Obama vows 9/11 fiend will get death - then backs off (what happened to due process Mr. President?)

New York Post ^ | November 19, 2009 | DAPHNE RETTER and GEOFF EARLE

[presidio9]

-- For a moment, he became judge, jury and executioner.

President Obama yesterday blurted out a predicted conviction and death sentence for 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheik Mohammed -- then sheepishly qualified the prejudgment.

In one of several TV interviews at the end of his Asia trip, Obama said those offended by the legal privileges offered to Mohammed in a civilian rather than military trial won't find it "offensive at all when he's convicted and when the death penalty is applied to him."

And then he quickly backtracked, saying he didn't mean to suggest he was prejudging the self-confessed mass murderer.

"I'm not going to be in that courtroom," Obama said. "That's the job of the prosecutors, the judge and the jury."

In interviews broadcast on NBC and CNN, the president also said experienced prosecutors who specialize in terrorism have offered assurances that "we'll convict this person with the evidence they've got, going through our system."

Obama president said Attorney General Eric Holder made the decision to move Mohammed and his henchmen from a detention center at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to face the civilian federal trial in Manhattan, blocks from Ground Zero.

But he said that if anything goes wrong, the buck stops with him.

"I always have to take responsibility," he said. "That's my job."

Meanwhile, Holder came under withering Republican fire when he testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Sen. Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.) took issue with Holder's claim that a federal civilian court is "where the government will have the greatest opportunity to present the strongest case and the best law."

"How could you be more likely to get a conviction in federal court when Khalid Sheik Mohammed has already asked to plead guilty before a military commission and be executed?" he demanded.

[Jeff Head]

...and this guy is supposed to be a lawyer?

Sheesh...no better at that than he is at anything else.

' Here's the truth:

SIX CRITICAL REASONS NOT TO TRY JIHAD TERRORISTS IN US COURT

[Verginius Rufus]

Good thing he’s a Democrat. Imagine the outcry if a Republican President had said something like this.

[<1/1,000,000th%]

“Off with his head!”

[USFRIENDINVICTORIA]

Polluted jury pool = mistrial.

[jessduntno]

Polluted jury pool = mistrial.

Exactly...and was it a “Mistake” on his part?

[Nervous Tick]

But [Obama] said that if anything goes wrong, the buck stops with him George Bush.

There... fixed it. Must have been a journalist transcription error.

[downtownconservative]

Zero’s statement can now be used by the defense to motion for dismissal on the grounds that a fair and unbiased trial cannot be conducted. Any attorneys care to comment?

[pfflier]

Remember when Kuntstler held up the headline at Manson’s trial?

[jessduntno]

“...and this guy is supposed to be a lawyer? “

How can we know? I still ain’t sure he’s an American.

As to how smart he is;

Why do we have POtuS about whom we do not know:

1. Grade Schhol records
2. High School records
3. Occidental College records
4. Columbia University records
5. Columbia thesis
6. Harvard Law School records
7. Harvard Law Review articles
8. Articles from the University of Chicago
9. Passport History
10. Medical records
11. Files from his years as an Illinois state senator
12. Illinois State Bar Association records
13. Baptism records
14. Adoption records.

[Snow Eagle]

Setting the stage for acquittal — no miranda rights, statements obtained from (OMG) “alternative measures”, now BHO steps in and taints due process. Leads me to believe this is what BHO wants — screw it up so badly that KSM gets released.

[hennie pennie]

Hello Jeff.

I totally agree with you. Not merely is supposed to be a lawyer, but he was the Editor of the highly prestigious Harvard Law Review.

Wouldn't it be interesting to have access to this guy's academic records? I mean... most lay people would never say such a thing on TV, to all the world -- and here is an alleged LAWYER doing so. It doesn't make sense...

[DieHard the Hunter]

I’m going to guess that KSM walks. When (not if) that happens, someone is going to have some splainin to do. In which case, it might be a blessing in disguise.

[uncbob]

Good thing he’s a Democrat. Imagine the outcry if a Republican President had said something like this.

The outcry occurred back when Nixon said a similar thing about Charles Manson

[Vaduz]

“then sheepishly qualified the prejudgment”.Thats Obama give an answer any answer then think about it he’s just to goofy to be free some day he’s going to hurt someone or his self.

[They'reGone2000]

Obama spoke stupidly.

This calls for BEER!

[WilliamofCarmichael]

The latest Obama Jivethon's Lying Circus' hilarious parody of an American administration, Trust Me!

[MozarkDawg]

And then he quickly backtracked, saying he didn't mean to suggest he was prejudging the self-confessed mass murderer.

"I'm not going to be in that courtroom," Obama said. "That's the job of the prosecutors, the judge and the jury."

---

Polluted jury pool = mistrial.

Exactly right -- not to mention the venue, is there really any chance a good defense lawyer would allow this to be held in New York??

It is aggravating no end to have 0bama and his butt-boy Holder yammer on and on about these people as though they are nothing but two-bit hoods who broke some law. These people perpetrated an ACT OF WAR, they shouldn't see the inside of a civilian courtroom ever.

Totally ridiculous.

[chuck_the_tv_out]

"For a moment, he became judge, jury and executioner."

[MozarkDawg]

In interviews broadcast on NBC and CNN, the president also said experienced prosecutors who specialize in terrorism have offered assurances that "we'll convict this person with the evidence they've got, going through our system."

I seem to recall some dead-sure (no pun intended) certainty from the prosecutors that O.J. would never be acquitted, the evidence was oh-so-strong ... hmm ...