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Border Security First, Then the Bigger Issue
The Wall Street Journal ^ | 5/23/06 | Roy Blunt

Posted on 05/24/2006 12:11:53 PM PDT by hardknocks

Your May 17 editorial "'Rational Middle Ground'" missed the point on border security. You were right to say that I, along with a majority of House Republicans, would have serious problems with broader immigration reform "until we have adequately addressed our serious border security problems." You were wrong to suggest that those of us in the House who favor a border-security-first approach to dealing with our nation's illegal immigration problems wouldn't be satisfied unless the president called in the 82nd Airborne to guard our nation's borders. I would like to see a tough border security and interior enforcement bill signed into law. After that, we can begin to address the other illegal immigration issues plaguing our country.

A border that is not secure opens us to problems much more serious than someone trying to find a job. If people or drugs can cross the border as they do today, we miss one of the first responsibilities of a nation enforcing the law. House Republicans acted in December to secure our borders first. While we acknowledge that the problem is larger than simply a porous border, homeland security is too important to be delayed, and delaying action only allows this problem to get bigger. All Americans deserve border security now, not political gridlock.

Rep. Roy Blunt (R., Mo.) House Majority Whip Washington

(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...


TOPICS: Editorial; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: Missouri
KEYWORDS: aliens; bordersecurity; house; royblunt
Saw this in the WSJ, thought it was worth sharing. I, for one, am glad to see that at least some of the Republican leadership is interested in enforcing the laws we have in place.
1 posted on 05/24/2006 12:11:56 PM PDT by hardknocks
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To: hardknocks

"Comprehensive immigration reform" is a sleight of hand, it is a con. It is a way of smuggling something in the back door that they couldn't sell you through the front door.

Secure the border, and enforce existing law, and the problem will resolve itself over time. Fail to secure the border, and nothing will work. Fail to secure the border, and "comprehensive" immigration reform stands exposed as a fraud.

Do us a favor. Do your job. Secure the border. Don't give us "comprehensive" anything.

We allow a million immigrants each year to enter legally, with full papers, with all the rights of a citizen except the vote. A million. Its not racist, its not xenophobic, and its not anti-immigrant to insist that the others wait their turn.


2 posted on 05/24/2006 12:19:07 PM PDT by marron
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To: hardknocks

I have an issue with Immigration and Congress in general.

Members of congress have shown us time and again that they are incapable of meaningful, focused action for the resolution of key issues in any ethical or intelligent way. You are well aware of the issues; immigration, energy, welfare, Social Security and Medicare, a tax system that is overly complicated and filled with inequities, and a budget that is grossly inflated with pork.

Immigration and naturalization issues are a good example of poor performance by Congress. Article 1, Section 8 of the Constitution of the United States, gives Congress and Congress alone, the power to establish the rules, laws, and procedures to straighten out immigration and naturalization issues. The laws that are on the books need to be enforced, and funding provided to support security of our country and its borders. It seems to me, and I think you will agree, that the will of the citizens of our country is fairly obvious, illegal marchers not withstanding. Yet all I see is vacillation, procrastination, and subterfuge in the political ways of our senators and representatives. No one seems willing to actually do something, anything—other than spend our money of course.

Energy, Medicare, Social Security, our tax system, pork politics, and welfare are among other major issues that need congressional action and resolution before they become an overwhelming weight on our resources and security. If lasting solutions are not found, we shall slowly but surely sink into a national peat bog, from which, it may take generations to recover.


3 posted on 05/24/2006 12:20:19 PM PDT by Doc Hunter
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To: hardknocks

4 posted on 05/24/2006 12:20:38 PM PDT by Yo-Yo (USAF, TAC, 12th AF, 366 TFW, 366 MG, 366 CRS, Mtn Home AFB, 1978-81)
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To: hardknocks
and delaying action only allows this problem to get bigger

Yes, and every day Washington debates the subject without enforcing the laws already on the books, the larger the problem gets.

5 posted on 05/24/2006 12:22:52 PM PDT by mtbopfuyn (I think the border is kind of an artificial barrier - San Antonio councilwoman Patti Radle)
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To: Yo-Yo

What an apt cartoon. As a resident of a border state that lived a good many years right up close to the border I can say that unless the borders are enforced, together with removing incentives for people to come here illegally, then there is no point in any new "reforms" from Washington.


