Senator John Thune says Trump screwed up, a little, with his executive order on immigration:
“The way in which this particular executive order was rolled out has unfortunately created unnecessary confusion. Americans deserve more clarity on this issue from the administration,” Thune said in an email to [that Sioux Falls paper].
…The South Dakota senator said he strongly opposes any religious test for refugees and immigrants but supports “a security test.”
“It’s clear we need to vet individuals coming to this country from areas where terrorists are operating,” Thune said. “President Trump inherited a humanitarian crisis made worse by President Obama’s inaction. This very brief pause gives us a chance to fully assess the threats we are facing and to strengthen our vetting process” [Dana Ferguson, “Thune Opposes Religious Test for Refugees,” that Sioux Falls paper, 2017.01.30].
Senator Thune blows smoke on vetting—we already subject refugees to a 20-step vetting process, and no visa-holder or refugee from any country targeted by Trump’s ban has committed any terrorist act in the United States over the last several years. But at least South Dakota’s senior senator is willing to tell the emperor he has no clothes on his Saturday lie from the Oval Office that the immigration ban is “working out very nicely.”
We get not even that small smidgeon of courage from Representative Kristi Noem:
“My first priority is the safety and security of the American people,” Noem said in a statement. “I share the President’s concerns about our ability to screen refugees – especially those from terrorist hotbed areas. I support putting a temporary pause on accepting refugees from terrorist-held areas – at least until the administration can certify that asylum seekers do not present a safety threat to the U.S.” [Dana Ferguson, “Rep. Noem Supports Suspending U.S. Refugee Program,” that Sioux Falls paper, 2017.01.29]
Kristi, see the link above about how the U.S. vets refugees.
Senator Mike Rounds sings Trump karaoke, too:
“The United States has a long tradition of welcoming refugees into our country,” said Rounds. “I strongly believe we can remain true to that tradition while keeping South Dakotans and all Americans safe here at home. Terrorists have shown they are willing to infiltrate countries posing as refugees. We must make certain our top U.S. intelligence officials are satisfied that we have all the information needed to properly vet certain refugees to make sure they don’t have ties to terrorism. We must also assure that the Visa Waiver Program is working as the 2015 changes intended” [“South Dakota’s Congressional Delegation Responds to President Trump’s Travel Ban,” KELO-TV, 2017.01.30].
Mike, see the link above about where terrorists come from and the number of attacks perpetrated in the U.S.
South Dakota’s Congressional delegates thus appear to share among themselves half a vertebra and only a political fraction of a brain.
Update 18:17 CST: The redoubtable and mostly undoubtable John Tsitrian reports that he, he smart daughter Emily, the Cato Institute, and the Koch Brothers all agree that Trump’s immigration ban hurts America’s reputation and security.
The acting AG has told the mangled apricot and staff she will not defend this illegal order in court. Take that you orange creep.
We must make certain our top U.S. intelligence officials are satisfied that we have all the information needed to properly vet certain refugees to make sure they don’t have ties to terrorism
Gee Chief, did you not know the countries where terrorists came from that did kill Americans have ties to Drumpf business interests? Sounds like a case could be made that that is a link to terrorism perpetrated by your party.
One last thing, Rounds, Noem and Marlboro Barbie- the gentleman in charge of National Security, I believe his name is General Allen, did not know the details of the ban until he saw Drumpf on tv signing the damn executive order. Top security officials aren’t in the loop? The story trickled out today that Drumpf’s inner circle was afraid of leaks and only a few inner circlers were told about the ban.
Stop the press. I need to clear up a couple mistakes in my third post. The General’s name is Kelley and he heads Homeland Security, not National Security. My apologies to the General. He is prolly confused enough without my help.
If the USA will only allow Christians, then why are we kicking out folks from South of our border? If we are solely interested in Christians only, then what is the difference between Catholics and others? You all do know that folks from south of the border are American Indians, correct? We all do know that these American Indians are Catholic for the very most part, so what gives?
Dale Jr. says that immigrants are what makes the USA great. He drives those Nascar’s don’t ya know. Everyone seems to have more spine than our spineless ones. https://twitter.com/DaleJr
spine photo op spine Photo op loves the camera.Rounds doesnt know what to do.Go photo op.
From the Department of Unintended Consequences:
“Under [President] Trump’s executive order, Baghad’s pilots can’t come into the country for any reason. It doesn’t matter that Iraq owns the fighter jets sitting on the tarmac in Tuscon or that its aviators have come here for two years without incident.”
https://warisboring.com/these-iraqi-fighter-pilots-are-bombing-isis-now-trump-has-banned-them-634fbf472f1c?mc_cid=73e2019c8b&mc_eid=a61166a907#.6p9arcub4
To be honest, I was suprised that Thune was against the ban. Probably checked the political wind to see which way is was blowing before making a statement.Totally expected it from the other two spineless wonders. Several business leaders from Ford, Apple, and etc. have come out against the ban. Dumb Donnie was totally unprepared to become president and is a threat to the Republic.
