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Sentiment Against Illegals is Powerful and Growing
Townhall.com ^ | May 7 2006 | John Leo

Posted on 05/08/2006 12:20:20 PM PDT by Mount Athos

One of the bloggers suggests that 2006 may be the year of the Lou Dobbs voter. The blogger, the Influence Peddler, is no fan. He considers Dobbs a demagogue, but he wonders whether voters are ready for a Dobbsian program of opposing illegal immigration, "throwing the bums out of Washington" and staying wary of international trade.

On immigration, this suggestion may reflect a shift in public opinion after the May 1 marches, away from the belief that the pro-illegals lobby had decisively altered public opinion, toward the realization that the marches may have created a powerful backlash.

Citing Arizona's new anti-smuggling law, the sheriff of Maricopa County (Phoenix) announced that a posse of a hundred deputies and volunteers would begin patrolling the desert. This appears to be an act of official frustration, not one of those cosmetic attempts to placate the right. The Minutemen, denounced as vigilantes by President Bush but greatly respected in the state, are now building a fence on private land along the Mexican border. They are going national too, with chapters popping up in Virginia and elsewhere.

The frustration level in Arizona is so high that a local prosecutor, Andrew Thomas of Maricopa County, organized a national immigration conference and gave a fiery speech on the chaos, crime and cost of the tide of illegals. Last spring, I managed to get lost in one of the rugged canyons of southeast Arizona, and stumbled on two camping areas for illegals, each with about as much debris as you might expect from an airliner crash.

Mercedes Maharis, who lives near that canyon, has just released a documentary on DVD, "Cochise County, USA: Cries From the Border." The eeriest footage is infrared photography of illegals, maybe a hundred or more, swarming across the border at night. The turning point for one woman came when she set up a tepee in her back yard and noticed one morning that a group of illegals was living in it. The withering remarks in the film are not aimed at the illegals, but at Washington for abandoning its constitutional duty to guard the border.

The national news media, which spent most of its energies covering the marches as a heartwarming civil rights effort, is belatedly recognizing that much of America doesn't see it that way. As the Los Angeles Times reports, "Activists who take the toughest stance against illegal immigration have formed too many groups to count, and more seem to crop up every week."

Around 67 percent of Americans have been telling pollsters for years that they want illegal immigration curtailed. Soon the media will notice the populist appeal of this huge constituency facing off against two sets of entrenched elites, the corporate elites of the right, supported by Republican politicians, and the academic elites of the left, supported by Democratic politicians.

Editorialists seem to discuss the illegals mostly in terms of compassion and the impossibility of deporting the 11 million already here. But the core of the problem is that illegal entry is a never-ending process. An amnesty-light compromise in Washington is unlikely to do much more about this than the allegedly tough amnesty-light program of 1986. In a poll last August, about 40 percent of adults surveyed in Mexico said they would like to move to the United States. If so, there would be another 28 million people. Mexico has a high birthrate, a broken political culture and a government determined to dump its poor on the United States. It even publishes a comic book showing illegals how to avoid the U.S. border patrol.

High and continuous immigration is occurring under conditions of bilingualism and multiculturalism, rather than assimilation. In the name of diversity, the academic elites have encouraged immigrants to maintain their birth-country cultures and to adopt a stance of separatism and pugnacious victimization. Political scientist Samuel Huntington argues that this amounts to a deconstruction of American identity that has been "gradually created over three centuries." In his book "Mexifornia," Victor Davis Hanson says California is not quite Mexico, but not quite the United States either.

The political culture of Washington, focused on cheap labor and Latino votes, is nowhere near recognizing what is happening.


TOPICS: Editorial; Government; Politics/Elections; US: Arizona
KEYWORDS: aliens; bush; congress; hr4437; illegals; johnleo
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To: JeffAtlanta

It's worrisome because no one seems to be too interested in discussing "the good guys" but only "the bad".


181 posted on 05/08/2006 8:47:23 PM PDT by hispanarepublicana (Don't fall for the soft bigotry of assuming all Hispanics are pro-amnesty. www.dontspeakforme.org)
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To: Mount Athos
The backlash is growing, as I knew it would. Any intelligent American knew this. The MSM are amazed that it happened, how out of touch they really are.

These people killed their cause, and they did it with the help of communist organizations, and leftist America haters. There is one thing that was never figured into this little equation of theirs. The huge majority of the American people WORK, and they don't have the time to counter demonstrate. We are the engine of this economy, they are a small minority of poor, illegal, and destitute people that need to come here legally and be free. They will never dictate what they want, that won't work. It will serve nothing more that to piss the huge majority off, and it did.

