Hunter Promotes Fence, Allen Sits on It

Human Events Online ^ | 12/16/05 | Human Events

[NavVet]

Last night the House voted 260 to 159 to approve an amendment to the bill sponsored by House Armed Services Chairman Duncan Hunter (R.-Calif.) to authorize construction of several hundred miles of fencing along five strategic stretches of border.

Before the scheduled vote, Human Events Assistant Editor Amanda Carpenter asked Republicans if they thought the U.S. had the engineering capability to build a fence that would keep illegal aliens out, and the obvious follow-up: If we can build one, why not do it?

Sen. George Allen (R.-Va.), a likely 2008 presidential candidate, carefully straddled the fence on the fence issue. Hunter explained why it would work.

[NavVet]

I used to think of Senator Allen as the next Ronald Regan (I know there will never be another Regan, but you know what I mean). However, ever since his name has started to be thrown about as a presidential contender, he has started to do a McCain impersonation.

First he echos McCain when he recommends the president meet with that nut case Sheehan. Ignoring her anti siemetic remarks, ties to radical groups etc.

Then he votes for Warner's senate resolution which was nothing more than a nother attempt to appease the senate democrats at the expense of the war effort.

Now, he is in favor of amnesty for criminals and opposes a fence that might actually interrupt the flow of cheap illegal labor.

I thought Allen was our best hope in actually carring forward the conservative movement, but if he's gone over to the dark side, who is left. All of the other mentioned GOP contenders in 08 are pretty much RINOS. Is all lost?

[MillerCreek]

I agree with you...I am wondering if the Republicans in office and potentially so in the near future will revert to real conservatives next year, once the Presidential election looms. Trying to extend the benefit of a doubt here, perhaps they're currently rushing to be moderate for other reasons.

I do find it a problem when we can rely on them to be Republicans only in the years preceding the Presidential, however. Too many of them today have become "conservative Democrats" on many issues and it's unsettling, to say the least.

[CalvaryJohn]

What a stammering, dissembling, RINO. Give me a break.

[Trteamer]

Allen should be FReeped.

[Caesar Soze]

What time is it when a RINO sits on a fence?

[NavVet]

You need to put a smiley face or something on your post. I thought you were serious for a second.

[Candor7]

Allen will never be President of the United States. This is not an era for fence sitters.

[johnmecainrino]

Mitt Romney might be the best there is for having conservataive cred and that is not saying much.

A semi-rino Governor of Mass being the best hope for conservatives is cause for concern.


We will have to wait till future speaker of the house Mike Pence runs for President.

[rightazrain]

I'm very impressed with Duncan Hunter.

[backhoe]

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

[NavVet]

You're not saying fences are foolish because they don't work, they do. Where they have been put up in Israel and in the U.S. they are very effective. You seem concerned that they may actually curtail the flow of ILLEGAL aliens across the border.

Mexican illegals may be hard working. The illegal immigration process is somewhat self selecting. However, drug runners and the Al-Qaeda that we've caught coming across the Mexican border may be hard working as well. Being hardworking isn't an excuse to break the law. If you think we need a cheap Mexican labor force, then write your congressman and get a law passed. Until that happens, I won't condone breaking the law no matter what the underlying motivation.

Of course one thing to consider, is that the big reason illegals will work so cheap, is that their illegal status gives them no bargaining power. When they are legalized and can offer their services to the highest bidder and unionize etc. The cheap labor won't be so cheap anymore.

And as for the argument that illegals take jobs American's won't take, I'm not buying it. I know American construction workers that have been told by their employers, sorry no work this month (in the middle of a construction boom). But they go to the job site and see 50 illegals hard at work. (Not necessarily doing a good job, since they often lack training, but working hard no doubt). See the employer can pay a depressed wage, pay no workman's comp, no social security etc., and dramatically boost their labor costs. Oh and for those that suggest that we would have to pay more for housing etc. without illegals. In our area the price of homes has doubled in three years. Even being able to take advantage of desperate Mexicans.

Oh, and not every state / town in America has a ready supply of illegals, and somehow the tables still get cleaned, the lawns still get watered.

[rodguy911]

Yeah it's real sad after reading this I am having real second thoughts about my Allen/Condi ticket. Maybe more like Rudy/Condi and even he is not my ultimate ticket which would be a Gen. Tommy Franks/Condi ticket or something like that. We are at war we need a "warrior" president IMHO.

[rodguy911]

What kind of idiot are you? Have you ever heard of drugs,terrorists crossing the border, do yo even know what is going on?

[Recon Dad]

I felt the same as you, but this is what the senate will do to the human spine. It becomes spaghetti.

[Vaduz]

A guest worker program would be entirely appropriate to eliminate the need for Mexicans to cross illegally, and would fill the jobs that Americans don't want.


Like truck driving/construction/factory work/open eyes.

[rock58seg]

And how is your Bro-in-law, Vicente these days?

[chris1]

Are you drink or just plain stupid?

[dalereed]

" but this is what the senate will do to the human spine. It becomes spaghetti"

I think their spine was extracted years ago and rendered into bone meal and sold for fertilizer, recover or regrowth is fantasy at this point.