Posted on 06/16/2006 10:41:38 AM PDT by Small-L
President Bush has refused to meet with border law-enforcement officials from Texas for a second time. His response to their request came in the form of a letter Monday, angering both lawmakers and sheriffs.
In fact, some Republican members of the House, upset by what they call the administration's seeming lack of concern for border security, are preparing to hold investigative hearings in San Diego and Laredo, Texas, early next month.
Members of the House Subcommittee on International Terrorism and Nonproliferation hope to expose serious security flaws that could potentially lead to terrorist attacks in the country, said Rep. Ted Poe, R-Texas, who is a member of the panel and has pushed for the hearings.
"The next terrorist is not going to come in through (Transportation Security Administration) screening at Kennedy airport," Poe said. "We already have information that people from the Middle East have come through the border from Mexico. They assimilate in Mexico learning to speak Spanish and adopt customs and then they cross the border into the United States."
Poe requested the meeting for members of the Southwestern Sheriffs' Border Coalition a group that includes all 26 border-county sheriffs from California, New Mexico, Arizona and Texas. The sheriffs wanted to speak to the president about the increasing dangers in their communities and along the border.
"The president is the busiest man in the world but he needs to take the time to talk to the border sheriffs and learn what's happening in the real world from them," Poe said. "We can't understand why he refuses to meet with them."
In May, all of the Republican House members from Texas traveled to Washington to meet the president regarding border security. Bush did not meet with them, however, and former White House spokesman Scott McClellan was sent in his stead.
Poe said the White House letter dated Monday showed the disconnect between the administration and the American people who want the border secured.
"The president would appreciate the opportunity to visit with border sheriffs," said the White House letter written by La Rhonda M. Houston, deputy director of the Office of Appointments and Scheduling. "Regrettably, it will not be possible for us to arrange such a meeting. I know that you understand with the tremendous demands of the president's time, he must often miss special opportunities, as is the case this time."
Rick Glancey, spokesman for the sheriffs coalition, said its members are angry and disappointed in the president's response. Glancey said Bush's recent tour of the border with Border Patrol spokesmen did not reflect the reality of what locals live with every day.
"It's a slap in the face to the hardworking men and women on the front lines of rural America who every day engage in border-security issues," Glancey said. "He missed the opportunity to take off his White House cowboy boots and put some real cowboy boots on and walk in our shoes for a few minutes."
The border hearings will expose the truth to the American public and force the administration to take a serious look at the border, said Allan Knapp, Poe's legislative director.
Knapp and Poe have traveled twice to the border this year, spending time along barren stretches where they witnessed no security and numerous migrants crossing into the United States, they said.
"We need to expose the lack of border security before it is too late," Poe said. "We're fighting a war on terror in Iraq and we're winning, but we're losing our own border war. These hearings will be a necessary step in the right direction."
Andy Ramirez, chairman of the Chino-based Friends of the Border Patrol, said he has been called to testify before the panel in San Diego. Ramirez said he has turned in two years of Border Patrol documents and memos, which he will discuss before the committee.
"The president has basically pushed his whole administration's agenda toward the war on terror, yet he can't find the time to meet with law-enforcement leaders responsible for border security," Ramirez said. "It is appalling and outrageous that the war on terror and border security does not extend to the U.S. border."
Dissent is one thing; throwing insults is quite another. But I didn't expect you to know the difference and you proved me right.
And you ladies never throw insults around right?
I throw insults to paid opinion shapers, trolls, one issue thread jumper spammers, and people who are negative to everything this Republican administration tries to accomplish.
Thanks ever so much.
Interesting that you feel the right to apply labels and pass judgement on all who would disagree with you.
It speaks volumes.
Regardless, I'll not waste my time (or yours) responding to you ladies further. It's proven to be nothing more than an exercise in futility.
Now don't hold grudges, bikerNEVERforBush...........and stop calling intelligent women (who clobber the pants off you in debate) 'hens.'
It makes you look like a pig.
Discuss the issues presented to you, or get back on your bike and ride away into the sunset with your misogynist buddies.
Yep, you talk about civility but sure don't back it up with action.
These days all it serves to do is draw haters like you and others whose venom poisons the very air I breathe as I read much of what you post.
My "little ping list," as you put it, was used to express my total frustration about this thread (and the article that heads it) to some of the small number of people I respect on this forum, and who would understand my frustration.
So, in other words, as you decry people piling on regarding immigration threads, you call in your own folks to pile on. Hypocrite.
There was a time when such a piece of drivel would have been torn to shreds here on FR.
Hardly. Bush has been criticized for years over his unwillingness to deal with border issues and illegal immigration.
These days all it serves to do is draw haters like you and others whose venom poisons the very air I breathe as I read much of what you post.
Gawd, what a drama queen.
FWIW, Bush had no problem scheduling a Cinco de Mayo party but couldn't find time to meet with GOP lawmakers over border issues. If you find that venomous, well, go back to putting your head in the sand.
That's yet another reason you have problems with the President. He's not afraid of intelligent women.
Hey, wolfstar raised the issue here:
group pressure on individuals.
As he called in a group of his own. Like I said, when THEY do it, it's principled. When we do it, we're being belligerent.
In other words, wolfstar is being hypocritical.
Yeah, we're all this big conspiracy now, but you saw the ping to all the Bushbots to come join this thread and help them shout us down. I can't believe these delusional people are so blinded to defending their political god that they are willing to break the federal treasury, reward and expand lawlessness, and make the Democrats a permanent majority.
And they call us liberals to boot. Every one of the above positions is defended by themselves and the real liberals. Bush is with our enemies on border issues, and totally in cahoots with Vicente Fox.
This is the post (among others like it) that proves what's inside bikerNEVERforBush, Peach...........or more accurately what's not inside him.
It's not the silly, dried up, meaningless "Bushbot" that's the problem here.
It's the fact that when he can't handle the debate, his misogyny comes out.
He can't stand to lose to women.........so he turns to sexist insults as a 'comeback.'
Transparent.........and pitiable.
I've noticed quite a few men who just can't handle women arguing with them. It's either a mommy issue or a strong wife issue.
bbl
Your statement is a red herring. President Bush has a his father's NWO agenda to carry out. His refusal to meet these law enforcement officials is based on his NWO agenda, not that he's too busy.
Did you forget to add the LOL at the end?
Cue Twilight Zone theme.........
LOL! Who really cares what the Mexico government thinks or doesn't think, they are actively encouraging their citizens to invade the USA! Talk about dull witted!
In any case, the fact that some of these fellas have serious problems with women isn't even debatable.
And the use of the word 'hen' to describe women who have used logic and intellect to defeat emotional nonsense and vaccuous tripe is particularly telling.
Just remind me never to try to discuss things with you on the basis of rational thought, and we'll be OK.
I didn't talk about civility, moron. And I don't particularly feel like being civil to the likes of you.
So, in other words, as you decry people piling on regarding immigration threads, you call in your own folks to pile on. Hypocrite.
Man, you apparently don't understand the English language. (1) I pinged them to share my frustration with people who would understand, not to have them come and "pile on." (2) Your technique is showing like a dirty slip that hasn't been washed in a month of Sundays.
Well, since you are claiming the poster is distorting logic, why don't you point out specifics? After all, liberals say the Swift Boat Vets are liars without ever documenting where they lied. So show where in this post logic was distorted:
How's this: President Bush's position on illegal aliens is liberal, irresponsible, and so pathetic that it makes much of his good works irrelevant to me. Also, President Reagan's grant of amnesty to illegal aliens was liberal, but naive. President Bush cannot pretend to be naive when amnesty has been blatantly demonstrated to not work.
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