Stupid Quotes II...

Source: CBS news

Heleodoro Carillo, 14, a student at a Las Vegas school said he joined the protest after arriving at school "so we can take off the law."

"They want to put the law at the border so Mexicans can't cross," Carillo said.

Technorati Tags: dumb quotes, illegal immigration, stay in school bitch!

Stupid Quotes...

Source: CBS news

"It's not fair that they just focus on us. I'm an American. Some of us we didn't cross the border, the border crossed us."
Espinoza, who was born in California and has lived in Las Vegas for nine years

Technorati Tags: dumb quotes, illegal immigration, stay in school bitch!

Inspiring!

Source: Boston.com

Romney declines to take stand on Senate immigration bill

WASHINGTON --Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney isn't saying where he stands on a major Senate immigration reform plan that has sparked heated debate on Capitol Hill and across the nation in recent days.

Romney said Wednesday he wants to learn more about the details of the sweeping immigration reform measure that was approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday.

"I'm not sufficiently aware of all the details of that bill to speak on that specific piece of legislation -- and I don't do that in my own state either," he said.

The legislation's most controversial provision would put millions of undocumented workers on a path toward citizenship if they met certain requirements. Some critics say the bill is tantamount to an amnesty program rewarding those who entered the country illegally.

Romney refused to comment specifically on the measure. Instead, he stressed he does not support "amnesty or amnesty-like" legislation.

"I don't want to see something .... that encourages people to come here illegally because they think that in the future everything's going to be forgiven and they will be able to stay here," said Romney.

The governor said he wants to see reforms that encourage illegal workers to register with the government, pay taxes and apply for citizenship.

"I don't believe in rounding up 11 million people and forcing them at gunpoint from our country," he said.

Wow! Can I vote for this guy now?

Could he be more wishy-washy? "I don't want to support amnesty, but I don't want to kick anybody out."

Hey Mitt, what the hell do you support?

H/T Ankle Biting Pundits

Technorati Tags: illegal immigration, Mitt Romney, uninspiring

I Like Smart People!

Conservative -- Liberal, these things are meaning less and less to me these days. I'm having a harder and harder time seeing the difference between them, for sure as far as Washington is concerned.

So when my good "Liberal" pal The Gun Toting Liberal writes a smart piece like this you're damn straight I'll pass it along.

I can't pick a favorite bit, but here's a taste...

I just don’t buy into this crappola that our country will fall into shambles if we suddenly kicked people out of this country who have no legal business being here. It is the right wing who will use that fear tactic. Would lives be shattered? Perhaps; because it is a deep issue with many personal storylines involved, but you can thank the greedy corporations and the conservative movement for destroying those people and using them as their servants for so many years. Both the middle class AND the illegal aliens are the “victims” of the right and their greedy corporations.

I would add that the left hasn't helped a damn thing in this, but he gets to that.

Read it!

Technorati Tags: illegal immigration, liberal, conservative, guest worker,

Nicely Played!

Always appreciate a nice smear job, and that seems to be all the Southern Poverty Law Center is god for these days.

The bit that made me raff...

One of them says he'd like to bring nuclear weapons to the border. Another vows to stop the alleged Mexican invasion of Idaho.

And the problem is what, exactly?

Enjoy?

H/T Jimmy B in Cicero

Technorati Tags: illegal immigration, southern poverty law center, race baiting, race pandering whores

FBI's Mueller: Hezbollah Busted in Mexican Smuggling Operation

Source: Newsmax

FBI Director Robert Mueller said this week that his agency busted a smuggling ring organized by the terrorist group Hezbollah that had operatives cross the Mexican border to carry out possible terrorist attacks inside the U.S.

"This was an occasion in which Hezbollah operatives were assisting others with some association with Hezbollah in coming to the United States,” Mueller told a House Appropriations subcommittee during a Tuesday hearing on the FBI's budget.

In a stunning revelation, Mueller admitted that Hezbollah had succeeded in smuggling some of its operatives across the border, telling the House committee: "That was an organization that we dismantled and identified those persons who had been smuggled in. And they have been addressed as well.”

Hezbollah was responsible for the single most deadly terrorist attack against the U.S. before 9/11 - the Oct. 1983 bombing of the Marine barracks in Beirut, which killed 243 U.S. troops.

In November, an al-Qaida operative who was on the FBI's terrorist watch list was captured near the Mexican border, housed in a Texas jail and turned over to federal agents, according to Rep. John Culberson, R-Texas.

"A confirmed al-Qaida terrorist, an Iraqi national, was held in the Brewster County jail," Rep. Culberson told ABC Radio host Sean Hannity. "He was captured in Mexico. This was within the last six weeks. He was turned over to the FBI."

No danger here folks, just busboys and gardeners pouring over the border.

No, really!

Technorati Tags: illegal immigration, open borders, Hezbollah, al-qaida, southern danger

Amnesty: A Point Of View

In the debate over amnesty currently raging there is an argument I've heard over and over from wide ranging and disparate sources. Michael Medved has made this argument, along with several noted bloggers.

Here it is in a nutshell: this guest worker program is not amnesty because the individuals will pay a fine and have to wait several years before receiving citizenship. The second half of the argument always involves a comparison to a traffic ticket, i.e.- would you throw someone in jail because of a traffic ticket.

Here's my response to these rather weak arguments. A traffic ticket can never be an affront to national sovereignty. No matter what precisely the law calls this, misdemeanor, felony, whatever, it doesn't change the fact that people have entered the country against the law and against the will of the electorate.

I'm sure you've noticed that several important individuals have urged restraint and calm in this debate. What I think they misunderstand is that this strikes directly at who we are as a people. MJ often makes the analogy to a home invader and I think she's absolutely right. People have broken into our nationally shared home, made themselves comfortable, and now, having broken in and helped themselves to a beer they demand more.

Average people are very upset about this, very emotional. And I don't see racism or xenophobia driving this at all, though you might think that reading the editorials and listening to the president these days.

Rather, people feel violated, why don't you explain to the next rape victim you meet that they should remain calm and unemotional about the violation they just experienced. The reason Mexico is such a part of the debates might just be because they inject themselves into the debate by running ads in our newspapers chock full of excuses, evasions and justifications for their bad behavour. Not to mention encourging their citizens to break the law.

An aspect of this debate has been rendered very clearly for me, and it relates to something I've thought for years, it is whether we live in a nation or an economy. I've noticed that this issue more than any other is something you either feel in your gut or you don't. Many otherwise fine people are talking about American citzenship as a commodity to be traded and sold or bartered to an end.

Whereas most Americans see it as something precious. Something to be valued highly.

I think this debate has shown us both on the right and the left that there is a great swath of this country that no longer feel American in their gut. It's an abstraction and quite possibly an irritation to them, something that gets in the way of doing business. Something that slows down the free movement of goods, services and peoples.

Or, another view is that everyone on the planet is an American who just happened to be born in another country.

But when the American people are confronted by the obnoxious symbols from last weekends rallies, those that still get this in their guts recoil and wonder about this new reality we're being asked to not only accept but embrace.

I am personally affronted by every single person who crosses our border illegally. It hits me in my gut like a punch. Yet as I scan through the blogosphere it's clear to me that many don't feel this way at all, though this position is a clear minority that seem to put trade before nationality.

