Only in Washington

"The U.S. Border Patrol apprehended 8 percent fewer illegal immigrants last fiscal year than the year before, reversing a two-year increase in the historically volatile benchmark, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff announced yesterday."- Washington Post

Well ,that seems like good news until you look at some of the other figures. That even though the apprehensions of illegal border crossers (other than Mexicans) had dropped 35% they still caught 108,026 people. Which makes one wonder how many they did not catch. Look here to see a perfect example of what a circus the border is.

A Roving Democrat.

The Washington Post has an article today about Karl Rove and the up coming election. There was this quote that stood out to me:

"There are two questions. Is Rove just acting cocky as a way of lifting GOP morale, or does he really believe it? And, if the latter, is he deluding himself, or does he once again know something that Democrats do not?"

I think it may be that Rove may know something the Democrats don't. While the Democrats are reading their own press releases about how they are set to win both houses of Congress on November 7th. Rove may be counting voters like me lifelong registered Democratic voters who will be voting Republican at the national level this November for the first time. It is ironic to me to be doing this. But, while I would vote against George Bush in a heartbeat I find that my current Congressman Democrat Tim Bishop on Long Island is actually agreeing with President Bush's position on illegal immigration. So I will be voting for the Republican candidate Italo Zanzi in the upcoming election. But, when I think about it beyond partisan politics I am actually voting against George Bush by voting Republican. Politics does indeed make strange bedfellows.

A BCP PBS Newshour smackdown!

I was watching the PBS Newshour on Friday and they had some people around a table to discuss the upcoming election and it's issues. Unlike most of the mainstream media even moderator Gwen Ifill had to acknowledge that Illegal Immigration was an issue that came up often.

REALLY? Imagine that! There followed a few comments on the issue that almost made me start throwing stuff at the TV. Where do they get these people.

There was Republican PAT THIELEN who works in the hotel industry (no illegals are hired in that business I'm sure) :
"In Arizona, if you have a person working for you whose Social Security number doesn't match up, you will get a letter. And you have 60 days to get that person legal. And if you can't do it in 60 days, which is almost an impossibility, then you have to let that person go, but they're completely unemployed.

Yes, they are unemployed Ms. Thielen because THEY ARE HERE ILLEGALLY! This is what is called ENFORCEMENT of our laws. GET IT! If you don't maybe people should stay at one of your hotels and skip out without paying the bill. I mean after all they just came there for a good nights sleep not to hurt anybody. You would not mind if they break the law by not paying you for the room .

Then there was EDUARDO ROMERO of the Non Profit Roundtable in Washington who said this:
"I think we heard this is an economic challenge, but it's also a moral challenge. "

You got that right Eduardo! It's an economic challenge to the middle class U.S. taxpayers who are paying the taxes for school districts and social services that must be provided to the illegals and their children. It's also a moral challenge because you need to make sure people have respect for our laws like immigration.
He goes on:
" I remember when amnesty was not a dirty word. "

Could it be that the American people have a problem that when someone enters our country illegally and violates our laws. Maybe they feel that they should not be rewarded for doing that!

Romero's arguments are so thin that he has to top it off with the "R" word and I don't mean RAZA!:

"When you say that person's illegal, we know, I would assume -- and forgive me, I don't want to assume for everybody -- we're thinking immediately of a Hispanic, of a Latino. We're not thinking about an Eastern European in Boston; we're not thinking of that Eastern European in Chicago, where there's plenty of that activity. But there's not that language being spoken that way. And so I hear that there's an economic reason to make change, but there is a moral reason. This is racism at its root, and the political language just lets it slide. "

Racism my butt! Illegal is illegal! That includes Irish as well as Mexican! What Romero completely ignores is that most of the illegal immigrants coming across our borders are Mexicans. But ANYONE who is here illegally should be deported and those who hire them should be fined also.

