Richard Nixon is smiling in his grave.

Thirty five years ago yesterday the Watergate burglary happened. The country was outraged that people in the Federal Government would commit such an outrage in our Democracy. Today Congress via the Patriot Act has officially sanctioned similar acts like the Watergate burglary as law. Richard Nixon must be smiling in his grave.

Wrong TIME!

In another example of faulty reporting by the mainstream media on the illegal immigration bill. TIME magazine joins the the New York Times in spreading false information on S1348. Even more egregious that this information is presented in the TIME cover story June 18th 2007 called "Immigration Why Amnesty Makes Sense". While I don't have the "time" to take apart the Nathan Thornburg article completely because I have to go to work to make money to pay taxes unlike many of the illegals. I will point out this quote: "Under the compromise, the 12 million would face a 13 year process including $5,000 in fines." This is just plan wrong! Even Senator Lindsey Graham the La Raza award winner and "Grand Bargainer" points out that illegal worker under this agreement "would pay a $1,000 fine" to obtain a "z" visa to be able to work in the U.S.(which can be renewed indefinitely). The illegal immigrant would ONLY have to pay the $4,000 in additional fines IF they want to get a "green card". But of course mainstream media keeps throwing out the $5,000 figure as fact and what all the illegals will pay under this bill. It does not matter if it's bad reporting, bad editing, or a deliberate attempt to mislead the readers. It is just plain wrong!

Why Senator Ted Kennedy makes me laugh!

Mark Krikorian has come up with a number of quotes on illegal immigration over the years from limo liberal Senator Ted Kennedy who is one of the leaders of the gang of 12 attempting to railroad S1348 the Senate Illegal Immigration Amnesty Bill through the Senate. They are amusing in a pathetic sort of way:

1965: "The bill will not flood our cities with immigrants. It will not upset the ethnic mix of our society. It will not relax the standards of admission. It will not cause American workers to lose their jobs."


1986: "This amnesty will give citizenship to only 1.1 to 1.3 million illegal aliens. We will secure the borders henceforth. We will never again bring forward another amnesty bill like this."

2007: "Now it is time for action. 2007 is the year we must fix our broken system."

Well one thing you can say about Ted Kennedy he is more articulate than George Bush, but on the other hand he is just as dumb.

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Immigration bill quote of the day.

We're against gushing borders and illegal immigration, which is at this point even souring the general mood on legal immigration, because we don't trust our bureaucrats to let in the people America needs. We don't trust our bureaucrats and leaders to care a lot about America. (We assume that when senators are together, if someone says, "But what about America?" everyone laughs, and then the top senator says, dryly, "Your concern is duly noted. Next.")

-Peggy Noonan

I think that very well describes the attitude of the "grand bargainers" of the Senate who keep pushing this immigration Amnesty bill.

Show us the fence and the enforcement not the money.

George Bush and those stupid Senators who think that a public relations campaign that says "look we are throwing money at the border to show how serious we are about border security". Like this talking point response from Florida Senator Mel Martinez:

"That $4 billion is a tremendous help," said Sen. Mel Martinez (R-Fla.), one of the bill's negotiators and the chairman of the Republican National Committee. "It gives people confidence that security really will be there."

Yeah right! Martinez and others pushing this bill seem to think the American people are stupid. It is good to see there are some in Washington who like the American people really understand what is going on. Here is the real money quote:

"Only in Washington would people believe that throwing money at the problem is going to solve it," said Rep. Brian P. Bilbray (R-Calif.), who is leading the opposition. "This is a blatant attempt by senators to extort votes so they can fast-track an amnesty plan."

The pro amnesty/cheap labor Senators and President Bush trying to railroad this this bill are on the wrong track. The American people will not be fooled by the "show them the money" trick. What those in Washington need to do is show us the enforcement and while you are at it show us the fence!

The facism of Trent Lott?

Republican Senator Trent Lott in today's Washington Post:
I'm sure senators on both sides of the aisle are being pounded by these talk-radio people who don't even know what's in the bill," Lott said. He added that the "leadership will have to be prepared to do what needs to be done."

Like what shoot them? Send them to Guantanamo? While I am no big fan of talk-radio and never listen to it. It is clear that Senators like Trent Lott are fooling themselves if they think that the outrage over the Immigration Amnesty bill is only because of talk-radio. The outrage that Trent Lott and the other Senators are hearing is the real outrage of the American people not talk radio. But, perhaps Lott like George Bush is too stupid to realize it. In which case the voters know what needs to be done!

What is this world coming too?

