This position is that of an activist, not a pragmatist. It's based in emotionalism.
A full fence for a 1,100 miles of river?
A full fence when manpower is the weak link?
A full fence when funding is scarce and the cost was projected at $50 billion for just 700 miles before labor, land acquisition and environmental lawsuits are factored in?
The activist's purity position of demanding a full fence exploits a mix of righteous pent up anger over federal abdication of responsibility and a lack of eduction on the issue details.
We need someone who will look at the facts, see what works best and where and take those steps to get the most bang for the buck.
That's where Perry's positioned--although not alone, Newt is there, maybe Cain too. Perry's the one onstage with the most real world experience in the matter. His border record is consistent and to the right of Bush and McCain.
Is Mitt "I'm-all-things-to-all-people" Romney credible when he says he'll build the full fence? Or Huntsman?
Has Bachmann introduced bills to do so? No.
Not that I can find.
I went to the Library of Congress site (THOMAS) and searched for her legislative record (110th-112th Congresses).
Just 27 bills she has authored or co-sponsored saw floor action in her 3 terms.
She sponsored no bills improving border security (terms used: bachmann border). None. Why is she believable?
>>>>>This position is that of an activist, not a pragmatist. It's based in emotionalism.
I think its the position of a conservative and patriot. If I was an activist I'd be down on the border with the minute men. I'm pretty calm about it. If I wasn't I wouldn't consider Perry a viable candidate worth my time defending and in the end, possibly worth my vote.
The liberal Romney is totally unacceptable and Bachmann is in meltdown.
Btw, the cost of building a full security fence/wall --- where possible --- would pay for itself in no time. The taxpayer money that is being spent by border states on infrastructure, healthcare, education and local law enforcement related to illegal aliens burdening the system amounts to tens of billions of dollars a year. IIRC, California spends $5-billion a year on the children of illegals alone. That $50 billion construction figure you mention is about right. Securing the border would slash the current cost to ALL the states and would pay for itself in a few years.