Michelle Malkin » What’s Dick Durbin up to?

What’s Dick Durbin up to?

By Michelle Malkin • July 17, 2007 10:46 AM

The DREAM Act, which would allow illegal alien students to get special in-state college tuition discounts not available to native-born and naturalized American students, has been resurrected by the Dems. You’ll remember it was a piece of the failed shamnesty bill in the Senate. As I noted during the debate, the Dream Act would repeal a clearly worded provision in the 1996 Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act (IIRIRA) that states:

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, an alien who is not lawfully present in the United States shall not be eligible on the basis of residence within a State (or a political subdivision) for any postsecondary education benefit unless a citizen or national of the United States is eligible for such a benefit (in no less an amount, duration, and scope) without regard to whether the citizen or national is such a resident.

Ten states defied that federal law and offered in-state tuition to illegal aliens: California, Illinois, Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah, and Washington. The last time the DREAM Act champions tried to tack their scheme onto a larger immigration proposal, they snuck in language that would absolve those ten states of their law-breaking by repealing the 1996 law retroactively–and also offered a special path to green cards and citizenship for illegal alien students.

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#1

On July 17th, 2007 at 11:03 am, uhangtight said:

this is pathetic. if it is not cllear that the Dems do not respect the legal US citizen and expects us to be their tax slave. I am so fed up with these demagogues. Turbin Durbin needs to be stopped.
#2

On July 17th, 2007 at 11:08 am, Kowboy said:

Is this the same bill Kennedy is trying to put the hate crime legislation in too?
#3

On July 17th, 2007 at 11:17 am, Lincoln said:

This was one of those things that has always infuriated me. I was brought up in a working class family, and I had to rule out certain good universities only because the out of state tuition made it completely unaffordable. To see active law breakers who are not even citizens just waltz in and enjoy the immense benefits that I as a TAXPAYER never did really chaps my cootie coots. :-X
#4

On July 17th, 2007 at 11:30 am, Bad Candy said:

Do these people ever give up?
#5

On July 17th, 2007 at 11:31 am, GlenW said:

I have a dream, too.
How about giving US those discounts. You know…. “promote from within”?
#6

On July 17th, 2007 at 11:32 am, Romeo13 said:

I don’t like the college part…

But I’ll give a fast track to anyone who is willing to FIGHT for this country! Something many of its citizens won’t…

Ohhhh… and…

USN (Ret.)
#7

On July 17th, 2007 at 11:34 am, ajmontana said:

As I see it the Dems are hanging themselves, in record time. The more any of them speak or try these ridicules Bills their ship is sinking deeper and deeper.
#8

On July 17th, 2007 at 11:35 am, geminicontender said:

Unfortunately I live in one of those 10 States mentioned. Born and raised here and I cannot wait to move elsewhere. This State of California has gone to Hell in a handbasket. Our representative Sam Farr is completely useless. I have a daughter in college and we scrape everything together to keep her enrolled. No breaks, no discounts. Hard work, knowing how to budget is how we do it. Thank you Durbin, you moron. And the rest of your ilk.
#9

On July 17th, 2007 at 11:36 am, zeroangel said:

I don’t know what else can be said about this.

My wife is a recently naturalized American (and of course we did everything legally). She is currently finishing up her degree here in the US.

This past year we had to pay full out of state tutition for her school being as how we just moved to this state. Next year, we will be applicable for in state tuition.

It REALLY pisses me off that some illegal can get benefits that we can’t just because they had been living in state (illegally) longer than we have.

I would really like to know how the heck these wackos defend this position, I mean I can at least UNDERSTAND the reasoning behind some of the leftist lunacy, but I honestly can’t wrap my head around this one. Can someone please exaplain?
#10

On July 17th, 2007 at 11:39 am, geminicontender said:

I mentioned yesterday that we all need to write a letter to DHS and ask for a reversal of status. I want to be illegal now. Hospital care is as close as your nearest ‘Emergency Room’, no auto insurance necessary, free Government programs, and if I stick around long enough I may get to retract two of my last 5 years of taxes. Oh and I almost forgot. No personal checks on backgrounds………
#11

On July 17th, 2007 at 11:46 am, geminicontender said:

I live in a smaller community in California and I brought my wife here over two years ago. Everything legally. She wanted to go to school. We wennt to the local Junior College to enroll her. She had a ‘residence card’, work permit, and Social Security card…..and was married to me.
Until she spent 1 year in CA we were not allowed the reduced tuitionfor residents. We had to pay out of state tuition.
Needless to say we waited one year before enrolling her due to the exhorbitant differences in tuition.
#12

On July 17th, 2007 at 11:47 am, aqvik said:

Congressman contacted. Opposition encouraged.
#13

On July 17th, 2007 at 11:53 am, ajmontana said:

Ditto to Bono…..
#14

On July 17th, 2007 at 12:03 pm, Speakup said:

This is another good example of liberal/voter addiction syndrome.

