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Dateline: Carlsbad (First person account of SoCal anti-illegal immigration town hall forum)
unhyphenatedconservative | 8-11-05 | Aaron Smith

Posted on 08/11/2005 10:10:48 PM PDT by U.H. Conservative

So the Minutemen are crazy vigilantes and their supporters are racist thugs, right?

Well you could have fooled me. I attended the immigration town hall forum in Carlsbad tonight, back on popular demand after city officials tried to shut it down. The move backfired; publicity from the attempted censorship bringing folks down from LA after they heard of it on KFI.

I got there an hour early but the forum's four hundred seats were already filled. But I, along with several other members of the North Coast Republican Club, stuck around outside as the supporters of secure borders began a counter-protest to the open borders advocates. And I'm glad I did.

The two sides were divided by a large phalanx of Carlsbad police officers and San Diego Sheriffs. They were decked out in full riot gear, even sporting some wicked looking super-paintball guns. I was tempted to invite the officers to beg off the security gig and just get a game going inside the Carlsbad High School grounds (using the campus as a paintball field was one of many daydreams that made days passable there). However, seeing that the officers also carried some rather nasty looking shotguns unslung made me think better of that offer.

Across the police line was a motley assortment of pro-illegal alien sympathizers, members of La Raza (what would media reaction be to a white separatist group called the Race?) and, of course, the anti war crowd. Of course, that group shows up for anything bigger than a baby shower. Their main tactic was calling our side fascist. Given that I saw at least one of their members wearing a t-shirt emblazoned with a swastika, that was an amusing accusation.

I spent most of the evening standing next to a giant of a man who told me that as a Democrat, he'd spent his youth protesting Vietnam and was usually on the other side of the police line. However, illegal immigration (and its depression of construction wages) made this Democrat see red. Take the hint, President Bush. Dropping the "guest worker" plan is good policy and better politics.

Despite - or perhaps because of - the massive police presence, only words were exchanged. Both sides were respectful of the police. Our side even gave them many cheers, both for the officers on scene and for fallen officers like David March, whose killer the Mexican government refuses to extradite.

In the end, the most telling fact was that the illegal alien sympathizers could not answer the simple question of why they were not funneling their energies into reforming Mexico so its people could find success at home. I found it ironic that the pro-borders crowd was calling for Mexico to allow its people the basic freedoms in which prosperity flourishes. At the same time, the business interests growing rich from exploiting the cut rate illegal alien wages seem fine with Mexico's current corruption.

And they call the Minutemen hateful? Tom Tancredo is a terrorist (so said a protestor's sign)? I think that in the end, the facts speak for themselves.


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; Your Opinion/Questions
KEYWORDS: aliens; carlsbad; forum; immigrantlist; immigration; townhall
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To: Travis McGee

I knew the name was familiar. Like I said, I think he's got a future.

I was in the slacks, blue shirt.


21 posted on 08/11/2005 10:35:47 PM PDT by U.H. Conservative (http://unhyphenatedconservative.blogspot.com/)
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To: Travis McGee

I think I saw you, or someone that fits your description with the small flag.

I'm 6', 200# and had on a yellow shirt and tan shorts. In case you don't know, FR hats are blue with a red bill with Freerepublic.com on the front.


22 posted on 08/11/2005 10:39:49 PM PDT by dalereed
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To: dalereed

I took a few pictures, I have no idea how they came out and am too beat to even download them tonight i'll try to do something with them when I get home from work tomorrow.


23 posted on 08/11/2005 10:43:36 PM PDT by dalereed
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To: U.H. Conservative; dalereed

Next time, I need to wear a big old FR sign! I can't believe I was by you guys and didn't know it!


24 posted on 08/11/2005 10:49:04 PM PDT by Travis McGee (--- www.EnemiesForeignAndDomestic.com ---)
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To: U.H. Conservative
How was the surf today at that rocky beach?

After the meeting, did you reconnoiter at the Coyote Grill, or go for coffee and pie at the Village Kitchen down on Tamarack?
25 posted on 08/11/2005 10:51:26 PM PDT by Jeff Chandler (Tagline: (optional, printed after your name on post):)
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To: Jeff Chandler

I just went home. It was a long day.


26 posted on 08/11/2005 10:53:02 PM PDT by U.H. Conservative (http://unhyphenatedconservative.blogspot.com/)
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To: U.H. Conservative; All; B4Ranch; devolve
* * *

Jim Gilchrist For Congress!

