Sunday Morning Talk Show Thread 6 May 2012

Various driveby media television networks ^ | 6 May 2012 | Various Self-Serving Politicians and Big Media Screaming Faces

[Alas Babylon!]

The Talk Shows

May 6th, 2012

Guests to be interviewed today on major television talk shows:

FOX NEWS SUNDAY (Fox Network): Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla.

MEET THE PRESS (NBC): Vice President Joe Biden; Sen. Kelly Ayotte, R-N.H.

FACE THE NATION (CBS): Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich; Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn.; Sen. Chuck U. Schumer, D-N.Y.; former Gov. Howard Dean, D-Vt.

THIS WEEK (ABC): Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz.; David Assholerod, adviser to President Barack Obama’s re-election campaign.

STATE OF THE UNION (CNN): Gingrich; Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif.; Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Mich.; former Rep. Tom Davis, R-Va.; former Gov. Ted Strickland, D-Ohio.

[chiller]

Of course, the other side of the equation is: would Romney want a shining star to play opposite his “bland” persona ? Few politicians think of themselves as bland, but Rubio is a bright light, for sure. If nothing else, Romney seems determined as hell to beat Obama, and thus go down in history as the guy who saved America. Whatever that entails, Rubio or no....

[rodguy911]

Thanks can’t wait.
I can’t believe it but on some “conservative” sites they just don’t get who Rubio is at all.

[Morgan in Denver]

Excellent post this morning, bray.

[Miss Marple]

You can blame a large portion of that anti-immigrant feeling on Michelle Malkin. She was absolutely viscious about Perry, and I won’t forget it.

People need to quit letting conservative pundits and talk-show hosts control the message.

[altura]

Romney is kinda bland, but not annoying in the way that McCain was.

And I don’t think Romney will be shy about attacking Obama like McCain was.

Romney wanted to be the candidate and he is.

He wants to be president and he will go all out against Obama.

I hope he makes it.

And, annoying as it is to many on this site, I think he may have a better chance than someof the candidates more supported here.

[kabar]

Only a few employers hell bent on cheap labor at any cost would give our side a hard time other than a few rinos still worried about losing the Hispanic vote.

The US Chamber of Commerce is our archenemy in this regard. They have been funding court challenges against states like AZ and AL who have implemented tough E-verify laws that were upheld by SCOTUS last year. They want to keep the flow of cheap labor coming. And they have supported amnesty for those already here.

The power and influence of the Chamber cannot be underestimated when it comes to the Rep Establishment and the politicians who depend on their campaign contributions.

[Morgan in Denver]

It’s not just Assholerod, it’s every Democrat in a leadership position and the majority of the rest.

Education of the voting public should include more political philosophy from our side.

[kabar]

Ironically the penny plan which has everything we need would work.

Not so easy. The entitlement programs are driving the debt. Their costs will continue to increase as the baby boomer generation retires at 10,000 a day for the next 20 years. Right now they constitute about 60% of the budget consuming all tax revenue. We borrow 42 cents of every federal dollar spent.

By 2030 one in five residents of this country will be 65 or older, twice what it is now. And by 2030 there will be just 2 workers for every retiree. Taking a cent away each year will just squeeze non-discetionary items including Defense while the entitlement programs consume an ever increasing portion of the budget both in terms of percentage and costs. We need to reform entitlements otherwise taking a penny a way every year will not solve the problem.

[chiller]

... allowing them to pay instate tuition ... was a turnoff for so many people.

You've got that one right....it still bothers me, no end, although I'm ignorant as to dollar amounts and how significant or insignificant. To think of stressed taxpayers paying the way to university --- most of which are swimming in cash, over-charging, delivering poor value, stupid curricula ---chaps me.

[Bernard]

Perry’s very mild attempts to justify doing something that was actually very minor for children of illegals... i.e. allowing them to pay instate tuition ... was a turnoff for so many people.

I don't care what Rick Perry does with HIS OWN MONEY and I don't care if Texas spends its own money to send their local illegals to college.

BUT, when Rick Perry tells me that I don't have a heart because I don't agree with how he wants to spend his money, and I don't want to use more federal money to do the same for everybody, he loses me. I have had a lifetime of lifer politicans telling me about what a horrible person I am because I don't want to contribute to their favorite charity, or I am not willing to mortage my childrens' futures for that favorite charity.

And illegal is not a race.

