5/30/2007
I will not defend this President any more. For six years conservatives have defended this President time and time again. We took the ridicule, and we took the body blows from the left, and we took the body blows from the administration. We stood back when spending went through the roof, we stood back when the Dubai Ports deal came up, we respectfully disagreed when he tried to put Harriet Miers on the Supreme Court. Now, in a speech yesterday, conservatives got screwed again.
Amnesty is forgiveness for being here without any penalties — that’s what amnesty is. I oppose it. The authors — many of the authors of this bill oppose it. This bill is not an amnesty bill. If you want to scare the American people, what you say is, the bill is an amnesty bill. It’s not an amnesty bill. That’s empty political rhetoric, trying to frighten our fellow citizens. People in Congress need the courage to go back to their districts and explain exactly what this bill is all about, in order to put comprehensive immigration reform in place.
Ha, and this is just one of the slaps that conservatives took in the speech. Well, Mr. President, we have read this bill, and it is amnesty.
I’m done defending the administration. We’ve been told for weeks that we’re xenophobes, that we’re racists, we’ve been told that we’re nativists, and now we’ve been told that we’re fearmongering. No more.
5/27/2007
Will Plame Be Charged With Perjury?
Curt at Flopping Aces has the email from Plame. It was writtwen the day before Cheney called asking about Niger. So, it looks like Plame did indeed recommend her husband for the trip to Niger without prodding from the administration. Remember, she testified under oath. So, will she now be charged with the same crime as Scooter Libby? I doubt it. Anyone who has paid close attention to the details of this idiocy knows that this was a partisan witch hunt from day one.
Here’s Byron York’s take on the email:
The memo seems to show that Mrs. Wilson did indeed suggest her husband for the Niger mission. And it sheds new light on why Mrs. Wilson was involved in the Niger uranium matter to begin with. The conventional wisdom has always been that she suggested her husband’s name in response to an inquiry from Vice President Dick Cheney about the Iraq Niger uranium story. But her memo, written on February 12, seems to show that she suggested her husband’s name before the vice president asked his question on February 13.
5/23/2007
Hugh has pointed us to a great series by Todd Bensman of the San Antonio Express News about OTM’s from countries who support terror coming across our borders. Remember, three of the Fort Dix six came across the border illegally as well.
What Do We Need To Do To Fix This Bill
So, the pundit class has had a chance to look at the bill. Now, what do we need to do to fox it? Here are my ideas:
- We need to fund and build all 800 miles of fencing passed last year.
- We need to differentiate between illegals from Mexico, Central, and South America and those from countries that support jihadis.
- We need to substantially increase interior enforcement. For instance, we should force cities and states to enforce immigration laws. No more sanctuary cities.
- We must give DHS longer than 24 hours to complete background checks. Remember, we’re dealing with people that have been trying to hide, and potentially dealing with terrorists who don’t want to be found out.
- We need to get rid of the probationary z-visa provision.
- We’ve got to require those who have been in this country illegally to pay their back taxes.
Those are my initial thoughts. I hope over the next couple of weeks to have some more ideas of how to improve this bill. I also hope to have some more information on how DHS and ICE currently handle disabled immigrants. I’ll then compare the current policy to the one in the proposed bill. Stay tuned.
5/20/2007
I Wonder How They’re Going To Do That
Hugh has done a great job of fisking the Secure Borders, Economic Opportunity and Immigration Reform Act of 2007 McCain — Kennedy amnesty bill. A far better than I could do… himself being a lawyer and all. However, he brings up one point that I feel needs to be expanded on. From his post:
…I’m back to the nagging question of how in the world anyone thinks this paper, interview and follow-up-heavy process is really going to work? It makes sense that those under 16 and those over 65 don’t have to show evidence of continuous employment (601(m)(1)(B)) and that aliens with physical or mental disability as defined by the ADA get a pass (601(m)(1)(B)(iii), but each exception or special circumstance adds an enormous burden of investigation and paperwork to the already leaning tower of bureaucratic overload… [Emphasis added]
So, here’s my question; as I am someone who is intimately familiar with the social security disability system and the requirements they have before they will approve a disability claim, how will the federal government — specifically DHS and ICE – be able to keep up with the paperwork that will be involved in qualifying these illegals  as having a mental or physical defect.