Well I don't and I don't think I'm alone in this position by a long shot. Latino activists have been using the phrase "waking the sleeping giant." I don't think they know how right they are, I also don't think they understand just exactly who the sleeping giant might be. And what will happen if it's truly awake.

I think average Americans are sick and tired of being called names because they love this country above all others. Because they think of it as their home, because they hope to see immigrants appreciate the opportunities they are being offered as opposed to running this country down. Yes I know there are many, many immigrants that love this country, but who gets on television?

Which leads me to my last thought. How can you even have this debate honestly with such radically different purposes? Genuinely patriotic citizens are being referred to by the president they love by harsh names such as nativist, xenophobe or racist. Others, often elites, shake their heads in puzzlement wondering what the fuss is all about.

Can these viewpoints be synthesized into some sort of coherent whole? I tend to doubt it.

Some things are not amenable to reason. I believe in god, why? Well, that's pretty hard to answer if I even could. I love my wife, why? Again, could tell you a hundred different things none of which would necessarily tell you why I love this woman over the hussy down the block. But I do.

I love this country. I want good things for her. I don't hate Mexicans or anyone else of good faith who wishes to come here and be a part of this great experiment, however, I don't think it's unreasonable to ask who and how many are being invited into my home. Our home.

Yes I think immigration has been a net benefit to this country, but I also think a serious debate about immigration has been brewing for over thirty years. The stident and angry voices you are hearing are not expressing anger at immigrants precisely, most of their anger is directed at the feckless and do nothing folks in Washington.

When you put the lid on the pot and let it boil for over thirty years don't act surprised when it finally boils dry and explodes.

Technorati Tags: illegal immigration, guest workers, , Patriotism,

What In The Hell?

I don't quite know what to make of this, but it is thought provoking.

Illegal immigrants rally for tuition break

Here are the wages of lawlessness...

Source: ocobserver

TRENTON — More than 100 people rallied yesterday in front of the Statehouse Annex, urging state and federal lawmakers to allow children of undocumented immigrants to attend college at in-state tuition rates.

The smaller-than-advertised, but loud, crowd chanted in English and Spanish as students spoke of college dreams snuffed out because their parents illegally took them to America when they were young.

Ozge Ozler, 18, of Cinnaminson wanted to attend Rutgers University or Temple University but is ineligible for student aid or in-state tuition because her parents illegally emigrated from Turkey.

"I came to this country when I was 2 years old. It's not like I had a choice," Ozler said. "I lived here my entire life. I'm as American as the next person. I'm an outcast in the only place I can call home."

Full-time, undergraduate tuition at Rutgers University this year for in-state residents averages $7,336, while full-time undergrads who aren't New Jersey residents are charged about $14,935 for tuition.

Camden activist Angel Cordero, 45, led the crowd in fiery chants of "Si, se puede" ("Yes, we can"), "Latinos unido jamas seran vencidos" ("United Latinos will never be defeated"), or simply, "Not fair."

Though I don't agree with this one little bit, the deal killer for me is this phrase: United Latinos will never be defeated. Once you step through this doorway there's no going back. Race baiting and race pandering have become endemic and it needs to stop. I don't give a rat's furry patoot when you came, how old you were or where you came from. I care about how you or your parents came.

Not legal? Your short sighted parents should have thought of that before they came. This does not qualify as my problem, this does not qualify as our problem. I know this sounds harsh and cold, that might be because it is harsh and cold, but it's also the truth as I see it.

And when you hold these noisy rallies it just hardens my heart against you. You have no rights here, that's the truth. Don't like it, lump it!

These are the wages of not enforcing the law. This situation should never have been allowed to get to this point. Short sighted politicians and businessmen have let this happen on their watch and now that it's spinning out of control they counsel us we have to just accept it.

In fact they say the solution to these problems is more lawlessness. Um, okay, as we learned in '86 all that happens when you ignore the law is more ignoring of the law. The solution to this is not to reward those who came here after the "one time only" amnesty of '86. The solution is to reclaim our heritage as a country guided by the rule of law.

Then and only then can we even consider "immigration reform."

Nope, I certainly don't have to accept this. You guys caused this problem, solve it, or we will!

"United Latinos will never be defeated" indeed!

Technorati Tags: illegal immigration, in state tuition, latinos are becoming the problem

Please call Dennis Hastert

From this:

House Speaker Dennis Hastert on Wednesday suggested the House would be open to a temporary worker program when the House and the Senate later work out their differences. Specter said it was a hopeful sign that lawmakers would accept a comprehensive approach.

Could you please call his office and let him know what you think? And, please encourage everyone you know to do the same.

His D.C. office is:
Phone: 202-225-2976
Fax: 202-225-0697

Local offices are listed here.

Lifted whole cloth from LoneWacko's excellent site

Technorati Tags: illegal immigration, Dennis Hastert, guest worker

An Open Letter

This just in from Jim Kuttner:

To George W Bush, President Of The United States,
I am disappointed in your statements concerning immigration reform and illegal immigrants in general. You were elected by the citizens of the United States to protect our interests. Not the interests of big business, special interest groups or even the Republican party, but the interests of “We The People Of The United States Of America.” You claim to be a deeply religious man who holds his faith above all things? Well you swore an oath before god. Does this oath look familiar?

I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States.

You have failed to secure our borders. You have further failed to insure domestic tranquility or provide for the general welfare of your citizens. You legacy at this point will be one of invading foreign countries (regardless of if you were right or wrong). But your biggest legacy at this point will be the destruction of the “American Dream” for millions of poor and lower middle class citizens.
In your statements concerning illegal immigrants you claim they are hardworking law-abiding people. Hardworking maybe some are. Law abiding none are. They have already violated the laws of this country just by their presence. They then violate our laws by working in the U.S. Not to mention those who drive illegally and other various crimes committed by illegal aliens. So I say “Law-abiding” hardly.

My next issue is you constant claim that they are taking jobs Americans won’t do. All one has to do is read the research done by the Pew Center to know this is false. They listed the industries that employee the most illegal immigrants. Here is their breakdown and the percentage of illegal aliens employed in those industries.
Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers 27%
Landscaping Services 26%
Domestic Help (Maids/Housekeepers) 22%
Roofers 21%
Animal Slaughter and Processing 20%
Hotel Industry 13%
Food Service 11%
Agriculture 11%
Construction 10%

As you will notice there are none of these industries where illegal immigrants make up a majority of the workforce. Therefore how can you state that illegal immigrants are doing the jobs Americans won’t do? What you really mean is they do the same jobs for less money as proven by George Borjas of Harvard.

His analysis shows that between 1980 - 2000 those with out a high school diploma lost on average 7.4 % of their income due to immigrant labor. The breakdown does not differentiate between legal and illegal immigrants but when you factor in that most illegal immigrants are unskilled or low skilled labor it has a direct impact. So the jobs that the poorest and least educated citizens used to achieve the American dream or going to those who don’t even belong here. Interesting way to provide for the general welfare of American citizens.

