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The Spectacle Blog
President Obama delivered his immigration speech this afternoon in El Paso, Texas. From the sounds of things, he is more interested in using “comprehensive immigration reform” as a political weapon than in getting a bill passed. He rattles off the stats he says show he’s serious about border security:
Under Secretary Napolitano’s leadership, we have strengthened border security beyond what many believed was possible. They wanted more agents on the border. Well, we now have more boots on the ground on the southwest border than at any time in our history. The Border Patrol has 20,000 agents - more than twice as many as there were in 2004, a build up that began under President Bush and that we have continued.
They wanted a fence. Well, that fence is now basically complete.
And we’ve gone further. We tripled the number of intelligence analysts working the border. I’ve deployed unmanned aerial vehicles to patrol the skies from Texas to California. We’ve forged a partnership with Mexico to fight the transnational criminal organizations that have affected both of our countries. And for the first time we are screening 100 percent of southbound rail shipments - to seize guns and money going south even as we go after drugs coming north.
The adult conversationalist then included this bit of “outreach” to the Republicans:
So, we have gone above and beyond what was requested by the very Republicans who said they supported broader reform as long as we got serious about enforcement. But even though we’ve answered these concerns, I suspect there will be those who will try to move the goal posts one more time. They’ll say we need to triple the border patrol. Or quadruple the border patrol. They’ll say we need a higher fence to support reform.
Maybe they’ll say we need a moat. Or alligators in the moat.
They’ll never be satisfied. And I understand that. That’s politics.
In truth, to legalize most illegals in the country Obama needs to get a Republican House to do what George W. Bush was never able to get a Republican House to do. And he needs to revive bipartisan support for such a move in a Senate that was unable to pass the more limited DREAM Act during the lame-duck session, when the Senate had a larger Democratic majority.
What Obama can do, and seemingly intends to do, is use the immigration issue a political tool for painting Republicans as anti-Hispanic in advance of an election. Think of it as a get-out-the-vote effort.
View all comments (40) | Leave a comment
More Blog Posts by W. James Antle, III
http://spectator.org/blog/2011/05/10/obama-on-the-gops-moat-with-al
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ncatty| 5.10.11 @ 5:49PM
Mr. New Tone does it again. "..there will be those who will try to maove the goal posts one more time.." Hey McCarthy, name some names or find a new rhetorical device.
l5j6| 5.10.11 @ 5:54PM
Most of the American people want immigration laws (which include the border), enforced. That means deporation for those aliens who are here illegally (without a visa).
Most Americans want English as the official language.
Why do so called "Hispanics" find themselves in the minority of those issues?
Answer: Because many Latino families have relatives who are illegal aliens. The numbers are so high, it's laughable when the DC Elite talk about 11 or 12 million. There are likely 20 million illegal aliens here.
We don't need to deport 20 million. All we need to do is deport 5,000, then 25,000, then 50,000 and millions and millions will self-deport.
Problem solved.
But the neocons and neoliberals (really, one in the same), want to create a new "electorate" in order to create more social programs for and thus empower themselves in office. Easy to get re-elected if you redistribute taxpayer money to poor peasants, recently arrived from Crapistan or Mexico. It's all about politics and money. Yet middle America is opposed to all of it.
The Americn people are being replaced by Mohammed and Jose. Buh-bye A-mair-ee-ka.
Al Adab| 5.10.11 @ 6:15PM
Look to Arizona. Here is a State under invasion, a clear and present danger, taking steps to defend itself and faced with a federal government acting against that interest in contravention of the Constitution. One of the enumerated powers is for the federal government to protect the states from invasion when their own militias are unable to. Atizona has activated its policing powers and called into being its' militia yet the federal government opposed the State. Clearly, the federal authority is puposely failing to provide protection under its' powers. How can we define that failure and what might a State do in response? Those questions now rise to immediacy.
GavInTucson| 5.10.11 @ 11:21PM
And, Al Adab, look at what the DoJ is doing to us down here. They are suing us in court at every turn. And many residents down here in Tucson (very left-wing, about 70%) are cheering it on.
It seems that a majority of residents in this town lack a self-preservation mechanism. And if you've been keeping an eye on the news, you probably know that these nutters want to split Pima County off into a 51st State. It has no chance of happening, but that's just how nuts these people are down here.
GavInTucson| 5.10.11 @ 11:23PM
I might add that Tucson is to Arizona, what San Francisco is to California, minus the bay. And more and more, I ponder packing up stakes and moving north to the Capital (Phoenix).
