What I find interesting about all this is the fact that anyone's shocked. Politically appointed lawyers might have been fired for *gasp* political reasons? The guy that had the job in the first place was probably someone's crony too. Until someone finds for me the statute that says political appointees can't be fired for non-specific performance reasons (and there well may be one), I will read all this as the Dems trying to distract us from global warming and lobbyist reform failure.

RE: New E-Mail Gives Details on Attorney Dismissals - New York Times

After carefully examining the evidence, I've become convinced that the president's party mounted a massive, coordinated campaign to subvert the will of the people in 2004.

Memeing this because it demands commentary. Rolling Stone often has good political articles, but for something this serious I dare say its the wrong forum. Partisan conservatives, most of whom have certainly never read Rolling Stone, are likely to laugh out loud at the idea that a Kennedy accused them of fraud in a rock and roll magazine. If, say, a law professor accused them of fraud in a dry academic journal, and the results were publicised elsewhere, that would be a very different thing.

In any event, a little bit of fraud might get you 1,000 votes here or 1,000 votes there. If you have enough local political power to pull it off, you can sustain a small margin this way. You can't convert a large margin. Can you produce 2 million votes?

In any event, I think the greatest injustice of our system is that a 2 million vote difference grants broad power to the nutjobs who make up each party's respective "base." America is moderate.

Rolling Stone : Was the 2004 Election Stolen?

Charles McGee, the former executive director of the state Republican Party, pleaded guilty to conspiracy and served seven months for his part in the scheme to have a telemarketer tie up Democratic and union phone lines in 2002.

He's back at his old job with a Republican political marketing firm, Spectrum Monthly & Printing Inc., and will be helping out at the firm's "GOP campaign school" for candidates.

Business at usual for the GOP...

Lead figure in phone jam to advise GOP contenders

Stonewall Inn was the site of the famous Stonewall riots of 1969, which have come to symbolize the beginning of the militant gay liberation movement in the United States. It is located at 53 Christopher Street, between West 4th St. and Waverly Place, in Greenwich Village, New York City. Stonewall is regarded as the single most important event that led to the modern movement for gay and lesbian civil rights.[1]

"Militant?" Thats not quite the word I would use for the 'gay liberation movement in the United States.' But interesting article. That word just caught my eye...

Stonewall Inn - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Where have all the correspondents gone?

And so there is no news to report about Auschwitz. There is merely the compulsion to write something about it, a compulsion that grows out of a restless feeling that to have visited Auschwitz and then turned away without having said or written anything would somehow be a most grievous act of discourtesy to those who died here.

From Abroad, Writing the Unspeakable

Oy, where to start. I've been locked out for two days through a cookie-related error of my own and now I'm back to face the (mariachi) music.

Hijexx wrote:
Not to beat a dead horse, but seriously, if you rent, try itemizing a portion of your rent on your income taxes as a property tax payment. ...Property taxes are paid by the property owner, not the renter. Said another way, a vacant house can generate property taxes.

By this reasoning, my friends and I do not pay property taxes either. Good to know. But I guess we still pay sales, social security and income? And I guess if they don't verify my ss card, then I would still get those taken out, I wouldn't just get a taxless check every week? And I also guess that means that every citizen I know that mows lawns (my neighbor), paints houses (old co-worker), or cleans houses (aunt) and gets paid in cash wouldn't pay any of those except sales tax? Geez, those taxless illegals. Ruining the tax-free life for the rest of us.

I'll share a study with you. ...
http://www.cis.org/articles/2004/fiscalfindings.html
This study was written by the Center for Immigration Studies.

When I read this, something in my head actually went "dun dun DUN!"
Its funny that you picked a John Tanton run org, and one where I have actually met one of the contributors! (Mark Krikorian.)