Just like a drug dealer that gives the first hit of heroin for free and then milking the zombie addict till they die; liberal lawmakers buy the votes of minorities and even illegals and then milk the downtrodden they’ve created keeping them dependent from cradle to grave.

Spending people out of poverty hasn’t helped poor people for the last four decades and will never work but our tax dollars have been manna from heaven for liberalism at the expense of the destruction of our very nation.
#15

On July 17th, 2007 at 12:05 pm, neo-connette said:

Huh? What part of the word “illegal” is not being understood?
#16

On July 17th, 2007 at 12:09 pm, Speakup said:

Finally found the quote I was looking for.

Benjamin Franklin
1766 - On the Price of Corn and Management of the Poor
Category: Poverty
I am for doing good to the poor, but I differ in opinion of the means. I think the best way of doing good to the poor, is not making them easy in poverty, but leading or driving them out of it. In my youth I travelled much, and I observed in different countries, that the more public provisions were made for the poor, the less they provided for themselves, and of course became poorer. And, on the contrary, the less was done for them, the more they did for themselves, and became richer.
Reference: Vindicating the Founders, West, 135.
#17

On July 17th, 2007 at 12:17 pm, Brian72 said:

On July 17th, 2007 at 11:32 am, Romeo13 said:

Yes , the college tuition discount not available to Americans is totally bogus and unfair.

The only way I would accept illegals having a fast track to citizenship is through the Pentagon. The military can include english immersion in the neccessary pre-basic training, crash course in American History taught by military officers, not neo-commie professors at one of these colleges.

Then they can be naturalized after some time on active duty. This is completely acceptable to me, because there isn’t a better way to demonstrate that you really want to be an American than wearing the uniform of the U.S. military.

For you lefty trolls out there, I don’t mean that illegals have to be sent to die for the BushCo Halliburton profit war machine. Active duty doesn’t mean in theater service necessarily. It might mean that, but doesn’t have to.

If someone wants to serve America rather than remain a foreign national inside the U.S. collecting benefits and largesse while waving a Mexican flag and saying “gringos go home”, I welcome them to the American family with open arms. The military makes self-sufficient, patriotic Americans out of recruits, no matter what their background is. We need all we can get, don’t we?

There’s your “guest worker program”, eh?
#18

On July 17th, 2007 at 12:17 pm, jferg49 said:

Well…Turbin Durbin has never seen an illegal alien he didn’t like. He thinks that the future of the Dems is in these third world nation additions to the U.S. Give Give Give…why wait until they’re legal…give them benefits now, avoid the rush. They make me sick…these government schools with their overpaid and underworked college profs. I barely saw any of my profs….mostly saw their aids…and if that weren’t bad enough, we are now carrying illegals on the TAX PAYERS dime. When will common sense prevail?…
#19

On July 17th, 2007 at 12:18 pm, st_james said:

Hey! Wait just a minute! I thought ‘those people’ were only here to pick lettuce.
THIS isn’t part of the deal.
#20

On July 17th, 2007 at 12:25 pm, Dread Pirate Roberts VIII said:

My senior Senator is a national embarrassment, only because Illinois voters are too stupid to be embarrassed.

We have a $43 billion state employee pension deficit, while almost all other states are getting $ healthy. Turds like Durbin are why; his ilk run the State of Illinois into the ground from top to bottom.