[liberty or death]

Outstanding. I do not watch or listen to the left wing media. They have zero to offer in the way of intelligent debate or ideas. Simple commie parrots who survive only because they live in an echo chamber of their own making.

I get all my news right here on FR. Never do I click on a news article when I open my laptop. FR needs a weather page so I don’t have to open yahoos and be swamped by the global warming scam.

[kabar]

There is such visceral hatred among many conservatives for illegals that almost spreads over onto all hispanics.

That's the Dem talking points. Hispanics only make up about two-thirds of the illegal aliens. Portraying conservatives as having a "visceral hatred" about illegal aliens is so distorted and insulting to be almost beyond response. It is part of the demonization of Reps by the Left.

Conferring rights and privileges upon illegal aliens has a corrosive effect on the Rule of Law, the very foundation of our Republic. It is also a slap in the face to legal immigrants who have followed the rules and obeyed the laws. There are millions of immigrants waiting their turn overseas to enter the U.S. legally and approximately 40 million immigrants living in the U.S., most of whom followed the law. Since when is supporting the Rule of Law a manifestation of "visceral hatred" for the lawbreakers?

Perry’s very mild attempts to justify doing something that was actually very minor for children of illegals... i.e. allowing them to pay instate tuition ... was a turnoff for so many people.

Mild my a$$. Besides being against federal law, there is a sense of fairness that must be addressed. Why should people who entered this country illegally be given tuition breaks when an out of state student can't? And they are even being given admission benefits based on minority status. What about legal citizens of the US and Texas who cannot get into state schools because their place has been taken by an illegal?

Federal law prohibits state colleges and universities from providing in-state tuition rates to illegal aliens “on the basis of residence within the State”—unless the same in-state rates are offered to all citizens of the United States. Today, 12 states are circumventing this federal law, and the legal arguments offered to justify such actions are untenable, no matter what other policy arguments are offered in their defense. Because at least one federal court of appeals has held that there is no private right of action under the specific statute in question—§ 1623 of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996—the U.S. Department of Justice must enforce this statutory provision against states that have violated federal law.

81% of likely voters oppose granting in-state tuition to illegal aliens in their state, with 12% supporting tuition breaks for illegal aliens (Rasmussen, August 2011). Who the hell is out of step, the vast majority of Americans or Rick Perry? There is a big fight over this issue in MD, the bluest of blue states, this year. It will be on the ballot after signatures were collected in record time to block the state legislature, which passed in-state tuition. Right now, it appears that it will be defeated by the people even in MD. In-state tuition for illegals is not only not wise policy, it is also stupid politically when the overwhelming position of the people is against it.

... that it might have an ultimate benefit by turning those kids into tax paying citizens.

It is against the law to hire illegals in this country and it is illegal for them to work here. So exactly how will they pay taxes?

We don’t punish children of rapists or murderers or children of people in prison for various crimes but we want to punish children whose parents crime was coming here illegally.

Of course we do. There are consequences when you commit a crime or multiple crimes. We separate children from their parents when they are incarcerated. The children suffer the consequences in many ways. An illegal alien child was given the privilege and benefits of attending American schools (K-12), school meals, free health care, etc and all the attendent benefits of living in one of the most prosperous and freest nations on earth. How is this somehow seen as being punishment because that "child" cannot receive in-state tuition? They can still attend universities if they pay out of state tuition like many Americans do.

And how do you define a child? If you look at the Texas law there is no age limit in terms of taking advantage of in-state tuition.

[mtnwmn]

Excellent!!

[Fishtalk]

You can blame a large portion of that anti-immigrant feeling on Michelle Malkin

Let me correct something in your argument. A large portion of us are anti-ILLEGAL-immigrant. Sorry, please get it right. You put yourself right up there with the Democrats and Lamestream when you mindlessly repeat this mantra.

We are not dumbells and stop talking down to us. All the vast majority of us want is a SENSIBLE immigration system. It's not rocket science and it's not beyond the pale.

We understand fences, we have locks on our doors, indeed much of the world has their borders manned with rigor.

And yes, I was around when mass amnesty was granted during the Reagan years and here we are agin with millions of illegal immigrants now tell me why we are to believe that another amnesty/anchor baby system will work.

[Fishtalk]

There is such visceral hatred among many conservatives for illegals that almost spreads over onto all hispanics.

