Who Spiked My Immigration Kool-Aid!?!?
or-now that you're nursing your victory hangover
By haystack Posted in Immigration — Comments (18) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »
Congratulations one and all. Note, however, I do not congratulate you for killing a legislative disaster but rather for re-learning what activism and engaging your Government feels like. Y'all dun good...awesome sensation, ain't it?
There are many things that might be said about the bill, it's predecessor(s), and any and all of who said what to whom about which, and who was or was not one of these things:
racist, xenophobic, nativist, restrictionist, anti-immigrant (the people), anti-hispanic, un-American, un-Patriotic, or...too stupid to know what you were talking about and how it made you feel
We truly are, or we sure as (expletive removed in deference to the posting guidelines) better be, past all that now. So, as you purge your livers today, some with alka seltzer, others such as myself with the hair of the dog, snuggle up to yourselves and take stock of just where the (expletive removed in deference to the posting guidelines) you find yourselves on this morning after.
More below the fold...
Make no mistake, we have a series of issues with people in this country who are not compliant with existing laws. To be sure, there are many systemic reasons for this, and the very same bureaucracy continues to "enable" this problem to grow and fester through any manner of "side-laws" such as safe haven cities, in-state tuition for college, and so on ad nauseum. Interesting for us now, in light of current events however, we have had an opportunity to revisit this problem...and it was forced down our throats by the very same people that have helped make the problem the current size and scope it has become.
The Senate, for whatever reason, punched us in the face first, with no reason and in response to no real major public outcry. They just opted to take a shot across the bow...and it woke up a seriously populated bee's nest. This is a very good thing, but our political heroes need to be reminded that we had a lot of OTHER stuff we have been quite pee ohed about 'round these parts over the last couple years; living with a growing population of illegals and funding them and their children here in the States as some of THEM funded their children and families in their countries of origin has been, by and large, status quo for a very long time.
We were actually a bit more interested in issues like tax cuts, the pending collapse of the entitlement system, the deficit, the size and growth rate of Government, foreign trade, and..oh yeah...that war thing going on over in Iraq and Afghanistan and elsewhere. We were not really as worked up about this mess they made, but since THEY brought it up, we collectively figured we'd take a time-out from REAL life, and give them a go on this issue. And the results are in! They lost, and we are STILL their boss, and they STILL need to do what we pay them to do. So, what next?
We can either go back to our caves until they come along and punch us in the face again, for no particular reason other than to remind us they are still here and demanding a little attention now and again, or we can kick them again while they're still down.
We did, after all, tell them last year to address the border, and call us when they were ready for their next assignment. They put something on paper, but never issued the green paper to actually DO anything. Well, now we need to use the same level of passion and get that green paper sent south, and north, and get the border security done.
Several Pols are already getting on that bandwagon, and the wagon needs a big push. From Minority Whip Blunt:
The Senate voted today the way most Americans would’ve voted if presented with a bill that rewards people who break the law. It’s unfortunate this particular bill got as far along in the process as it did, but its defeat will give new momentum to those of us in Congress fighting to secure our borders, reestablish the rule of law, and ensure those who come into this country are identified, verified and legal.
Republicans in the House understand the security imperative behind this approach, and recognize that the demands the American people have made regarding border security are far from unreasonable. The most basic duty of a sovereign nation is to define and protect its borders. Until our country gets serious about that, our homeland will never be secure and our immigration laws will never be respected. That reality should serve as a guide as we look to address these problems in the future.
This Congress has an obligation to produce a genuine immigration policy, and once it does, the responsibility to set aside the resources necessary to enforce it. It’s my hope that work will begin anew in the House, and I look forward to helping lead that debate – as we did last Congress – as soon as it does.
It is clear we have a crisis in confidence among the American people over our commitment to secure the border. Because past promises have yet to be fulfilled, the confidence level in the Congress and in the Administration to secure the border and to pay for enforcement measures is too low for immigration reform to proceed.
We pass emergency supplementals for various things in this body. We’ve done it in response to Katrina. We’ve done it in response to Iraq. I would submit that the American people would tell you there’s no greater emergency right now than securing our border. An authorization is a promise, and an appropriation is a commitment. It is time that Congress makes a commitment and makes border security a reality.
Now, I will forgive them all for CONTINUING to ignore the ports they always beat each other up over, Republican v. Democrat in election cycles, but by God the ports are part of our security, and they need to be in a package that Congress needs to get after right now, TODAY, and fix that piece of the problem we face day in and day out.
