I'm jealous though. Your temp is just 64 degrees.
While mine is:
Posted on 05/28/2006 7:16:03 PM PDT by JustPiper
AP: GUARD TO MISS BORDER MISSION DEADLINE
SACRAMENTO, Calif. - The Bush administration has been unable to muster even half of the 2,500 National Guardsmen it planned to have on the Mexican border by the end of June.
As of Thursday, the next-to-last day of the month, fewer than 1,000 troops were in place, according to military officials in the four border states of Texas, California, New Mexico and Arizona.
President Bush's plan called for all 50 states to send troops. But only 10 states — including the four border states — have signed commitments.
Some state officials have argued that they cannot free up Guardsmen because of flooding in the East, wildfires in the West or the prospect of hurricanes in the South.
"It's not a combat priority. It is a volunteer mission," said Kristine Munn, spokeswoman for the National Guard Bureau, an arm of the Pentagon, "so it's a question of balancing the needs of the Border Patrol with the needs of 54 states and territories, and all those balls roll in different directions."
Bush's plan for stemming illegal immigration by using National Guardsmen in a support role called for 2,500 troops to be on the border by June 30, and 6,000 by the end of July.
But National Guard officials said Thursday that they probably won't reach the 2,500 target until early to mid-July and won't make the 6,000 deadline, either. Also, they said the number of troops will fluctuate from week to week over the course of the two-year mission.
"We now anticipate major waves in our deployment. There won't always be 6,000. That will be the maximum," Munn said.
South Carolina's adjutant general said Wednesday he wants to wait until after hurricane season to send 150 Guardsmen.
"South Carolina's hurricane plan requires 1,600 troops to work along the coast during an evacuation and we double that number" to be extra-careful, said South Carolina Guard spokesman Col. Pete Brooks. "If we have a storm like Katrina hit, we'd have every Guard member who's not in Iraq somewhere out on the street."
White House spokesman Tony Snow said earlier this week that reports of problems with the border deployment were "overblown."
Major problems began to appear last week when California, which has already committed to sending 1,000 troops, said it turned down an administration request for 1,500 more to cover expected shortfalls in the numbers sent by Arizona and New Mexico.
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's spokesman, Adam Mendelsohn, said that the state is leading all others in contributing troops and that the shortfalls are not California's responsibility.
"The governor is prepared to do whatever it takes to secure California's border," he said, "However, at the start of fire season, we cannot send troops to New Mexico and Arizona and other states when we already have 1,000 troops committed to this."
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1657992/posts?page=11
Is anyone surprised by this news?
Headlines should read......Bush, "HA HA FAKED YOU OUT ON BORDER SECURITY, AGAIN!
If anyone hears Bush give a good explanation as to WHY he failed, again, please post.
Former Pres. Clinton, KARL ROVE - Speakers at NCLR (LA RAZA) Annual Conference
NATIONAL COUNCIL OF LA RAZA ^ | Jun 21, 2006 | Diana Tejada
"Washington, DC – The National Council of La Raza (NCLR), the largest national Latino civil rights and advocacy organization in the U.S., announced today that former President Bill Clinton, WHITE HOUSE DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF KARL ROVE, and Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa are among the confirmed speakers for the upcoming NCLR Annual Conference which will be held July 8-11 at the Los Angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles, CA." (emphasis added)
://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1658410/posts
There aren't enough words in my dictionary (or imagination) to describe this group of speakers - none of them exemplary words for certain.
Under the euphuism 'Hispanic Homeland' and 'Nation of Aztlan,' activists from numerous organizations including Mexican American Legal Defense and La Raza (The Race) activists are attempting to annex large portions of SW United States to Mexico. "Republica del Norte," the Republic of the North, which would include the present U.S. states of California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, plus southern Colorado, along with several current Mexican states, is "an inevitability" says Charles Truxillo, professor, University of New Mexico. He further states the new "Hispanic Homeland" should be brought into being "by any means necessary."
