Posted on 09/08/2008 6:13:12 PM PDT by AmericanInTokyo
GOP candidates, convention steer clear of immigration BY REID J. EPSTEIN
reid.epstein@newsday.com September 8, 2008
During the Republican presidential primary, immigration was such an important topic that candidates were tripping over each other to be seen as the toughest defender of the nation's borders. The issue became so hot that Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), the GOP presidential nominee, was forced to disavow his own immigration reform bill because it was seen by many Republicans as too lenient. But a parade of Republicans came to the convention podium in St. Paul last week with barely a mention of immigration. On Wednesday and Thursday nights, 38 speakers addressed the GOP crowd and only one - unknown Kansas farmer Carolyn Dunn - even uttered the word "immigration." There was not a single mention of border security or amnesty from McCain or his running mate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin.
(Excerpt) Read more at newsday.com ...
None. They are one issue fanatics and disagreeing with them on immigration will get you called a traitor by their kind.
“For many on FR, its not about protecting this country, its about ensuring the candidate with the “R” next to their name gets elected.”
KB - with all due respect, we KNOW that the candidates with the “R” will protect this country a helluva lot more than the candidates with the “D” in this election. And make no mistake, any vote other than for McCain/Palin will be a vote for Obama/Biden. Obama intends NO good for America. Biden is a misguided, loud far-leftist - resulting in the same as BHO.
“I like what they’re saying about Sarah Palin but I have yet to really see for myself. I am pretty tired of her name being invoked like it’s a magical word that ends all arguments.”
oh, jeez - after what we’ve had to put up with ad nauseum over the last 19 some months with the Annointed One, can’t we enjoy some very brief time of positive attention paid to OUR side???
” Stick to your guns on immigration and allow Obama into the White House.”
Albie - well said! you did forget 2-3 liberal, left supreme court justices appointed for life, though - which would have MAJOR impact on our lives for years.
And I think you may be conservative in your estimate of how this country would change in 2 years under Obama - try during the FIRST year. A LOT can happen in a year or less - to wit, 9/11 when GW was in office less than 8 months.
Not voting is a vote for b. hussein. A vote for either Barr or Paul (write-in) is a vote for b. hussein. That’s just the reality of it. A vote for Nader - naaaaaah, the left won’t be that stupid, unfortunately.
bttt
"John McCain has stuck to his beliefs through all of the massive criticism launched at him, and for that I admire the man. He knows what is the right way forward for America and he did not change his beliefs just because it was convenient."
Does the "right way forward for America" include the selling out of this country to illegal immigrants? That's what amnesty equates to. And you admire someone for sticking to such an ill founded belief? Stubborn stupidity is not worthy of admiration. Disgust, but not admiration.
And don't construe this to mean that I won't vote for McCain or that I'd stay home on election day. That's a tired old line and you would be wrong on both accounts. But after the election, McCain will be hit hard with the illegal immigration issue. It's not going away.
“BTW, if McCain loses and Obama becomes POTUS, it will be no one else’s fault except McCain”
No, it will be the fault of the voters, just as it was the voters who made McCain the candidate.
“I’m not happy about that and illegal immigration is still a hot issue in my book. Or did we all forget about it?”
Listen, I’m not happy about it, either - nor are most of those on this board, IMHO. Not happy with GW’s stance on it, either. BUT——you can be assured that BHO will compound the problem in spades (oh, sorry for the pun). Personally, my own #1 priority is Foreign Policy in a very dangerous and volatile world, and McCain/Palin wins this one hands-down over Obama/Biden.
“He has given his word to build the fence before he does anything else. We’ll hold him to that and then fight him on amnesty and line cutting.”
Good point - first things first. And everyone seems to forget that the REAL power is through Senate/House. When enough pressure is put on our legislators, that’s how we get real results. And we’re starting to see this with the energy issue now that they’ve (finally) re-convened today. Presidents have the most power when it comes to vetoing. But for enacting issues, look to the legislative body. Another reason why ALL these elections in Nov. count a LOT.
“But after the election, McCain will be hit hard with the illegal immigration issue. It’s not going away.”
I agree with you on that! Glad you see that we first need to defeat Obama in Nov. After that, yes, pound McCain about how most Americans feel about illegal immigration. And, as I replied earlier, especially pound senate/congress on it.
When New Coke failed, was it the fault of the consumers that didn't like it?
“When New Coke failed, was it the fault of the consumers that didn’t like it?”
Perhaps the word Fault isn’t a good one - but this subject I’m very familiar with - my brother-in-law was a sales exec with Coke and I well remember that event - the success or failure of a product is determined by the consumers, or in our FR discussions, voters.
If your premise is that the product is unworthy, or its manufacturers/inventors - think of the HUGE success of such things as the Pet Rock or Ghia Pet. No, it’s the buyers/voters who determine what’s good or not good.
Not only have I NOT forgotten, I promise it will be like unto sitting on a nest of hornets for John McCain and his Administration, IF he attempts a “shotgun wedding” with Mexico. Whether that action transpires through enacting the Security-Prosperity Partnership fiasco, or by resurrecting amnesty by any name, McCain will think his extended stay at the Hanoi Hilton a comparative walk in the park... On that he has my word.
I give not a rat’s hindquarters about his “war hero serving America” subterfuge. I have not heard even one word that addresses the REAL CAUSE of America’s present woes... and the likely propagator of our next civil war: ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION. How much less petroleum would this nation consume if 20 million invaders were sent packing?
How much less consumption, in every quantifiable resource? How much less corruption? How much less crime? How much more “America” would be realized, if our government showed some balls and severely punished both the American employers who exploit these trespassers and the foreign governments who sponsor their journey across our border?
