If you've followed the immigration and border issue the past few years, perhaps you noticed the topic was conspicuously absent during last year's general election campaign.
Almost no one asked about it, despite the massive street demonstrations by pro-illegal immigration forces -- and the American people's rising up (twice) to defeat "comprehensive immigration reform," aka amnesty.
The reason, we suspect, is that the media knew there wasn't a dime's difference between Barack Obama and John McCain on the matter. Both were in favor of doing little except providing amnesty for illegals, at least until Americans stood up and demanded security.
Well, not even the Obama administration can avoid the border now, as an ultra-violent battle between the Mexican government and that country's ruthless drug cartels threatens to spill over the unsecured U.S. border.
A year or so late, the national media are finally reporting on the border -- and the Obama administration has belatedly decided to beef up the Border Patrol.
But as beef goes, this is sliced paper-thin. Officials from border states are already saying Washington's response is far short of what's necessary. We applaud the president for upping the number of Border Patrol agents by 350. But adding more analysts, liaisons and task forces, as the administration's plan focuses on, seems like so much window dressing.
What the border states need is more inspections and officers -- and Texas Gov. Rick Perry says the federal government still won't send the 1,000 National Guard troops he's requested.
"The state of Texas will continue to fill in the gaps until the federal government provides adequate resources necessary to secure our border and protect our citizens from those seeking to do us harm," Perry said.
Others note that the administration is fueling its enhanced border efforts with money that would have gone to immigration and drug enforcement in the rest of the country.
Mexican drug cartels are believed to be operating in 230 U.S. cities.
We still don't think the Obama administration considers the border war to be as serious as it is.
Moreover, here's this little gem: Tucked neatly into a Politico.com story about the border war is the fact that Homeland Security Chief Janet Napolitano says the Obama administration has no intention of ever finishing the border fence Americans demanded and Congress reluctantly approved.
"Discussing an ongoing project to build a fence along the border," Politico writes, "Napolitano said 'a wall is not the best way' to prevent smuggling of drugs, weapons or people. She said already-funded sections of the border wall will be completed, but additional barriers would be fortified through technological means."
That's it, then. We're going to blanket our violent, porous southern border with cameras.
This is just a guess, but we'd venture to say the bad guys have more than camera lenses in their tote bags.
Maybe this is why neither the national media nor the Obama campaign wanted to entertain these questions last year.
The Augusta Chronicle ©2010 Morris Communications, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
This is a very confusing situation with almost no information to go on. Why did Bush ignore the border problem and why is O ignoring the problem? Steps are taken by both administrations to see the border isn't protected by the federal government. Why?
Most of the immigrates here are here to stay. They aren't going anywhere. The answer is to have them naturalized as citizens by giving them amnesty and the politicians know it, however they must not utter the word. Republicans worship Regan and everything he ever said or did. Regan did it in the mid 80s. Yeah, yeah, the numbers are larger now but the decision must be made. The sooner Americans get their arms around the idea the better. Again, they are not going anywhere and besides, those breakfast burritoes are excellent.
SUBCHAPTER H. CALLING OF FORCES
Sec.A431.111.AACALLING OF FORCES BY GOVERNOR.A (a)AAThe
governor may call all or part of the state military forces to repel
or suppress an invasion of or insurrection in or threatened
invasion of or insurrection in the state or if the governor47
considers it necessary to enforce state law. If the number of statemilitary forces is insufficient, the governor shall call the part
of the reserve militia that the governor considers necessary.
(b)AAThe governor may call all or part of the state military
forces to assist civil authorities in guarding prisoners, conveying
prisoners within the state, or executing law as the public interest
or safety requires.(c)AAThe governor may order a commander of a unit of the statemilitary forces to appear at a time and place directed to suppressor prevent tumult, riot, or the actions of a group of persons actingtogether by force with intent to commit a breach of the peace orviolence to a person or property or to otherwise violate state law.Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 147, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1987. Gov Perry has the Texas state militia and Texas National Guard at his disposal.
That's an obvious point, TechLover, and only adds to the question of why? Why doesn't Perry send out the troops and why didn't he send them out before now? Is he being ordered to "hold", if so, why? I believe there's a lot more going on than is being reported. Is this some kind of "Tri-lateral" action or some kind of back door effort to absorb Mexico? Something doesn't pass the smell test on the border, and it's not just justus4's burrito breakfast.
Wrong answer, Justus4. Rewarding illegal border crossers with an amnesty and citizenship for law-breaking is the wrong approach. They came here for monitary gain, not because they just love this country. These persons are not immigrants. They are law-breaking illegal aliens! These illegal aliens won't stand on their own two feet and learn our language in common, English. They want English taught to them at our expense. They want in-state tuition supported by us taxpayers. They use our social services, because, again, they cannot stand on their own two feet and make it like legal, green card carrying immigrants do. They march in our streets for illegal immigrant rights as if they were citizens of the U.S. No, they are not here to stay if I have anything to do with it. They think they are part of our Civil Rights Movement. Well, news flash. Illegal aliens are parasites that need to be removed from our country. Anyone who supports breaking the laws of our country is guilty of breaking those laws, too. Guilty by association.