That's the Dem talking points. Hispanics only make up about two-thirds of the illegal aliens. Portraying conservatives as having a "visceral hatred" about illegal aliens is so distorted and insulting to be almost beyond response. It is part of the demonization of Reps by the Left.

I agree. What an awful thing to say that the average American has a visceral hatred of illegals. We might not like them, silly us who think our guests should obey our laws, but there's no visceral hatred. That's a mean, mean thing to assert.

And it sure doesn't spread over to legal immigrants, not that one can tell the difference by look and feel.

Never gonna convince anybody by casting totally untrue and mean aspersions on law-abiding people.

[caww]

.....”The Tea Party’.... rejects both candidates and wants a small localized gummit that would represent the people and not the central planners who want to control every part of you and the economy.....

.... There couldn't’t be a more distinct choice and although this election will be a landslide in both the presidency and congress there is a bigger election taking place inside the minds of the American people. ...

This election is the turning away from all the socialist programs and an elimination of the physical and mental enslavement they require.... When this election of the American mind is won we will once and for all become the Land of the Free and Home of the Brave as God and our Founders designed."........

Pray for America Amen.

[ROCKLOBSTER]

Ahem!

...who Rubio is...

Were his parents naturalized before he was born?

[caww]

Thank you very much for your article....as I see it the TP is our only hope. Without it this nation will get rolled.

[altura]

Once again, you are falling for the party line.

The taxpayers actually benefited because more people attended the universities and colleges. They paid like everyone else. They just got the benefit of the in-state rate, which is high enough.

Even the Dallas Morning News which hates Perry with every fibre of their liberal being had an article analyzing this tuition thing and concluded that it was beneficial to all.

I don’t know about the colleges swimming in cash. They say they are not. I do know that college education is way over-rated for a lot of people and that college educations are not what they used to be.

The main benefit is something to put on your resume. Many companies use requiring a degree as a way of easily eliminating a lot of people, some of whom would be better than the college grads they eventually hire.

I think my daughter wasted time pursuing an advanced degree when she could have done better spending that time working in her profession and working her way up.

But I digress. That whole tuition thing was a red herring and much ado about nothing.

[altura]

Fishtalk, I wasn’t talking about the average American.

Maybe I’ve been on Free Rebublic too long and my viewpoint is skewed.

Maybe I was on too many pro-Perry threads where he was viciously trashed for YES a very mild concession to the children of illegals.

I see it here. Not on this thread but everywhere else.

[altura]

Hah! Good news, Bernard. Rick Perry is not running.

As for charity, I only give now to my church and to the Salvation Army.

It would take more of an investigation into other charities than I am prepared to do to be sure they are using the money in the right way.

As I say to everybody, I gave at 7-11. And I do because my husband smokes and the horrendous cigarette taxes are supposed to go to poor children’s healthcare.

Hah!

[Cheerio]

It should be stopped at the border.

BUT IT ISN'T AND IT WON'T BE. BOTH parties can be blamed - RATS want 30 million new voters, and GOP wants cheap labor that are not going to sue employers. So much for "Government by and for the people". The people of what nation?

[altura]

You talkin’ to me, Fish? :)

[altura]

kabar, I know this is a pet issue of yours and you’ve done a vast amount of research. I’ve read it before.

All I’m saying is:

1) There is no downside to coming illegally at present if you can make it. Nobody does anything to you, not even if you are a criminal (I mean deportation)

2) None of the possible benefits illegals get here (and I know they get many) are the main factor in their coming.

They come because they can. No ranting and raving about what they get here that they shouldn’t get will do any good unless we close the border.

However, I agree with you that loopholes should be closed, although it may well be heartless.

[hocndoc]

Out of State students don’t have to be brought to the State before they are 15, live here three years and graduate from a Texas high school to qualify for in state tuition.
In fact, anyone who lives within a County that abuts Texas can qualify for In state tuition, without moving to Texas before matriculation.

[Fishtalk]

Sure I’m talking to you.

Been pondering your dilemma. I know you been embroiled in the Texas Guvernor issue. I liked Rick Perry but you need to know that crack about Americans wanting this immigration problem solved having no heart hurt him bad.

It’s a quick knee jerk summary, but the bigger problem with this immigration problem is the POLITICIANS. They’ve kicked the can down the road, they’ve lied....and Americans are sick of them.

Unfortunately we end up fighting with each other and none of us are the problem.