I had a fairly obvious case… 5 months in the hospital, four of that five on life support, inability to walk more than 50 feet (which has since improved some), neurological deficits in all four limbs (for example: not being able to feel anything in either my hands or feet), chronic pain – both nerve pain and muscle/skeletal, and continuing lung problems – which have put me back on the vent four more times since then — to name a few of the problems. Given all of that, and limitless evidence to back it up – including five months of extensive hospital records, it still took a full year and two visits to their doctors to have my claim approved.
So, if it took social security a full year to figure out the obvious, how are DHS and ICE going to keep up with all of this?
5/19/2007
 There is so much wrong with this immigration reform bill that I don’t even know where to start. First of all, I’m mad as hell that our own Republican Senators have ignored the will of the people to craft a “bipartisan” immigration reform bill. A bill that – in reality – does nothing more than grant amnesty to the estimated 12 million illegal immigrants here already. We learned after the 1986 amnesty bill that this sort of legislation encourages more illegal immigration, not less.
One of the many problems with this bill is that some illegals want to stay with the program we have now. Their reasons vary, but they basically come down to this; they don’t care about becoming US citizens (in some cases, they don’t even want citizenship). Here are a few quotes from a CBS article detailing the problems that illegals have with the bill.
Migrants as well as U.S. employers who need workers for low-skilled jobs had hoped Congress would streamline and vastly expand the existing guest worker program, allowing more people to cross legally, work a few months, then return home with their savings to build homes and businesses.
And probably the most offensive quote of the article:
Gilberto Escalante, a 41-year-old fisherman from Topolobampo in Sinaloa state, said the current guest worker program is better than the congressional plan because it gives Mexicans the option to freely enter and leave the U.S. while maintaining their lives in Mexico — instead of forcing them to choose between the two countries.
“We don’t want the house or the latest car in the U.S. We want to go and work so that our families can have a good life in Mexico,” said Escalante, who came to the industrial hub of Monterrey to apply for a visa to work on fish and shrimp boats off the coast of Mississippi.
I would say to Mr. Escalante that he needs to decide between Mexico and the US. He and others come here and take jobs away from Americans, use our healthcare facilities, they don’t pay taxes, and they put their children in our schools without paying into the system. Not only that, but they are breaking our laws to do it. Then they have the nerve to not want to choose between Mexico and the US? Swear allegiance to your new country, and pay your fair share or stay put in Mexico.
Miguel Garcia, 35, of Maravatio in the western Mexican state of Michoacan, said he was glad that the U.S. was giving illegal migrants a chance at fixing their status.
“They shouldn’t punish people who are just trying to get ahead,” he said.
I can’t blame anyone for wanting to get ahead in life, but the US is a soveriegn nation. We are a nation of laws, so I do blame those who want to get ahead through illegal acts.
Another problem with this bill is that they have cut down the amount of fencing that will be built. Last year — before the midterm elections — the Congress passed a law that mandated somewhere in the neighborhood of 800 miles of fencing. This new bill cuts that fencing down to 370 miles of fencing which may include some portions of fencing already built in the San Diego area. From the bill (please see the update below):
(c) OTHER HIGH TRAFFICKED AREAS.—The Secretary shall construct not less than 370 miles of triple layered fencing which may include portions already constructed in San Diego Tucson and Yuma Sectors..
Another problem with the bill is that it is likely to put even more strain on a crumbling Social Security system. The following is testimony given in front of the Judiciary commitee by Robert Rector of the Heritage Foundation.
Based on my current research, I estimate that if all the current adult illegal immigrants in the U.S. were granted amnesty the net retirement costs to government (benefits minus taxes) could be over $2.5 trillion.amnesty…
I have documented before the problems with Social Security and the reasons we need to fix it soon. Adding 2.5 trillion with a T in additional costs to an already strained system certainly isn’t going to help.
Another problem with this bill; why would illegals come foward and admit that they broke the law? I alluded to this in my first couple of paragraphs. Look at it this way; why would anyone come forward and pay $5,000 in fines and admit to breaking the law? They have everything they want right now; no taxes, healthcare on the taxpayer’s dime, free schooling for their children, and the ability to come and go as they please into and out of the country. The only likely candidates who will abide by this plan are those truly interested in becoming US citizens, and I would wager that most of them will come to this country legally.