Jesse Jr., Rod Baloneyvich, Dick and Osama — what a rogues galley of socialist ninnies.
#21

On July 17th, 2007 at 12:29 pm, puhiawa said:

Durbin is a disgrace. Have any of you actually heard this man speak? He is a slow-witted dullard with an exraordinarily poor grasp of facts.
#22

On July 17th, 2007 at 12:35 pm, 509th Bob said:

I agree with Bryan72, I don’t have any problems with illegals earning their path to citizenship through military service. While they are in the service, they can also save towards their education. In so many ways, I actually prefer such people (veterans to citizenship) to so many of our own home-grown leftists. Otherwise, I agree with the objections to free or in-state tuition for illegals.
#23

On July 17th, 2007 at 12:47 pm, rationalthinker said:

Exactly how will Mr. Durbin insert the amendment into a House bill? Isn’t Dick Durbin a Democratic Senator from Illinois? Since the Democratic Party controls both houses of Congress, have they provided Mr. Durbin with “extra Constitutional” powers to affect bills that are proposed and voted on in the House? I don’t understand, please explain.
#24

On July 17th, 2007 at 12:47 pm, Morganfrost said:

What? Tuition breaks is all we’re giving them? How about free drinks, cars and hookers, too!? After all, we want to be good hosts for our (unwanted) guests, don’t we?
#25

On July 17th, 2007 at 12:48 pm, flenser said:

I disagree with the idea of illegals earning citizenship in return for military service. If the people of this country will not fight for it themselves, they have no business bribing forigners to do their fighting for them.
#26

On July 17th, 2007 at 12:54 pm, AlohaGuy said:

Doesn’t “Dick” say it all?
#27

On July 17th, 2007 at 1:06 pm, Michelle Malkin said:

#23–it’s the Senate version of the House bill…
#28

On July 17th, 2007 at 1:10 pm, Jaded said:

Michelle, do you think Durbin adding this in will pass back through the house? I cannot believe these a**es think we the people are not watching. Do they think that the laws being passed around the country to deal with what the Feds won’t are because we are not paying attention? They are idiots.
#29

On July 17th, 2007 at 1:11 pm, Ignatius Reilly said:

I am sick to death and angry as hell at the sort of tactic that Durbin is pursuing here.

It is UNLIMITED warfare. It sneaks, it holds the vital business of the nation hostage, and it never accepts defeat, even when overwhelmingly rebuffed by the people. The Durbins regroup and attack again. Not to try to change hearts and minds but to dupe the people with their corrupt tricks.

They probably realize that however many calls we made to our congress critters during the last shamnesty battle, the people do not have the energy to watch them every single day or to keep c-span on OVERNIGHT to guard against sneak attacks.

Durbin and such scum are not playing by the polite rules of democracy. My commitment to those rules is lessening as well. You try to swat away a fly only so many times with your hand. Finally, when sufficiently annoyed, you get up and get a fly swatter.
#30

On July 17th, 2007 at 1:12 pm, Al in St. Lou said:

Rational Thinker,

When the Senate takes up a bill that has been passed by the House, the members of the Senate get to debate it and amend it. If the Senate doesn’t pass it, it’s dead. If the Senate does pass it, it goes to the Conference Committee where the differences are resolved and the House and the Senate have to vote on the version that came out of the Conference Committee. So, I guess that Dick Turban has announced that he’s going to try to amend the House bill when the Senate considers it.
#31

On July 17th, 2007 at 1:14 pm, gippergirl said:

I realize I’m just a lowly citizen, but who do I contact to get my student loans cleared???
#32

On July 17th, 2007 at 1:21 pm, Independent Conservative said:

Some members of Congress are trying to use their power invested in them by the Constitution to enact laws that circumvent and trample the same Constitution they swore to uphold.

They want to enact laws allowing illegal foreign nationals to have advantages, allowances and special treatments over the lawful citizens of these United States.

If this is not Sedition, to say the least, I don’t know what it is.
#33

On July 17th, 2007 at 1:26 pm, EdDantes said:

This is absolutely ridiculous.

Regardless of what happens, the violation by 10 states of the federal law should be made public.

Every out of state student who paid out of state tuition to attend a college or university any one of the 10 listed states should be issued an immediate refund for the excess amount they paid.

The law clearly states that in state tuition must be made available to all US citizens.

This would be a great way to call out the states in violation and also call attention to the DREAM legislation.
#34

On July 17th, 2007 at 1:28 pm, Brian72 said:

Flenser, that’s just silly. Plenty of Americans are willing to fight for their country. Throughout history, armies have had “foreigners” join up and fight for an adopted cause.

If you were a citizen of the U.K. in 1940, would you reject American and Canadian pilots who volunteered to come and fight the Luftwaffe in British Spitfires? Read up on the Eagle Squadron of the Royal Air Force. They contributed mightily to the fight, and the morale of the battered Brits. There are plenty of other examples going back thousands of years in military history.

