I have a post with this...it's just not done yet. I ended up writing more than I had planned. But enjoy this sweet memory of "happier days", when the concept of a "melting pot" meant assimilation was good and the right thing for immigrants to do.

Posted by: Wordsmith at 12:24 PM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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The Senate has passed a provision making English the official "national language" of the United States.

I think the Congress is aiming too low here. I'm all for passing a law making English the official "international language" of planet Earth.

Hey, it would have at least as much validity as any other bogus unenforceable "international" law. So why not?

Posted by: Gary at 10:05 AM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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At least that's the theory.

Construction of the barrier would send "a signal that open-border days are over. ... Good fences make good neighbors, fences don't make bad neighbors," said Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala. He said border areas where barriers already exist have experienced economic improvement and reduced crime.

"What we have here has become a symbol for the right wing in American politics," countered Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill. He said if the proposal passed, "our relationship with Mexico would come down to a barrier between our two countries."

Considering the tone of the House version of the immigration bill, I'd say this provision will be a keeper as it goes through committee. Any chance we can get this sucker electrified?

Posted by: Gary at 03:46 PM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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Well, the President gave the speech. I didn't see it. We were trying to quickly and efficiently get my kids ready for bed so that the Mrs. would be able to sit down at 9pm watch her much-anticipated season finale of "Grey's Anatomy" without distraction or interuption.

I haven't even read the text so I can't comment on it yet, but from what I understand there wasn't anything said that we haven't heard before. Like most everything else, the President has been consistent about what he sees as a compromise solution to this hot-button issue.

Some of the heavy-hitters on the Right side of the blogosphere, however, are - at best - not pleased and - at worst - enraged. That's to be expected. This is an emotional issue. But it's also a complex one that will not be solved without some sort of compromise. Dafydd at Big Lizards warns bloggers like John Hinderaker of Powerline:

For the love of God, people... compromise means you must give a little. There is a middle ground. And if I'm wrong, if there is not, then we are all lost -- because John's side does not have the support of the American people and will never win.

Here are our choices:

1) We settle on a reasonable compromise bill that includes both border enforcement and also immigration reform, a guest-worker program, and some eventual normalization; and we try to make it the best bill we can, given those constraints; or...

2) We rend the party, the Democrats win, and then you'll find out what "amnesty" and "open borders" really mean. And minor things like the entire war on jihadi terrorism will trampled underfoot by the Democratic thugs who seize control of our country.

And all for the want of the simple art of giving a little to get a lot.

Think. Think. Think two times, three times... and don't throw away this magnificent opportunity -- just because you only get three-quarters of a loaf instead of the whole bloody thing on a golden plate. [emphasis his]

Memo to Tony Snow: The blogosphere/talk radio callers/e-mailers are turning against this speech in a decisive fashion. They simply do not believe the Administration is really committed to border enforcement, and the spokespeople sent out to back up the president's message aren't doing that job. Period.

UPDATE: 9:15am
AJ Strata has an extensive list of "thank you"s to the President in response to those in the base who are asking "what have you done for me, lately?".

Posted by: Gary at 08:55 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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Expect a run on your local Taco Bell soon.

For the love of God, people. Think about it!!!! Oh, the humanity!!

note: this was not photoshopped

Posted by: Gary at 09:17 AM | Comments (3) | Add Comment
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1 Uhhh, aren't Burritos a young burro? Hummmmm. I didn't want one anyhow

Posted by: TICKETPLEASE at May 02, 2006 08:37 AM (MF225)

2 Phew! If he would have held up a sign about no enchiladas, I would have broken out in a panic, and would have to do some serious soul-searching on where my loyalties stand.

Posted by: Wordsmith at May 02, 2006 03:52 PM (nrGCx)

3 Just stumbled here by link. This is the funniest blog name I've ever seen. I thought burritos were invented in San Fransisco.(CA.)

Posted by: Mike C. at May 06, 2006 10:46 PM (y6n8O)

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Dafydd at Big Lizards makes a compelling case for the current Immigration Reform bill that just cleared the Senate Judiciary Committee as a "reasonable beginning" that still "needs work". I agree with his sentiments:

"I am both pro-immigration and also pro-border control. I have written about this many times before (for example, here and here). I truly and actually believe in the American ideal; but my ideological creed must be tempered by the forge of reality: we obviously cannot simply open the borders and let a firehose of immigration spray across. I try to keep at least two of my feet on the ground.

But those who insist we can just "seal the borders" and "deport all the illegals" are making the same ethereal, other-worldly mistake. It is not physically possible to round 'em up and ship 'em out; there are twelve million illegals here right now, for heaven's sake. Any immigration reform plan must come to grips with this 800-lb gorilla.

As odd as I feel saying it, the McCain-Kennedy bill is the only one to come out of either body that tries to find a solution to that King Kong of dilemmas, what to do with the 12,000,000. I don't particularly like Sen. John McCain (R-Gadfly) and I despise Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Margaritaville). But their bill at least makes an attempt to resolve that problem.

And strangely, it's also the closest to the bill President Bush proposed. At least the J-Com bill includes a guest-worker program with a path to citizenship -- and that is another huge point in its favor, since at the moment, there is no defined path to citizenship... and that is nine-tenths of the problem: since we don't make any provision to let even the most deserving come in the front door (it's entirely random -- when it isn't being race-based), those desperate for freedom come squirming in through the window.

What do you expect? Even the most decent people will take desperate measures to feed their families and let their children grow up in freedom, not tyranny. [author's emphasis]"

Posted by: Gary at 09:56 AM | Comments (4) | Add Comment
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