Bitter Fruit...

So now we see the fruit borne of the tree of compromise, as the Senate Republicans abdicate their role as the majority, and allow themselves to be defeated in a cloture vote.

I truly wish that I could recall a time when the Senate had been so filled with spineless conservatives, unwilling to do the work for which they were elected. This is such an outrage that words cannot begin to convey all the myriad reasons these people should not be permitted another term.

Is there anyone in the electorate who is truly willing to pay the price for these people to engage merely in endless debate society antics? Or would we not prefer that they do the jobs for which we elect and pay them?

The bitter irony is that Bolton, a man who has spine, is left twisting in the wind by these cowards.

The Shame of it all...

Lest there be any doubt, while I ordinarily take what seems a conservative view, my position is generally aligned with the Libertarians. But I recognize that we live in a functional two party system, and that any vote for a third party is utterly wasted, and tends these days to aid the liberals, whose actions are terribly damaging to our society.

This morning, I read on HughHewitt.com a very good summary of the "deal" struck in Congress over judicial filibusters. I don't disagree with his assessment, but I think the outlook is darker than Hugh sees it. I wrote the following e-mail to him in response to his summary:

While I appreciate your summary posted early today, and I agree with both the good and the bad, I find one point is consistently missed in all the commentary I have read: Time is running out for repairs to our system, and damage is continuing to be done. This is not a sport that can be played endlessly; at some point, the damage becomes irreparable by any solution other than the one elected by our founding fathers: revolution.

The Democrats are maneuvering very capably, in fact, and the Republicans are losing ground.

Another point that must be noted: Democrats seem to understand very well the concept of incremental victories, and have been working on that basis for decades, to the detriment of the Republic. Our Republican friends, on the other hand, too often take the principled stand, losing altogether.

Of course, this time, when the principled stand was essential, they elected to compromise, overlooking the reality that there is, in the judicial appointments, no incremental victory to be had.

I am utterly disgusted with the participants, on both sides of the aisle, not only for the pathetic result of this "deal", but for their having wasted literally months achieving it. This Congress may be the worst in our history, for their bickering inability (and general unwillingness) to simply do their jobs.

You wrote of the McCain camp and their being united by "enormous, towering ego". I agree with that assessment, but in what way would you claim that it is exceptional? I see comparably abundant ego in nearly every seat in both houses. And that is the core of the problem; people who speak of public service, but are only interested in their own perceived magnificence.

I salute you for your coverage of this ongoing train wreck, but I'm afraid you may be far too optimistic in your assessment. And as is always the case, our children inherit what we create. We should all be ashamed.

We must begin looking to the next election, and there are many who need to be replaced. If we fail to do the right thing, our children are the inevitable victims.

Immigration is a Process...

Can we, finally, establish that the phrase "illegal immigrant" is an oxymoron?

Immigration is a legal process in which the applicant fills out various forms, and submits to a series of interviews and investigations, the end product of which is to establish whether or not the applicant is fit for future citizenship. Because it is a legal process, it is not possible for someone to be both illegal and an immigrant.

A person can certainly be an illegal alien, and millions are.

Those who continue to prate about illegal immigrants and undocumented residents (that one should win a prize for euphemisms!) are doing their best to minimize the reality that the people we are discussing are criminals.

Criminals.

However sympathetic may be their stories, however difficult their lives, however needy their families, they are criminals.

Our immigration laws (in kind with comparable statutes in other countries) make plain that we do not welcome criminals to the immigration process. We know that our society, regrettably, produces criminals, but we have no desire to import them from other countries.

Quite rightly, we work to try and to imprison those among us who seem unable to stop themselves from violating the personal and property rights of others. Although there are those who empathize far too much with criminals, seeing in them something that very often is not there (conscience), and fantasizing that these people simply couldn't help themselves, most of us recognize that murderers, rapists, child molesters, and even burglars and muggers are not the sort of people we want on our streets.

One of the most dangerous practices that has developed in this country is that many state and local law enforcement agencies refuse to cooperate with the INS. There's a reason people violate our laws by crossing the border without our approval: generally, they would not qualify for that approval if they applied. Why? Because many may have criminal records in their own countries, having raped, murdered, or molested a child. Because many of them have no skills, and no capabilities in English, and are likely, therefore, to be incapable of earning a living. Now, uncivilized as this may seem to some, very few countries wish to import people for the purpose of putting them on welfare. Nor to make them resident in a prison. Nor in any other way, to make them wards of the state, drains on our economy.

It matters, people. The money supply is not endless, all liberal dreams notwithstanding.

Now let's get on with the immigration process, and stop foolishly referring to criminals as though they were worthies deserving of our support.

Too Right...

On the continuing story of Social Security, and the seemingly endless resistance to change evidenced by the Democrats, Cox and Forkum had this:

Their take is just too right, and I couldn't resist. For their page on this, see CoxAndForkum.com.
Cartoon used by permission.