FreeRepublic is a tough little nonsense forum but I seriously don’t think there’s many Freepers don’t like immigrants, legal or illegal.

But on this thread I’m reading about Michelle Malkin being the problem, we listen to the pundits....

...no we don’t. We want the matter solved and we don’t want to be called heartless for want a logical, sensible immigration system.

All the rest such as dream acts are just strawmen.

[mountainfolk]

The Marco Rubio interview on FNS was a reminder of the huge importance the right candidate for VP is to a Romney victory in Nov. There are only a few electoral votes in play so it is imperative that he choose an individual who is compatible with him and an asset in bringing in votes from the regions that are open to persuasion. I asked my close knowledgeable source, husband, his thoughts on Rubio and his first reply was that Rubio is inexperienced because of age but that can be overcome quickly because he is quite smart and overall certainly as good a pick for the position as a similarly young JFK was for the presidency. However, Fla should go GOP with Rubio as senator and Jeb Bush, Trump, and other notables already helping out there. I agree and therefore he would be my second choice.
Both of us agree that none of the primary candidates will do anything about adding more votes to the total, and some would lose the whole election for us so then who? That would be Chris Christie. There may be other names of good and capable persons but we are looking for a positive asset in winning new voters.
Americans are hungering for outspoken, honest, no nonsense representation. Christie has experience in a state where subtlety is unknown and forceful politics wins the day. A lot more to be said on that but for now I would only add an observation that Christie is a Catholic, Romney is a Mormon. Catholics and Mormons can work together and respect the religious differences between themselves and other faiths. The asset here tho is that Christie can take on the Obama war on the Catholic church, which in fact is a war on religious freedom for all Americans. Christie has children in parochial school who will be headed to college before he knows it so he has a vested interest in education as well. Labor unions, good or bad, are something he can deal with as well. New Jersey also is kin to New York in money sources and power. Like Donald Trump, Christie has access to the hard nosed business sector which will go with the accomplished and professional and successful candidate who can and will keep them in business.

[altura]

Why do you say it won’t be?

That’s pretty defeatist. If Mexico, with far fewer resources, can close their borders tighter than a drum, why can’t we?

The so-called cheap labor benefit is outweighed by the costs to us. Are you saying that nobody in the Republican party wants to do that? I hope that isn’t the case.

Why are we talking abut this anyway? Can’t we talk about Marco Rubio?

[Unrepentant VN Vet]

FR needs a weather page so I don’t have to open yahoos and be swamped by the global warming scam.

Try this: http://www.weather.gov/ Yeah, it's gummint, but have yet to see any AGW agitprop or ads for politicians anywhere on the site.

...or maybe I've just got my BS filters set up so that stuff all just gets ignored automatically.

Sure had a lot of practice at that since '68.....

[mountainfolk]

The Marco Rubio interview on FNS was a reminder of the huge importance the right candidate for VP is to a Romney victory in Nov. There are only a few electoral votes in play so it is imperative that he choose an individual who is compatible with him and an asset in bringing in votes from the regions that are open to persuasion. I asked my close knowledgeable source, husband, his thoughts on Rubio and his first reply was that Rubio is inexperienced because of age but that can be overcome quickly because he is quite smart and overall certainly as good a pick for the position as a similarly young JFK was for the presidency. However, Fla should go GOP with Rubio as senator and Jeb Bush, Trump, and other notables already helping out there. I agree and therefore he would be my second choice.
Both of us agree that none of the primary candidates will do anything about adding more votes to the total, and some would lose the whole election for us so then who? That would be Chris Christie. There may be other names of good and capable persons but we are looking for a positive asset in winning new voters.
Americans are hungering for outspoken, honest, no nonsense representation. Christie has experience in a state where subtlety is unknown and forceful politics wins the day. A lot more to be said on that but for now I would only add an observation that Christie is a Catholic, Romney is a Mormon. Catholics and Mormons can work together and respect the religious differences between themselves and other faiths. The asset here tho is that Christie can take on the Obama war on the Catholic church, which in fact is a war on religious freedom for all Americans. Christie has children in parochial school who will be headed to college before he knows it so he has a vested interest in education as well. Labor unions, good or bad, are something he can deal with as well. New Jersey also is kin to New York in money sources and power. Like Donald Trump, Christie has access to the hard nosed business sector which will go with the accomplished and professional and successful candidate who can and will keep them in business.

