Now, in the calm before the five-week storm which will commence when the presidential (and vice presidential) debates begin, after which we will all need to simply choose a side, pin our ears back, and charge, there is still the opportunity to engage in policy arguments here on the GOP side of the fence.
For John McCain, that means the issue which still remains a stickler for much of his constituency is live, and in the past couple days it has become very, very live. Friends, I hate to have to say this, but I think we need to kill it until after the election.
John McCain’s 800-pound gorilla is his record as a boastful supporter of amnesty for illegal aliens. He wrote the “comprehensive reform” bill which was voted down in 2006 and was a supporter of its successor in 2007.
Believe me, I hated McCain for that, and I wanted Tom Tancredo to get the Republican nomination for president. Problem is, Tancredo got 1 percent of the vote in the primaries and McCain won the nomination. McCain has said he “got the message” and will pursue border security prior to comprehensive reform.
On the other side of the fence right now, as I write, is Barack Obama, the Democrat candidate who promises amnesty without strings attached.
Who you gonna choose?
With the news that McCain seems to be courting Hispanics by possibly whispering a promise of amnesty, people are starting to get pissed, and understandably so.
Our good friend Blog Fu indicates he may choose none of the above. Mark Krikorian and Mickey Kaus profess to believe McCain would be more likely to actually get amnesty passed than would Obama.
Ann Coulter suggests the difference between McCain and Obama is “between a 10% chance and a 9.99999% chance.”
I agree with Ann.
Let’s be realistic, amigos y amigas. We are not choosing between John McCain and Tom Tancredo. We are not choosing between John McCain and Duncan Hunter. We are choosing between the guy who won a LOT more than 1 percent of the vote, and Barack Frickin’ Hussein “Weatherman” Obama. Those are the only choices. Failing to vote, or voting for some other party, are merely indirect means of making a choice between those two. Obama’s supporters are going to vote for Obama. If you don’t vote for McCain, you are helping Obama. You may be standing on principle, and that is your right, but here on planet Earth you also would be helping Obama. So you need to look in the mirror and ask yourself, “Do I want to help put Barack Obama in the White House?”
Why shouldn’t you want to put Barack Obama in the White House?
I hope you don’t really have to ask that question. I hope I can just say “Jimmy Carter” and you will snap to your senses. I sincerely hope you know enough about Barack Obama to know he brings absolutely nothing to the table but a velvety voice and an image, he is an out-and-out liar and that all his talk about being post-partisan and post-racial is a load of crap. He is as partisan and racial as they come. He has flipped on every significant policy position that he used to defeat Hillary Clinton in the primaries. More here and here.
And, when we consider the role of the president in immigration enforcement, let’s remember we are not choosing a successor to President Tancredo. We are choosing a successor to President Bush, who would have gladly signed any amnesty legislation that made it to his desk. Recall that it was the Bush administration that declared war on the Border Patrol.
Need a reminder? Take a trip down memory lane with Bush’s buddy Johnny Sutton: for instance here, on Lou Dobbs where U.S. Attorney Johnny Sutton twice uses the term “hilarious” to describe the trial of Ramos and Compean – confirming Sutton as a prep-school, lightweight twit who sent two U.S. agents to 10+ year prison terms.
THAT is the regime we are seeking to replace. To state the obvious: The bar is not very high.
If our major concern is immigration enforcement, 1) we should kick ourselves for not doing more for Tom Tancredo, and 2) we must remember that we can continue to fight to defeat attempts at amnesty and we have a successful track record. Also, 3) we will definitely have to continue that fight in Congress no matter who our next president is.
It is important to bear in mind that our next president will have the power to impact our lives and America’s future on issues other than illegal immigration. And let’s not kid ourselves: There are other issues. The war, for instance. The economy. Energy policy. Freedom of speech is a big one for me.
How about the right to bear arms? If both candidates are inclined to continue to allow the flow of illegals into our neighborhoods, which candidate is also inclined to allow us to procure guns and ammunition to blast the hell out of the bad guys when they attempt to break into our homes? Do we want another Clinton gun ban or worse?
Hear me now, fellow immigration enforcement activists: We failed pretty spectacularly by not communicating our message well enough to get either Tom Tancredo or Duncan Hunter over the 1 percent level. Over 70 percent of the American people had said they wanted an “enforcement first” solution to illegal immigration, so our effort fell short by over 69 percent in the primaries, leaving us with a worse and worser choice in November. But when other issues and policies are brought into the field of consideration, there really is no difficult choice. We all live in a world where many issues affect our lives and our children’s lives, and it makes no sense to act on a single-issue basis in a way that would facilitate the second term of Jimmy Carter. John McCain is the person we want for president.
