The President’s Radio Address 062307

Hey folks,

You have to give him credit. He does not give up. Here is the President’s weekly radio address to us. Can you guess what the topic is?

THE PRESIDENT: Good morning. This week, Senate leaders introduce drevised legislation on comprehensive immigration reform. I thank leaders from both parties for their bipartisan effort to fix our immigration system so it can meet the needs of our Nation in the 21st century.

As the Senate takes up this critical bill, I understand that many Americans have concerns about immigration reform -- especially about the federal government's ability to secure the border. So this bill puts the enforcement tools in place first. And it means more Border Patrol agents, more fencing, more infrared cameras and other technologies at the border. It also requires an employee-verification system based on government-issued, tamper-proof identification cards that will help employers ensure that the workers they hire are legal.

Only after these enforcement tools are in place will certain other parts of the bill go into effect. To make sure the government keeps its enforcement commitment, the bill includes $4.4 billion in immediate additional funding for these border security and worksite enforcement efforts.

The bill also addresses other problems with immigration enforcement. Right now, our laws are ineffective and insufficient. For example, crossing the border illegally carries weak penalties. In addition, participation in illegal gangs is not enough to bar admission into our country. And when we cannot get other countries to accept the return of their citizens who are dangerous criminals, in most cases our government can only detain these aliens for six months before releasing them into society.

This is unacceptable. The bill before the Senate addresses these problems. Under this bill, those caught crossing illegally will be permanently barred from returning to the United States on a work or tourist visa. Under this bill, anyone known to have taken part in illegal gang activity can be denied admission to our country. And under this bill, we will be able to detain aliens who are dangerous criminals until another country accepts their return.

These enforcement measures are a good start. Yet even with all these steps, we cannot fully secure the border unless we take pressure off the border. Hundreds of thousands of people come here illegally because our current work visa program does not match the needs of a growing and dynamic economy. To discourage people from crossing our border illegally, this bill creates an orderly path for foreign workers to enter our country legally to work on a temporary basis.

With this program in place, employers will have a practical system to fill jobs Americans are not doing -- and foreign workers will have a legal way to apply for them. As a result, they won't have to try to sneak in. And that will leave border agents free to chase down drug dealers, human traffickers, and terrorists.

Once the border security and worksite enforcement benchmarks are met, the bill will resolve the status of 12 million people who are now in our country illegally. Under this bill, these workers will be given an opportunity to get right with the law. This is not amnesty. There will be penalties for those who come out of the shadows. If they pass a strict background check, pay a fine, hold a job, maintain a clean criminal record, and eventually learn English, they will qualify for and maintain a Z visa. If they want to get a green card, they have to do all these things -- plus pay an additional fine, go to the back of the line, and return to their country to apply from there.

This bill provides an historic opportunity to uphold America's tradition of welcoming and assimilating immigrants and honoring our heritage as a Nation built on the rule of law. We have an obligation to solve problems that have been piling up for decades. The status quo is unacceptable. We must summon the political courage to move forward with a comprehensive reform bill. By acting now, we can ensure that our laws are respected, that the needs of our economy are met, and that our Nation treats newcomers with dignity and helps them assimilate.

I urge members of both parties to support comprehensive immigration reform. By working together, we can pass this good bill -- and build an immigration system worthy of our great Nation.
Thank you for listening.

SOURCE White House Press Office

Back Room Open Again, Door Shut

Hey folks,

Happy Friday to you. OK, I’ll admit it. This was on the top of my little pile yesterday. Well, not THIS article, but pretty much one just like it. It was going to be the Daily Article yesterday. But then I thought to myself, "Who cares? This is going to be the same as the last one. We beat that one, we will prevail again." But then I saw this. From the AP-Senators vow to revive immigration bill By DAVID ESPO, AP Special Correspondent

Senate leaders vowed Thursday night to revive stalled immigration legislation as soon as next week, capping a furious rescue attempt led by President Bush.

The decision, announced by Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada and his Republican counterpart, Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, envisions a final vote on the complex bill before lawmakers begin their Fourth of July vacation.

