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Supermax Won't Allow Inmates to Read Obama's Books

By Jeralyn, Section Inmates and Prisons
Posted on Thu Jul 09, 2009 at 06:00:04 PM EST
Tags: Supermax (all tags)
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This is pretty funny. Officials at Supermax prison in Florence, Colorado have turned down an inmate's request to read the two books written by President Obama. Why?

The federal government's most secure prison has determined two books written by President Barack Obama contain material "potentially detrimental to national security" ....

What standards did the use to make the determination? Ones supplied by the F.B.I. Who requested the books?

Ahmed Omar Abu Ali is serving a 30-year sentence at the federal supermax prison in Florence for joining al-Qaida and plotting to assassinate then-President George W. Bush.

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    Supermax Won't Allow Inmates to Read Obama's Books | 9 comments (9 topical)

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    Imagine if the prisoner... (5.00 / 1) (#8)
    by kdog on Fri Jul 10, 2009 at 08:53:57 AM EST
    sincerely believes Obama represents hope and change for America and was in the midst of an ideological conversion when the dolts at Supermax brought the hammer down and ruined it?

    It would be rather typical of how we can be our own worst enemy sometimes.

    Which is more dangerous? (5.00 / 0) (#10)
    by Militarytracy on Fri Jul 10, 2009 at 09:17:01 AM EST
    A terrorist or a Hopium addict :)?

    Parent
    Not Only Is This Ridiculous (5.00 / 0) (#11)
    by john horse on Fri Jul 10, 2009 at 03:51:53 PM EST
    but it is also against one of the fundamental values that our country was founded on.  Our country is based on a belief in a "marketplace of ideas".

    "Let all with something to say be free to express themselves. The true and sound will survive. The false and unsound will be vanquished. Government should keep out of the battle and not weigh the odds in favor of one side or the other." John Milton

    What is "potentially detrimental to national security" is the attempt by government to limit the free flow of ideas.

    Don't surprise me none. (2.00 / 0) (#3)
    by jimakaPPJ on Thu Jul 09, 2009 at 07:11:05 PM EST


    Just maybe (none / 0) (#2)
    by Lacy on Thu Jul 09, 2009 at 06:24:01 PM EST
     Could it be the FBI sees it as a would be assassin (who plotted to kill one president) trying to get family info on the current one? The Denver Post's unreferrenced suggestion the basis was something objectionable in the books may well turn out to be flat wrong, and the "objectionable" issue relates to the specific inmate who requested the books.  After all, potential assassinations are definitely national security issues.

    Have non-assassin disposed inmates' requests in other institutions for these books been denied? I seriously doubt it.

    Your "bad pun" beats my bad snark (none / 0) (#5)
    by nycstray on Thu Jul 09, 2009 at 08:45:21 PM EST
    which I won't post {grin}

    The dude will be 60 when he gets out (if we don't start preventive detention after sentence served, that is) and I suspect we will be in a different political and nation security state. And OMG, have a dif president! lol!~

    OTOH, did they not watch the recent election and see the power of the books to make all love O? How is that a NS risk?! ;)

    They could learn how to kick (none / 0) (#6)
    by Militarytracy on Fri Jul 10, 2009 at 08:43:27 AM EST
    the hopium out of us :)

    I thought that was already gone?? (none / 0) (#7)
    by jbindc on Fri Jul 10, 2009 at 08:47:28 AM EST
    Especially if you live in Ohio or Virginia....

    Parent
    Hopium seems to be getting (none / 0) (#9)
    by Militarytracy on Fri Jul 10, 2009 at 09:15:55 AM EST
    harder to find, but many of the left blogs are still dealing it :)  I was always flirting with arrest if I even tried growing Hopium in Alabama :)

    Parent
    Supermax Won't Allow Inmates to Read Obama's Books | 9 comments (9 topical)

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