Liberals are such BEASTS!!!   lol

I feel your pain and your anger aero. You're right,  life sucks if you are a conservative Republican these days. Bush is an angel and Clinton is the devil himself .   Any intelligent American would know this if they just opened their eyes!!!!   

OK truthfully, the Tehachapi Democratic page I made is becoming a hit and I have to focus a lot more time to it now. I am glad the Democrats are becoming so strong with supporters here, but I'm getting a little burnt out on politics lately.   

SO, I am going to limit my political views to that site only.   I am going to use this blog for more interesting topics.  

I thought this might please you.  (smile)

Although, there is a huge difference between having an affair with an intern and starting a personal war that has killed thousands of people, including women and children.?? Well, I guess America's  involvement in the Bosnia war doesn't count,,,,,Bill Clinton sent troops and Bombers to Bosnia in the 90's that destroyed much of that country, and Killed between 100,00 thousand and 200,000 people, including women and children,,,why did we never read about that every day in the paper? ,again, the liberal double standard,,,,,

There is no proof dhall, that is just liberal left wing talking points,,,,,, the war in Iraq is over violations of UN resolutions, 17 of them I believe, and a coalition of many countries getting rid of an evil dictator thats killed over a million people during his reign of terror. many liberals say we never should have gone in to remove Saddam, if we hadn't, he would still be filling his mass graves, raping women, training terrorists, etc, we went in on the Intelligence we had at the time, from the entire world, including Bill Clinton's intelligence and all the democrats supported it. you'll never hear about the good things coming out of Iraq, the liberal media will not report them, to the democrats delight, there are 10 times more Americans being killed in New Orleans right now than Iraq, maybe we should pull out of New Orleans,,,,,,,,,

I am not trying to be sarcastic but I would like to know where the proof is that the war in Iraq is a personal one for Bush?

LOL  love the picture Blaze!!!   His affair with Monica will never go away.  lol   You play, you pay, just as it should be.

Although, there is a huge difference between having an affair with an intern and starting a personal war that has killed thousands of people, including women and children.   I agree with you that the Germans have never liked us much. I very much disagree with you that half of this country is upset with Germany and the French for not backing us in this ridiculous war. To have a float attacking Germans and France for not backing us in a war we Americans don't even back would be kind of stupid don't you think?  I will also say that neither Clinton or Bush did anything to help Jim's issue (immigration).   I don't think the immigration issue will ever be resolved to Jim's satisfaction no matter what party has power in our government.  As I have said earlier, I like the direction America is going today now that the democrats are in power.   I'm a very happy camper.   Not many complaints here... I just want more done and quicker

I'm glad you mentioned that Aero because I was going to if you didn't. Truth is Sparks, It's not Bush. Germany is not our friend. They like to try to embarrass the US and they use every opportunity they can. We don't do that here in the US. Half this country is pissed off at the French and to a lesser degree the Germans for not backing us on the war but you don't see us with floats in a parade showing the French waving a white flag.

Same parade , different president, this is when Clinton was an embarassment to the entire country.http://www.oicu2.com/afc/CL...

Great picture GregL, we have lost a lot of respect from Germany and many other alias due to Bush.

 I love all people, I love Mexicans, I say the more the merrier!!!  All I ask is that if you live in America that you are here legally so that America can control the out flow of our resources.  I also don't want to have to learn Spanish to speak in my own country.  This is ALL I am concerned about.  We need to put the laws we already have into effect and we need to limit the resources that we give to illegals. Sure we should protect our borders better, especially with the new threat of terrorism.  BUT, truthfully there is no way to stop illegals from coming to America completely   We can make it difficult for them to live here by not hiring them and stopping all free services (unless it's emergency services).  We can also encourage them to speak English once they get here BUT, America will always have illegals trying to come here and we will always accept some illegals and not just because we want cheap labor.  This is reality folks.

If you are simply a racist, I have bad news for you.  With as many Mexicans as we have in America already and with all the babies being born.  Even if we stop every single Mexican that crosses the border from now on, Mexicans here in America will outnumber whites within just a few decades, so get over it. (grin)   Minorities already outnumber the whites in Texas and a couple other states.  The politicians know this, they know who their future voters will be.  Why don't you???   Life is much easier if you love all and just let go of prejudice anyway.   America is always changing, it has for millions of years, this is just another change and not necessarily a bad one.

Again, All I ask is that if you live in America that you are here legally so that America can control the out flow of our resources.  I also don't want to have to learn Spanish to speak in my own country.  This is ALL I am concerned about on this issue.  There are many more important issues to think about for me.