Finally (Well, not really. There are many many other problems with this bill), we have the problem of national security. A certain percentage of these illegals are what ICE calls OTM’s. OTM’s come from countries like Iran, Iraq, and Pakistan. Certainly these are people that we need to keep an eye on. There doesn’t seem to be any provision in this bill to help find and investigate these people.
This bill — S.1348 — is a mistake. We must do everything we can to convince our representatives in Congress that we need border enforcement first, then we’ll talk about what to do with the 12 million illegals that have broken our laws, and ignored our soveriegnty. Here’s the number for the Capitol switchboard: (202)-224-3121. Please call your Congressmen and Senators on Monday and let them know what you think about amnesty for illegals.
UPDATE: I was following the wrong bill. I’m not sure where S.1348 fits into all of this, but the bill that everyone is talking about is here. As near as I can tell, the fencing provisions I spoke of earlier in this post are correct. They have shortened the fence from 800 miles down to roughly 350 miles… on a 1,900 mile border.
5/14/2007
Fellow conservative blogger Erick Erickson at Redstate has started a campaign to prune the corrupt from the Republican party, and he’s starting with Rep. Ken Calvert (R) from California. Calvert has had several allegations of wrongdoing leveled against him over the course of his carreer including soliciting a prostitute, and several shady land deals. Here’s an excerpt of Erick’s declaration of war against corruption.
When John Doolittle had to step down from the House Appropriations Committee because of a corruption investigation, the House GOP gave the nod to Calvert.
In 2005, Calvert and a partner paid $550,000 for 4.3 acres of land. Calvert then used his earmarking powers to secure $8 million in funds for an interstate exchange on the property. He then sold the property for about $1 million.Also in 2005, a business partner of Calvert’s bought additional land that Calvert’s earmarks benefited. When the property was sold, a firm financially connected to Calvert received a commission for the sale.
In 2006, Calvert engaged in other shady land deals. The list goes.
I won’t even go in to his arrest for soliciting a prostitute. (Ed.: Just google it)
This is the man House Republicans chose to replace John Doolittle. They just don’t get it. So now I declare war. Who is with me?
There is only one thing you need to do. Call John Boehner at (202) 225-4000 and tell him the House GOP will get no support until Ken Calvert is off Appropriations.
There have been a couple of commenters at Redstate that have been critical of Erick for going after “one of our own”, but we have little right to criticize Pelosi, Reid, and other corrupt politicians on the left if we’re not willing to clean our own house. So, as the title suggests, it’s time to clean house!
Hat Tip: Michelle Malkin
5/11/2007
John Edwards was recently asked by a “9/11 truther” whether or not he would be willing to look into the possibility that the US government (translated: the Bush administration) was involved in the collapse of WTC 7, and by extension, the rest of the 9/11 attacks. This video proves that John Edwards is the type of disgusting political animal that won’t even stand up for the fundamental decency of his own country.
What would I have said? I would have said “That you honestly believe that your own countrymen could plot and commit such a heinous act shows that you desperately need psychological help”. That’s what I would have said. But, then again, I’m not a craven Democrat politician looking to buy votes at any cost.
Hat Tip: Shane @ Heading Right
5/10/2007
Greensburg tornado victim Mike Swigart, and others in the town have lit into Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius for politicizing the F-5 tornado that struck the small Kansas community.
(CBS) GREENSBURG, Kan.While Democratic Gov. Kathleen Sebelius and the Bush administration jaw back-and-forth over the relief efforts for Greensburg, Kan., the town devastated by Friday night’s F-5 tornado, town residents have chimed in and say they couldn’t be any happier with the response from the government and other rescue units.
“The poor response thing is just political BS,” Greensburg resident Mike Swigart, 47, who lost his house and four vehicles from the storm, told wcbstv.com in an exclusive interview. “I saw her on television and I’m disappointed in that because she doesn’t know what she’s talking about.”
 In a related bit of news, there are rumors that Howard Dean and Dick Durbin both called the Governor the morning that she made her comments to tell her to use the tornado and the Iraq war against the President.
