An Ol' Broad's Ramblings
Archive for 22 August 2008
And The Problem Is…..??
Illegal Immigrants Returning to Mexico in Record Numbers
Illegal immigrants are returning home to Mexico in numbers not seen for decades — and the Mexican government may have to deal with a crush on its social services and lower wages once the immigrants arrive.
The Mexican Consulate’s office in Dallas is seeing increasing numbers of Mexican nationals requesting paperwork to go home for good, especially parents who want to know what documentation they’ll need to enroll their children in Mexican schools.
“Those numbers have increased percentage-wise tremendously,” said Enrique Hubbard, the Mexican consul general in Dallas. “In fact, it’s almost 100 percent more this year than it was the previous two years.”
They say ‘immigrants’. Legal?
The illegal immigrant population in the U.S. has dropped 11 percent since August of last year, according to the Center for Immigration Studies. Its research shows 1.3 million illegal immigrants have returned to their home countries.
When it drops 100%, let me know! And make sure the door is closed behind them!
Some say illegal immigrants are leaving because a soft economy has led to fewer jobs, causing many laborers to seek work elsewhere.
Others argue that a tough stance on immigration through law enforcement has spread fear throughout the illegal population.
Excellent! If you are breaking the law, you should feel more than just a little fear!
“There’s no question there’s a variety of suggestions that people are in fact returning,” said Mark Krikorian, executive director of the Center for Immigration Studies. “Remittances, which is the money immigrants send home to Mexico, have gone down dramatically over the past year. Again, probably part the economy, but also part enforcement, leading to fewer people being here.”
Enforcement is a good thing. The more actual enforcement, the fewer criminals, right? And you can say these are people “are just looking for a better life”, “law abiding”, yada yada yada! WRONG! They are criminals! They broke in, they took up residence, and forgot their way home. In many instances, leaving bodies in their wake.
Advocates for immigrants are disturbed by the trend. Albert Ruiz, an organizer for the League of United Latin American Citizens, agrees that more undocumented immigrants are going home — but says families are being torn apart in the process.
Oh, I bet they are ‘disturbed’. If there are no more ILLEGALS, who will be paying the bills of folks like Albert Ruiz? Reckon they’ll all have to find a REAL job, eh?
If a father is deported, Ruiz says, his family members in America are forced either to fend for themselves or follow him to a country where they’ve never even lived.
“So the mother is saying we should return home with the breadwinner of the family to Mexico, and the children are saying, I don’t want to leave, I’m a U.S. citizen, I don’t know that country,” said Ruiz.
My sympathy is one thread from non-existent! First, if the ‘father’ hadn’t broken in to begin with, this wouldn’t be an issue. I’m afraid daddy should have considered going home, and coming back legally. I would have a whole lot more sympathy if ‘he’ had.
Mexican President Felipe Calderon plans to help returning nationals by providing food, medical care and temporary shelter if needed. But reports are already out in Mexico that the large number of illegal immigrants returning home could drive down wages and put pressure on social services — the same concerns many Americans have with illegals living and working in the U.S.
NOW they know how WE feel!
Big Doin’s In Podunk!
On the rare occasion, and when there are any left, I’ll pick up the local rag, aka The Courier, just to see what’s what! While I was at one of the best little, 100% employee owned, grocery stores in the area, I happened to notice there was actually a stack of papers there, just waiting for my 50 cents to be put in the little ‘honor’ bucket.
I didn’t have a chance to actually sit down and read it until this evening, after cleaning the kitchen (yes, I cooked again….pretty dadburn good too, if I do say so m’self) and sitting down to watch the Cowboys/Texans game. A perfect time to peruse all the ads, activities and news of the county.
Now, they don’t have a linkable website, so you’ll just have trust me on this headline and story, ok?
BIG headline:
Crump aldermen talk beer, sex (uh….ok….glad I wasn’t there!)
The city of Crump finally has a new beer law.
After months of often acrimonious meetings on the issue, the Crump Board of Mayor and Aldermen authorized an ordinance on final reading that limits to 12 the number of beer permits that can issued in the city.
It’s not that big of a town. 12 seems kind of high to me, but hey, what do I know.
The previous ordinance set no limit on the number of permits either off- or on- premises consumption.
Really? How come there was only one bar in the area, and that’s a mega dive from what I can tell. Never been in there, so I couldn’t say. It’s outside of the town limits too, almost in the next county.
The new ordinance also prohibits beer sales within 300 feet of a residential dwelling and essentially outlaws taverns.
Hmm…..dunno why that would be. There aren’t houses every 300 feet. Odd.
