Re:Barack Obama: Why we must rethink solitary confinement
by mikeash on Tuesday January 26, 2016 @12:52PM
(#10974719)
Nothing happened because it's not the President's decision alone. He tried, met with huge opposition from Congress, and couldn't make it happen.
Part of the problem is that people don't understand the President's powers and expect more from him than he can deliver.
The other part of the problem is that the President himself seems to like promising more than he can actually deliver. He doesn't say "I'll try to close Guantanamo, but Congress really wants to keep it open and it's ultimately up to them." He just says, "I'll close it" and then, oops, can't.
Part of the problem is that people don't understand the President's powers and expect more from him than he can deliver.
The other part of the problem is that the President himself seems to like promising more than he can actually deliver. He doesn't say "I'll try to close Guantanamo, but Congress really wants to keep it open and it's ultimately up to them." He just says, "I'll close it" and then, oops, can't.