U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder’s comments to Congress last week that Osama bin Laden would almost certainly not be captured alive were out of line. Holder was saying it’s unlikely bin Laden would ever face trial in the U.S. since he’d likely be killed by U.S. forces or his own comrades. Sure, that could happen, but we found it interesting that Gen. Stanley McChrystal, commander of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan, felt compelled later to contradict Holder. “If Osama bin Laden comes inside Afghanistan,” he said, “we would certainly go after trying to capture him alive and bring him to justice.” It’s been more than eight years — just find him and worry about a trial (or not) later.
Holder’s strange comments were in line with the irresponsible sentiments President Obama and Vice President Joe Biden have made about the guilt of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed as they try to ease concerns about possibly trying the suspected terrorist in civilian courts. By merely telling us how convinced they are he’s guilty and that he’ll never walk free again, they undermine their argument that he can get a fair trial in the U.S. — a contention we support.
Just fill out the form. The grassroots movement to “Queer the Census” — that is, to push the government to count the numbers of gay, lesbian and transgender people — would further politicize the census in what we think are unacceptable ways. Let’s be clear: We have no issues with recognition of those groups and the political power they represent. But we don’t think the constitutionally mandated decennial count ought to be used to advance a political agenda, even if we are sympathetic to many of the issues the GLBT community has raised over the years.
Go jump in a Lake. Despite predictions of doom and complaints about the heavy hand of the Denver Public Schools administration, enrollment at the three new schools that will replace Lake Middle School, including a newly restructured IB program, has doubled for next year. Guess parents and students have a different opinion about reforms than the vocal grousers who wanted us to think that all of northwest Denver would have preferred the status quo.
He said what? We figured Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper eventually would try to distance himself from fellow Democrat Bill Ritter as he runs for governor, but who knew he’d do it so early and so forcefully? Hickenlooper in Friday’s Post said the governor sided with “overboard environmentalists” when writing his oil and gas rules and that the state is getting an “anti-business” image. Somewhere, Republican Scott McInnis is looking for his lost campaign playbook.
Short Takes is compiled by Denver Post editorial writers and expresses the view of the newspaper’s editorial board.