So let us recap. You are elected by the people to do what is the will of the majority of citizens. Instead you do what is in the best interest of business, special interests, foreign governments, the GOP and somewhere far down the list the American people. You publicly call Americans “isolationists, xenophobes, protectionists” while visiting in a foreign country. Why because you think you know what we want and we are just to ignorant to understand? You need to remember who’s interests you were elected to represent and starting doing your job. Otherwise your legacy will be that of the worst president to ever hold office in this great country.

Sincerely
An American Citizen

Technorati Tags: illegal immigration, Jim Kuttner, President Bush, Cancun

Message Received Loud and Clear, Mr. President

Everywhere you turn these days, people are talking about the illegal immigration crisis and what needs to be done about it. This week the Senate resumed debate on the issue, with much talk of guest worker programs and paths to citizenship.

For weeks we've been bombarded with disturbing images like this...

and this...

and this...

With this issue approaching a boiling point across America, what better time for our president to reach out to those he's been elected to serve? To check in with those most important when it comes to representing the American people? To show how much he esteems the opinion of...

Hey, wait a minute! That's not the American people! That's Vicente Fox!

With Mexican President Vicente Fox at his side, President Bush gave Congress a long-distance push Thursday to open the United States to immigrant workers who have been sneaking across the borders to fill low-paying jobs.

"We don't want people sneaking into our country that are going to do jobs that Americans won't do," Bush said at the end of a private meeting with Fox, where the issue was on top of the agenda. "We want them coming in in an orderly way, which will take pressure off both our borders."

It's all here. If you can stomach it.

That's right, folks. When it comes time to discuss America's illegal immigration problem -- which is only exacerbated by the words, actions, and policies of the Mexican governement -- you won't find our president holding townhall meetings to find out what the people really want. No, siree, Bob -- instead, Bush headed south of the border, down Mexico way

Bush is pushing for a guest worker program that would let foreigners in low-paying jobs stay temporarily, which Fox says is a good first step toward some form of legal status for all Mexican illegal immigrants.

Glossary
guest worker program = amnesty
foreigners = illegal aliens
low-paying jobs = jobs that Americans used to do in exchange for decent wages
temporarily = do I really look that stupid?
legal status = unearned citizenship

"I told the president there is a legislative process that's going forward," Bush said. "And that it may look cumbersome to some, but that's how our democracy works."

Cumbersome? CUMBERSOME? I ran this quote through my secret decoder ring and, guess what I came up with?

Sure, we'd have a guest worker program tomorrow if I thought I could get away with it. You know how it is working within the confines of a pesky democracy. That stupid Congress! What a nerve they have...acting like they have a say in our laws. Anyone would think their branch was legislative in nature, or something!

"That's important for the American economy as well," Bush said. "The more net worth there is in Mexico, the more likely it is the Mexican may be wanting to buy a U.S. product. And vice versa, by the way."

Yeah, because the more net worth America has, the Mexico wants to buy our stuff! I see what you're sellin', Mr. President. You couldn't convey it more clumsily if you had a great big ham at the end of each arm.

Fortunately, the American people ain't buyin'.

Technorati Tags
Illegal Immigration
Illegal Aliens
Amnesty
Guest worker Program
President Bush
Vicente Fox
Mexico

Here's Your Donation!

When the Republican Party comes knocking for donations this year?

Our pal Jimmy B suggests you send these.

Ha-Ha-Ha!

Common Sense America has an awesome piece up today.

My fave...

Senate Chorus: It isn’t amnesty. Even the New York Times says it isn’t amnesty.

Note: I’m not kidding, they entered the New York Times article into the Senate record today!

My question: Who, in their right mind, believes the New York Times???

Ha-Ha-Ha!!

H/T Unabashedly Unhyphenated

Bush Pushes Congress to OK Immigrants

Translation: We sho do be lubbin' de slave up in dis bitch!

Source: ABCnews

CANCUN, Mexico Mar 30, 2006 (AP)— With Mexican President Vicente Fox at his side, President Bush gave Congress a long-distance push Thursday to open the United States to immigrant workers who have been sneaking across the borders to fill low-paying jobs.

"We don't want people sneaking into our country that are going to do jobs that Americans won't do," Bush said at the end of a private meeting with Fox, where the issue was on top of the agenda. "We want them coming in in an orderly way, which will take pressure off both our borders."

Translation: We are pussies! Please walk all over us, we like it! Oh, and we're lazy too!

And just to add to the insanity he's standing tough on Canada, Canada!

Still, he took a combative stance on their long-standing dispute over U.S. tariffs on Canadian softwood lumber, saying Canada would "pursue all its legal options" if he and Bush can't work out an agreement.

Translation: Aw F it!

"That's important for the American economy as well," Bush said. "The more net worth there is in Mexico, the more likely it is the Mexican may be wanting to buy a U.S. product. And vice versa, by the way."

Translation: My corporate overlords have demanded more cheap labor, I must obey!

Is it really our job to make Mexico a decent country, should we even do this? With all due respect, their government sucks great big monkey nuts (you have to bribe people to receive your mail, nuff said). It is beyond corrupt and anything we do there will most likely blow up in our faces.

And of course their talking about electing a Communist in the next election. I'd like to say I feel bad for the profit pirates who moved factories over there, but naah, I don't really. Just desserts and all.

Technorati Tags: illegal immigration, kiss my ass Prez Bush, Cancun, Overlords

House conservatives blast immigration bill

Source: Macon.com

WASHINGTON - House conservatives criticized President Bush, accused the Senate of fouling the air, said prisoners rather than illegal farm workers should pick America's crops and denounced the use of Mexican flags by protesters Thursday in a vehement attack on legislation to liberalize U.S. immigration laws.

"I say let the prisoners pick the fruits," said Rep. Dana Rohrabacher of California, one of more than a dozen Republicans who took turns condemning a Senate bill that offers an estimated 11 million illegal immigrants an opportunity for citizenship.

I think this is a tremendous idea! With all the folks we have just sitting on their backsides in prisons and jails? Hell yeah, I worked in a jail, this would be an amazing thing. If we truly need low paid slaves to work in ag jobs, fine, here ya go. And as an extra added bonus prisoners earn even less than illegals, talk about win-win! And it would have one more benefit, prison or jail should be unpleasant, truly unpleasant. Let's let these cats break their backs in the fields and they may find themselves too busy to bugger each other.

"Anybody that votes for an amnesty bill deserves to be branded with a scarlet letter A," said Rep. Steve King of Iowa, referring to a guest worker provision in the Senate measure.

Their news conference took place across the Capitol from the Senate, where supporters and critics of the legislation seemed determined to heed admonitions from both Bush and Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist to conduct a dignified, civilized debate.

Here's the prob here. When you let a problem fester for thirty years, calm civilized debate will be scarce. The people are demanding change, watch and listen how our elected representatives dither and lie as they desperately attempt to keep their corporate paymasters happy while doing as little as possible. if it wasn't so funny it would be sad, wait, strike that reverse it.

The House has passed legislation to tighten border security, while the Senate approach also includes provisions to regulate the flow of temporary workers into the country and control the legal fate of millions of illegal immigrants already here. Bush has broadly endorsed the Senate approach, saying he wants a comprehensive bill.

It was the second day in a row that congressional Republicans aired their differences on an issue that directly affects the fastest growing segment of the electorate. Under Bush's leadership, the Republicans have made dramatic inroads among Hispanic voters, and party strategists fret that the immigration debate could jeopardize their gains.