And while the two parties step over themselves to get to the microphones first to tell we the people that "America has spoken, and the (fill in party name here) Party has heard you loud and clear...WE will fix border security first," don't buy it for a second.
MAKE them hear you by giving them all this love you've given them for the past 2 weeks. If you don't, and you let them skulk back behind the kickplate under the kitchen sink, you have no one but yourselves to blame when the light comes on again, and you discover the little cockroaches have multiplied.
Understand what we are up against. Martinez of Florida, in the closing moments of the run-up to the cloture vote said this:
"Today's laws arent good enough to enforce"
Remember that next time these guys tell you they have some bonny NEW laws, better than the old laws...because the old ones weren't good enough to enforce...so you can ask them why we should believe the NEW ones will be any MORE worth enforcing.
Get on the phone...AGAIN...this is FAR from over, unless you let the chance slip through your fingers.
The House Immigration Reform Caucus is gearing up. They met last night. Here's the membership:
Rep. Brian Bilbray (R-CA), Chair of the Imm. Reform Caucus
Rep. Steve King (R-IO), Ranking Republican on Immigration Subcommittee
Rep. John Shadegg (R-AZ)
Rep. Pete Hoekstra (R-MI)
Rep. Scott Garrett (R-NJ)
Rep. Ed Royce (R-CA)
Rep. John Culberson (R-TX)
Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA)
Now, get after it, or never complain again...
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Who Spiked My Immigration Kool-Aid!?!? 18 Comments (0 topical, 18 editorial, 0 hidden) Post a comment »
that is what we are and who we need to continue to be. I agree that this is a moment in time that if let go of will never happen again. Soldier on people and lets get those borders secured. We the people deserve no less than to know that our government, Republican or Democrat should ensure our safety by securing our borders so that we may enjoy life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
Let's kick em in the right direction now that we've kicked em off the wrong path.
I will give President Bush credit for one thing during this immigration fiasco - he stuck by his convictions. It could have been Jimmy Carter in there who would have held his finger to the wind to see which way the political wind was blowing and bent like a reed - back and forth. At least you can admire the former.
Even though it may not be as large an issue, I hope the conservatives can garner enough support to strike down the "unfairness" doctrine some Democrats are trying to push down our throat. This initiative reminds me of the small thread in a sweater that one starts pulling and the whole sweater eventually starts unraveling. The Democrats are like Chinese water torture - the drips keep coming in an attempt to wear the victim down.
While the immigration bill backers are huddling together to revive this legislation for when they feel they'll have a majority in congress and have their person in the White House, maybe the administration can start enforcing the current laws that are on the books.
Another piece of legislation they might work on is undoing liberal court opinions on the so-called "civil" rights of illegal immigrants which gives them the right to sue because our country is enforcing the law by rounding them up and deporting them.
They should remove laws that make citizens of illegal immigrant's children that are born free of charge in our over-stretched hospitals on the border.
They should work on preventing state's passing illogical laws that give in-state tuition to children of illegal immigrants and driver's licenses to the illegals themselves.
The state's keep claiming enforcement is a federal issue -- then harboring illegal immigrants and encouraging their continued breaking of the law should somehow be punished by the federal government.
Mexico's President said it was a grave mistake that the Senate didn't pass the immigration bill. I believe the grave mistake is Mexico not using some of it's oil wealth to help its own people rather then allowing only the privileged to partake of its benefits.
Mexico needs to be held accountable for their encouragement of the mass exodus of its citizens to the U.S.
...before you're comfortable granting him the franchise? 75%? 50%? Four generations of pure American ancestry?
Moe
The Fuzzy Puppy of the VRWC. I've been usurped!
Remove illegal from the front of immigrant and I believe you make a good case. It would seem to me that when one is in an illegal state, the child born to them is also in an illegal state. And, the converse is true - if they are here legally, then whatever rights are bestowed on that individual would also pass down. But just being here legally does not mean that person is a citizen. The children should maintain the same status as the parent who brought them or birthed them while in this country.
I keep asking every time I read about the rights of an illegal immigrant, I wonder what part of illegal don't they understand?
...and my franchise depends on a DNA test.
The Fuzzy Puppy of the VRWC. I've been usurped!
If so, I'm not sure I follow "descends from the male line" comment. I don't believe I mentioned male or female.
At least, under your scenario for determining pureblood Americans. Not that the idea of having to have my wife's geneology checked out for illegals in order to ensure that my son keeps his citizenship appeals, either. Or my mother's, to ensure my own.
