It occurs to me that there IS a lesson to be learned in the trials-and-tribulations of Paris Hilton: If you're going to commit a crime, be rich and/or famous (and be in Sheriff Lee Baca's jail).

Personally, I don't give a rat's rear end about Paris Hilton (or her family, for that matter).  It doesn't make a bit of difference to MY (or YOUR) life, if she is behind bars, or "forced" to spend 40 days in her 3,000 square foot home (which many people would probably gladly PAY to life in for 40 days).

What is troubling, is that the Judge SPECIFICALLY said that "electronic monitoring" was NOT an option for Paris Hilton, yet Sheriff Baca ignored the judge, and released her anyway.

In my opinion, this was a BOGUS "illness", as Sheriff Baca seems to be able to take care of her medical needs NOW (now that the judge has made it perfectly clear that Ms. Hilton is to server her time "behind bars").

Sheriff Baca has yet to explain why it was that he "COULD NOT" take care of her BEFORE (the "only" solution was to release her to her home), but NOW he IS able to...

Perhaps the Los Angeles City Council should SUPPEND Sheriff Baca (without pay) for the SAME 45 day sentence that Paris Hilton was to serve...  Perhaps THEN, the Sheriff will come to understand the importance of respecting Judges' orders, and NOT showing "Special Treatment" to "celebrities".

Wait a minute...

If the "Comprehensive Immigration Reform (aka AMNESTY) bill intends to make MILLIONS (perhaps TENS of MILLIONS) of Illegal Aliens suddenly LEGAL (with the legal right to work), then WHY, exactly, do we need "Guest Workers"?

Is it REALLY President Bush's (and John McCain's, Teddy Kennedy's, etal) belief that ALL of the illegal aliens in the country now ARE working, and that we STILL need more?  Or do they simply believe that once the illegal aliens become "legal", then they, too, will not do the work that other "Americans" won't do - therefore "Guest Workers" are still going to be needed (no matter how many illegal aliens are made "legal")?

I'm sorry, but I just don't trust the numbers (and I certainly don't trust the Government to be honest with the American People with respect to the REAL number of illegal aliens in the country and the government's desire/ability to REALLY enforce the border).

Either the MILLIONS of illegals ARE currently working (in which case, what's this crap about getting them "out of the shadows"), or they're NOT working (in which case, when they become legal [and start working], why do we need "Guest Workers"?).

Then, again, its possible (probable) that we really don't know how many illegal aliens are in the country, and would become legal if this amnesty bill were to pass, so it makes NO SENSE to not only grant legal status to these unknown millions of illegal aliens, but to ALSO (simultaneously) create a "Guest Worker" program to let in who knows how many millions more...

And with respect to these so-called "Guest Workers", what evidence do we have that these "Guest Workers" would EVER leave, once they got here?  History has shown that the vast majority of people (especially from Mexico) lever leave (once they arrive) - and we continue to grant amnesty after amnesty after amnesty (and they know it).

I'm not saying that we should round up all the millions of illegal aliens in the country and deport them, but I am saying it would be irresponsible to shove this legislation through without clearly understanding and debating the consequences of the legislation.

At a MINIMUM, the various aspects of this "comprehensive" reform bill should be PHASED IN (in order):
 
1)  Border enforcement (including the fence)
2)  Establishment of a REAL and EFFECTIVE Employment Verification system (like a credit card authorization system) - employers should be exempt from prosecution/fines for anyone authorized by this system.
3)  Allow employers currently employing illegal aliens to pay (as their fine) for their workers' legal status in exchange for "amnesty" from their crime of employing an illegal alien
4)  Start enforcing the employer sanctions (for hiring illegal aliens)
5)  Allow illegal aliens in the country to apply for legal status
6)  IF there are still jobs being unfilled, then start the "Guest Worker" program.

Lacking in the discussion/debate over the current "comprehensive" reform bill, of course, is HOW the government intends to ENFORCE any aspect of the bill:
    How do they intend to stop the flow of illegal aliens (especially since they are opposed to the fence)?
    What do they intend to do with illegal aliens who do not apply for legal status?
    What do they intend to do with those who are "rejected"?
    WHY do we need "comprehensive" reform?
 
