Breaking away from the pack on immigration
With all of the uproar about America's "porous borders" and the fear of terrorists entering the country as illegal aliens, the country is slowly becoming polarized on yet another issue.
Unlike most conservatives, I find myself comfortably in the middle when it comes to immigration. I've listened to Bill O'Reilly's rants and I've heard screeching voices on the airwaves hyperventilate repeatedly, "but... but... they broke the law!" Sorry, guys, I'm just not buying it. Here's why:
Everyday millions of Americans break the law. They speed on back roads and through neighborhoods. They jaywalk. They eat a grape off the produce stand without paying for it. And yet, no one is out looking for past offenders. These lawbreakers get away scot free. We don't punish a lot of prior bad acts.
The same principle applies to any punitive measure we could legislate with respect to immigrants. Yes they broke the law to enter this country. Okay, they got away with it. Let them apply for citizenship. Demand proof of employment, charge a fine, and make them register. Any undesirables - criminals and such - would be weeded out in that process. Economically it makes sense that the more people we have putting into the national coffers, the better we all are. This is increasingly true as baby boomers age and caring for them becomes more of a burden than subsequent generations can bear.
Last night, Bill o'Reilly continued his personal battle for putting troops on the border. He also declared that citizenship should be earned. I'm left wondering how Bill's ancestors earned entrance into the United States other than stepping off the boat onto Ellis Island in the right century. There is room and enough to spare for people who contribute. This nation was once welcome to all who would seek freedom and a better life - how can we turn our back on the very principal that led to the founding of Massachusetts Bay and Plymouth.
Yes, yes, I understand the "post 9-11" mentality. Registering people who pass through open doors is a whole lot easier than trying to seal up an infinite number of cracks. In fact, with people legitimately entering the country, registering, and seeking citizenship, the number of those trying to sneak in would decrease monumentally raising the odds exponentially that the border patrol could actually catch the folks we don't want here.
Think about it.
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As I have listened to the arguments about the "illegals", I have a thought, weren't the 9-11 attackers here in the states legally? Or am I mistaken? I thought that they were here and taking flying lessons and living next door. I KNOW THEY WERE. I was next door neighbors to 4 of them. Having said that, let me first say that I love the idea (and I may not know the whole of it) of allowing them to legally cross into our borders to work. (Is that what Bush is proposing?) They do take the jobs that most Americans will not and frankly think that they are too good to take. As I watched the news last night, when they said that these "day laborers" as they are called work long hours and earn about $10. per hour, I thought, wow, $10. per hour. And yet the country's minimun wage is $5.15. For $10 per hour in this part of the country, you could live comfortably. It makes me sick to think that we will complain about them taking our benefits, yet paying taxes, working hard at jobs we won't, and yet being kicked out for doing so. As this country seems to be striving to get every one working in the "white collar" world, I give them credit, for being the ones to work the loborious jobs, back-breaking, hand dirtying, long hours to bring me fruit and grains, and cotton, and for picking up the trash, and for keeping our lawns, and for building our houses. We in America would not know what to do without them. Last thing. This bothers me, why, when we complain about all of these so called jobs in America going to the immigrants, are we also shipping so many blasted jobs to India, Pakistan, etc..(have you called a customer service rep in the US lately? they aren't in the US) So grow up about it. You are complainers, and unless you are willing to do the work they are, you can't complain.
Comment by Verity— 2006/03/28 @ 12:46 PM — (Reply)
Comment by Cate— 2006/03/28 @ 01:47 PM — (Reply)
I live in a border state and we deal with this daily. I dont' buy the idea that it is jobs that Americans won't do. We're having a home building boom and they are working the skilled labor jobs. This drives the wages down. If they are jobs that Americans won't do than can someone please point me to somewhere that this is documented and validated?
The crime issue has to be resolved here also. I have been the victim of a hit and run ($500 deductible gone thank you) and you can guess by who. I got the license plate, the driver was uninsured and made his way back home where he couldn't be prosecuted. A recent triple murder was also perpertrated by an illegal who fled home before the police could nab him. Fortunately his home country sent him back to face trial. I heard recently (I will look for this info...I believe Prince William county VA and in NY) too that there are increases in the number of cases of TB and hepatitis cases that are directly correlated to illegal immigration (if they came legally they would be screened). Cate you can't equivocate jaywalking with this stuff.
Can you screen every bad guy out who legally comes to this country....it's obvious you can't. Can you screen anyone out who illegally enters this country...not a single one.