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1659022/posts?page=83#83
COLORADO SPRINGS AIR FORCE INSTALLATION ON HEIGHTENED ALERT
Four Installations Across The Country Are Affected By Order From U.S. Space Command
by Baaron Pittenger
6/29/2006
An Air Force installation in Colorado Springs and one near Denver are operating with heightened security.
The Cheyenne Mountain Air Station, which houses NORAD, is now at "Bravo-Plus".
There are five levels of alert: normal, Alpha (low), Bravo (medium), Charlie (high) and Delta (critical). “Bravo-Plus” is slightly higher than a medium threat level.
The Cheyenne Mountain Air Station And Buckley Air Force Base are among four installations in the country at the higher alert level ordered last week by then- Acting-Commander of Air Force Space Command, General Fred Klotz.
SPACE COMMAND WOULD NOT COMMENT ON THE REASON FOR THE SECURITY INCREASE.
The order also affects Vandenberg Air Force Base in California and Patrick air force base in Florida.
Snip: An FBI agent today told a federal magistrate in Houston that Duque allegedly assisted in alien smuggling and illegally provided ID's. An affidavit says Duque on June 14th knowingly helped a vehicle hauling nearly five kilos of cocaine go through the Falfurrias checkpoint -- in exchange for five-thousand dollars.
Immigration puzzle plays out in Saluda
Snippets: For their part, Hispanics see Saluda as a place of economic opportunity. They also understand its isolation provides protection for those who are illegally living in the United States.
Saluda's Hispanic community has grown fast thanks to the poultry industry and a word-of-mouth network among immigrants that reaches people as near as Atlanta and as far away as rural villages in Guatemala.
Fair rally takes aim at Mexican Flag
Snip: For the first time, an immigration protest has spilled into San Diego County's annual summer party of farm animals, carnival rides and aromatic foods.
Upon learning through a talk radio show that the Mexican flag was flying next to U.S. and California flags at the San Diego County Fair, members of the San Diego Minutemen, an anti-illegal immigration group, planned rallies at two Del Mar Fairgrounds gates.
As fairgoers arrived Friday morning, they were greeted by 50 flag-waving, sign-toting protesters who demanded that the green-white-and-red flag be taken down.
"It's telling illegals that it's OK to come here," said John Grimes, a restaurant repairman from San Diego, who held up a cardboard replica of the Mexican flag with a black line through it, next to the main O'Brien Gate.
Vista residents cope with raids, rallies and rogues
Snip: "I soon won't be able to communicate in the language that the Constitution was written in," Spencer said.
Haven't been on here recently but happy Fourth of July to all!
F.Y.I.
GOP hearings in San Diego regarding illegal immigration are on CSPAN.
Sheriff's of San Diego and Los Angeles up.
Snip: Jimenez crossed the border into the United States about two years ago. He makes $100 per day, regardless of the difficulty of the job or the hours he puts into it. The work is steady, and he enjoys it.
Baltimore needs bilingual officers
Snip: Brandishing guns and yelling in Spanish, the men barged into La Bahia restaurant on South Newkirk Street and ordered the owner, Maria Mendoza, and others to get on the floor. Her husband, Jose, an immigrant from Honduras, fought back against a man holding a shotgun, grabbing him in a bear hug.
Another man put a gun to Jose Mendoza's head and pulled the trigger. The half-dozen or so robbers disappeared into the night, leaving the man's crumpled body bleeding on the restaurant floor and in the arms of his wife of 13 years.
The killing exemplified a growing problem as Baltimore's Latino community swells, with an increasing number of perpetrators, victims and witnesses to crimes who speak Spanish and little else. And the city's criminal justice system has been struggling to cope.
When an investigator was assigned to the Mendoza killing, there was only one choice -- Juan A. Diaz, a native of Puerto Rico and the only Spanish-speaking homicide detective on the 3,000-member police force.
Excerpts from Transcript of Bush/Harper Meeting on 7/6/07, same day of results of Mexican Elections.