This bill was defeated by YOU. As a matter of fact, according the a Rassmusen poll this past Wednesday,

Just 20% of American voters want Congress to try and pass the immigration reform bill that failed in the Senate last week. A Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey found that 51% would like their legislators to "take smaller steps towards reform" while 16% believe they should wait until next year. The survey was conducted on Monday and Tuesday night as the President was publicly attempting to rally support for the legislation.

According to this poll most Americans agree with me and what I have been saying from the start. Secure the boarder first. Pass a legislation that does that solely. There would be no outcry of injustice. The American people would accept it.

Sixty-nine percent (69%) of voters would favor an approach that focuses exclusively on "exclusively on securing the border and reducing illegal immigration." Support for the enforcement only approach comes from 84% of Republicans, 55% of Democrats, and 69% of those not affiliated with either major party.

Back to the AP

The legislation has generated intense controversy, particularly for provisions envisioning eventual citizenship for many of the estimated 12 million immigrants now in the country unlawfully. The bill also calls for greater border security and a crackdown on the hiring of illegal employees.

Critics of the measure succeeded in sidetracking it last week, and given their continued opposition, the decision to bring it back for additional debate does not necessarily portend passage.

WE stopped it once, we will do EVERYTHING we can to kill it off totally this time. Yes, most are opposed to it because it IS Amnesty. This is a bunch of bunk "The legislation has generated intense controversy, particularly for provisions envisioning eventual citizenship for many of the estimated 12 million immigrants now in the country unlawfully." As SOON as the President signs the bill they are legal. Forget the citizenship bunk. That is only if they WANT citizenship. If not, who cares? They are legal. There is no penalty, fines, or anything else. They are legal.

Reid and McConnell announced their plans in a brief, two sentence statement that capped days of private negotiations by key senators as well as Bush's personal involvement.

"We met this evening with several of the senators involved in the immigration bill negotiations," they said. Based on that discussion, the immigration bill will return to the Senate floor after completion" of an unrelated energy measure now undergoing debate.

There was no immediate reaction from the White House.

I’m surprised. The President is so gun hoe about this. Make NO mistake about it. This IS President Bush’s fault. This IS what he wants. It was dead. Now it is alive again in the back room, shaded from your eyes.

"We're going to show the American people that the promises in this bill will be kept," Bush said, two days after launching a personal rescue mission.

That is what most Americans are angry about Mr. President. We do NOT want the promises of amnesty kept.

Any agreement was ultimately subject to approval by Reid, who has said repeatedly it was up to Bush and Republicans to line up the votes needed to advance the measure if it was to be brought back to the Senate for debate. Reid, who has expressed misgivings about elements of the bill, sidetracked it last week after supporters gained only 45 of the 60 votes needed.

In other words, pressure, bribe, or just try to intimidate opponents to vote for it. As for what you think? Bringing back this bill?

Republicans accounted for only seven of the 45 votes, and Reid said earlier this week, "We'll move on to immigration when they have their own act together."

Bush's decision to personally announce support for the accelerated funding reflected concerns expressed by Republican senators at a closed-door meeting on Tuesday. Several told him their constituents doubted the government was capable of following through on a commitment to enforce immigration laws.

In a letter sent to Bush before the meeting, Georgia Republican Sens. Saxby Chambliss and Johnny Isakson wrote, "This lack of trust is rooted in the mistakes made in 1986, and the continued chaos surrounding our immigration laws. Understandably, the lack of credibility the federal government has on this issue gives merit to the skepticism of many about future immigration reform."

That is just ONE problem. That is a BIG one, but that is just one.

Under the legislation as drafted, money for border enforcement would be collected gradually as illegal immigrants pay the fines and fees needed to achieve legal status. The letter asked Bush to secure the border before other elements of the immigration measure go into effect, and the president agreed in his remarks to the Associated Builders and Contractors.

{Laughing} THEY ARE NOT GOING TO PAY!

"One common concern is whether the government will provide the resources to meet the goals in the bill. They say, `It's fine to talk about it, are you actually going to do something?'" he said.

"To answer these concerns I support an amendment that will provide $4.4 billion in immediate additional funding for securing our borders and enforcing our laws at the work site," he said.

"By matching our benchmarks with these critical funds, we're going to show the American people that the promises in this bill will be kept."

