Earlier today via Twitter

Oliver Willis ‏@owillis
if only we had a seasonally appropriate story about middle eastern people seeking refuge being turned away by the heartless 2:03 PM – 16 Nov 2015

And in Kansas:

Rep. Kevin Yoder ‏@RepKevinYoder
Today, I wrote @POTUS demanding he reject refugees from Syria or other nations w/ties to ISIS from entering the US. 4:39 PM – 16 Nov 2015

And in Missouri:

Jason Hancock ‏@J_Hancock
@PeterKinder, @HanawayForGov & @JohnBrunnerMO each call on @GovJayNixon to block Syrian refugee relocation to Missouri #mogov 2:28 PM – 16 Nov 2015

Governor Nixon didn’t.

From commenter the Conster at Balloon Juice:

You only have to play 1-D chess when everyone else is eating paste.

“….and now Assad’s chemical arsenal will be in far better control than it would have been after a limited military strike.”

A video from Representative Vicky Hartzler (r) on Syria:

Representative Vicky Hartzler (r): Hi, I wanted to give you an update on the situation in Syria. Since I’ve been back this we, uh, week I’ve sat in on over four hours of classified briefings and an additional, uh, two hours of briefings by Secretary of State, uh, John Kerry, uh, Department of Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel and, uh, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Martin Dempsey on this, uh, situation.

Uh, obviously I’m looking at all of the information. And at this point I still do not see a direct U.S. interest in getting involved. And I see a lot of potential hazards for having military action. Uh, certainly there’s the possibility of retaliation that I’m concerned about that could draw us into an even further conflict in the Middle East. I’m also concerned about the cost of waging this war. We have, uh, significant defense cuts right now going on, uh, which is hampering our, our military and our national security. We are still at war in Afghanistan. And so at this time I still do not see, uh, a reason to get involved.

I very much appreciated all of the input that I have received from you. Thank you for phone calls, your e-mails, your responses to facebook. And I continue to want to hear from you.

As you know the President spoke last night about this situation and, uh, certainly I agree that these chemical, uh, attacks were severe atrocities. Uh, but yet there is really no clear ally in this civil war over there that we can get behind and, uh, I don’t see the, the benefit or wisdom of it at this time.

The Russians, as you know, have put forth a proposal, uh, that, uh, our country is looking at and I think that is wise to look into this idea of involving a U.N. Security Council agreement for Assad to give up his chemical weapons and for it to come under control of, uh, foreign United Nations, uh, forces, to be dismantled. Uh, but I, I have my doubts that that will transpire knowing the track history of Russia. But certainly it’s worthy to, uh, to pursue.

So I’m gonna to continue to be monitoring the situation and I welcome your input into this very, very important topic. Uh, thank you for, uh, the privilege of representing you and, uh, rest assured, I’m gonna continue to do due diligence and do all I can to stand for our military and for a strong national security. Have a good day.

Well, it appears that isolationism trumps defense sequestration.

So, if a state commits crimes against humanity and we’re really not into any of the other sides that we can get behind, we do what? Just asking.

Previously:

Rep. Vicky Hartzler (r): caught between Syria and a hard place (September 10, 2013)

Rep. Vicky Hartzler (r): Syriously (September 3, 2013)

Rep. Vicky Hartzler (r): What about that Syria thing? (September 1, 2013)

President Obama: calling on Congress to debate and vote on use of military force in Syria (August 31, 2013)

On one hand, the teabagger base doesn’t like anything they imagine President Obama would like to do.

From Representative Vicky Hartzler (r):

Congresswoman Hartzler issues statement following conference call on Syria

Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler (MO-4) has issued the following statement regarding her conference call with citizens of the Fourth District who expressed their views on the situation in Syria:

“I pledged that I would listen to the thoughts and concerns of the citizens of Missouri’s Fourth Congressional District regarding this important issue. I have previously stated that I have concerns about the President’s plan to strike Syria, and have yet to be convinced that military action against the Assad regime is in the interests of the United States. Our conference call has further solidified my deep reservations as 97% of participants expressed opposition to our involvement. I thank all the citizens of our district who called in or who have expressed their feelings through telephone calls, emails, letters, and faxes to our offices in Washington and throughout the district. I value the input and will consider all the comments my office has received as I have the opportunity to cast MO-4’s vote in this critical time.”

