Last updated on 2015-11-21
U.S. Senator John Thune is worse at forming coherent, courageous refugee policy than State Representative Dan Kaiser. Check out our senior Senator’s transcript-filler delivered to a mostly-empty chamber yesterday, with his specific remarks on Syrian refugees starting at 3:50:
I also want to speak for a moment about the Syrian refugee crisis.
As we are all aware, the regime of Bashar al-Assad is responsible for the civil war in Syria that allowed ISIS to gain a foothold and expand.
Assad used chemical weapons on his own people, and hundreds of thousands of lives have been lost as a result of the conflict he created.
It is completely understandable that the peace-loving people of that country want out.
Just this week, several of my colleagues sent a letter to President Obama, expressing concerns about the possibility of ISIS infiltrating the Syrian refugee population, and asking what is being done to thoroughly vet these refugees.
Over half the governors in this nation have stated they don’t want Syrian refugees resettled in their states.
I share their concerns.
The U.S. should not accept Syrian refugees as long as there is a threat posed by ISIS.
If we cannot be 100 percent certain that additional refugees from Syria do not put Americans at risk, the president’s plan to accept up to 10,000 additional refugees this year should be rejected.
And if the President tries to act unilaterally, Congress should cut off funding to prevent the President from taking any action that would put the American people at risk.
If we are really going to be serious about solving the Syrian refugee crisis, the answer is not deciding which countries are accepting how many refugees.
The answer is to defeat ISIS and remove Bashar al-Assad from power so the peace-loving people of Syria can return home [emphasis mine; Senator John Thune, speech, U.S. Senate, 2015.11.17].
Senator Thune is helping ISIS win. The Islamic radicals take over cities in Syria. They terrorize and murder innocent civilians. Locals seek safe haven for themselves and their families. John Thune and other reactionaries in America say to these innocents, “No, you’re a threat. Keep out!” The radicals turn to the innocents and say, “See? The Americans aren’t your friends. They look at you and think, dirty Muslim! That’s what we’re fighting. Join us instead.”
Thune’s blanket statement is absurd. We could not be 100% certain that the Apollo program would not put Americans at risk, yet we blasted Americans to the Moon and gambled they could ride their rockets back. There is at least as much American reputation at stake and far more immediate humanitarian benefit to be gained by helping Syrian children, women, and men escape terror and death and settle down to peaceful lives milking cows and practicing medicine in South Dakota.
Senator Thune says the best way to help refugees is to wage a ground war which would end the threat from which the refugees are fleeing. But he doesn’t even have the courage to back up his tough talk by sending his voters’ sons and daughters to fight that ground war:
And now we are at a point where retaking territory from ISIS will require ground forces – there is no way around it.
If President Obama is going to be realistic about defeating ISIS, he needs to form a coalition capable of taking the war to ISIS on the ground.
That does not require the U.S. committing ground troops, but it does require the US leading by example, and forming a coalition capable of fighting both in the air and on the ground [Thune, 2015.11.17].
Um, Senator Thune? How do we lead by example if we ourselves do not set the example? How do we convince allies that we should wage a ground war against ISIS if we ourselves will not commit to a ground war against ISIS?
Senator Thune’s statement on the Syrian refugee situation is both cowardly and incoherent. It is one more example of how Senator Thune is incapable of providing leadership on any major issue of importance to South Dakota or the nation.
Marlboro Barbie would make an ideal desert grunt. He is tall enough to see over camels and sand dunes and thin enough to disappear if he turns sideways. Step up and be a hero,coward.Lead by example.Take Rounds along and hide behind him. Noem can go along and show refugees how to take selfies so they can remember these good times.
Cory, I think your analysis about Thune and the other anti-refugee folks actually helping ISIS recruit is right on the money. I really appreciate your perspective on this – thanks!
I get dizzy listening to him talk in circles!
we have a low congressional bar in SD. and it is red
I wish I could live in the world you do. Always so quick to bash and say no worries but if the shoe were on the other foot you’d be opposite. Only because an (R) is next to their name do you put this attack. If a Syrian “refugee” comes over here that is ISIS and does an attack then what? You say his comments are off but it is a valid question.