OK, first, we HAVE the money. It’s THERE already. Build the fence or pass a bill to do JUST that, then we will talk about what to do with those here. Wait, I have a Senator that actually agrees with me? With us?

But Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., who opposes the legislation, took a different view. "I appreciate the effort to fund border security, but there's simply no reason why we should be forced to tie amnesty to it. If the administration was serious about fulfilling the border security promises, then this funding should have been supported all along, not offered at the last minute to attract votes to a bad bill."

Way to go Jim. Pass a bill to secure the boarder. Then actually SECURE the boarder. After that, there can be no question that we believe or disbelieve you will do it. It would be done. Then the American people can be more open to talking about those here.

The problem is, we have heard all this before, we went from 3 million to now 12 to 20 million. We do not want to go from 12 to 20 million to 50 million. Prove you will and can secure the boarder. Then we will talk.

Doug and I had a debate on this issue in the comment section a little while back. Here is a solution to this whole mess that the 69 percent that are opposed to this, may be able to live with.

1- Secure the boarder first. Both physical and high tech fences.

2- Smart cards. An ID card that uses DNA, so that they cannot be faked.

3- Give them a chance to become registered. If they fail to do so, when we catch them, they are gone.

4- Commit a crime after you arrived here? You are GONE.

5- Evaluate all new REGISTERED immigrate case by case. If there is health issues, or criminal histories. Gone.

6= HUGH fines for business owners for hiring those without the ID. Possible Jail time for the Executives.

It doesn’t have to be hundreds or pages of dribble that noone understands. Where things hide really well in. Simple, to the point, and solves the problem. But I have a feeling this will be another amnesty bill. Don’t wait. Start calling and writing again NOW. Let them know, if you vote for this back room bill that grants amnesty, you are out. You will NEVER receive my vote again.
Peter

Source;

AP-Senators vow to revive immigration bill

Rasmussen -Poll: Voters Want Smaller Steps to Immigration Reform With Focus on Enforcement

OPN -Analysis and Comments On The Open Letter by Sen Mel Martinez

End of WEEK Roundup

Hey folks,

Since I haven’t been able to be here due to technical difficulties. I have to comment on a few things in the news in abbreviate form. First up, Paris Hilton.

Now as we all know, she thumbed her nose at the law. She is out of control and going down the same road as Anna Nicole Smith. I was truly happy to see that she got jail time. Unfortunately, Sheriff Lee Baca decided to show her favoritism and send her home. By the way, she is STILL being shown favoritism, more on that in a second.

The Judge ordered her back to jail, rightfully so, and the Sheriff SHOULD be fired. He trys to defend this idiotic decision but he really can’t. According to LA Times -Tug-of-war over Hilton raises larger questions By Tami Abdollah and Megan Garvey, Times Staff WritersJune 9, 2007


He cited an undisclosed medical condition as the reason to allow the hotel heiress to switch from a tiny cell to home detention and electronic monitoring, noting that she had served the 10% of her sentence currently being served by most female inmates in the county.

10 percent? Oooooh.

But Friday, an irritated Judge Michael T. Sauer ordered Hilton back to court and said he alone had the power to decide how her sentence was served. Sauer criticized the Sheriff's Department for letting Hilton out without his permission and remanded the 26-year-old multimillionaire — who cried throughout the hearing — back to jail.


As she was led out a side door by deputies, Hilton twisted back toward her parents. "Mom, Mom!" she cried. "It's not right!"

Poor spoiled brat. This may actually SAVE your life. Well, it may have if it would actually happen.


"For decades, where [inmates] were housed and how they were housed was up to the Sheriff's Department," said Stan Goldman, a professor of criminal law and procedure at Loyola Law School. "Now that all may change, thanks to, of all people, Paris Hilton."

It should. The Sheriff also needs to be charged with contempt of court.

Baca defended his decision to let Hilton leave jail and said he was concerned about how Sauer's order — if copied by other judges — would affect the jail system.

"This has the strong potential to set up what will become an untenable precedent because of overcrowding in jail and the lack of adequate housing," Baca said in an interview.

Get this.

