Bump to That!!!
Answer: Nada-lot.
I am sure anything I say to you would be pointless at this time, but here are a few things for you to consider before you join the elect Howard Dean campaign a.k.a. vote for Pat ala Perot campaign.
1. Just how many dollars would you spend on border control? I would personally like to see a lot more spent, but answer the question with a hard number and ask yourself if spending that same number elsewhere would do better.
Take the argument that the libs are throwing around: "Lets put missle defense on every passenger plane in the country" ... Hmmm I think that building a computer system to store the fingerprints from every site in Iraq/Ashcanistan would be $$ better spent. Heck, hire a few more CIA agents to listen to another 1% of suspected calls comming from the mid-east and we would get more defense for the cost...
2. When you hear the liberal media (aka any non-fox station) talking about 'border control' they are doing it for a reason -- it is either
a) good local politics - hear southern states (we don't hear anything about it up here in NY because it would serve no purpose). This kind of story is great ratings in the TX,NV,AZ etc markets.
b) good for furthering their political agedas (they know Bush is 'weak' on the issue)
Finally -- put togther a plan and promote border reform. Remeber that we will need work against decades liberal policy. Bush cannot just wave a magic wand and fix everything, I am sure that much of this is enshrined in the law that was passed over the last 60 or so years (after all, isn't it law that local cops cannot ask if someone is illegal in certain states -- WTFIUWT). Bush may be able to call in the national guard to watch the borders, but I think that we have more pressing needs for our troops. As for going out and 'hiring more agents' look at the TSA and tell me that you have faith in the govt rushing anything and doing it right. It has to be seeded properly in order for it to work.
If you have nothing constructive to say on the matter STFO. Bitching about it 24/7 like a radio host will do nothing. You cannot put up a three-layer fence full of land mines up on the border, (while that is probably the solution). Don't get me wrong, I do think that we need to do more here, but maybe we should start by doing a few of the following:
1. Normalize and regulate the importation of transiant farm workers (a large draw for 1st time illegals).
2. Severely punish companies that are not complying with the law. Have Ashcroft crack down on the construction industry. I am sure the GOP would get a few extra union votes on the issue.... Let the dems come out screaming abou t how the 'President is taking their jobs away and giving them to ... ' oops..
3. Curtail highway and other funds to states that are enacting policy which encourages illiegal immigration. California is a good example: Every dollar that they spend propping these POS up should be taken from funds given to the state by the federal govt. Let's see how long they last... The rational is that since illegal imigration is a federal responsibility, the state is costing the rest of the country $$ with thier policies which specifically increase federal costs.
I am sure the FR can come up with thousands of evil little plots to push this stuff forward. There is actually a lot of good politics that can be played here!
Recognize that you have to work with what you have to work with, and helping Howard Dean get elected is definitly not in your best interest.