I await the day you take your liberal blinders off and be objective. Look at statements and state the validity and/or absence and explain why. Your commentary, like you actually know, what would be said is ludicrous. It is loaded in the absurd and hypothetical. Get real.
From a Twitter feed:
ISISplaining:
-“We want to kill infidels”
-“ISIS just wants to provoke a war.”
-“No, we just mainly want to kill infidels”
-“And they also want to provoke backlash against refugees”
-“Nope. Just kill infidels.”
-“They want to drive a wedge between the West and moderate Muslims.”
-“Kill infidels”
-“They’re also frustrated by their lack of jobs and by climate change.”
-“Can you put your neck on this block please?”
-“Sure”
John Thune is a thinker like Dick Cheney is a humanitarian.
CR, Thune was quick to bash the President. No critique from you there?
CR, I think the Democratic governors who are saying they don’t want Syrian refugees are just as mistaken. But on this issue, there is a clear correlation between R and fear of refugees.
CR, debating hypotheticals rarely if ever advances the debate. We can’t say for sure what we would do in any unknown situation. I can only hope that my emotions (fear, hatred, lust for revenge) would not provoke me to actions that would be bad practical policy and that would betray America’s principles. But I’ll entertain you this far: if among the thousands of real refugees a terrorist masquerading as a “refugee” tried to enter the United States, I would hope that our rigorous screening procedures (and you’ll notice, I haven’t rejected the need for control and caution) would sniff him or her out. But as with the Apollo spacecraft and others, the inevitability of failure of human endeavors does not mandate that we stop endeavoring. The failure rate for Space Shuttles was 40%, but we keep going to space. The failure rate of our terrorist-sniffing procedures among refugees appears to be much less.
CR, my commentary is no more “loaded”, “absurd”, or subjective than yours or Senator Thune’s. What license do you grant yourself and our senior Senator that you deny me?
Don, I await your point.
The GOP hypocrisy is stunning. The GOP refuses to approve funding or war powers to Obama and then criticize him for not making war. They attack him for not having a strategy, and would attack him for revealing his strategy to ISIS if he did explicitly state his strategy.
funny wik. have enjoyed your recent blog (drought) and other comments
liberal blinders. only from a republican:)
More wingnut hypocrisy-wingnuts blame HRC for dragging out Benghazi hearing to make them look cruel. http://www.buzzfeed.com/meganapper/benghazi-committee-member-clinton-made-hearing-long-so-gop-w?utm_term=.avjp7raNa#.wd9BNp1V1
Any sane person would believe that wingnuts are conceding the next election entirely because wingnuts are so damned dumb.
Thanks, Bear!
Douglas, as the President pointed out in his news conference in Turkey Monday, most of the proposals for “getting tough” on ISIS are things his administration has already been doing.
thks mfi-that IS hilarious. jfc
There might be 13 screenings on the international and national level these refugees go through before they get in. Am waiting for a link to be clarified before I can post it.
Tehran John or should he be Jihadi John, is an expert in Middle East warfare and geography. Listening to him is pure torture that hurts.
is there any question that tres amigos in DC take their marching orders, parse every press release and vote with “what would rush say, Faux news, and ann (anorexic barbie) coulter say?”
at this very moment rush is spreading the message that “every muslim believes every infidel should die indiscriminently”. listen to coulter in her element, w/ a right wing talk show host. absolutely racist to her emaciated bones. don’t get me started on aussie refugee rupert murdoch.
there are 1.6 billion muslims. christ, there are a billion catholics!
Grandstanding. That’s the explanation for why politicians feel compelled to rush to a microphone to advocate not for sound reason-based public policy but rather for overreaction.
Republicans are feeling so neutered by President Obama that they have become chihuahuas barking just to be heard and acknowledged. “yipe yipe yipe yipe yipe yipe.” Sen. John Thune R-SD
Photo op kid at it again.Thune is a chicken hawk never served in the service,And keeps crying.
As I understand it, Daugaard, with an (R) has not joined the republican governors to ban Syrian refugees.
This Democrat will support Daugaard’s position on this issue.