Restaurants selling beer are further required to show that at least 51 percent of their gross sales are from food and have the business “cleared of all customers by 12:15 a.m.”
51%? I can’t figure out if that’s a good thing or a bad thing. I don’t drink. Doesn’t matter to me. But honestly, if we go over to the restaurant on the river, I don’t wanna be trying to enjoy my food while there are a bunch of drunks slobbering all over the place. Although, truth be told, we usually just go out on Sunday after church, so this may not be an issue.
Putting another long-simmering issue to rest, board members gave final approval to an ordinance regulating adult-oriented establishments.
The ordinance requires operators of an adult-oriented business to obtain a $500 license from the city. A successful applicant can not have been convicted of a felony or any crime involving moral turpitude, prostitution obscenity, or any other crime of a sexual nature within the past five years.
Uh….excuse me? Porn? In Podunk? Granted, there is/was a “lingerie” shop on the highway, but ya never see a lot of cars in the parking lot. And you’ll have to pardon my ignorance, but with the number of churches in this county, I’m EXTREMELY surprised this is even an issue. If I’m reading this right, a successful candidate for such a license could actually be a convicted drug dealer, but as long as no sex was involved, it’s ok? Alright, I’m no lawyer, and I don’t even play one on TV. Just asking.
Adult-oriented establishments are prohibited within 1,000 feet of a child care facility, any school, public park, residence or place of worship. Entertainers are not permitted to engage in any type of sexual conduct or expose their sex organs.
Well, that leaves out a lot, doesn’t it. I can’t say as I understand why this is even an issue at all! Now, I don’t want to sound like a prude or anything, but one of the reasons we chose this area was because of the LACK of bars and such.
“There is no way” a strip joint “can open up because the ordinance pretty much specifies what has to be covered up,” said Crump City Administrator Pam Hardy.
I guess Ms Hardy has never heard of pasties, eh?
FIRST BOOK OF LIBERAL DEMOCRAT
Obama Is My Shepherd, I Shall Not Want.
He Leadeth Me Beside Still Factories,
He Restoreth My Faith In The Republican Party,
He Guideth Me In The Paths Of Unemployment.
Yea, Though I Walk Through The Valley Of The Bread Line, I Shall Not Go Hungry.
Obama Has Anointed My Income With Taxes,
My Expenses Runneth Over My Income,
Surely, Poverty And Hard Living Will Follow Me All The Days Of My Life.
The Democrats And I Will Live Forever In a Rented Room.
But I Am Glad I Am an American,
I Am Glad That I Am Free.
But I Wish I Was A Dog And Obama A Tree.
Heh! Courtesy of Miss Sue of Waupun. Bless her heart…. I needed a chuckle!
A Leak?
Or, are they making different ones….just in case.
Obama/Bayh? Sounds like some kind of sappy folky song. Jeeeez!
H/T: Stop the ACLU
Life Keeps Getting In The Way….
…..so, once again, I’m late on my Ann copy and paste job. Oh well, if ya haven’t read it, here it is:
Constitutional Scholar Obama Questions Legality of Slavery Ban
This week, Barack Obama’s challenge is to select a running mate who’s young, hip, and whose accomplishments in life don’t overshadow Obama’s. Allow me to suggest Kevin Federline.
The only thing we can be sure of is that Obama will choose someone who is the polar opposite of all his advisers until now. In other words, it will be a very, very white male who was probably proud of his country even before being chosen as Obama’s running mate.
Obama’s got a lot of ground to make up following that performance last weekend at the Saddleback presidential forum with pastor Rick Warren.
The NEW Party?
Hey, I think we’ve already got a few LOT of these running around…..IN D.C.!
Swiped from Chaim…..again! 
Laws For Thee, But Not For Me!
Let’s face it. We have yahoos all over the country coming up with really stupid laws, designed to take control of your life, from your hands. Trans fats? Smoking? The list is endless.
And then, sometimes, there are pretty good laws, common sense for the general safety and well being of the public. Kind of like having a valid driver’s license, and proof insurance. Seems simple enough, right? Not so in Pasadena, Texas, where the ACORN idjits are in high gear over the enforcement of a law, designed for the public safety and well being of ALL it’s citizens.
Hispanics accuse Pasadena police of harassment
Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now member Jose Valdez accused the police department of pulling over people “because their skin is brown.” He alleged that, in addition to asking for the drivers’ licenses and proof of insurance, officers were seeking out the drivers’ Social Security numbers. He said the methods were a tactic to enforce federal immigration laws.
