* Gov. Rauner speaking to reporters yesterday…
Rauner described Donald Trump’s call for a ban on Muslims entering the U.S. as “an extreme action.”
“What he’s proposing is just fundamentally counter to American values,” Rauner said Tuesday in response to reporters’ questions. “I strongly, strongly disagree with candidate Trump.”
I think most agree that Trump’s proposal to halt almost all Muslim travel to the USA runs counter to American values.
But the governor wants a temporary ban on resettling vetted refugees here. The Donald wants a temporary ban on travel to this country by mostly unvetted tourists, etc.
* More…
“What we are trying to do is communicate with President Obama’s administration. What we’ve asked is that we share information with the federal and state government.” […]
“We have a duty to work together to try to block terrorists while allowing honest folks, immigrants and tourists to come to the United States,” Rauner said. “Right now the information-sharing is inadequate. The officials in Paris have acknowledged that their coordination and communication efforts among the different levels were not adequate.”
Wait.
The governor hasn’t called for blocking mostly unvetted Syrian tourists from coming to Illinois. He hasn’t talked about home-grown terrorists, either. He’s solely focused instead on vetted war refugees…
Critics say governors don’t have the legal authority to block refugees, and it’s discrimination to block out any one group.
But this time, Rauner didn’t just single out Syrians.
“I have asked the Obama administration to take a pause - it’s not a long-term action but a pause - in our acceptance, our welcoming, of refugees from Syria and Iraq,” Rauner said.
In written statements outlining his refugee policy, Rauner didn’t include Iraqis.
Apparently, Rauner didn’t read an open letter written by former Secretaries of State Henry Kissinger and George Schultz, former CIA Director General David Petraeus, former National Security Directors Brent Scowcroft and Gen. Michael Hayden, among others…
Given the stringent measures in place, we are especially concerned by proposals that would derail or further delay the resettlement of Iraqis who risked their lives to work with the U.S. military and other U.S. organizations. These refugees were given priority access to U.S. resettlement under the Refugee Crisis in Iraq Act. The United States has a moral obligation to protect them.
* Gov. Rauner forgot to mention Libya, by the way. I guess his crack anti-terrorism unit didn’t brief him on the loyal Iraqi workers or that God-forsaken country…
“We have an anti-terrorism group in our state government. They are not being informed by the federal government on what’s going on, who’s coming, what the backgrounds are,” Rauner said. “We can treat it all with highly classified folks, and what I’m advocating is just an increased level of communication so we can battle against terrorists together.”
I asked the governor’s office this morning how many people are in the state’s “anti-terrorism group.” I’ll let you know if they respond.
…Adding… Soccermom in comments…
I spent some time this year trying to help an Iraqi refugee who had fled an abusive husband (leaving her young son behind) to start a new life in America. She came here just about penniless, with two suitcases. And she proceeded to become a horrible burden on Illinois taxpayers (If you call working two jobs, graduating Harold Washington College as valedictorian and getting a scholarship to complete her degree at an Ivy League school being a horrible burden.)
What a jerk.
*** UPDATE *** So, do we ban Illinois National Guard members from coming to Illinois?…
An Illinois man pleaded guilty on Wednesday to plotting with his cousin, a National Guard member, to attack an Illinois military installation as part of a conspiracy to support Islamic State, a U.S. prosecutor’s spokesman said.
Jonas Edmonds was charged with his cousin, Army National Guard Specialist Hasan Edmonds, of planning to carry out an armed attack on the military facility where Hasan Edmonds had been training in Joliet, 34 miles southwest of downtown Chicago.
Maybe just guardsmen who train in Joliet?
- ArchPundit - Wednesday, Dec 9, 15 @ 10:14 am:
—The governor hasn’t called for blocking mostly unvetted Syrian tourists from coming to Illinois. He hasn’t talked about home-grown terrorists, either. He’s solely focused instead on vetted war refugees…
Not a detail guy, remember.
- Toffee - Wednesday, Dec 9, 15 @ 10:17 am:
Last week: politically expedient to target Syrian refugees. This week: Trump is toxic, can’t get tangled up with that. Superstar triangulation: let’s add Iraqi refugees to the list!