[mountainfolk]

The Marco Rubio interview on FNS was a reminder of the huge importance the right candidate for VP is to a Romney victory in Nov. There are only a few electoral votes in play so it is imperative that he choose an individual who is compatible with him and an asset in bringing in votes from the regions that are open to persuasion. I asked my close knowledgeable source, husband, his thoughts on Rubio and his first reply was that Rubio is inexperienced because of age but that can be overcome quickly because he is quite smart and overall certainly as good a pick for the position as a similarly young JFK was for the presidency. However, Fla should go GOP with Rubio as senator and Jeb Bush, Trump, and other notables already helping out there. I agree and therefore he would be my second choice.
Both of us agree that none of the primary candidates will do anything about adding more votes to the total, and some would lose the whole election for us so then who? That would be Chris Christie. There may be other names of good and capable persons but we are looking for a positive asset in winning new voters.
Americans are hungering for outspoken, honest, no nonsense representation. Christie has experience in a state where subtlety is unknown and forceful politics wins the day. A lot more to be said on that but for now I would only add an observation that Christie is a Catholic, Romney is a Mormon. Catholics and Mormons can work together and respect the religious differences between themselves and other faiths. The asset here tho is that Christie can take on the Obama war on the Catholic church, which in fact is a war on religious freedom for all Americans. Christie has children in parochial school who will be headed to college before he knows it so he has a vested interest in education as well. Labor unions, good or bad, are something he can deal with as well. New Jersey also is kin to New York in money sources and power. Like Donald Trump, Christie has access to the hard nosed business sector which will go with the accomplished and professional and successful candidate who can and will keep them in business.

[Unrepentant VN Vet]

...and maybe I should practice a bit more posting so I don’t hose that up again.

[altura]

Believe me, no one is more aware than I am that Rick’s statement about ‘heart’however it is misquoted was a deathknell to his campaign.

He shouldn’t have said it and he apologized for it.

But I’m not hung up on Rick Perry. I think he was the best qualified contender in so many ways, but that’s over.

I am hung up on the stuff that I saw on Free Republic by people who came on Rick Perry threads to attack him.

It was beyond ugly, beyond vicious and opened my mind to the mindset of a lot of people here. I will never forget it.

You were not involved so you don’t know. And I appreciate it that you were not.

BTW, I know nothing about the Malkin controversy, I guess I missed it.

[chooseascreennamepat]

“There is such visceral hatred among many conservatives for illegals that almost spreads over onto all hispanics.”

Is a bank robber an illegal ‘person’? Bet ur ass. I don't hate the person. I dislike what they have done. I don't just dislike Hispanic bank robbers.

But libs/socialists don't need truth, they USE lies.

[mountainfolk]

Sorry for the extra postings. My online is cutting in and out and hard to tell when something actually goes thru. Can te extras be deleted?

[Chgogal]

http://www.accuweather.com/en/us/chicago-il/60601/weather-forecast/26457_pc

Accuweather is pretty good. Above is the link set for Chicago. Just type the largest city in your area, hit search and then save to your Favorites Bar and you won't be bothered too much by the Nutties.

Happy Weather!

[Cheerio]

FNS clip Biden: Osama bin Laden is dead; General Motors is alive. [Biden paused, but still didn’t get any audience reaction for that comment.]

This is such a "fake" argument to anyone that has a tiny fraction of knowledge regarding economics and bankruptcy laws in the USA. Did the airline industry die? How many US airlines have filed bankruptcy since 1978? Since 9-11? Almost all of the major carriers. Obama/Biden love to tell their union worshipers that they saved the auto industry from the evil Republicans - the bailout was nothing more than saving UNION jobs and hence dues for RAT candidates automatically subtracted from a very hefty pay check. GM and Chrysler could have filed for bankruptcy - thereby invalidating their union contracts like the airlines - and many thousands of jobs would NOT have disappeared like Obama/Slo Joe like to keep harping on. Zero took and placed the unions at a higher credit standing than the "SECURED BONDHOLDERS" at Chrysler contrary to the bankruptcy laws. Cheers were heard from the union members and from the America hating LEFT.

[Fishtalk]

We have a big illegal alien population in the part of Delaware where I live. They work at the chicken slaughter factories, most from Ecuador and Honduras.

They are mostly law abiding hard-working people, probably folks who could have come into this country legally but I don’t know why they didn’t.