A Times investigation found that many of those released early since 2002 had felony convictions and a history of violence and gang activity. Sixteen men released early were later charged with committing murders when they should have still been behind bars, and at least seven have been convicted in those slayings.

Now do not get me wrong. Paris is not a murder. YET. Continuously drinking and drugging along with driving? May become one in the future. Anyway, he cannot defend this. He showed, and continues to do so, her favoritism. What do I mean continues to? According to the AP- Paris Hilton vows to serve jail sentence By ALEX VEIGA, Associated Press Writer

Paris Hilton said Saturday she was "learning and growing" from her time behind bars and will not appeal her 45-day jail sentence for a probation violation in a reckless driving case.

The hotel heiress was at a maximum-security detention center, where she was believed to have undergone medical and psychiatric evaluations to determine the best jail to keep her in.

"Being in jail is by far the hardest thing I have ever done," Hilton said in a statement released by her lawyer, Richard A. Hutton. "During the past several days, I have had a lot of time to think and I believe that I am learning and growing from this experience."

SO why the sudden change? One, she was home for a bit. Able to "curb" the withdraw the started going through after her three day jail stint. We’ll see if a few more days changes anything. But then you have the fact she is NOT in jail.

Although Whitmore wouldn't discuss Hilton's condition, citing privacy laws, Baca indicated at a news conference Friday that it was psychological.

{Laughing} We KNOW she is nuts. But great way to hind the fact of favoritism.

When she went to Twin Towers, Baca said he was placing Hilton in a "better facility for her condition, meaning one that has a more intense form of medical support." He said she'd be kept under close watch to ensure "that there isn't anything harmful done to herself by herself, which is a great concern to me."

Whitmore said she'll be there at least through Sunday.

Twin Towers is equipped to treat acute medical and mental health needs, although inmates in need of more serious attention are moved to a hospital. About 40 inmates are housed per floor, and most of the rooms are designed for one patient at a time.

Hilton is truly living the simple life, in a room Whitmore described as a little more than 100 square feet, with a toilet, sink and "a sliver of a window."

Better than a 12 by 12 cell. What do you think would happen to you if YOU did this. Get caught DWI. Then,

In the months that followed, she was stopped twice by officers who discovered her driving with a suspended license. The second stop landed her in Sauer's courtroom, where he sentenced her to jail.

I bet you would NEVER have been given this treatment. Now she is in a hospital. {Sigh} Life is hard.

Next up, immigration. You DID IT! According to The Contra Costa times -After setback, immigration bill on its last legs in Senate By Dave Montgomery MCCLATCHY WASHINGTON BUREAU Contra Costa Times

Article Launched:06/09/2007 11:39:05 AM PDT WASHINGTON -- With a White House-backed immigration bill on life support in the Senate, the likelihood that Congress can overhaul the nation's tattered immigration system before the onset of the 2008 presidential election year is growing increasingly remote.

The White House, Senate leaders and the bill's supporters insist that the measure can be resuscitated. But thus far they've been unable to bridge a maelstrom of colliding special interests, and the challenges will only intensify as election-year politics complicate their efforts.

"There's a faint pulse there, but it suffered a heavy blow on Thursday," said Daniel Griswold of the Cato Institute, a libertarian think tank that embraced Bush's call for a comprehensive overhaul of the nation's immigration laws. "It would be a major surprise at this point if it came back to life."

The 627-page bill was pulled from the Senate floor late Thursday after Democratic and Republican leaders failed to resolve a standoff regarding GOP demands to submit additional amendments. The bill's collapse dealt a withering setback to President Bush, who had made a comprehensive restructuring of the nation's immigration laws his top domestic priority.

Good, it needed to be stopped. As for 627 pages? Where did the rest of it go? Anyway, this is a good thing. This was brought to event by YOU. This should tell you something folks. You can do it. You DO matter. Keep this in mind as the 08 elections grow near. YOU have the power to keep America the way you know it to be, or give it up to the LWL and change it into a Socialist country. You have the power.

Like I just pointed out. This is not a hard problem to solve. It is just this easy. Instead of even this new number of 627 pages, how about just 6 things.

1- Secure the boarder first. Both physical and high tech fences.

2- Smart cards. An ID card that using DNA, so that they cannot be faked.