Rounds reminds me of Chance the Gardener.
Here is a very interesting read just released ahead of The Atlantic Monthlys normal publication date. https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2017/03/how-to-build-an-autocracy/513872/
punkin head just fired the acting United States Attorney General. Wonder what our democracy boys and girl think of that?
jerry,
Sounds like something Richard Nixon would do.
Jews and Muslims alike https://twitter.com/jimsciutto/status/826097943254024196 are exactly who Nixon would have kept off our shores, just like punkin head. Nixon was as anti semitic as punkin head is http://www.jpost.com/International/Newly-uncovered-Nixon-tapes-reveal-anti-Semitic-stance-323953
When Trump met them, he prolly grabbed them by the pussy, because he’s famous enough to do whatever he wants.
I just can’t help but wonder if Kristi Noem liked it. Surely, she’s attractive enough for Trump to grab her genitals, and Rounds clearly has no balls. So, ya gotta wonder if Kristi Noem liked it.
It’s possible that she might have liked it so much that, in private, she may have had an affair with Mr. President. After all, she voted for Commander Marmalade, and people are talking all about the sexy – SEXY – gossip nowadays.
As a Pub, it’s easy for me to understand how the Koch Brothers have a strong, practical business interest in keeping a sensible but accepting attitude toward immigrants, without whom steady economic growth in this country can’t be sustained, given that American birth rates have been the lowest in history in recent years. Putting restrictions on entire populations of potential immigrants is bad business and an awful precedent. The CATO Institute is the champion of limited government, which supports the essence of Republicanism, and is probably aghast at the reckless explosion of presidential power that Trump represents. I’m sure this is why Thune is wavering and will probably continue to do so. Noem and Rounds are being the predictable GOP ciphers they always have been, following along on party lines and abandoning any pretense of independent thought, much less leadership.
https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/16265414_10154944195546081_1670221597432299742_n.jpg?oh=1dbcc53455a79874cd8797b1361eb1c0&oe=594A2444
Let’s have a Lutheran registry. Muslims ain’t the only bad guys in town.
The Koch brothers can lay in this bed, as they fomented a lot of this nationalistic paranoia that drove the Trump train.
Just a few days before inauguration Obama turned back a boat of Cuban refugees. Where was the outrage on Dakota Free Press?
@Dicta:”The Koch brothers can lay in this bed, as they fomented a lot of this nationalistic paranoia that drove the Trump train.”
Obviously you don’t know what you are talking about. Koch Bros opposed Trump during the Republican primary, didn’t provide any support (endorsement or money) for Trump during the election and even considered spending millions opposing him in the election. Tension between the Koch’s and Trump is still pretty high with Trump kicking a guest of David Koch and Koch out of Mar-a-Lago in January.
Kochs are libertarians not conservatives and as such have long promoted an expansive immigration policy that is essentially an “open borders” policy. Nor is it surprising that CATO also mirrors the Koch Bros beliefs since they founded CATO and still provide for over half it’s funding. In fact CATO was originally incorporated as “The Charles Koch Foundation”.
The Kochs want a liberal, unlimited immigration policy because the influx of workers will drive down the cost of labor benefiting business in general but specifically their own business interests. The Kochs can’t be considered nationalistic, nativist or populist in any way, shape or form.
I see the Koch brothers involvement in the political scene only began with Trump.
Wait.
No it didn’t.
Koch brothers have funded anti-government hate propaganda/programming of the citizenry for their entire lifetimes – as did their father before them. Trump/Bannon monster in the white house is there due to its direct appeal to those highly conditioned anti-government sentiments.
Bannon famously said this in a 2013 interview: “I’m a Leninist. Lenin wanted to destroy the state, and that’s my goal too. I want to bring everything crashing down, and destroy all of today’s establishment.”
So, yes, Coyote – the Kochs have made this bed.
President Bannon, along with punkin head, got themselves in a mess with our greatest friend, the UK. They don’t want President Bannon nor do they want Trump to come to their house for a state visit. Looks like we have our new buddy from Russia as our bestest now. Last time there was so much anger at the colonies was in 1776, we have come a long way.
Tim Higgins 2017-01-31 at 09:47
Just a few days before inauguration Obama turned back a boat of Cuban refugees. Where was the outrage on Dakota Free Press?
Where was the outrage when all a Cuban had to do was set foot on American soil and they were automatically given refuge, while all others could be sent back no questions asked?
NYTimesMorningEdition … A large portion of the electorate is behind the president, saying that the promise of tougher policies was one of the main reasons they voted for him. A recent poll found that 48 percent of voters supported “suspending immigration from ‘terror prone’ regions;” 42 percent were against.