"BUSH: Needless to say, the Prime Minister expressed deep concerns about the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative. The last time I was with him he expressed concerns. He basically was a little impatient, if I might clarify your -- it seemed like you were impatient, at least -- (laughter) -- and straightforward. Look, he said, I understand there's a law on the books; show us what's going to happen. And I understand the concerns. If you have a relationship like we have, where there's a lot of activity and a lot of people moving across the border, it makes sense for the Prime Minister of Canada to say, look, we just want to know what the rules are to determine whether or not it is compatible with our relationship.
And so I assured him that my view is, simple and easy to understand is the operative words. And we will continue our discussions about this initiative, particularly since the Secretary of Homeland Security Chertoff -- who is sitting right over there, by the way -- will be joining us for lunch. Unless you don't want me to invite him. (Laughter.)"............................
"PRIME MINISTER HARPER: Well, thank you very much, Mr. President, for the invitation and for the kind words. And thank you for doing something I never thought I'd see, which is have the Canadian media stand when I entered the room. But we certainly enjoy that.
(Begins to speak in French.)
(Returns to speaking English.) The United States and Canada have a strong relationship, strong and firm relationship based on the largest commerce and social interaction in the history of any two countries of the world, and we were able to discuss a wide range of bilateral and international matters where we, more often than not, share common values and common objectives.
We discussed many topics of interest to our respective countries and citizens, in particular, as the President mentioned, the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative. The President and I agreed that the implementation of the provisions of the WHTI must not unduly hinder cross-border travel or tourism or trade. And to that end, we've tasked our officials to agree on common standards for securing alternate documents, and preferably, as soon as possible. ".......................
"Q My question is about the security at the border. On the passport issue, you seems very open. But there is a deadline of 2008. "
"PRESIDENT BUSH: Yes. "
"Q Is there any chance of getting a -- of dealing? And, Mr. Harper, can you comment in French and English, please? "
PRESIDENT BUSH: Thank you. We are responding to congressional law. And I -- let me reinterpret your -- is your question, is there flexibility in the law, basically? Yes, I think that if Congress decides there needs to be flexibility, there will flexibility. Interestingly enough, the Senate passed -- made its intention clear to extend deadlines. That hasn't happened in the House yet. And so we are operating in the executive branch under the idea that nothing will change, and therefore, we need to get to the Canadian government as quickly as possible our definition of what a reasonable policy is. If Congress decides to be flexible, we, obviously, will be flexible.
But the reason we're dealing with this issue is because the legislative branch put this into law, put the need to have these kind of documents into law. And as I told Chertoff, who is responsible for implementing the law, that I would like this, to the extent the law allows, for there to be a lot of flexibility and simplicity.
As the governor of Texas, I'm used to a border situation where hundreds of thousands of people crossed every day. See, we -- on our southern border, there are a lot of Mexican citizens who come into the United States and work on a daily basis and then go back home. It happens a lot. And therefore, I fully understand the need for there to be simplicity in the documentation. It needs to be easy for somebody who is known and a person that is -- makes a living on the other side of the border. There's -- a lot of kids go to college in, like, El Paso, Texas, and they're living in Mexico, so they've got to go back and forth on a regular basis. So I'm familiar with this issue a lot, and I really do emphasize the need for us to be mindful of what a onerous program could mean to good relations, as well as facilitation of trade.
I can remember Stephen's concerns about the effect this initiative might have on conventions, for example, in Canada. He brought up today an interesting example of Little League teams playing baseball in Manitoba. And so, in other words, there's a lot of just daily commerce that we've got to be mindful about -- not just trade, but the movement of people. And we are, we are.
And so to answer your question, if the Congress provides flexibility, of course, we will work with the Canadian government to extend deadlines. If the Congress says, no, this is what our intent is, we will work with the Canadian government to make the law work.
PRIME MINISTER HARPER: (Answers in French.)
(Continues in English) We're on two tracks here. We've indicated we want to cooperate. We understand this is a congressional law the administration has to put into place. We're prepared to cooperate to make it work as smoothly and effectively as possible. We need more information, and we've been pressing for that for some time, and we'll continue to do so.