Pecos Pete| 5.11.11 @ 8:43AM
Gavin, how did Tucson become a liberal city? Where did those folks come from and why?
Thanks in advance for your reply.
alice moore| 5.11.11 @ 9:47AM
Pecos Pete, I am guessing that they, the 70% live in a very insulated bubble. That would be in the form of gated and very expensive communities. The illegals that do work for them, in keeping up their properties and raising their 0.75 children, properly tug their forelocks in the presence of these 70 percenters.
I'm sure that their 0.75 children go to exclusive private schools where the only illegals are the custodians.
I think EVERY state in the union has their Little Berkley; including Alabama.
Pecos Pete| 5.11.11 @ 11:28AM
In New Mexico there is sanctuary city Santa Fe. The liberals moved here from California/New York/etc. The locals moved to Rio Rancho in order to afford a home.
alice moore| 5.11.11 @ 12:03PM
I made a suggestion in reply to another column to revoke Federal AND State funding for Sanctuary Cities. Up until this time, theses cities and their denizens have not had to make any hard trade offs for their principles. Some like San Francisco probably did it for their ideals. New York under Guliani probably for pragmatic reasons(the NYPD, at least what I've heard by anecdote, did hold the Damoclean Sword of deportation for those reluctant to cooperate with local law enforcement. Again end tax payer funding for Sanctuary Cities. Even the loopiest of their residents will reconsider the cost of feeling good about themselves.
GavInTucson| 5.12.11 @ 11:31PM
Pete, assuming you're not being sarcastic, I honestly don't know the when, why, and where. I've lived here for nearly 17 years. It was a liberal town when I got here, but it's downright leftist now.
Occam's Tool| 5.11.11 @ 5:51PM
The World's Cutest Children are Mayan Indians from Guatemala, adopted legally. I waited in line and paid my fees. I mention this so that 1)Liberals can take their accusations of anti-Hispanic racism and shove it up their rectums, and 2) I have no problem with legal immigration.
My view of illegals is that they should be convicted of a felony for coming here illegally, to encourage the others to not come. Not just sent back. Jail 'em, slam them with felony convictions, kick 'em back against the border. For the second offense, shoot 'em.
Occam's Tool| 5.11.11 @ 5:54PM
Sorry, anger overtook me. "and 2) to demonstrate that I have" should have been how that phrase went.
Bill Hussein O'Stalin| 5.10.11 @ 6:16PM
The border fence is not only not complete, it was stopped. It's amazing how many lies Obama spins out every day.
beebop| 5.10.11 @ 6:22PM
The small man who is presently residing in the WH has done more in his tenure to damage the standing of the office of the president more than all of his predecessors combined. I cannot wait to see him humiliated by those he now dismisses.
Leslie| 5.10.11 @ 6:24PM
Obama's lie about successful illegal immigration enforcement on his watch is similar to his lie about increased oil production. We know the Bamster lies, but do we know why? He gives me the creeps.
solidground| 5.10.11 @ 6:40PM
Indeed, Obama is just plain creepy all around. With that smirk constantly pasted on his face, he reminds me of the cat that just ate the canary. And after the 2008 election, he had. Only now he's coughing up feathers and doesn't even know it. Creepy as well as arrogant, ego maniacal, deceitful, dissembling, manipulative and just plain malignant, Obama is always predictable in front of his best friend, the teleprompter.
RJ| 5.10.11 @ 6:34PM
Another straw-man statement from our condescending, light-weight in chief. The only thing that keeps this empty-suit afloat is the media's on-going campaign support and the portion of the population dumbed-down by government schools.
As Mark Steyn recently said, our real problem is that 53% of the voters were for Obama. They clearly weren't voting his demonstrated ability or record, because he had none. Instead, the Obama supporters I have listened to have said they were drawn to him because of his biography, which I am sure takes liberties with the truth and may not have even been written by him.
I wish all of those Americans who like the job Obama is doing move to France. They would like it there and we could live in freedom and prosperity in America.
Pete| 5.10.11 @ 7:02PM
"Maybe they'll say we need a moat. Or alligators in the moat." - Wow, how very Presidential! This clown lowers the bar every day, and the media just licks it up. Truly pathetic.
Al Adab| 5.10.11 @ 7:08PM
Actually Pete, President Al Naqis got this one right. We do wish for a moat, one of law in a nation of laws where those who choose to respect our culture and society are welcomed as Legal immigrants in contrast to those Illegal migrants who co-opt the language of immigration to cover their own unlawful actions.
