Sorry I can't think of better words but this is rather astonishing. On the one hand you have Department of Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson giving a speech coming out strong against anti Muslim bigotry.
Just the same he also called on members of the Muslim community to alert the authorities if anyone in their community is somehow suspected of being radicalized-which you could argue is also putting all Muslims on trial for the actions of a few.
But no doubt the Obama Administration are the good guys here who want to do the right thing. They are doing this in the hope that they can put off demands for doing much worse things.
But now you have this new proposal by Trump. Maybe he was concerned about an earlier Iowa poll that showed him trailing Cruz 24-19, though another one after showed him leading Cruz 33-20 in Iowa.
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/
But whatever the reason.
"GOP frontrunner Donald Trump released a statement Monday calling for "a total and complete shutdown" of Muslims immigrating into the United States in light of recent terrorist attacks."
"Without looking at the various polling data, it is obvious to anybody the hatred is beyond comprehension. Where this hatred comes from and why we will have to determine," Trump said in the statement. "Until we are able to determine and understand this problem and the dangerous threat it poses, our country cannot be the victims of horrendous attacks by people that believe only in Jihad, and have no sense of reason or respect for human life. If I win the election for President, we are going to Make America Great Again."
"Trump spokesman Corey Lewandowski confirmed to the AP the proposal would apply to Muslims who are tourists as well as those seeking immigration visas."
"In the full statement (below), Trump quoted polling by the Center for Security Policy, an anti-Muslim think tank whose founder, Frank Gaffney is known for raising alarms about "creeping Sharia law" and for accusing U.S. lawmakers of having ties to the United States. The poll itself was widely discredited."
"Trump's statement comes as recent attacks in Paris and in San Bernardino, California, have inflamed anti-Muslim rhetoric and prompted fears about immigrants, particularly concerning the U.S.'s Syrian refugee program. Trump's statement to end all Muslim immigration goes further than previous GOP proposals, including Sen. Rand Paul's (R-KY) call that immigration from the Middle East should be halted."
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/donald-trump-shutdown-muslim-immigration
It goes further though Paul's call went pretty far too. But all I can say is wow. Where does this go next? We now have the leader for the Republican primary calling for the banning of all Muslims from this country. How does Trump top this in the future and how do the other GOPers try to keep up?
Just more shocked than anything else and the words kind of speak for themselves.
So we have the liberal side calling on Muslims to practice self surveillance and the conservatives calling for an outright ban. How must American Muslims feel just about now?
Just the same he also called on members of the Muslim community to alert the authorities if anyone in their community is somehow suspected of being radicalized-which you could argue is also putting all Muslims on trial for the actions of a few.
But no doubt the Obama Administration are the good guys here who want to do the right thing. They are doing this in the hope that they can put off demands for doing much worse things.
But now you have this new proposal by Trump. Maybe he was concerned about an earlier Iowa poll that showed him trailing Cruz 24-19, though another one after showed him leading Cruz 33-20 in Iowa.
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/
But whatever the reason.
"GOP frontrunner Donald Trump released a statement Monday calling for "a total and complete shutdown" of Muslims immigrating into the United States in light of recent terrorist attacks."
"Without looking at the various polling data, it is obvious to anybody the hatred is beyond comprehension. Where this hatred comes from and why we will have to determine," Trump said in the statement. "Until we are able to determine and understand this problem and the dangerous threat it poses, our country cannot be the victims of horrendous attacks by people that believe only in Jihad, and have no sense of reason or respect for human life. If I win the election for President, we are going to Make America Great Again."
"Trump spokesman Corey Lewandowski confirmed to the AP the proposal would apply to Muslims who are tourists as well as those seeking immigration visas."
"In the full statement (below), Trump quoted polling by the Center for Security Policy, an anti-Muslim think tank whose founder, Frank Gaffney is known for raising alarms about "creeping Sharia law" and for accusing U.S. lawmakers of having ties to the United States. The poll itself was widely discredited."