We always thought that the far left was so smart. Remember, they think with their "heart", we think with our brain.

By the way, the willful, knowing registration of an illegal alien to vote in a federal election is a federal crime. Everybody goes to jail. There has to be records, and we can find them. Go right ahead.......make my day. And it will be the single take down of "Motor Voter". Good bye fraud, good bye democRATS. Just wait! I've seen the best of this conflict and it will be good for this country.

182 posted on 05/08/2006 8:47:39 PM PDT by timydnuc (I'll die on my feet before I'll live on my knees.)
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To: nicmarlo

Love dat tagline ;)


183 posted on 05/08/2006 8:49:00 PM PDT by JustPiper (So say your fond farewells! Mecha means fuse, and it is lit !)
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Comment #184 Removed by Moderator

To: timydnuc
The backlash is growing, as I knew it would. Any intelligent American knew this. The MSM are amazed that it happened, how out of touch they really are.

Don't underestimate the "allegiance" of many in the MSM. Last night on CNN. Anderson Cooper is quoting some "new" poll that suggested that 72% of Americans are in favor of Amnesty.

xenophobic American citizens

If standing up for America and my children's future plus wanting the law enforced is "xenophobic"? Just make sure it is Mr. Xenophobic American Citizen!

One man's demagogue is another man's Paul Revere!

185 posted on 05/09/2006 5:42:35 AM PDT by Altura Ct.
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To: JustPiper

I love being a cheerleader. : )


186 posted on 05/09/2006 6:13:32 AM PDT by nicmarlo (Bush is the Best President Ever. Rah. Rah.)
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To: zerosix
Unfortunately, although you didn't meant we should vote for a RAT, many out there do and thus why they keep pushing agenda the public @ large don't want and it teeters on arrogance. This prevailing attitude of we'll do what we want because well, who are you going to vote for Nancy Pelosi, that is just wrong.

I will go vote but it makes my blood boil. I just don't know how things got this far out of control.
187 posted on 05/09/2006 6:22:19 AM PDT by genxer
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To: genxer
It is called "TERM LIMITS."

Time to bring them back - with a vengeance this time, real TERM LIMITS, no exceptions, no matter how good the elected official is, throw the bums out of DC before they become infected with Lobbyists, special perks, private dinners with "dignitaries", and most of all Congressional Pensions and lifetime lobbying law-firm jobs when they leave.

188 posted on 05/09/2006 6:50:26 AM PDT by zerosix (Romans 5:8)
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To: in hoc signo vinces
I am not in the "open border" crowd. I am in the anti-hysteria...

Apparently you belong to the anti-border contol group. Maybe we will all go back to sleep, again, and you crowd can continue the de-construction of America.

You call us Bush bashers, so who are we supposed to blame for not upholding their oath to the Constitution? He refuses to provide defense of the several states from invasion. He is supposed to be the cheif law enforcement officer, instead he has encouraged millions of illegals to come into this country in the hope of gaining citizenship.

It is his choice, now we get a voice in the matter, so just suck up and take it.

189 posted on 05/09/2006 7:30:19 AM PDT by itsahoot
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To: in hoc signo vinces
but my blood pressure can't take the intellectually dishonest people who routinely post on the threads about "doomsday" illegal immigration woes.

Bush hasnt advocated amnesty...do a little research

We have and your argument doesn't stand up. "Family valuse don't stop at the border" remember that one.

That maybe, DHS has increased funding to border control

Surely you jest, The President has refused to spend the money made available for new border patrol. I will give him a little credit for wanting to put monitoring devices on the border so we can watch the illegals jump the border. He is a little shady on what happens after we watch them come accross. Once the get here they must be given a hearing before a judge, an infinitismal number actually show up, but they don't leave either.

but my blood pressure can't take the intellectually honest people who routinely post on the threads about "doomsday" illegal immigration woes.

Get used to it, the people are waking up.

Complied from the L.A Times:
1. 40% of all workers in L.A. County (L.A. County has 10 million people) are working for cash and not paying taxes. This is because they are predominantly illegal immigrants, working without a green card.

2. 95% of warrants for murder in Los Angeles are for illegal aliens.

3. 75% of people on the most wanted list in Los Angeles are illegal aliens.

4. Over 2/3's of all births in Los Angeles County are to illegal alien Mexicans on Medi-Cal whose births were paid for by taxpayers.