- PolPal56 - Wednesday, Dec 9, 15 @ 10:21 am:
Domestic terrorists have been a much greater problem in the U.S. From the far left-wing extremists of the 1960s and 70s to the extreme right-wing extremists of today, there have been far, far more attacks by U.S. civilians on U.S. civilians than by non-citizens. I’d rather Rauner keep an eye on things like the sovereign citizen movement and people involved with that than on Syrian refugees.
- Aldyth - Wednesday, Dec 9, 15 @ 10:22 am:
DAESH already has Rauner on their list of favorite American governors for his ban on Syrian refugees. Their goal is to convince all Muslims that Americans hate their religion and will discriminate against them, so their best bet is to radicalize and fight.
Good job, Rauner.
- @MisterJayEm - Wednesday, Dec 9, 15 @ 10:22 am:
“Apparently, Rauner didn’t read an open letter written by former Secretaries of State Henry Kissinger and George Schultz, former CIA Director General David Petraeus, former National Security Directors Brent Scowcroft and Gen. Michael Hayden, among others…”
He does not care.
“I guess his crack anti-terrorism unit didn’t brief him on the loyal Iraqi workers or that God-forsaken country…”
He does not care.
– MrJM
- Albany Park Patriot - Wednesday, Dec 9, 15 @ 10:22 am:
This is what happens when you play with fear: You have to walk the tightrope. He can’t have it both ways, though. The same fear he’s using to justify the refugees denial is at the root of the Trump argument.
- Jon - Wednesday, Dec 9, 15 @ 10:22 am:
I once applied for a “Terrorism Research Specialist” position, I haven’t seen the position ever come up again, but they are out there: http://accountability.illinois.gov/Employees/Position/Positions.aspx?Year=2015&Title=terrorism&Search=1
- walker - Wednesday, Dec 9, 15 @ 10:23 am:
Facts have little place in determining this public posture.
- AlabamaShake - Wednesday, Dec 9, 15 @ 10:24 am:
** his crack anti-terrorism unit**
LOL.
- 47th Ward - Wednesday, Dec 9, 15 @ 10:25 am:
===The United States has a moral obligation to protect them.===
Well, that’s fine if you’re Petraeus, Kissinger, Schultz, Scowcroft or Hayden. What do those guys know about politics anyway? Rauner is going to run the refugee program like a business. Paying customers only.
Seriously, this is a disgrace and Rauner is doubling down on it. I wish he paid this much attention to his actual job instead of pretending to be a national security expert.
- Henry Francis - Wednesday, Dec 9, 15 @ 10:25 am:
So wait, there is a group of people threatening the American way of life more than unions?
- illini97 - Wednesday, Dec 9, 15 @ 10:27 am:
Are Trump and Rauner have some sort of contest for indecency?
When is his crack anti-terrorism team going to address the 50,000 mentally ill residents with revoked FOID cards who in all likelihood still have their weapons? When do we get an update on that?
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Dec 9, 15 @ 10:30 am:
–I asked the governor’s office this morning how many people are in the state’s “anti-terrorism group.”–
I’d imagine that the governor’s hand-picked IEMA chief and homeland security advisor is running the show.
From the governor’s announcement:
==Governor Bruce Rauner has selected James Joseph, 33, as the Director of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency. Joseph will also serve as the Illinois Homeland Security Adviser. He brings nearly 15 years of experience in both the private and public sector to the position……Joseph earned his bachelor’s degree in law enforcement from Oakton College. –
Quite a trick for a 33-year-old to be in the Homeland Security business for 15 years.
But then, if you can get a bachelor’s degree from Oakton, I guess you can do all sorts of things.
He ran for office back in the day.
http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20110201/submitted/302019111/
- Keyrock - Wednesday, Dec 9, 15 @ 10:33 am:
Rauner wants to make it clear that he’s not the same kind of demagogue as Trump. The demagoguing he’s doing on this issue is entirely different.