I’m sure the illegal immigration issue will come up in the debates and the discussion will be perhaps entertaining but ultimately – as we all know – totally meaningless. Among ourselves, we know whatever these guys say will be BS. But there are other considerations, to say the least. Let’s keep our powder dry until after the election and then make the battle as heated as it’s ever been.
Tags: immigration, McCain, Obama
You are right, neither candidate can be trusted on this issue. McCain, as a Republican should care about the spirit and letter of the law, but in this instance he does not. I am holding my nose and voting for the guy. My hope is after four years Palin will run with Jindal. Hopefully thse two will respect our laws, and brders, and see how badly having between 15 and 30 million illegal aliens is hurting us.
“Do I want to help put Barack Obama in the White House?”
The 64,000 question.
Not only NO but HELL NO.
This goes well beyond immigration. Although, Electing Obama will wreck our economy forcing all migrants back to South America, not exactly the immigration plan I was looking for.
Actually I see Obama bowing to Pelosi, Feinstein and Boxer, in massive increases in H2A ag worker visas.
I am beginning to feel like a ping-pong ball, back and forth over the net: thoroughly put off by McCain’s idiotic stance on illegal immigration; horrified by the thought of Obama-cum-Alinsky in the White House; angry that McCain thinks my vote less important than pandering to the La Raza crowd; pissed off at being called a racist because I happen not to agree with the nonsense of a radical left candidate; drawn back in by a like for the spirit of Sarah Palin; angry as Hell because my hometown is being overrun and destroyed by illegals; drawn back in again by Sarah’s continued performance and display of intestinal fortitude; thoroughly angry that McCain is now engaged in an almost sub rosa pandering to the illegal crowd; absolutely certain that Obama and Company will so destroy this country’s defenses through ineptitude and ideological stupidity that my kids will face dangers hitherto unseen by any of us; wondering if there will be a country left to defend if the stupids in Washington don’t do something about that southern border; rewatching the videos of 9-11.
Damned if I do and damned if I don’t. I seem to be at a point where I have to choose my poison. Right now, it looks like I won’t make that choice until the moment I step into the voting booth: McCain or leave it blank.
I have a word of warning for John McCain: Virginia is an electoral battleground state, and you had better watch your step between now and November. I was with you in Vietnam and I know that you made our generation proud with your courage and defiance of evil. I am with you on the war against terrorism both at home and abroad and I believe that you will stand tall for all of us. Now, many of us are fighting a bitter battle just to preserve our hometowns and the peace and safety of our personal lives and those of our families. Do not leave us with our backs uncovered.
I don’t know how Jacob, G. Stone, Dans, Joe B, and others may respond to the thoughts expressed in this post, but I am really torn on this. I spent a lifetime fighting literally for this country in war and in the battle against terrorism. I came home from Vietnam in a medevac plane and was told that, when I reached a point of healing which would allow me to take leave, I should not wear my uniform in public lest I get spat upon, called names, and goaded into fist fights by my so-called fellow Americans. Just about the only ones we had to lean on were our immediate families and our fellow warriors, many of them anyway. Most of you will not remember the Vietnam War, but I can tell you that the war left a lot of deep scars. The deepest scar was a sense of betrayal, and I cannot tell you how much I relished going into that voting booth and giving it back to John Kerry after all those years of bitter remembrance. The scars did not prevent me from continuing to give everything I had to the defense of this country over the ensuing years. But now those scars are beginning to bother me a bit again, faced as I am with a choice between utter foolishness and possible betrayal by a former comrade-in-arms.
Wolverine,
I initially had some concerns on McCain and his immigration track record, and his Hispandering. On this issue, there is no difference between McCain and Omaba. McCain should know by now he’s not getting any amnesty through. Obama, being the new kid on the block is more apt to try it again imho.
From what I have seen here, when localities roll out the welcome mat for them they come. When they don’t, they don’t. If you contrast Prince William and Loudoun, it is clear that progress is possible in spite of the White House. Our problem in Loudoun is a BOS that wants illegals here to pick Loudoun produce, and to groom Loudoun horses.
An Obama presidency is not going to help us with our immigration problems here, and I am definitely not for throwing the baby out with the bath water. When you look at other issues, the difference is night and day. Obama’s proposals give me the willies. I also see an Obama presidency giving free rein to Pelosi and Reid, and a sense of validation to their terrible tenures as speaker and majority leader.
