Donald Trump seems to think that stopping terrorism is just a matter of fear and loathing of immigrants.
Trump was the sole guest on Fox News Sunday today where host Chris Wallace asked about Trump’s swipe at Jeb Bush for saying that brother George W. kept us safe.
From the Fox News transcript:
WALLACE: Something you said on Friday has stirred up some controversy about George W. Bush and the Twin Towers.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: When you talk about George Bush, say what you want, the World Trade Center came down during his time. If you look—
INTERVIEWER: Hold on, you can’t blame George Bush for that.
TRUMP: He was president, OK? Don’t blame him or don’t blame him, but he was president. The World Trade Center came down during his reign.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WALLACE: Jeb Bush responded to your comments with a tweet. He said, “How pathetic.”
Question: do you blame George W. Bush for 9/11?
TRUMP: Look, look, Jeb said we were safe with my brother. We were safe. Well, the World Trade Center just fell down.
Now, am I trying to blame him? I’m not blaming anybody. But the World Trade Center came down. So when he said, we were safe, that’s not safe. We lost 3,000 people, it was one of the greatest—probably the greatest catastrophe ever in this country if you think about it, right?
WALLACE: What would you have done?
TRUMP: Well, I would have been much different, I must tell you. Somebody said, well, it wouldn’t have been any different. Well, it would have been.
I am extremely, extremely tough on illegal immigration. I’m extremely tough on people coming into this country. I believe that if I were running things, I doubt those families would have—I doubt that those people would have been in the country.
So there’s a good chance that those people would not have been in our country.
With that being said, I’m not blaming George Bush. But I don’t want Jeb Bush to say my brother kept us safe because September 11th was one of the worst days in the history of this country.
Much as I hate to admit it, I think Trump was right to call out Jeb Bush for the statement. But it’s not like the 9/11 hijackers sneaked into the country from Mexico. They came here on visas that were issued and enforced (or not) by federal personnel many steps removed from the Oval Office. Wallace did not ask Trump what changes in our visa policy and/or enforcement he’d make that hasn’t already been made.
More importantly, Wallace did not question Trump about the missteps of the Bush White House that were probably way more serious. The 9/11 Commission reported that CIA Director George Tenet had described the system as “blinking red” during the months before the World Trade Center attacks. Unlike the visa applications, national security briefings went directly to the president and his highest-level officials. What, specifically, does Trump think the Bush administration should have done to have better heeded those warnings? Wallace never mentioned that unflattering-to-Bush point, much less asked about it.
Even worse, in my view, is that Wallace allowed Trump to suggest that our country's only terrorism problem comes from foreigners. In fact, homegrown terrorists, particularly right-wing extremists, have killed more people in the U.S. than jihadists since 9/11.
Also not mentioned was Trump’s latest attack on Megyn Kelly and Fox News. Wallace did ask about Trump’s attacks on himself and questioned whether Trump might be too thin-skinned to be president. But he didn't challenge Trump's preposterous claim, “I’m only thin-skinned when somebody says bad things that are false.”
The truth is that Trump attacked Kelly for confronting him with quotes he had made about women and, later, for her guest’s opinion. And he started in on Fox again just this week. But Wallace gave Trump a pass on that and even gave him a winky-wink that all was well between the birther and the network. Noting that Trump had “compared me unfavorably to my father,” Wallace added, “And I agree - he’s one of a kind.”
Watch it below, from the October 18 Fox News Sunday. We can add this show to our list of Fox News Sunday programs without any Democrats.
Tell me why would conservatives want a Republican Speaker of the House whose strategy intentions are no different as the leading Democratic contender in the race for President? However if Paul Ryan becomes Speaker of the House that’s precisely what Republicans would have, particularly on Immigration Reform—amnesty for the 12-30 Million illegal aliens and the open borders corporate and Industrial-special interest guarantors for mass immigration objectives that is shattering the quality lifestyle for millions of American families.