World Series of Death

I woke up to dreay stormy day here on Long Island. I turned on the radio to WCBS one of the all news stations here in the New York area and the top story was that some team won the World Series. Another item was about another unamed U.S. soldier who became the 97th casualty in Iraq in October. I don't follow sports or the entertainment industry and really could care less about who won the world series or which movie made number one at the box office this weekend. But, I keep thinking about that unamed soldier who died in Iraq and also thinking about Rudyard Kipling:

If any question why we died, Tell them, because our fathers lied. – Rudyard Kipling

As I don't follow sports but, I wonder what inning it is in the World Series of Death taking place in Iraq. I want it to end soon because I'm not sure anybody is ever going to win anyway.

NY Mayor Bozo Bloomberg is at it again!

When it comes to real threats to U.S. Homeland Security security two people come to mind one is the blundering President (no border security) Bush and the the other Republican clown is New York City Mayor Mike (Bozo) Bloomberg. The latest act of stupidity to be approved by Bloomberg is that of dropping the requirement that those seeking a taxi license would no longer have to prove they are in the country legally. All they would have to show is a drivers license and Social Security card (like there is no fraud with illegals using bogus cards).
New York City council member Peter Vallone Jr. calls it correctly:

"It's not only shortsighted, it's pure stupidity."

It sure is especially since there have been discussions of terrorist plots using Taxi cabs. With Bloomberg just does not get it! But, what do expect from an idiot like Bloomberg who supports amnesty for illegal immigrants even though as he says : "may very well be rewarding lawbreaking.''

How the Republican National Committee helps promote terrorism!

Somewhere in this 24 hour newscyle, internet media connected world of ours there are many voices crying out speaking truth to power including yours truly. However, there are only a few in the corporate media who dare to pull back the curtain and expose some of the ugly truths about how those in power will use fear for political gain. A recent commercial put out by the Republican National committee is one such example that like an al Qaeda terrorists tape is using the same message of fear and terrorism to scare the American public. Keith Obermann shows the commercial for what it is in this special commentary on the MSNBC show Countdown. Exposing this act of pure political terrorism promoted by the Republican National committee.

From the hola suckers file!

The Washington Post has another one of those corporate news media tear jerker articles on illegal immigrants. This one is about children who cross the U.S. border illegally trying to reach their parents many who are here illegally too. Of course they don't pay their taxes but, are perfectly willing to cough up $6.000 to pay a coyote to smuggle their children across the border once again violating U.S. immigration law.
Meanwhile if they are caught by the border patrol they are coddled by Health and Human Services in shelters as this quote shows:
"The shelter in Nixon offers classes in English, math, carpentry and computer skills. The children get round - the - clock supervision, plus counseling, medical care and recreation -- even yoga classes and outings to bowling alleys or local football game pep rallies."

So let me get this straight. While middle class U.S. families struggle with day care costs, health insurance, school taxes the children of illegal immigrants get put into shelters paid for by U.S. taxpayers where they are fed. cloth, taught, have medical care provided and even go on field trips all at taxpayers expense. Hola suckers indeed!

The middle class taxpayers are the real pawns!

Chicago Sun columinst Mark Brown has a column that is almost laughable in it's defense of a Democratic candidate Tammy Duckworth's position on illegal immigration. Here are some of the more amusing quotes:

"You'd think Duckworth was from the Planet of Goo-Goo Liberals if you didn't realize she's backing the same proposal co-sponsored by Kennedy and Sen. John McCain, the Arizona Republican who might be the GOP standard-bearer for president in two years. Or if you didn't know that the comprehensive Senate immigration package also follows the same general approach favored by one George W. Bush."

Yeah, Tammy Duckworth agrees with George Bush the President with such great ideas like invading Iraq! She also agrees with limo liberals like Ted (NIMBY) Kennedy. Not to mention John (so what if they violated the law) McCain! Duckworth's judgement should be questioned if she aligns herself with these pols on illegal immigration.

"The Senate's immigration plan, the one favored by Duckworth and McCain (and yes, Kennedy), also calls for tougher border measures, but would allow those 12 million illegal immigrants to stay in the country. "

Yes, what a position. Come in and break our immigration laws we'll let you just stick around.

