John McCain is facing re-election in Arizona and has stepped back from his wildly unpopular stance on being the front man for amnesty for illegal aliens. Therefore he has temporarily passed the torch on to SC Senator Lindsey Graham for the time being in order to avoid the issue. That's how it's panning out on the Right Side of the aisle in the Senate.
On the Left Side of the aisle, the amnesty torch that Ted Kennedy left upon his death has been picked up by NY Senator Chuck Schumer.
Thus we have gone from the McKennedy amnesty bill to the Scrahmnesty amnesty bill for illegal aliens.
Graham and Schumer have been putting their time over the last 6 months into trying to figure out how to fool the American people into thinking that amnesty for the 20-30 million illegal aliens (and then an influx of 50 million once their families are brought here) will somehow be to their benefit and not have any impact on their daily lives, taxes, services, congestion or jobs. Another thing they have been trying to figure out is how to fool the American people into thinking that after this amnesty the immigration laws will actually be enforced - something the American people were lied to about in 1986 when the first "one time amnesty" occurred.
Fool me once shame on me, fool me twice...
Any citizen in this country who actually believes that the immigration laws will actually be enforced if another amnesty for illegal aliens is passed is a complete and utter fool. I don't say that lightly either. I generally believe that most people are intelligent enough to figure things out, but with the continued reoccurring of amnesty legislation - and without massive public outcry at the current immigration laws not being enforced - it makes me wonder. Sure, poll after poll finds that more than 80% of Americans oppose an amnesty, but you sure wouldn't know that by looking at the streets. A lot of talk and no action.
Will this time be different though? Will people actually get out there and speak out before it comes down to having to shut the Capitol switchboards down as we did in June 2007? Can we shut down amnesty before it even reaches the floor? I sure hope so.
Graham is going around shooting his mouth off recently telling Politico that Obama needs to "step it up" on a push for amnesty for illegal aliens. Graham and Schumer are going to meet with President Obama on Thursday to put forth their plans, tactics and proposals for another amnesty. Illegal aliens and their supporters are also planning a march in Washington on March 21, 2010 to push for amnesty.
I hope that you will join with other Americans in the coming days to shut down this ridiculousness before it even gets started.
“At the end of the day, the president needs to step it up a little bit,” Graham told POLITICO on Tuesday. “One line in the State of the Union is not going to do it.”
For the past six months, Graham and Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) - who meet with Obama at 3 p.m. Thursday - have worked on a reform framework. Their plan, which hasn’t been introduced yet, includes a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants
Under the Constitution the only thing the government has a right to do under a census is get enumeration, or in simpler words a headcount. Anything beyond this is not in the Constitution. I will note that I am not a lawyer, but it is quite clear that government officials and law enforcement should not have the right to ask you for further information unless they have reason to believe you have committed a crime. In which case you should also have the right to remain silent under your 5th amendment rights as a US Citizen.
Call me suspicious of government when it comes to them asking how much you make, where you get it, how much you pay for insurance, what your race is and doing it all with a GPS device in hand to note your location, but I can see no good that could come from providing such information to them. On the issue of race I am joining others in checking the box "Other" and entering "American" as my write in and I urge you to join me.
According to the laws in this land race is not supposed to be considered in any manner. There are supposed to be equal rights for all and the noting of peoples race can only be used for harm. If it is used to increase funding to some sort of minority or majority cause then that is discriminatory against all others. There is no need for the government to request, nor use this information in any way.
All of the information they are asking for is no doubt going to be used in some sort of way - and as with all government programs will be to waste tons more money on ridiculousness or for nefarious reasons - most of those being to infringe on your rights further somehow.
Jerry Day points out some things to watch out for when the census comes to your door.
Hundreds showed up early this morning at Arcadia University in Glenside, PA outside of Philadelphia to protest the appearance of President Obama who was coming to push his health care agenda in a speech. People streamed in on this chilly morning in advance of a 9AM press conference held by the organizer of the event, Independence Hall Tea Party, who put it together on the spur of the moment 3 days ago on March 5. Several speeches were given with an enthusiastic crowd cheering and jeering. The speakers included congressional candidate Mike Fitzpatrick, Steve Lonegan and radio host Dom Giordano (and a few I couldn't identify off hand). Estimates of the crowd size, about 250-300, but there was no official count. Police presence was heavy.
After the speeches - and some spontaneous chants - the crowd pushed towards the parking entrance where Obama would be arriving in his motorcade and lined the streets.
Singing broke out as these American Citizens waited to make their opinion known to their president. Tunes ranged from The Star Spangled Banner to God Bless America.
There were a few Obama supporters in the crowd walking around. They seemed to want to provoke those at the rally into some sort of action, but they were for the most part ignored. Several shouted "Tea Baggers" and other derogatory things and flipped the bird as they walked by the crowd.
