I feel a little better now. The House Dems disappointed us today by voting yes for that poison pill anti Syrian refugee bill. They gave the odious GOP a veto proof majority-in the House.
I can't say I find much solace in their reasoning.
"In response, the White House dispatched chief of staff Denis McDonough and Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson to Capitol Hill to speak with Democrats just hours before the House vote."
"It was clear, lawmakers said, that the White House is trying to keep the number of Democratic defections low. But Multiple sources said McDonough and Johnson's "in the weeds" presentation didn't receive wide support in the room. The administration officials tried to make the case that the current vetting system was enough and that the Department of Homeland Security found the process too burdensome under the Republican-authored bill."
That message fell hard with Democrats. Rep. Scott Peters (D-Calif.), who voted for the bill, said he not swayed by Johnson’s pitch to Democrats that the Homeland Security Department doesn’t have time to certify refugees.
“If you look at the bill, it’s hard to see how it’s as awful as the administration is portraying it as,” Peters said.
"Sources said Maloney pushed back against the White House, saying the issue is "toxic" — even if Democrats oppose the Republican bill on policy grounds — because of the complicated messaging surrounding the national security issue. Rep. Lloyd Doggett of Texas also questioned whether the opposition from the White House was wise for rank-and-file members of the caucus."
"The bipartisan support was a rebuke of President Barack Obama by House Democrats who felt that the administration failed to make a compelling case as to why they should vote against the Republican-authored bill when it was bad politics to do so."
“I think a lot of us went in with open minds and really wanted to understand the administration’s position on this,” said New York Democrat Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney. “It is offensive to me that we would stigmatize refugees…but if you read the bill what you find is that you have a pretty simple certification process sitting on top of an existing and extensive screening process that most of us believes works pretty well.”
Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2015/11/syria-refugee-bill-vote-216053#ixzz3ryX2PTPN
Come on. It doesn't sound like Maloney honestly ever had an open mind here. He was too afraid of a 'toxic issue.' You want the compelling case? How about that this bill is a poison pill which effectively makes it impossible for any refugees to ever enter the country. There's no way that each can have their case reviewed individually.
However, the good news is I called Chuck Schumer and they assured me that he won't be supporting this in the Senate. Ok, I'd love to say I broke the story but after getting off the phone I see there's a Politico piece about it.
"Sen. Chuck Schumer said Thursday that he is no longer open to a so-called pause in the flow of Syrian refugees into the United States, as the nation’s resettlement program remains under sharp congressional scrutiny as a potential national security loophole."
"Schumer, the powerful third-ranking Senate Democrat, infuriated liberals earlier this week when he said a pause in the Syrian refugee resettlement program “may be necessary” in light of last week’s terrorist attacks in Paris. Still, he said that he wanted to wait until he was briefed by administration officials before making a final decision."
On Thursday — after Wednesday’s evening briefing — Schumer said he now opposes any time-out in the resettlement program.
“We had a very good briefing,” the New York Democrat told reporters Thursday. “What they showed us is this: There are about 2,000 refugees who have come here from Syria over the last four years. None have been arrested or deported for terrorism. None.”
"Instead, Schumer and fellow Senate Democrats want to focus congressional scrutiny on two measures that they say can better prevent potential security threats to the United States: Reforms to the visa waiver program that allows foreigners from nearly 40 countries to travel here visa-free, and closing the so-called terror gap. Shutting that gap would explicitly bar those on the FBI’s terrorist watch list from purchasing or owning firearms"
"The push from Senate Democrats to divert attention from the refugee system came as top House Democrats were scrambling to limit defections on a House GOP bill that would enact more rigorous screening requirements for refugee applicants from Iraq and Syria. The House passed that bill, from House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Michael McCaul (R-Texas), on a 289- 137 vote on Thursday afternoon. The final tally included 47 Democratic yes votes, offering a rebuke for the White House which had lobbied against the measure, and giving Republicans a bipartisan victory."
Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2015/11/chuck-schumer-syria-refugee-no-pause-216063#ixzz3ryZ7VIJQ
However, here's the good news from Harry Reid:
I can't say I find much solace in their reasoning.
"In response, the White House dispatched chief of staff Denis McDonough and Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson to Capitol Hill to speak with Democrats just hours before the House vote."
"It was clear, lawmakers said, that the White House is trying to keep the number of Democratic defections low. But Multiple sources said McDonough and Johnson's "in the weeds" presentation didn't receive wide support in the room. The administration officials tried to make the case that the current vetting system was enough and that the Department of Homeland Security found the process too burdensome under the Republican-authored bill."