I am not against legal immigration and if required perhaps the government should up the quotas, but I am tired of the scofflaws who jump to the head of the line and then demand that they are entitled to all this stuff.
Can't we just enforce the laws we have on the books.
Comment by Elmers Brother— 2006/03/28 @ 02:20 PM — (Reply)
Comment by Cate— 2006/03/28 @ 05:59 PM — (Reply)
Comment by Cate— 2006/03/28 @ 06:01 PM — (Reply)
I think the issue IS them entering the country the entitlements are secondary...diseases and such scare me some too. Not to mention the poor person who is standing in line doing this the right way.
And it's the wages and jobs of citizens I am concerned about.
Comment by elmers brother— 2006/03/28 @ 06:10 PM — (Reply)
Cate do you know where I live that they have had to close emergency rooms EMERGENCY ROOMS because
1. they handle the sheer numbers
2. and nobody pays them to treat the illegals
Comment by elmers brother— 2006/03/28 @ 06:11 PM — (Reply)
Comment by Cate— 2006/03/28 @ 08:19 PM — (Reply)
Comment by Elmers Brother— 2006/03/28 @ 02:21 PM — (Reply)
Comment by A Conservative Realist— 2006/03/28 @ 03:51 PM — (Reply)
Seriously, this is a huge problem, with 127 illegals crossing the boarder hourly, 2,700 by the end of the day, and 1.3 million each year. All of these pay no taxes per se, and depend on our public education system for thier children and our health care, and social programs.
In California, it is a violation of civil rights to even so much as to ASK someone arrested if they are illegal or not. That's for any offense, even murder. You cannot even ask a murderer if he's a citizen, even after he's convicted!
In Mexico, their largest industry is the 25 billion per year oil exportation. The second largest: 17 billion in American dollars being sent home by illegals working here.
There's the reason Vicente Fox gets all up in arms every time we talk boarder security.
By the year 2050, Hispanics will be the national majority. The most infuriating thing about the immigration issue is that the politicians know this, and will not risk alienating the Hispanic vote. This whole bill that's being tossed around right now is nothing more than pandering to the voters now, and as soon as November is over, we'll be back to business as usual.
And this isn't even touching the risk of terrorists crossing our boarder...
Comment by Brooke— 2006/03/28 @ 05:41 PM — (Reply)
The way it is now, there are more carrots being offered for being illegal than there are for becoming a citizen. Current laws favor staying out of the system. Everyone is talking about how bad it is that these folks are jumping the border but no one is really addressing the fact that we have created an environment that encourages people to come and stay illegally. ALL of the "carrots" need to be offered only to legal citizens and we need to make it much easier for honest people to get in. As someone who has tried twice unsuccessfully to sponsor foreign nationals - I can tell you it ain't a cakewalk like some commentators are suggesting. There are reams of paperwork to fill out and there's a line so long that you'd qualify for social security long before you could ever even pay into the system.
Comment by Cate— 2006/03/28 @ 06:09 PM — (Reply)
Cate, if the law can be changed to make it easier can't it also be changed to make it more difficult? to de-incentify (sounds like a Bushism huh) coming across the border?
Comment by elmers brother— 2006/03/28 @ 06:13 PM — (Reply)
Letting people in and making it "worth their while" to become citizens - giving them a clear 5 or 10 year path to citizenship - all the while having them pay into the system to receive benefits (but withholding some "legal" benefits of citizenship - to weed out criminals - and the vote) would keep the money in our economy - there have to be some limits, obviously but I can really see this as a win-win.
Pushing our allies toward more stable democracies is also important but time consuming (as in decades).
Even this is only a short-term fix. Until the world catches up to our standard of living, people will continue scaling fences and creeping through sewage tunnels to find a better life.
This nation is a great big candy store and there are poor starving people within walking distance, can you blame them for wanting in? Our ancestors saw this land as a way out of oppression - religious, political and yes, even economic. It strikes me as unreasonable to be so blessed and then to deny others arbitrarily.
Comment by Cate— 2006/03/28 @ 06:59 PM — (Reply)
your compassion is commendable and I feel for them as well.
Comment by elmers brother— 2006/03/28 @ 07:11 PM — (Reply)
I don't want to deny them anything I just want them to do it legally
Comment by elmers brother— 2006/03/28 @ 07:12 PM — (Reply)
If we want them legal - then let's get them legal and let them join with us in making this country stronger and more prosperous. This isn't the first time we've experienced growing pains - English Americans who didn't want Italians put up legislative roadblocks to keep the country "safe" from the Southern Europeans they considered unseemly. Thankfully, an 11 year old Italian immigrant made it across the Atlantic with his family and found a life in the midwest where he fathered his son, my husband.