6 posted on 05/24/2006 12:25:37 PM PDT by P-40 (Al Qaeda was working in Iraq. They were just undocumented.)
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To: gubamyster

ping


7 posted on 05/24/2006 12:45:01 PM PDT by DumpsterDiver
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To: 1_Inch_Group; 2sheep; 2Trievers; 3AngelaD; 3pools; 3rdcanyon; 4Freedom; 4ourprogeny; 7.62 x 51mm; ..

ping


8 posted on 05/24/2006 12:50:12 PM PDT by gubamyster
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To: hardknocks

I am surprised the WSJ would publish this latter. I read the this paper every day and they have been very pro amnesty with nary any dissent. I am glad this letter got through.


9 posted on 05/24/2006 1:03:22 PM PDT by Uncle Hal
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To: marron
".Secure the border, and enforce existing law, and the problem will resolve itself over time. Fail to secure the border, and nothing will work.'.

That about sums it up.
Without secure borders everything they do is simply a waste of time.
10 posted on 05/24/2006 1:07:54 PM PDT by Jameison
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To: Yo-Yo

I absolutely love your cartoon. To whom do we owe credit to for drawing the cartoon!


11 posted on 05/24/2006 1:10:20 PM PDT by Doc Hunter
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To: hardknocks

President Bush is as blind about Criminals who overstay their visas and those that just Invade as ex (thank God)President Carter is about Islam and other thug controlled countries.

And the final results of his blindness will be as bad or worse then ex (thank God)President Carter's blindness!


12 posted on 05/24/2006 1:12:54 PM PDT by HuntsvilleTxVeteran ("Remember the Alamo, Goliad and WACO, It is Time for a new San Jacinto")
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To: Doc Hunter; pookie18

I cannot tell a lie. I shamelessly stole it from one of Pookie's cartoon postings!


13 posted on 05/24/2006 1:16:34 PM PDT by Yo-Yo (USAF, TAC, 12th AF, 366 TFW, 366 MG, 366 CRS, Mtn Home AFB, 1978-81)
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To: Yo-Yo; Doc Hunter
I cannot tell a lie. I shamelessly stole it from one of Pookie's cartoon postings!

Shamelessly? You shoud be proud!!! One of the main reasons for the thread is for FReepers to spread the contents around...making some of our points via humor. The excellent cartoonist is Mike Shelton of The Orange County Register.


14 posted on 05/24/2006 1:32:06 PM PDT by pookie18 ([Hillary Rotten] Clinton Happens...as does Dr. Demento Dean, Bela Pelosi & Benedick Durbin!!)
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To: pookie18
Well, I am a daily reader of your toons posting, so a tip of my chrome dome shading hat to you!
15 posted on 05/24/2006 1:56:45 PM PDT by Yo-Yo (USAF, TAC, 12th AF, 366 TFW, 366 MG, 366 CRS, Mtn Home AFB, 1978-81)
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To: Yo-Yo
A classical thank you to you, Mr. Ma!


16 posted on 05/24/2006 2:00:30 PM PDT by pookie18 ([Hillary Rotten] Clinton Happens...as does Dr. Demento Dean, Bela Pelosi & Benedick Durbin!!)
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To: Yo-Yo

I'm a retired AF Colonel and wanted to distribute it on the web.


17 posted on 05/24/2006 2:12:25 PM PDT by Doc Hunter
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To: hardknocks
All Americans deserve border security now, not political gridlock.

It's not a such a difficult concept. Even the WSJ should understand it.
18 posted on 05/24/2006 2:47:56 PM PDT by George W. Bush
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To: hardknocks

The more I hear the more I wish the GOP had elected Roy Blunt as the leader. He was unpopular with fellow members then, maybe, but sometimes it's the unpopular guy who, you know, stands up for unpopular ideas. Like apparently protecting the country from invasion seems to be. Too depressing to think about.

On the upside, if there is one, maybe the WSJ is seeing the error of its ways.


19 posted on 05/25/2006 7:32:55 AM PDT by NoStaplesPlease
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