I seriously doubt this, it smells like a political scare tactic. What? Hispanics are going to be pissed when we do the right thing? That's just insulting, I know way too many Hispanics that are awesome Americans to believe that tripe for one minute.

On Wednesday, leading GOP senators disagreed whether the legislation amounted to amnesty.

There was no such debate at the news conference in the House, where not a word was spoken in defense of the Senate bill and even Bush was not spared criticism.

"I don't think he's concerned about alienating voters, he's not running for re-election," said Rep. Tom Tancredo of Colorado. He said Republicans could lose the House and Senate over the immigration issue, and he said of the president: "I wish he'd think about the party and of course I also wish he'd think about the country."

Love you Tom! Wink-wink! (in a non-gay way of course, not that there's anything wrong with that)

Referring to a wave of demonstrations in recent weeks, Rep. Virgil Goode of Virginia said, "I say if you are here illegally and want to fly the Mexican flag, go to Mexico and wave the American flag."

A little muddled, but damned if I don't feel the same way.

King analyzed the issue in class terms.

"The elite class in America is becoming a ruling class and they've made enough money by hiring cheap illegal labor that they think they also have some kind of a right to cheap servants to manicure their nails and their lawn, for example.

"So this ruling class, this new ruling class of America, is expanding a servant class in America at the expense of the middle class of America, the blue collar of America that used to be able to punch a time clock, buy a modest house and raise their families. ... Those young people are cut out of this process."

Rep. J.D. Hayworth of Arizona and others said Republicans would pay a price in the midterm elections if they vote for anything like the Senate legislation. "Many of those who have stood for the Republican Party for the last decade are not only angry. They will be absent in November," he said.

Unless the Republicans can field a lot more people like JD and Tom Tancredo I'll be going third party.

Rohrabacher said Americans should be able to "smell the foul odor that's coming out of the U.S. Senate."

Asked a few moments later whether the same odor was emanating from the president, he said, "I have no comment."

Rohrabacher, King and others stood at a podium decorated with a bumper sticker reading "Say No to Amnesty," as the Senate slogged through a second suspenseless day of debate.

The only vote of the day came on a proposal by Frist for a study of the number and causes of deaths at the U.S.-Mexico border. It passed 94-0.

Tell you what I pay me the fat quan, I can tell you right now. Stupid, unenforced immigration and border policies.

The more difficult choices lie ahead next week, when critics of the bill are expected to try to strip out the guest worker provision and roll back the provisions relating to 11 million illegal immigrants already here.

What in the hell is so difficult about doing the will of 80% or so of the American people, oh, sorry I forgot about the corporate paymasters, my bad.

Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., the chairman of the Judiciary Committee, has said repeatedly he hopes to find a compromise that is more broadly acceptable than the legislation that cleared his committee over the objections of six Republicans.

"There's a movement afoot to find consensus," said Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., who voted for the bill that cleared committee.

He said the president's statements "have been hugely helpful."

Yours, Mr. Graham, not so much.

It really is astonishing the lengths our representatives will go to to avoid doing our will, isn't it? I commented to MJ on the way home that this is the first time they've really been hung on the petard of knowing precisely what the people want and yet being forced by the paymasters to go against it in such a painfully obvious and blatant way.

If you still think guest worker programs are a good idea read this.

Something big and ugly is coming. I hope your ready.

Technorati Tags: illegal immigration, guest worker programs,

Not A Hidden Agenda

Like Super-Villains everywhere the enemy is always nice enough to reveal exactly what they're after.  This isn't about equality, this isn't about opportunity.  It's about taking over.  And the truth is the agenda is plenty advanced, with people in positions of power.

Watch

Technorati Tags: illegal immigration, california protests, Mexican protests, reconquista, atzlan

Schools Shut Down Over Immigration Uproar

Source: AOL.com

California District Officials Hear Rumors of Possible Violence

LOS ANGELES (March 30) - One Southern California school district is closing its middle and high schools for the rest of the week after officials said they heard rumors that some of the widespread demonstrations against proposed federal immigration reforms could turn violent.

The Oceanside Unified School District, which educates 21,500 students in grades kindergarten through 12, announced Wednesday that it would close its middle schools and high schools on Thursday and Friday.

"We have received information that violence and racial tension could escalate throughout the community during the remainder of the week," said Ken Noonan, superintendent of the district just north of San Diego.

Now I will grant you, this could be school administrators being nervous nellies, not even an unlikely possibility. However, these folks have not heard the word 'no' in a long time. What happens when they do?

I also think the reason the media is giving this play is to try to cow averge Americans, to make us fear what might happen if we suddenly became a nation of laws again.

Know what? I'm not afraid. I fully expect there will be violence whenever it is we attempt to become a nation that respects laws again. It won't be easy, there will be violence. Never accuse me of sugar coating or shying away from reality.

But we have to do this now. Not addressing this problem now merely increases the likelihood of violence and turmoil when the crackdown comes. Remember too that fresh troops in this war are being added every night to the tune of a couple thousand as they stroll in here as "honored guests." Not bad, most armies would be envious.

H/T Jimmy B in Cicero (roll that B dammit, this isn't America!)

Technorati Tags: illegal immigration, student protests

The Horses Mouth...

Source: Flowers for Ad-gernon

"To me there is no borders, I don't feel like it's a border, it wasn't a border for me. Like a lot of people, I like what God created, one world. Humans made divisions, humans made the borders; I just go without thinking about it, what the hell is that? What the hell is a border?

Border patrol there, this, that, hell no man, they didn't bother me.

Hell no I didn't walk through the desert, I went around with class, I don't want to be walking through no desert!"

The Voice Of The Youts!

Source: Butterfly


Yeah, my school is under lock down or something because there were like
protests outside about immigration and the mexicans... or something. I
don't really actually know whats going on, but like. I had to sit in
theatre for a while. Which means I got to talk to Lindsey a lot. We
made up, I think. I mean, I can't explain it yet, but I'm figuring it
out. Bleh. xP

Hee-Hee!

To forestall the whining and puling take a moment and consider what the graphic is actually saying. I don't hate Mexicans, I would prefer they be in Mexico, but that's a separate issue. In fact in my neighborhood you'll be hard pressed to find anyone who speaks english without an accent, here's a little secret, I kinda like that.

However, I loathe the Mexican government with a white hot hatred. I loathe how they treat their people, I loathe their support for murderers and criminals, I loathe how they treat this country that I love.

But truthfully had the graphic shown Calvin peeing on the American flag I might have posted it, why? Because that's what our president and government do every single day. Most of all I loathe the unwillingness of our representatives to stand up for this country.

Are we an economy or a sovereign nation? I don't know any more. How about you?

H/T Ogre

Technorati Tags: illegal immigration, Mexico, Calvin, Peeing on the flag

Damn, Just Damn...

Source: The Corner

Jonah Goldberg received this email from a reader...

Hi Jonah, Gosh I am totally obsessed with the Corner and read it many times thru out the day. You're my favorite. Anyway, as per a previous email from an hispanic that you posted on the Corner, I have a few comments, if I may.