Let's give them good reasons to be legal and welcome them here. What better way to spread Democracy than by letting people join in the American experiment?
Comment by Cate— 2006/03/28 @ 08:17 PM — (Reply)
Comment by Cate— 2006/03/28 @ 08:18 PM — (Reply)
Comment by Elmers Brother— 2006/03/28 @ 08:35 PM — (Reply)
Our laws basically say "You must come into this country through legal channels but if you don't we'll still give you health care, free public education, we'll nationalize your children born here, etc, etc, etc"
It's a schizophrenic policy. A jekyll and hyde. There is no reason to bother with the long legal path when there are so many incentives to be illegal. You get the economic benefits of being an American and the benefits of American social programs, as well.
The laws have got to change. Period.
Comment by Cate— 2006/03/28 @ 08:47 PM — (Reply)
Comment by Elmers Brother— 2006/03/28 @ 08:54 PM — (Reply)
And I'm not saying to let them in illegally - I'm saying change the laws and allow them to participate legally. Give them the rights and RESPONSIBILITIES of legal immigrants.
For those decent, hard working people already here, I favor a sort of "year of jubilee". We offer amnesty and something like 3 months to apply for "temporary citizenship" which puts them on the 5-10 year road to becoming an American. For those who don't want citizenship, they register as guest workers and are given specific and limited time periods to stay here after which they must leave.
If we really want to punish them - make them pay taxes like to rest of us
Comment by Cate— 2006/03/28 @ 09:15 PM — (Reply)
Okay Cate after this amnesty do we enforce our laws or just keep granting amnesty?
The ICE is in charge of enforcing the immigration laws so I don't know what part DOD plays in this, but certainly they are already empowered to do this, as I said they did it to my uncle's wife.
Comment by Elmers Brother— 2006/03/28 @ 09:21 PM — (Reply)
Once we change the laws to much more effective and enforceable ones - yes we enforce them.
If we can hold employers to the standard of paying these newly registered immigrants like Americans, the market will eventually become saturated with labor and then we may have to tighten restrictions some but meanwhile we've filled the social security coffers, increased tax revenue (from people already on our soil!), erased some of the deficit ... and garnered fifty years of votes for whichever party is smart enough to jump on this. (Worked for the Dems in the 60s)
Comment by Cate— 2006/03/29 @ 04:33 AM — (Reply)
What laws for entry into this country do think are unfair?
Comment by Elmers Brother— 2006/03/29 @ 05:11 AM — (Reply)
Comment by Cate— 2006/03/29 @ 05:28 AM — (Reply)
I think the protests were proof of poor enforcement of the border.
Comment by Elmers Brother— 2006/03/29 @ 05:55 AM — (Reply)
I just don't see that as efficient, expedient, or economically sound.
Comment by Cate— 2006/03/28 @ 08:49 PM — (Reply)
Comment by Elmers Brother— 2006/03/28 @ 09:04 PM — (Reply)
Comment by Brooke— 2006/03/29 @ 06:15 PM — (Reply)
- Hillary Clinton
Comment by A Conservative Realist— 2006/03/28 @ 05:45 PM — (Reply)
The problem with enforcement is that we just can't - it requires more manpower than we have for one and another thing is the current laws make it undesirable to come forward.
For example, we are not allowed to check documentation when kids are registered in school. So illegals come here and put their kids in school. That must be changed! If we require documentation for EVERYTHING then registration becomes imperative. No benefits OF ANY KIND unless you are registered and paying into the system. None, zip, nada. There must be an incentive to be law-abiding.
Comment by Cate— 2006/03/28 @ 05:58 PM — (Reply)
Yea you go to jail or you go home.
Comment by elmers brother— 2006/03/28 @ 06:02 PM — (Reply)
We have the bureaucracy in place it just needs to happen. My uncle married a Ukranian woman and they had a child. They deported her for a technicality and she took their daughter and have spent the last 15 months in the Ukraine with the knowledge that she might not be able to come back for 10 YEARS. If they have the ability to do this they can send these illegal people back home. (BTW She will be able to return in a couple of months)
Comment by — 2006/03/28 @ 06:05 PM — (Reply)
sorry cate that last comment #12 was by me
Comment by elmers brother— 2006/03/28 @ 06:06 PM — (Reply)
There needs to be a reversal of all that legislation and those misguided policies - a hard line, no compassion for law breakers, and a more open door policy would be a huge incentive to become citizens - and that 17 million C-Mom talks about being sent to Mexico would be recirculated here in the US because Juan and Juanita would bring their family with them.