I need to check if Hell is freezing over when this Democrat starts agreeing with Newt Gingrich on those in Washington who try and blackmail the American people on the illegal immigration bill:

The Attempt to Blackmail the American People by Threatening to Refuse to Enforce the Law Without a New Bill Is Disgraceful: A number of powerful figures in the Bush Administration and in the Senate have been saying that if we do not agree to pass this destructive bill, they will never enforce the law. Tell your senator that this is an extraordinary effort to blackmail the American people by having officials state that they will fail to perform their sworn duty, and we won't stand for it.-Newt Gingrich

Are you listening Mr. Chertoff?

Chertoff just shut up and do your job!

Cabinet officials were not so polite. As Bush was meeting with senators, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff adamantly defended the administration's record on border security. His department is on track to hire 18,000 additional Border Patrol agents and complete 370 miles of fencing along the southern border by the end of next year, he said. He added that a series of workplace raids in recent weeks has yielded more controversy among immigrant rights groups than praise from conservative critics.- Washington Post

Well, Mr. Chertoff as a United States taxpayer let me add my appreciation for the efforts of you and the Department of Homeland Security are doing in conducting raids to remove fugitive illegal aliens as happened recently in New Haven Connecticut. Let me further add that you just shut up and DO THE JOB YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO DO which is to stop the illegals from coming into the country in the first place and not push the Bush/McCain/Kennedy/Graham amnesty plan.

Surprise!

Hugo Vinicio Hernandez knew that immigration agents could detain him at any time for having disregarded a deportation order in 2001. But the Guatemalan man didn't think he would wind up in the custody of immigration agents as a result of a routine traffic stop.

-Washington Post

That's the problem he did not think. What ever would give him the idea that he could break into the country breaking U.S. immigration laws, be found guilty, become a fugitive, continue to work for several years before being caught? Perhaps the lax enforcement polices of our Federal Government maybe?

Fool on the Hill.

For the first time in five years, President Bush will attend the Senate Republicans' weekly policy lunch today as he pushes to revive his moribund overhaul of the nation's immigration laws.-Washington Post

Today President Bush travels to Capitol Hill and attemps to spend whatever political capital he has left by attempting to push an immigration amnesty bill which the American people instinctivly know is a repeat of the failed 1986 immigration amnesty bill. That 1986 immigration bill granted a one time amnesty when there were only three million illegals in the United States. Now there are an estimated twelve million and Bush and some Senators like Ted Kennedy, John McCain, and Lindsey Graham want to give another amnesty. Doing the same thing over and expecting different results is a definition of insanity. Welcome to Bushworld!

The arrogance of President Bush

SOFIA, Bulgaria -- President Bush, turning from adulation in the Balkans to difficulties back home, said Monday his stalled immigration overhaul would be revived and his embattled attorney general would not fall under a Senate vote of no confidence.-Washington Post

"

I believe we can get it done," Bush said of the immigration bill that has run into deep trouble on Capitol Hill. "I'll see you at the bill signing."

I awoke to those words this morning on my clock radio and thought this is just the kind of arrogance that got us into the Iraq war. Mickey Kaus is right on about Bush disconnect from the American people on the issue and what needs to done.

Oil money and a way of life.

YAEDA VALLEY, Tanzania -- One of the last remaining tribes of hunter-gatherers on the planet is on the verge of vanishing into the modern world.
The transition has been long underway, but members of the dwindling Hadzabe tribe, who now number fewer than 1,500, say it is being unduly hastened by a United Arab Emirates royal family, which plans to use the tribal hunting land as a personal safari playground-Washington Post

Perhaps before the land of the Hadzabe becomes the private hunting playground for the wealthy UAE Royal family. A stipulation should be that these wealthy Arabs have to survive six months on the property using only the items the Hadzabe tribe use in their life. That means no air conditioned Hummers too!

The Politics of Life

I'm currently reading Craig Crawford's THE POLITICS OF LIFE. I read most of it on the Amtrak coming up from Washington last Tuesday. Should finish it today on the return trip. It is a quick read and and explains why even though you may be a quiet, thoughtful and rational person. There are others you will come across in work and life who seem to be off the wall and how to deal with them. Or at least understand their motives for their actions and behavior.

Sympathy for Geraldo the rule of law for the rest of us.

Geraldo Riveria like the pro amnesty crowd that tried to railroad the Senate illegal immigration amnesty bill can not argue the law on why U.S. should allow the illegals to stay after breaking our laws. So the sympathy argument is all he has left oh yes and bring up the Nazi's too. pretty pathetic even by Geraldo's standards. At least Michelle Malkin does a preemptive smack down based on law.