I was carrying a sign which read "Illegal Aliens Cost You $330 Billion Per Year" and had two students come up with a video camera and start asking me questions. They were obviously Obama supporters, but when it comes to immigration enforcement it doesn't seem to matter because more than 80% of Americans are opposed to illegal immigration and want the laws enforced. I received several comments from attendees on my sign and noted to them that an amnesty bill is just around the corner and being put together while everyone is focusing on health care.
Several news crews were in attendance and taking interviews with the folks in attendance. Concerns were mainly focused on health care at this event, but there were other issues expressed including overspending, big government and infringement on rights.
It was a very civil event with no incidents. The group was very vocal though when it came time for Obama to arrive. Boos and shouts of "Kill the Bill" erupted when his motorcade appeared. The police kept the crowd pretty far away from his motorcade. Just another sign that he doesn't want to listen to anyone who has differing views. Those in attendance at his speech had to pay money and get lucky enough to be allowed inside. All those attending are supporters of his, just like at every other speech he has ever given. I surely wouldn't spend one dime to listen to him.
This rally was a huge success for that many people to show up on an early morning working day on 3 days notice. The weather turned from chilly to a beautiful day. It's always good to get together with fellow patriots, if you haven't been to a rally yet you don't know what you're missing.
Brian David Mitchell, the sicko who called himself a prophet named Emmanuel, was found to be competent to stand trial March 1, 2010 after being found incompetent to stand trial on two prior occasions. Mitchell is accused of kidnapping 14-year-old Elizabeth Smart in 2002 from her home at knife-point, holding her captive for 9 months, and as Smart testified in October 2009, raping her daily. Mitchell's wife, Wanda Eileen Barzee, was in on the whole scheme.
Smart is pictured to the right in October 2009 after testifying in US District court that Mitchell was "evil, wicked, manipulative, stinky, slimy, selfish, not spiritual, not religious, not close to God." and that he used religion to get to what he truly wanted, sex. Smart also testified that Mitchell attached a 10 foot cable to her ankle and than attached that to another cable that was between two trees. "He said that he would kill anybody that would come into the camp, or kill me if I ever tried to escape or yell out."
Little known is the fact that the couple also attempted to abduct Smart's cousin one month after they took her.
Barzee has struck plea agreements with the state to testify against her husband. The state has agreed to drop state charges in the abduction of Smart for Barzee's guilty plea of conspiracy to commit aggravated kidnapping in the abduction attempt on Smart's cousin.
It is a damn shame that it has taken this long to finally prosecute this dirtbag. Even if convicted he will still be a burden on society as he sits in a taxpayer funded cell raping the American People's wallets.
Carlie Christensen, acting U.S. attorney for Utah, released a statement saying she was pleased with U.S. District Judge Dale Kimball's ruling [of competency] , calling it "a significant step toward holding the defendant accountable for his conduct."
...
In November, Barzee, now 64, pleaded guilty in federal court to kidnapping and unlawful transportation of a minor in connection with Smart's abduction. As part of her plea deal with prosecutors, she entered a guilty plea to a lesser charge and agreed to cooperate in the state and federal cases against her husband.
Smart, now 21, testified at a competency hearing for Mitchell in October, saying she had been held captive in Utah and California after her abduction. Just after she was kidnapped, she testified, Mitchell took her to a wooded area behind her home and performed a mock marriage ceremony with her, then raped her. She said that during the nine months of her captivity, no 24-hour period passed without her being raped by Mitchell.
No one should be surprised that politicians lie and, depending on the circumstances, twist things to their own advantage, but the video below of Obama, Hillary, Dodd, Reid, Biden and others decrying the use of the "Nuclear Option" or reconciliation as arrogant and against the Founder's beliefs is quite sickening. These same people are now planning on using a tactic they claimed was aberrant and against their beliefs. They say it with such passion that you'd think they actually believed what they were saying. They are now talking about using the "Nuclear Option" to pass all kinds of legislation, most notably so called "Health Care Reform".
E-Verify makes sure that a worker an employer is hiring is legal to work in this country. It is a free service set up by the federal government and is more than 94% effective. This not only stops illegal aliens from getting jobs, but those who come here legally on other visas and try to obtain employment (which means that they were fraudulent in their claims of coming here on a student or tourist visa and want to set down roots). You've heard all the arguments against E-Verify, here are a few...
"Jobs Americans won't do"
"We need low wage workers, even illegals, because we need to remain competitive and keep costs down"
and my favorite
"You just want to stop brown people from working you racist!"