Comment by Cate— 2006/03/28 @ 06:14 PM — (Reply)
Cate, respectfully if you could see what it's like to deal with this stuff like we do every day perhaps you might feel the way I do. It's only groups like La RAZA (the race) ethnocentric group that associates illegal immigrant with hispanic. I am looking at this not as a hispanic issue, there are far more scarier people to be worried about. Our laws should not be scoffed at.
A nation without borders is not a nation -
Ronald Reagan
Comment by — 2006/03/28 @ 06:19 PM — (Reply)
sorry last comment was by me again...I need to login
As always Cate I respect your opinion and I am ruminating on the things you have said.
Comment by elmers brother— 2006/03/28 @ 06:20 PM — (Reply)
My comment about La Raza may have come across wrong sorry. I hope I have been clear.
Comment by elmers brother— 2006/03/28 @ 06:23 PM — (Reply)
I have lived and worked with many illegals - remember also that I taught ESL. I am convinced that it is the system that's broke and not necessarily the people who are the problem. Although now that they are being led and organized by the "we are victims" team, I am starting to get annoyed
Comment by Cate— 2006/03/28 @ 06:37 PM — (Reply)
Comment by A Conservative Realist— 2006/03/28 @ 07:39 PM — (Reply)
Comment by Elmers Brother— 2006/03/28 @ 09:48 PM — (Reply)
Many times as a parent I've demanded more than was fair and then I changed the rules. You betcha! I've made arbitrary and unreasonable demands of my kids on occasion and had to repent and find new ways to meet my objectives. Absolutely!
Comment by Cate— 2006/03/29 @ 04:40 AM — (Reply)
and I've said "I'm sorry" often. How else will they learn to admit their own errors if I don't set an example when I'm clearly wrong?
Something else, when I have done a bad job as the household authority and come to the kids asking forgiveness - they are appreciative and so much more compliant to the new, fairer rules. They respect that I can see their needs and their abilities and take them into account.
Comment by Cate— 2006/03/29 @ 04:46 AM — (Reply)
Comment by Elmers Brother— 2006/03/29 @ 04:57 AM — (Reply)
Comment by Cate— 2006/03/29 @ 11:04 AM — (Reply)
You open a flood gate for dialogue and important discussion. I find your other writings most creative . Blessings to you & yours.
Comment by Regas— 2006/03/29 @ 08:07 AM — (Reply)
it could be black and white for those not yet here and the distinction that you are drawing is between them and those already living here illegally? did you see the success that the minutemen had? that can be done. I propose that the border can be enforced, that harsh penalties be established for those who cross illegally (just like in any other country), then we deal with those already living here with temporary visas after they go home. You tell them that they will have X amount of time to goand apply and that if they had a job here already that they go to the head of the line for a TEMPORARY work permit. This is what my in laws mudt do in China. Every 30 days they must leave mainland China for Hong Kong to get their visa taken care of.
Comment by elmers brother — 2006/03/29 @ 04:07 PM — (Reply)
Comment by Elmers Brother— 2006/03/29 @ 04:27 PM — (Reply)
As for the case of your in-laws, we are talking about China - a country that people aren't really clamoring to enter. Are their boats from Japan or the Philipines loaded with people dying to get into Beijing. I'm only guessing here because I know absolutely nothing about China's immigration issues but I'd bet they just don't have a comparable problem. Am I wrong on this?
Also what is the motivation for 10 million unskilled laborers to walk away from the homes they rent, the jobs they'll lose and the free education their kids are getting? They've been hiding in plain sight for years - fear of punishment hasn't been an effective deterrent yet, I just can't foresee that working practically all of a sudden.
Comment by Cate— 2006/03/29 @ 04:41 PM — (Reply)
So the prerequisite for disobeying the law is everybody is doing it? I have had to explain peer pressure to my kids Cate.
What laws specifically (legal ways such as visas and resident alien status) do you think are ineffective? Is it how long it takes? Sorry that doesn't convince me that they aren't fair.
The motivation will be if you don't go back and we catch you can never come back and if we catch you again, jail buddy. It's not the fear of punishment it's the lack of enforcement, this is the crux I think. Again there is a distinction between those already here and those "clamoring" (albeit illegally) to get in.