Look at the 6 items (above) which I propose - EACH of these items could be separate bills (as long as they are proposed/passed IN ORDER, with requirements that the preceding bills MUST be implemented before the bill in question could be implemented).  Of course, I'd prefer that no bill be PASSED (debated, yes, but not passed) until the preceding bill(s) was(were) in force (and enforced).

 

Los Angeles Police Chief William Bratton stated that he believes that the Federal Government “Abandon[ed its] partnership with local law enforcement”.

What a hypocrite!

Has he forgotten about Los Angeles’ “Special Order 40”?

Special Order 40 PROHIBITS local law enforcement from even ASKING the legal status of ANYONE with whom they come in contact (including those they arrest).

Chief Bratton, what about YOUR partnership with Federal Authorities?

I’ll give a rat’s rear end about YOUR (perceived) abandonment by Federal Authorities when YOU pay more than lip service regarding YOUR duty to arrest those who are violating laws (including immigration laws).

So, once again Senator McCain thinks we’re all stupid idiots who just can’t understand that THIS legislation is the BEST legislation that we could ever hope for (even though he admits that it’s not the bill HE would write [wait a minute, isn’t he a co-sponsor of the bill?]).

What are we to believe, Senator McCain? Is this bill the best we can hope for, or could it be BETTER (like if YOU wrote it, yourself)?

If you REALLY believe that YOU could have written a better bill, then why haven’t you done so?

If you REALLY believe that, WHY should ANYONE vote for THIS legislation (if, by your own admission, it could be better)?

I’m afraid Senator McCain suffers from that disease which seems to infect MOST legislators, especially those who have been elected one too many times… DoSomethingItus.

Senator McCain seems to believe that doing SOMETHING (ANYTHING, in fact) is better than doing nothing. He truly believes that passing this piece of crap legislation is, somehow, going to make things better (for the Country).

Clearly, this legislation would be better for the MILLIONS of Illegal Aliens currently in the country – who would be granted legal status (pretty much the instant the bill is signed [but remember, it’s NOT “amnesty”]) - but it’s NOT better for America (certainly not good for our National Security).

The American People are NOT in favor of this legislation! Latest USA TODAY/Gallup Poll shows a mere 11% of respondents favor the legislation. Over FOUR TIMES as many respondents STRONGLY OPPOSE the legislation, as strongly favor it.

But THAT won’t stop President Bush, John McCain or Teddy Kennedy (and many others in Congress) from trying to shove it down our throats (or, up our rectums).

There is ABSOLUTELY NOTHING preventing our brilliant legislators from proposing and passing SEPARATE bills to address each aspect of this “immigration problem” (individually) – assuming, of course, that each piece of legislation COULD pass on its own merit (I doubt it).

 

Some bloggers have referred to me as a “cut and run” Republican – that is, I am willing to withhold my VOTE for a Republican (and allow a Democrat to take control of a seat, or Congress, or, yes, even the Whitehouse) because the Republican candidates (or the Republican Party) no longer represents MY beliefs.

While my position may anger some, “Don’t you realize that a Democrat would be far worse than any Republican?”, can no longer simply hold my nose and punch the dot for my party.

Over the years (pretty much immediately following the “Contract with America”), the elected Republicans have morphed from the Conservatives they were (which got them elected to the majority for this first time in 4 decades) into the Liberals that we (“the base”) wanted out.

Many of us, therefore, have come to the realization that if we continue to contribute to the party, and continue to vote FOR these people, we will continue to get more of the same.

The current immigration (Amnesty) bill is yet another slap in the face to “the base”.

The GOP has seen its contributions fall by 40%, and they have fired most, if not all, of their telephone solicitors. They CLAIM this is due to an out-dated telephone system, but I think it is because “the base” has decided that they will NOT support a party which no longer represents them.

Let me be perfectly clear – WE are not leaving the Republican Party – the Republican Party has left US.