My family, friends don’t consider anything Donald Trump says about other politicians, who may be corrupted by Special Interest money. Wealthy donors are furious that they cannot buy his favors with millions of dollars. THIS IS FINALLY THE TIME OF THE PEOPLE. THIS IS WHEN AMERICA CHANGES DIRECTION. ITS IN EVERY AMERICANS VOTERS BALL COURT NOW.
Paul Ryan, Hillary Clinton and Jeb Bush and even Joe Bidon are all part of the same of the brush pressing for amnesty. But I do have faith in Senator Cruz of Texas, who is a TEA PARTY leader and not part of the politicians, who thinks that the American People can be brought and sold like some commercial transaction?
The RINO’s has been stalling the vote to elect a new Speaker is essentially about those who have forced a ‘wrench in the works’ for the Republican establishment in keeping their power in Congress, and preventing the will of We the People. And of course the establishment and Leftist media, continuing to represent the pandering of illegal aliens—cheap labor and a majority of voters who may be illegal. A kind of associated conspiracy between the political elite of both parties. The media are right there covering for them. We urge you to join our effort to end the stalling and demand they elect a conservative Speaker of the House—and not another John Boehner who stopped the moderate TEA PARTY and realist Conservatives by giving His Royal Highness Obama access to the Congressional purse to fund another Amnesty, Obamacare and other poorly thought out issues.
The $100 billion to $200 billion dollars should not be spent on fabricated policies as Birthright Citizenship for the children of illegal aliens. All that money should go towards education for Americas genuine children, our Senior Citizens—and our Veterans, who are treated like second class citizens, who fought the wars, kept us free; giving their blood on foreign shores.
You can call your Representative – the House switchboard is 1-(202) 224-3121 1-866-220-0044 – to tell them you want a conservative Speaker like Rep. Daniel Webster of Wisconsin not another Boehner or a Professional as Paul Ryan.
The Democrat Party zealots are ignoring our Constitution and with intent aiding and abetting the illegal invasion of our Country. Do many people know it is a violation of Title 8 Section 1324 United States Code “aiding, abetting, encouraging, harboring, transporting, and hiring illegal aliens is a felony.” Also Title 18 Section 611 US Code forbids non citizens from voting in our election. (What a sad joke)
Why ? To get them to vote illegally …of course. Then they reward them with illegal benefits from the US Treasury and state coffers. What illegal invader wouldn’t come here and get on the government welfare lists, that is extracted from taxpayers money. The United States is being destroyed from within and most people are oblivious to the damage. At least until the money runs out and which is not far off with the way Obama is running up the National Debt.
The Democrat Party is ignoring our Constitution and deliberately aiding and abetting the illegal invasion of our Country . Why ? To get them to vote illegally …of course. Then they reward them with illegal benefits from the US Treasury . What illegal trespasser wouldn’t come here and get on the government welfare. The United States is being destroyed from within and most people are oblivious to the destruction of our economy by unwelcome usurpers from foreign countries. With Obama in charge the huge amounts of money expended on illegal aliens and not to forget—America spongers. The parasites in human form who have no intentions of working. Right now we are printing money, but it cannot go on forever as our National Debt climbs.18 soon19 TRILLION dollars. Well after Obama’s gone for good, and House and Senate members retire in their comfortable homes, our children and grandchildren will be stuck with the debt..
Representative Elton Gallegly of California, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Immigration Policy and Enforcement, writes that Congress needs to step up and pass MANDATORY E-VERIFY. Gallegly has said MANDATED-Verify as part of the Legal Workforce Act, jobs would open up for millions of American workers while removing counterfeiting and fraud from the hiring process. This can be done now and Americans along with lawfully admitted immigrants should ruffle the feathers of your Representative and demand action on it. Additionally “Kate’s” law to end the spread of ‘Sanctuary Cities’ and end this criminal enterprise, by such cities as San Francisco where the murder of Kate Steinle died at the hands of an illegal alien some months ago.
