Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Immigration fights healthcare hangover


Steve Breen's political cartoon says it all. A heavily bandaged elephant lies in a bombed crater. A barely standing donkey, with a broken arm, tells an immigration advocate, "Could we at least wait for the craters to stop smoldering?"

The Observer ran the cartoon on Sunday. Click here to see more of Breen's work.

Washington is reeling from the battles over health care and is not likely to take up another thrashing fight with mid-term elections on the horizon.

The same day the House passed its health care reform bill, tens of thousands of activists and supporters took to the Washington Mall demanding the administration take up immigration reform.

Some advocates said they almost cried listening to a videotaped message from President Obama pledging to “do everything in my power to forge a bipartisan consensus this year on this important issue.”

Advocates for immigration reform say there will never bean easy time to do immigration reform. Columnist Ruben Navarrette Jr. said the time to act is now. The legislative puzzle will only get more complicated.

“Some liberals want the immigration reform movement to be patient,” he writes. "There is nothing new there. Some of the left said the same thing during the civil rights movement.”

Many political watchers, however, feel immigration reform is pretty much dead this year. As Spanish-language journalist and pundit Rafael Prieto told me last year, few legislators will risk their political career for illegal immigrants in this political climate.

My colleague William Douglas at McClatchy Newspapers pointed out that White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, in a recent Wall Street Journal interview, didn’t even mention immigration reform when listing Obama’s post-health care agenda.

Even South Carolina Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham said as much stating that the recently passed health care legislation had “poisoned the well” for any bipartisanship on future legislation this session. He said this after joining Sen. Charles Schumer, a New York Democrat, to release a bipartisan framework for comprehensive reform that would give millions of illegal immigrants a path to legalization yet also provide tougher enforcement.



24 comments:

  1. Well, nothing draws a crowd like a free lunch.

    Too bad we can't just cater the whole world.

    I'd prefer takeout where they have to go back home to eat, though.

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  2. Franco,

    Here's an immigration that worked, effectively and affordably. When can we count on you to endorse it?

    http://www.csmonitor.com/2006/0706/p09s01-coop.html

    "When newly elected Dwight Eisenhower moved into the White House, America's southern frontier was as porous as a spaghetti sieve. As many as 3 million illegal migrants had walked and waded northward over a period of several years for jobs in California, Arizona, Texas, and points beyond.

    President Eisenhower cut off this illegal traffic. He did it quickly and decisively with only 1,075 United States Border Patrol agents – less than one-tenth of today's force. The operation is still highly praised among veterans of the Border Patrol."

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  3. Legalizing Illegals was tried years ago and what did we get? 20+ million more illegals-deport them all

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  4. Parece a mí que una persona que sale de su propio país, algo que lo es un cobarde.

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  5. Parece a mí que una persona que sale de su propio país, algo que lo es un cobarde.

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  6. Franco, Why don't you catch the next plane to Haiti or Chile?

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  7. I hope everyone understands that now they can pass just about anything with the new reconciliation maneuver which created the Personalized Constitution, and put us into Socialism.

    So Amnesty will most likely be on the books very soon. After all, they need the votes.

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  8. "Illegal" immigrants are breaking the law - why do we continue to allow this? Show ID for everything and deport them.

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  9. Why dont Obama just go ahead and offer Health Care for all of Africa too?
    Theres only a billion Africans who dont have any so as long as we are handing out freebies to those who are not citizens and dont deserve it any more than any other citiens of oher nations or continents, then its only fair to give it to other uninsureds who are underserving and non-citizens.

    Final cost only 10 quadrillion.

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  10. Since when did Mexicans not get free Health Care anyway?

    Pregnant Mexican females have been flooding across the borders for 50 yrs hving their babies for free havent they? About 90% of the boder medical facilites have been put out of business due to millions of free delivery service and they didnt even have to pay any insurance premiums.

    After they got their babies delivered for free to show how generous the USA is the babies were legal citizens and then the parents were allowed in to take care of them and everyone got more free health services and free education food housing etc etc etc ....

    Did anybody ever thank America or taxpayers for anything? HELL NO -- They want more and more and then demand more and more -- NO gratitude NO thanks !!!!!!!!!

    Moral to story: Never do anybody a favor if you dont want them to stab you in the back !!! espec illegal criminal non-citizens.

    Snata Claus Obama wants to give away the farm to the moochers and everyone else for free !!!

    IMPEACHMENT IS COMING after NOV !!!!

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  11. JANET NAPOLITANO WAS APPONTED HEAD OF HOMELAND SECURITY BY MR.OBAMA. SHE DID NOTHING TO DETER ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION IN ARIZONA, AND IN FACT TRIED TO STOP SHERIFF JOE ARPAIOFROM ENFORCING IMMIGRATION LAWS EVERY CHANCE SHE GOT. THIS APPOINTMENT BY MR.OBAMA TELLS ALL. SHE JUST STOPPED THEM FROM FINISHING THE "VIRTUAL FENCE ON THE BORDER"! WHY? SHE IS FOR OPEN BORDERS AND DAMN THE LAW.NOW RANCHERS NEAR THE BORDER ARE BEING KILLED BY ILLEGALS!WHY? BECAUSE THE WORD IS OUT THAT MR.OBAMA IS A WEAK, POWER HUNGRY SOCIALIST WHO NEVER WORKED A HARD DAY IN HIS LIFE, "NOT EVEN A PAPER ROUTE" AND HE'LL SELL OUT AMERICA FOR THOSE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT VOTES IN A HEARBEAT. SOO! AMERICA, HOW DO YOU'LL LIKE C H A N G E? COMRADES!

