Reid: Oh, You Bet We'll Filibuster That Bipartisan Syrian Refugees Bill

Townhall.com ^ | November 19, 2015 | Guy Benson

[Kaslin]

For those keeping score, over the last few months, Senate Democrats have used the filibuster -- which they railed against and eroded while in the majority -- to block a bill to pay our troops, to prevent any vote on President Obama's reckless Iran deal, to hold up funding for the VA, and to obstruct legislation helping victims of human trafficking because it didn't spend taxpayer dollars on abortions. (One can only hope the NRSC is keeping track of these votes for future attack ads).  Harry's crew is angling to add another notch in their obstructionist belt, with Reid vowing to filibuster a post-Paris bill designed to beef up vetting protocols for Syrian refugees -- which passed the House with a veto-proof majority, with the help of nearly 50 Democrats. The Senate Minority leader sounded open to the legislation earlier in the week, but once Obama dropped a veto threat, Reid did what Reid always does. Must protect The Precious:

Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid (Nev.) says a House bill suspending the resettlement of Syrian refugees, slated for action Thursday, will not make it to President Obama's desk. Reid said at a press conference that Democrats will block the legislation that requires the secretary of Homeland Security to affirm to Congress that every refugee being admitted is not a security threat..."The problem is not with refugees," Reid said. "I don't think we'll be dealing with it over here." When asked about the prospect of Obama vetoing the legislation, Reid said, "Don't worry, it won't get passed. Next question?” House Republican leaders expect the bill to receive yes votes from as many as 50 Democrats in the lower chamber. They warned Democrats will pay the price politically next year if they block it. "We'll crucify them," said a senior House GOP aide.

There's a reason why 47 Democrats joined nearly every Republican in voting for this legislation: Obama's status quo policy is deep underwater with a jittery public, and his sanctimonious sneering isn't helping.  Actually, that reminds me of a second reason.  If the current vetting process really is as exacting and thorough as the White House insists it is (I'm still perplexed as to how reliable background checks are even possible amid such total chaos), they're doing an abysmally bad job selling it.  Not just to Republicans, but to Democrats -- at both the state and federal level.  They're really bad at governing and consensus-building.  Truth be told, the House bill is primarily a symbolic measure that raises the accountability stakes for administration officials in charge of the screening process, who've screwed up badly before.  Obama allergic to accountability, which is why he's chosen to snipe at GOP rhetoric while his failed Syria/ISIS strategy burns to the ground.  Dozens of House Democrats evidently weren't too keen on voting against a bill that would make it harder for ISIS terrorists to enter the United States posing as refugees.  Again, this isn't an imaginary threat, neither here nor in Europe -- Reid's breezy "the problem is not with refugees" assessment notwithstanding.  Will Senate Democrats once again hold hands and walk Harry and Barry's plank?  We shall see.  Meanwhile, Dianne Feinstein and Jeff Flake have floated a separate bill, which focuses on keeping radicalized Western nationals out of the US:

Sen. Dianne Feinstein (Calif.), the ranking Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, on Thursday will introduce legislation broadening the debate to visa waivers granted to European citizens traveling to the United States. The legislation, co-sponsored by Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.), would block waivers for European citizens who spent time in Syria or Iraq in the past five years. “Let’s say France has had 2000 people leave to go and fight [in Syria.] They’re a visa waiver country so the people come back to France and then they come into the United States. The bill we would propose would strictly limit that,” she said after attending a classified briefing with senior administration officials Wednesday evening. She added the legislation would tighten the fingerprinting requirements for visitors who qualify for visa waivers. “Currently, in most cases, the fingerprints are checked after they arrive in the United States. They should be done before,” said Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (Ill.). While Republicans have focused on the 10,000 refugees from Syria whom President Obama wants to resettle domestically, Democrats argue they are already subject to rigorous vetting. They say visa waivers pose a greater security threat, noting several of the Paris attackers were French or Belgian citizens who were believed to have visited Syria.

Yes, several of the attackers were homegrown French and Belgian jihadis.  Several others, including collaborators, appear to have passed themselves off as refugees in order to gain entry into Europe.  This is a two-pronged threat, so why not address both prongs?  If Senate Democrats use the Feinstein 'alternative' as a fig leaf to filibuster the overwhelmingly popular refugee vetting bill, House Republicans should add her language to their legislation and pass it again.  Let filibustering Democrats or a veto pen-wielding president explain their actions to voters.  Good luck with that.  By the way, next time you hear Obama upbraiding opponents over their "un-American" reactions to his dumpster fire of a foreign policy, keep this piece handy:

Fmr. head of Defense Intel on dire 2012 ISIS report: "It was disregarded by the WH... it didn't meet the narrative." https://t.co/vdpnya8rhK— Willie Geist (@WillieGeist) November 19, 2015

Who could have seen these "setbacks" coming? Obama, that's who. But it didn't fit the narrative, so it was shunted off onto the pile of avert-your-eyes inconveniences.  That would be the same narrative, incidentally, that required these lies to protect.