I'll grant you that with some sort of legal way for these people to work here we might be able to better enforce our border because we can focus on others, but why should any one group (because let's face it the Mexican group) would be getting preferential treatment on all of this. Most of them would prefer to be able to come and go and when we dont' need the workers we cut the number of temp visas allowed.
You know that I respect you Cate, so please if my tone sounds harsh forgive me. Agreement may be out of our reach but at least we understand each other better.
Comment by elmers brother— 2006/03/29 @ 04:58 PM — (Reply)
I think the legality/illegality part of it is a mute point. I know that offends your sense of right and wrong - you and I are both people for whom morality is paramount. But remember (here comes the race card) there were laws on the books in the 5os that we just plain wrong. And people committed "crimes" that now we recognize as a huge step for human civil rights. I'm not saying our laws are "unfair" but ineffective.
this is the most legitimate debate I've seen on bloghi 
If they were effective we wouldn't be having this discussion. The MSM is showing clips of illegal families in this state nightly - I'm not impressed by the attempt to get our hearts bleeding but it's telling that many of these familes have been her for 20 years. A few days ago they showed a family with a 6 year old who was born here. That's screams ineffectiveness to me! Trying to enforce this is like trying to catch deadbeat dads - the country is big enough to hide in, if that's what you want to do. My ex-brother-in-law has been evading child support for almost 10 years! And he's "trackable" through his SSN. He gets caught, his wages get garnished, he moves on.
I know this is a hot button issue for you and I know you really want me to come around but I can't see the round 'em up and ship 'em home solution as even remotely doable.
BTW, it's okay for us to disagree
Comment by Cate— 2006/03/29 @ 05:14 PM — (Reply)
No Cate, I don't want either one of us to be partisan automatons so the last thing I want you to do is come around. I understand the compassion that you feel, don't think for a moment that I don't care.
But I will respectfully ask you again what laws specifically concerning coming into this country legally do you think are wrong?
This isn't a civil rights issue that's apples and oranges to me. Since when is bypassing the law a civil right?
Comment by elmers brother— 2006/03/29 @ 05:27 PM — (Reply)
Examples:
1) It's wrong to give free education without requiring citizenship or legal documentation
2) It's wrong to offer any free government aid to illegals
3) It's wrong to offer free medical care (unless perhaps it is life-threatening) to illegals
Basically, I believe it is wrong to force citizens to subsidize illegals - make them legal and make them pay for themselves.
Comment by Cate— 2006/03/29 @ 05:43 PM — (Reply)
When I taught school - we weren't even allowed to ask for documentation on illegals - It was against the law for us to even ask for it!
I say if they want to live and work here, let them become cogs in the wheel just like the rest of us - pay their way.
Comment by Cate— 2006/03/29 @ 05:46 PM — (Reply)
Here is my excuse Cate.
Why Men Don't Understand Women
Guys, if the woman in your life complains that you don't listen to her, check out this report from Netscape Men's:
When men and women speak, the human brain processes the sounds of those voices differently, Britain's Mirror and Agence France Presse report of a new study from the U.K.'s University of Sheffield. While most of us actually hear female voices more clearly, men's brains hear women's voices first as music. But it's not music. It's someone giving them a honey-do list. So the brain goes into overdrive trying to analyze what is being said.
Bottom line: Men have to work harder deciphering what women are saying because they use the auditory part of the brain that processes music, not human voices. Men's brains are not designed to listen to women's voices.
My wife often complains that I don't pay attention to her....at least I think that's what she said.
Comment by elmers brother— 2006/03/29 @ 06:14 PM — (Reply)
My husband tells me I just automatically assume people think like me - he repeatedly tells me "Honey, I failed clairvoyance in college."
Comment by Cate— 2006/03/29 @ 06:19 PM — (Reply)
my misunderstanding sorry
Comment by elmers brother— 2006/03/29 @ 05:55 PM — (Reply)
cate these are issues that concern people who are already here. What about those trying to come here legally? What is unfair about the process and the laws that they must follow?
Comment by elmers brother— 2006/03/29 @ 06:03 PM — (Reply)
As for "entrance" laws - I don't think they are "unfair" just bogged down in bureaucracy. We tried to bring a young man here from eastern Europe and it nearly took an act of God to get through hundreds (not an exaggeration) of forms. We were prepared to sponsor him, house him, everything! And were rejected twice before he gave up on us.
