"Every government interference in the economy consists of giving an unearned benefit, extorted by force, to some men at the expense of others." Ayn Rand

Wednesday, June 20, 2007

A New View...House Republicans Show Us Their Own Immigration Bill

I read this at MVRWC; it's not perfect, but it seems to address some of the issues that irk us conservatives regarding the amnesty bill.

Although I like to ask people who criticize ideas or programs "How would you solve this problem?", I can honestly say that I haven't a clue. Millions and millions of illegals in this country is a huge problem in my opinion, and saying "ok, well, you guys get to stay here because we can't figure out what else to do with you" shouldn't be an option.

But, before anything else, seal the borders. "Where's the fence?", it says on the back of my truck. Richard likes to tell me that when you've dug yourself into a hole, the first thing that you must do is stop digging. By not securing our own borders of our country, we are continuing to dig ourselves deeper.

Following is from the L.A. Times <<>>:


The new bill addresses major issues in immigration but it also turns a microscope on smaller issues that particularly frustrate conservatives. It would ban the use of matricula consular cards, identification cards issued by Mexican consulates and used by immigrants to open bank accounts or buy homes. It would make three convictions for drunk driving grounds for deportation.

The bill would require the deployment of at least 18,000 more border patrol agents by Dec. 31, 2008. It would also require the full implementation of US-VISIT, a long-troubled program that is meant to track entries and exits by land, sea and air.

American citizens would be affected by many of the changes proposed for workplace enforcement, including the mandatory database checks of employee eligibility, the creation of tamper-proof birth certificates and a nationwide electronic system for tracking birth and death records.

Smith said the bill would also allow for greater information sharing among the Homeland Security Department, the Social Security Administration and the Treasury Department to identify illegal immigrants. “One of the problems we have is that databases don’t mix,” Smith said. “We have to correct that … if you’re going to have any kind of worker verification program.”

Another section would modify an existing guest worker program for agriculture alone, lowering current pay requirements and no longer obligating farmers to provide housing for foreign workers. “There’s a consensus that foreign workers are needed in the agriculture sector,” said Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.).

Workers would not be able to bring their family and would not be able to gain citizenship, and one-quarter of their wages would be held in escrow to be picked up at the border when they returned home. They could stay for up to 22 months at a time and could participate repeatedly in the program but would have to return home between work periods for a duration of one-fifth the length of their stay in the U.S.

The bill would require the detention and deportation of all gang members. Currently, gang members are not deportable unless they have committed a crime. Those from some countries can hold special immigration status, while others can stay in the U.S. as asylum seekers. The bill would close those harbors and enable tougher sanctions against gang members by adopting State Department procedures used against terrorist groups.
It beats a blank.

Tuesday, June 19, 2007

Ziggy

I sent Ziggy back today. I'm really sad about it right now, even though I know that it wasn't working out. He's a great dog, but he really needs a home without other animals.

I did give him a good cleaning and finish up getting out all of the mats that were all over him. He had some terrible ones. Becky said that I could come over anytime and see him, and I just might do that. I'll bring my scissors.

I'm sorry Zig man.

Why I'm With Fred

Read what Fred Thompson had to say about Harry Reid on 6/18; this is why I think he should be the nominee for president in 2008....


Fred Thompson on Harry Reid Posted on June 18th, 2007
By Michael in Commentaries
Excerpts from commentary aired on ABCRadio.com on June 18, 2007: First, Harry Reid voted for the war, like a majority of our legislators. America decided as a nation to free Iraq and the region from Saddam Hussein’s tyranny.

Harry Reid, though, has taken a different route. He made his statement about General Pace on a conference call with fringe elements of the blogosphere who think we’re the bad guys. This is a place where even those who think the 9/11 attacks were an inside job find a home.

And why shouldn’t they think that? Reid has led the attack on the administration, with Nancy Pelosi, charging it lied and tricked America into supporting the war. Ignoring multiple hearings and investigations into pre-war intelligence findings that have debunked this paranoid myth, they accuse an entire administration of conspiracy to trick us into a war.

I suppose that’s easier for some than admitting that they’ve flip flopped — but the fact that Reid says this sinister Republican plot is going to help him elect more Democrats ought to be raising a few flags. Saying General Pace is incompetent doesn’t even rank near the top of his bizarre statements.

The problem is that every one of Reid’s comments I’ve noted here has also been reported gleefully by Al Jazeera and other anti-American media.
I like what Fred says.