My family and I are 4th generation Mexican-American who live in Texas. I don't even know for sure if we came legally or not. Nonetheless, none of us think that every latino sneaking across the borders deserves to be greeted with well wishes and welfare hugs. In fact, the most heated and angry things I've heard about border crossers have come from other Mexican Americans. It's certainly not racism or elitism. I personally know many Mexican Nationals who come here only to have their children born here so that they may take advantage of the welfare goodies that this gives their "citizen" children, or if not that, to work and send money back to their families in Mexico. These 2 things are certainly not on the surface nefarious things. What is unacceptable is there is no attempt to assimilate and settle down, to learn English, nor any intention of becoming "American." So you see, it is this that separates my family, and many millions of others like my family, from these new generations of Mexicans who are here illegally. My family came here in order to become American. And we have been proud Americans for over a hundred years. We have never accepted charity, certainly not from our government, and have proudly taught our children English and American History. We simply cannot support this illegal encroachment, even if we share some distant ancestors with the encroachers.

To me, it's not about legal versus illegal immigration. It's about do they have any intention of embracing America as their own new country. If not, then they must be roundly escorted the hell out. Or kept out with big fences. The spirit of our immigrant past demands it.

As an aside, I married a Mexican National many years ago. We married right after he received amnesty from Reagan's admin back in the 80's. He'd been working here illegally for about 10 years. He dreamed of buying a house and living here until he died. He taught himself English by watching the news every night. And a more proud man you never met when he was made legal. He still keeps a picture of Reagan up on his wall and proudly calls himself an American (and a Republican, too!) He cried at Reagan's funeral. He still speaks beautiful Spanish, although he's fluent in English; he owns his own company and pays his taxes and sends money to his ailing mother in Mexico. So is he what we want to keep out or encourage to come in? I think this country will always welcome immigrants like him. He's the difference between a pilgrim and a univited guest.

"Pilgrim and uninvited guest." Yep, just like that.

Technorati Tags: illegal immigration, Jonah Goldberg, amnesty

Patriotic Americans?

Michelle Marquez (left) a student at Lamar Middle School in Irving, was criticized for having an American flag during an immigration protest at Kiest Park in Dallas. "My heart is with the Mexican flag and Mexico but I'm standing on American ground and I', a Mexican-American."

H/T Michelle Malkin

Thousands are sent back to Portugal

Source: Euroweekly

Hee-hee, this be kind-o-funny!

BETWEEN 15,000 and 22,000 Portuguese illegal immigrants could be deported from Canada. An unprecedented operation has started to expatriate all the illegal immigrants working in the country.

In February, the Ambassador to the country, João Silveira de Carvalho, received an official communication from the Immigration Ministry saying that all Portuguese working in Canada without a permit would be ordered to return immediately to their country.

The first Portuguese families have been put on aeroplanes and forced to leave. Some of the families had been living in Canada for several years and many had already bought houses there. They were given only a few days’ notice to make preparations, pack their bags, and get rid of possessions they couldn't take on the flight to Lisbon. A large number of the group being deported went to Canada to meet the demands of a booming construction industry, particularly in Toronto. Estimates state that about 75 per cent of the workers are in the country illegally.

"If you have bought a new home or a new condo, you know that the waiting times for getting a place just keep on getting longer and longer," Pedro Barata of the Portuguese National Congress said. "I think that the more we deport people who are needed in the construction industry, the longer those waits are going to be."

Some estimates say that 15,000 people are working illegally in Ontario's construction and hospitality industries, and the Canada-wide figure is 300,000. Immigration sources said there will not be an amnesty. The federal agency said they have a legal duty to remove people who have come to the country without following the proper procedures.

Many in the group deported say they will try to return to Canada and resume the lives they have built. Portuguese Foreign Minister, Diogo Freitas do Amaral, has announced that he will travel to Canada this week for discussions with the Ottawa authorities.

In a statement, Freitas do Amaral said he had decided to travel to Canada to discuss ‘the sudden change in policy by the authorities in relation to Portuguese nationals living and working there without visas’. The Portuguese authorities announced earlier that a reception centre is being set up at Lisbon Airport to give support to nationals arriving from Canada.

Oh my! How insensitive of them. Don't these crazy Canucks know that illegals are the lifeblood of the nation? And homeowners? I'm just chuckling here, I want to hear Michael Medved tell me again that we can't deport people who own homes!

And of course in true Ernesto Derbez fashion the Portugese consul defends illegality!

Technorati Tags: illegal immigration, Canada, Deportation

Interesting!

I just got done calling and faxing my senators via NumbersUSA.

If you haven't done so yet, do it! It's easy and it's not just a privelege but a reponsibility too, so over your lunch hour play one less game of Solitaire and CALL!

This was interesting though, while on with the staffers I mentioned I ran a political blog in Chicago and casually mentioned how many people visit the blog. Suddenly I was having a conversation with them and they were asking my opinion on things. If you run a blog make a point of mentioning it, they do seem curious about this phenomenon.

Answering 13 Frequently Asked Questions About Illegal Immigration

John Hawkins from Right Wing News does yoemans work.

Here

Exploding the Myth of Illegal Immigrates Doing Jobs Americans Won’t Do

This piece was contributed by a new blog pal. James Kotthoff has been delivering trenchant and witty comments for a couple of weeks now so I extended an offer for him to write for this blog. I found this in my email this morning...

Exploding the Myth of Illegal Immigrates Doing Jobs Americans Won’t Do
By James Kotthoff

I have been following the recent controversy on immigration reform closely for some time. I hear all the “facts” as stated by pro immigration groups. I think it is time to explore more fully some of these statements to see where the facts actually lead us.

Before we do we have to agree on some basic principles? Basic economic laws are not complicated and the most basic is “Supply and demand.” Simply put if supply is higher than demand price falls. If demand is higher than supply price rises. This is not a theory this is an absolute fact. If there are more cars for sale then people to buy them car prices fall and the inverse if more people want cars than are available car prices rise. In anything this rule holds absolute.

Now let us look at the following statement as exposed by many pro immigration forces including the White House. “Illegal Immigrants Do Jobs Americans Won’t Do.” Nice in theory and if true that justifies a certain amount of unskilled immigrant labor. But lets delve a little deeper into this concept. The question really becomes is it that Americans won’t do these jobs or won’t do these jobs at the same wage as illegal immigrants? Later we will look at H1B visas and there impact but for the moment we will look at unskilled and low skilled positions.

First let us look at an industry by industry breakdown of what industries employ most illegal immigrants.
Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers 27%
Landscaping Services 26%
Domestic Help (Maids/Housekeepers) 22%
Roofers 21%
Animal Slaughter and Processing 20%
Hotel Industry 13%
Food Service 11%
Agriculture 11%
Construction 10%

This information comes from the Pew Center for Hispanic research. As you will note there is no category where illegal immigrants are a majority of employees. So how does this bear out the contention that illegal immigrants do the jobs Americans won’t do? I will let you draw your own conclusions.

The next question is does this have an effect on wages? When we remember the rule Supply versus Demand it is simple to answer. A supply of labor that is higher than the demand for labor lowers wages across the board in that given industry.

Now lets examine unemployment in the U.S. Keep in mind that the official unemployment rate understates the actual number of unemployed due to the way it is calculated. The government unemployment figures does not include any of the following: students, underemployed (part time employees - not by choice) or discouraged workers (Those who have totally dropped out of the labor market). According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics for February 2006.