Fear and loathing in New Haven

Earlier this week the city of New Haven Connecticut officially started to condone law breaking by making New Haven a "Sanctuary City" for illegal immigrants and even offered them official cards so that they could use city services and conduct other business transactions. Two days later ICE officials conducted raids that resulted in the arrest of 31 illegal immigrants. New Haven's mayor DeStefano and those who support continued ignoring of U.S. Immigration laws where shocked that the ICE agents might actually enforce the laws that are written. Well, I was shocked too that Homeland Security is finally starting to enforce our laws. That is what is supposed to happen and this is the right way to do it. I agree with those who say we just can't round up twelve million illegals in this country overnight.But, these 12 million did not just come here overnight either. Many came in groups of ten, twenty etc.. or over stayed their visa's and that is how they should be arrested and deported. There are consequences for breaking our laws and the sympathy arguments by the pro illegal groups do not justify lack of respect for U.S. laws. Here is the money quote:

"There is truly no safe haven for fugitive aliens,' said Marc Raimondi, a spokesman for Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the federal agency that conducted the raid."

My sentiments exactly! There are millions of people currently outside of the country who would gladly come in LEGALLY to work and take the place of the illegals in places like New Haven if those in Washington would come up with the mechanism for them to do it. You don't have to and should not reward illegals here with amnesty. In the meantime enforce our immigration laws as ICE did in New Haven have this week. And what about those businesses that hired them? Yeah enforcment of our laws should raise the fear level of those who break them. Let's hope the Federal Government does more enforcment

I love DEM guys (and gals)

"A tenuous compromise to overhaul the nation's immigration laws collapsed last night when senators from both parties refused to cut off debate and move to a final vote, handing the unlikely alliance of Democratic leaders and President Bush a setback on a major domestic priority.
The defeat came after months of painstaking negotiations and weeks of debate as a 45 to 50 procedural vote fell well short of the 60 votes needed to break the filibuster. Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.) then pulled the bill from the floor, while holding out hope that the Senate could resurrect the measure within weeks."-Washington Post

Well, it seems democracy and the will of the people won this one against all odds and the backroom deal that bought this pig of an immigration bill out into the light where everyone could see how ugly it was. I am especially proud of the 15 Democrats [Max Baucus, Jeff Bingaman, Barbara Boxer, Robert Byrd, Kent Conrad, Byron Dorgan, Mary Landrieu, Carl Levin, Claire McCaskill, Mark Pryor, Harry Reid, Jay Rockefeller, Debbie Stabenow, Jon Tester, Jim Webb] who voted against cloture and help kill this amnesty bill before it went to a vote. They are the true Democrats unlike the limo liberals like Ted Kennedy or those pandering to get the Hispanic vote at the expense of legal immigrants and U.S. citizens. If you ever want to see how a real Democrat should approach this debate watch Byron Dorgan on the Senate floor. He still remembers what the Democratic party should stand for and what his bill was really about:

Adrienne Shelly says thank you.

It was ironic that on the day the Senate illegal immigrant Shamnesty bill went down to at least a temporary defeat an envelope arrived at my house from the Adrienne Shelly Foundation. In it was a letter thanking me for my donation to the non profit organization. It was ironic because Adrienne Shelly was murdered by an illegal immigrant just before her most recent film Waitress which she directed was about to be released. He punched her in the head knocking her out and then dragged Shelly's body back to her office and hung it from the shower rod in an attempt to make it look like a suicide. Her death like that of housewife Mary Nagle is tragic. Both of their deaths continue to haunt me because they could have been prevented had the Federal Government enforced our current immigration laws and not allowed these individuals into the country. But, what I think is more tragic is how the mainstream liberal media in particular covers up how often the bright lights of people like Adrienne Shelly are snuffed out by an illegal immigrants. Certainly not all illegals commit such heinous crimes. But, with no ties to the community and the ability to wander around the country leaving no record or trace which allows criminality of this group to grow. The immigration amnesty bill that was defeated would have encouraged others currently outside the country that they way to get into the U.S. would be to break the laws and come in illegally. Just as the two illegals who killed Mary and Adrienne and others that we often don't hear about in the mainstream media did. It is now time to start enforcing our existing laws and send a message to anyone in this country illegally that we are serious about illegal immigration and that you had better start to make plans to leave and come into the country legally because they American people have had enough! i look upon the thank you note from the Adrienne Shelly Foundation as a thank you from Adrienne herself for my efforts that people obey our laws so that maybe other woman will not meet the same fate as Adrienne and Mary at least from illegals in our communities.

Whew! America dodged another one. Cloture vote fails!