- Soccermom - Wednesday, Dec 9, 15 @ 10:36 am:
I spent some time this year trying to help an Iraqi refugee who had fled an abusive husband (leaving her young son behind) to start a new life in America. She came here just about penniless, with two suitcases. And she proceeded to become a horrible burden on Illinois taxpayers (If you call working two jobs, graduating Harold Washington College as valedictorian and getting a scholarship to complete her degree at an Ivy League school being a horrible burden.)
What a jerk.
- IllinoisBoi - Wednesday, Dec 9, 15 @ 10:41 am:
Soccermom: What a terrific post. Thank you!
- olddog - Wednesday, Dec 9, 15 @ 10:43 am:
More proof, as if any were needed, that Rauner is bringing a hard-right ideological agenda to Illinois.
- Skeptic - Wednesday, Dec 9, 15 @ 10:50 am:
I used to work with an Afghan refugee (he and his parents fled when the Soviets invaded.) He too became a horrible burden to Illinois. He went to college and eventually became a State employee. The horror.
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Dec 9, 15 @ 10:51 am:
More on Gov. Rauner’s choice to run the homeland security show, in his own words.
http://www.votejamesjoseph.com/
- 47th Ward - Wednesday, Dec 9, 15 @ 10:54 am:
Wow, thanks Word. I don’t exactly feel safer though. Is he one of the Superstars too, or is he on the JV squad?
- Felix - Wednesday, Dec 9, 15 @ 10:55 am:
Rauner, like others in the GOP establishment, are trying to have it both ways. They’re throwing the haters red meat, while trying to distance themselves from Trump’s unapologetic xenophobia.
Rauner, Speaker Ryan, and other mainstream Republicans now seem a bit worried about what they’ve helped create within their party.
They’ve done this for a couple of generations now — and it worked for a while. Talk about “welfare queens” and “law and order.” But goodness no, they’re not racist! Meanwhile, the Solid South flips to the GOP. Problem is, the old playbook doesn’t result in as many electoral touchdowns as it used to.
“For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind.” - Hosea 8:7
- Union Man - Wednesday, Dec 9, 15 @ 10:59 am:
He KNOWS he has no authority to establish such a foolish policy. Everytime America gets into a war the refugees end up here, Korea VietNam Germany Mexico… The Gov knows better than this and that he persists in the deception makes Webster’s definition of “charlatan” applicable.
- illini - Wednesday, Dec 9, 15 @ 10:59 am:
Wordslinger - great posts. I had no idea. Just another one of his superstars!
Soccermom - You were personally involved. Thank you. Yet I suspect that there are many other examples of refugees who are proving to be an asset to their communities and to the State
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Dec 9, 15 @ 11:05 am:
–Yet I suspect that there are many other examples of refugees who are proving to be an asset to their communities and to the State.–
I don’t like the looks of that Einstein fellow. What’s with the crazy hair?
The Know-Nothings 30s and 40s were largely successful in keeping out European Jews for the same reasons Rauner and the GOP are trying to keep out Syrian refugees today.
And many of those Jews went to the death camps.
- Nick Name - Wednesday, Dec 9, 15 @ 11:07 am:
“James Joseph, 33…brings nearly 15 years of experience…”
The only way he could have fifteen years of experience is if he enlisted in the military at age 18. So is he a vet? Of what branch? Was he a grunt or just a pogue? Cripes, what a load of horse hockey.
- Wensicia - Wednesday, Dec 9, 15 @ 11:12 am:
Just how does Rauner plan to block refugees from entering this state?
His request to various charities, asking them to refuse these refugees isn’t working.
- IllinoisBoi - Wednesday, Dec 9, 15 @ 11:12 am:
I used to have an employee who was a refugee from Bangladesh (and yes, a Muslim). He and his family arrived in America with little more than the clothes on their backs. He earned a master’s degree from the University of Illinois and is now burdening the state of Texas as a telecommunications specialist. I could recite a dozen similar stories. But no, Rauner doesn’t care.
Who was that guy who shot the security guard at the Statehouse back in 2004? Oh right, he was a refugee from Olney, Illinois.