At the same time, our other track is obviously to encourage some reexamination of the law. The Senate has recently passed an amendment that would delay this process by a year and a half. We have some indications from some quarters of the House of Representatives, some will there to consider the same thing.
As I say, we -- and I just want to emphasize -- we in Canada share the United States' security concerns and objectives. I think as you all know, recently with events in Toronto it's been brought home to all of us that we face exactly the same kind of security threats, and are defending exactly the same kinds of values. And I would hate to see a law go into place that has the effect of not just limiting and endangering trade or tourism, but endangering all those thousands of social interactions that occur across our border every day, and are the reason why Canada and the United States have the strongest relationship of any two countries, not just on the planet, but in the history of mankind.
And I would just urge the Congress to think carefully, that if the fight for security ends up meaning that the United States becomes more closed to its friends, then the terrorists have won. And I don't think either of us want that. So we're prepared to cooperate and also urge the Congress to apply some flexibility in reaching their objectives of security. "
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/07/20060706.html
Media Note
Office of the Spokesman
Washington, DC
April 5, 2005
New Passport Initiative Announced To Better Secure America's Borders
http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2005/44228.htm
Chertoff: WHTI Affects Border Crossings
Apr 14, 2006 5:19 PM
When Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff spoke at the World Travel and Tourism Summit in Washington, D.C., on April 11, he admitted that the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, while aimed at protecting the U.S.’s borders, caused “a lot of concern not only in the travel industry, but a lot of concern in our border states and border communities; and concerns in Canada and Mexico and in other parts of the western hemisphere.”
http://meetingsnet.com/news/chertoff_whti_travel/index.html
NRA is selling us to Mexico
I've just found out that the NRA, is starting to pandering a particular ethnic group... yes... the Hispanics Why do they have to create a website in Spanish only? http://www.nraespanol.org
I feel offended twice:
1) First as an American... that I believe in the Bill of rights... that by the way it was written in english, so if you can't or don't want to speak english you should not join the NRA... since we are talking about defending our Second Amendment and Constitution!
2) I feel offended also as an ex legal immigrant from Italy... that I am still working on improving my new language: ENGLISH!!!
Why not to make a website also in Chinese, or in Polish, or Irish or Italian? Are these spanish the "chosen race"? I have been supporting NRA since I came to America understanding the importance to defend our Bill of rights and I have just became a Life Member... but I swear to God that I am ready to cancel my membership and to stop any economic support if this distgusting and racist behavior is not stopped immediately by the NRA. Please write or call NRA and express your opinion about this sad behavior.
Are we really so @^$+#$# up?
Luca - http://unitedstates.fm/newamerican.htm You can contact the NRA via mail at the following address:
National Rifle Association of America
11250 Waples Mill Road
Fairfax, VA 22030
1-800-672-3888
Snip: Randy Pullen, leading a group called Protect our City, on Thursday submitted more than 21,000 signatures to get an initiative on a city ballot that would require Phoenix officials to enforce immigration laws.
Pullen needs 14,844 valid signatures to get his proposal in front of Phoenix voters as early as November 2007. "This is Prop. 200 on steroids for Phoenix," said Pullen, who spent about $50,000 to gather the signatures. Proposition 200 is a voter-approved measure that aims to restrict certain public benefits to undocumented immigrants and prevent them from voting.
Pullen's latest initiative would require Phoenix to "enter into an agreement with the United States Department of Homeland Security to designate police officers as immigration officers qualified to investigate, apprehend, and detain aliens in the United States."
Thank you for the post. This is a real bone of contention with me and something that must be corrected in this country. What is particularly bothersome in this case is that unlike most other 'entities' who've been catering to them with a spanish option, the NRA is JUST BEGINNING to do this and there is no excuse for it. I'll be sure to let them know how I feel about it.!
Next, Is this something that is about to blow up in the media? Also, interesting to note that the few who are "so blind over Bush, that they will not see" the truth, are ALL giddly enjoying this news and contributing to the thread.