America is unique in the way we welcome (legal) immigration, and soldiering is a great way in.

Have you ever heard of a man named Rick Rescorla? He was a Brit who came to America and signed up to fight in Vietnam, won many awards, and saved lives. He was part of the mission that the book and movie “We Were Soldiers” is based on. As fate would have it, he died in the World Trade Center, saving lives on 9-11-01.

Here are some links to illustrate:

New Americans

CAMP NAVISTAR, Kuwait (16 July 2006)– Spc. Vicente Florez swears in as a United States citizen in a ceremony in Kuwait this Spring. “I never expected to become an American, and I never expected to be proud of it.” Taken On 07/16/2006 by Spc. Christopher Jones Third Army/Coalition Forces Land Component Command.

Do you deserve your citizenship?

Ask yourself that question.

Sergeant Walter Gaya from Deuce Four (recon scout/sniper) is from Argentina and not an American citizen. Just days before he was to become one, he was wounded. And a bureaucratic nightmare begins.

Like I said, we need all the people like this we can get, no matter where they come from or what their status is.
#35

On July 17th, 2007 at 1:31 pm, foxforce91 said:

If I were a poor American I would be livid. But they (Dems) want to keep the poor urban Americans addicted to their programs that are designed to keep them poor and addicted to the programs because it works for them politically. This is another type of political bribe and I’m sickened.
#36

On July 17th, 2007 at 1:38 pm, josetheguerilla said:

Note to blogosphere Goddess: Thank you for the contact info, you make it easy for the dumb people!

I served with some illegal aliens while in the USMC. My recruiter was awarded US citizenship by President Geroge W. Bush in 2005. This is after his convoy was attacked in Iraq. President Bush talked about him in one of his State of the Union Addresses. This is a hard issue for me because I’ve seen the other side of this; Hard charging Marines who die for our country. Having said that, I’m against what Dick Turbin wants to do. Why doesn’t Dick Durbin fly over to Pakistan, pick up terrorist to enlist them in our military? He’s doing the very same thing from his Desk.
#37

On July 17th, 2007 at 1:38 pm, On-my-soap-box said:

His first name is?

What else do you need to know?
#38

On July 17th, 2007 at 1:44 pm, Brian72 said:

If you are still around, Michelle would you mind doing another post about how our military is making Americans out of immigrants?

I’m still suprised that someone would say that America has no business signing up non-citizens in the military. They have contributed to our freedom in a major way, and the citizenship ceremonies that have taken place in Kuwait, or Baghdad, or on board Navy ships at sea are really moving and inspiring.

Even if they or their parents snuck them in here, if they are willing to fight for us, that can make things right. As I said in the earlier comment, that willingness to contribute in a time of need for our country seperates those individuals from the masses of freeloading illegals and gringo-haters we have here now.

This is an important point to make I think. I wonder if you agree with me on this, and if not I would like to know your thinking on this particular sliver of the immigration debate that you have covered so well.
#39

On July 17th, 2007 at 1:48 pm, puhiawa said:

Brian, as I remember it legal aliens have the right to serve in the military. Illegals do not.
#40

On July 17th, 2007 at 1:48 pm, josetheguerilla said:

On-my-soap-box-

The spelling might be off-
Guadelupe D.

-I’m against any piece meal of shamnesty. It is a hard decision for me because, I’ve seen so many immigrants illegal/legal (Marines) who care more for our country than alot of Americans
#41

On July 17th, 2007 at 1:50 pm, puhiawa said:

The 10 States in violation of Federal law get away with it because Bush is in sympathy and Albert Gonsalves (AG, Mexico) can’t seem to fine time to attend to the matter.
#42

On July 17th, 2007 at 1:54 pm, DesertLover said:

Needless to say I am totally against Durbin and the DREAM ACT … from start to finish …

That said …

WE THE PEOPLE NEED TO PUSH FOR A NEW AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION …

No amendment shall be attached to any bill or proposed law that does not relate fully to the subject of the bill or law being offered for consideration

I think that should also help eliminate PORK BARREL SPENDING … since none of those ever have anything to do with the bill they are attached to …

Any takers out there?
#43

On July 17th, 2007 at 2:02 pm, Brian72 said:

Why would you prevent an illegal immigrant
who wants to be an American from fighting for America?