She said she would not have said these things “unless she had to,†and that she was told not to pass up an opportunity like this.
KS Governor Sebilius (D) said:
1. Howard Dean called me at 5AM this morning and said we needed to “use thisâ€.
2. [Senator] Dick [Durbin] called about two hours later and told me not to ask for federal help.
3. We had “too many†National Guard personnelÂ
I’ve not heard any confirmation from anyone as to whether or not it’s true.
As an aside, I have traveled through the small town of Greensburg, Ks many times. That particular highway — US 54 – was on the most direct route from the Salina, Ks area to Los Angeles. The people who make up those small towns are the salt of the earth, and I have no doubt that Greensburg will come back better and stronger than ever.
Hat Tip: Riehl World View
Why Let Facts Stand In The Way?
You all may remember the shamless politicization of the Greensburg tornado by Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius.
This morning on CNN, Gov. Kathleen Sebelius (D) said that the state is missing vital National Guard equipment because of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Usually the state has approximately 70-80 percent of its equipment at any given time, but it currently has just 40-50 percent. She added that these shortages “will just make it [recovery] that much slower.â€
Well, not so says the National Guard.
Currently, the Kansas National Guard has 88 percent of its forces available, 60 percent of its Army Guard dual-use equipment on hand, and more than 85 percent of its Air Guard equipment on hand, said Randal Noller, public affairs officer for the National Guard Bureau. Under the Emergency Management Assistance Compact, which is a national partnership agreement that allows state-to-state assistance during governor or federally declared emergencies, Kansas has more than 400,000 Guardsmen available to it, he pointed out. However, Kansas has not yet requested assistance from other states. [emphasis mine — Thinking Right]
Now, the Governor has backed off of her original statement. She claims that she didn’t mean that she had an immediate problem, but one that would manifest itself later down the road, especially if Kansas were to have another natural disaster.
The only problem Kansas has right now is a Governor who is willing to use a tragedy to score a few cheap political points.
Previous: Heck of a ride!!
5/8/2007
Fortunately, in seven years of driving truck over the road I never had this happen to me. It must have been a heck of a ride!
In another perfect example of just how clueless the MSM is, the Minneapolis Star Tribune has cancelled James Lileks’ column and has assigned him to cover local news stories. I can’t even imagine the stupidity of folding a column with the national following that Lileks has – not only at the strib, but online at Lileks.com. Talk about mismanaging your assets! I suspect a center right talent like Lileks won’t have to wait too long before he’s writing for another organization though, and it will be the Strib’s loss.
5/6/2007
Retention Problems? Apparently Not…
The anti-war left has often said that the National Guard is having trouble with retention, or having trouble filling their ranks. According to this article, that’s just not so.
ARLINGTON, Va. (4/23/2007) – The Army National Guard reached its congressionally authorized end strength of 350,000 Citizen-Soldiers on March 30, six months earlier than originally projected, Army Guard officials have reported.
“The strength of the Guard has been the amazing levels of retention among members of deployed units, surpassing all expectations,” said Lt. Col. Diana Craun, the Army Guard’s deputy chief for strength maintenance.
“Retention is highest among units that have returned from deployments, and retention is an essential element in end strength,” she added.
It is the first time that the Army Guard has been at full strength since 1999, Craun said. Officials had projected that the Army Guard would reach 350,000 troops by Sept. 30, the end of this fiscal year.
Like so many things the left claims about our fighting men and women, the facts just don’t support their claims.
Hat Tip: Chic[k] Pilot
5/1/2007
I found this in an article about verbal abuse of women in the blogosphere from the Dallas Morning News:
Arianna Huffington, whose Huffington Post site is among the most prominent of blogs founded by women, said anonymity online has allowed “a lot of those dark prejudices towards women to surface.” Her site takes a “zero tolerance” policy toward abusive and excessively foul language, and employs moderators “24/7″ to filter the comments, she said.
Ha! Remember this? Look, the right has it’s share of mean spirited commenters, but, I’ve never seen anything like the trash routinely coming from the left side of the blogosphere. I’ve had to delete comments from several liberal readers of this blog because they cannot follow a simple comment policy. I guess they only moderate abusive comments when they’re about liberal women…