Gregl, that float with Bush on it reminds me of the one they did of Clinton in Germany back in the 90's. It had Clinton groping lady liberty's Breasts, I am sure they did one on Reagan too, they have alot of fun over there with our Presidents,,,,

Anonymous, I actually agree with you on several points.  The health care system is broken, the immigration system is broken, and I don't blame illegals for the broken system, but they certainly are a burden on it.  And I congratulate you on your success here.  I genuinely do, no sarcasm.  I also congratulate your grandfather on his hard work, America is built on the hard work of people like that.  But your story is not typical.  And why didn't your grandfather go through the legal channels of becoming a citizen?  You say, "people who work in the year 2007 in the United States as an illegal immigrant are not living a luxury filled life".  If they are here illegally, why are they living here at all?  Where is the breakdown in understanding that coming here illegally is breaking the law, and it's not OK, not matter what nationality.  I try to be a law abiding citizen, and if I was to break the law I would accept my punishment, because I try to live by the laws of our society.  It is a slap in the face when hundreds of thousands of people seem to think they don't need to obey the law and go through legal channels of becoming citizens.  It's also a slap in the face to the millions of past immigrants who did go through the process.  The issue is not about Mexicans, it's about people being here illegally.  It just happens that most of them are Mexican.  If I was to move to another country, would it be acceptable for me to skirt their due process of becoming a citizen?

No one should be ashamed of their Mexican ancestry.  It is rich in tradition, with great music and songs, beautiful clothing, and with respect, honor and dignity for others.  I certainly don't hate Mexicans, or any other race.  I have Mexican friends, and I've been to Mexico many times in the past (with people who speak Spanish) and I enjoy it, the local people are wonderful.  But my Mexican friends and the people I meet in Mexico are not typical of the immigrant problem here.

As far as posting as 'Anonymous' is concerned, it is usually perceived as someone throwing rocks from around the corner that doesn't want to be seen.  I don't want to know your full name or where you live or anything like that, but at least now we know more about you now and that helps give some identity and validity to your posts. 

I think I'm done with this post.  I'm typically not a politically or emotionally charged person, but I think this exemplifies how much of a problem this issue really is.  And I don't want to incite raging emotions here either.  Anonymous, I'm certain that if we both took a step back and took a breath we could actually be friends! 

Thoughts on the Statue of Liberty

As with most parts of American history, very few Americans are aware of the Statue's background.

It was a gift from the French people to the American people. And when I say, "French people," I mean it. It wasn't paid for with French taxes; the money was raised through voluntary donations, given freely by French people as a token of friendship to the United States.

Why would they do that?

Because at that time the United States was truly unique. It was the one country in the world where individual liberty was prized far above "national greatness." And it was the one major country that didn't embroil itself in the endless wars the European people were so used to.

How Times Change

In the 1880s, people all over the world looked to America for inspiration. Its very existence was proof that it was possible to have a relatively free and peaceful country. No income tax, no foreign wars, no welfare state, no intrusions on civil liberties.

Of course, that's no longer the case. We now have all those things — and more. And, worse yet, most Americans have come to accept them as necessary evils. Government schools make no attempt to show children that it wasn't always this way — that it doesn't have to be this way.

Liberty Alone

When the Statue arrived in the U.S., Americans donated the money — again, voluntarily — to build the pedestal and assemble the Statue on Bedloe's Island in New York Harbor.

The great monument isn't called the Statue of the World's Superpower, or the Statue of National Greatness, or the Statue of the World's Policeman. Because individual liberty was America's one possession so prized by others, the monument was named the Statue of Liberty.

It is an impressive sight. Notice that Lady Liberty faces outward — toward the world, not toward America. With her torch held high, she is reaching out to the world as the symbol of liberty — bringing light and inspiration to people everywhere.

The Statue's Message

At the time of her creation, she was saying:

Whoever you are, wherever you are, if you can just get to America, you can be free. No matter what your station where you are now, you'll be equal before the law here.

No one will ask for your papers.

No one will fasten a number on you.

No one will extort a percentage of your income as the price of earning a living.

You'll be free to pursue the life you've always dreamed of.

Emma Lazarus summed it up in those lovely words that are inscribed on the base of the Statue:

Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these — the homeless, tempest-tossed — to me;
I lift my lamp beside the Golden Door.

That is the America we once had — the beacon of liberty, providing light and hope and inspiration to the entire world — the America we have forsaken for a mess of tasteless pottage.

That is the America we should have.

And I am determined that it is the America we will someday have again.