Broken Borders: Broken Promises (Simcox-Minuteman)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1662197/posts?page=1,50
Next, I will repeat this here, as it was for me, yet another wake up call:
7/7/06
"People in this country expect us to secure the border, and we will...............BUT...... in order to enforce this border, we've got to have a rational way that recognizes there are people sneaking across to do work Americans aren't doing. They're doing jobs Americans are not filling."
GWB on border security/illegal immigration
7/7/06
"And part of our objective is to make sure that NATIONAL SECURITY INTERESTS, security of the world interests, TRUMP ECONOMIC INTERESTS. And sometimes that takes a while to get people focused in the right direction."
GWB on North Korea Crises
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/07/20060707-1.html
I heard this on replay today and my jaw hit floor. Can you believe he tried to shame others regarding North Korea, when he just finished saying that, for us, the economy is more important than border/national security. How in the word does he expect others to do, what he his not willing to do himself?
Good! The states need to step up to the plate since the Federal Government has abdicated it's responsibility.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1662324/posts?page=5#5
On June 20, House Republicans announced that House Committee's would be holding numerous field hearings throughout the country on the Reid-Kennedy Senate Immigration Bill. And on June 22, House Majority Leader Boehner released a document which noted that "Republicans want to enact a strong bill that secures our borders and puts a premium on strict enforcement of our immigration laws," and unveiled five guiding principles that would be used to do just that.
Below find documents which have been produced or compiled by the House Republican Conference:
Key Statements From Witnesses at Field Hearings
* America's Voices from the Border Excerpts from field hearing on July 7, 2006, "Border Vulnerabilities and International Terrorism" in Laredo, Texas.
* America's Voices from the Border Law enforcement officials want border security to be first priority (July 6, 2006).
* Reid-Kennedy Bill Weakens Existing Illegal Immigration Laws "Terrorist loophole" makes it more difficult for local law enforcement to detain law breakers and potential terrorists (July 5, 2006).
* America's Voices from the Border Excerpts from the July 5 hearing on "Border Vulnerabilities and International Terrorism" in San Diego.
The Democrat Road To Amnesty
* Out of Touch Senator Kennedy weighs in on border security and illegal immigration (July 6, 2006)
* House Democrats Hiding From Their Own Taking a closer look at the record of House Democrats on enforcing the borders.
* Why is the Senate Immigration Bill Referred to as the Reid-Kennedy Bill? A document which outlines that the bill is called the "Reid-Kennedy Bill" because Democrats amended it, defended it, weakened it, and passed it.
Opinion Pieces & News Articles
* Immigration Bill has terror loophole Robert Novak's column from July 6, 2006.
* Let's Begin By Giving Voice to the People Opinion piece by Rep. Ed Royce (R-CA), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Terrorism and Nuclear Proliferation who chaired the first field hearing on July 5 in San Diego, CA.
* Immigration Bill: GOP Firmly Against Amnesty House Judiciary Committee Chairman James Sensenbrenner's opinion piece which ran in The Wall Street Journal on July 3, 2006 which articulates the House position on immigration reform.
* Immigration Deadlock Revisited Washington Post story from June 30 which reports on the Senate's move toward the House's position on strengthening America's borders.
* Boehner Stands Ground on Border-Security Position Washington Times story which ran June 29 reporting Majority Leader John Boehner's position for House Republicans.
Hearing Notices
* Subcommittee Hearing Notice for July 5 Hearing in San Diego, CA.
* Subcommittee Hearing Notice for July 7 Hearing in Laredo, Texas.
Interested Parties Weigh In On Field Hearings
* Minuteman Civil Defense Corps Applaud House Field Hearings Released July 5, 2006
Does anyone have a ping list for the freepers who were visiting this thread on a regular basis, but haven't lately?
It would be nice to be able to ping everyone to look back to this thread if needed or as important information is posted.
I could create one if those who are interested will let me know they want to be on it.
