Posted on 06/03/2014 7:43:02 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
On Sunday, Senator Claire McCaskill gave a full-throated defense of the president's decision to release five Taliban commanders from the Guantanamo prison in exchange for Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl. "We saved this man's life. The commander-in-chief acted within his constitutional authority, which he should have done," McCaskill, a Democrat from Missouri, told Fox News host Chris Wallace. "I'm very proud that we have no POWs left in Afghanistan and the president should be proud of it also."
But following multiple reports that Bergdahl deserted his post and soldiers died searching for him, McCaskill will no longer say she still supports the deal she was "very proud" of just 48 hours ago. "I'm not going to comment until I look at the brief," an annoyed McCaskill told THE WEEKLY STANDARD. "I'm not going to comment until I look at the brief," she repeated, referring to a classified briefing senators will receive tomorrow.
McCaskill was not alone in her reluctance to support the deal. More than a dozen Democratic senators questioned by TWS Tuesday afternoon declined to defend it. "I just don't know enough about it. I really don't," said Dick Durbin of Illinois, the second-ranking Democrat in the Senate.
"It's very disturbing," said Joe Manchin of West Virginia. "Everything you hear. I'm going to reserve judgment until after we have a secured briefing tomorrow."
"You know, I think, um, let me hold off on that," said Bernie Sanders of Vermont.
"All I've heard is what I've read in the press," said Vermont's senior senator Pat Leahy.
"I don't have enough information at this point in time," said Jon Tester of Montana. "I do think getting our boys back home, that's a good quality. I do have some issues about whether [Bergdahl] deserted or not."
"I need to know more about the law," Tester added when asked if the president broke the law by not giving Congress 30 days notice that the Gitmo detainees would be released.
"Everything affects the calculus," said Carl Levin of Michigan. "It's an excruciating decision the president has to make, that decision as to whether he would do it. Would you use a nuclear weapon to get back a soldier? I mean, no."
"It depends on all the facts and circumstances of the case," Levin added. "I'm not going to give you a conclusion in the case because I don't know all the circumstances."
Senators Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Kirsten Gillibrand of New York declined to comment when asked if it was a good deal. In addition, Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, Chris Coons of Delaware, and Mark Begich of Alaska said they're reserving judgment.
The only senator who explicitly supported the deal on Tuesday was Majority Leader Harry Reid. "I'm glad to get rid of these five people," Reid said during his press conference, referring to the Taliban commanders. "Guantanamo has been there far too l ong. And I think we should get them out of there as quick as we can. We've been held up from doing that by Republicans."
Reid said he would support an open Senate hearing on Bergdahl and that the president didn't break the law by failing to provide notification to Congress that he would be releasing five Gitmo detainees. "I've been told no, he did not violate the law," Reid said, without identifying the person who told him that.
bttt
and the prize for the silliest nonsense of the bunch goes toooo
Carl Levin
“Everything affects the calculus,” said Carl Levin of Michigan. “It’s an excruciating decision the president has to make, that decision as to whether he would do it. Would you use a nuclear weapon to get back a soldier? I mean, no.””
did carl actually think this would cover his tracks???
Rats everywhere are abandoning Obama’s ship.
I know what’s next! Pings from MH370 black boxes discovered after 87 days under water!
Let me guess . . . the madame in the bordello he regularly visits?
Or “UFOs are real! Here’s a little grey man!”
Yeah, RATS, it was a TARP!
hahahahahahahahahahaha
even dianne feinstein believes that obozo broke the law and she is pizzed about this.
To quote ‘sacred ground’, this is Beautiful.
Don't be silly! It will be that we had to get Bergdahl back when we did because HE knows where MH370 is!
Senators Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Kirsten Gillibrand of New York declined to comment when asked if it was a good deal
All but 3 Democrat Senators voted for the law that require they be informed.
Obama signed it.
Carl is retiring so he can afford to go full special.
Like rats abandoning the Titanic
Does that statement mean that he and others don't even know what is in the law that they passed under their watch?
lolz
We wont have Carl Levin to Kick Around Any More??
“I’ve been told no, he did not violate the law,” Reid said, without identifying the person who told him that. Hey “Dingy One,” was it the same person that told you Romney never paid his taxes, or was it the guy who told you to go berserk on the Koch brothers? Harry, time to retire, go to those cowboy poetry sessions you like and leave this country be. Check into a mental hospital using Obamacare.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.