A president who ignores the Law does so in violation of his oath of office. What might be the proper, legal response of the people and their Congressional representatives to that?
Pecos Pete| 5.11.11 @ 11:30AM
Just a wild guess: reelection?
bobmontgomery| 5.10.11 @ 7:12PM
Alligators sounds good to me.
Pecos Pete| 5.11.11 @ 8:47AM
Yep, and throw in some tigers, lions and bears and a couple thousand 50 caliber machine guns. Sarcasm works for me.
alice moore| 5.11.11 @ 9:33AM
Oh My! says Dorothy Gale. :-)
will| 5.10.11 @ 7:52PM
We DO have a moat! it's called the rio grande! and it it IS our national border! Crocs would do real well there! I hear florida has a problem with burmese pythons breeding there. Now we know where to move them!
tatosian| 5.10.11 @ 8:33PM
Jeffrey Immelt's General Electric Co. has just been awarded a "$77,573,788 firm-fixed-price contract May 5, 2011...One bid was solicited, with one bid received."
Immelt is also the head of the President’s Council on Jobs and Competitiveness.
http://www.mmdnewswire.com/contracts-40478.html
Leslie| 5.10.11 @ 9:46PM
GE also paid NO taxes last year. It's good to be friends of Obama--just ask the unions.
Bob Grant| 5.10.11 @ 11:06PM
This clown-as-president uses rhetorical devices aimed at 20 year old college students (no offense to college students)....
Amnesty to illegals in a near-record recession? You've got to be kidding me. This guy has spent over two years focused on "landmark" legislation most middle voters could give a rats a** about.
Where's the focus on a jobs bill? ...an energy independence plan? ...what has he done about the mortgage crisis? ....he's promised to "pivot" to these urgent matters more times than I can count.
He's so out of here in a year and a half.
Michael Tomlinson| 5.11.11 @ 1:42AM
I'm not for a moat with alligators, but I am for a minefield that would keep narco-terrorists from invading the US.
alice moore| 5.11.11 @ 9:31AM
Make the Border Patrol a part of the US Armed Forces. In fact some of the soldiers/airmen/sailors/Marines in Iraq and Afghanistan could be stationed into the Border Patrol.
Occam's Tool| 5.11.11 @ 5:55PM
Minefields MUST be covered by active defenses, such as machine gun emplacements, else they will be lifted up and moved.
Tina B| 5.11.11 @ 6:57AM
And living in Florida, I can vouch for the abundance of alligators and Burmese Pythons in the Okeechobi swamps. We really need help in ridding the forest/swamp of these huge creatures. And it would be a free source of border control, outside of the cost of the trappers' fees, that is.
post*tenebras*lux| 5.11.11 @ 7:40AM
How about this for immigration reform..........legalize yourself. What can be so hard about that?
martin j smith| 5.11.11 @ 8:01AM
Obama is the joker--the question is will he be called out on it or will HE LAUGH ALL THE WAY TO THE BANK-so to speak.
LarryK| 5.11.11 @ 9:12AM
GOP: Moat with gators.
Obama: Empty Suit.
Oldefarte| 5.11.11 @ 11:02AM
All kidding aside, he must have read my mind, since I've procalimed this moat/alligator solution [instead of an expensive fence]; so no doubt others have imagined it as well. The whole idea should be to make immigration inforceable by federal agencies. I think Gary Johnson has proposed granting immigrants a temporary work visa, which would then document same and allow for regulation/taxiation of immigrants; which I'd agree to. Democrats on the other hand as El Chosen One proclaims wants to increase and promote the current illegality so that he/they appear to be on the political side of immigration's free access to this country's governmental welfare mechanisms. He/they want their votes, and are willing to lie, cheat and do whatever in an effort to gain same. It's the old ambulance-chasing lawyer procaliming I'M ON YOUR SIDE propaganda that he/they are pitching to Hispanics for their votes!!!!
somnolence| 5.11.11 @ 11:27AM
Unless our elected leaders find the solution, or the guts fo defy the wrong decision ultimately by SCOTUS, I look forward to dying in the cause of secession.
somnolence| 5.11.11 @ 12:53PM
I guess Mitch Daniels or Huntsman can be the ones who will find solutions(Not), since they are the ones the White House currently says they're worried about.
PattyMor| 5.11.11 @ 2:12PM
The whole speech was snarky and condescending.
Obama was clearly channeling his inner Saul Alinky.
e cowan| 5.11.11 @ 2:16PM
'Obama on the GOP's "Moat with Alligators"'
Dig it - fill it and throw him in it!