[….]

[emphasis in original]

From Ezra Klein:

….There’s no peaceful, productive relationship with Congress for this vote to disrupt. The White House can’t get anything past House Republicans now. Neither a “yes” nor a “no” vote on Syria won’t change that. The downstream consequences of a congressional rebuff are, effectively, zero. It’s a few bad news cycles, and then all Washington will be talking about is the October debt limit….

….Indeed, a lengthy involvement in Syria could harm the White House’s other priorities. As Matt Yglesias at Slate notes, it’s going to be a lot harder for the White House to hold the line against the GOP’s attempts to cancel sequestration’s defense cuts (and only the defense cuts) when the military is actually dropping bombs in a foreign land….

Gee, leverage on defense sequestration. And then there’s the AIPAC voting block in the district.

Decisions, decisions.

Previously:

Rep. Vicky Hartzler (r): Syriously (September 3, 2013)

Rep. Vicky Hartzler (r): What about that Syria thing? (September 1, 2013)

President Obama: calling on Congress to debate and vote on use of military force in Syria (August 31, 2013)

Speaking out at Representative Emanuel Cleaver’s (D) town hall on military intervention in Syria – Kansas City – September 5, 2013.

On Thursday evening in Kansas City Representative Emanuel Cleaver (D) held an open town hall on military intervention in Syria. After brief introductory remarks Congressman Cleaver opened up the microphone to anyone who wanted to speak on the subject. People did so, one after another, for almost two hours.

….Congressman Cleaver, thank you for attempting to hear the people that you represent and representing us.

The core issue here is, allegedly, the use of Sarin gas and the desire to protect the Syrian people from that atrocity in the future. I ask you, please, even if you are a minority voice insist that whatever actions are considered point toward the elimination of that atrocity in the nation of Syria. All of the objections to military action have already been raised. Please ba a voice, even if it’s a minority voice. Thank you.

Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D): Well, one of, one of the things that, that, uh, that this has done, and I, and I actually think it’s good, is that, uh, as I’m talking with colleagues and, and, and listening to conversations, uh, even with the White House, this has not, to this point, fallen down along political lines. [voices] Uh, I, which I think is healthy for, for the country….

Representative Emanuel Cleaver – town hall on military intervention in Syria – Kansas City – September 5, 2013.

Previously:

Suppose they gave a town hall before rushing off to war and everybody came (September 5, 2013)

Norman Rockwell ain’t got nothin’ on the real Kansas City (September 5, 2013)

Norman Rockwell ain’t got nothin’ on the real Kansas City – part 2 (September 6, 2013)

A short interview with Rep. Cleaver after last night’s town hall (September 6, 2013)

Norman Rockwell ain’t got nothin’ on the real Kansas City – part 3 (September 7, 2013)

Norman Rockwell ain’t got nothin’ on the real Kansas City – part 4 (September 7, 2013)

Norman Rockwell ain’t got nothin’ on the real Kansas City – part 5 (September 7, 2013)

Norman Rockwell ain’t got nothin’ on the real Kansas City – part 6 (September 7, 2013)

Norman Rockwell ain’t got nothin’ on the real Kansas City – part 7 (September 8, 2013)

Speaking out at Representative Emanuel Cleaver’s (D) town hall on military intervention in Syria – Kansas City – September 5, 2013.

On Thursday evening in Kansas City Representative Emanuel Cleaver (D) held an open town hall on military intervention in Syria. After brief introductory remarks Congressman Cleaver opened up the microphone to anyone who wanted to speak on the subject. People did so, one after another, for almost two hours.

Uh, good evening Congressman [….] I am a concerned citizen.

Uh, let me preface my statement by first saying that I think what’s happening in Syria is heartbreaking. Watching the news and seeing children in body bags, men and women being indiscriminately attacked is awful.

