Posted on 04/08/2005 1:46:00 AM PDT by BurbankKarl
President Bush has called the Minutemen, who are now patrolling the U.S.-Mexican border:"vigilantes." I suppose that Bush believes anyone who wishes to help enforce our laws and maintain U.S. sovereignty is a vigilante. If our president had not abdicated his responsibility in this matter, the Minuteman Project would not exist. However, he did and they are doing a great job!
Despite the erroneous propaganda perpetuated by the liberal media, the ACLU, the Mexican government, and even our president, the Minutemen are not a group of wild-eyed racists--with bloodlust in their hearts. They are retired police officers, former military men, laborers, businessmen, moms, and dads, in short--they are a cross section of America. The only difference between these Americans and most of us, is the fact that they are willing to sacrifice their time and are even willing to put themselves in harm's way. They like most of us, are fed up with our government's lack of interest in enforcing our borders.
Much has been made of the fact that many of the Minutemen volunteers carry firearms.They do not chase down illegals with guns drawn. They are carrying weapons for self-defense purposes only. They do not apprehend suspects. They are simply operating as the eyes and ears of the incredibly under-staffed U.S. Border Patrol. The area along the Arizona border with Mexico (where the Minutemen are stationed) has become a very violent sector, filled with Latin American drug smugglers. Perhaps, we should remind the left that we as U.S. citizens, still have the right to bear arms.
The Minutemen have taken on the responsibility of spotting and reporting anyone seen, illegally crossing the border. Period.
The Project's duties were well described by Minuteman spokesman Mike McGarry this weekend, he said : "You observe them, report them, and get out of the way."
This past weekend saw the first patrols of the Minutemen, which yielded several arrests of illegal aliens. On Saturday, volunteers spotted and reported sightings of illegal crossings. Their actions resulted in 18 arrests.
As of Tuesday (three days after patrols began), the Minutemen were responsible for aiding in the arrest of 176 illegal aliens. These numbers will continue to rise and by the end of April, this dedicated group of men and women will have done their country a great service. With every illegal alien who is apprehended, President Bush looks a bit more foolish and impotent.
The big stink is only because this is making the 'powers that be' look very, very bad and they can't stand the heat. SOMETHING has GOT to be done to control the flow across the border and the 'elected' politicians sure are not doing anything about it. Key word, ELECTED. Remind those jokers in Washington this.
Oh but illegal immigrants destroying traces and evidences of their status except through the garbage they leave ARE NOT VIGILANTES?
Suicide by invasive collonization. At least we made a deal, however raw for them, with the Indians, for all to see and even reconsider.
AMENSTY FOR ILLEGALS BUT NOT FOR MINUTEMEN?
Maybe he's afraid of being labeled racist. Why would that be?
Mr. President will come around , once he considers the fruit of this effort. No one knew what would happen . Including him.
While it's our responsibility to do so, we are only compelled to rise and defend our nation after THE FAILURE of the government to do so.
THE FAILURE is the President's direct responsibility.
And I am...was...a rabid supporter of President Bush.
I still am on many issues, but on this one, I am...."disappointed". He's done amzaing things to transform the Middle East. Historical changes, but like his father, he was blind to a major domestic issues that directly impacts each and every citizen. I don't care if he thinks turning a blind eye helps defeat Communism in Mexico, he needs to explain that to the people. In the mean time, the Minutemen need a good marketing team to begin fundraising.
If the rats run a strong anti-illegal immigration platform they will wipe us out the next election.
The Republi-crats have wasted their final opportunity to look competent.
excellent post!!!!!!!!
For whatever my powers as a prognosticator are worth, I believe that uncontrolled, illegal immigration, and "the border" will be classic wedge or stealth issues in the 2006 and 2008 elections-- the side which best articulates and promotes a way of dealing with these will be unstoppable.
The Republicans ignore this ( or wish it would go away ) at their peril. Most Americans are not all that dogmatic or doctrinaire, and the party which does the best job of finding solutions to this problem will sweep all before it. You have been warned.
What all this complaining is about is simply an attempt to divide the GOP.
Is illegal immigration a problem?
Yes, it is, but it is not going to be solved quickly.
The only way the Democrats are going to regain national power is if the Republicans split their vote.
Some 'hard line' anti-immigration guy will run (who can't get elected) and take enough votes from the GOP to put the Democrats right back in power (like they did with Wilson and Clinton).
bttt
And besides, what alternative do you have for the next 4 years or when the next election comes?
That's why the GOP needs to act now and get their crap together....who could disagree with you? We all know the dems won't actually do anything about it, no one here would make the case that they would....it will give them a nice issue to glom onto....wake up GOP!
Immigration is one issue that GW is SO VERY WRONG on. The Minuteman project is proving that the "Border Patrol" has not been doing their job - a job that has been rather limited by the "powers that be".
"What you do is as important as anything government does. I ask you to seek a common good beyond your comfort; to defend needed reforms against easy attacks; to serve your nation, beginning with your neighbor. I ask you to be citizens: citizens, not spectators; citizens, not subjects; responsible citizens, building communities of service and a nation of character."
From all the negative threads about Pres. Bush on here lately, I'd say that when the next election comes you may have Hillary or someone of her ilk as your "Commander in Chief".
It is bordering on the ridiculous that the Border Patrol is crediting the Mexican Army for reduced border crossings on the Arizona Border.
They really do think we are stupid.
The danger won't be from conservatives voting for Dems, it will be from them either voting third party or staying home. We all saw the importance of high vote turnout last November. If Republican candidates enrage part of their base and lose future elections, they will have only themselves to blame.
Is it possible to get enough Minutemen for the whole job? I understand the Mexican army has people directing Mexican criminals to easier crossings.
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