Total Unemployment Ages 16 and over - 5.1%
Which means about 7.6 million officially unemployed but if you add those not included in the official estimate you can at least double that figure.
If you take away agricultural work the figure is higher
Nonagricultural Workers - 5.3%
That still means 6.2 million officially unemployed.
Now lets look at a breakdown by industry.

Mining - 3.8%
Construction - 8.6%
Manufacturing - 4.9%
Durable Goods - 4.4%
Non-Durable Goods - 5.7%
Wholesale and Retail Trades - 5.4%
Transportation and Utilities - 4.6%
Information Services - 3.7%
Financial Activities - 2.8%
Professional and Business Services - 6.5%
Education and Health Services - 2.8%
Leisure and Hospitality - 9.1%
Other Services - 4.4%
Agricultural and related - 9.9%
Government Workers - 2.3%
Self Employed and Unpaid Family Workers - 3.1%

When you start to look at the figures and compare the unemployed with the illegal immigrants working in that specific industry you will see how the basic idea of illegal immigrants doing the jobs Americans won’t do is flawed. Lets look at one more set of statistics wages and labor supply. The following figures are based on the analysis of Harvard Economist George Borjas. Average wage loss due to mass immigration. This doesn’t break it down to illegal and legal immigration but it is an interesting indicator in which to draw a conclusion. This is figured from 1980 -2000 and uses education level as the base. This only looks at native born males. High school dropouts lost 7.4% of their income. High school graduates lost 2.4%. Those with some college lost 2.3%. College graduates lost 3.1%. Now if you notice the biggest loses occur at the unskilled/low skilled level. Which directly correlates with the highest skill level of illegal immigrants.

So my conclusion is that without getting into the socio-economic cost of illegal immigration one simply needs to look at the direct economic impact to understand it is not positive. And to answer the question of illegal immigrants doing jobs Americans won’t one simply has to let the numbers speak for themselves.

Technorati Tags: illegal immigration, jobs Americans won't do, guest workers, amesty

Nothing To See Here...

Source: KVOA

Illegal immigrants cost Pima County taxpayers thousands daily

On average, more than 2,000 illegal immigrants are arrested in Southern Arizona every day, but tens of thousands have made it past the Border Patrol and those who stay here have a major impact on our economy.

On any given day, nearly 200 illegal immigrants sit behind bars at the Pima County Jail.

Lt. India Davis says, "They're here on a multiple multitude of charges ranging from misdemeanors to felonies and their average stay is a little bit longer than average citizens."

The cost to house an illegal immigrant inmate is $56 per day, costing tax payers more than $11,000 daily.

At University Medical Center, illegal immigrants cost the hospital $6.9 million dollars for a period of six months.

I'm shocked! Shocked I say! And here these nice pro-illegal folks assured us there were no onerous costs associated with illegals, what happened?

Area business owners are also affected.

Todd McConnell, owner of McConnell Nursery & Landscaping, says, "I would hire them if they had papers to show that they're here legally and can work."

But many day laborers do not have legal documentation.

McConnell said, "There's a lot of Americans looking for jobs also and I think we have to have an orderly process. There has to be some restraints; it can't be an open flow across the border."

But on the flip side, the argument has been made that illegal immigrants do the jobs many Americans will not.

Juan Jose Zamora, an illegal immigrant stands on a corner in Midtown everyday, hoping for work. If someone picks him up he could make as much as $30 a day, nearly ten times what he would make in Mexico.

Zamora said, "Mexico and the United States are neighbors. The reason we come here is because we earn more than we do in Mexico."

According to the Pew Hispanic Center, illegal migrants have little trouble finding jobs that pay minimum wage. For Zamora, that's more than enough.

Though Zamora knows he's an illegal immigrant, he says being in the U.S. is a matter of survival.

"We don't want people to think that we're delinquents, because we're not. We're hard workers and we know how to work," Zamora says.

I don't doubt that's true of Mr. Zamora, but who are these hundreds of illegals who are filling our jails and prisons across this land? The bottom line is just this, when the flood pours in it will cause damage. Anyone with a lick of sense knows this, but we've gotten used to our low wage slaves.

I just want to give this business owner a sloppy kiss and a medal. Jobs for citizens? This is all new, I need to sit down, I feel a little dizzy.

Technorati Tags: illegal immigrations costs, we need a fence, arizona

Massive Pro-Illegal Rallies: Not Spontaneous

Ben Johnson has a great piece up today over at Frontpage. He gives us a guided tour of the groups that were really behind these "spontaneous" rallies. No matter what side of the aisle you find yourself I doubt these are the folks you want driving America's policy in these perilous times.

The leftist media have tried to portray this weekend’s massive protests against House measures to curtail illegal immigration as the uprising of “The Other America”: forgotten, humble, hidden Hispanic members of the working poor simply demanding their “rights.” As events spanned from California to Detroit, Phoenix to Washington, D.C., the media kept up its anti-enforcement drumbeat. Although some have credited Latino DJs for the 500,000-strong illegal immigrant turnout in Los Angeles alone – and some credit is deserved – the real legwork was done by a more eclectic group of organizations: leftist labor unions, George Soros-funded agitators, Open Borders lobbyists, Roman Catholic clergy, and teachers unions.

It's long but good, read it all.

H/T Unabashedly Unhyphenated

Technorati Tags: illegal immigration, Protests, globalists

Invasion? What Invasion?

Big H/T Unabashedly Unhyphenated

Technorati Tags: illegal immigration, Michelle Malkin, Invasion, LA protests

Picking On Immigrants?

Source: State News

Nunez warns Schwarzenegger, GOP on immigration

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and the GOP could suffer politically if they're on the wrong side of the federal debate over immigration, California Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez said Wednesday.

That bill, which Nunez called racist, has been the focus of huge protests in California and other states.

Republicans should remember Proposition 187, Nunez said the 1994 voter initiative that sought to deny services to illegal immigrants. It was overturned by courts, but Hispanic backlash against it and against then-GOP Gov. Pete Wilson for supporting it helped turn California Latinos strongly Democratic and ensure Democratic dominance in the state.

"What I see happening this time around is the sentiment against the (House) law is much deeper than the sentiment against Pete Wilson was in 1994," he said.

"I think all of this has been a wake-up call for the Republican Party, that you can't pander to the right by picking on immigrants it's not going to work anymore."

Ummm, ex-squeeze me?

This is like the protesters I've been seeing at the protests lambasting Bush for being mean to illegals. My god, the only thing left is for the president to don a frilly housedress and bake them a delicious meat loaf before declaring his undying love, sotto voice of course.

Picking on immigrants, look, I understand politics is theater, but this borders on the delusional, yes congress is considering this bill due to an enormous backlash from those who voted them into office. That is their job after all. But given their druthers they'd have you guys over for crispy cajun ribs and cervacas before they hollered chop-chop and got you to do a little landscaping on the way out.

Dude, the Republican party loves illegals! I just don't know how else to say it. Citizens of all stripes and political affiliations, not so much.

Picking on immigrants, sigh.

Technorati Tags: illegal immigration, Fabian Nunez, California, Arnold Schwarzenegger

Creative Language...