5. Nearly 25% of all inmates in California detention centers are Mexican nationals here illegally.

6. Over 300,000 illegal aliens in Los Angeles County are living in garages.

7. The FBI reports half of all gang members in Los Angeles are most likely illegal aliens from south of the border.

8. Nearly 60% of all occupants of HUD properties are illegal.

9. 21 radio stations in L.A. are Spanish speaking.

10. In L.A.County 5.1 million people speak English. 3.9 million speak Spanish (10.2 million people in L.A.County).

(All 10 above compiled from articles in the Los Angeles Times)

1. Less than 2% of illegal aliens are picking our crops but 29% are on welfare.

2. Over 70% of the United States annual population growth (and over 90% of California, Florida, and New York) results from immigration.

3. The cost of immigration to the American taxpayer in 1997 was a NET (after subtracting taxes immigrants pay) $70 BILLION a year, [source: Professor Donald Huddle, Rice University].

4. The lifetime fiscal impact (taxes paid minus services used) for the average adult Mexican immigrant is a NEGATIVE.

5. 29% of inmates in federal prisons are illegal aliens.

190 posted on 05/09/2006 7:57:56 AM PDT by itsahoot
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To: in hoc signo vinces
However, I know I am right.

Well gee, can't argue with that can we?</ Sarcasm>

191 posted on 05/09/2006 8:02:38 AM PDT by itsahoot
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To: itsahoot; in hoc signo vinces
Its worse than you think

U.S. tipping Mexico to Minuteman patrols (telling the Mexican government)
192 posted on 05/09/2006 8:08:58 AM PDT by hedgetrimmer ("I'm a millionaire thanks to the WTO and "free trade" system--Hu Jintao top 10 worst dictators)
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To: stephenjohnbanker

Ref: <<"We have 5-6 MILLION of them in California. They are taking over 200,000+ population cities here, one after the other.
And yet we have many FReepers that see no problem, and are blindly following Bush. INCREDIBLE!">>

I also am from the Columbus, Ohio area and have a son living in San Diego. It is well past time to demand Action from President Bush or the Conservatives should move for his impeachment for Non-Feasance.

Whatever happened to upholding the Oath of Office to protect the Country from all Enemies, foreign and Domestic?

RamS


193 posted on 05/09/2006 9:21:35 AM PDT by RamingtonStall (More Guns ==> Less Crime! Get your CHL today! http://www.ohioccw.org/)
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To: kstewskis; nicmarlo; Borax Queen; janetgreen; joanie-f; JustPiper; Smartass; Americanwolf
Outstanding...

And you are correct--the propaganda campaign is definitely not working (don't you love the smell of backlash in the morning?).

194 posted on 05/09/2006 4:23:40 PM PDT by Czar (StillFedUptotheTeeth@Washington)
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To: Czar
don't you love the smell of backlash in the morning?

Absolutely do! : )

195 posted on 05/09/2006 4:36:10 PM PDT by nicmarlo (Bush is the Best President Ever. Rah. Rah.)
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To: in hoc signo vinces
The Rats will allow this "new" hot issue to mire the POTUS, and republicans, in order to gain seats in the House and Senate...that's what is currently driving this issue...an issue, which has been around for decades but is now is somehow Bush's "sole" fault.

So, indulging your scenario, the "Vast Democrat Immigration Conspiracy" has maneuvered President Bush into a situation where, if he gets tough on illegals and secures the border, he will ingratiate himself to 70% of the American public. Wow, that's pretty shrewd strategizing!

196 posted on 05/09/2006 5:21:47 PM PDT by Pa' fuera (I support family reunification.......through deportation)
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To: itsahoot
However, I know I am right.

Well gee, can't argue with that can we?

that's it, I'm sold....shut down the thread, we're done for the evening.

197 posted on 05/09/2006 5:24:03 PM PDT by Pa' fuera (I support family reunification.......through deportation)
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To: RamingtonStall

"Whatever happened to upholding the Oath of Office to protect the Country from all Enemies, foreign and Domestic? "

Absolutely incredible!


198 posted on 05/09/2006 6:24:39 PM PDT by stephenjohnbanker (Immigration: Acting like dupes does not earn us their respect, but their CONTEMPT.))
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To: Mount Athos
.....the impossibility of deporting the 11 million already here.

We didn't import them either but they still got here. They can leave the same way after we crack down on their employers and pass more laws like Arizona so that local police start throwing them in tent city jails.

199 posted on 05/09/2006 9:18:30 PM PDT by Mogollon
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To: Czar

I know a handful were stinkin up the threads all night long


200 posted on 05/10/2006 2:09:25 AM PDT by JustPiper (So say your fond farewells! Mecha means fuse, and it is lit !)
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