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More react to Trump tweet

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Illinois

Nobody knows precisely what President Donald Trump meant by his threat to “send in the feds.” But if it means National Guard troops patrolling the streets of Chicago, African-American aldermen and community leaders want no part of it.

That includes Gov. Bruce Rauner, who discounted the idea on a morning radio appearance, and Cardinal Blase Cupich — who said we “should all welcome the help of everyone” to deal with violence, but still fell short of endorsing the use of the Guard. […]

Rauner, appearing on Steve Cochran’s morning show on WGN-AM (720) was asked whether Trump has reached out to him about Chicago violence. He said no. But he said his administration has been in conversation with the DEA and the FBI, as well as other experts.

“We continue to believe it’s not the right thing for us to send in the National Guard. That would be a mistake. But we are working, the Illinois State Police, we put a surge in there. We put more State Police up there to control the expressways. We’ve also have our State Police helping with the forensics and lab work and the investigation work that’s going on with CPD. I continue to try to do everything we can at the state level to help the city of Chicago deal with the violence.”

Rauner said he supports more equitable school funding, and adding vocational training to high schools to help young people get careers instead of joining gangs.

More money for crime prevention/disruption efforts would be nice.

There’s lots more react in that Sun-Times piece, so go read the whole thing.

It would be helpful if the President clarified his remark, but I’m not holding my breath.

* Tribune…

Chicago police Superintendent Eddie Johnson said Wednesday he’s baffled by the meaning of President Donald Trump’s latest tweet on Chicago violence but said he would oppose bringing in the National Guard if that is what the president is considering.

“The statement is so broad. I have no idea what he’s talking about,” Johnson said of Trump’s tweet Tuesday night threatening to “send in the Feds!” if Chicago “doesn’t fix the horrible ‘carnage.’ ”

In a telephone interview, Johnson told the Tribune he hasn’t been contacted by the Trump administration and didn’t believe Mayor Rahm Emanuel or other city officials had been either.

If Trump meant in his tweet that he might bring in the National Guard to help quell the city’s violence, Johnson said he would be opposed to that.

* Tribune…

Cardinal Blase Cupich, who was at City Hall to be honored for his recent elevation to cardinal, said the situation is “more complex” than one that can be dealt with simply by posting federal troops on Chicago streets. “The problem is surely much more complex than that type of a solution,”‘ he said. “I surely would welcome, and I think a lot of people would welcome, assistance on a multi-level basis, simply because the problem is not simple. It is complex and it can be improved if we all pull together.”

* ABC 7…

Deputy Mayor and Chief Neighborhood Development Officer Andrea Zopp sat down with ABC7 News This Morning to talk about the president’s tweet.

“We’ve talked long and hard that policing is not the sole answer here. If they are going to have help, certainly federal support and prosecution. But also making sure that we have jobs programs, that we have infrastructure investment to create jobs. Those are the kinds of things that are really going to help on this issue,” Zopp said Wednesday.

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Jan 25, 17 @ 10:50 am

Comments

Rex Huppke kind of hit the nail on the head:

President Donald Trump has threatened to “send in the Feds!” if Chicago doesn’t “fix” the violence that has continued into the new year.

Does he mean what he wrote in a tweet sent late Tuesday? Is he talking about federal agents assisting police or outright martial law in one of America’s largest cities?

Who knows. The man is a liar.

I don’t mean our new president is a liar in the casual, all-politicians-are-liars sense. I mean he’s a liar without conscience, without purpose or strategy. He’s not cunning, he’s simply unabashedly dishonest and, even in the first days of his presidency, has made it impossible to know whether he means anything he says or tweets.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/huppke/ct-trump-chicago-feds-huppke-20170125-story.html

Comment by paddyrollingstone Wednesday, Jan 25, 17 @ 10:59 am
If the President is sincere in his desire to help curb violence in Chicago, I suggest he reach out the Governor or Mayor to see how to best address the problem. Tweeting solves nothing.

Comment by Because I Said So.... Wednesday, Jan 25, 17 @ 11:01 am
This is why the political class is losing power. The people in high crime areas where they see and hear shootings daily want real help. National Gaurd help.

Comment by Rocky Rosi Wednesday, Jan 25, 17 @ 11:01 am
At this point, I wouldn’t put any more thought or time into Trump’s tweet than he did.

Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Jan 25, 17 @ 11:02 am
I’m no expert but I think there are some major constitutional issues with sending federal troops into a state without authorization from the Governor. Think about the Pullman Strike. Even when there is a disaster, the Governor needs to ask for the National Guard to be sent in.

Comment by Chicago Guy Wednesday, Jan 25, 17 @ 11:05 am
Trump is a master of distraction. Chicago violence is a symbolic whipping boy.

Comment by Last Bull Moose Wednesday, Jan 25, 17 @ 11:09 am
If Trump tweets in a forest and there’s no data service to post the tweet and nobody reads the tweet does he still not make any sense?

Comment by Ahoy! Wednesday, Jan 25, 17 @ 11:14 am
=== - Chicago Guy - Wednesday, Jan 25, 17 @ 11:05 am:

I’m no expert but I think there are some major constitutional issues with sending federal troops into a state without authorization from the Governor. ===

Probably so, but he could send in a lot of DEA, FBI, and ATF personnel.

Comment by Birdseed Wednesday, Jan 25, 17 @ 11:18 am
If the state of Illinois can’t get it together to fix it’s problems what is the answer. Some one needs to step in to solve the problem. I don’t know what the answer is but we still have no budget in place and it should be against the Law to do that to a State.

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Jan 25, 17 @ 11:19 am
This is why the political class is losing power. ===The people in high crime areas where they see and hear shootings daily want real help. National Gaurd help.===

Because the National Guard/military did such a great job keeping civilians alive and unshot and maintaining order in Baghdad, Kabul, etc. /sarcasm

It’s sci-fi TV, but there’s a good statement on the difference between the military and the police-the military fights the enemies of the state, the police serve and protect the people, and when you make the military the police, the people tend to become the enemies of the state.

Comment by Graduated College Student Wednesday, Jan 25, 17 @ 11:22 am
And once again, no one mentions the Dec. 2012 court decision that invalidated Chicago’s gun laws and effectively gave the city the same gun regulations as rural Alabama.

http://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/ward-room/Court-Invalidates-Illinois-Gun-Laws-183017841.html

Shot & Wounded:
2013: 2185
2014: 2619
2015: 2996
2016: 4379

I imagine that after dismantling Obamacare, they’ll go after Cook County when the facilities become especially horrific.

Comment by Pangloss Wednesday, Jan 25, 17 @ 11:33 am
It’s more about “illegal” immigrants, ICE agents, and Trump’s favorite sanctuary city.

Today is Immigrant Threat Day at the White House.

Comment by walker Wednesday, Jan 25, 17 @ 11:34 am
As the President once asked, “What the Hell do you have to lose?” Consider that *whatever* Trump meant by the tweet, if he acts, he takes ownership - he either has to improve the situation or he owns the failure.

So either more people live or there’s more anti-Trump fodder. Don’t make the perfect hostage to the good: take him up on his offer.

Comment by lake county democrat Wednesday, Jan 25, 17 @ 11:39 am
Illinois didn’t love Don Trump enough, therefor Illinois will be punished by him.

History would tell you that is his M.O.

Comment by JS Mill Wednesday, Jan 25, 17 @ 11:39 am
–Don’t make the perfect hostage to the good: take him up on his offer.–

What’s the offer?

Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Jan 25, 17 @ 11:43 am
OReilly called Rauner a coward.

That was priceless.

If Federal ATF, FBI, ICE, INS, DEA can expedite the removal of criminals from the streets of low-income black neighborhoods, why would anyone be against this?

I don’t understand. At minimum a dismissal of this approach is irresponsible. At a more aggravated level, it smacks of racism.

Comment by cdog Wednesday, Jan 25, 17 @ 11:49 am
@wordslinger “to send in the feds” - I don’t care if that’s a single fed observer, once he does anything to “fix” the problem, he shares ownership. Disagree?

Comment by lake county democrat Wednesday, Jan 25, 17 @ 11:50 am
How about let’s get a budget and fund anti-violence programs, for starters? Our approach should also community-based.

Comment by Grandson of Man Wednesday, Jan 25, 17 @ 11:53 am
A real man would come to Chicago and fix the problem himself, with his own two tiny hands.

Comment by Cheryl44 Wednesday, Jan 25, 17 @ 11:58 am
–If Federal ATF, FBI, ICE, INS, DEA can expedite the removal of criminals from the streets of low-income black neighborhoods, why would anyone be against this?–

I haven’t seen anyone say they are.