Valdez complained about Mayor Johnny Isbell’s recent order to crack down on drivers who do not have state-mandated liability insurance. Earlier this year, Isbell pushed through a zero-tolerance policy in Pasadena for drivers who are found not to have liability insurance.
The policy leads to an almost automatic impounding of the driver’s car and, in some cases, an arrest.
“Why is Mayor Isbell been enforcing the insurance laws that are in affect for Texas and the fact that they have been targeting Hispanics and they don’t stop as many whites or any other people with a tone of skin other brown,” said Valdez. “It’s costing us money to be able to get our cars back, to be able to get people out of jail for having to pay bail bonds to get them out.” (emphasis mine)
Uh, excuse me, but if you are not breaking the law, it doesn’t matter what color your skin is, does it. The fact that there are those in this country, doing their damnedest to create SPECIAL rights for those who break the law coming into the country, and continue to break the law after they get here, is one thing that gets me angrier I can even say.
You don’t like our laws? GO THE HELL HOME! You don’t believe you should have to follow our laws?? Tough! Get the hell out! If you are a legal citizen, you have the right to be busted just like everyone else. If you aren’t legal, forfeit what you’ve gained illegally, THEN get the hell out!
I, like many others, am getting MORE than fed up with this kind of male bovine excrement!
H/T: Texas Fred’s
Rewriting History
This is actually a rather serious subject, but when you see this video, if you DON’T laugh at the pathetic state of affairs in Venezuelan journalism, there’s something wrong.
WARNING: Put the coffee cup down first!
Go read the whole post at Freedom’s Cost, please (and Digg if ya don’t mind while you’re at it). I just had to swipe the video though.
REAL Hero
The types of people that are considered ‘heroes’ these days….. just boggles the mind. Sports figures who can’t seem to grow up, the Hollyweird types who fail to grasp reality, and believe because they “played a doctor on TV, they can do brain surgery”, the sort of people, in reality, you do NOT want your kids to grow up to be.
True, there are some REAL heroes these days. The American soldier comes to mind, police, fire fighters, even some….teachers! Heroes who would give it all, in the service of others. Those kinds, in general, everyday life, aren’t all that common these days.
When Adolf Hilter came to power in 1933, 75 years ago, things were pretty tough in Germany for the regular folks. The country had been defeated in an ugly war, and the Treaty of Versailles wasn’t exactly conducive for a good working relationship for economic growth. I guess by the mid 20s, Germany was getting ready for a ‘change’. In 1933, they got it, and evil took a foot hold.
In 1933, Dauchau was opened. Prisoners consisted of “political, professional criminal, emigrant, Jehovah’s Witnesses, homosexual, Germans shy of work, and other nationalities shy of work“. Covers a lot of area for a country in the midst of a depression, doesn’t it. Buchenwald and Sachsenhausen followed, along with a large number of other ‘work’ camps.
Time progressed. Hilter decided, at some point, he should rule the world and get rid of anyone who stood in his way. Sadly, not many did stand up to him, within his own country. Looking back, I wonder if they were really so bamboozled by his ‘charismatic’ speeches, or, if the people did believe as he did. (kool aid drinking comes to mind)
There were men and woman who did speak up against the tide. Their voices were quickly silenced, and few dared to question the authority for fear of losing everything, including their lives. But, there was an ‘underground’. Individuals who DID fight back in their own way. People who saved the lives of thousands. Some names, we’ll never know. They were killed along with those they tried to save. There are names like Oscar Schindler, made famous by Stephen Speilberg’s movie. There was Irena Sendlerowa, who saved 2,500 Jewish children in the Warsaw Ghetto. (unbelievable that bag of hot air won a “Peace Prize” over this good lady)
She buried jars containing their real and assumed names in the garden, so that they could be one day learn the names of their biological families after the war.
Some names will never be known. They lived, and died, as true heroes.
Let’s not forget this one too!
Unsung Holocaust hero celebrates 100th
Steiner already was in his late 20s when the Nazis occupied Czechoslovakia, bringing with them anti-Jewish laws they had spread through much of the rest of Europe. His father-in-law fled to England in 1938, but Steiner settled in Bratislava with his wife and young son.
He was arrested after Nazis seized control of the country, but was later released to finish a building project in town. He began designing work camps and other sites for the Nazis, hoping the Jewish community would be better off if they cooperated.
Soon he had 4,000 people working in 130 workshops at the camps, making an array of items for the German war effort. At lunch, he gathered with other young Jews to talk about ways to improve conditions for the Jews. The band soon became known as the Bratislava Working Group.