"It would require them to register with the government and earn their legalized status by paying a fine, paying their taxes and learning English, among other requirements. "

Gee let's see you violated our laws did not pay taxes like the working middle class citizens do. But, you will pay a small fine (but, not back taxes and penatlies), you should learn English (in schools also subsidized by taxpayers) Sounds like a great deal but, not for U.S. taxpayers

"It would take 11 years to clear all the hurdles. "

Yep, all the while being subsidized by U.S taxpayers!

"You may consider that a form of amnesty."

Duh!

"A lot of people who have studied this issue, though, think that eventually Congress will adopt some version of the Senate approach, because it will have a much better chance to work in the long run than just cracking down."

Brown's and Duckworth's argument is lacking something major. Something that has not been done regarding the illegal immigration problem in the country. It's a word that McCain, Kennedy, Bush, Duckworth and Brown seem to have forgotten and that word is: ENFORCMENT! If the politicans and officals in Washington and columinst like Brown had understood the meaning of that word, Illegal Immigration would not be the issue in this and many other campaigns across the country.

Separation of church & state my butt!

Here's another example of the Catholic Church's hypocrisy when it comes to illegal immigration and the rule of law. They will ignore United States Immigration law when it suits them. But, when a town tries to enforce some law and order in the local community regarding illegal immigration the Catholic Church has no qualms in using the United States system of laws to fight towns trying to enforce immigration laws. As the quote below shows:

" The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of St. Louis played a critical role in forming the legal team to fight Valley Park's law. The archdiocese helped more than 20 families relocate from the city and contacted lawyers to help them, spokesman Hector Molina said."

Bailing out boy Bush

O' beautiful, for spacious skies

But now those skies are threatening

They're beating plowshares into swords

For this tired old man that we elected king

Armchair warriors often fail

And we've been poisoned by thse fairy tales

The lawyers clean up all the details

Since daddy had to lie

-Don Henley, The End of the Innocence

Well it looks like once again the Bush family is once again going to rely on close family friends to clear up the blunders of George W. Bush with the formation of the Iraq Study Group a "bipartisan" commission that is supposed to look at the U.S. options now that blundering bozo Bush has completely screwed up in Iraq. It is headed by James Baker the Texas lawyer who also led the legal effort to stop the vote counts in in the 2000 election that gave the Presidency to Bush.
Unfortunately, unlike the bailouts of George W's failed business dealings in the past. The stakes in Iraq are very high and have been for some time. Because this time the blunders of George W. Bush have resulted in the deaths of almost 3000 U.S. troops and hundreds of thousands of Iraqi's and there's no way even guys like Baker can make that fact disappear.

Earthquakes and sea states

Hearing about the earthquake in Hawaii brings back a flood of memories for me and very pleasant ones at that. Several years ago I was sailing aboard a 50 foot sailboat around the Big Island during a vacation charter. We had decided to try and sail around the Northern tip of the island to see some of the scenic side on north east side. It would require us to sail all night to reach the area. I said I would help with the sailing and actually wound up doing most of it on a beautiful windy night. We sailed very close if not over the center of yesterday's quake. But, the memory for me was being at the helm of the boat at 3 am and suddenly feeling that I was not alone. Then in a few minutes I began to hear noises coming from around the boat. It was a few scary minutes before I figured out that the sounds were the breathing of a pod of dolphins that were swimming along the sailboat. Yes, I was certainly no longer alone on that dark night.

Eat this taxpayers!

The Washington Post has an excellent article on how we taxpayers are once again getting screwed. This time it concerns excess payments to farmers at taxpayer expense.
Here are some of the "money quotes:

"The result is that farmers often get paid twice by the government for the same disaster, once in subsidized insurance and then again in disaster assistance, a legal but controversial form of double-dipping, a Washington Post investigation found. Together, the programs have cost taxpayers nearly $24 billion since 2000."

"The government pays billions to help farmers buy cheap federal insurance, billions more to private insurance companies to help run the program and billions more to cover the riskiest claims. And on top of all that, it spends billions on disaster payments."

This kind of rip off should be enough to make any U.S. taxpayer sick and not because they've eaten spinach recently!