"Trump's statement comes as recent attacks in Paris and in San Bernardino, California, have inflamed anti-Muslim rhetoric and prompted fears about immigrants, particularly concerning the U.S.'s Syrian refugee program. Trump's statement to end all Muslim immigration goes further than previous GOP proposals, including Sen. Rand Paul's (R-KY) call that immigration from the Middle East should be halted."
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/donald-trump-shutdown-muslim-immigration
It goes further though Paul's call went pretty far too. But all I can say is wow. Where does this go next? We now have the leader for the Republican primary calling for the banning of all Muslims from this country. How does Trump top this in the future and how do the other GOPers try to keep up?
Just more shocked than anything else and the words kind of speak for themselves.
So we have the liberal side calling on Muslims to practice self surveillance and the conservatives calling for an outright ban. How must American Muslims feel just about now?
Mike, I think the key to Trump's appeal... what will get him ahead of his competition is to pump up the hatred and suspicious of Muslims and make the base feel not just unapologetic about it, but good about it. He needs to hype the paranoia and violent feelings toward the "other" as much as possible. If a few Muslims get hurt... then he can make American's feel OK about that too. He needs to validate the fear, hatred and tribalism.
ReplyDeleteThe good thing about Trump... what sets him apart, is that he WILL go there (where others won't necessarily want to tread). He has zero shame, so it's natural for him. He truly doesn't give a fuck if a few people get hurt in the process.
I agree he's all about validating the base's feelings. Their hate, their fear, their anger, etc.
DeleteYou know watching him here, I almost feel like wow. I mean this is historic. Is this what Hitler sounded like in the early 30s?
Hitler did gain power via the ballot box ultimately.
DeleteI'm watching a Trump rally on MSNBC right now. Again, Holy Wow. He throughout Black Lives Matter protestors and everything
ReplyDeleteBut I have to give you credit. Just the other day you were asking Trump to go even further and I think he's met your expectations.
ReplyDeleteSee satire doesn't work with Trump as he exceeds that.
Trump is the guy who can sell it. With trump and the GOP base, it's impossible to go too far right. He should keep up the heat.
DeleteHow do we tell if someone who's brown colored who comes from a Muslim country is really Muslim? What if they claim they aren't a Muslim? Waterboard the fuckers! Fuck them! [I'll play the role of a GOP Trump supporter now]... Waterboard the fuckers! Waterboard the families! Waterboard the sister of the husband shooter in San Bernardino! Trump says he doesn't believe her when she says she feels terrible for the victims. Waterboard her and the parents! FUCK THEM!!! Target the families.
[back to me]... I think it's a winning hand for Trump.
Yes, anyone who looks like a Muslim-I mean you can't take their word, would be Trump's logic.
DeleteBut you know we'll see how he tops this. The Muslim database is now seems like a simpler time. LOL
What will make this feel like a simpler time.
Mike, I saw the headline on this article and figured out how Trump can take it further:
Deletehttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/warren-j-blumenfeld/christian-crusaders-urged_b_8733876.html
Trump should call our soldiers "Crusaders"... and he should criticize those who "refuse to call us Christian Crusaders. We're dealing with a bunch of weaklings who refuse to use the word! USE THE WORD! We will go on a Crusade! We are the conquering crusaders, and we will KILL THEM! Well will DOMINATE!"
I'm watching Trump now: he's calling the sister and the parents liars. He's saying they saw the bombs, and they're lying about it.
DeleteNow he's saying 27% of Muslims in the US think violence against the US is justified. He's saying 51% of US Muslims want to live under sharia law.
DeleteSounds like an infestation Mike. We need to coral these vermin. Just like we did the Japanese. [again, my GOP Trump supporter voice]
Now he's saying 75% of the media is "absolute scum, scum!"
DeleteYep, I saw all that too. Quite a performance
DeleteMike, I predict there will be a shooting at a Mosque. And Trump will say it's a shame... but understandable. He'll say that "people are fed up!"
