Another Episode after this Message from Our Sponsor

Yes, Folks! The essays in this blog are good for your. They're designed to keep you thinking and questioning, and they'll bring you out of your political lethargy. Just read, quote, copy, and keep my name around appropriately. The best thing is: they're free! No charge! A breath of fresh air!

Side effects include awakening to the morning and seeing the roses, breathing fresh air, clearing out the cobwebs of your mind, a new, happy smile, an urge to re-think a position, a knowing nod... So check with your local Guru and ask if 'National Interests' is right for you. You'll be glad you did.

{The above was a self-serving advertisement [aren't they all?] for this blog. I hope it draws you out of your shell and into being an active reader. Yes, look around and read prior posts. You'll be glad you did.}
***

It seems all the presidential candidates are talking about illegal immigration and what they'll be doing about it---though none has done anything very positive to date. It's rather like all of them [and others] arguing about the best way to use the fire hoses on a burning home so long, the house burns down. Then they stand around blaming each other while the fire spreads. It's much the same problem with the slow invasion of South Americans and the Muslim terrorists because of our Liberal friends and laws not recognizing reality or enemy.

But, there're new projects in the wind! In the Senate several proposals look very promising. Included are some fifteen bills as put forth by the Republicans. Each bill is a step by itself towards securing our borders, and in total, they: beef up the law enforcement in general and in the workplace and send messages to foreign countries that we don't want their rejects. I know we're talking about human beings here, but this country can't survive with a glut of people who are a danger to us or won't assimilate.

What do the bills specifically include? Well, completion of the border fence [good, even though I think the fence should cover the entire southern border], establishment of English as the national language [great!], discouragement the states from granting drivers' licenses to illegal aliens, and establishment of minimum prison sentences for illegal entry into the US.

'The American people have made it clear that they want Congress to take action to limit illegal immigration, secure our borders and restore lawfulness to our immigration system,' Senator Jeff Sessions [R-AL] said. 'We cannot afford to sit idly and do nothing. This package of legislation represents a series of politically achievable steps that will make real improvements to our immigration system.'

Senator Arlen Specter [R-PA]: 'Streamlining the deportation process and insisting that countries repatriate illegal aliens who have been convicted of crimes of violence will free substantial Immigration and Customs Enforcement resources, which can then be devoted to improving identification and reporting of deportable criminal aliens in federal, state or local custody. My proposal works to stop criminal aliens from being released onto our streets and helps to close the government’s credibility gap on immigration enforcement.'

Senator Jim DeMint [R-SC]: 'Americans demand a secure border and the first step is to complete the fence [by 2010.] Our nation’s borders are fundamental to our sovereignty and our national security. We can’t delay any longer or depend on failed virtual fencing and vehicle barriers that won't stop pedestrians. If we want to have a legal immigration system that works, we must secure the border so we know who is entering and leaving the United States.'

Senator David Vitter [R-LA]: 'The American people clearly want us to focus on border security and enforcement, not a bloated, comprehensive amnesty bill. But, to date, that is all that has been offered. We need real, concrete solutions to combat this growing problem, and this 10-point plan offers those real solutions, including my bill that would prohibit COPS funding to those cities who choose ‘sanctuary policies’ over enforcing current federal immigration laws already on the books.'

Senator James Inhofe [R-OK]: 'Polling of Americans throughout the country consistently demonstrates that Americans overwhelmingly believe English should be recognized as the national language of the United States. Like my English amendments that have passed the Senate with wide bipartisan majorities for the past two years, the National Language Act of 2008 will reduce cost to our federal government and improve the assimilation of new legal immigrants in our nation. This debate is not just about preserving our culture and heritage, but also about bettering the odds of our nation’s newest potential citizens.'

Senator Pete Domenici [R-NM]: 'The National Guard has proven to be a good partner in working with the Homeland Security Department to secure the border. This bill would build on that work in a manner that can benefit both the Guard and DHS,' said Domenici, a member of the Defense and Homeland Security appropriations subcommittees. Domenici wants to continue 'Operation Jump Start' on the Southwest border, allowing governors to use the National Guard for boarder control.

Senator Saxby Chambliss [R-GA], who introduced legislation with Senator Johnnie Isakson [R-GA]: 'State and local law enforcement officials are critical force multipliers in the fight against illegal immigration but they are currently underutilized by their federal partners. My legislation, which I introduced today with Senator Isakson, will facilitate the development of voluntary enforcement partnerships between federal law enforcement officials and their state and local counterparts to better combat illegal immigration. During last year’s immigration bill debate, we listened and heard overwhelmingly from the American people that they do not trust the federal government to enforce our immigration laws. Taking immediate action to secure our borders and stop illegal immigration is the best way to restore credibility with the American people. I said last year that we are going to keep pounding this issue and that is what we are doing today in unveiling these proposals.'

Senator Elizabeth Dole [R-NC]: 'In North Carolina, we have had a number of fatal automobile accidents caused by an intoxicated person who was in the United States illegally. In several of these incidents, the illegal alien has a record of DWI, sometimes repeated offenses, but has been caught and released. My bill would help ensure that undocumented aliens who have self-identified themselves by drunk driving are removed. Likewise, individuals who abuse their legal status in the United States by repeatedly breaking our drunk driving laws should lose their privilege of living in our country,' via Dole's Safe Roads Enhancement Act, ammending the Immigration and Nationality Act.

Dole also wants to repeal President Clinton’s executive order requiring the federal government to provide services in a person’s native language. Dole said, “Hundreds of different languages are spoken by people in this country, and it is fiscally irresponsible and impractical for our government to provide services in all of these languages.”

Senator John Barrasso [R-WY] said, “Providing state issued licenses to illegal immigrants is not in the best interests of our national security. Eighteen of the 9/11 hijackers had acquired more than 30 driver’s licenses from five different states. It should be a wakeup call to all of us. More must be done to prevent this from ever happening again.' His bill would threaten a 10 percent reduction of their [the states] transportation funds if they are non-compliant.

These efforts are certainly steps forward, and I hope the Democrats/Liberals will get off their ideological butts and support the US for a change.