SOME has suggested that we, conservatives, form our own, NEW, party. I say, NO WAY. This is MY Party. This IS a Conservative party. I say we allow those parasites which have become a part of the Republican Party (like John McCain, Lindsay Graham, Arlen Specter, George Voinovich, Olympia Snowe, and several others) to wither on the party’s vine, and drop off like rotten fruit.

THAT is what we’re doing (by withholding our financial support, and/or votes).

When the Republican Party realizes that we, “the base”, are not going to go along with their destructive actions, then they will either change, or leave.

Just as a parent, punishing their child – it’s not a pleasant thing to do, but sometimes it simply must be done, or you end up with an anti-social brat. At present, we have too many anti-social brats with Rs after their names. I have NO PROBLEM disowning them (and I’m certainly not going to give them an allowance).

The Senate is posturing to vote on granting Amnesty to MILLIONS of Illegal Aliens (quick, before we look closely at the details and DEBATE its pros and cons).

Unfortunately, there are (from my observation), MANY more cons than pros.

We are, of course, told (repeatedly) by President Bush, Senator John McCain, and others, that this is NOT Amnesty. In order for them to make that statement, they must DEFINE what "Amnesty" means to them, and it usually means granting "automatic citizenship" to the millions of illegal aliens currently in this country.

A lot of those who oppose this "Comprehensive Immigration Reform" bill, and I include myself in that group, have a much more simple and common definition of "Amnesty" - forgiving the crime(s) committed by an individual (or individuals).

I find it extremely difficult not to draw comparisons between: (A) someone violating our immigration laws (by crossing the border to enter the country without permission, or by ignoring the expiration of their VISAs – remaining in the country after they promised to leave) and then allowing them to stay in the country (granting them legal status); and (B) someone robbing a bank, and then allowing them to KEEP the money they stole (even if you ask them to pay a fine and/or pay taxes).

In both cases, you are REWARDING their illegal act, by giving them (allowing them to keep) the object of their crime.

Another problem I have with this Amnesty Bill is that if, as John McCain has admitted, there are parts of this bill with which people can disagree, then WHY are we supposed to accept them (and, therefore, the bill)? I do NOT understand the thought process (in Congress) that passing SOME bill (any bill) is, somehow, better than doing nothing.

I must disagree…

Passing a BAD bill (as, at the moment, I believe this bill to be) is FAR worse than doing NOTHING…

One of the major problems with THIS (and many pieces of) legislation, is the seemingly irresistible habit of attaching (often un-related) amendments to the bill, and/or lumping so many items into a single bill (resulting in an all-or-nothing proposition).

No one has ever articulated WHY this Immigration Reform must be ONE “Comprehensive” bill (as opposed to many, separate bills – each addressing a single, simple, issue).

WHY, for example, can’t there be a single bill addressing the securing of the border (fence and all)?

WHY can’t there be a separate bill addressing the “guest worker” program?

Of course, we all KNOW the answer: because many of these separate bills would FAIL, and the supporters of the Amnesty Bill WANT those aspects to be a part of the final “solution”, even though they cannot get support for that element of the bill on its own merit.

Well, I say, LET THEM FAIL (or, if you insist on keeping this an “all-or-nothing” piece of legislation, drag the entire bill to its demise).

Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said sanctions against Iran would be like "playing with the lion's tail."  He is CLOSE (anatomically).  President Ahmadinejad is FULL OF CRAP!

He has also called upon the United Nations "to abandon its 'biased approach' toward Iran and pursue a balanced policy".  That works for me...

I'm not sure, however, that Mr. Ahmadinejad stopped to consider that a "balanced policy" might include the rest of the world (or at least Israel and the Untied States) taking the same attitude towards Iran, and Iran has expressed towards Israel.

I, hereby, voice MY approval for beginning discussions aimed at the "destruction of Iran" and "wiping Iran off the map".

And, to be completely "balanced", since Ahmadinejad insists that the "holocaust never happened", then I say, "sanctions against Iran never happened, either".