- Shoe Searer - Wednesday, Dec 9, 15 @ 11:20 am:
What does soccermom’s sample-size-of-1 story have to do with the Governor’s stated concerns about poor communication and informatiom from the Feds?
What does it have to do with anything?
- 47th Ward - Wednesday, Dec 9, 15 @ 11:26 am:
===What does it have to do with anything?===
Sort of like Governor Rauner’s meaningless “pause.” Ask Governor Spence how that works when the refugees still keep coming. What will he do then?
What does a Governor’s announcement have to do with national security policy? Bupkis.
- illini97 - Wednesday, Dec 9, 15 @ 11:29 am:
Shoe. Please, in detail, tell me what information a State needs, who will review that information, what actions will proceed from said information and what options a State will have with respect to any perceived deficiencies in the aforementioned data. Thus far, this “policy” from the Governor is nothing but platitudes for his base. Let’s hear the specifics.
- IllinoisBoi - Wednesday, Dec 9, 15 @ 11:30 am:
A sample size of one is better than the Governor’s sample size of zero.
- Former Hoosier - Wednesday, Dec 9, 15 @ 11:34 am:
So, is the Gov. starting the “banned country of the week?” First it was refugees from Syria, this week he added refugees from Iraq. How about adding refugees from Pakistan & Saudi Arabia (where one of the alleged terrorists from San Bernardino was born (Pakistan) and lived (Saudi Arabia)? And, what about all the other middle eastern countries?
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Dec 9, 15 @ 11:36 am:
If Rauner wants to protect Illinois, maybe he should ban Trump from coming back in…and Ted Cruz, too.
- Muscular - Wednesday, Dec 9, 15 @ 11:58 am:
Felix is so right. Bruce Rauner is trying to have it both ways. He could withdraw state services from Syrian refugees, but he takes no action. He simply complains but does not act.
- Jack Stephens - Wednesday, Dec 9, 15 @ 12:05 pm:
White, “Xtian”, Males have been Radicalized in this country and are Terrorists. Need I list all of the people that they’ve practiced or attempted to practice Genocide on?
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Dec 9, 15 @ 12:08 pm:
FH, Farook was from Illinois. Perhaps the governor should seek a pause on people from Illinois entering Illinois.
We’re all giving the governor way too much credit for having put any rational thought into this.
The RGA saw the massacre in Paris as a way for its crew to get their Trump cards punched without alienating Hispanics.
Rauner just went with the flow like the rest of the sheep.
- Jack Stephens - Wednesday, Dec 9, 15 @ 12:10 pm:
Bruce’s obsession with Union Bustin’, combined with his inability to govern and pass a budget, is Economic Terrorism.
The only difference is he is not using a gun or a bomb to attempt to make his point.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Dec 9, 15 @ 12:11 pm:
“- IllinoisBoi - Wednesday, Dec 9, 15 @ 11:12 am:”
Your arguement is flawed and sets up a straw man. The guy who shot at the Capitol has nothing to do with potentially dangerous people coming to this State.
Also, the arguement about the St. Louis was made a few times by conservatives over the mass killings of Cristians and there was no outcry to phrotect them on this blog.
The Jews were targeted for our religion but the Muslims are Not being targeted for their religion.
Many of them should be fighting for their homeland instead of coming to the US and Europe.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Dec 9, 15 @ 12:16 pm:
Also, the Obama administration is sending many Cristians back to Iraq where they will be either killed or worse where they will wish for death but it will be a slow painful death.
Where is the compassion for the Cristians or Isrial?
- illini - Wednesday, Dec 9, 15 @ 12:23 pm:
Anonymous - check your facts and try using spellcheck!
- VanillaMan - Wednesday, Dec 9, 15 @ 12:24 pm:
Governors should stick to domestic issues.
- @MisterJayEm - Wednesday, Dec 9, 15 @ 12:24 pm:
“the arguement about the St. Louis was made a few times by conservatives over the mass killings of Cristians and there was no outcry to phrotect them on this blog.”
Did the governor suggest that Christian refugees be banned from Illinois? Musta missed that.
“The Jews were targeted for our religion but the Muslims are Not being targeted for their religion.”