Powers at the Dump Site posted Thune’s comments yesterday, there was only one (1) response.
http://www.themudflats.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/12241354_10153748356395763_6093953240839528866_n.jpg
Roger-guvs cannot prevent refugees from being settled in their states. I am certain Obama will ask for states to volunteer and wingnuts will make a big stink about federal overreach,like they always do. I am also fairly certain the fed will provide services for refugees which wingnuts will attempt to block because they control the purse strings. Seen this game over and over again. One party plays upon America’s fears for political advantage. Been there,done that over and over and over…….
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/2-000-terror-suspects-bought-guns-legally-report-article-1.2437868
mike – apparently govs can:
http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2015/11/18/1451656/-Indiana-s-Republican-governor-kicks-out-Syrian-refugees-reserves-place-for-himself-in-hell#view-story (just for the rant)
and
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/18/nyregion/11th-hour-detour-puts-family-in-connecticut-as-indiana-bars-syrian-refugees.html?_r=1
“A Syrian refugee family, after waiting for three years in Jordan to be approved to come to the United States, was finally set to land in Indianapolis on Wednesday. Instead, after Gov. Mike Pence of Indiana said on Monday that he would no longer accept Syrian refugees in his state, the family of three will be starting their new life in New Haven.”
btw thanks for the sanity here CAH and friends.
CR did you even read Thune’s comments? He stated “The U.S. should not accept Syrian refugees as long as there is a threat posed by ISIS.”
We have been fighting Al Qaeda for 15 years and they still pose a threat. There is no reason to believe ISIS won’t be a threat for several decades and even if coalition forces eradicate 90% of their forces on some level they will remain a threat just as other terrorist groups withing the middle east remain a threat even decades later.
So what Thune is really saying is that we can never accept refugees. Ever. Because Thune being a good Christian knows the best way to show compassion for fellow human beings is to deny them entrance into your nation for fear that one of them MIGHT end up being a criminal at some point in the future. Makes perfect sense.
Thune must be a Native American name right? Because clearly the Senator believes refugees have no business coming to the US thus I can only assume it is because he believes we should keep outsiders out and protect our natural way of life. /s
Seriously – these politicians base their statements upon fear rather than compassion and a sense of humanity. Doesn’t that essentially guarantee a victory for the terrorists?
Yeah,Barbara he sure did. Not that his actions are legal. They are political in nature and I hope Obama doesn’t force this issue yet. At some point,he has to make a stand and learn wingnuts that federal regulations supercede any BS political grandstanding. Imagine if these refugees wanted guns the majority of them would be passed,no problem. Lord I am learning to hate these un-American gutless bastards with a passion.
That guy is ate up on so many levels but he’s right that ultimately the best thing is to get them back to a safe Syria as fast as possible. Other middle eastern countries don’t want them. Will Republicans ever admit we started this problem? Probably not. Blame everyone else.
Level Tel Aviv then resettle Syrians there.
There’s no respect for boarders which obviously includes the United States who stirred up this most recent mess and those who gave away the promised land. Probably agree with Larry if he could reel it in. For 5 minutes maybe?
yeah, screw those boarders: they just ruin the slopes anyway.
you miserable bastards.
I’m not sure how much any of this has to do with Israel, but they divvied it up like a pizza pie. Gonna be consequences. Should sound familiar around these parts.
yep, Wanblee should secede from Jackson County and be part of Oglala Lakota County.
Which part of red state collapse escapes you people?
Hit Cory’s tip jar, people: a black hole trumps a straight flush.
“There’s a key fact missing in these big political fights: States are not, currently, being overrun with Syrian refugees. Quite the opposite; data shows only a tiny fraction of Syrian refugees have settled within American borders. The United States has, since 2013, resettled fewer than 2,000 refugees — a mere 0.05 percent of all Syrian refugees worldwide.”
http://www.vox.com/2015/11/18/9756656/syrian-refugee-response-chart
Oh, I don’t think it’s missed here. We’ve done nothing in comparison to the chaos we’ve caused. We’re a bunch of drunkin cowboys who think they’re heroes.
Maybe the photo op kid could have a basketball game with the syrians and take a couple of photo ops all this guy ever does is blow smoke.Please Angela K. run against the photo op express, and get something done for South Dakota.