We have a problem in that our state insurance commissioner won’t stop the practice of requiring a credit report to obtain car insurance. Illegal aliens seldom have any kind of credit report. So many of our illegal aliens have no car insurance. If one hits your car it’s a mess.

All which causes tension between the illegals and American born but again, it’s nothing any of us did.

Every state has this sort of thing, hospitals filled with illegals using them as doctor’s offices...it’s a nationwide problem.

But instead of sitting down a sanely, logically, setting about to fix the problem, the politicians simply do NOT want to take a stand.

Giving children of illegals instate tuition, it seems like a small thing. But Americans are of a mind that they don’t want any concessions on this issue. We’ve conceded enough already. The politicos either want to avoid the issue completely or they’re seeking votes.

As for Delaware, if our insurance commissioner eliminates auto insurers demand for a credit background the cost of car insurance in our state doubles in cost. It’s not really about whether asking for credit checks is a bad thing, it’shows how it goes around to affect this big problem of illegal immigrants.

It’s not that giving children of illegals, innocents as the argument goes, would cost the state a bunch of money were they given in state tuition. It’s just that today instate tuition, tomorrow citizen ship and repartions for their mistreated parents.

When right along maybe locking up our borders, implementing an effective and fair immigration system....well maybe THAT’s the answer.

We’ve got a slew of problems created because of this illegal immigrant problem and Americans have had it up to here with promises.

A politico looking to get elected needs to tread carefully. We don’t want to be told we’re heartless, we don’t want to be told we hate immigrants, we don’t want to be bullied into accepting just anybody waltzing into our country.

It ain’t rocket science. It’s common sense.

And we’re not backing away, hence over 80% of us wanting the system fixed, not giving dream acts to children, not eliminating credit checks....just an immigration system that works.

[Alas Babylon!]

Attention Reporters!

Newt and Michele were on Face the Nation; Newt was also on CNN... Any reports on them?

[ROCKLOBSTER]

The answer is no.

Marco Antonio Rubio born May 28, 1971. His parents were Cubans who had emigrated to the United States in 1956 and were later naturalized as U.S. citizens in 1975.

[Fishtalk]

Newt was on Candy Crowley.

When asked if Romney was conservative, he gave his stock answer...”compared to Obama?”

Heh. A non-answer as I see it.

He’s a good commentator and who knows, maybe that’s what he’ll end up being.

[Alas Babylon!]

Also, I would be remiss if I didn't speak about JimRob's latest thread, Frank discussion re our loss to Obama/Romney and the future direction of FR and tea party movement.

I'm glad he posted that. He won't vote for Romney, but he acknowledges the dilemma the rest of us are in and how we cannot allow Obama to get four more years. Bottom line, there will not be bannings of FReepers posting pro-Romney remarks.

We should all thank him for that thread and try to heal any wounds between us all. I for one apologize for things I might have said and my own temper on previous threads.

Rest assured that like ALL of you, I want nothing but good for my country. Like you, I fear for Her, and don't think we have outstanding choices politically. BUT.... We can't just give up, either. I'm not even sure what constitutes giving up. I just know I won't.

[Chgogal]

Senator Rubio is doing pretty well.

[Fishtalk]

I read that thread too, AB, and thanked JR for what had to be a difficult post.

We’re all facing difficult times but I stand by my belief that if we, ONE MORE TIME, support a “moderate” and Romney continues to reach across the aisle and govern Democrat Lite, that a third party will be formed.

So something “good” could come of it all, if nothing else but a viable and very real “Tea Party”.

[Fishtalk]

I really like your tag line.

[kabar]

1) There is no downside to coming illegally at present if you can make it. Nobody does anything to you, not even if you are a criminal (I mean deportation)

Nonsense. Obama claims over 400,000 deportations last year. There are 55,000 criminal aliens in federal prison and another 300,000 in state and local prisons. Since 9/11 over 50,000 residents of this country have been killed by criminal aliens and hundreds of thousands more are victims of their crimes. 22% of all felonies in Maricopa County, AZ are committed by illegal aliens. Yes, there is still a price to pay, but we are not doing enough.

2) None of the possible benefits illegals get here (and I know they get many) are the main factor in their coming.

There are "benefits" to coming here or we wouldn't have 12 to 20 million illegals in this country. I gave you the data on use of welfare programs. And illegals are using our ERs as free health clinics to access the finest healthcare system in the world. I have no idea what you classify as "benefits," but there are plenty here ranging from jobs, education, a generally lawful society compared to the Third World corruption they came from and Mexico is having almost a civil war with more than 40,000 killed during the drug cartel wars. Did you know that the official unemployment rate in Mexico is 5.1%?