That distinction has no bearing on refugee’s a status.
Under the The 1951 Refugee Convention, a refugee is “someone who is unable or unwilling to return to their country of origin owing to a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group, or political opinion.”
The refugees from Syria and Iraq are refugees regardless of their religions. And they don’t have a fear of being persecuted, they have a well-founded fear of being brutally murdered.
“Many of them should be fighting for their homeland instead of coming to the US and Europe.”
The ban is of all refugees. Including this one: http://images.huffingtonpost.com/2015-09-03-1441310836-9336836-AylanKurdi-thumb.jpg
– MrJM
- illini - Wednesday, Dec 9, 15 @ 1:06 pm:
Nick Name - I was not going to bring that up, but since you did —-
IllinoisBoi - my nephew, while attending the UofI, worked part time for an immigrant small business owner and he had nothing but good to say about his experience and his employer ( more than he is willing to say about some other places and people he worked for ). Enough said.
- ArchPundit - Wednesday, Dec 9, 15 @ 1:35 pm:
Let’s make this simple
Refugees - long vetting process with significant research on individuals
Visa Holders - some visas have short vetting process, primarily looking for obvious flags
Which one would you want to concentrate upon?
Bruce chose refugees. Why?
- Demoralized - Wednesday, Dec 9, 15 @ 1:37 pm:
==Where is the compassion for the Cristians or Isrial?==
Where is your compassion for the English language. Sheesh.
- Demoralized - Wednesday, Dec 9, 15 @ 1:38 pm:
=but the Muslims are Not being targeted for their religion==
Really? You say that with a straight face? See Donald Trump and then make that goofy comment again.
- illini - Wednesday, Dec 9, 15 @ 1:40 pm:
Demoralized - my earlier post exactly.
- Hedley Lamarr - Wednesday, Dec 9, 15 @ 1:40 pm:
Just waiting for the Governor to appoint Jason Plummer to his crack anti-terrorism team.
- Generation X - Wednesday, Dec 9, 15 @ 2:57 pm:
http://www.judicialwatch.org/blog/2015/11/fbi-has-nearly-1000-active-isis-probes-inside-u-s/
Obviously both side have drummed up the rhetoric on this issue but obviously we cannot halt all Muslim Immigration to this Country because to state the obvious, not all Muslims are bad or unable to assimilate. Likewise, in the link provided we cannot pretend that radicalized Muslims infiltrating this country are not a serious security threat.
How do we properly vet those who wish to enter our Country? I don’t have the answer to that. As others have pointed out in this thread, we want the peaceful and productive immigrants to locate here which a total ban would prohibit. On the other hand it has been too easy to get Visa’s in this Country which has led to horrifying acts of terror.
In addition I do believe those who have a strict adherence to Sharia Law are incompatible in this society. Sharia demands actions that cannot be tolerated in this Country if we hope to remain any resemblance of a civilized nation. Again the problem becomes how to distinguish those who strictly adhere to Sharia Law vs those who do not. Once again I do not have the answers.
Obviously Trump used this announcement as a political lightning rod to boost his campaign or infamy or whatever. This discussion could/should have started in a far less bombastic manner. I do however believe that some important issues need to be discussed on these complex issues. I also think 95% of us want the same things. A safe, peaceful, productive society where human rights are tantamount no matter what race, religion or color.
- Rasselas - Wednesday, Dec 9, 15 @ 3:31 pm:
Generation X - do you have any idea what Sharia law means, other than a bogeyman in many Southern states and certain faux cable news shows? One can believe in Sharia law with respect to one’s private conduct and not expect that it would be the law of the state. Just as Catholics can believe in canon law and use its tenets for purposes of living their lives, but not expect it to be the law of the state (although some Catholic clerics seem to want otherwise… ). And Jews can submit to the authority of Jewish religious law (e.g., a ‘get’ for a divorce) all the while living under U.S. law. Please read http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/29/sharia-law-usa-states-ban_n_3660813.html
- illini - Wednesday, Dec 9, 15 @ 4:01 pm:
Hedley - Would not totally surprise me - after all he was in “Navy Intelligence” of my memory serves me correct. Willy and I will both have fun with this if your post should prove to be prophetic and yet another potent of things to come from our “visionary” Governor who intends to remake this state.