Jihadi John, aka Tehran John is just speaking for his masters in the oil and gas business. They know that climate change has brought on the situation in Syria as it will on the rest of the Mid East. We know something of migrations here in South Dakota during climate changes in weather as many of our family members had to leave because of severe drought in the 30’s. We had nothing, so we left. Now in Paris, the time has come for serious global talks on what to do with climate change on a world wide scale. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/paris-attacks-global-climate-change-talks_564cbf02e4b08c74b733b43c
While listening to CNN on and off this afternoon there emerged a common pattern with the everyday Frenchmen and women being interviewed.
These people are living their lives with the very real prospect of another ISIS attack and yet they refuse to be afraid, unlike the Thune’s and refugee hate mongers.
The French have shown a remarkable spirit and courage throughout the events of last Friday.
Republican officeholder fascist meltdown is underway with Republican officeholders proposing internment camps like the ones used for Japanese citizens, closing mosques, closing state borders. These guys are seriously deranged and John Thune is encouraging this fascist meltdown. It’s becoming clear now: Thune and the Republican Party is the enemy, not the refugees, not even ISIS. Welcome the refugees and boot out the fascist Republican Party.
Jerry-the CIA might be interested in knowing Jihadi John might turn up in Dakota since they just airmailed him a one way ticket to terrorist heaven this past week.
Maybe, maybe not. Besides, I do not want to elevate him by calling him Tehran John anymore. Thanks to the deal the Obama administration did for peace with Iran, they are going solar. Damn straight, solar. http://www.power-technology.com/news/newsiran-signs-deal-german-major-developing-1250mw-solar-power-projects-4715187
We could have nice things too right here in on the windswept prairie with renewables. If only we had leadership that would get the job done. Nah, they are too busy wetting their collective pants over some 3 year old Syrian kid.
Even Thune is right once in awhile. If the Syrians wanted to save their country they would stay there and fight ISIS.
The Boston Bombers come in on one of these types of programs. These people when they come to a new country have no proof of identity. Until we know their back ground they should not be allowed to enter the USA.
It is a easy way for terrorists to get a free ride in to our country. This is unfortunate, however we can not risk our own safety.
Crap. Dennis has gone to the dark side, it appears.
“That is why I am joining many other governors in calling on the federal government to re-examine our process for background checks of refugee applicants seeking asylum and to reconsider whether the United States should continue to accept refugees at current levels. Sen. Thune, Sen. Rounds and Rep. Noem have also called on the federal government to take these actions.”
http://news.sd.gov/newsitem.aspx?id=18552
Well Dave, what did you expect. Daugaard and his son-in-law are leading from behind and being a part of the cool-kid gang fits their shallow mindset.
Although, I don’t blame them. With the scrutiny of the public on their ability to govern around sound healthcare policy, the embarrassment of their education policy from teacher pay to the MCEC and Gear Up scandal and the dark stain of corruption that is EB-5…who wouldn’t want to change the subject.
You joyously celebrate the Sturgis Rally knowing full well that it brings sex trafficking, drugs, violence and shall we say less than Christian behavior. Will you dictate the same level of standards that you hold on the Syrian refugees to the scum you so willingly spend money on to invite to our state and our national treasures.
Didn’t think so….
Dennis and Tony, the next time you go to mass, think about what the Pope has said about Syrian refugees. Picture in your mind the dead child on the beach. Think of the innocents that were tripped by reporters looking to inflame passions and then examine within your own heart who you worship. I believe thinking people have figured it out.
I may not have agreed with you on politics, but that disagreement has now evolved into pity and disgust.
What had this been like if Cheyney wouldn’t have started all this.They will greet us a s liberators.What a farce he was.And then we have two chicken hawks in the Senate.
And more from the courageous French.
Today French President Hollande said that his country would take up to 30,000 Syrian refugees in the next 2-3 years.
Why do the opponents of the Syrian refugees continually push the line that they won’t be vetted when it has been repeatedly stated they would be.
@Sam…were you looking to become an internet meme on people who are ill informed?
But maybe you have a point. We should make the bar incredibly high for immigrants to come in. Who knew that the Italians would bring in the Mafia. That the Norwegians would inflict lutefisk on the populace or that the Irish would hold a party that would cause so many DUI’s.
How soon we forget that the fear mongers were fighting Jewish immigrants during WWII…really, can’t they find somewhere else to go? They were smart people like you and the Governor.
After all, Timothy McVeigh was the offspring of Irish immigrants and a confirmed Catholic. You are so right to warn us about people that aren’t like us…wait…what?