Bigoted am I? Hardly... I am married to a woman of South American origin, a PROUD AMERICAN CITIZEN... and one who entered this country LEGALLY. She speaks, reads and writes ENGLISH... Spanish and French fluently. She expects nothing from the national treasury, other than that her paycheck be left intact.
How much more serious would American sovereignty be taken, if, upon the next “incident” where agents of either the Mexican Army or whomever these invaders are, we sent our military and blasted these clowns to kingdom come? No mercy, no quarter, no questions. Dump their caresses in the Rio Grand. Or, better still, hang them by their gonads from the local cacti, so to serve as a warning. Yes, I am severe... because the problem has become that serious. Unfortunately, Senator McCain’s solution is to say: “Be our guest worker, yes... Put our country to the test! Tie a noose around our neck, Ole! And we’ll do all the rest!”
ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION lies at the root of America’s socio-economic decline. No matter the measure: energy, health care, education, crime, drugs, infrastructure, taxes... These issues ALL come down to THE FAILURE OF OUR LEADERS TO ENFORCE THE LAW.
I have heard much inane bovine scatology, disguised as patriotism... and I have heard many smarmy feel-good speeches... I have seen all the flag-waving and smiling faces... BUT in none of these displays have I witnessed ANYTHING, which convinces beyond a shadow of doubt, that the GOP nominee for POTUS is any less a RINO than he was six months ago. Nothing has settled the matter of WHAT this man WILL DO in office. All I have to judge his FUTURE ACTIONS is his PAST PERFORMANCE AS A LEGISLATOR... NOT HIS STAGE PERFORMANCE. Am I supposed to ignore HIS RECORD in the U.S. Senate? Frankly, the choice I have sucks, and I would like nothing better than to kick the GOP in the teeth. But, alas and once again, I must hold my nose and do my “patriotic duty” ... The ONLY LIGHT at the end of this tunnel: a prayer that Governor Palin is sincere... that she will run on her own merits in 2012, that the GOP will somehow miraculously morph into a conservative bastion once again. Yes, “I have a dream” too.
Frankly, I am P.O.’d at the GOP’s attempt to insult my intelligence, as if I must act the “good soldier” ... while the RINO whittles away America’s sovereignty, America’s jobs, and America’s culture ... and my future, so to salve John McCain’s misguided pity for the unfortunate circumstances of third-world nationals, and his foolhardy belief in the “patriotism” of the Marxist quislings that infest our republic. To them... a slow and painful death, preferably by being utterly ignored and left to wither in old age, alone.
Just because John McCain was once held captive in a foreign land does not entitle him to ransom my family to Mexico. He has no more right to give away the American treasury, and the wealth of his fellow citizens, than does any liberal, socialist, or other so-inclined Marxist misfit. One would think the POW experience would have taught McCain the value of loyalty to your fellow countrymen. But no, he sees only the misery of others, and thinks the dissolution of national borders will cure the problems caused by the malfeasance of corrupt foreign governments. As I see him, the man is a walking contradiction. If he has changed, then I fail to see the proof of transformation, and choosing Alaska Governor Sarah Palin convinces me of nothing but McCain’s political shrewdness. Yes, I am acting a cynic; but John McCain has earned for me that indignity.
Sarah Palin is a great choice, but if she thinks her brand of popular conservatism is going to provide John McCain a pass to ride roughshod over the Bill of Rights, then she is sadly misinformed, or else deceived by her own idealism. I am impressed by her achievements, but I am not deaf, dumb or blind to the ACTIONS of her potential future boss. Eventually, BOTH candidates MUST answer the IMMIGRATION issue, one way or the other... AND They MUST do so BEFORE November 4th.
Now, go Ahead and flame away.
The illegal immigration issue is not going away and it won't go your way either.
I've read all your posts here on FR and it seems readily apparent that you're a used car salesman making a pitch for amnesty and possibly, open borders as well.
Conservatism is not about giving the country away to anyone who just walks through the door or digs a tunnel under it. And quite the opposite of what you think you believe, the majority of legal citizens in this country oppose amnesty or any reward for those who break a minimum of three federal laws to be here illegally, undocumented and unwelcome.
Not all Republicans are conservative and not all conservatives are republicans, but FR is foremost a conservative forum. Like many others have already suggested to you in other threads here on FR, perhaps you need to find a different forum. The bulk of FR members will not bow to the left to suit you.
The likes of robert david could learn something from you.
Wrong. The issue is not settled, sir. What we have here is a shining example of a Hobson’s Choice.
The American two-party system is bankrupt, and will continually act to present the American people with the “lesser of evils” proposition, thus advancing evil at a more imperceptible pace... so to appear innocuous and even preferable.
We become accustomed to suffer ever decreasing expectations in our leaders, until we no longer are capable to distinguish evil from good. We no longer care that we are ruled by men of intrigue. As long as we may cling to our little piece of an ever-shrinking claim on liberty, we will quite happily suffer all manner of tyranny.
Our greatest peril: We become a reflection of those whom we elect to lead. More accurately, we slowly become irrelevant: first as a culture, then as a people, then as individuals, and finally we no longer exist as a nation. Then soviet-style dialectic materialism triumphs.
However you nay mis-characterize the result, the advance of one-world government by degree continues unabated.
However, the measure of a candidate’s “life” position is a startling marker for every other issue. How may I expect a man or woman to possess good judgment and the courage to lead well, if he or she is incapable or unwilling to uphold the most fundamental issue: the inviolability of innocent human life?
The conviction that human life must be protected in all its stages is capital. It is Divine Law, established by God Himself. It is the prudential marker of Wisdom. One who does not respect an unborn child’s “right to life” will respect even less all other rights subordinate to that proposition, including those enumerated in the American Bill of Rights.
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