With that being said I can’t help but be suspicious of our government when it comes to foreign intervention in to conflicts that we as a nation have no interest or no reason to be involved in in the first place.

Several years of war in Iraq have left me incredibly fed up and wary of this. Even though what’s gone on in Syria is terrible I just can’t put my heart toward saying, yes, this is the right thing for us to do.

The second thing I’d like to say is, even in the midst of all this foreign policy kerfuffle it feels like we’re taking our focus off of the main issue that’s effected a lot of people locally here. Which is, pulling our nation out of a deep recession. And I feel that diverting everyone’s attention to go to this, uh, Syrian conflict is taking off our focus. Our, we should be focused like a laser beam on fixing our own situation here. Americans gotta come first. Because that’s what, that’s the way it works, right? What’s in it for us. We can’t be looking after other people when our own people are suffering every day. That’s all I have to say. Thank you. [Rep. Emanuel Cleaver: “Thank you.”]

Previously:

Suppose they gave a town hall before rushing off to war and everybody came (September 5, 2013)

Norman Rockwell ain’t got nothin’ on the real Kansas City (September 5, 2013)

Norman Rockwell ain’t got nothin’ on the real Kansas City – part 2 (September 6, 2013)

A short interview with Rep. Cleaver after last night’s town hall (September 6, 2013)

Norman Rockwell ain’t got nothin’ on the real Kansas City – part 3 (September 7, 2013)

Norman Rockwell ain’t got nothin’ on the real Kansas City – part 4 (September 7, 2013)

Norman Rockwell ain’t got nothin’ on the real Kansas City – part 5 (September 7, 2013)

Norman Rockwell ain’t got nothin’ on the real Kansas City – part 6 (September 7, 2013)

Norman Rockwell ain’t got nothin’ on the real Kansas City – part 7 (September 8, 2013)

Speaking out at Representative Emanuel Cleaver’s (D) town hall on military intervention in Syria – Kansas City – September 5, 2013.

On Thursday evening in Kansas City Representative Emanuel Cleaver (D) held an open town hall on military intervention in Syria. After brief introductory remarks Congressman Cleaver opened up the microphone to anyone who wanted to speak on the subject. People did so, one after another, for almost two hours.

….Thank you Congressman. Um, and I also want to thank all of my fellow citizens. Apathy and ignorance are the true enemies of Democracy. And people showing up and voicing their opinion means that our system still has some semblance of its, uh, original intent. [voices]

Um, I’m gonna disagree with a number of people that have spoken this evening. I want to pull back for just a second. I’m against this action. And I want to look at it from clinical, very cold hearted stand point.

I am unapologetic about the fact that I don’t believe in military action unless it is definitely in our best interests. I don’t see that here. I see reports [inaudible] that the U.N. that the rebels are the ones that are using the Sarin gas.

Is Assad a bad guy? I’m certain he’s a bad guy. I don’t see how us getting involved in is is gonna make him a better guy. Especially when the President himself has said that, hey, we’re not gonna depose the regime, the military action’s not gonna take a very long time, we’re gonna fire a shot across the bow.

We’re gonna be ineffective. If we’re gonna, if we’re gonna take military action we should go in with a specific plan to change the current situation. Us proving how big and bad we are doesn’t change the current situation.

That’s my opinion. Thank you for your time. [Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D): “Thank you.”] [applause]

Previously:

Suppose they gave a town hall before rushing off to war and everybody came (September 5, 2013)

Norman Rockwell ain’t got nothin’ on the real Kansas City (September 5, 2013)

Norman Rockwell ain’t got nothin’ on the real Kansas City – part 2 (September 6, 2013)

A short interview with Rep. Cleaver after last night’s town hall (September 6, 2013)

Norman Rockwell ain’t got nothin’ on the real Kansas City – part 3 (September 7, 2013)

Norman Rockwell ain’t got nothin’ on the real Kansas City – part 4 (September 7, 2013)

Norman Rockwell ain’t got nothin’ on the real Kansas City – part 5 (September 7, 2013)

Norman Rockwell ain’t got nothin’ on the real Kansas City – part 6 (September 7, 2013)