(quoted from Harry Brown, Libertarian President nominee 2000)

by anonymous, the scared mexican

Ok blaming illegals for traffic jams now!  People act as if we give huge amounts of money and make it so great for Ilegals to come here and work.  Honestly, people who work in the year 2007 in the United States as an illegal immigrant are not living a luxury filled life. The fact is that the vast majority of illegal immigrants working for places like hotels, farms, packing houses, restaurants, and construction, are collecting a paycheck that has taxes deducted from it.  Do you really believe that corporations and big business employers are eating taxes?  In the 1980’s the I.R.S. went to employers who traditionally employ illegal work forces and gave workers "tax I identification numbers" to ensure taxes are collected. 

  As for speaking English vs. Spanish I do agree that people should learn English because it will only enhance a person’s ability to be employed successfully.  However as a result of the trumped up Mexican war the United States signed the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo which stated Mexican people in the south west area of the United States have the right to use Spanish as a first language.  This treaty was put in place to avoid persecution of Mexican people for speaking their language.  Much like we see today.

   I do agree that the immigrant of today is different than times before.  The people today mostly want to make money send it home and go back home to a better life, is that so wrong?  My grandfather came here in the 1920s as an illegal Mexican immigrant.  He worked as many things and did the most humble of jobs.  I remember working nights with him cleaning a bank after his day job.  I thought my grandfather must be important because they let him clean a bank.  My grandmother worked her entire life packing fruit in a packing house; we believe her death later was in part due to exposure of handling crops laden with pesticide chemicals.  These people worked very hard and changed names to more American names from Emilio to Mike just to fit in and refused to teach us, the 2nd generation in the U.S. Spanish.  Just two generations in America and I am with you a successful neighbor with a large ranch in the Tehachapi Mountains.  If people are just given a chance they can make positive change for generations to come. 

The reason everyone is frustrated is due to the great need for labor workers combined with a broken immigration system in a fractured, politically divided, United States.  TK you’re absolutely right about a worker license system.  As for anchor babies and paying for health care from Gregl believe me when I say the illegal immigrant is not to blame for our pathetic health care system.  You can blame pharmaceutical companies, doctors, lawyers, and law suite seeking crooks for our problem.  Medical care problems have persisted way before the influx of illegal immigrants.  Can’t you all see that the medical system is designed to get your last penny if death comes to you in a long sickness?  Even poor countries like Costa Rica have health care for everyone even non citizens.

   Why don't I post my name?  Why do you need my name to understand my point?  Anonymous really should mean as much to you as most of the non specific screen names on this page. This day in age an up front racism is emerging in our society, accepted towards an entire group of people.  If you only knew how many times I have been subjected to remarks and negative views about Mexican people due to people assuming I am white. These views are making honest working Mexican people feel ashamed of ancestry.  For this reason I don’t post my name in a public forum.

  Tearing down the Statue of Liberty?  That would be wrong.  The only change would be where it says. 

“Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these — the homeless, tempest-tossed — to me;
I lift my lamp beside the Golden Door.”  (Statue of Liberty Statement)

Would America like it to say except Mexicans in those beautiful words on the statue?  What a sad Changed America we have become from the original dream.  We are so fragmented, lost and turned around from the original intent of the United States. 

 At the time of her creation, she was saying:

Whoever you are, wherever you are, if you can just get to America, you can be free. No matter what your station where you are now, you'll be equal before the law here.

No one will ask for your papers.

No one will fasten a number on you.

No one will extort a percentage of your income as the price of earning a living.

You'll be free to pursue the life you've always dreamed of. 

(quoted from Harry Brown, Libertarian President nominee 2000)

  It took two generations for this son of an illegal immigrant to take back over the border my wealth, im sure the selling of the ranch will secure a great retirement in a truly free society.  You guys can have this place you want to keep away so bad from others.

KB homes ranch land available!, divide it build it with illegal immigrants and pay me, i dont need American soil anymore.  Costa Rica here i come!!!!!

What happened to these guys??

http://www.reformparty.org/

 

Boy, timing is everything!  This picture just popped up on the web, but I'm having lots of trouble getting it into this reply.  This blog site doesn't seem to be very Mac friendly.  Someone PLEASE post this pic if you can...

Statue Of Liberty

"A float depicting U.S. President George W. Bush being spanked by the Statue Of Liberty passes by during the Rose Monday carnival parade in Mainz, western Germany, on Monday, Feb. 19, 2007. Thousands of spectators attended the traditional street carnival parade in the state of Rhineland-Palatinates's capital. (AP Photo/Bernd Kammerer)"