The Fuzzy Puppy of the VRWC. I've been usurped!
that the law that make citizens of people born in the United States is the Constitution, don't you? Do you propose a Constitutional Amendment to limit citizenship? Maybe 1st generation citizens should only count as 3/5ths of a citizen.
that citizenship is not granted by the Constitution by virtue of being born here. For instance, the children of diplomats do not acquire US citizenship when born here.
"A man can never have too much red wine, too many books, or too much ammunition." -- Rudyard Kipling
Congress could pass a law tomorrow overruling the Supreme Court's various rulings on the matter (yes, Thomas, none of them directly address the issue; but it's a logical progression from existing cases), or at least change it and forbid the Supremes from getting involved further. Congress has the Constitutional authority to do either, thanks to Article III, Section II*.
What is at issue here is whether we really, really want to enshrine the idea of blood guilt in American law. Creating a precedent by which the State may 'legitimately' retroactively redefine my franchise is bad - and the fact that the 'anchor baby' enthusiasts generally don't think about the consequences of their opinions is besides the point. This is line-in-the-sand.
The Fuzzy Puppy of the VRWC. I've been usurped!
*They'd also need a 2/3rd majority to overturn the veto that would descend upon any attempt to do this, but that's another issue.
but to do so is certainly not disreptuable. For instance Germany and its law of return..
Though I know you don't like the term, I am against the "anchor baby" concept whereby citizenship is granted by virtue of the fraction of a square yard of geography you occupied when you were born. I belive citizenship is a function of blood and whether we use the status of the mother, father, or both is immaterial to me.
"A man can never have too much red wine, too many books, or too much ammunition." -- Rudyard Kipling
(1) We have a phrase about ex post facto punishments that was intended to refer only to criminal events, but has been interpreted repeatedly to mean any civil taking of property or rights is forbidden.
(2) We actually have something forbidding corruption of the blood.
(3) Are you telling me that not one of your ancestors was a legal immigrant to this country, or immigrated at a time of no immigration control?
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We are all heroes, you and Boo and I. Hamsters and rangers everywhere, rejoice!
1). Tell that to the people who are trying to strip American citizens of their franchise now.
2). Tell that to the people trying to introduce the concept to the American legal system.
3). A Great-grandfather supposedly walked in over the Canadian border without bothering to tell the English occupying authorities that he was leaving Ireland in the first place. That would make me... hmm, 1/8th illegal. I'm quite keen to find out if that's low enough for me to be able to pass.
The Fuzzy Puppy of the VRWC. I've been usurped!
I could be mistaken...
Would you please cite the part of the Constitution that bestows automatic citizenship to children born to parents who are in this country illegally?
I'd think that until their status is changed from illegal to legal, any subsequent actions they take would be illegal also by virtue of their status.
Once they rectify that status, then subsequent to that their actions will become legal.
If you're referring to judicial decisions from the past, I believe those can be overturned as other bad laws have been.
is not to do good works, serve the people, or even (God forbid) "make the world a better place," but to garner pork for locals, power and money for themselves and their families!, and credentials for their cushy, post-politician lobbying jobs. What a miserable and mediocre bunch we have elected -- because really good people, with a few notable exceptions, do not want to go into politics! It is a nest of narcissistic, megalomaniacal thieves.
We elect them but we are in their way, not to be listened to, certainly not to be obeyed, and we are here to smear, regulate and silence should we get uppity. Only if we come bearing big wads of cash are we welcome.
When it comes to pork, I suspect that is the MAIN reason our current crop is in office. And taxes are like cocaine to them. Fully addicting, and there's not enough in the world.
When it comes to laws, they are not at all interested in the ones on the books but only in NEW ones THEY write to get their names in the media on presidential candidate lists. That's why they say idiotic things like "Today's laws aren't good enough to enforce" and only new bills and laws will do. What Congress has become is a sick, twisted bastardization of what our Founders envisioned (though they undoubtedly expected and tried to plan for the worst).
My opinion and outlook could not be worse, as I gaze at the absolute wreck our pathetic Congress has become. They make used car salesmen look ethical and competent by comparison.
You may not be interested in war, but war is interested in you.
"Today's laws arent good enough to enforce"
Yeah, that sounds like the shyster Bush inflicted on the RNC.
It would be in the political class' best interests to begin securing the border and enforcing the law, but obviously they need a lot of persuasion. D.C. needs to continue to hear from us. I'm confident they will.