I don’t understand how you get all that from a tweet. That’s all there is to it.

Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Jan 25, 17 @ 11:59 am
Why Chicago and not Saint Louis, which is far more dangerous? Oh that’s right, it’s in a red state.

Comment by Carhartt Representative Wednesday, Jan 25, 17 @ 12:32 pm
== It would be helpful if the President clarified his remark, but I’m not holding my breath. ==

And, judging by the past, what would any ‘clarification’ mean after he’s done uttering it?

Comment by sal-says Wednesday, Jan 25, 17 @ 12:36 pm
== ‘…but we still have no budget in place and it should be against the Law to do that to a State. ==

It is against the Law. But our failed governor thinks he’s above the Law and apparently the IL Attorney General agrees. Very sad for IL and its residents.

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Jan 25, 17 @ 12:42 pm
== A real man would come to Chicago and fix the problem himself, with his own two tiny hands. ==

That’s EXACTLY what FakePrez boasted before the election. Fixed in ONE WEEK!

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Jan 25, 17 @ 12:46 pm
Is the current casualty rate in the south and west sides of Chicago more, or less, than that of our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan?

Comment by Keyser Soze Wednesday, Jan 25, 17 @ 1:08 pm
wow am I glad I read the first few minutes of the speech I missed….NOT. shout outs to Michael Shakman and some tech guys is playing to the Tribune wonks who have ignored the reality of this do nothing governor. snooze.

Comment by Amalia Wednesday, Jan 25, 17 @ 1:31 pm
Trump didn’t mean anything in that tweet. All he was doing was lashing out at Rahm and his comments earlier in the day. Convenient way to distract attention from criticism. That’s all it is.

Comment by Archiesmom Wednesday, Jan 25, 17 @ 1:42 pm
“Is the current casualty rate in the south and west sides of Chicago more, or less, than that of our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan?”

2016 Jan 2017(ytd)
Iraq 17 2
Afghanistan 14 -
Chicago 762 37

Comment by CapnCrunch Wednesday, Jan 25, 17 @ 2:26 pm
–”Is the current casualty rate in the south and west sides of Chicago more, or less, than that of our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan?”–

What’s your point? Did you extrapolate from those 140 characters a commitment to devote .1% of the resources and effort that have gone to Iraq and Afghanistan?

Empty vessel, fill it up however your want, I guess.

Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Jan 25, 17 @ 2:32 pm
This is mostly Trump shooting back because Rahm piled onto the “how many people saw the inauguration” silliness.

Tho, if Rahm is dumb enough to keep digging in, it could eventually get nasty.

Comment by MHJ Wednesday, Jan 25, 17 @ 2:45 pm
So the people who have been unsuccessful in stemming the violence are against outside help to stem the violence. They must have different/new ideas on how to get violence under control?

Comment by BK Bro Wednesday, Jan 25, 17 @ 3:03 pm
Kinda like the Feds being sent in to help blacks register to vote and attend public schools in the south during the 1960’s- if the local politicians won’t accept the injustice of the situation - Trump and the federal government has an obligation to protect the citizens. Ironic that Rahm & Co. are the Ross Barnetts and Bull Conners of 2017 and Trump is more like the JFK.

Comment by Faustian Wednesday, Jan 25, 17 @ 3:43 pm
–Ironic that Rahm & Co. are the Ross Barnetts and Bull Conners of 2017 and Trump is more like the JFK.–

From one tweet!

Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Jan 25, 17 @ 3:47 pm
What better place to start the ball rolling on stopping crime than in Chicago. Illinois is the new symbol for crime and fiscal mismanagement. And with its’ overwhelming democrat leaning, it is perfect. Way to go Trump!

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Jan 25, 17 @ 4:28 pm
Pangloss is exactly right. More guns equals more shooting.

Comment by Joe Biden Was Here Wednesday, Jan 25, 17 @ 6:50 pm
What exactly is a ’sanctuary city’?

Comment by Blue dog dem Wednesday, Jan 25, 17 @ 9:49 pm
“Trump is a master of distraction. Chicago violence is a symbolic whipping boy.”

Today’s Headline - 6 shot at memorial for Chicago Gun Violence.

If Chicago is the whipping boy, then they keep adding more leather to the length of the whip.

Comment by Downstate Thursday, Jan 26, 17 @ 7:55 am