While my facebook page is a bit of an echo chamber and my twitter feed is not as representative of the political spectrum as it could be (the right wing types on my feed are just as appalled), I was still glad to see that no one I know and respect was hoping on the "replay 1939" bandwagon.Never had such a visceral sense of contempt in my life in reaction to anything political until this week. Utter contempt for refuge-deniers— Steve Saideman (@smsaideman) November 20, 2015
I found the House vote more problematic than Trump's call for monitoring Muslims (we all made the same yellow crescent badge joke) because the folks in the house, including more than 40 Democrats, are actually elected and thus supposed to be responsible. We expect Trump to be abhorrent, and he has succeeded beyond our wildest expectations. But unless he wins next fall, all he can to is inspire violence, um, not unlike ISIS.
The House of Representatives has a far more consequential impact--even if the Senate does not pass the bill or Obama is able to veto and not get overridden. Why? Tis in the name: House of Representatives. These folks represent Americans ... poorly. Whatever public opinion is, these politicians have demonstrated quite clearly that they are cowards, that they want to over-react and give ISIS what it wants.
I have two other relevant tweets over the past few days that remain quite applicable:
I have been saying all week and it remains so very true, unfortunately: events like this reveal character, for good or bad.— Steve Saideman (@smsaideman) November 20, 2015
Step 1 of counter terrorism: figure out what they want us to do Step 2: don't do it. So about that refugee stuff, don't give into fear.— Steve Saideman (@smsaideman) November 16, 2015I don't think many politicians could be any dumber, craven or counter-productive in this. But then we shall see what the new day provides.