That seems to me to be the absolute best way to right the wrong of breaking our immigration laws. That is certainly better for our country than that stupid probationary Z-visa debacle, isn’t it?

It’s also better for the illegal him-herself, as they would get immersive english training, and would come out of the military as self supporting patriotic American veterans, and would in all probability continue to contribute to our society positively.

If they should get wounded, then we as a country would really owe them something, because they earned it, not because some libs want to bribe them to vote Democrat. That makes more sense to me than everything that was in that shamnesty deal. We don’t owe illegal immigrants anything. They owe us. If some of them wanted to pay that debt, and become skilled in the fields that the military teaches, what’s wrong with that?

To me, that’s better than subsidizing liberal indoctrination by somebody like Ward Churchill or that 9-11 truther idiot professor. Like I said before, the military makes Americans out of immigrants. Isn’t that what we want?
#44

On July 17th, 2007 at 2:54 pm, flenser said:

“Why would you prevent an illegal immigrant who wants to be an American from fighting for America?”

You may as well ask why we would want to prevent a hard working illegal immigrant who wants to be an American from becoming one. But I thought we already had that discussion. Because they are illegal, and because what they want does not factor into it.

“the military makes Americans out of immigrants”

I think you are deluded.

And you keep missing the point. If Americans will not fight their countries wars, then those wars ought not be fought. Lots of countries have taken in outsiders to fight their wars for them. Read your history books to see how well that generally turns out.
#45

On July 17th, 2007 at 3:03 pm, gayle said:

Instead of giving Uncle Spanish your tax dollars, keep it in your pocket to educate your kids.

Just remember, you supporting illegals with YOUR MONEY.

Let the Feds raise he$$….who cares.
Sue them for discrimination!
#46

On July 17th, 2007 at 3:03 pm, flenser said:

#34

That is all very interesting, but it has zero bearing on your proposal to allow illegal immigrants to gain US citizenship by enlisting in the military. Unless you are claiming that the people you mention are illegal aliens?
#47

On July 17th, 2007 at 3:03 pm, gayle said:

that should be You’re supporting.

So mad I cannot even spell.
#48

On July 17th, 2007 at 3:14 pm, zeroangel said:

America is unique in the way we welcome (legal) immigration

That’s the thing right there. LEGAL immigrants.

Do I have a problem with, for example, a foriegner here on a legal visa of some kind showing up at a recruitment office and looking for a fast track to citizenship by service? No.

From the articles you referenced, it appears that in both cases the soldiers in questions were not illegals at any point.

What is wrong is allowing illegals to join up.

Now, I don’t disagree with flenser when he says:

If Americans will not fight their countries wars, then those wars ought not be fought.

However, I don’t see a problem with a certain number of legal immigrants joing the US military. When it becomes a great many (ala Hessian mercenaries) or if they are illegals then it becomes a problem.
#49

On July 17th, 2007 at 3:17 pm, georgej said:

What Dread Pirate Roberts VIII said (comment #20).

Further, this assclown example of a “Senator” is up for election in 2008.

If the Retarded Republican Party of Illinois can get its act together, and nominate a strong candidate to challenge him, maybe we can remove this wanker.

And in case you forgot, Durbin is the one who called our military: Nazi death camp guards, Soviet Gulag guards, and associates of genocider, Pol Pot.

But this might be too much to ask. The Retarded Republicans nominated a hack (Judy Bar Topinka) to run for governor against Blagojevich last year, and a carpetbagger (Alan Keyes) to run against Barry Hussein Osama (er, Obama) in 2004, after forcing out a strong candidate, Jim Ryan, over a minor divorce scandal involving his ex wife, actress Jeri Ryan.

Besides being a STUPID hack, Durbin’s only duties seems to include being on his knees sucking on the nether regions of his lord and master, Richard M. Daley, mayor of Chicago. It appears he now wants to give equal time to the Illegal Mexicans in Chicago.
#50

On July 17th, 2007 at 3:18 pm, zeroangel said:

One more thing…

Why wouldn’t you want ILLEGAL immigrants to join the military?

Because they are criminals and there is no room for justification of any kind for their crime. Enuf said.
#51

On July 17th, 2007 at 3:39 pm, rightisright said:

#19, pick lettuce and any government pockets they can get into. Good post by the way…right to the point with humor.
#52

On July 17th, 2007 at 4:02 pm, Brian72 said:

Ok then I see now what this is about. No mercy for anyone who ever broke an immigration law, regardless of what their attitude is toward us as Americans and our country.