They come because they can. No ranting and raving about what they get here that they shouldn’t get will do any good unless we close the border.

Do you comprehend what I have posted to you. 40% of all illegal aliens come here legally and overstay their visas. Closing the border only solves part of the problem. Comprende? And prohibiting benefits to illegals and making life as uncomfortable as we possibly can for illegals will cause them to self deport. We have data and anecdotal information to prove that. Attrition thru enforcement works. It also creates jobs for Americans. There are an estimated 8 million illegal aliens holding jobs in this country while 22 million legal residents of this country are looking for fulltime employment.

However, I agree with you that loopholes should be closed, although it may well be heartless.

Heartless? You are beyond salvation. If the laws are "heartless," then change them, don't selectively enforce them. And as someone who has lived in 11 countries and travelled to more than 70 others, no country on the face of the earth treats people who violate their borders and laws as well as the US. And we take in 1.2 million legal immigrants a year, more than the rest of the world combined.

[Miss Marple]

I meant exactly what I said. Local talk radio was full of people complaining about bi-lingual signs in the drugstores, hearing Spanish being spoken in laundromats, complaints about Hispanics opening businesses. It was flat-out anti-Hispanic crap and it was tolerated by our local talk radio host. People like Malkin were so hateful in their comments that it gave license to people to make comments like this.

Now, it may be that you and others here are not anti-Hispanic, but don’t tell me there aren’t a portion of people who ARE, and they are on both sides of the aisle. We just had police called in to a gang fight at one of the high schools between blacks and Hispanics.

If people really were serious about this issue then why didn’t the GOP accept the guest worker program President Bush put forth? This issue has been hijacked by people who are not interested in a solution and are simply stirring the bad feeling.

The obvious solution is to secure the border and then figure out what to do with the ones who are here. Some have self-deported already due to the poor economy. The rest could becomeo permanent legal residents without citizenship privileges. But all I see is a lot of talk and no action from either side.

And when Romney tries to do something about this next year, the same people (Malkin primarily) will be on his case like he was the most evil person in the world, just like they did to Perry.

And it is amazing to me that people got their feelings hurt over that one comment Perry made. He was obviously not good with words and should have phrased it differently. Are people such weenies that they can’t say, “Sorry, you’re wrong and here’s why?” Instead they go nutso on Perry and we lost a guy who probably could have been a good candidate.

Conservatives are fond of saying the liberals are the ones who make decisions on emotions, but I haven’t seen evidence of much rationality on the conservative side over the last 6 years. Either the premise is wrong, or we have a lot of people who are not conservatives here. Take your choice.

[kabar]

Texas like the other 11 states that are violating the 1996 immigration law is trying to circumvent the federal law by using residency as a way to justify illegal aliens in-state tuition without preventing out of state US citizens from getting in-state tuition as long as they use the same rules, which make it very difficult for them.

As the National Conference of State Legislatures notes in a report on in-state tuition for illegal aliens, in order to try and “maneuver around the [§ 1623] requirements, the eleven states that have enacted laws granting in-state tuition rates to undocumented students have tried to word the legislation so that it is contingent on high school attendance and graduation, and not based on residency within the state.”[xxiii] But Texas bases its definition of residency for college admission on an individual (or his parent) establishing domicile in Texas not later than one year before the academic term in which the student is enrolled in college or graduating from a Texas high school who “maintained a residence” continuously for three years before graduation.[xxiv]

live here three years and graduate from a Texas high school to qualify for in state tuition.

You can get a GED and still qualify for in-state tuition per the Texas law.

[bray]

The truth needs to be told about the dangers of homosexuality.

Candy Crowley is really carrying the campaign water. Crying about Newt giving the facts. Trying to say how wonderful this economy is going and how bullish people are about it, what?

[rodguy911]

While I sympathize with those who need cheap labor to do this or that menial job with the huge threat of terrorism looming at the border you have to weigh the two and terrorism outweighs any other need.

Historically, immigration was designed to bring in either the politically oppressed,just a few individuals here,(the blind chinese due for example) or others who can actually fulfill a need the country has.

Mexicon welfare people and pregnant women desiring anchor babies do no fall into that category.