Snip: Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio says that his deputies have not made one illegal alien arrest in two weeks. The Mexican Consulate is briefing illegal aliens, and providing them with US cash, and intelligence data designed to defeat Sheriff Arpaio's efforts to combat illegal immigration.
Salvadore Enriquez is an illegal alien who arrived in Chandler, Arizona two weeks ago. He has been working steadily from a street corner in Chandler doing day labor jobs.
Enriquez said that in early June he was preparing to cross the US-Mexico border at San Luis, Mexico south of Yuma, when he was stopped by an official from the Mexican Consulate who wanted him to go to a meeting that would show him how to enter the United States, and avoid capture.
Enriquez went to a meeting at a freestanding building in San Luis. There he met Ramon Hererra Cisneros who identified himself as an officer with the Mexican Consulate. Cisneros provided the almost 100 meeting attendees with food, and refreshments.
Cisneros then proceeded to show meeting attendees large maps of the US-Mexico Border, and the Maricopa County desert. For an hour he showed meeting participants where Maricopa County Sheriffs Deputies were making arrests. He provided them with times that the deputies change shifts, and when the Sheriff's office resources were the most vulnerable.
He then provided Enriquez with 10 pages of written instructions on how to get to the Mexican city of Aqua Prieta on the US-Mexican Border with Douglas, Arizona. Cisneros told meeting attendees that they would be safe in the deserts between Douglas, and Queen Creek, Arizona, because Maricopa County Sheriff's had “no authority in these areas.” The written instructions provided Enriquez with information on how to get to Norton's Corner in Queen Creek. Once at Norton's Corner, illegal aliens were given instructions on how to use the free prepaid telephone calling cards provided to them, to call a local shuttle service. The shuttle service would bring them to Chandler, Mesa, or Tempe, Arizona using “safer” streets instead of highways, and freeways.
Mexico now Canada's largest source for refugee claimants
Snip: Over 3,500 Mexicans asked Canada for political asylum last year, for the first time making the NAFTA partner the largest source for refugee claimants.
But Canadian officials didn't buy the claims of persecution and harrassment of 81 per cent of the applicants. There were more approvals for refugees from Colombia and China.
A sample of Immigration and Refugee Board decisions on Mexicans describes claims of domestic abuse, state failure to ensure protection, persecution due to sexual preference, and threats from security forces and organized crime.
No statistics are kept on why claims are accepted or rejected, but many are believed to be simply seeking better working and living conditions.
Due to my limited time and wanting to get the word out to as many as possible I'm posting important info at our group...
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Stand_Up_For_America/
Here are most of them:
Tis my best, latest list
mamadearest;WestCoastGal;mamadearest;FairOpinion;Pro-Bush;exhaustedmomma,hijinx;Brad'sGramma;gubamyster;b4ranch;appalachian_dweller;donnaleenardo;texasbluebell;backhoe;cripplecreek;littlejeremiah;stopem;Darnright;TheLion;freeperfromnj;thecabal;LynnHam;raybbr;spiff;SJackson;Dubya;dennisw;RushmoreRocks;TAdams8591;TigersEye;blackie;NRA2BFree;kstewskis;janetgreen;Smartass;SlowBoat407;rolling_stone;wardaddy;pbrown;battletank;toomanygrasshoppers;Taxman;shezza;brazzaville;ozarkgirl;LETLOOSE THE DOGS OF WAR;IwoJima;JDoutrider;sageb1;pulaskibush;HEMICRASHBOX; all4one;winker;Klickitat;backhoe;justche;SeaBiscuit;Vmama ;
sit-rep;lonewacko_dot_com; SerenissimaVenezia;pax_et_bonum;BlessedAmerican;Reaganwuzthebest;Brandie;B.O. Plenty;kcar;SoulSeeker;georgiabelle;eeevilconservative;Portrait of a Lady; truthkeeper; MadLibDisease;Arizona Carolyn; brf1
Oh honey thats just today 78 right now very cloudy rain comin but this weekend hotccccccccchacha
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