Michelle Malkin does a top notch job on reporting on the days events as the gang of 12 in the Senate to ram the Senate Illegal Immigrant Amnesty Bill through against the wishes of the American people. A small victory for the American taxpayer but, I have a sense that this is not over.

Senate Immigration Bill question of the day.

And it's a good question!

Immigration Quote of the Day

"As far as beating this bill, that's going to be up to the American people," said Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa)-Washington Post

Stupidest Immigration Quote of the day.

" Brent Wilkes, national executive director of the League of United Latin American Citizens, is concerned that if the bill does not work to stem illegal immigration and provide lawful work, opponents will have far more political ammunition for a crackdown in the future."
"They'll wait 10 to 15 years until we have another 12 million undocumented workers. Then they'll complain like heck," Wilkes said."-Washington Post

Ya think Mr. Wilkes! But, do you actually think it will take 10 to 15 years for another 12 million illegals to enter the country after the Senate gives those illegals who violated our immigration laws amnesty. The American people know as Senator Grassley said: "“If you reward illegality, you get more of it,” "

Harry Reid "undocumented" Dumbocrat

It pains me to see many of the Democrats pushing this pig of an immigration bill through the Senate. But, it really disgusts me when the Democrat Senator Harry Reid calls those who have violated U.S. Immgration laws as "undocumentated Americans" as he did recently on the Senate Floor.

Someone smack some sense into John McCain!

"Sen. John McCain of Arizona found himself isolated Tuesday night as he staunchly defended controversial immigration legislation against a barrage of criticism from his rivals for the Republican presidential nomination, who argued that the bill is deeply flawed and should not be approved by Congress".-Washington Post

It was good to see that the other Presidential candidates were smacking John McCain around on his Bush like stubbornness to push S. 1348 aka the Senate Illegal Immigrant Amnesty bill through congress. Here are some of the money quote smack downs:
From Rudy Giuliani:
"The problem with this immigration plan is it has no real unifying purpose," former New York mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani said. "It's a typical Washington mess. It's everybody compromises. . . . And when you look at these compromises, it is quite possible it will make things worse."

He has got that right! But, of course the gang of 12 which includes McCain are not thinking that far when it comes to the Senate Amnesty bill maybe this will give them something to think about:

"On average, low-skilled illegal immigrant workers claim fewer tax credits and use fewer social welfare services than their legal counterparts. But critics of the legislation predict that legalizing undocumented immigrants will lead to a rush on public services that will outweigh any increase in tax revenue from the newly legalized workers."

Meanwhile McCain came back with this stupid argument:
"McCain said that inaction represents "de facto amnesty" for the estimated 12 million illegal immigrants in the country."

Earth to McCain it is only a "defacto" amnesty if we continue to NOT enforce the current immigration laws. Does John McCain think we citizens are really that stupid. We have the illegal immigration problem we have today because politicians (like McCain) did not have the will to enforce our current laws and they expect us to believe that they will enforce the ones in the new Senate Bill.
"McCain defended the bill as the best compromise on an issue that has deeply divided the Republican Party. "It's our job to do the hard things," he said, "not the easy things."

Like enforcing current immigration laws Senator McCain?
"At one point, Rep. Tom Tancredo (Colo.) called for suspending most legal immigration, which drew rebukes from many on stage. McCain called the idea "beyond my realm of thinking" and said that the United States must remain a beacon for the rest of the world. "And the lady that holds her lamp beside the golden door is still the ideal and the dream," he added."

Once again McCain tries to use symbolism for logic. Whenever a politician like McCain tries to use the Statue of Liberty for justifying the unchecked immigration policy that he and others have allowed to get out of hand they should be reminded that right next to the Statue of Liberty is Ellis Island were almost every immigrant coming into this country had to go through to be documented before being allowed in. They should also be reminded that it was also used as a deportation center remove those who did not obey our laws.

Two wrongs don't give you rights!

The New York Times in an editorial yesterday complained about an amendment offered by Senator John Cornyn to the Senate immigration Bill. The editorial probably composed from the Hamptons summer house of some liberal editorial writer at the Times called it a "particularly noxious amendment". What is so onerous about Senator Cronyn's amendment according to the Times. That if an illegal immigrant is found to have crossed our borders illegal and then say used identity theft i.e. stolen or fake Social Security numbers they would not be allowed to get a Z visa and in fact would face deportation. What the limo liberals at the New York Times and the illegal immigrants have to understand is the two wrongs (entering the U.S. illegally and Identity Theft) do not give you rights to get a Z visa.