But as Slovaks began a massive deportation of Jews to concentration camps in Poland in 1942, the group’s mission changed as well. It decided to focus on finding a way—any way—to rescue Jews in Slovakia.
“We wanted to help in any way we could,” he said. “It was a very close-knit friendship with one ideal: To help the Jews.”
One of the members, Rabbi Michael Dov Weissmandl, had heard a rumor that a Nazi official was willing to accept cash bribes to keep Jews off the dreaded deportation list. Soon, they had devised a back story for their gambit: They were negotiating on behalf of a fictitious world Jewish leader named Ferdinand Roth.
When it was time for a face-to-face meeting, the group picked Steiner, the confident man who cut a dashing figure with slicked back hair and a golden tongue. Inside, though, Steiner was awash with anxiety. A single misstep could have cost him his life and betray the group’s effort.
Asking the rabbi for advice, he got a most unexpected answer: Imagine the Nazi sitting on a toilet nude. When he arrived at the meeting and did just that, he couldn’t stifle a smirk.
Do we really need movies and controversial “Nobel Prizes” to remember those who have done more for humanity than we could ever conceive? No, such history should be taught daily!
May God Bless You And Yours!
“All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”
Obamarama
ACK!
Morning Coffee 08/22/08
Study: Fire doomed World Trade Center building 7 on 9/11
Scientists with the National Institute of Standards and Technology say their three-year investigation of the collapse determined the demise of WTC 7 was actually the first time in the world a fire caused the total failure of a modern skyscraper.
“The reason for the collapse of World Trade Center 7 is no longer a mystery,” said Dr. Shyam Sunder, the lead investigator on the NIST team.
Investigators also concluded that the collapse of the nearby towers broke the city water main, leaving the sprinkler system in the bottom half of the building without water.
HEY ROSIE! Sit down, shut up, and make an attempt to be funny again, ok? Cuz you sure aren’t smart enough to go into engineering, or metallurgy. Psst! Fire WILL melt steel. How do ya think they make it into stuff? Pixie dust?
Israeli Arab charged with planning attacks with Al-Qaida
According to the charges, 23-year-old Khaled Abu Rakayek, a former student of the Technological College in Beersheba, allegedly tried to set up a terror cell to perpetrate a suicide bombing.
According to the allegations, Abu Rakayek allegedly began becoming closer to Islam in 2002, and during his college studies, he started to surf Internet sites affiliated with terror organizations.
We can run ‘em out of Iraq, we could possibly kick ‘em out of Afghanistan, but we can’t get every wipe out every one who decides to get “closer to Islam”. We are ALL going to be at war for a very long time. If you don’t think it’s a ‘war of religions’, you’d be quite mistaken. Ours, against theirs. Life, against death. And yes, it is Good against evil.
Golden city manager won’t dine with Al Jazeera
Bestor said he issued the invitation to Al Jazeera Englis, which is based in the Middle East, as a private citizen. The network planned to do interviews at the gathering as part of its Democratic National Convention next week.
The city issued a statement Thursday night in which Bestor said he realized his job indirectly linked the event to the city.
The city’s statement said Bestor “believed that hosting such a discussion of the issues was an excellent way to illustrate democracy to the rest of the world and to show that neighbors can disagree politically and still work together toward the good of their community.”
Well, gee willakers Mr Wizard! What’s so wrong about inviting folks from an ol’ idjit station that shows US soldiers being blown up for the consumption of their audience? Uh….how ’bout a nice ol’ whack up side the head for being an ass?
Al-Qaida claims responsibility for Algeria attacks
The group described the attacks on a police academy, a military barracks and a Canadian engineering firm as retaliation against security forces for their crackdown on militants, described as “Mujahedeen,” or holy warriors.
The attacks “follow the perfidious operation, where a number of young Mujahedeen have been killed,” said a man identified as Salah Abu Mohammed, an al-Qaida spokesman, in a tape delivered to the Al-Jazeera news channel.
There was no way to authenticate Friday’s message but in the past militant groups have often delivered responsibility claims via Al-Jazeera.
Well, there ya go! Al-Jazeera and al Qaeda…..best buds! They should wouldn’t keep handing over the tapes to them if the network refused to show them, now would they? Perhaps Al-Jazeera should go back to ethics 101. Oh wait a minute, not even “journalists” are taught THAT anymore.
Texting while driving? California Senate says ‘GTG’
“Texting while driving is so obviously unsafe that it’s hard to believe anyone would attempt it, yet everyday observation suggests there are an awful lot of folks who do,” said Sen. Joe Simitian (D-Palo Alto), who wrote SB 28. The measure now goes to the governor, who has said he will not sign any bills until the Legislature approves a budget.