Yes, I remember Vietnam, and what transpired, and I am proud to be among those that offered a thankful “Welcome home, Soldier”.
Wolverine,
I feel your pain. Unfortunately Obama has forced me to vote. I am sickened by the thought.
Actually I see Obama bowing to Pelosi, Feinstein and Boxer, in massive increases in H2A ag worker visas.
Correct you are Dan.
Obama is bad enough but you always have to ask yourself -with whom will he or she caucus in order to move their agenda forward. Here you have a very bad collection of agendas all looking for someone to glob onto.
It looks like we will end up with two camps. The McCain camp will be looking for a reformed system, where Obama will be looking an expanded system. Obama sees increased illegal migration as a vehicle to expand his sphere of influence and power base. The entire Democrat leadership sees votes, votes equal power.
So true G, when you hear a Dem say fix, they mean “expand”.
What I see is that neither candidate is ideal. Again, I have to vote against the larger evil. (Though the more I hear of SP, the more I would rather the ticket reversed.) I will vote for Palin.
Wolverine and Brian…. Listen to Stone. He’s a wise man. Get over yourselves and your one issue. There is SO MUCH MORE AT STAKE than your petty immigration bitching.
We have to band together to get McCain into the position, where he is the more likely President to actually listen to a discussion on your views on immigration. Can you focus, please??
Sorry, Monk, I hear you loud and clear, but this old warhorse is having a very hard time doing what you ask right now. The ping-pong ball seems to be going over the net even faster than before.
This afternoon I was contemplating the terrorist attack on the U.S. Embassy in Yemen and considering our absolute need for a strong commander-in-chief, something I know more than a little bit about, having dealt for many years with these types of cutthroat killers. I saw Carter screw us on Iran and Hezbollah. I saw Clinton strip our counterterrorist services of the most effective tools in their arsenal. If G.W. Bush has a saving grace, it is that he put those tools back in the hands of some dedicated and very strong people. And I suspect strongly that Obama would be an unmitigated disaster in this regard.
But tonight, at 9:00 PM, as I sat at this machine, I heard the police sirens going off all over the place. I have since learned that, not more than a block or two from where I sit at this very moment, there was a drive-by shooting on a street corner which sent three to the hospital, one critical. That’s all I needed, considering that the Ironwood Road knife assault and attempted rape took place only a block or so in the other direction.
Please do not call it “petty immigration bitching” if you and your family are not in the actual field of fire. I don’t know if you’ve ever had some crazed bastard ramming the barrel of an automatic weapon in your ear, but I will tell you: that kind of thing focuses you on one issue real quick. The big difference for me now is that I have a wife and family in these parts and I fear not for myself but for them.
The fact of the matter is that I trust McCain on many issues, including counterterrorism. I don’t trust him a lick on the illegal immigration thing. The last time we stymied the amnesty bill, McCain wasn’t listening to us at all. It was a bunch of other guys who came to our rescue on the floor of Congress. I see on this particular issue a sort of unbending arrogance in that man and I doubt if he can be persuaded by any of us to reconsider his position…even less so when he is a position of real power.
He could have done some things in the past to soften my view of him, like pushing hard and visibly for the rapid building of the wall on our southern border, which is both an acute counterterrorist issue and an illegal immigration issue. He did not do this. Even in this matter he has yet to win my confidence. My worst fear is that he may be speaking with a forked tongue.
Nevertheless, seeing what I see in the Obama crowd, I, like Jacob, will probably wind up keeping the door open and a clothespin on my nose. Let me take that back. In this neighborhood you lock the door, pull the blinds, and hope that the cops or Neighborhood Watch are close by.
Wolverine, Yes, I heard the sirens, and saw the choppers. This was not too far from me as well.
Let me ask you something, how is your vote for president going to change what the Loudoun BOS and Sheriff’s Offices does about addressing this issue, here, and now ?
The Ironwood incident, LCSO had this guy on another beef about a year ago. Did they do an immigration check I wonder ?
Me, I used to keep my little black friend locked up when I was home. Times have changed..
Dans, the previous LCBOS voted in a fashion to go after the employers of illegal aliens. The current LCBOS voted to reverse even that limited policy by a 5-4 margin. The rationale from Supervisor McGimsey was that the issue of illegal immigration is a Federal problem. So, given the record of the Feds on this issue, where does that leave the rest of us? Between the anvil and the blacksmith’s hammer.