[mkjessup]

Wow, I sure hope Harry Reid doesn’t have an unexpected slip and fall down a flight of stairs, breaking his neck on the way down. But you know old guys like that can get clumsy.

Be careful Harry.

[Daveinyork]

Let them filibuster, the old fashioned way. Make them talk for as long as they can endure it.

[Excellence]

He’s making the future so bright for Islam that Harry needs to wear shades.

[biggredd1]

pat buchanan 11/20/15 wnd...
The time may be at hand for a moratorium on all immigration and a rewriting of the immigration laws to reflect the views and values of Middle Americans, rather than those of a morally arrogant multicultural elite.

Obamaworld is gone. We live again in an us-versus-them country in an us-versus-them world. And we shall likely never know another.

Read more at http://www.wnd.com/2015/11/the-end-of-obamaworld/#HBi1yA5CFhTft2wo.99

[IamConservative]

I think it is inevitable that ISIS will do something in the CONUS. Perhaps in DC. I hope McConnell gets this to the floor and forces these traitors on record. No cowardly voice votes. No controversial amendments. Just yay or nay on whether we inject sanity into the process for vetting refugees.

[PROCON]

So, another American politician has sided with our enemies...

Barack 0bama (D-ISIS)

Harry Reid (D-ISIS)

Who else?

[montag813]

I have no problem with Harry Reid. Just as I have no problem with the Brown Recluse Spider. they are both dangerous, venomous insects. So you should avoid them. Mitch McConnell would not put a recluse spider in his hand. So why would he allow Harry Reid to filibuster this bill? Just suspend the filibuster. Then you expose Democrats to the TERROR of having to vote AGAINST protecting the American people from terrorists.

What's it gonna be, Mitch?

[tflabo]

My compost pile has more dignity and serves a more useful function. Harry Reid is just plain old mold rot good for nothing like his master Barry.
A sorry and unworthy lot.

[unlearner]

We are in the middle of an attempted coup, but our aspiring tyrants will fail miserably through their own incompetence. Then there will be nowhere on God’s green earth for them to hide. They will all face justice. They will be made an example of.

[ThePatriotsFlag]

KMA....YOU stop with the freedom of speech and idea killers. I can express myself any I want here. If you want comments to stop on the ineffectiveness of Republucans during a national crisis, then you should do your posting over at the KOZ..

[ScottinVA]

Go for it, Hairy.

Just another hammer to beat your party with next year.

One would think these assholes would learn to stop digging.

[mastertex]

You are SOOOOOOO right.

[CAluvdubya]

I’d bet the latest attack in Mali will see you without support, Mr. Reid

[ScottinVA]

Sen. Dianne Feinstein (Calif.), the ranking Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, on Thursday will introduce legislation broadening the debate to visa waivers granted to European citizens traveling to the United States.

A rare moment of common sense from DiFi. It's rather refreshing. It certainly won't last... but it's refreshing.

[novemberslady]

bkmk

[Lazamataz]

Go play with some ‘Exercise Equipment’ you soulless piece of SSSS.

[AFret.]

Too bad we don’t have real republicans in the senate, the rules...with an impending national crisis...should be changed. We are not talking social issues here, this is about national security.

We do. We have Marco (MIA) Rubio, Rand Paul, Ted Cruz..they have the microphone right now..why don’t they use it? I know, Ted gives a sound bite now and then. I mean, buy some TV time, lay out the facts and get the public behind you..we are not talking about some gomer crossing the river at Laredo. The savages that Jughead is importing are intent on killing us, and our country..we are running out of time.

[Tupelo]

of Course Reid and Co. are going to filibuster the Syrian Refugee bill.
Hell, I fully expect Mitch McConnell to be right there behind him.

[sport]

I would not bet the farm on it. the motto of the Democrat Party and their supporters is: Whatever It Takes to Destroy the United States of America, We do. So as long as there is a Democrat in the Senate, he will have support.

[a fool in paradise]

Use the nuclear option then.
FUHR