The Elephant in the room of Homeland Security

Ever wonder how all the illegals can can cross the U.S. border and end up hanging out on the street corners in your community. Republican House candidate Raj Peter Bhakta shows how it can be done and you won't believe your eyes or maybe you will. Click here to see the video.

Biting the hand of illegal immigration.

There was an article yesterday in the Washington Post by Blaine Harden which was about that sometime next week the population of the Umited States would reach 300 million. The headline says it all:
"America's Population Set to Top 300 MillionImmigration Fuels Much of Growth"

Some of the more interesting quotes:

"Hispanics from Latin America, by far the largest share of recent immigrants, are driving the natural increase here. On average, Hispanic women have one more child than non-Hispanic white women."

Which of course means more more education costs for middle class taxpayers. Here in New York State those costs are already costing taxpayers BILLIONS as this report shows:

"Based on estimates of the illegal immigrant population in New York and documented costs of K-12 schooling, New Yorkers spend more than $4.3 billion annually on education for the children of illegal immigrants. This estimate does not include programs for limited English students, remedial educational programs or breakfast and lunch programs available to students from low-income families. An estimated 11.7 percent of the K-12 public school students in New York are children of illegal aliens. "

Also in the article there is a lot of sugar coating and some very BIG if's. Here are some examples:

"So many middle-aged baby boomers who oppose immigration may be biting the hand that could feed them," Frey said.

May be? Hardly sounds like strong evidence for looking the other way on illegal immigration as so many in Washington are doing these days.

Here is another BIG IF quote buried in back of the article:

"This assumes, though, that immigrant children, especially Hispanics and blacks, will be educated well enough in American schools to find competitive jobs in the global economy."

and then there is this little hedge quote:

Hispanic and black children are between three and four times as likely to live in poverty as whites, so their growing numbers may not translate into growing national wealth. In addition, the divide between aging baby boomers in retirement and the younger workers who are supporting them with payroll taxes will have a racial, as well as a generational, dimension.
"Unless we can reduce age, racial and ethnic disparities in poverty," Jacobsen warns, "children from minority groups may be less able and less willing, as they grow up, to support the predominantly white elderly population."

Translation: Contrary to the the BS that George Bush, Ted Kennedy, John McCain and others who wave the pro-illegal immigrant banner are putting out. It looks like a net loss for U.S. taxpayers now and in the long run.

Hello Oil Suckers!

While North Korea and the page scandal dominate the news. Along comes this little item from Alaska. "BP said most of the production in the largest oilfield in the United States, Prudhoe Bay in Alaska, "
Once again the oil company BP is having bad luck with their oil facilities. What a coincidence! This time the blame is a power outage in Alaskan Prudhoe Bay oil field that knocked down the flow of oil from 350,000 barrels to 20,000 barrels. Hmmm, looks like this will be used to justify the oil and gas increases that will probably occur after the elections. This along with the cutbacks by OPEC will be part of the November surprise. Enjoy the low gas prices while they last oil suckers!

Forget North Korea here are the real threats to America!

While people here in Washington and the media go crazy over North Korea blowing up a nuclear bomb. Flying in under the radar were two more insidious threats to America. The two attacks occurred this past week on America were hardly noticed by many people. But, they did occur and they struck at the core of America and they were done by organizations whose primary focus is not aimed at our American values but, the interests of other countries.
One attack occurred at Columbia University when Jim Gilcrist one of the founders of the minuteman project was denied the ability to give a speech by pro illegal immigrant thugs who stormed the stage and refused to let him speak. They did not attack Mr. Gilchrist they attacked the basic concept of free speech that is one of the underpinnings of our American liberties.
Another less known but, equally hideous attack occurred on October 4th where historian, Tony Judt, who directs New York University's Remarque Institute was set to give a talk. But, an hour before Judt was to arrive, the Polish Consul General Krzysztof Kasprzyk canceled the talk. He said the Anti-Defamation League and the American Jewish Committee had called and he quickly concluded Judt was too controversial. This was an attack not only on Mr. Judt's rights but, an attack on all our rights to free speech. Tony Judt comments on the cancellation should be a warning to everyone about how our basic values in the United States are under attack by these organizations:
"This is serious and frightening, and only in America -- not in Israel -- is this a problem," he said. "These are Jewish organizations that believe they should keep people who disagree with them on the Middle East away from anyone who might listen."
Both of these attacks on America and the concept of free speech occurred within the borders of the United States by organizations who are more concerned with other countries and not concerned with preserving our American rights to free speech and I think that makes these groups more dangerous to American liberties than North Korea.

