After Paris, the Nation is Being Tested; Will We Fail Again?

I guess right now I'm in the minority. There are these polls that show that Americans want to clamp down on refugees from Syria, they believe the President's ISIS strategy somehow isn't working and somehow the pollsters have managed to cull the response that people want us to send in ground troops to Syria.

While I would like to mock Jeb Bush for calling for ground troops in Syria, the sad truth is that this poll at least says Americans agree with him. Though we will see if this view really holds. I think polls can get some very elastic responses from people depending on how the question is framed.

http://www.nytimes.com/politics/first-draft/2015/11/18/jeb-bush-calls-for-global-coalition-and-u-s-ground-troops-to-fight-isis/

We've had saturation coverage of Paris for four days and counting. We'll see if this continues post the immediate blitz of coverage.

http://lastmenandovermen.blogspot.com/2015/11/why-presidents-tone-is-right.html

I am also in the minority in that I like the President's tone. But a lot of people seem to want breastbeating. They want to see some sea change in current policy. The knee jerk reaction is for some dramatic response. There's no value in acting for the sake of action,

They don't like his cool, rational demeanor. But we need a cool head more now than ever. Instead he's supposed to play to their fears and make wild statements and do something for the sake of doing it whether or not it helps or is even counterproductive.

It's just sad after all the years of criticizing the Bush years that people seem to want to return to them at the first sight of trouble. This is what Right wing parties the world over live for. They love these sorts of environments where people 'just want to feel safe.'

ISIS wants us to be afraid. This is how ISIS motivates their followers and they hope we react this way too. Yesterday they put out a video of hitting NY City. As a New Yorker this hits close to home. But the point is they are trying to manipulate American public opinion.

They hope that Spirit of George W. Bush wins, not that of Barrack Obama.

"The West Is Giving ISIS Exactly What It Wants  Unfortunately, conservatives in the U.S. and Europe seem to want to do all the wrong things."

"Lawmakers on both sides of the Atlantic have responded to Friday’s terror attacks in Paris bycalling to close their countries’ doors to Syrian refugees and framing the fight against the Islamic State group, which claimed responsibility for the attacks, as a “clash of civilizations.”"

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/islamic-state-terrorism-response_564b7434e4b08cda348af834?ncid=edlinkushpmg00000090

As this piece from Huff Po argues ISIS would love to see us curtail the refugees. 

The Islamic State has been very disappointed by the flow of refugees to Europe, because it undermines the narrative that the group provides a safe haven for global Muslims.

In this way, the efforts by some European nations to accommodate Syrian refugees have helped to bridge some of the perceived divide between the West and the Muslim world that Swift describes.

“The reality is, The Islamic State (IS) loathes that individuals are fleeing Syria for Europe,”wrote Aaron Zelin, an expert on jihadist groups. “It undermines IS’ message that its self-styled Caliphate is a refuge, because if it was, individuals would actually go there in droves since it’s so close instead of ... risking their lives through arduous journeys that could lead to death en route to Europe.” 

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/islamic-state-terrorism-response_564b7434e4b08cda348af834?ncid=edlinkushpmg00000090

You have GOPers running for President, in Congress, Governors all making wild statements. They are pushing the most base form of Islamophobia. 

http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/politics/2015/11/republicans_don_t_want_syrian_muslims_in_america_gop_leaders_can_only_agree.html

But you also have a Democratic mayor in Virginia doing what I've never heard anyone do before-make a positive reference to the Japanese internment camps. 

http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/260635-dem-mayor-cites-japanese-internment-camps-in-refusing-syrian

This gives you a little idea of politics in Virginia right now. And there are a number of Democrats in Congress who are suggesting openness to the GOP anti refugee bill. 

"President Barack Obama’s Syrian refugee program is driving a wedge through the Democratic Party, pitting liberal stalwarts against nervous Senate candidates and some senior lawmakers."

"With the White House scrambling to defend its resettlement program and Republicans pressing to “pause” or even eliminate it, liberals were alarmed earlier this week when third-ranking Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York expressed openness to a time-out on resettling Syrian refugees. Meanwhile, Democrats battling in competitive races from Ohio to New Hampshire to Nevada are voicing concerns with the vetting process for refugees fleeing Syria, a nation millions have left since a civil war began four years ago."

"New Hampshire Gov. Maggie Hassan, who is challenging Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.) in her bid for reelection, urged the federal government to stop accepting Syrian refugees until the process is reviewed. Nevada Senate candidate Catherine Cortez Masto wants U.S. intelligence officials to sign off on the vetting process before admitting more refugees. And former Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland, aiming to unseat GOP Sen. Rob Portman in Ohio, joined the chorus Tuesday, calling for a “short-term pause” in the resettlement program."

"But those responses have triggered strong blowback from liberal Democrats and advocacy groups. They’re exerting tremendous pressure on lawmakers to reject any measure that would further tie the Obama administration’s hands when it comes to accepting more refugees from abroad."

Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2015/11/syrian-refugees-democrats-paris-216032#ixzz3rvj1ux8B

Chuck Schumer is Harry Reid's presumed successor. It is not welcome to see him respond this way. As a New Yorker maybe I should call him today and let him know, it's not the job of Democrats to join in and promote fear.