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  12. IMMIGRATION REFORM IS THE SOCIALIST TERM FOR "AMNESTY"! LETS FACE IT! MILLIONS OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS HAVE MILLIONS OF CHILDREN THAT WERE BORN IN THE U.S. AND CONSIDERED U.S. CITIZENS. MILLIONS ARE OLD ENOUGH TO VOTE NOW, AND MANY MORE WILL BE ELEIGABLE TO VOTE IN 2012 COMRADE OBAMA WILL CORNER THOSE VOTES AND THAT WILL ENSURE RE-ELECTION. "REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS ARE EQUALLY WORTHLESS"! MR.OBAMA WILL PASS AMNESTY AND COULDN'T CARE LESS ABOUT RESULTS.

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  13. Jobless American workers cannot understand the well-documented promotion of many groups assisting illegal aliens push for AMNESTY. Millions of American people have been forced into food banks, trying to save their homes or their only means of transportation from harassing creditors. Then there are all these organizations who should be fighting for its own countryman's hiring, instead of keeping the borders unsecured. The ACLU ( Leon Levy Foundation, the Open Society Institute, Peter B. Lewis and John Sperling had stepped up with pledges totaling $23 million spread over the next three years.) These name's link to the ACLU works daily to support immigration, especially of the illegal alien variety. The US Chamber of Commerce,corporate consortium organizations and even the quasi-government agency called The Council of Foreign Relations want the free flowing cheap labor?

    The 100.000 pro-amnesty protest last Sunday and in the last two months special interest groups have been conspiring in Public Relations build-up throughout this nation; backed by tens of millions of dollars. This money from George Soros (Socialist-Marxist Billionaire), Carnegie Foundation, Ford Foundation and the giant Service Employers International Unions. In 2001, David Gelbaum hedge fund manager and investor gave the Sierra Club a $101.5 million donation; although Carl Pope head of the Club, who said it didn't affect their agenda, Gelbaum admitted: "I did tell Carl Pope in 1994 or 1995 that if they ever came out anti-immigration, they would never get a dollar from me..." I guess this is why the Sierra Club is completely silent to the mounds of trash stretching for miles, where illegal aliens break into our nation? Just goes to show the huge amounts of money laundered into the push for AMNESTY and dollars for politicians campaign contributions, that the average American cannot even comprehend.

    This mix is in collusion with La Raza (The Race) that is said to have a silent agenda of overrunning the Southwest, with prominently Spanish speaking people. LA RAZA, gets its donations from THE FORTUNE 500 companies, U.S. CHAMBER of COMMERCE (an obvious front for corporate interests) LA RAZA also gets donations from WELLS FARGO and BANK of AMERICA and the GOVERNMENT OF MEXICO (we are Mexico’s welfare benefits system) These groups have major money influences in the corridors of power, whereas the general public who want a permanent E-Verify has been ushered to the back. Only these entities, including politicians who see immigration as a wonderful virtue as promoters of greed, gain and profit. Under the push for a Comprehensive Immigration Reform or more honestly assessed as Amnesty, Homeland Security Napolitano has cut the budgets of the fence building (not that it was the two-layer barrier in the first place) or overall positive enforcement.

    Whereas, in the President Bush years this administration did not release illegal workers once caught, releasing significant numbers back in the workforce. All this lax enforcement seems to rising to a imminent crescendo of the possible Sen. Lindsey Graham, Sen. Chuck Schumer and Sen. John McCain apparent Amnesty resurrection? In any new reform Graham-Schumer want to substitute the E-Verify program, already grown in national business awareness for the National biometric ID card. E-Verify is a perfectly stabilized computer application, that is working in removing-some but not all illegal labor, which is gaining strength as it is modified.
    Currently 8 million illegal immigrant are employed, as approximated as being in the workplace. While 14.7 million citizens and legal residents remain unemployed Investigating the truth about the population explosion of illegal immigrants and families in the US, has been carefully manipulated in government reports. But12 million illegal foreigners doesn't agree with the US Border Patrol in Tuscon.

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  14. We have politicians that have intervened in making E-Verify permanently such as Harry Reid and majority Speaker Nancy Pelosi who are unlikely to be reelected. ONE THINGS FOR SURE, ANY KIND OF AMNESTY WILL BE DIFFICULT TO PASS IN THIS ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT, EVEN AS THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE STILL RISES? THE PROTECTION OF EVERY US WORKERS JOB SHOULD BE FIRST ON ANY AGENDA, INCLUDING A HIGH LEVER OF NATIONAL SECURITY.

