They are all props in this week’s HamNation!To read more about what went on this week (or if you don’t get some of our jokes), browse through the following links:The immigration reform bill is a “piece of s***!”Catfight!!Check out this……

We’ve had so many broken promises of enforcement that no amount of PR will convince anyone other than the most gullible.
thirteen28 on May 24, 2007 at 6:17 PM

The PR effort I refer to is the one that will get most citizens on board to help enforce the existing laws and new measures in the bill. NOT a PR effort to convince people the problem is now solved and they can go back to watching the sitcoms.

Senator Dole came out of the gates quickly in dismissing the amnesty bill, and it is good to see that she still feels the same way

WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole looks at the immigration debate consuming the Senate this week and faces a quandar…

……

Me: Oh look, a new poll says the public overwhelmingly opposes the immigration bill. Who didn’t know that?! Dawn: President Bush…….

From what I understand of the bill the enforcement has to occur first — I know some think triggers are unrealistic.

No – only the spending for enforcement has to occur, and that isn’t doesn’t even come first. You have to be naive to believe that spending by itself equals success in any government endeavor.

That said, if the enforcement begins to take hold along with a national ID card then the other parts become manageable.

But the enforcement won’t take hold, as they have no intent of honoring that part of the bill. Their actions today on voting down the amendment to end sanctuary cities is Exhibit A. Exhibit B is their gutting of funding for the wall that was approved last year. Exhibit C is the 1986 Bill – Amensty occurred, enforcement didn’t. On Michelle’s website she documented seven different amnesties starting with teh 1986 amensty, and in not one of them did enforcement increase.

In light of that history, why the hell would you believe it will this time, particularly when there are already plenty enforcment laws that are on the books that are being ignored as we speak? How much evidence do you need?

I keep going back to my main concern. IF nothing is accomplished now how much worse will the problem be in another six years when a reelected president would be willing to sign off on a bill?

It will be much worse if this bill is accomplished now with its key provisions in place, because they have absolutely no intent whatsoever to enact the enforcement provisions in good faith. See above.

No one has adequately enforced the existing laws to date and a bill that only focuses on the border enforcement is not likely to accomplish much either.

And, as history shows, a bill that includes amnesty certainly won’t help enforcement either. However I disagree with the premise that the borders cannot be enforced without a bill that focuses soley thereon – we can if we have the political will. And judging by the visceral and overwhelming reaction on both sides against this bill, that will exists everywhere except in DC.

In any event this is not an issue in which a bill can pass and we all go our merry ways claiming success. A bipartisan bill needs a heavy PR effort as it takes hold – public ads encouraging citizen help/support. Might be a good idea to let the Bush Sr/Bill C team go on the road to talk it up (one of many tactics).

It’s a non-starter because of all of the betrayals of enforcment in past actions to deal with this problem. We’ve had so many broken promises of enforcement that no amount of PR will convince anyone other than the most gullible.

Solution to the illegal immigration problem would need leaders of both parties to encourage our support and help. But if one party base defines the solution and rams it through (or kills it through parliamentary measures) we will only see more division and a problem that may come to be unsolvable in five or six years.

Bradky on May 24, 2007 at 5:03 PM

Or perhaps, one president and enough members of congress can actually show some will to implement enforcement targets that are real targets – not just spending targets – which will stop the flow of illegals across the border, and the employment of illegals in the interior, while ending bullsh!t like sanctuary cities.

linlithgow on May 24, 2007 at 11:28 AM

From what I understand of the bill the enforcement has to occur first — I know some think triggers are unrealistic.
That said, if the enforcement begins to take hold along with a national ID card then the other parts become manageable.

I keep going back to my main concern. IF nothing is accomplished now how much worse will the problem be in another six years when a reelected president would be willing to sign off on a bill?

No one has adequately enforced the existing laws to date and a bill that only focuses on the border enforcement is not likely to accomplish much either.

In any event this is not an issue in which a bill can pass and we all go our merry ways claiming success. A bipartisan bill needs a heavy PR effort as it takes hold – public ads encouraging citizen help/support. Might be a good idea to let the Bush Sr/Bill C team go on the road to talk it up (one of many tactics).

