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A GOP Consensus Emerges: Militarize the Border
Reason ^ | 08/24/2023 | Fiona Harrigan

Posted on 08/28/2023 2:15:30 PM PDT by thegagline

Among GOP hopefuls at the first debate of the campaign season, militarizing the U.S.-Mexico border to keep out drugs and undocumented immigrants emerged as an overwhelmingly popular position—and as the surprising default answer to unrelated questions.

When moderators asked Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis whether he'd support sending U.S. Special Forces into Mexico to target drug cartels, he replied, "Yes, and I will do it on day one." DeSantis claimed that the president should "use all available powers as commander in chief to protect our country and to protect the people."

"Yes, we're going to use deadly force," he continued. "Yes, we reserve the right to operate."

Not every candidate was willing to go as far as DeSantis. (Former DEA chief and Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, for one, argued that "the military has to be limited in its use.") But the debate showcased an interventionist instinct that's entered the GOP mainstream, even among Republicans who otherwise oppose U.S. entanglements abroad.

Though they differed on the details, the debate participants broadly agreed that what the U.S. needs is a hyper-militarized and hardened border. Former Vice President Mike Pence pushed for the U.S. to partner with the Mexican military to "hunt down and destroy the cartels that are claiming lives in the United States," while Hutchinson argued that "lethal force would be needed to protect the border."

*** Even when the candidates weren't calling for direct military involvement in or around Mexico, they argued for a bolted-up southern border and unforgiving immigration system. Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie said "you have to" deport the undocumented people already present in the U.S., who number roughly 11 million. One of the only positive mentions of immigration came from Ramaswamy, who held up his own immigrant parents as an example of America's promise. ***

(Excerpt) Read more at reason.com ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: border; militarize; sovereignty
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It is understood, in any language


1 posted on 08/28/2023 2:15:30 PM PDT by thegagline
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To: thegagline

It already is on their side. I saw some beaner carrying an AT4.
Not military, cartel…


2 posted on 08/28/2023 2:19:32 PM PDT by EEGator
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To: thegagline
the undocumented people already present in the U.S., who number roughly 11 million

That number hasn't been as low as 11 million for quite a few years. Probably at least three times that.

3 posted on 08/28/2023 2:20:07 PM PDT by HartleyMBaldwin
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To: thegagline

Something about buying a lock after the horse already left the barn.


4 posted on 08/28/2023 2:21:54 PM PDT by Antihero101607
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To: HartleyMBaldwin
Probably at least three times that.

At least three times that New York State alone !

5 posted on 08/28/2023 2:23:09 PM PDT by Right Wing Vegan (Conservatism's last hope, last recourse, in fact last expedient, against the libertarian hordes)
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To: thegagline

I would have thought citizens would be so fed up with this situation by now they would have formed militias and start handling it Paul Kersey style by now but looks like we’re going to wither away with barely a whimper.


6 posted on 08/28/2023 2:27:36 PM PDT by MachIV
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To: thegagline

Then deport those who are already inside.


7 posted on 08/28/2023 2:32:09 PM PDT by Petrosius
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To: thegagline

When the GOPe can no longer stall and stonewall on this issue, they turn it over to a compromised institution that will actually enable this.

https://nypost.com/2023/05/16/us-soldier-appears-to-let-migrants-onto-private-texas-property/


8 posted on 08/28/2023 2:33:24 PM PDT by Reverend Wright ( Everything touched by progressives, dies !)
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To: thegagline

If these were Republican voters pouring in by the millions through the southern border, everyone knows the Democrats would enforce border security with the military, and they would be given orders shoot to kill. And the media would cheer them on.


9 posted on 08/28/2023 2:37:22 PM PDT by Dan in Wichita
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To: thegagline
"Yes, we're going to use deadly force," he continued. "Yes, we reserve the right to operate."

It's a sea-change that they're all saying this--unthinkable just a year ago, I would say. Trump, and the horrible reality on the border and in the cities, has changed everything. Grass roots are obviously all over this.

What will the Dems do? They won't want to go along, and they won't want to be revealed as opposing or ignoring what everyday America has now decided is an emergency.

This campaign is changing by the day.

10 posted on 08/28/2023 2:44:10 PM PDT by SamuraiScot
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To: thegagline
I vote for period, randomly targeted, napalm strafes.


11 posted on 08/28/2023 2:45:29 PM PDT by fruser1
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To: thegagline

Vice President Mike Pence pushed for the U.S. to partner with the Mexican military to “hunt down and destroy the cartels


The Mexican military is a cartel.


12 posted on 08/28/2023 2:47:36 PM PDT by PIF (They came for me and mine ... now its your turn)
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To: SamuraiScot
It's a sea-change that they're all saying this--unthinkable just a year ago, I would say.

GOP is all talk, but no action. There is always an excuse later on for why they can't do what they claimed to want to do. DeSantis's statement was nothing more than red meat.

13 posted on 08/28/2023 2:48:58 PM PDT by Major Matt Mason (To solve the Democrat problem, the RINO problem must first be solved.)
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To: Petrosius

Then deport those who are already inside.


Eisenhower did it, and that’s why they make trains, busses and planes.


14 posted on 08/28/2023 2:48:58 PM PDT by PIF (They came for me and mine ... now its your turn)
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To: thegagline

Christie now says deport!? That makes two whole issues I agree with him on. But it’s hard to believe. I thought he was all for illegal aliens when he was governor.


15 posted on 08/28/2023 3:13:25 PM PDT by Right Wing Vegan (Conservatism's last hope, last recourse, in fact last expedient, against the libertarian hordes)
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To: thegagline
Krispy is still stuck on the (bogus) "11 million" number.
16 posted on 08/28/2023 3:30:42 PM PDT by Bikkuri (I am proud to be a PureBlood.)
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To: fruser1

It smells like... victory.


17 posted on 08/28/2023 3:40:33 PM PDT by samiam5
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To: SamuraiScot
What will the Dems do? They won't want to go along, and they won't want to be revealed as opposing or ignoring what everyday America has now decided is an emergency.

The Democrats and the Mexican cartels who are working with the Democrats, will set up an incident or two where a poor immigrant child or mother is killed by a nasty, preferably white, border agent.

18 posted on 08/28/2023 3:41:12 PM PDT by thegagline (Sic semper tyrannis! Goldwater in 2024)
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And try finishing the wall at the same time. Use some of the funds the clowns are so eager to send to the Ukes.


19 posted on 08/28/2023 3:59:56 PM PDT by curious7
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To: thegagline
to keep out drugs and undocumented immigrants

This is a big part of the problem. Most in the press won't use accurate terms. See Tagline.

Also, Chris Christie saying there are 11 million illegals. Pffffft. How many decades ago was that? I'd guess the number is at least 30 million, maybe more.

20 posted on 08/28/2023 4:41:01 PM PDT by libertylover (Our biggest problem, by far, is that almost all of big media is AGENDA-DRIVEN, not-truth driven.)
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