File this under go figure.
While the GOP is falling all over themselves to keep Syrian families from safety, Kristi Noem is getting all school girl giggly about known drug offender/abuser and tax dodger Willie Nelson on her twitter account.
If it is one thing the republicans are adept at ,it is the politics of fear. Maybe one or a few refugees are terrorists, they will never be as big a threat as our own homegrown terrorists. Crazy people are all around and they will continue to do crazy things and bring harm to others and they will do that to the end of time. Do we stop helping people in need because of this fact? Do we bury our heads in the sand because it is just so scary scary?The reality of life is that your well being is more threatened by a trip to town on a snowy day than it is by any of this. When did we become a nation of such chickens**ts?
There are a lot of Conservatives with Common Sense who think Willie Nelson is a libbie who is insaner than most. But Willie Nelson is not important. There are people cold in Rapid City right now who need help and the mayor is making it so we can’t give them scarfs and hats and mittens and that angers grudznick. If Willie Nelson was half the libbie he thinks he is he’d be here handing out hats and blankets.
John Thune sometimes goes out of his way to show what an empty suit he really is
Take his quote from his speech to an empty chamber done only to inflame hate among his willfully ignorant followers.
“If we cannot be 100 percent certain that additional refugees from Syria do not put Americans at risk, the president’s plan to accept up to 10,000 additional refugees this year should be rejected.”
Then consider this from Lutheran Social Services and their support of immigrants. Some of them could be scary, like the Boston Bombers.
“In the past few years, refugees have come to South Dakota from Bosnia, Kosovo, the Ukraine, the former Soviet Union, Sudan, Ethiopia, Somalia, Iraq, Iran and other countries.”
OMG John Thune…have you made sure that these people are all 100% certain to not be or become terrorists?
John Thune, if you didn’t have that certainty, were you neglect in your duties to the people of South Dakota?!?
Given your new found fear of immigrants who aren’t like you. Should Sioux Falls be afraid?
Have there been any immigrants from countries that have been or could be home to terrorists?
How could you not have been vocal about this risk before it became popular to care?
Do these questions make you and your staff feel like your a phony opportunistic photo op fake?
Tell us again how you work more days than those phony French surrender monkeys…Freedom Fries for everyone!
grudz,
You live in the dark ages.
I don’t care much for Mayor Allender, but he did reverse the city decision on scarves on the statues meant for the homeless.
Fertilized eggs are people and we must protect them at all costs. People with different colored skin and have a religion we don’t understand (nor do we want to try) that are fleeing their war ravaged country?
Well, not so much…..
You’re right Grud.
Willie seems like he should be a libbie icon…so why is Kristi so hot on him…guess you better ask her about that. Seems pretty school girlish/fanboy to me. How much does she get paid to work less than half of the year?
Way to go Kristi…good to know you are serious about governing! Oh…sorry…didn’t mean to be a downer on your taxpayer funded party life. Glad I didn’t say this when you had your selfie on the Great Wall. We know you work hard for at least 112 days a year. Again, I apologize.
But the GOP poster girl is all a twitter about him…not like there are other things to think about if you are our only representative in the House.
I can only look forward to her coming out strongly against cancer, abused puppies and kitties and celebrating her relatives success in their school activities and maybe even get a picture of a successful pheasant hunt to show for her less than 50% work year.
Well done Kristi! I feel like I’m getting my monies worth for your hard work!
Talk tough, but no ground troops. That sounds like the work of a politician up for re-election. Too bad he does not have an opponent, yet.
The issue which a Senator or senate candidate should be raising at this time is the concern for the continual war. In a recent interview, Secretary Kerry talked about the power vacuum which Isil is filling in the absence of a once stronger al-Qaeda. Kerry went on to say we will defeat Isil as we have defeated al-Qaeda’s capability, but the issue is not Isil or al-Qaeda. The issue is the power vacuum which exists in parts of Syria and Iraq today. A continual power vacuum reality created by the politics of the Bush Doctrine. A doctrine which is not only indefensible but also not sustainable in practical terms; but has perpetuated the continual war reality which now we are being asked to once again subscribe too in wake of last weeks tragic events in Paris.