That message fell hard with Democrats. Rep. Scott Peters (D-Calif.), who voted for the bill, said he not swayed by Johnson’s pitch to Democrats that the Homeland Security Department doesn’t have time to certify refugees.
“If you look at the bill, it’s hard to see how it’s as awful as the administration is portraying it as,” Peters said.
"Sources said Maloney pushed back against the White House, saying the issue is "toxic" — even if Democrats oppose the Republican bill on policy grounds — because of the complicated messaging surrounding the national security issue. Rep. Lloyd Doggett of Texas also questioned whether the opposition from the White House was wise for rank-and-file members of the caucus."
"The bipartisan support was a rebuke of President Barack Obama by House Democrats who felt that the administration failed to make a compelling case as to why they should vote against the Republican-authored bill when it was bad politics to do so."
“I think a lot of us went in with open minds and really wanted to understand the administration’s position on this,” said New York Democrat Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney. “It is offensive to me that we would stigmatize refugees…but if you read the bill what you find is that you have a pretty simple certification process sitting on top of an existing and extensive screening process that most of us believes works pretty well.”
Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2015/11/syria-refugee-bill-vote-216053#ixzz3ryX2PTPN
Come on. It doesn't sound like Maloney honestly ever had an open mind here. He was too afraid of a 'toxic issue.' You want the compelling case? How about that this bill is a poison pill which effectively makes it impossible for any refugees to ever enter the country. There's no way that each can have their case reviewed individually.
However, the good news is I called Chuck Schumer and they assured me that he won't be supporting this in the Senate. Ok, I'd love to say I broke the story but after getting off the phone I see there's a Politico piece about it.
"Sen. Chuck Schumer said Thursday that he is no longer open to a so-called pause in the flow of Syrian refugees into the United States, as the nation’s resettlement program remains under sharp congressional scrutiny as a potential national security loophole."
"Schumer, the powerful third-ranking Senate Democrat, infuriated liberals earlier this week when he said a pause in the Syrian refugee resettlement program “may be necessary” in light of last week’s terrorist attacks in Paris. Still, he said that he wanted to wait until he was briefed by administration officials before making a final decision."
On Thursday — after Wednesday’s evening briefing — Schumer said he now opposes any time-out in the resettlement program.
“We had a very good briefing,” the New York Democrat told reporters Thursday. “What they showed us is this: There are about 2,000 refugees who have come here from Syria over the last four years. None have been arrested or deported for terrorism. None.”
"Instead, Schumer and fellow Senate Democrats want to focus congressional scrutiny on two measures that they say can better prevent potential security threats to the United States: Reforms to the visa waiver program that allows foreigners from nearly 40 countries to travel here visa-free, and closing the so-called terror gap. Shutting that gap would explicitly bar those on the FBI’s terrorist watch list from purchasing or owning firearms"
"The push from Senate Democrats to divert attention from the refugee system came as top House Democrats were scrambling to limit defections on a House GOP bill that would enact more rigorous screening requirements for refugee applicants from Iraq and Syria. The House passed that bill, from House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Michael McCaul (R-Texas), on a 289- 137 vote on Thursday afternoon. The final tally included 47 Democratic yes votes, offering a rebuke for the White House which had lobbied against the measure, and giving Republicans a bipartisan victory."
Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2015/11/chuck-schumer-syria-refugee-no-pause-216063#ixzz3ryZ7VIJQ
However, here's the good news from Harry Reid:
"House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and other top House Democratsurged their colleagues to oppose the refugee bill, arguing that its requirements were so onerous that it would effectively stop the refugee program for those from Iraq and Syria. And Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) assured reporters on Thursday that the House measure would not clear the Senate."
“Don’t worry, it won’t get passed. OK?” Reid said Thursday.
“Don’t worry, it won’t get passed. OK?” Reid said Thursday.
Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2015/11/chuck-schumer-syria-refugee-no-pause-216063#ixzz3ryZLMmBk
Ok, so I feel better. I was on the ledge before and now I'm thinking of coming back inside. Listen I've seen Trumpism as a big joke-as long as it's just the GOP. When Dems start drinking the Coolaid that's when I start to worry.
But Harry Reid and Chuck Schumer say they've got this. They are too pretty 'trustable' guys-to use Kevin McCarthy's turn of phrase.
Ok, so I feel better. I was on the ledge before and now I'm thinking of coming back inside. Listen I've seen Trumpism as a big joke-as long as it's just the GOP. When Dems start drinking the Coolaid that's when I start to worry.
But Harry Reid and Chuck Schumer say they've got this. They are too pretty 'trustable' guys-to use Kevin McCarthy's turn of phrase.
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