Comment by Cate— 2006/03/29 @ 06:15 PM — (Reply)
Comment by A Conservative Realist— 2006/03/29 @ 05:49 PM — (Reply)
but barry there is the distinction, we are talking about two different groups..those who are right now outside of this country trying to come in legally...and those who are here illegally. I grant you this may be difficult and the answers I propose may not seem realistic but what is so impossible about enforcing these laws vs others? The numbers do not mean anything to me because we have law enforcement that enforce other laws for millions of people already. In our state they are trying to give law enforcement the ability to ask people if they are here legit. If not sorry gotta go.
and those outside of the country coming in legally find the law fair and do it legally. So this again I feel comes down to enforcing the border.
Comment by elmers brother— 2006/03/29 @ 06:01 PM — (Reply)
If two Americans live in Tiawan and have a baby, is it Tiawanese? Do other countries legislate these ridiculous incentives?
Comment by Cate— 2006/03/29 @ 06:27 PM — (Reply)
But, I fear that the bottom line is, it's an election year, and all the political talk is just pandering. At 1.3 MILLION illegals per year, we simply can't afford to give them all social aid.
It needs to be leagal, plain and simple. That said, let's make it a little easier to be legal.I think Cate is right on with #20. But, as we do that , the boarder should be militarized. We should have a boarder guard, the same way we have a Coast Guard.
What a mess. Anyone else want a beer?
Hey, you know what? The IB works at the INS....THIS IS ALL HER FAULT!!!
Comment by Brooke— 2006/03/29 @ 06:25 PM — (Reply)
Comment by A Conservative Realist— 2006/03/29 @ 06:26 PM — (Reply)
To me it's the same argument gun proponents use when threatened with tighter restrictions or new laws. People who are going to disobey the law (rewritten, part deux whatever) are still gonna disobey it. But enforce the law and it will make it harder for the bad guy to get one.
Comment by elmers brother— 2006/03/29 @ 06:36 PM — (Reply)
But in a nation that forgives child molesters, and homocidal parents, it almost seems hypocritical to make illegal immigration the battleground.
Comment by Cate— 2006/03/29 @ 06:45 PM — (Reply)
Which is why I advocate enforcing the ones we have now instead of rewriting or making new laws. Some laws may have to go such as law enforcement or public schools etc not being able to ask a person's status
are you saying that it's gonna happen anyway so what's the point?
do you want to legalize drugs or rape because it's gonna happen anyway? It's not hypocritical, if we want those people to be held accountable as well. (it's obvious we can't hold some judges accountable)
I understand and appreciate your argument. Thanks Cate for the exercise. Of course I admit that I can and often am wrong about things. So not being infallible and owing to your experience I thank you.
Comment by elmers brother— 2006/03/29 @ 07:17 PM — (Reply)
And I said "almost" ... I'm not being dismissive, just devastatingly honest. There is so much to fix.
Comment by Cate— 2006/03/29 @ 07:29 PM — (Reply)
and if I misunderstood see comment #56
Comment by elmers brother— 2006/03/29 @ 07:19 PM — (Reply)
But, I've got to go exercise now - the cross trainer is waiting for me and she is a harsh taskmaster
Comment by Cate— 2006/03/29 @ 07:34 PM — (Reply)
I'm a mental midget and sometimes I do not communicate very effectively...so I will defer to you and your fine blog...mucho gracias...sayonara...kumsomneeda (sp?)..
Comment by — 2006/03/29 @ 07:59 PM — (Reply)
I was listening to FNC while I worked out and it was Bill O's show. Dick Morris came on and made some interesting points.
Basically he said the Republicans needed to use this issue to their advantage. He advocated:
1- Secure the border with the fence to satisfy the Repub. base
2- Give the fence a reasonable gate to satisfy Latinos
He also warned that Vicente Fox's party is dangerously close to losing the upcoming Mexican election to a hard core leftist - virtually a communist who has a serious anti-American agenda and is allied with Chavez. Together this guy and Chavez would hold much of the oil market captive.
He said that we need to be very Mexico-friendly to undermine the commie candidate and that if Republicans handled this correctly they'd have the Latino vote for the next several decades.
I hadn't been following the Mexican election so that whole aspect adds a fascinating twist.
Any thoughts from my fellow peanut gallery members?
Comment by Cate— 2006/03/29 @ 08:46 PM — (Reply)
I made the last comment
Comment by EB— 2006/03/29 @ 08:00 PM — (Reply)
Comment by Cate— 2006/03/29 @ 08:48 PM — (Reply)
like that's encouraging? lol
Comment by elmers brother — 2006/03/29 @ 09:57 PM — (Reply)