Republican Gallegly states that the Legal Workforce Act is the only bill that can guarantee millions of Americans, low-skill and talented jobs will immediately gain work. By passing the bill and mandating E-Verify, Gallegly has pointed out that most illegal immigrants will have trouble finding a job, then millions will repatriate themselves. Gallegly has indicated that there is no economic or political reason to impeding making E-Verify mandatory. To move the bill forward is a vital and uncomplicated way to prove our commitment to putting Americans/permanent residents back to work. Gallegly proclaims for the sake of the American worker, ‘the Legal Workforce Act’ must be voted on now. Demand it of your representatives. today?
‘That dang liberal biased media is smearing me again! I never blamed Bush for 9/11. I only said it happened on his watch. So what idiot would confuse that with finger-pointing? What finger-pointing? I just said Bush was in charge and it happened. Oh, and there’s that thing about all those agencies supposed to keep us safe who didn’t get along. What kind of leader lets government agencies hate each other? That’d never happen in a Trump administration. My great leadership will bring the greatest harmony amongst agencies you’ve ever seen because – and I’m being humble here – I’m just great so everything I do leads to greatness! Now how could anyone think I’m blaming Bush, my favorite Fox News curvy couch bobble heads? Seriously?’
In fairness to Trump, if we build great – I mean really great walls on all our borders as only a great man like Trump can do – the problem would appear to be solved. Eh? Because we all know the 9/11 hijackers were illegal immigrants who snuck over our boarder led by ‘Mexican’ coyotes. Plus, The Donald wants to deport the ‘Mexicans’ who we all know are the core element of Islamic terrorism threatening America.
Oh, what a treat! As I type this ace “fair, balanced, and unafraid” GOP TV™ reporter Bret Baier is on “Fox & Friends” doing his standard right-wing whitewash of Trump’s idiocy. Does Bret question any of The Donald’s hilarious stupidity and inconsistency? Of course not! That’s reserved for Hillary and Obama lest we risk GOP TV™’s ‘fair and balanced’ cred. No, as far as he goes in criticizing Trump’s stupidity which he treats with complete seriousness is Trumps’ controversial.
I can’t make up better satire than GOP TV™ unintentionally feeds us daily. ;^)
1—tRump’s wrong about 9/11 being “probably the greatest catastrophe” in this country. Wikipedia lists 3 that probably had more lives lost. Unfortunately, as all 3 occurred in the first part of the 20th century, when record-keeping was far less well-maintained, the disasters don’t have accurate counts. But, the 1900 Galveston hurricane is believed to have had a death toll of at least 6,000 (with upper estimates running double that figure). In the dubious second place is the Great San Francisco Earthquake and Fire of 1906, believed to have killed between 3000 and 6000 people (official reports at the time listed less than 400 dead, but, then as now, some dead were more important than others; it’s unknown how many people died in the Chinatown area, especially as the quake struck just after 5 in the morning, local time). In third place, though perhaps just barely, is the 1928 “Okeechobee” Hurricane which is believed responsible for more than 4000 dead—at least 2500 died in Florida and another 500 died in Puerto Rico.
2—This is more of an indictment of the morons in the GOP, including their propaganda network (aka FoxNoise). It’s incredible that they refuse to hold Dubya and Cheney accountable for the massive loss of life on 9/11, given all the advance warning from the American Intelligence community (to say nothing of the PDB that Dubya received in mid-August suggesting a likely terrorist attack IN THE US sometime in September) and yet, they have no problem holding Hillary Clinton personally responsible—to the tune of 3 YEARS of fruitless hearings—for the four dead in Benghazi.
3—Someone really needs to remind tRump that hindsight is always 20/20 and that most of the things he thinks would’ve prevented 9/11 would NOT have done so—for some of the reasons Ellen listed but also because America had lulled itself into a false sense of security in thinking that the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans were enough to keep bad things from happening here (okay—the Pacific is pretty large enough to deter some major activities; you’re not likely to see too many hijacked planes make it from Indonesia or the Philippines all the way to California without being stopped).