A less than cordial welcome
In an editorial titled, How long will this one stay?, the daily Fish-wrapper takes a backhanded swipe at Arizona’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) office. Bidding farewell to outgoing director Alonzo Pena, whom they call “much admired,“ the newspaper dismissively refers to the incoming director, Mathew Allen, as “the new guy.“
Although crediting Allen for his 23-year career in law enforcement with a solid background, specializing in smuggling investigations, the clear implication is “the new guy” won’t last.
The editorial mentions the succession of top personnel in the department, deriding the situation as a “bureaucratic game of musical chairs” and a “revolving door.”
A more complete and factual explanation is likely contained in this Washington Times article. The frustration level among agents trying to do their jobs, amid personnel cutbacks, too few resources and numerous restrictions, remains high.
America’s porous border represents significant risks to homeland security. Would-be terrorists access the same routes and utilize the same methods employed by illegals and their paid coyote transporters. In fact, ABC News reports it is far more lucrative to transport wealthier Middle Easterners desiring access to this country. The “virtual” fence touted by Homeland Insecurity Chieftain, Michael Chertoff, has been exposed as being virtually useless. Nationally syndicated columnist, Michelle Malkin has accurately referred to it as “gesture politics.”
“Despite the costs, the country’s interior enforcement program historically has been neglected and understaffed,” Michael W. Cutler, a retired U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Services senior agent and criminal investigator, was quoted in the Times . “We have only been given the illusion of making a serious effort to enforce our immigration law.”
Include the disgraceful convictions and sentences of Border Patrol agents Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean, which continue to demoralize those in service to our nation’s security and a different picture emerges.
When has the daily newspaper editorialized about this miscarriage of justice or the additional invasion of OTM‘s (other than Mexicans) imperiling our nation?
March 26, 2008 at 1:35 pm
Attention Barry Goldwater Jr.: L.A.W. & S.O.L.E. Volunteers meeting again tonight! 3/26/08. Rep. Russell Pearce and Don Goldwater will be addressing the meeting. Notarizing petitions starts at 5:30 PM. Place: American-Italian Club. 7509 N. 12th Street, Phoenix. Everyone else is welcomed to attend also.
March 26, 2008 at 1:52 pm
Bush and Chertoff are the most terrible disappointments when it comes to controlling our own borders. I was never a Bush fan–Dubya or his leftist Papa, but I am a solid Republican and voted for them both. I could not bring myself to vote for John Kerry or Al Gore.
Now, we are given the worst imaginable choices. How in the hell did we get to such an abysmal point in our nation’s history that we would have three open border proponents to select from? I can’t stand any of them. In fact, McCain is the worst since he’s a Republican with military experience. I would expect so more from him.
My sympathies go out to the good men and women of the Border Patrol who have been betrayed by our national leaders.
How did we become a nation of wimps?
March 26, 2008 at 2:20 pm
Sideliner:
I absolutely agree with, and echo your frustrations.
To answer your question:
We became a nation of wimps when we stopped teaching the history of our great nation to our children. Ours public schools are failing us. The “Celebration of Diversity” is the other component of our decline. We have always been diverse, but have celebrated our UNITY. That’s what made us uniquely American.
My sister homeschools her children. The difference between those two and my brother’s public schooled children is shocking. Not only are the first two well mannered and courteous, but they are champion spellers and have a wonderful grasp of history and geography. They are doing math at two full grade levels above their publicly educated peers. In addition they are grammatically correct in their use of the English language and are knowledgeable art and excel in sports. Two really great kids. One of my brother’s sons has already been introduced to pot in grade school and has mediocre grades.
But back to the topic at hand…I agree that border security is national security. Our youth are simply not thinking past their last Happy Meal and video games. Their parents are too busy for them. If something doesn’t change, we will not have our righs and country taken from us; we will have given them away throough inattention,
March 26, 2008 at 2:48 pm
The border agents, Compean and Ramos, who are serving long prison terms have been the subject of congressional pleas that have fallen on Bush’s deaf ears. It is infuriating that he would pay more heed to the whims of Mexico than our own citizens and those trying to protect our borders.
March 26, 2008 at 3:06 pm
We wish the best for incoming ICE director, Matthew Allen. Trying to do the job he was brought in to do, while having the feds work against those efforts, can’t be an easy task. No wonder the door has been a revolving one. Especially when the Arizona Republic is constantly advocating for the illegal aliens.
Every time I read the sad tales that they are victims of the vicious and unscrupulous coyotes, I have to remind myself that they are paying large sums of money to be illegally transported into our country. They are now being charged by the Maricopa County Attorney as co-conspirators which I think is outstanding. That’s exactly what they are. They are most certainly not victims when they are in on the law-breaking deal.
March 26, 2008 at 3:14 pm
Our Founders must be rolling over in their graves. They gave us so much and we are tossing it away. How did we come to the point where we have no actual choice in the governance of this country? Where are the statesmen and heroes of previous generations?
March 26, 2008 at 5:47 pm
The Arizona Republic should be ashamed of this lowball editorial. The border security detail needs and has citizen support. Thanks for the reminder about the two border patrol agents languishing in prison to satisfy the Mexican government. Bush has his allegiances skewed.
March 26, 2008 at 8:14 pm
I have come to expect nothing more than this from the Republic. That’s why we cancelled our subscription. From what I read and hear, we join hordes of others who are tired of being spoon fed liberalism with their coffee each morning
It’s clear they don’t have much in the way of business minded folks running the news and editorial sections. They must be dying a slow, excruciating death.