    This week the strong ongoing evidence that the border states are in constant danger, when a Arizona Rancher was shot dead on his property near the Southwest border. Rob Krentz with his dog had been shot and killed and was found by an Arizona Public Safety helicopter. Authorities say they found footprints near Krentz's vehicle and followed them to the U.S./Mexican border. .Phil Krentz said that the last time he spoke to Rob, he was responding to an injured illegal alien. The border region is becoming a battleground and it's high time the Homeland Security Chief Napolitano issued orders for the NATIONAL GUARD, fully armed to keep US civilians safe from incursions of drug smugglers, illegal alien criminals and even terrorists. The US border Patrol, and scattered law enforcement is no longer enough to fight this spreading blood bath. Demand this today from our government lawmakers at 202-224-3121. Find out more on all illegal immigration outrages at www.numbersusa.com and www.judicialwatch.org.

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  15. E Verify: Did you know you can not verify until after you have hired them.

    Imagine the work, drug tests, administration costs and the like for a small business only to find out they are illegal. Or worse to find out the Social Security is invalid after the have worked for you a while.

    PS: Did you know that according to a recent Supreme Court Ruling if an Illegal buys a social security number or makes one up they can not be held responsible if you can not prove the knew it belonged to some one. Keep that in mind when someone steals your id.

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  16. Bush allowed 20 million across the border " to do jobs nobody else would do" building millions of now foreclosed American dream homes that bankrupted this nation and caused a depression.

    Bush allowed illegals in until late with the 2006 election he finally agreed to build a fence.

    Blame Bush and his neocons. Bush caused the election of Obama and all the socialism and now the illegals becoming citiens so they will vote for Obama in 2012.

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  17. Next Up is Amnesty. BO knows Amnesty is a MUST HAVE IF he and his immoral cronies are to be re-elected.
    What do you think BO was telling the democraps during and behind all of the closed door meetings to bribe them and pressure them to vote for healthcare inspite of the fact that some knew it would oost them BIG TIME? 'We will get Amnesty passed, those illegals will beable to vote in the mid-term elections and they will be your insurance policy for re-election, don't worry about re-election bto BO has it covered for you.'
    This little Marxist Congress group of 'D's' ain't worried about re-election as they will ram Amnesty thru with bribes just as they did healthcare and then BO will 'spin-in' to make YOU believe he did something because YOU wanted it!
    Your taxes will go up even more as there are 30 million MORE people to come on the socialist single payor insurance plan he just rammed thru.
    BO won't be impeached as he controls congress and his bros' won't vote for impeachment, so thats out. And with the likes of him, the libbies and the 'new batch of illegals' what more does he need to insure his re-election and the re-election of his unethical buddies?
    IF WE-THE-PEOPLE allow Amnesty to pass without huge issues for congress, we can kiss the USA good-by -- then welcome to Socialism, and as Gov-Co is trying to do now to the huge companies that employ millions of people...Facism. Twon't be long before full=blown Communism is here. Wake up people, your country is circling the drain now!

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  18. Who's doing the hiring?

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  19. JOHN McCAIN! THIS PHONEY IS HOLDING A TOWN MEETING DISCUSSING ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION? THIS IS THE SAME JOHN McCAIN THAT TRIED TO PASS AMNESTY WITH THAT DRUNK TED KENNEDY! HE STATED THAT "NO AMERICAN WOULD PICK LETTUCE LIKE THE ILLEGALS, NOT EVEN FOR 50 DOLLARS AN HOUR". HE IS WITH THE OPEN BORDER CROWD AND SMELLS DEFEAT IN NOVEMBER.

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  20. ON THE BORDER! THE RANCHERS WANT PAYBACK! THAT MEANS THEY WILL PROTECT THEMSELVES BY ALL AND ANY MEANS. THE BORDER IS ABOUT TO TURN INTO A "SHOOTING WAR"! THESE AMERICANS WHO LIVE ON THE BORDER ARE FED UP WITH THE LIKES OF COMRADE OBAMA AND THAT WORTHLESS NAPOLITANO! THEY WILL SHOOT FIRST, AND ITS ABOUT TIME.

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  21. RANCHER SHOT AND KILLED BY ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS ON THE BORDER! NO HELP COMING FROM "HOMELAND SECURITY". NAPOLITANO STAYS "DEAF AND DUMB"! 2 TRAINS DISABLED BY MEXICAN NATIONALS IN N. ARIZONA SO THEY COULD ROB ELECTRONICS! NO HELP FROM GOV. WHY? SHE STATED "WE CAN'T AFFORD IT" JOE ARPAIO IS THE ONLY HOPE FOR ARIZONA! NO ONE ELSE GIVES A DAMN!

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  22. Who's doing the hiring?

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  23. Larry, U are soooo right & Brittanicus, U have really researched a lot of very informative facts, I have learned a lot from your post. Thank U so much for all your info, I agree w/U 100%. Why can't people see things the way that we do???
    Our county in N.C. is bankrupt from our wonderful(not) unwanted, illegal ones that can bring all their filth, disease, disrespect, etc., etc. to our country & no one can see it?
    Again, thanx!

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