Bozo Bush speaks again!

President Bush opened his mouth again on Friday on immigration here is some of the quotes from Bozo Bush:

"We must understand that you can't kick 12 million people out of your country _ that we must figure out a way to say to those that if you're lawful and if you've contributed to the United States of America, there is a way for you to eventually earn citizenship," -George W. Bush

No George you must understand that the 12 million are here illegally they are not here lawfully. They have broken the law and YOU as President have not enforced it! As far as kicking out the 12 million who have entered our country illegally. Yes you can! You do it the same way they came into the country 5, 10, 20, 30 at a time. Who says you can't do it except complete failures like yourself. Your "no can do" attitude on deporting illegal immigrant is unamericanly negative. After all which country put a man on the moon the United States or Mexico? Don't try to think to hard about that question George!

"Nobody in our land wants to grant automatic amnesty. But everybody in our land understands these people must be treated with respect and dignity," -George W. Bush

The illegals do not deserve the respect of the hard working middle class taxpayers of the United States because they have not respected our immigration laws. Just as you do not deserve the respect of the American citizens because of your FAILURE to secure our borders.

The Republican Congress crumbles again on border security

Once again the Republicans in Congress have crumbled and put our national security at risk and preformed a bait and switch on the American public. There was much made of the border fence bill passed by Congress earlier this week. But, as usual in Bushworld voters need to see what they do not what they say. Late Friday as reported in this story in the Washington Post the Republicans in Congress passed the ball to the Bush administration to let them choose how much of the border security fence should be built. Which means that we will continue to have porious borders as we have had throughout the entire Bush administration. How long before the American people get truly angry and vote against anyone Republican or Democrat who has FAILED to protect our borders and our communities from people who completly diregard our laws. As for me this registered Democrat will be doing my part this election day. I will be voting but, not for Hillary Clinton or Tim Bishop democrats both of whom I voted for in the past but, have failed to represent me and my neighbors on this important issue just as the Republican controlled congress has once again failed the country by passing this last minute piece of legislation that weakens our border security.

Republicans eating their own?.

It's amazing what little nuggets you find when relaxing on a sailboat with a two day old copy of the New York Times. There was of course them item of Republican Congressman Foley's resignation and the blowback that is coming down on House Republican speaker Dennis Hastert. I found two separate items in the paper onboard that struck my curiosity. One was about how the story of Congressman Foley broke only two days after Bob Woodwards book about the Bush Administration's bungling of the war etc... The Foley story of course overshadowed the bad news about the war and the Bush bungling in the media.
But, what really struck me as curious is that Brian Ross at ABC News who broke the story was tipped off about Foley by someone in the Republican party. It seems there are some Republicans in Washington will do anything to divert the bad news about Iraq. They were not able to divert the journalistic dogs away from the bad news in Iraq so someone in the Republican party threw the media another piece of red meat (i.e. the Foley story) and dutifully the media ran off to eat it.

Living and dying on cable news

Even as the report that 15 American soldiers have died in Iraq since Saturday are out there and the American death toll is increasing . I tune into MSNBC and the have a five minute report on who the father might be of Anna Nicole Smith's baby. It looks like there will have to be another 9/11 before the news media wakes up to what is really important.

A close call.

Last week I was driving to the Ronkonkoma railroad station to get on a Long Island Rail Road train to New York. I was stopped at a traffic light at the corner of Patchogue Holbrook road and the Long Island Expressway. My car was in the right lane (in this lane one can either go straight or make a left turn). After the light changed I began to make a left turn when I was almost broadsided by a pickup truck for a landscape company containing two Hispanic guys. I guess they could not read the sign in their lane which read "LEFT TURN ONLY".