[No.6]

This is what I was afraid of -- having lost the chance to actually affect the immigration bill with the House passing to Dim-RAT control, Tom has now chosen the path of demagogery.

This ensures that the pro-enforcement side is irreparably bound up in people's minds as some sort of frothing racist position, which *shouldn't* happen but will if this sort of thing keeps up.

Unfortunately, I predict a bill to be passed and signed in '07 that will make us wistful for the Bush-style plan; and I expect that when it happens it will be backed with popular support, because the side that's actually *right* will have demagogued itself into the margins.

This will do wonders for Tom personally; he can be a 'firebrand' and sell books and get re-elected, but it'll also mean the ->cause<- of stopping illegal immigration will fail.

First rule of politics: the losing side determines nothing. We don't want to be like the Dims who will say anything to win, and we don't have to, because our ideas are right -- but we won't win by emulating a Dean scream, either.

[GWB00]

Being a resident of Miami, I can see how an outsider can view Miami as a third world. I headquarter our Latin American group from Miami and travel weekly to South and Central America. THESE PLACES ARE THIRD WORLD COUNTRIES.

Just like we have changed the meaning of poverty and poor in this country we have changed the meaning of regional conditions.

Being a native of Southern California, I have found Miami to be so much more dynamic and vibrant. It is much more libertarian than Victorian California.

[colorado tanker]

This guy is not ready for prime time. I doubt he could win a statewide race in Colorado. This shows he darn sure couldn't win a nationwide race - Republicans don't win these days without Florida.

[mewzilla]

Did the paper have a cow when Charlie Rangel insulted Mississippi?

Just curious.

[RightWhale]

What percentage of real estate property in Miami can be classified as shantytown?

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

Damnit Tancredo. There's the right way and the wrong way.

[skeeter]

There goes Tom, once again noticing the 800 lb gorilla in the room. He should know by now mentioning it is not considered de rigour.

A real presidential contender would avert his eyes & mumble some inane platitude about 'diversity's rich tapestry'.

[subterfuge]

Pretty much any WalMart in Florida is its own third-world country.

[Dante3]

Tancredo is absolutely right. At least somebody dares to speak out.

[pollyannaish]

Just out of curiosity...has he ever been to any actual third world countries?

[Gideon Reader]

Tom Tancredo (Moron-Colorado)
...has shown his meager intellectual ass in this blindingly stupid comment about Miami (Fl) being a third world country.

Without doubt there are specific areas of Greater Miami that can be very much improved visually and physically, but overall the many municipalities that make up the Greater Miami/Ft.Lauderdale/West Palm beach are economically stable, look and function well, are vibrant, well cared for (again excluding specific problem areas that have continually and perennially defied renovating or renewal)and an example of what a tropical, healthy economy and tri lingual community should look and sound like.

Yes, it is crowded and the traffic sucks. That appears to be in every city everywhere. there are slums. Yes. That seems to be in every large city everywhere. There are signs in English, Spanish, Creole, and some languages I cannot place, but it works without any noteworthy problems, excepting those who want to be in an imaginary place of their own dreams.

High Crime? Sure. Like EVERY major city anywhere.
Rude? No question. Those folks are easily recognized by their accents.
That is because of the large number of rude people who have migrated here. Not from another country, but rather the Northeast (New York, Boston, New Jersey, and elsewhere) who have brought their rudeness and generally uncivil manners(that which exist)with them.

It was nicer 50 years ago, but time does not stand still.
This is the place for kakhis, a Guayabera, or jeans & pullover.

Tancredo is so far off the mark that he would miss the best parts of the Miami area if he did stay a while.

[gubamyster]

ping

[longtermmemmory]

actually he has it pretty spot on.

There are parts where it is literally like the third world.

About 10 years ago they had to agressivly enforce taxi solicitation laws at cruise line terminals because the recent immigrant cabbies were basically chasing down potential fairs like they did in the old country.

Certain shopping strip malls have signage that is directly parallel with the low end third world nations. Miami is definitly schizophrenic.

You have the super nice with the super slums next to each other.

Consider the level of police presence which is required during basketball games. The police are there to keep people from making a fatal wrong turn.

[FFIGHTER]

Now appearing; Tancredo, and the not ready for prime-time handlers.

[muleskinner]

He would have said the same thing if he'd been in N.Y.C. in 1900, with the Italian, Irish and Jewish neighborhoods.

Welcome to the Five Points, Tom........... (what a hump.)

[Gideon Reader]

Help!
Representative Tim Tancordo,(Rop-Coloradio)
We is stok hair in My-am-mee.
We dint larn no good ingleesh en skooool
lak youse dud, and we gods to liv hair.
halp uz pleeeez.

[billybudd]

What a dumb thing to say.

[ssaftler]

Queue the "Queen" music:

"Bump, bump, bump, another one bites the dust!"

[TWfromTEXAS]

When I was young (late 80's) we lived for awhile in South Africa. My grandmother was worried about us and I remember my dad would always tell her that SA was safer than Miami which was having riots and store burnings that year.

[areafiftyone]

Jeeze what an idiot! He just screwed up his presidential run before it even started!