That guest of the koch bros was the author of Drumpf biography that was critical of Drumpf. The author was golfing as a guest of the koch bros. Drumpf sent security to escort him away and the koch bros left with him. The koch bros said they arrived as a foursome and would leave as a foursome.
I hope Thune can rally the republican senate for impeachment when the time comes. He was correct in abandoning Trump when the pussy-grabbing video came out.
He was correct in abandoning Trump when the pussy-grabbing video came out.
I believe he basically looked the other way since he voted for Drumpf- http://www.newsmax.com/Politics/John-Thune-Supports-Trump-Disappointment/2016/10/12/id/753024/
Of course the main reason people support the ban on immigrants is because they blame them for their situation in the workplaces. When you and the bride have to hold down a couple of jobs each to pay the bills, you get a little upset and you have to blame someone. So then, what about those American Indians from down south? How did it go from them to the Muslims and Jews? Last I checked, the American Indians were not coming into the country from the Mid East. So to be clear Porter, the American Indians from south of the border are still coming in by plane to the airports without issue. I wonder if that is what the 42% are clear on.
Something else as well, those American Indians from south of the border are Christian, 99.99% Catholic. How about that!
@mia:”Where was the outrage when all a Cuban had to do was set foot on American soil and they were automatically given refuge, while all others could be sent back no questions asked?”
That was a “Bubba” Clinton policy. Before 1995, Cubans intercepted at sea were never repatriated. After the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991 the Cuban economy totally collapsed increasing exponentially the number of Cubans trying to escape that sewer. In an attempt to end the crisis the “wet foot, dry foot” policy was implemented. Obama ending the WFDF policy is yet another concession he gave up to Castro. Trump should re-implement the pre 1995 policy.
Coyote, you are close, but no cigar. Care to tell us and yourself about one little boy called Elian Gonzalez? You do remember how all that worked with Janet Reno, don’t ya? Who ran the congress then, during that time?
Coyote’s mad because so many of his varmint cousins were trapped and drowned. Drown the Cubans. It’s not like they’re white people or something.
Coyote only reads Brietbart and they have not informed him that you can travel to Cuba and Cubans can travel here or used to be able to before President Bannon and his lackey took control. Why try to enter illegally when you can do it legally Coyote?
“My first priority is the safety and security of the American people,” Noem said in a statement.
Oh – so THAT explains why Kristi has spent so many of her hours in Congress pushing for mandatory felony charges for anyone who allows his or her firearm to fall into the hands of a toddler right? Because surely if her priority is safety and security she isn’t just sitting around trying to defund Obamacare, or worrying about that pesky ‘death tax’ but instead is taking action. Right? Right?
In case you didn’t recall, it turns out over the past several years toddlers have killed more people in the US than terrorists. Yet which of these two groups is receiving the focus of the Republican party?
In 2015 there were 58 total toddler-involved shootings including 21 deaths (19 toddlers, 2 others). In case you’re keeping score, that is 21 more deaths than were caused by refugees from the seven countries included in Trump’s ban.
http://www.snopes.com/toddlers-killed-americans-terrorists/
Beer guys know their heritage which is one helluva lot more than NOem knows. The safety and security of the American people would be better served if she left his country, a true menace to the place. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HtBZvl7dIu4
Hey, Tim! I don’t have to express my distaste for every bad policy in existence in order to point out that policy X is bad. My failure to squeeze in a post on President Obama’s wrong choice to turn away a boatload of Cuban refugees does not change the fact that the current President’s choice to turn away all refugees for 120 days and all Syrian refugees until who-knows-when is wrong.
Why didn’t all the fake news sites report that President Obama turned away a boat load of Cubans, I didn’t hear of it until now.
Cubans belong in Cuba because they vote for right wing nut jobs. Good riddance.
The boatload of Cubans is a boatload of bull$#i+. These Cubans were in Mexico. On some maps of the US, the area south and north of the lower 48, are not defined. Folks like Coyote think that means it is water so they think that a boatload of Cubans were at the southern border of the US trying to dock. I blame his home schooling for that. http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2017/01/20/cubans-border-mexico-deport/96844844/
In a pretty astonishing bit of corporate memo-ing, Steve Adler, Editor in Chief of the Reuters news agency, sent Reuters staff a memo outlining how the organization should cover the Trump administration: Pretty much the same as it would any other authoritarian regime where you’d be ridiculously naive to take the government at its word. This thing deserves to be printed out and pinned to cubicle walls, and maybe framed like the “declaration of principles” in Citizen Kane, apart of course from the thing where Kane stops following them immediately.
Read more at http://wonkette.com/611182/reuters-to-cover-trump-like-any-other-tinpot-dictator#OEqYPCVoPHVXlqhe.99
mfi – Thanks for the Wonkette link – I needed that tonight.
mike from iowa,
Wonkette is great.
In additional new today Trump’s White House ended its boycott of CNN, seriously they were boycotting.
There have no White House administration on CNN since Trump’s inauguration.