Here Comes the Fence –updated below–
Where's the fence?
I'm serious.
Where is it?
Well, on Thursday, Bush will sign it into law with great fanfare. Cue the Republican base.
The people aren't crazy about it, that's for sure. Count me in that group.
There's a hint on what's really going on in the article that appeared in early October. Think all hype, no substance. Secure Fence Act my…
No sooner did Congress authorize construction of a 700-mile fence
on the U.S.-Mexico border last week than lawmakers rushed to approve separate
legislation that ensures it will never be built, at least not as advertised,
according to Republican lawmakers and immigration experts.(snip)
… Asked whether Homeland Security would build 700 miles of fence,
department spokesman Russ Knocke would not say. Instead, he noted that department
leaders announced last month that they will spend $67 million to test a remote-sensing
“virtual fence” concept on a 28-mile, high-traffic stretch of border
south of Tucson over eight months, and then adjust their plans.“We plan to build a little and test a little. . . . Stay tuned,”
Knocke said. “We're optimistic that Congress is going to provide the
department with flexibility.”The split between GOP leaders hungry for a sound-bite-friendly accomplishment
targeting immigration and others who support a more comprehensive approach
also means that the fence bill will be watered down when lawmakers return
for a lame-duck session in November, according to congressional aides and
lobbyists. …
With Bush talking about
“benchmarks” in Iraq, you knew the GOP un-fence couldn't be far behind. Again, I'm against this stinkin' fence. As I've said over and over again,
it's about going after employers. It would also be nice if the Republican Congress had funded the investigative units of ICE so
they can actually do the job of holding corporations and their money men responsible.
Speaking of money men…
…and hypocrisy, nothing says it better than the
original swiftboating money man, Robert J. Perry, who makes
his millions by employing illegal immigrants, then gives his
ill gotten gains to Republicans who swiftboat
veterans, while backing chickenhawks who send our soldiers to die without a
plan to get them home.
Readers can draw their own conclusions about the effectiveness of the policy.
An assistant manager for Perry Homes said all the workers at his construction
site were talking about the rumored raids, and many workers stayed away. Obviously,
general contractors feel no duty to discourage undocumented workers from earning
a living.ALIEN
RUMORS / False reports of immigration raids set off a panic
The Republicans will likely get half a fence, if that.
But what good is half a fence when corporations can still employ illegal immigrants
by the dozens? Republicans don't care. They want the image of being tough on border security for their base, while not actually doing anything to secure the border.
It's their foreign policy strategy turned inward on America.
Oh, and by the way, we still don't have a national system that
can keep track of the 12 million (plus or minus) illegal immigrants already
living in this country. You also have to fund these programs. With all the pork
barrel ear marks and set asides it proves no one in Congress gives a rat's ass
about border security, certainly not the Republicans. After all, they've been
in power for years, with a very friendly prez to boot. If they wanted to “keep
us safe” at our borders they could. They don't. So. We. Aren't.
UPDATE (1:50 p.m.): Oh brother, I just got this link via email. Spew alert.
“What disappoints me most is the rhetoric coming from the other side of the aisle. Democrats say they are for immigration reform – just not the reform that Republicans have offered. Democrat Leader Pelosi's plan is to leave our borders open, grant blanket amnesty and provide Social Security benefits to illegal immigrants. Is THAT their plan? Democrat Leader Nancy Pelosi has NEVER visited the border. She claims to understand the needs of those on the front lines but has never visited those agents and offers no solutions.”
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