Burning Atlanta

Just wanted to take a step back for a moment and see the big picture. As we know, apprehensions are down along the southern border. They dropped 20% last year and another 17% so far this year. Some credit that to our slowing economy, some credit it to more and more states taking a harder stand against illegals, and some credit tougher enforcement along the border. As most agree, despite how the jobs are lost, jobs are the number one incentive. No jobs, fewer reasons to come.

Bush and others advocated allowing an additional 400-500 thousand people in every year to "take the pressure off of the Border Patrol" so they could concentrate on 'real" criminals. Many illegals, 10% caught have criminal records, ARE real criminals. The FACT that they're breaking federal law by sneaking into the country also idicates the have little regard for our laws. But a drop in border jumpers is a very good thing. No reason to let an additional 500 thousand in to take pressure of when they're fewer making the trip.

With few exceptions, such as San Francisco's sanctuary policy, more and more states and localities are passing laws targeting illegals and their employers. Those laws are having an impact. Illegals are leaving those areas. Some are leaving the country, some are moving to adjacent areas. Many of the adjacent areas are then passing tough laws. A domino effect. A few areas, such as around Prince William, Virginia, are trying to cope with an influx of people and suck it up, as illegals fled Prince Wlliam. I think that may be short lived. Their taxpayers may say, "That's enough."

Despite one poll, Ap Ipsos, I'm picking up a sense that more and more people are waking up to the invasion and they're pissed. Plus, the tired, old rhetoric isn't playing well with a lot of people because they've learned more of the facts. "They only take jobs Americans don't want.." isn't playing so well anymore. they've sertainly played up their mantra of "racist" directed at anyone that opposes illegal immgiration and amnesties.

The fact that the economy isn't so great isn't winning them many converts, either. A guy that gets laid off and sees illegals working blames them for fewer job opportunities. I do not blame illegals for every problem in this nation but see that they can create an unneeded strain on all sorts of things from neighborhoods and overcrowded homes, to schools, to judicial costs, to healthcare costs and crowded ERs. Immigration isn't such a terrible thing but it becomes a matter of how many, how fast, and in what concentrations, both geographically and demographically. If we allow millions of unskilled immigrants with meager educations into a small area there's going to be a huge impact. Just making a point.

Politically, we know our current federal goverment isn't serious about enforcing the immigration laws and much of what they've done is little more than a show. But we also know that the least amount of enforcement can cause illegals and their supporters to wet their pants. This is because there's been so little enforcement for so very long. The fact that workplace arrests totalled less than 5,000 last year and that, even though they claim they're making progress, ICE only arrested about 30,000 out of 600,000 "immigrants" that have already been ordered out of the country, tells me that enforcement is still a bad joke. Let's crunch those numbers. 30,000 a year for 20 years equals 600,000. Humm??? Might take ICE a while to catch those people if not too many more are added to the list.

All 3 front runners for President are pro-amnesty. However, as we witnessed last year, just because the President and others want another amnesty doesn't mean they're going to get it. As bad as things went for another amnesty last time I expect it will be twice as bad next time. That's why I don't expect Congress to go for the whole thing in one bite. I expect them to try and eat that elephant one bite at a time. I fully expect they'll try a couple of boo-hoo amnesties, first. "The Poor Farmer John Act. The Poor Little Children Act. The We Can't Live Without Them Act..." "Act" is a good word to describe what and how they'll try and snow the people with these legislations.

The WORST thing I've seen on the political aspect is that not enough policians have paid a price for being weak-kneed or pro-illegal. Hence, even though the phones may ring, if they don't seriously fear getting their asses thrown out then they aren't likely to change their sinful ways.

IF a few politicians like Lindsey Graham were tossed over the issue then the others would get hardcore. But that's not likely to happen. Graham is well funded and well entrenched. I don't see any serious threats to his empire. Witherspoon I know little about but doesn't seem to display he dynamics needed to unseat Graham. I see the same scene playing out with Saxby Chambliss and others. I don't think he 's facing any serious challenger. I think Saxby has paid more attention to his constituents but he knows where his pro-cheap labor bread is buttered. And we know that it's going to take more than just a hard stand on illegals to win elections. Yes, more local politicians are paying attention to their constituents because they don't feel as insulated as a US Senator.

So, what does it all mean? The longer another amnesty is put on hold the better. As more people wake up, another amnesty has less of a chance. However, there will be a move towards smaller amnesties and I think the politicians will sneak a couple of those thru. Hence, the reasoning behind the current scam enforcement. They'll try to sell the people on the mistaken idea that they're really serious about enforcement.  It may take about a year after the President gets seated but the issue will come back, it's not going away.