President Obama is expected to give a speech today, renewing his pledge to close Gitmo. Interestingly (and not coincidentally) the former VP - Dick Cheney - will be giving a speech today arguing that torture works. According to sources, Dick will tell people that not only does torture work, but that Americans deserve to see all the proof that it works. See? Dick wants all the documents released too!

According to reports Dick may delay his speech at the American Enterprise Institute until after the President speaks at the National Archives. Sadly, the media will cover Dick like a condom. I have seen it happen all too often. The media will try to change the conversation, change the focus. It all is part of the grand distraction. Instead of everyone talking about that big bad Nancy Pelosi and how she is the greatest national security threat ever, we will be talking about the man who made our country less safe through torture. Snap, the talking point changed again. It would be deliciously ironic if is wasn't as serious as a heart attack.

That said, expect our President to talk about the Declaration of Independence, our Constitution and the things that America has stood for (and will again). He will tell you and me that America lost it's way during the Bush/Cheney years. He will outline what he wants to happen. We must close Gitmo. That needs to be a focus regarding our national security. He signed an executive order 2 days into office. He wants it closed. We want it closed. I don't need to have any of these silly gimmicks the GOP plays to take that focus away. I don't need the media trying to make everyone forget that Gitmo is a giant torture chamber that NEEDS to be closed.

That is important to remember today. Obama is President now, Cheney is a war criminal. Obama will be talking to you and me, Dick Cheney will be talking to those that enabled war crimes. Our President will talk about the detainees. If it's possible, he wants to try them in Americans Courts; if that doesn't work, he will try them by military tribunals and - if nothing else is possible - he will seek to find other nations to take these people. Not ideal, but seriously, what are we to do with this mess that was left in the wake of the previous administration?

What we are seeing is the exactly what we had feared. We are seeing how bad things really were, and still are. At every turn, when this administration tries to make some headway, to shine a light on the problems and determine how to fix it, the reminders of the 8 year disaster show how deeply damaged our country is.

I tire of all of this, I really do. We shouldn't have to fight this hard to close Gitmo, we shouldn't have to deal with spineless Dems who have fallen for GOP talking points regarding bringing detainees to American federal prisons (military or otherwise), we shouldn't have to deal with sensationalistic media, and we certainly should not have to deal with Dick Cheney anymore.

All of these things are distractions, that -- had they been dealt with properly, would not have neccesitated the need for the President of the United States to speak today.

:peace: and
Raine