CIS is one of an umbrella of anti-immigrant organizations founded and funded by John Tanton. Let me tell you how excited I am you brought him up. (First some backround reading, if you care to. Tanton: http://www.splcenter.org/intel/intelreport/article.jsp?aid=93 CIS and Tanton: http://www.splcenter.org/intel/intelreport/article.jsp?sid=72)

To make a long, white-supremacist-filled story short, Tanton and his cronies at F.A.I.R. do a great job of what you alleged I do: the good old bait and switch. You get lured in by their dislike of illegals, but then find out that, actually, they don't like legals! And more specifically, non-whites in general. They recieve $$$ from the Pioneer fund (you know, The Bell Curve?)share members with the Council of Conservative Citizens (check 'em out : http://www.cofcc.org/manifest.htm) and own a publishing house that is one of the best places to get The Camp of the Saints, a lovely book about Europe being over-run by mongrel minorities.

To hammer it in: this is why I don't trust stats from many places. When you follow the money, it gets a little scary. But anyhoo, you could come back with a rebuttal about SPLC and Morris Dees, but instead I hope we can save time and get off the numbers. (And if you don't like SPLC I actually have some ADL studies saying the same thing, let me know if you want them.)

....because no one is against LEGAL immigration here.

I know I know. But the whole "illegal" issue is such a nice gateway drug to more generalized eugenics, white su... [ Read More (0.6k in body) ]

RE: How can Illegal Immigration help our Homeless situation?

terratogen wrote:
But you can choose who crosses the border the same way you can the threshold of your families house. We can make our democracy stronger if we pick and choose than if we let just anybody in.
...........

Not a grade of humanity, but some people are more useful than others. Why should we encourage malaise?

Hmmm, reminds me of something. What was it again?

"Give me your tired.... your poor.... your, (what was it?) ...huddled masses yearning... to breathe free?"

Yeah, sounds like crap to me too. Sentimental bullshit.

From now on, only rich, smart, and sexy! In fact, why don't we make a reality show out of it? Immigrant Idol! If you don't have enough talent and appeal, its back to [insert third world country] you go!

Hmmm... kind of makes you wonder. Would your own ancestors have made it?

RE: How can Illegal Immigration help our Homeless situation?

terratogen wrote:

I feel bad for homeless people too, but i generally don't let too many live in my house (at least not lately).

Ummm... why does everyone keep comparing the U.S. to their house? Your house is a piece of property where you and whoever you select live together. A country is... oh wait, I'm not a fourth grade social studies teacher. We all know what a country is, right? And this country is a "democracy." Which makes is different from your house. Also differently than your house, who is let into the nation is not regulated by who you do and don't "feel bad" for. Luckily.

Additionally, why do people keep comparing homeless people to immigrants? "The bottom of the barrel?" How about the people who were brave and bold enough to cross an extremely inhospitable border, move to a new country with a new culture, language, and system, and find a job. Have you ever moved to a new CITY? Its rough, man. I wouldn't say that those peope are the 'bottom of the barrel'.

Of course, I wouldn't say that about any of my fellow human beings.

I also believe that you will find many individuals of great intelectual worth who come here legally and illegally. Some refer to it as "the brain drain."

RE: How can Illegal Immigration help our Homeless situation?

Hijexx wrote:

A more fair study would not misrepresent these figures, or at least try harder to extrapolate population data to fit more closely with the wage data time frames. Yes, these things do matter.

Alright, we've got a full on debate going here! Excellent!

First of all, to respond to your (well-documented) qualms regarding
the study I pointed out. Not being a statistician, or even good at
math, I will have to assume that your issues with the study are good ones. I tend to take information that is given to me from trusted sources as good enough, since they are experts and I, decidedly am not. However, I believe you will find many studies, even coming from an anti-immigrant viewpoint, that back up my claim. But, for the purposes of arguement, let's say that you are correct in your assertions and we'll take your point and run with it: there is not enough data to support a claim to one side or another. I feel certain it would be similar trying to determine the net-impact of any one social group on the country.

Hijexx wrote:

This is a large point that cannot be glossed over. More research needs to be done. This is an evolving science.

Fair enough. Moving on:

Hijexx wrote:

WHAT IS SO FREAKING WRONG WITH LEGAL IMMIGRATION ANYWAY? What is so bad about wanting immigrants that wish to live in MY COUNTRY to do so legally? Yes, I understand the nice, happy ideology of, "What makes living on one part of God's green Earth legal, and another part illegal?" I'll tell you what, it's called the rule of law. We are a land of rules and laws. What you seem to be championing is anarchy or one world government, take your pick. In the meantime, we have what we have, which are many procedures and laws to emigrate. If you don't follow those, if you bypass them, you are here ILLEGALLY and you should be removed.

