gitmo CLOSED per President Obama's promise. Detainees do not need to be RELEASED in the United States; they can be HELD in super max facilities, which already hold very dangerous people very well. After they have been tried, they should either be deported home if acquitted or sent back to the super max for their sentence.
Stop listening to minority, Republican idiots and cowards, and stop letting Limbaugh lead you around by the nose.
WE gave you and Rep. Pelosi majorities in Congress, and we gave the Democrats the Presidency.
We expect you to use the power we gave you. We want CHANGE now.
Now, Gitmo may not be one of your hot buttons, but I believe that Harry Reid IS one of the pressure points that needs some seriously active pounding. So, in case his web form is not bookmarked on your computer, here is the link.
Senator Reid Email Form
And here is his phone number: (202) 224-3542
It's time to let Harry hear that we expect HIM to be pushing President Obama to be moving even faster in the good directions he's headed - not acting like a rethug obstructionist.
And PS: Kudo's to budhy and maimonides efforts to both applaud our terrific President AND encourage actions designed to get something done. You got me taking action tonight before I even started dinner. :)
Update: h/t to snud In the Huffpo article, Durbin is quoted as saying the following re: Gitmo:
Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois said Obama's plan to close Guantanamo is not dead _ only that the funding will have to wait until the administration devises an acceptable plan to handle the closure and transfer the detainees. Obama has promised to close the military prison by January.
my emphasis added
However, I don't think OUR leadership should be dealing killer blows to President Obama's initiatives that we voted him in to get done. That's the opposition party's role - not OUR leadership's role for goodness sakes. Hence my actions to pound on Harry.