Look, I agree with Michelle on this immigration debate, the shamnesty bill, and Lettucehead Chertoff. My point is that some of these people, not all of them by any means, but some might realise that breaking our laws was wrong, and they may really want to become legal immigrants with a shot at citizenship, not just a foreign national sucking welfare off of our taxes.

This number is surely small compared to the huge number of illegals that are already here. If some want to make this right by serving America and fighting side by side with our heroes, that’s fine with me. They might even be heroes themselves before it’s all said and done. If our military can get a few thousand able-bodied recruits out of the deal and turn them into real Americans in the process, all the better. Then the volunteers would have paid their debt to us for not following the law. Community service has a long tradition here, and that is what it would be.

I don’t find this to be at all unreasonable. We need soldiers, on a volunteer basis. The military can use the extra manpower in whatever capacity a person can fit in. If an illegal isn’t willing to volunteer, then I don’t see any other path to citizenship that would be fair to all the legal immigrants following the law. The only way to “jump the line” that would be acceptable to me is serving America in the GWOT. If an illegal isn’t interested in being an American for real, then they can go home, the sooner the better.

In every large group of people, there are always some who buck the stereotype, and that’s got to be true of this group too. Among the 12-25 million, there are bound to be at least a few who know they got here the wrong way and want to make it right. Why not allow that chance? That is our history.

I’m not talking about the felons and smugglers and criminals who are going to sneak around in our country no matter what we do. They need to be arrested and sent out of here, no appeals. There are bound to be some who have seen with their own eyes what makes America great, and want to take part in the right way. I say give those a shot through the military. If that’s not what they are willing to do, then goodbye and good riddance.
#53

On July 17th, 2007 at 4:10 pm, zeroangel said:

Brain72:

Simple answer then. They turn themselves in and/or return to thier home country.

Then, later, contact the recruitment / retention office on the nearest US base to them (in or outside the US), and go about it LEGALLY.
#54

On July 17th, 2007 at 4:14 pm, Al in St. Lou said:

#42—Unfortunately, “relate fully” would have to be interpreted by somebody.
#55

On July 17th, 2007 at 4:16 pm, Al in St. Lou said:

zeroangel,
You’re just proving O’Reilly’s claim that there are people who want to deport all illegal aliens as the first, unworkable, step.
#56

On July 17th, 2007 at 4:20 pm, zeroangel said:

#55:

No I am not. All I am saying is I don’t want illegals to be allowed to join the military. That and nothing else.
#57

On July 17th, 2007 at 4:23 pm, DesertLover said:

Al in St. Lou

OK … guess I should have left the word “fully” out of there … LOL … but I still think it’s a needed change to how they do things in Congress …
#58

On July 17th, 2007 at 4:24 pm, zeroangel said:

BTW all, I consider service in the military a privledge, not a penance.

Perhaps that will shed light on why I choose to use the words “there is no room for justification of any kind” when refering to allowing illegals to join the military.
#59

On July 17th, 2007 at 4:28 pm, DesertLover said:

zeroangel

No problem from this old vet … the one thing all those proposing that military option are not considering is that the majority of them couldn’t qualify anyway for today’s military.

They don’t want less than a H.S. Diploma or GED Certificate … and that’s just for starters … and before I get attacked … yes … I know they are relaxing some of that at the moment …
#60

On July 17th, 2007 at 4:36 pm, Brian72 said:

On July 17th, 2007 at 4:10 pm, zeroangel said:

You know, I hadn’t thought of that. It does make sense that if someone would be willing to join up, they probably would be willing to do it from outside the U.S.

I had been thinking along the lines of “the only way an illegal could stay here”, but a return home then enlistment to get back could work out too. I do want this illegal problem solved, and I’m all for aggressive deportation. There just has to be some that want in badly enough that they would comply with this process. These are the ones who would make good Americans, who will appreciate what they have here. The gringo haters wouldn’t volunteer for anything but free stuff, and I have no use for them at all.

One of the things that really outraged me last year was the pictures Michelle and others posted of all the Mexican flags, the signs reading “the border crossed us”, “Europeans go home” and “this is our continent”. Who do these people think they are? They get their language and culture from Spain, which last time I checked was just as European as my ancestors.

The Spaniards were even more brutal colonizers than the English. They went looking for gold to steal from people, not running from persecution.