Only a writer could torture the language thusly...

"These are your neighbors and co-workers," said Ellen Stutzman, a 23-year-old researcher for the Writers Guild. "I hate it when people say they are illegal. They're just undocumented. We've made them to be the enemy, and they're not."

Actually Ellen, they are.

Poll, Poll, Everywhere A Poll

Dear Representatives in Washington,

No matter what else you do in this time, please, please, please keep explaining to us that we require amnesty. And that we're xenphobes and nativists and racists if we won't let you give your big business buddies their cheap slave labor.

Poll
Does waving the Mexican flag help or hurt the protesters' cause?
27.5%
Helps. It's a symbol of ethnic pride.
(2731 responses)
72.5%
Hurts. If they want these immigrants to be American citizens, they should be waving the American flag.
(7191 responses)
9922 total responses

Because it's so clear to me that the American people support your efforts, no really, poll? What poll?

What's Missing?

Source: sfgate

Poll: Immigrants say they're a boon to the economy

Jake: I'm sure they do!

(03-28) 15:05 PST SAN FRANCISCO -- Most legal immigrants in the United States do not resent undocumented workers and believe they help the economy by providing low-cost labor, adding a new dimension to the roaring national debate over immigration reform, a national poll released today indicates.

A majority of poll respondents said racism and misinformation are fueling anti-immigrant sentiment in the U.S. About three-quarters of Latinos, 59 percent of Asians and 49 percent of Africans and Europeans said anti-immigrant feelings are growing.

Most of those polled support offering illegal immigrants temporary work permits and then allowing them to apply for green cards if they pay a fine, learn English and wait for six years, as proposed in legislation being debated today in the Senate.

Some politicians have pitted legal permanent residents and other legal immigrants against illegal immigrants on the theory that legal immigrants would be offended if the nation's estimated 12 million illegal immigrants were granted a quick and easy path to legal status.

But pollster Sergio Bendixen, who was commissioned by New American Media, a San Francisco ethnic media coalition, to sample opinions of the country's 26 million legal immigrants, said reality is more complex.

"This poll says that point of view is incorrect," Bendixen said. Legal immigrants, he said, "have no animosity against the undocumented."

I don't know how to break this to the delicates at SFGate but I have no animosity toward illegal aliens. Which has precisely nothing to do with my feeling they should be removed from this country.

I'm going to hip you up to an important tip. Take a minute and read the article, it's missing something can you spot it. I'll wait here and hum the Jeopardy theme.

dee-dee-dee-dee-dum-dum-dum

Did you notice a link to the "alleged" survey? Why do you think they neglected that little detail?

Perhaps because if we saw the BS questions they were asking we'd know exactly how full of BS they are?

I have not spoken with a single legal immigrant who isn't spitting mad over illegal immigration, so now magically we learn they aren't ctually angry, nope, they welcome their supplanters.

Sorry, don't wash. Simple logic and self interest would indicate that legal immigrants would not be happy about the endless flow of ilegals. Nice try SFGate, but the broken educational systems in this country have not yielded true sheep yet, soon, I'm sure, but not yet.

**UPDATE***
I just stumbled across this...

Nearby sat Kenji Yoshioka, a 45-year-old Japanese computer engineer who spent 10 years and $3,000 in legal fees to get a green card to live and work in the United States. He worries that illegal immigrants are harming the efforts of people waiting to enter the country legally.

"You have a law over here that people are supposed to follow," he said. "It's unfair for me that people are being smuggled in…. There are talented people waiting for a proper visa to be approved."

Heh.

Technorati Tags: illegal immigration, bs polls, San Frncisco

Quote Of The Day

"Immigration is not a right guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution to
everyone and anyone in the world who wishes to come to the United
States. It is a privilege granted by the people of the United States to
those whom we choose to admit." --- Barbara Jordan

Blunt, But Accurate

Here

The Smackdown

Sometimes folks just get it right

They. Just. Don't. Get. It!

Source: American Street

Fanning the flames of civil war

Admittedly, young people are capable of letting their passion for justice exceed the public relations skills of professionals. And extremists advocating wacky things will always be around in any public event (Fred Phelps, anyone?)

But is it wise for the daughter of immigrants to fan the flames of racism repeatedly, in her quest to bring a civil war to the US? Her point seems to be that racists she agrees with are better than the people with opposing views that she thinks are worse racists.

In short, “Neener-neener, we’re smarter and better than these kids and extremists, because we stand for the law and proper flag protocol this week, unlike the previous weeks when we were flying George Bush on a flagpole above an upside-down US Constitution.”

It sure would be a shame to start a civil war to make a point like that. Here’s another point I’d ask folks to consider. America is an entire hemisphere. From the southern tips of Chile and Argentina to the northernmost reaches of Canada, we’re all ‘Americans’. So why do we continually refer to us - U.S. citizens - as ‘the Americans’ and call all our fellow Americans names like Chileans, Argentinans and Canadians?

Perhaps, Ms. Malkin, when we begin to address the myriad ways we divide and separate people from their neighbors and when we put the concerns of all Americans above flag protocol, we can begin to display democracy, humanity, courtesy and civility at its best. Striving to be a good model of all that would seem to make more sense and would be more moral than always trying to claim you’re superior to everyone else, and hoping to incite a race war.

We are the world. We are the doofuses. We preach no borders, so they can kill us easier!

Look, Mr. Sensitivity, we aren't "calling" them anything, they are calling themselves those names that you type in a faintly perjorative fashion. Are you really so sure they'd be tickled to be referred to as "Americans?"

How many billions of dollars do we have to pour into these sucking holes until you'll admit that the only thing that will change the endemic problems down south is their willingness to do so?

Daughter of immigrants? Which means what? Michelle malkin should come out foursquare on the side of lawlessness because she's "the daughter of immigrants?" This is possibly the dumbest thing I've ever heard. She the "daughter of LEGAL immigrants" you retard. May mean nothing to you, but to law and self respecting Americans, which you ain't (you couldn't possibly meet the IQ requirements), it means the absolute world.

As to the civil war you mention, glad you're finally dealing with reality. Yes, the danger is grave, ignoring it behind happy speak is no longer an option. It must be confronted head on and told in no uncertain terms that we will not tolerate this kind of third world lawlessness. Without that declaration what are we? Will we truly cede our right to self governance because of threats? Will you? Cuz that's what I hear a lot of people advocating. My short answer is no.

Neighbors? Yes to our misfortune these countries are our neighbors. And like the big city I live in I can guarantee you that not all neighbors are good neighbors. Mexico is the crack house on the corner, cars pull up at all hours, illicit transactions are the norm, the occasional gunfight erupts, and just like in real life the police don't do much about it. But yes, they are our neighbors.

Racism? It's no more racist to acknowledge people who disrespect this country than it is to point out the utter failure of the southern hemisphere to produce a functioning economy, despite our massive and pointless aid infusions.

Do us all a favor and grow up.

Technorati Tags: illegal immigration, The (alleged) American Street, Michelle Malkin

When Stupid People...

Comment...

tim maguire Says:

As
someone who lives in a city with at least 2 million (and probably more)
illegal immigrants, I don’t care either. There may be a cost to
landowners near the border, but once they’re here, I don’t believe
there is a cost.