Dozens of tunnels have already been found along the border and the AC thinks a multi billion dollar fence will stop the problem. How about decriminalizing the drugs and robbing the cartels of their source of income? It's way past time to start considering drug abuse as the medical problem it is instead of a criminal problem. It would free up billions of dollars that could be used in treatment and free up thousands of jail cells.
By not properly regulating border traffic, our government has actually allowed and encouraged this lawless activity to flourish. The situation did not occur overnight. Now, the situation is completely out of control. The border citizens have known of the lawlessnes for some time. They have been screaming for help, but Washington chose to turn a deaf ear. Before it's too late, send our troops to the border now. Get 'er done!
Obama has put on hold the biggest deterent...ensuring workers are legal. With our modern technology, it would be easy to have a system that verifies every worker's status easily. No verificiation, no job. If someone hires a worker without verification, it is a federal crime. As far as the drug violence, legalize drugs and do away with most of the crime in both countries. Use the money saved on law enforcement to educate people to stay off drugs.
justus did your post have anything to do with border violence? Are you in denial on the subject like so many others (subjects not people)? That was the most say nothing response I've seen from you!
Tripod-mounted GAU-8's tied to motion detectors. That'll solve the problem.
typically stupid,ignorant response by justus4.you care less that there is already a process in place for becoming a u.s. citizen.
just because lincoln circumvented that process as a way to keep northern politicians of his case for the dismal way he civil war was going does not mean such a blanket approach flies today.riverman is right,pot should have been decriminalized 25 years ago.it's no worse than alcohol,and yes i can speak to that fact.set up a user registration/taxation process,allow peolpe to cultivate for personal use,play by the rules or do 5 years on the work farm.
send a unit of guardsmen to the border with shoot to kill orders,make sure there is plenty on ordnance.blow the tunnels,post ample warnings on radio and tv in mexico that if you sneak across the border ,in view of the well documented violence , you will be treated as a security threat and shot.if you apply for citizenship,learn english,get a job,you will be treated accordingly.congress chooses to dally around , and
" we the people",as usual foot the bill for more freeloaders and the problems they cause.techlover a wall made out of guardsmen holding m-16's will get some attention, i assure you
AMEN TechLover...You hit that one dead center..6:33am
It's way past time to start considering drug abuse as the medical problem it is instead of a criminal problem. It would free up billions of dollars that could be used in treatment and free up thousands of jail cells.
Posted by TechLover on Thu Mar 26, 2009 AMEN
That's the first post I've ever read from justus that was not racial.
Justus4 es muy estupido
The war on drugs is lost. Legalize, tax, control the sales and remove the black market violence. War on drugs = war on the poor who cannot get legal drugs from the doctor like most middle and upper class citizens. 21st century prohibition, nothing more nothing less.
The only way to take the teeth out of these drug lords is to legalize presently illegal drugs, like we did alcohol. That would create some legal issues for awhile and lose some legal battles, but it sure is better than losing the war! Where would we be now if alcohol sales and consumption were still illegal? At least alcoholics can seek help without worrying about being labeled criminals for admitting they have an addiction. Turn the drug war inside out by legalizing! We should have done that decades ago!
Okay, let's legalize drugs, socialize medicine, and raise the tax rate to 72%. The we could call ourselves The Netherlands, rename Washington to Amsterdam, and Obama could be king. Oh crap!!!, it's already happening.
mad max....what's your idea to solve the border problem?????
and it is a problem....
drumbeat....I do not believe there is a solution to the border problem because this country does not have the stomach for any of the alternatives. 1) Seal the border from one end to the other with soldiers and law enforcment. This would reduce the importation of drugs, drive the price of what comes through FL sky high, and have the added benefit of reducing illegal immigration. But it would be costly, maybe not legal to involve the military, and ACLU and pro-illegal alien types would scream bloody murder. 2) Institure servere penalties for not only drug dealers but drug users. I'm talking hard jail time. But the bleeding hearts would never go along with locking up little Johnny because he smoked pot or did cocaine. 3) Legalize and tax it. That will never fly with the religous right and all those who still don't want people to be able to buy a beer or bottle of whiskey. So, I don't think there is a sellable option. I personally would vote for sealing the border but that is just me. I would stop all pedistrian traffic, vehicular traffic, NAFTA trucks, tourism, etc. They only way into or out of Mexico to the US would be by scheduled airline. But none of these options are sellable.
Clowns. The drugs come in from the south, but the terrorists come in from the north. Please seal our northern border while you're at it. And come to think of it, let's wall off the beaches because that's where they'll come in from next.