Profitsbeard mentioned some of the big tasks taken and has a point. But it would be like the man on the moon vision — if citizens of all stripes hadn’t jumped on board and been supportive it wouldn’t have happened. Solution to the illegal immigration problem would need leaders of both parties to encourage our support and help. But if one party base defines the solution and rams it through (or kills it through parliamentary measures) we will only see more division and a problem that may come to be unsolvable in five or six years.

“I promised the President today that I wouldn’t say anything bad about … this piece of sh*t bill.” — John Boehner “Observing the Senate last week, and looking over the latest figures from the Census Bureau, America is now risking……

Update: Senate cuts guest worker program in half

I’m not sure how cutting it in half improves anything.

Half of a “piece of sh*t”, is still a piece of sh*t.

Is that Ed from Shaun of the Dead peaking over Boehner’s left shoulder?

I suspect that it was doubled what they wanted to begin with. we used to do this all the time in asking for hardware – request twice what you need and after management cuts it in half your ok.

If it’s a Herculean task to identify illegals, how are we going to confirm the touchback programme? How are we going to monitor other provisions? You do know that there are huge loopholes and in one section it says that the requirements can be waived. That bill is the epitome of sound and fury signifying nothing. It’s horrible

FWIW.

National ID card is the first step needed in my opinion. It makes the enforcement measures much easier and takes away incentive to come here illegally in the first place.

Bradky on May 24, 2007 at 12:42 AM

The “green card” didn’t work, what makes you think the National ID card will ?

What alternative do you propose instead of a national ID card?

Bradky on May 23, 2007 at 10:58 PM

How about… enforce the current laws ?

I don’t know – identifying the illegals is going to be a herculean task

Bradky on May 24, 2007 at 12:02 AM

It’s actually pretty easy to identify them – just wait until they show up in the ER’s for typhus or tuberculosis.

The measure is opposed by 47% of Republicans, 51% of Democrats, and 46% of those not affiliated with either major party.

I’m dissapointed that Dems outnumber Republicans in their opposition to this abomination. Of course, it seems likely that a good deal of that 46% identified themselves as Republicans until this thing started.

Been hittin’ the sauce there, Allah?

profitsbeard on May 24, 2007 at 12:37 AM

As soon as we secure the border and crack down on businesses that hire illegals, we will see a mass exodus of criminals and their anchors leave this country voluntarily. Like cockroaches when you shime a light on them. Then the honest law abiding immigrants will be fast tracked to fill the vacant jobs left by the criminals.

Buh-Bye! Don’t let the gate hit you in the a$$ on the way out.

profitsbeard on May 24, 2007 at 12:37 AM

But none of those involved searching for and deporting 12 million illegals. Think of that Ilian (sp) kid that Janet Reno had taken out of his uncle’s home to return to cuba. 100 video clips like that and the bounty hunter tactics would come to a screeching halt.

National ID card is the first step needed in my opinion. It makes the enforcement measures much easier and takes away incentive to come here illegally in the first place.

America was built on Herculean taskmastering.

Panama Canal; Manhattan Project; Moon Landing, etc.

We don’t need a national ID. Like many others have stated. Let’s simply enforce the laws already on the books.

AZ_Redneck on May 23, 2007 at 11:57 PM

I don’t know – identifying the illegals is going to be a herculean task

Bradky on May 23, 2007 at 10:58 PM

Replace the Stamp Act with McCain-Feingold? The Quartering Act with The National Firearms Act?

Creation of the national database is a foot in the door to tyranny. Although dealing with illegal immigration is the main concern cited today, the “leaders” and talking heads will sell a gullible nation down the road on how a national ID could help confirm criminal suspects, prevent terrorism, or improve the accuracy of public health information.

Negative consequences, such as invasions of privacy, discrimination and cost will be dismissed as a nuance.

Once the utilitarian argument comes out (sacrifice a little liberty for the safety of all), and there is “agreement” from the aristocracy on other problems to be resolved with the national ID database, and how other databases would be beneficial supplements to quickly solving the problem … your financial and health data will come rolling in… Let’s put the gun owners in there… We need a special marker for those opposed to X… and a marker for those that support Y …

Then a little “crisis” and – poof. Pandora’s box is open.

We don’t need a national ID. Like many others have stated. Let’s simply enforce the laws already on the books.