Given the current makeup of the LCBOS, I think they may make some effort to tinker around the edges with tall grass cutting, zoning, and the like; but on the basic issue of illegal immigration they will probably leave us high and dry for political reasons. You may have seen the report on the feeble trial attempts by zoning inspectors to ferret out overcrowding and end the transformation of Sterling Park into one large, gang-infested flophouse. What a laugher. In the old days, if these guys worked for me, I’d have fired their derrieres in a minute for incompetence. That includes Kirby Bowers. Like any captain, he should go down with his ship.
I don’t know, Dans. I’m becoming very bitter about all this. I’m just flailing around here, trying to figure out which way I should go in order to protect my own family. It’s a real quandry when you feel betrayed at every level of your own government. My family has been begging me to just up and leave this damned place. Not yet an option. I’m from another generation. The adage that “These Colors Do Not Run” still means something in this house.
The Sheriff’s silence on the rape detainee is a bit deafening. Doesn’t surprise me one bit. Once they get their hands on a guy like this, the Sheriff’s Office, like any other police agency, has to tread carefully so the defense attorneys and judges can’t pounce. I’ll just let it go at that. They’ll tell us something when they can. My principal concern now is that he may not really be the prowler everyone has been seeking but just an oversexed freelancer who messed up.
I’m not trying to sway you or Monk or Stone or anyone else on the McCain issue. Y’all will do as you see fit, and so will I eventually. I am curious, however, if anyone besides Monk feels that McCain will be open to persuasion or even listening on the illegal immigration issue once he has his hands on power. Well, miracles do happen, but don’t get your hopes up too high.
Over the years I worked with some very good men (and women) in a number of places. The first thing I told them was: “Control your borders. Without control of those borders, you don’t have jacks**t.” Now, isn’t that a crock in America 2008?!!
Wolv,
I believe with the rape case “mum’s the word” at LCSO, for no other reason that if the perp was illegal, and LCSO did not try to find this out when they had him in custody, this opens up LoCo to a massive lawsuit by the Ironwood victim. Based upon this, I believe the county will never go public with his immigration status. If this victim wants to sue the county, I’l be happy to write a check to contribute to a “Law and Order Litigation” fund.
I know the current board’s view about immigration being a federal problem. But, when they stick their heads in the sand, they fail to see one absolute truth : Our problems in Loudoun are their problems.
This is their job, this is why they were elected. This is what they don’t get. Show me the case law where immigration is only a federal problem.
I too thought about moving, but I am not going to let this chase me from my home. So I got involved. After 2 years of hard work, my neighborhood is bouncing back.
Government is failing us at all levels, but that which we feel the most is the local level, as like it or not, McCain’s statement “I am divorced from day-to-day affairs” is 100% accurate. Any Washington pol that say’s otherwise is lying through his or her teeth.
Our day to day problems, such as the impact of illegal immigration , lies at the feet of the BOS and LCSO, no one else. Supervisor McGimsey, from what I heard July 22, is a nut job, she has no clue what’s going on, she is just saying what others on the BOS want her to say. Nobody can lecture we about Simpson and what he’s not doing, I voted for the other guy.
Meant to ask, you a real Wolverine ? Me, I’m from Spartan country..
Wolv, let me add :
“leave this damned place”
Many did, this is why Ashburn grew so fast, Their crime is as bad as if not worse than ours. Your time in boots probably taught you one thing, if you run, your adversary will likely follow. Sometimes, it is best to lock-and-load, and hunker down.
Dans, since I was just a wee lad able to pick up a football, the most despised word in my personal lexicon has been “Buckeye”. Answer your question?
Sure does, me, my family is from Lansing, with kin in Saginaw and Grand Ledge.
I generally just read and don’t post – but reading Wolverine’s posts really hit me. I am a 30 something mom – so I cannont relate to his military experience. (Have a husband and sister that served in the Army though.) However – the whole ping pong analagy fits me perfectly. Would love to just run away never to deal with all this political garbage again…..but have 2 kids and want to be aware enough to help make sure there is a USA for them when they are older. Just really frustrated….
Illegal immigration will be here after the election.
Hopefully Sarah Palin will help McCain put it in retrospect of how the American people feel about illegal’s for him.
If not than all counties though out the United States need to do what Prince William County has achieved,
Cancel all support, period. Force them back to Mexico. Hire Americans once again and rebuild our nation.