But those are all "strawman arguments" meant to condone the continuation of illegally employing workers. It is the only thing those opposed to E-Verify can come up with - and it is weak. Many industries in this country have simply been decimated by the influx of low-wage, mostly illegal, workers - construction being one of those. The wages have dropped significantly to the point where citizens and legal residents in this country have had their futures destroyed because of the push down in their wages. In essence, they have had their livelihoods directly affected by illegal aliens. No one said life was fair, but in America we strive to keep things on an even playing field, that is why we have laws in the first place.
But the crux of it boils down to this...
E-Verify is not mandatory because unscrupulous businesses lobby to have it remain so. It's to allow these businesses to continue to use unfair competitive business practices against those trying to do things the proper and legal way in this country.
You're not going to hire legal workers and go through all the overhead in setting up a legitimate drywall company when 9 other businesses are ignoring the laws and undercutting you because they employ illegal workers and avoid all the hassles of taxes, insurance, safe workplace enforcement and vacation time. It is a virus on business in this country. A "break the laws" and "win at all costs" mentality that is at the heart of the destruction of our country at all levels. It just shows itself openly when it comes to the workplace and illegal employment.
Anyone who advocates for the continued illegal abuses going on is quite repulsive and anti-business in my book. Those advocating for it are advocating for modern day slavery and screwing their fellow citizens in the process. This country used to have a view that we're all in it together, that we should help each other, a rising tide lifts all boats. But as long as these miscreants, thugs and mafioso are allowed to continue to get away with breaking the law we all as a nation suffer.
John Hawkins broaches illegal immigration in his latest post over at Townhall.com. In the article he addresses 5 reasons that illegal aliens should not be given citizenship. I can think of many more reasons, can you?
Here are the 5 John has come up with. You can read his reasoning at the article.
encourages more illegal immigration
take jobs from Americans
importing poverty
rewards bad behavior
demeans our country
Can you think of more reasons? I can. Post your reasons in the comments below.
Those in favor of illegal immigration often point to the words on the Statue of Liberty as proof that illegal aliens should be allowed to stream across our borders and remain here unhindered. They quote just a portion of the poem written by Emma Lazarus over 120 years ago called The New Colossus. These are the words they point out:
"Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"
Emma Lazarus
As with anything though, they are taking one portion of something out of context to fit their agenda. Below is the whole poem which Glenn Beck portrays in the video below. Its context was not to state that the United States of America was some sort of socialist utopia who would take in the infirm and provide everything for them, but that Lady Liberty would hold forth her torch by the Golden Door of opportunity, liberty and freedom and that it was up to the individual to choose to take that door.
The United States is based fully on being a country of laws, the Constitution. Lady Liberty would no doubt be disgusted at the words on her base being used by law-breakers to excuse their actions to steal liberty from her citizens and those already here legally.
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The New Colossus by Emma Lazarus
Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
"Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she
With silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"
---
It should be noted that Lazarus's poem was written to be auctioned off to help in covering the costs of the Statue of Liberty's pedestal. The government didn't just come in and pay for it all, as would be done today. The poem was then shoved in a vault in the pedestal and forgotten along with others that were auctioned off and played no part in the opening of the statue in 1886. In 1903, a friend and fan of Lazarus went on a campaign to have Lazarus's poem engraved and placed at the pedestal.
The Statue of Liberty was not constructed in regards to immigration, but in regards to the liberty and freedom of the nation and as an example to the rest of the world. Lady Liberty was only associated with immigration after the placement of Lazarus's poem and because it was one of the first things immigrants on their way to Ellis Island saw when approaching America.
Glenn Beck on the Statue of Liberty and true meaning of The New Colossus
The portion on the Statue of Liberty begins at 1:30
You can find the full Glenn Beck speech from CPAC below.
Senate Candidate Marco Rubio of Florida gave the keynote speech at CPAC 2010 and it is a must watch for every American. After just watching the speech I am reminded of another speech that launched a man into the national public eye, and that was of one Barack Obama at the DNC in 2004. It's almost disgusting to compare the two as the men are so different, but in terms of a moment in time and the impact it could have on this country I believe this speech by Rubio will be mentioned years from now.
If you have lost hope or seemed to have forgotten how great this country is - forgotten the opportunity that it represents and the uniqueness of its building - Rubio will remind you.
I think it is quite hard to watch this speech without getting a tear in your eye for the struggles, determination and absolute love of what this country is and should remain to future individuals like Marco Rubio. It has given so many so much opportunity and a chance at becoming all they can be it that it should infuriate you that there are actually those out there who wish to change or destroy it. They are willing to roll the dice with unproven programs - or worse yet tried and proven failures of programs - all for their own benefit and gain. With their plans in place they will ensure that there will be no opportunity for your children, grandchildren and those with talent. Their plan is for the benefit of mediocrity.
Just watch the Rubio speech, you will see what I mean by all of that I have written above.
Marco Rubio Speech At CPAC 20010 Part 1 (starts at 4:00 after intro from Senator Jim Demint)