ReplyDeleteHe's trying to sell us on being afraid of sharia and beheadings. He's going more and more fascist! Fascism is the key to the American rigtwing's heart!
There can be a dozen PP shootings and Mosque shootings between now and then, and those will go unnoticed. The media will be blamed even for reporting on it. But one more radical Islamic terrorist ... and Trump will be ALL over it!
ReplyDeleteCorrect. If the media reports the attack on a Mosque it will be dismissed as political correctness
DeleteHe's saying "I don't want us to surrender our constitution... I want ISIS to surrender"
ReplyDeleteFive minutes later:
"We have to do something about the internet. Shut down part of it... weaklings will whine... 'But what about freedom of speech?'... Freedom of speech? BS!" (paraphrasing)
Lol...
Trump may have to burn out constitution to save it.
Delete"I'm the only one self funding my campaigns"
ReplyDelete"I'll make you safe"
"I'll negotiate the BEST deals"
... he's presenting himself as our sky-daddy. Sky daddy Trump will take care of you!
You must have loved the way he tore into Christie.
ReplyDeleteYes, that made it all worthwhile. Christie has been trying to knock him a little lately and I've been waiting for Trump's counterpunch
DeleteI notice another tactic of his. Whenever he's challenged by anyone he dismisses them as Jeb basically-low energy.
ReplyDeleteHe's been saying Hillary lacks 'stamina.'
Tonight when the BLM protesters tried to interrupt him he dismissed them as sounding 'tired, very tired.'
Yes, that's true!
DeleteI think Trump has the "gravitas" to amplify people's fears, and the more fearful people are the better he does. The cynical & smart move is to do whatever he can to drum up fear as much as possible. Trump has the solutions. He cannot go too far right. Papa Trump will take care of us.
ReplyDelete60% of the GOP is afraid of being the victim of a terror attack (according to MSNBC anchor at SC Trump rally)? WTF? 355 mass shootings in less than a year, and it's terrorism they're afraid of?
ReplyDeleteMike, are you afraid of being the victim of a radical Islamic terrorist?
ReplyDeleteI'm not. I'm just not at all. Not that I'm immune from changing my mind, but I'm not feeling any fear at all right now. So I'm having a hard time understanding the palpable fear at these Trump rallies. Is the right wing press again? Is it because I don't spend my day reading about hair brained conspiracy theories?
No I'm not. What scares me is the overreaction. Why it's possible that I or you could be the victim of Islamic terrorism , it's not a likelihood worth losing sleep over.
DeleteIt is worth losing sleep over the response though.
I think the reason for the difference for you is you're not a Christian bigot seething with hatred over the Muslim Other
Mike: another idea for Trump: He should propose that his supporters start a paramilitary wing.
ReplyDeleteAlso, since his plan includes not letting American Muslims back in the country should they be outside the country and want to return, he should say that American Muslims in our military overseas are traitors and shouldn't be allowed back in the US.
I heard one of his supporters say that the Muslims that are here should be "sent back."
I think that's the next thing Trump should take up. Perhaps announce it on Jesus' birthday. Lol.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteIf Trump is still in it 6 months from now, maybe he can encourage his paramilitary wing to take justice into their own hands to "protect Christian freedom" from "sub human scum and filth" (i.e. Muslims and Mexicans... and atheists).
ReplyDeleteWe are going to get a classic Overton Window moment out of all this I predict.
ReplyDeleteThe right is going to insist on the absolute most extreme right responses and as compromise we will get fascism lite.
Well the sad thing is Joe that even the President while his heart is in the right place is now saying Muslims are on notice-if anything like this happens again, it's their fault.
ReplyDeleteYou have Josh Marshall speaking approvingly of a comment he got where someone-presumably a liberal-says maybe for now we should have a short ban on Syrian refugees, something to avoid something even worse from happening.