<--- I don't know you man, but I love your sign.
Unfortunately, it appears that very few members of the public got to be heard.
It was mostly window dressing public officials trying to talk their way into a new federal slush fund funding source and attempting to calm the sheeple with their magical thinking.
An example: Closing Guantanamo will stifle terrorist recruitment and keep US soldiers from dying because the leftists terrorists will now love us forever for moving the detainees to Illinois in a move to create/save jobs. Really!
From St. Louis Today:
Federal and state authorities faced harsh questioning from Republican lawmakers and a chilly reception from an audience in Sterling on Tuesday afternoon over a plan to bring terrorism suspects to western Illinois. State lawmakers organized a public hearing here over a plan to sell the state prison in Thomson to the federal government.
Alan Liotta, principal director for detainee policy at the Defense Department, said the goal is to remove Guantanamo as a recruiting tool for terrorists.
"I appreciate your optimism. I can't say that I share it," said state Sen. Matt Murphy, a Republican.
Jack Lavin, a top aide to Gov. Pat Quinn, invoked a sequence of leading Republicans such as John McCain who also support closing the facility at Guantanamo.
Lavin noted that about 200 Illinois citizens have died in combat since the 2001 terrorist attacks. Utilizing Thomson would be another way Illinois can help keep the U.S. safe.
"We all have the duty to sacrifice for each other," he said.
State officials were frequently interrupted by boos and jeers, causing panel co-chairman Jeffrey Schoenberg to call for "decorum" and even threaten to remove audience members.
Murphy, who is running for lieutenant governor, pressed state officials on whether they think the risk for the state will increase by moving a symbol of the U.S. war on terrorism to Illinois.
Jonathon Monken, director of the Illinois State Police, said the only way state authorities can mitigate the risk is if federal authorities enter into a long-term financial arrangement.
Monken estimated that the state police will need at least $1 million up front to manage the risk.
State Sen. Bill Brady, a Republican who is running for governor, expressed skepticism.
"We are in a time of war. Our enemy is the terrorists. We are detaining their troops," he said.
Hundreds attended the public hearing at Sterling High School, east of Thomson. The panel, the state Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability, can merely offer an advisory opinion.
Before the hearing opened, several dozen opponents were holding signs and ringing "liberty bells." One opponent held a sign criticizing the governor: "Quinn to Jihad: Come on inn!"
Alan Liotta, principal director for detainee policy at the Defense Department, said the goal is to remove Guantanamo as a recruiting tool for terrorists.
"I appreciate your optimism. I can't say that I share it," said state Sen. Matt Murphy, a Republican.
Jack Lavin, a top aide to Gov. Pat Quinn, invoked a sequence of leading Republicans such as John McCain who also support closing the facility at Guantanamo.
Lavin noted that about 200 Illinois citizens have died in combat since the 2001 terrorist attacks. Utilizing Thomson would be another way Illinois can help keep the U.S. safe.
"We all have the duty to sacrifice for each other," he said.
State officials were frequently interrupted by boos and jeers, causing panel co-chairman Jeffrey Schoenberg to call for "decorum" and even threaten to remove audience members.
Murphy, who is running for lieutenant governor, pressed state officials on whether they think the risk for the state will increase by moving a symbol of the U.S. war on terrorism to Illinois.
Jonathon Monken, director of the Illinois State Police, said the only way state authorities can mitigate the risk is if federal authorities enter into a long-term financial arrangement.
Monken estimated that the state police will need at least $1 million up front to manage the risk.
State Sen. Bill Brady, a Republican who is running for governor, expressed skepticism.
"We are in a time of war. Our enemy is the terrorists. We are detaining their troops," he said.
Hundreds attended the public hearing at Sterling High School, east of Thomson. The panel, the state Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability, can merely offer an advisory opinion.
Before the hearing opened, several dozen opponents were holding signs and ringing "liberty bells." One opponent held a sign criticizing the governor: "Quinn to Jihad: Come on inn!"
Governor Quinn was unable to attend the hearing as he was en route to Germany...