The bill was approved on a 25-14 vote, with heavy opposition from Republicans who see the legislation as unnecessary interference in personal behavior. Only two Republicans voted for the measure.
How do you regulate stupidity? Seriously, we already have laws that get you for unsafe driving. I’d say texting while driving was a sure fire way to break a law or two. Do they really need to come up with new ones? Shoot, California LIKES laws….they like to make up news ones on a regular basis, all in the name of “we control your life”! Obviously, people shouldn’t do it. They should be more responsible when behind the wheel. Kids should be TAUGHT that it’s a real bad idea, and if they do it, get out the belt! Don’t make up MORE laws for MORE regulation. Have we kicked ‘em out of the Union yet?
China holding 6 Americans in Tibet protest at Olympics
Six Americans who were taken into custody on Tuesday as they tried to protest against China’s rule in Tibet have been given 10-day detentions, the Chinese police said Friday.
But other members of their organization, the New York-based Students for a Free Tibet said that they had no information about four other protesters who were detained early Thursday during a protest near the National Stadium. The four are two Americans, a German and a British citizen.
Although a common form of punishment for Chinese dissidents, extrajudicial detentions are rarely handed out to foreigners, who are often deported almost immediately after being taken into custody. Members of Students for a Free Tibet have staged eight protests involving 55 people since the Olympics began on Aug. 8 and human rights advocates said the government might be seeking to deter those contemplating similar activities in the Games’ final days.
I guess the low numbers says how well China keeps a thumb on folks. I would have thought there would have been thousands of protesters. If China wants to keep such a ‘positive’ attitude involving the Olympics, they might wanna release all of them. (a smidge of sarcasm here)
Bloomberg Shifts on Term Limits
His openness to extending term limits via a City Council vote comes amid increased chatter in political circles that the mayor and the speaker of the City Council, Christine Quinn, are plotting to extend term limits to three terms from two.
After previously stating that he would respect the will of the voters on term limits, he refused yesterday to rule out supporting a term limits extension.
“If the City Council comes to us with a piece of legislation, we will look at it, we will consider it, and we will make what I hope is an informed judgment as to what is in the best interest of this city,” Mr. Bloomberg said. He later added: “The City Council has the legal right to change term limits.”
No. Oh HELL no! This clown has been a horror for the rest of the country! If it hadn’t been for 9/11, there is NO way he would have ridden Rudy’s coattails into office. And what has he done? Government strangulation! I vote we kick “THE CITY” out too!
Ugandan rebel chief negotiator wants Beshir’s ICC indictment suspended
The Ugandan rebels of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) chief negotiator in the stalled Southern Sudan’s mediated Juba peace process, David Nyekorach Matsanga, on Wednesday said President al-Beshir of Sudan’s indictment by the International Criminal Court (ICC) is an obstacle to peace in the Sudan.
Seems to me, getting that POS out of the way would make ‘peace’ a whole lot easier. Guess I just don’t ‘get it’.
Russian troops begin withdrawal from Gori
However, a Russian general has warned that it could be 10 days before the bulk of Russian troops have left Georgia.
Their departure from Gori was met with joy among the population. “It’s such a relief,” said one 68-year-old resident. “I was waiting for this day and finally I see the Russians leaving my home town. I’m so happy.”
Gori’s position, deep within Georgian territory, made it a strategically important place to hold for the Russians and they had dug in, running checkpoints outside the city and on Georgia’s main east-to-west road, which skirts the city.
Ten days? I wasn’t aware it took ‘em 10 days to get there. Isn’t always a little easier leaving, than getting there? I’m suspicious, to say the least.
Stumping with Obama, Bredesen hits on economy
Bredesen has not been shy about urging Obama to do a better job of talking about how to improve lives, telling The Times recently that Obama should be speaking to voters in the aisles of Wal-Mart, not addressing them in stadium speeches.
He tempered that somewhat this week, saying he was offering “tough love” for Obama, and that lots of the candidate’s supporters were offering similar advice about addressing everyday concerns of Americans.
The Obama-Bredesen sched ule started early Thursday afternoon at a town hall-type forum at Undo’s Restaurant in St. Clairsville, Ohio, then traveled to a plumbers and pipefitters’ union hall in Marietta. After that, they were slated to hit Zanesville for a campaign office opening.
Doesn’t Gov. Phil have something he should be doing right here in Tennessee? You know, like dealing with the layoffs of gubmint employees, rising energy prices at the TVA, Snoopergate?
Verse of the Day
2 Corinthians 6:14-18
14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.
18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