- Last Bull Moose - Wednesday, Dec 9, 15 @ 4:15 pm:
Rasselas,
I studied the Koran while living under Sharia law. Your version of Sharia lite is not what I saw.
Muslims are learning how to adapt to a non-Muslim majority world. Patient Muslims expect to eventually be a majority, then they can change the law to fit their beliefs.
The impatient jihadists are the immediate threat. Their religion was spread by the sword and that history still resonates.
- Generation X - Wednesday, Dec 9, 15 @ 4:31 pm:
Rasselas,
I stand by my assertion of Sharia law and its incompatibility in this country. I’m not good with it in private conduct either. If practiced it is an abomination
- olddog - Wednesday, Dec 9, 15 @ 5:29 pm:
=== The impatient jihadists are the immediate threat. Their religion was spread by the sword and that history still resonates. ===
Under that reasoning, my Norwegian Synod Evangelical Lutheran pastor grandfather wouldn’t have been able to come to Illinois.
- olddog - Wednesday, Dec 9, 15 @ 5:30 pm:
Oops! Forgot the link. Here’s why: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olaf_II_of_Norway
- @MisterJayEm - Wednesday, Dec 9, 15 @ 7:24 pm:
“I stand by my assertion of Sharia law and its incompatibility in this country.”
Okay, but “The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the Members of the several State Legislatures, and all executive and judicial Officers, both of the United States and of the several States, shall be bound by Oath or Affirmation, to support this Constitution; but no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States.” (U.S. Const. art. VI)
Maybe the Supreme Court will buy the idea of the Constitution allowing a religious test for entry into the U.S. while forbidding such a test for holding office, but I doubt it.
“I’m not good with it in private conduct either.”
Noted.
“If practiced it is an abomination”
So is eatin’ shellfish.
– MrJM
- Last Bull Moose - Wednesday, Dec 9, 15 @ 7:53 pm:
Old dog, I have Viking ancestors as well. Their history does not resonate the same way with either of us as it does with the Arabs I knew. Arabs are extremely status and “face” conscious. They treasure the memory of when their culture was superior to Europe.
For some, the feeling of being inferior when by rights they should be superior feeds rage. Combine this rage with a belief that death in jihad leads to a glorious afterlife and you have a violent jihadist willing to risk or even embrace death.
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Dec 9, 15 @ 8:23 pm:
–Old dog, I have Viking ancestors as well. Their history does not resonate the same way with either of us as it does with the Arabs I knew. Arabs are extremely status and “face” conscious. –
In your extensive studies on the subject, you must have come across the obvious fact that the great majority of Muslims are not Arabs.
My Viking ancestry resonates in that like the Romans and the Khans, we raped, robbed and pillaged all over the known world and then went home and slept it off.
That was about a thousand years ago. Now we’re the civilized world, by any definition.
- Last Bull Moose - Wednesday, Dec 9, 15 @ 9:01 pm:
Wordslinger,
My experience is greatest with Arabs, though I have known and worked with other Muslim nationalities. Iraq, Syria, Libya are primarily Arab. And these countries are major parts of the jihadist narrative.
Not everyone would agree that we are the civilized world. I sometimes have doubts myself.
- Generation X - Wednesday, Dec 9, 15 @ 9:09 pm:
MrJM
Agreed on shellfish
Respectfully disagree on Religious test
https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/509/155/case.html
- olddog - Wednesday, Dec 9, 15 @ 9:55 pm:
@ Last Bull Moose — most of my experience with Arabs has been with Palestinian Christians and Dominican sisters from the north of Iraq. With all due respect to the vast experience you cite, I would urge you not to make blanket generalizations about Arabs.
- Demoralized - Thursday, Dec 10, 15 @ 8:16 am:
==Respectfully disagree on Religious test==
You actually favor a religious test? Who died and made you the arbiter of what religion is acceptable? You just willing the throw the Constitution right out the window? Unbelievable.