To talk about coalitions, to talk about troops, and to talk about terrorism abroad and at home without understanding how we have gotten into this mess is to deny history and to deny our children a greater future. John Randolph Thune and his claimed leadership is not part of the answer to this current challenge rather he is part of the problem. To ignore the realities of the continual war, its ingredients, its actors, it agenda, and its costs in assessing this imminent issue is to lead us over time to a greater weakness domestically and aboard as a nation than terrorism itself.
No American leader should talk about Paris, Syria, Iraq, or Isil today without invoking the words “continual war” and the debate it invites, because the failure to do so merely legitimizes the intent of the hawks, the neo-conservatives, and those within the military-industrial complex who profit from war and merely use times of peace to develop new conflict….
Grudz-why aren’t you handing out coats. Show some wingnut compassionate conservatism for someone other than the koch bros. Unlike your representative congressweasels,do so in the manner prescribed by your saviour. And skip the press and selfies.
Just think,taxpayers pay knee jerks like Dakota’s congressional tools and iowa’s freaking idiots $174000 per year plus perks to be stoopid and lazy.
Sam, let me check: would you say the same of Jews who fled Nazi Germany?
Dave, the Governor is dancing on the line. He doesn’t say, “No Syrians!” He says he wants a review of the screening process.
I am wondering if Jews even get what happened to them in Nazi Germany. Steve Israel voted with the republicans to keep wetting their pants. Maybe his Jewry was a little different than those who suffered the Holocaust, or why else would he vote to support the same thing that happened to his fellow Jews.
There is something else as well, this means that America can no longer claim to be Christian in its values, because we just lost them. That train has left the station, pun intended.
We’re seeing just how easy it is for a great nation to come apart or fall into totalitarianism, as a majority of folks let their fears guide them. You get so-called “reasonable” men, like Thune, mouthing nonsense about “commonsense,” while making more and more restrictive laws. The scared sheep bleat and follow.
That Trump is a fascist isn’t news, but what is a little more than disconcerting is there isn’t much difference now between the “Good Americans” and the brownshirts. Obama seems to be the only person standing up for American values.
Funny, the “Muslim president born in Kenya” turns out to be much more American than anyone else. Of course, racism hiding behind cowardice is as American as apple pie, so the histrionic racist cowards are also demonstrating the worst aspects of Americanism.
I have to say that Ryan’s bill may placate the cowards just enough to buy enough time to let the scared sheep come back to their senses. It’s not as bad as the Trump brownshirts would want. I don’t think you give in to bullyboys, however, and Ryan could have had a “profile in courage” moment had he been more of a leader. He strikes me more like the poor democrats trying to appease the Nazis.
Our country was founded by refugees and immigrants. But now we have cowards that are too scared to allow families and their kids a santuary in which they can feel safe. They are too scared! Reminds me of the Ebola stance a lot of them took a number of months ago. I suggest people read Elizabeth Warrens comments on this if you would like an example of a leader with a strong backbone!
Daugaard wants the feds to save his political medicaid expansion ploy after killing 90-270 residents who neededACA but couldnt get it because of him. So he’s waffling about refugees.
happy-cutting u some slack but surprised no mention of yer fav thesis (supported by this young gent-racism huffpo 11.19.15):
Dr. Craig Considine is a Catholic American of Irish and Italian descent. In the Fall of 2015, Craig will take up a Lecturer position in the Department of Sociology at Rice University in Houston, Texas. As a sociologist, he focuses on Christian-Muslim relations, interfaith studies, identity, race and ethnicity, as well as comparative research and ethnography. He holds a Ph.D. in Sociology from Trinity College Dublin, an MS.c. Lond. In International Relations from Royal Holloway, University of London, and a B.A. in International Relations from American University, Washington DC. twitter
As Jon says, we must respect our origin story. We are a nation of immigrants. Open doors make us safer and stronger. Closing our doors is short-sighted… and as Don says, quite frighteningly, it shows how easily we can fall for fear and fascism.
If this story doesn’t make you weep yer not human.
http://www.pri.org/stories/2015-11-19/don-t-turn-middle-east-refugees-away-says-evangelical-christian
Strange: somehow the CMS ate the last part of my original essay and replaced it with Huron Plainsman links. My apologies for that strangeness; I have repaired the text.