And the day I’m willing to ride my bicycle
down a traffic clogged street late on a rainy Friday night in March
when it’s 35 degress just so someone doesn’t have to leave the
apartment for their General Tsao’s Chicken is the day I’ll lobby for
that guy to be thrown out of my country.

March 28th, 2006 at 4:45 pm

Technorati Tags: illegal immigration, stupid people

Where's My Sanctuary?

I live in Chicago, one of the infamous "Sanctuary Cities" that opens it arms and closes its eyes to illegal immigration.

sanc·tu·ary
a place of refuge and protection

Think about it. My city has been offered up by its government as a place for those who would come here illegally to seek refuge and protection from the law. On March 10th I stood in a crowd of 100,000+ people jamming the streets of Chicago to demand rights for those who have broken the law to come, live, and work here, listening to Mayor Daley welcome them to my city.

Here's my question: Where's my sanctuary?

I am a citizen of this country. I pay taxes. I abide by the law. I am a hard-working resident of the city of Chicago. Shouldn't my hometown be a place of refuge and protection for me?

What I get, instead, is a place where illegal aliens are given a voice they shouldn't have and special treatment they haven't even come close to earning. This country is supposed to be about equal opportunity in a lawful environment, yet my city is enthusiastically sending the message that, if you break the law to get here, we'll treat you better than our citizens!

Need a job? No problem! Need some taxpayer-funded healthcare? It's on the house! How about some education for your kids? Don't worry, we'll pick up the tab!

I was not born and raised in Chicago -- I chose to call it home. I love this city, from the sparkling lake to the blue-collar, down-to-earth feel of it. I love the magnificence of the architecture, and the endless array of neighborhoods, each one different from the next. I even love the cold and snow.

I'd love to be able to call Chicago my sanctuary city. It would be a place where I could seek refuge and protection from a world gone mad -- a world where illegal aliens march by the tens of thousands to demand the rights of citizens -- a world where the very people who have been elected to look out for me can't wait to step all over me to reach out to people who spit on the laws of this country to be here.

But, alas, there is no sanctuary for me here. I'm just a citizen.

As seen @
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Technorati Tags
Sanctuary City
Chicago
Illegal Immigration
Illegal Aliens

Afghan's Parliament Seeks De Facto Death Penalty for Rahman

This just in from the AP.

Afghanistan's parliament demanded Wednesday that the government prevent a man who faced the death penalty for abandoning Islam for Christianity from being able to flee the country.

In other words, they want to make sure he's around for this:

Muslim clerics condemned Rahman's release, saying it was a "betrayal of Islam." They threatened to incite violent protests.

I sound like a broken record, but I'm completely comfortable with that: please keep praying for Abdul Rahman.

Technorati Tags
Abdul Rahman
Islam
Christian
Afghanistan

The Free Jack Idema Blogburst

One of the problems faced by those of us who campaign for the release of illegally-imprisoned American Special Forces soldier Jack Idema and his men (Brent Bennett and journalist Ed Caraballo) is the general belief that Afghanistan is now a functioning, modern democracy. Indeed, most casual observers could be forgiven for believing that the war against the Taliban in 2001 swept clerical fascists from power completely, and that anyone falling foul of the law in Afghanistan today would be treated fairly.

This week, however, the mask of moderation finally slipped, and the world got to hear about the case of Abdul Rahman, the man sentenced to death in Afghanistan for the 'crime' of converting to Christianity.

Although it now seems as though Mr. Rahman has been spared, the fact that this only came about because of huge international pressure, and that, further, the judge who sentenced him immediately went on record as urging ordinary Afghans to 'tear Rahman to pieces' upon his release, acted as a wake up call for many of the people who'd believed the days of the Taliban were over.

Of course, for those of us who've followed the Jack Idema story for a while, Mr. Rahman's brush with death came as less of a surprise -- It was a similar, 'ex'-Taliban judge who presided over the travesty of a trial that saw Jack and his team convicted of kidnap and torture in September 2004. Back then, the bearded lunatic presiding over Jack's case, Judge Abdul Baset Bakhtyari, behaved in the following, bizarre fashion:

• Announcing to the press his intention to find Idema guilty before the trial had taken place
• Refusing to allow Jack and his team to present any evidence in their defence
• Allowing prosecution witnesses to give evidence without being sworn-in
• Failing to take note of the fact that the prosecution failed to provide any physical evidence that Jack or his team had kidnapped or tortured anyone
• Refusing to allow Jack and his team to cross-examine prosecution witnesses
• Refusing to allow Brent's court-appointed, female, lawyer into the courtroom (she informed Brent she had been threatened with death if she dared show up)
• Engaging in whispered conversations and note-passing with the prosecution team to which the defence were not a party
• Refusing to allow interpreters to translate statements made by the defence

Back in 2004, it was near-impossible for Idema to get anyone to listen to his complaints -- It's to be hoped that the Rahman case will illustrate to everyone that they were entirely justified.

So what can we do? Well, anyone reading this with their own blog can sign up for the weekly Free Jack Idema Blogburst by emailing Cao or Rottweiler Puppy for details. I'd urge everyone to do this, as we're still terribly short on takers. If you want to know more about the story, Cao's Blog has a large section devoted to Jack Idema. There's also a timeline here, and, of course, a huge amount of information is available over at SuperPatriots, without whose work none of us would have learned about Jack's story.

Finally, PLEASE NOTE: The SuperPatriots and Jack images on this site are used with WRITTEN COPYRIGHT PERMISSION and any use by any third party is subject to legal action by SuperPatriots.US

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A Beautiful Day In The...

A deadly fire overnight struck three houses a half a block down from our apartment. One man is confirmed dead and at least two people leapt from third story attics with serious burns.


These three houses were badly burned especially the middle one.


As you can see in this photo the roof is almost entirely gone.


While I was watching a hotspot flared, firemen quickly extinguished it.


As always a huzzah for the heroes of Chicago's FD!


I learned something this morning that I did not know. Were you aware that the Salvation Army sends this truck out to take care of firefighters? They provide water and hot beverages, I think that's pretty darn cool!


These are the folks manning the Salvation Army truck.

Technorati Tags: Chicago fire, deadly fire, salvation army,

Lies And The Lying Pols Who Tell Them

Source: ABCnews

John McCain is lying...

"Amnesty is forgiveness," McCain, R-Ariz., told "Good Morning America." "This is payment of a fine. This is admission of guilt. … This is earned citizenship, that's what it is."

A bipartisan group of senators voted, 12-6, to approve the sweeping legislation that would allow immigrants who were in the United States before 2004 to become citizens if they pay $2,000 in fines, pass a background check, learn English, and work for six years. New immigrants — "guest workers" — would need temporary work visas, and would also be eligible for legal permanent residency after six years.

"There are 11 million people here illegally, many of them have been here for 40 or 50 years," McCain said. "The only way you solve the problem is to punish those who have come here illegally — and it is a severe punishment — but at the same time give them an opportunity for citizenship if they fulfill very serious obligations."

"Severe Punishment?" Has he been drinking again? This is less than a legal immigrant would pay! And I have a funny feeling easier than what we put our legal immigants through!

Back me up on this Gunner.