Governors Elliot Richardson (d-New Mexico) and Jane Napolitano (d-Arizona) havve both recently declared their respective states to be in a state of enmergency due to the uncontrollable state of illegal immigration, and the waves of illegal aliens that flood into the states. Over a million have been caught attempting to cross so far this year into New Mexico alone, and Richardson has been making some noises about making some kind of a deal with the Mexican government of Vincente' Fox to bull doze an old abandoned town just across the border from his state, which is currently being used as a staging area for illegal trafficking of drugs and immigrants.
Unfortunately, he has stopped short of calling out his states National Guard to assist the Border Patrol, though he could easily do this. Neverhteless, he has taken an important first step, and will hopefully hold firm against the almost certain tide of protest that will come from the Far Left, and probably from the economic conservative base of the Republican Party as well. Some say, quite cynically, that this is a calculated move on his part in an attempt to run for the Democratic party nomination in 2008, or perhaps more likely to secure a spot on at least the short list of Vice Presidential running mates for Senator Hillary Clinton. Perhaps. But he is still doing the right thing, which, incidentally, the majority of Hispanic American citizens seem to agree with.
Now if only Arnold could find his courage, and issue the same State of Emergency, though this is unlikely, as Arnold would probably be accussed of using this in an attempt to detract from his other myriad problems, which in fact has all ready happenned. But he should still join with Richardson and Napolitano, and let the chips fall where they may. The same with Gilmore, of Texas. But I have a feeling this guy is just too corrupt, as bad in fact as Fox. I am not encouraged that he will do anything that might tend to go against the economic interests of the Republican economic conservatives.
This is quickly becomming a real hot potato issue. Americans are pissed that both Bush and the Congress is trying to sweep this issue under the rug and just hope it goes away, mainly for political, as well as economic, reasons. But the tide is quickly turning. A nephew of Barry Goldwater, of Arizona, has recently announced his up-and-coming run for the Senate, and the main issue seems to be immigration reform. I have to find out more about him before I can say much, but if he is running in Arizona, McCain could be in real trouble. McCain's insipid, watered down Immigration Reform Bill that he has co-sponsored in the Senate with Edward M. Kennedy, is just not good enough. It has more rules, but no teeth. In fact, teeth is all that is needed really to enforce the laws that are on the book.
But since the Federal Government, the Congress, and the President, seem fit to fondle a toothless tiger and hope the rest of us never catch on, it was only inevitable-and right-that Project Minuteman got started, depsite the accusations of vigilantism, and racism (of course). They showed that it could be done, and the Government has to be concerned, and probably humiliated.
Richardson recently said he didn't truly approve of the Minuteman Project, though he felt they were well meaning, sincere, and patriotic. He was just fearful of the potential for violence, that things could get out of hand. He stated that it is better for people that are well trained in dealing with these matters be put on the border to deal with the situation, as oppossed to untrained citizens, however well-meaning.
To which Mitch Geiger, the Chairman of the Minuteman Civil Defense Corps, said he agreed totally. If the Border Patrol were given the manpower and other resources necessary to do the job, he said, he would be glad for the Minutemen to leave. They would much prefer to spend their time with their families, barbecuing over the weekends, rather than patrolling the Mexican Border on the look-out for illegal aliens (my term) .
Unfortunately, somebody has to do it.