* * *

Minuteman Project co-founder Jim Gilchrist is considering running for Congress!

President Bush has just appointed Congressman Chris Cox (R-California) to the Securities and Exchange Commission. This leaves an important vacancy in Congress for California’s 48 th Congressional District!

Gov. Schwarzenegger is required to set a special election date within two weeks of the appointment.

If ever there were a time to support a fellow Minuteman, it is now!

Jim is seriously considering running for this seat. And, if he wins, he’ll take the fight to protect our borders straight to the President with REAL border security legislation!

California’s 48 th Congressional District sits squarely in Republican Orange County with over 50% registered Republicans!

The problem is Gov. Schwarzenegger and the Bush Administration have already anointed their “establishment candidate”--even before the announcement! California State Senator John Campbell is soft on immigration. And, this precisely what the governor and the president want.

We cannot afford to have another congressman in DC who is willing to sellout our country’s national security for party gain!

That’s why we need Jim in Congress!

Jim isn’t just a volunteer and Minuteman. He’s a former Marine and Vietnam veteran. He’s a businessman with an MBA and an experienced tax accountant. And, he’s a former reporter with years of media experience.

Jim is the perfect man for the job!


27 posted on 08/11/2005 10:57:13 PM PDT by Happy2BMe (Viva La MIGRA - LONG LIVE THE BORDER PATROL!)
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To: U.H. Conservative

Sorry. I just love Carlsbad and tend to get distracted by good memories.


28 posted on 08/11/2005 11:01:39 PM PDT by Jeff Chandler (Tagline: (optional, printed after your name on post):)
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To: Happy2BMe
Take the hint, President Bush. Dropping the "guest worker" plan is good policy and better politics.

BTTT

29 posted on 08/11/2005 11:02:07 PM PDT by janetgreen
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To: U.H. Conservative; 1_Inch_Group; 2sheep; 2Trievers; 3AngelaD; 3rdcanyon; ...
Click to see other threads related to illegal aliens in America
Click to FR-mail me for addition or removal

After Action Report.

30 posted on 08/11/2005 11:07:45 PM PDT by HiJinx (~ www.ProudPatriots.org ~ Serving Those Who Serve Us ~ Operation Semper Fi ~)
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To: U.H. Conservative; All
Crosslinked:

For "Thunder on the Border," click this picture:


31 posted on 08/12/2005 2:20:13 AM PDT by backhoe (Has that Clinton "Legacy" made *you* feel safer, yet?)
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To: Travis McGee
... if anybody wants to host them.

Free hosting, easy to use, and I have posted quite a few pics on here, from the site...

http://img.photobucket.com

32 posted on 08/12/2005 2:41:56 AM PDT by pageonetoo (You'll spot their posts soon enough!)
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To: U.H. Conservative

I listened to live reports from Carlsbad on KFI via NET radio.

Antagonistic protesters who hurl catcalls of "Racist!" identify themselves as fascistic racism mongers. Cliche ad hominems are the first retorts of ignorant groupthinkers.

BTW: "...why isn’t it just a little outrageous for the news networks to blur deliberately the difference between opinion journalists and party hacks?" - Jonah Goldberg


33 posted on 08/12/2005 2:56:53 AM PDT by purpleland (Vigilance and Valour!)
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To: U.H. Conservative

All these Freepers saying they took pics, well post them please.


34 posted on 08/12/2005 7:47:09 AM PDT by junta (Is Mexico an ally in the WOT?)
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To: Travis McGee

Keep it up Travis.....we're with you in spirit......battle 'em til hell freezes over, then fight 'em on the ice!


35 posted on 08/12/2005 8:15:00 AM PDT by american spirit
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To: HiJinx

Protect our borders and coastlines from all foreign invaders!

Be Ever Vigilant!

Minutemen Patriots ~ Bump!


36 posted on 08/12/2005 8:15:07 AM PDT by blackie (Be Well~Be Armed~Be Safe~Molon Labe!)
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To: U.H. Conservative
Very good report from the frontlines.

Thanks.

37 posted on 08/12/2005 12:55:17 PM PDT by Czar (StillFedUptotheTeeth@Washington)
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To: HiJinx

Good report.


38 posted on 08/12/2005 5:37:09 PM PDT by TheLion
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