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I have the scissors with the rounded tips, do they count when you say, "no running with scissors"? This exchange has become a great amusement for some in my group who have the Internet.

Do we know that we have been hoodwinked into believing that we would have 2000 new Agents on our Border? Yes. Do I think it's right? He11 NO!

Now back to the topic of the thread, do I think the Minutemen will make some kind of difference if they come to our communities? Not really. Oh if they only could. We have seen this type of "action/mission" before on our borders, and it did nothing FOR us. I keep going back to the idea that many effective protests have been taken to our nation's capital, it's too easy for the Government to ignore the Minutemen when they are out here in the desert, doesn't it prove that we do not have the eye of the Government out here when they ONLY give us a fraction of the Border Agents that were PROMISED?

Well it's my opinion (and some of our group would even be willing to join in the protest, if it were being done in Washington instead of down here). Our area is obviously not a priority in Washington, but if the Minutemen wanted to really make a difference perhaps they could do so if they took their numbers and protests directly to the people who CAN make a difference.

If the Minutemen want to come out here to be cowboys or pseudo-Border Patrol Officers then call it what it is~ a chance to get drunk and party with the fellers in the desert. (My opinion).

If the Minutemen want to make a real difference they will take their numbers and their concerns (written by someone besides whomever wrote that tripe on their web page), and draw the elected official's eyes back to their promises and our problems down here.

Well it's my opinion (and some of our group would even be willing to join in the protest, if it were being done in Washington instead of down here). Our area is obviously not a priority in Washington, but if the Minutemen wanted to really make a difference perhaps they could do so if they took their numbers and protests directly to the people who CAN make a difference.

I understand your concerns about Gilchrist and the Minuteman Project. Actually, I share some of them and I'm not convinced that their effort here will have any real benefit. But it might. Of course, then, it might end up with a shootout or some other tragedy we don't need down here. I'm standing back and taking a 'wait and see' attitude with the whole thing.

You suggest a protest would be better in Washington, DC. But in DC protests are a dime a dozen. People have rallies and protests there almost every week. Thousands show up. Do you hear much about them? Do they make much of a difference? Arizona is a hotspot for people who are fed up will the border invasion. You will get more people together here than you'll ever get together in DC given the distance and travel cost. Yet, despite widespread community concern over the issue, few show up even at local protests and rallies. Some might claim that people aren't that concerned about the issue then but they would be wrong given the results of polls take locally and especially given the success of Proposition 200.

Gilchrist has proven one thing and that is he's an excellent promoter capable of getting himself and his message on news show after news show. He's received widespread news coverage for this project. Now, if the project turns into an armed redneck militia thing, it will fail and will hurt our cause. If he succeeds in having people from every state, carrying their state flags, and doing a couple of border-related activities but mostly just trying to make an intelligent, carefully crafted point, that would be good. It could go either way. I've talked to Gilchrist on a number of occasions and I don't know for sure how this thing is going to come off. But, it's going to happen whether you or I like it or agree with it. The train is out of the station and Gilchrist and his people are going to show up here. All the complaining about it on Free Republic isn't going to change that and may only serve to undermine any good that may come from the project.

In the meantime, we've got Rep. Jim Kolbe showing up later this month. Maybe instead of getting into flamewars on internet forums we should be getting together and planning effective protests against Kolbe's amnesty legislation and his overall dereliction of duty in regards to the border. The last protest we had against him that I put together set the stage for the strong challenge that was made against him in the Primary election. I think we could refine the message of the protest, coordinate with the media better, and really hit Kolbe hard this time around. But we need everyone concerned about this issue there despite some of the differences we may have on some of the related issues. Is this something you could support? It may accomplish more than the flamewars you're getting into here.