'Hey, Jose! Check this. That Vicente one sly Fox, eh?'
Posted on 10/06/2006 6:49:47 AM PDT by engrpat
WASHINGTON - No sooner did Congress authorize construction of a 700-mile fence on the U.S.-Mexico border last week than lawmakers rushed to approve separate legislation that ensures it will never be built, at least not as advertised, according to Republican lawmakers and immigration experts.
GOP leaders have singled out the fence as one of the primary accomplishments of the recently completed session. Many lawmakers plan to highlight their $1.2 billion down payment on its construction as they campaign in the weeks before the midterm elections.
But shortly before recessing late Friday, the House and Senate gave the Bush administration leeway to distribute the money to a combination of projects -- not just the physical barrier along the southern border. The funds may also be spent on roads, technology and "tactical infrastructure" to support the Homeland Security Department's preferred option of a "virtual fence."
What's more, in a late-night concession to win over wavering Republicans, GOP congressional leaders pledged in writing that American Indian tribes, members of Congress, governors and local leaders would get a say in "the exact placement" of any structure, and that Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff would have the flexibility to use alternatives "when fencing is ineffective or impractical."
The loopholes leave the Bush administration with authority to decide where, when and how long a fence will be built, except for small stretches east of San Diego and in western Arizona. Homeland Security officials have proposed a fence half as long, lawmakers said.
This case reflects political calculations by GOP strategists that voters do not mind the details, and that key players -- including the administration, local leaders and the Mexican government -- oppose a fence-only approach, analysts said.
(Excerpt) Read more at dfw.com ...
We got the money through, the only way we could. Now we all write our local papers, the national papers, and the white house, and tell them we want them to spend the money on the fence.
At least the money is THERE. They could have pushed for specific targetted money and lost the vote, leaving NO money at all to build our fence.
WE"VE BEEN PUNKED!!!!!!
The headline is misleading. The money will still be spent on a fence, but there is flexibility in what that fence will look like. It won't be the same design in all places. In some places, it will be electronic. That doesn't seem unreasonable to me.
This is a far bigger scandal that that stupid IM BS.
THIS IS WHAT VINCEWNTE FOX KNEW WAS GOING TO HAPPEN!!1
Physical BArrier or don't rest easy Mr. Congressman!!!
(boy this saved me a donation check!)
Their efforts are to placate and delude their constituents.
(How do you know a politician is lying?)
"key players -- including the administration, local leaders and the Mexican government -- oppose a fence-only approach"
What does the Mexican government have to do with it? Are they getting addle-pated in Congress?
Virtual fence is a real nothing.
A border patrol agent 200 miles away is still powerless.
Agents can be paid off (as seen in the past)
A physical barrier will work. The fence is SUPPOSED to be a high tech barrier or smart fence!
For further clarification read my long time tag line. - tom
Would you demand a fence on this stretch of the Texas/Mexican border?
http://www.virtualguidebooks.com/Texas/WestTexas/Castolon/InsideSantaElena.html
lets face it, folks
this fence/wall is not gonna be built until we have a leader who WILL DEMAND IT!
and we don't have one yet...
so we'll just have to make DAMN SURE that the next POTUS WILL DEMAND IT!
anyone have a link to the voting record on this?
If it really was a matter as to what area(s) were more suitable that could well have been and should have been the focus of the bill. As it is now we have the fox guarding the hen house.
Even worst, it allows a Dem President to use the loop holes to delay the fence until enough legal Mexican immigrants become citizens and tip the electoral balance in key states (CA, TX, etc). Then political will to close the border with a fence will be dead and the North American Union marches on to reality. These globalists have been scheming for years, they are small in numbers but nimble enough to call upon their contacts in government and legislature to delay, delay until the demographics change, and men like Tancredo will never get elected and moderates like McCain will throw their lot with the globalist left/right or else lose their reelections. I know many conservatives have put up a good fight for the fence and control of illegal immigration, but if all this fails (because we have been betrayed by the GOP), we may have to prepare ourselves to live in a post illegal immigration society. Any thoughts Freepers??
I agree. We're being played by both sides.
Are you trying to say a virtual fence is virtually nothing?
If so, we're in agreement.
The "money statement" is made by some unnamed analyst that the Washington Post used in the article.
We don't even know that the "analyst" is a Republican.
It's pretty clear to me that Washington Post achieved the desired effect in writing this story. They'll minimize and spin any achievement by the GOP congress to discourage conservative voters.
Looks like it's working.
'Hey, Jose! Check this. That Vicente one sly Fox, eh?'
SSDD!
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