March 26, 2008 at 10:38 pm
Thomas,
Duncan Hunter and Tom Tancredo are those heroes. Unfortunately, McCain has been in the news for so many years that he was presold. Brand recognition. Does Pepsi sell to the masses or does Uncle Frank’s Apple Cider sell to the masses? Same thing with mccain.
Now our Patriotic objectives are in the hands of Mom and Pop Joe Sixpack. IF we come out in numbers that cannot be ignored, even obama and clinton will vote our way. Apathy is our biggest enemy. America wants secure borders, law enforcement and deportation of the law breakers. It can happen if everybody gets somebody off of the couch today. That’s how I see it.
March 27, 2008 at 8:35 am
Mark:
You make sense saying packaging (and longevity in the case of McPain) seems to have taken hold. Maybe the voters are just weary of the rhetoric. Where I part company with your vantage point is on getting revved up over this GOP candidate. Can you seriously explain to me where he differs from his Democrat rivals–except on the war?
All three are keen on open borders. None are pro-life, although McCain gives the issue lip service, and they all fall back on the time worn, “we need to keep abortion safe and hopefully, rare,” singsong. McCain has supported fetal tissue and embryonic stem cell research. He voted against the federal marriage amendment, taking cover by saying it was an issue for the states to deal with. He has limited free speech with his McCain/Feingold legislation, and has voted to limit gun rights of law abiding Americans. McCain has appointed the noxious and notoriously pro-illegal alien invasion, Juan Hernandez, as his Hispanic outreach director. And for those of us taking refuge in the hope that he would at the very least appoint decent justices to the US Supreme Court, remember that he said he didn’t care for Alito?
What is conservative about this man? Please give me a convincing reason to support him. I have none.
March 27, 2008 at 8:37 am
PS I do agree that Duncan Hunter and Tom Tancredo are true American heroes.
March 27, 2008 at 9:27 am
Fooled, Don’t misinterpret my note as being revved up for mcamnesty. Absolutely not. I have the same problems with him you mention. He’s bad for the Country and he’s a bad man–see how the POW/MIA families feel about him. vietnamveteransagainstjohnmccain.com. So, mclame does not even qualify as a good guy let alone everything else he is wrong about.
My point was I believe mcassinine won the GOP nomination because of “brand recognition” among the early mostly eastern states. They’ve been hearing the name of mccain for over 20 years. I am saying he didn’t win the GOP nomination on the merits of having a better plan for the U.S. than the other candidates did. He was a household word. And mostly for bad reasons at that. I don’t see a whole lot of difference between the 3 Pres. candidates. I’m leaning toward the school of “give it to the dems while the conservatives rebuild because a liberal Republican (mccain) bodes poorly for the future of conservatives.”
Last November Arizonans voted against illegal “immigration” on 4 ballot measures. They all won by more than 70% of the vote. We want sovereign borders and we only want Americans (and those following legitimate immigration proceedure) for neighbors. What do mcamnesty and kyl do mere months later? Here’s……..Amnesty!
It’s less important what has happened….It’s more important what we do about it. Americans have to turn off the tv, get off the couch and show up to secure borders events in massive numbers.
We have to defeat al-quaida “over there” or we will be fighting them here. Oh really? But, we DON’T need a fence on our borders??? We’ve been at war for 5+ years. We have enemies and we have porous borders with the blessings of our highest leaders. Those leaders are selling out National Security to the profiteers of illegal “immigration!”
mcscrewup reached out to the left nicely yesterday with his desire to close gitmo. Let’s see him reach out to the right and take a line shift with the Minutemen. He’s more likely to donate a shift at Carl’s Jr.
March 27, 2008 at 9:45 am
And Jeff Flake can’t wait to get 20 million more democrats on the rolls. However, Congressman Flake did sign on to the SAVE Act. Big kudos there!
http://www.numbersusa.com/interests/attrition.html
http://www.borderops.com
March 27, 2008 at 10:14 am
Mark: Thanks for the clarification. As I’ve been reading your comments, it has seemed that you and I were on the same page on most issues. As much as it pains me, I agree that letting the Dems screw things up will put the country back on track for a much needed conservative. I think four years will be enough for them to clearly see the damage.
My two major concerns are waving the white flag and prematurely exiting Iraq, along with critical judicial appointments. Unless something drastic changes my mind between now and the November election, I intend to leave the top of the ticket unvoted and concentrate on electing good congressional and local candidates. I have never been so disgusted with the GOP choice. McCain will appeal to those who are angling for something within his administration or are totally uninformed. GOP activists and the conservative base are screwed.
As to Flake: His open border policies along with his generous giveaways to illegals already here, scholarships for illegal students, his partnering with liberals and some of his unconscionable votes, have lost me. He makes a big deal over his opposition to earmarks, but I read he has only gotten one bill through in all of the time he’s been in congress. Besides, what good is saving on “earmarks,” when you are giving away the store to the southern invasion?
March 27, 2008 at 10:32 am
Mark and Fooled:
For an answer to Jeff Flake’s love of open borders, this might offer a plausible explanation:
http://www.azstarnet.com/metro/228707
March 27, 2008 at 10:36 am
fooled, catch you sat.
March 27, 2008 at 10:52 am
Huh?