3- Give them a chance to become registered. If they fail to do so, when we catch them, they are gone.

4- Commit a crime after you arrived here? You are GONE.

5- Evaluate all new REGISTERED immigrate case by case. If there is health issues, or criminal histories. Gone.

6- HUGH fines for business owners for hiring those without the ID. Possible Jail time for the Executives.


Up next? Global Warming. I’ll be right back.
Peter

Source;
LA Times -Tug-of-war over Hilton raises larger questions
AP- Paris Hilton vows to serve jail sentence
The Contra Costa times -After setback, immigration bill on its last legs in Senate

Immigration Reform, Bipartisan Deal.

Hey folks,

Yesterday was one of those days that the news just kept coming. So much I want to comment on, and not just a brief "drive by" comment either. So I’m warning you. Do not try to take this all in, in one setting. Take your time. Read a section at a time. Have a cup of coffee. Mine today? "Chocolate Velvet."

First up, Immigration. The big news of the day, for a couple of days now, has been the bi-partisan immigration bill. Somehow, all parties came together. The President, the Democrats, the Republicans. They all came to an agreement on the new immigration bill. Now if this was not so insane, it would be a good thing. Government working together for a common goal to make the country better. What a novel concept. Too bad THIS is not going to make the country better by ANY means.

I got the standard, "Why haven’t you commented on this yet." {Sigh} You folks should know by now, there are some things I just chose to wait on. I do this because I KNOW what the outcome is going to be. I am VERY RARELY ever surprised. I was right on this as well. NOTHING is going to happen.

Yes, President Bush, The Democrats, the Republicans, all came together. Yes they seem to all agree. Even if the majority of the country are completely and absolutely flat out against it. But not everyone on ANY side is for this. This bill is being attacked on EVERY side. By ALL. Except for those who have written and agreed on it. 700 pages folks. 700 pages that YOU will never read. According to Reuters -U.S. immigration bill attacked from left and right By Donna Smith.

The fate of the immigration deal between President George W. Bush and a group of U.S. senators appeared uncertain on Friday as it drew heavy criticism from both the right and the left.

With the Senate to debate the highly divisive issue next week, the immediate reaction to the plan to grant legal status to some 12 million illegal immigrants suggested it could face an uphill battle even there, where passage was considered more likely than in the House of Representatives.

The House last year declined to even take up comprehensive legislation.

Conservative Republicans were quick to criticize the plan's main provision for illegal immigrants who arrived in the country before January 2007, even though Bush hopes the plan's passage would provide an elusive legislative victory. They view granting the right to stay as rewarding those who broke U.S. law.

AS soon as President Bush signs this bill, they are ALL legal. Remember that. AS SOON as he signs it.

"I don't care how you try to spin it, this is amnesty," said Sen. Jim DeMint, a South Carolina Republican.

Complaints came from Democrats as well.

"This amnesty plan is no fairy tale -- it is a bad dream," Sen. Robert Byrd of West Virginia said.

Democrats' major concerns include that the temporary worker program does not provide a path to permanent residence and new limits it would place on migration to reunite families.

Illegal Immigrates are against this also. I hear some on ABC news radio today saying the fines are too high and the fact they would have to leave to get "on the path" is not fair. Give me a break. My heart bleeds for you. YOU came here illegally. You CHOSE to put yourself in this position. This bill is being attacked by everyone, it doesn’t stand a chance.

Another reason is that more and more people understand what in essence this bill does. It makes all these illegals, legal. Voting legal. This would guarantee the death of the two party system. There one then be only one real party in this country, hence, no opposition. Tyarrany

Now some in the MMD {Mass Media Drones} are attacking people like ME, and you. Anyone not for this bill. According to AP -Critics pick at immigration coalition By JULIE HIRSCHFELD DAVIS, Associated Press Writer

The fragile coalition that produced this week's immigration deal risks being picked apart by forces across the political spectrum as the measure begins moving through Congress.

Lawmakers want to revise key elements, such as letting millions of illegal immigrants stay in the U.S., favoring skills and education over families and setting out the terms of a new temporary worker program.

Any one of the changes has the potential to sink the whole measure, which was unveiled with fanfare Thursday but was still being drafted late Friday.

Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez, who helped negotiate the compromise, called it "very well-balanced," and cautioned against revisions that could upset the framework.

{Laughing} Translation time, "Don’t take out the things we hid in there. You know Amnesty."

"You take something out and you're creating a problem throughout the system — you may think that you're only tweaking one part," Gutierrez said in an interview. "We've got to be very careful as to what is proposed to change."

As the White House and proponents in both parties began laboring to sell the agreement to the public, interest groups launched elaborate efforts to alter major pieces of the complicated proposal.

"We're going to fight like mad to fix the parts we don't like," said Tom Snyder, the national political director of UNITE HERE!, a service workers union comprised largely of immigrants.

Senate leaders huddled privately to plot strategy for next week's debate, which is likely to feature Democratic efforts to kill or substantially shrink the temporary worker program and Republican attempts to prevent illegal immigrants from staying indefinitely in the U.S. without applying for permanent residency or citizenship.

Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., has said he doesn't know whether the measure can make it through the Senate.

It’s not going to.

Liberal activists who call the measure a good start but object to major parts have "a couple of bites at the apple" to change it as it makes its way to President Bush's desk, said Frank Sharry, the executive director of the National Immigration Forum.

"It's been hatched in the backroom at the eleventh hour; it's now going to be debated in the light of day," Sharry said.

In other words, WE do not get to see it. We do not get a chance to voice an opinion on something that will FOREVER change this country. Not all of it.

If they don't succeed in reshaping it, the groups that have been among the strongest proponents of an immigration overhaul might desert the deal.

"We're not sure that our support for moving forward will continue to be support if the bill that approaches the finish line has these kind of problems in it," said Cecilia Munoz of the National Council of La Raza.

There's broad agreement on some elements of the plan, such as improving border security and workplace enforcement and allowing some way for the nation's 12 million illegal immigrants to earn a path to citizenship.

But the plan's cornerstones are among its most controversial elements.

It would allow the millions of undocumented immigrants already here to gain legal status virtually immediately and keep it indefinitely through a new "Z visa" that could be renewed repeatedly. Those seeking permanent legal residence or eventual citizenship would face long waits and have to pay fees and fines, and their household heads would have to return to their home countries.

Some conservative Republicans want to limit the amount of times Z visas could be renewed.

The deal also proposes a fundamental reordering of the nation's immigration priorities, moving the system from one based on family to one primarily designed to meet the needs of U.S. employers. While spouses and minor children of legal residents and citizens could still get green cards under the new system, other relatives would have to qualify under a point system that rewards advanced skills, education, English proficiency and experience in high-demand occupations.

This has drawn fire from both sides, with conservatives arguing that the system should not reward low-skilled workers or extended family at all, and liberals saying it devalues family.

"The merit-based point system that was promised is just a shell of what it could have been and what it should have been," said Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., who wants to guarantee that a larger percentage of future green cards are awarded purely based on employment criteria.

On the other side, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., plans to offer an amendment that would exempt the spouses and children of lawful permanent residents from the measure's visa caps, guaranteeing that families receive a higher priority.

The guest worker program, which would provide 400,000 visas yearly for immigrants seeking temporary employment, has come under criticism from conservatives and populists who think it's too expansive and immigrant advocacy groups who say it creates a working underclass with few rights.

Sen. Byron Dorgan D-N.D., wants to strike the temporary worker program, arguing that it harms American workers and depresses wages.

Workers could come for two-year stints and renew their visas twice, with a year home in between each time, but would ultimately have to qualify for green cards based on the point system.

The system "is skewed against them," La Raza's Munoz said. "We don't consider that to be a meaningful path to citizenship."

The Bush administration, cognizant of the deal's vulnerability, is already toiling to line up the votes needed to push it through Congress.

"We're going to work as hard as we need to," Gutierrez said.

I encourage you all to write, call, do ANYTHING to let those in Congress know EXACTLY how you feel about this. I’m sure I will have more on this in the coming days, but for Today, lets move on to another topic that I knew would come to NOTHING.

Peter

Sources:
Reuters -U.S. immigration bill attacked from left and right
AP -Critics pick at immigration coalition