Needless to say, I disagree. I happened to be reading your comments yesterday, which was Holocaust memorial day. I was thinking about how during the early part of the Holocaust, thousands of Jewish immigrants were turned away from the U.S. and sent back to nazi-Europe because public opinion was widely opposed to them settling the in the U.S.

I mention this not to compare Mexico to nazi Germany, but rather to point out the well-observed fact that Americans are typically against immigration- whether for good reasons, bad reasons, or no reasons. This legality issue is covering up the fact that people just generally do not like mass movements of people moving onto what they percieve as "their land." Forgetting the fact, of course, that their own ancestors were once part of these immigrant movements long before our current immigration system was in place.

I am certainly in favor of the rule of law. In fact, I want to become a lawyer. However, when laws are unjust or simply do not w... [ Read More (0.2k in body) ]

RE: How can Illegal Immigration help our Homeless situation?

dc0de wrote:
Lastly, your use of the term 'bourgeois' to describe the media is very interesting... I have to make an assumption that your definition of the term is from the Marxist camp, instead of the original meaning of the word. And that being the case, makes your entire statement, and your viewpoint moot. If you're a marxist, you want everyone to be the same, and you just haven't realized that those of us who WORKED OUR ASSES off to get where we are, don't want to subsidize those who are too stupid or lazy to get ahead.

Oh boy. Viewpoints different from yours are "moot"? I better shut up then. Sounds like we disagree on a lot. Unfortunately, it sounds to me like while you were busy "working your ass off" you forgot to get an education consisting of a variety of viewpoints. (Some of which might turn out to be... different than yours.) Oh and speaking of which, here are some more:

1. Illegal immigrants do pay social security and other taxes which they don't collect. I won't argue with you further since you obviously have access to a computer and can look it up. (That study I mentioned in the last one is a good place to start.)

2. Um, where are you reading that undocumented individuals have access to healthcare? I assume that you are referring to emergency rooms. In which case, sorry, but its a human rights as well as public health issue that if someone is severely hurt and/or sick they have to be helped, regardless of their status or insurance-holding situation. (Otherwise, you would untreated disease-carrying individuals walking around infecting all those nice legal health-care holders.) But you're crazy if you think that illegals have access to "health-care" in any comprehensive way. They can't even get shitty Medicaid packages.

As for schools, the school systems are fucked because, among other reasons, the school funding systems in most states are a disaster. All children living here are entitled to an education, regardless of their parents' status, ethnicity, or tax-paying abilities. Sorry, but its the law- and its a good one. School funding systems are (mainly) based on property taxes as well as federal funding. Since both do not provide enough for either equitable or adequate education, you see a decline in the quality of education- regardless of the percentage of illegal or legal immigrants in that area. If you think kids in areas where there is little or no illegal immigration are better off, think again.

Also keep in mind that people who don't have children pay taxes for YOUR children to go to school and don't bitch about it all the time. Why? Because it is in the public interest to have a well-educated citizenry. The argument that your kids are missing out because other kids get a basic education is a cop-out and misses the point completely. You shoukd be arguing for better funding for ALL children in the U.S. (And I would agree with you on that!)

And "state-paid interpreters?" please. Many LEGAL immigrants do not have access to those even when they go to court. The most many schools have is a poorly run ESOL program and a guidance counselor who speaks spanish. That does not begin to cover the problem for LEGAL immigrants from other countries.

So what's your problem here, really? You don't like unions, marxists, people who speak other languages, what?

I agree this problem is complex and filled with propaganda on both sides. But you owe it to yourself to take a look at both sides of the arguement and realize that deportation/ fences/ a permanent lower class is not the answer to a problem that is (at least partly) the result of a hundred years of U.S. interference in Latin America. I sure don't have the solution, but I know that blind hatred and scapegoating is not it.

RE: How can Illegal Immigration help our Homeless situation?