Dems at the Debate

I watched the Democratic debate last night on CNN and was impressed with the choice of candidates despite the "staged" appearance of the the top three Edwards, Clinton and Obama standing next to each other. I think Mike Gravel (who I never saw before ) impressed me most with his "inconvenient truth" comment on the war:"Former senator Mike Gravel (Alaska) accused Democrats of complicity in Iraq. "Sure, it's George Bush's war. But it's the Democrats' war also," he said."
If he's in the New York Primary I'm pulling his lever. As for the others they lost me on there immigration positions especially Bill Richardson.

CALL FOR SENATOR KYL

Well like President Bush the Washington Post is trying to give some cover to the Senators who are trying to push the back room illegal immigrant amnesty bill through the Senate. While it is easy for many of us to take the eye off the ball it is the future of our country we are talking about here. The Senators like Arizona Republican John Kyl think they have heard the last of the outrage from U.S. citizens about the bill:

"But with a week of action set to begin today, the legislation's champions say they believe that the voices of opposition, especially from conservatives, represent a small segment of public opinion. Sen. Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.), who led negotiations on the bill for his party, said the flood of angry calls and protests that greeted the deal two weeks ago has since receded every day."

Looks like it's time to give Senator Kyl a wake call or email:
Senator John Kyl
WASHINGTON, D.C. OFFICE
Phone: (202) 224-4521
Fax: (202) 224-2207 Fax: (520) 797-3232


Give him and your Senators a call and you might remind them that there are at least 25 REASONS NOT TO PASS THE SENATE AMNESTY BILL S1348!

U.S. Immigration laws are merely a suggestion?

Shankar Vedantam in the Washington Post has an article on why our leaders in Washington D.C. have failed us on immigration and why they will continue to fail the citizens of this country if the Senate Amnesty Bill is passed. Here are some of the money quotes:

"Husak and Solum, legal theorists and philosophers, argue that laws on immigration are part of a broad pattern. In recent decades, they say, Congress has passed innumerable laws that no one seriously expects will be enforced. Such laws largely seem to serve symbolic purposes and are often designed to placate some powerful constituency -- conservatives in the case of immigration, or the entertainment industry in the case of laws that seek to deter people from swapping copyrighted music and movies."

No one seriously expects to be enforced? I think the American people actually want our immigration laws enforced. It is Congress has yet to learn that when they make laws they actually have to enforce them. They did not do it in 1986 when there were three million illegals in the U.S. and now they want to do the same thing when there are 12 million illegals. "Stupid is as stupid does" as Forrest Gump would say.

"When we set up laws that are intended to express symbolic disapproval, but that we are not willing to enforce, we send a message that we are not expecting people to obey the law," Solum said. "The immigration laws are a perfect example of that."

And if the Senate Amnesty Bill passes the stupid Senators who vote for this bill will be sending that message to the world once again!

JFK bomb plot: The good news and the bad news.

"Authorities said Saturday that they had broken up an alleged terrorist plot to bomb aviation fuel tanks and pipelines at John F. Kennedy International Airport, arresting a former airport worker and two other men with links to Islamic extremists in South America and the Caribbean".-Washington Post

Well that's the good news.

"The plot did not get beyond the planning stages and had no apparent direct links to al-Qaeda or other Middle Eastern terrorist groups, according to officials and documents released Saturday."

That's the bad news because it appears we have more people that want to harm the U.S. than we thought. It would be curious to see how these guys got into the U.S. and it looks like only one of them was a "legal" U.S. resident. The other bad news is these guys were not only insiode the country but, working at the airport but, President Bush would say "they were doing the job that Americans don't want to do".

Al Gore "of course"

My girlfriend attended Al Gore's lecture and book signing in Washington D.C. this past week. As she went up to the table for him to sign her book. She thanked him for all the hard work he has done on environmental issues. To which he replied "Of course" We are still trying to figure that answer out.

Illegal police officers? What's next?

Michelle Malkin has a bizzare story of an illegal alien:
A Milwaukee police officer was arrested Wednesday by federal immigration agents on suspicion of being an illegal immigrant who assumed the identity of his dead cousin a decade ago, officials said.
The officer, who has lived and worked under the name Jose A. Morales since he was a teenager, was arrested by agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, police spokeswoman Anne E. Schwartz confirmed Wednesday.

But as Michelle reminds us we don't need to be concerned:
"Oh, but have no fear. The background checks for the massive illegal alien shamnesty will be so much better at detecting fraud and weeding out the bad guys. Really, just trust Bush/McCain/Kennedy/Chertoff/Graham. Because, you know, they know so much more about "reality" than we do."