Just as the African Americans aren’t all in line with Sharpton and Jackson, not all Mexicans are in line with LaRaza and Reconquista. It’s important to remember we are about individuality here in America. Sometimes it’s hard when you’re mad at a political group, but everyone doesn’t fit the same mold.

I always try to remember that.
#61

On July 17th, 2007 at 4:56 pm, Brian72 said:

On July 17th, 2007 at 4:28 pm, DesertLover said:

You are right about the educational standards to enlist, also. That would be a real problem for most illegals.

Maybe I’m being too idealistic about this. It’s possible there aren’t enough of them with any kind of education to make this worth talking about. I just believe in the transformative power of American ideals. Our country has a habit of effecting newcomers in amazing ways.
#62

On July 17th, 2007 at 5:00 pm, gayle said:

I don’t think the Generals want to learn Spanish anytime soon, not to mention the enlisted men.
#63

On July 17th, 2007 at 5:22 pm, Brian72 said:

That would have to work the other way around, gayle. I’m not learning Spanish either. Our national language is English, and it’s only a matter of time before that’s codified into law.
#64

On July 17th, 2007 at 5:27 pm, DesertLover said:

Brian72

Just a passing thought for you …

the military has programs that allow recruits to sign up but delay reporting …

maybe your solution could be they go home … learn English … then get a chance to report to the US Military …

not saying I am in favor in general … just an added thought to your suggestion
#65

On July 17th, 2007 at 6:01 pm, gayle said:

Personally, I want them ALL TO GO HOME and NOT COME BACK.
#66

On July 17th, 2007 at 6:17 pm, Boomer said:

We have been wondering how we can get in on this deal too. I have a son in college right now and could use some freebies in helping to pay his way. Instead the wife and I work and without my Military retirement check we wouldn’t be able to help him with school and afford the basics in life.

My blood is boiling like you won’t believe. It seems Michelle and many of us were right about those back door sneaky SOBs in DC selling us down the river at the first opportunity. I can’t believe they are sticking it into a Defense spending appropriation (wait yes I can). Time to start shooting out some e-mails and make some calls again!
#67

On July 17th, 2007 at 6:58 pm, Alphonse said:

On July 17th, 2007 at 2:02 pm, Brian72 said: Why would you prevent an illegal immigrant who wants to be an American from fighting for America?

Let ‘em fight, then deport them.

On July 17th, 2007 at 4:16 pm, Al in St. Lou said: zeroangel, You’re just proving O’Reilly’s claim that there are people who want to deport all illegal aliens as the first, unworkable, step.

Pro-illegal rhetoric. Eisenhower didn’t have any trouble deporting illegals under Operation Wetback. State some reasons why deporting illegals is unworkable. Is 12 million a big number for you? This would be an insignificant fraction of total passenger flights.

http://www.bts.gov/press_releases/2006/bts020_06/html/bts020_06.html
BTS, a part of DOT’s Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA), reported that the airlines carried 745.7 million passengers on their total systems during 2005
#68

On July 17th, 2007 at 7:06 pm, joeyb1955 said:

I met that little twerp Durbin last year in Chicago. He’s just one more reason why we should have term limits in Congress. It’s good enough for the Prez…although when Hillary gets in, that’s one rule she will change so Bubba can have another 8 years in office (if he lives that long).
#69

On July 17th, 2007 at 7:11 pm, changjin89 said:

Tuesday greetings Mrs. Malkin and loyal community. In 1812 the term “Gerrymander” entered the American political lexicon through the tortured political districting done that year in Massachusetts. It reflected the propensity of career politicians to select their voters by whatever means possible, rather than themselves be subject to the unfettered purview of the electorate. With this in mind, the evident desire of multiterm-Senator Durbin and like-minded colleagues to build their desired electorate through importation from abroad can be better understood. It would seem that those who would resist such nefarious scheming so injurious to the future of our country must consider with care their fundamental view of the country, and then map their strategy and tactics accordingly.
#70

On July 17th, 2007 at 7:28 pm, John Ansell said:

If they are going to be up all night tonight, who will be doing the dreaming? Dick Turbin needs to be defeated.
#71

On July 18th, 2007 at 1:38 pm, Al in St. Lou said:

DesertLover,

I believe our Congress would twist the meaning of “relate” just as they’ve twisted the Commerce Clause. Your resistance is futile, although I agree with the sentiment behind your proposed amendment.