Racism: Obama Style

[guido911]

Looks like Obama is going to allow the questioning of the immigration status of those in jail at the local level. Another program started by Bush.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/18/AR2009051803172.html

[Conan71]

That's just hateful, I tell you, HATEFUL!!!!

[joiei]

President Obama's statement on illegal immigration  http://www.barackobama.com/pdf/issues/ImmigrationFactSheet.pdf

"In approaching immigration reform, I believe that we must enact tough, practical reforms. . . . We need
stronger enforcement on the border and at the workplace. . . .
But for reform to work, we also must respond to what pulls people to America. . . . Where we can reunite
families, we should. Where we can bring in more foreign-born workers with the skills our economy needs, we
should. . . . The time to fix our broken immigration system is now. It is critical that as we embark on this
enormous venture to update our immigration system, it is fully reflective of the powerful tradition of
immigration in this country and fully reflective of our values and ideals."
[Obama Statement in U.S. Senate, 5/23/07]

[we vs us]

Looks like Obama is going to allow the questioning of the immigration status of those in jail at the local level. Another program started by Bush.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/18/AR2009051803172.html

And the racism is . . . where?

The effort is likely to significantly reshape immigration enforcement, current and former executive branch officials said. It comes as the Obama administration and Democratic leaders in Congress vow to crack down on illegal immigrants who commit crimes, rather than those who otherwise abide by the law.

Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano has made it "very clear" that her top priority is deporting illegal immigrants who have committed crimes, said David J. Venturella, program director at U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Far different from HB 1804, which indisciminately goes after all illegals, this targets people already in jail.

It doesn't really attack the heart of the question, though, which is what to do with all the otherwise law-abiding illegals already in the country.   

[guido911]

"law-abiding illegals"

Bwahahahaha.

You cannot be serious. That is an oxymoronic statement of the year candidate.

As to the substance of your post, I get it: 
Obama:  Good.
Oklahomans: Bad.

[we vs us]

Bwahahahaha.

You cannot be serious. That is an oxymoronic statement of the year candidate.

As to the substance of your post, I get it: 
Obama:  Good.
Oklahomans: Bad.

Well, no. 
Obama:  making practical headway
Oklahomans:  throwing baby out with the bathwater.

Agreed, it was a poor choice of words, but the substance actually still stands. The crime of being here illegal -- much like pot smoking -- is a victimless crime.  Also, like pot smoking, being here illegally doesn't necessarily predispose someone to committing more or worse crimes.   So if that's true, then it might actually be important to start making distinctions between "law abiding" illegals and criminals who are illegals.  Because the alternative -- identifying, rounding up and deporting ALL illegal immigrants -- would turn us into a moribund police state overnight.  Not to mention the economic damage. 

So, yeah, Obama's nibbling at the edges of the problem.  It's not a sweeping solution but it's a start.

[Conan71]

Speaking of babies and bath water, congrats to you and Mrs. Wevus.  Great job!

[guido911]

Well, no. 
Obama:  making practical headway
Oklahomans:  throwing baby out with the bathwater.

Agreed, it was a poor choice of words, but the substance actually still stands. The crime of being here illegal -- much like pot smoking -- is a victimless crime.  Also, like pot smoking, being here illegally doesn't necessarily predispose someone to committing more or worse crimes.   So if that's true, then it might actually be important to start making distinctions between "law abiding" illegals and criminals who are illegals.  Because the alternative -- identifying, rounding up and deporting ALL illegal immigrants -- would turn us into a moribund police state overnight.  Not to mention the economic damage. 

So, yeah, Obama's nibbling at the edges of the problem.  It's not a sweeping solution but it's a start.

You are really reaching today to cover for the fact that Obama is going after illegals the same way Bush did. Pot smoking is a victimless crime? Let's see, not only is pot smoking itself a crime, but POSSESSING the pot to begin with is a crime. Now, how did the pot get into this country? Through illegal smuggling. Are there any victims of illegal drug smuggling? I don't know, let's ask the folks on our southern border, you know, the ones that have had their heads cut off by the cartels. I guess those victims do not count. 

[nathanm]

You are really reaching today to cover for the fact that Obama is going after illegals the same way Bush did. Pot smoking is a victimless crime? Let's see, not only is pot smoking itself a crime, but POSSESSING the pot to begin with is a crime. Now, how did the pot get into this country? Through illegal smuggling. Are there any victims of illegal drug smuggling? I don't know, let's ask the folks on our southern border, you know, the ones that have had their heads cut off by the cartels. I guess those victims do not count. 

Gee, don't you think that if it weren't illegal, the smugglers wouldn't be bringing it in from Mexico and all the pot smokers would just smoke whatever they grew in their back yard or on their window sill?

My point being that in this case the substance being illegal is the root cause of the problems associated with it. Ironic, eh?

[FOTD]

OMG!

[Conan71]

Gee, don't you think that if it weren't illegal, the smugglers wouldn't be bringing it in from Mexico and all the pot smokers would just smoke whatever they grew in their back yard or on their window sill?

My point being that in this case the substance being illegal is the root cause of the problems associated with it. Ironic, eh?

Government can't simply legalize anything.  No, they need to control and tax it which leaves it still wide open for a contraband market.  Legalizing weed would have minimal impact on border violence.  Many people would choose to buy un-taxed pot if given the choice between $50 an ounce or $100 an ounce.

[Conan71]

OMG!

You don't have to walk around with all this white guilt, really, it's okay to be white.

[RecycleMichael]

Government can't simply legalize anything.  No, they need to control and tax it which leaves it still wide open for a contraband market.  Legalizing weed would have minimal impact on border violence.  Many people would choose to buy un-taxed pot if given the choice between $50 an ounce or $100 an ounce.

That is an interesting point, but I am not sure completely correct. I am the cheapest person you ever met, using coupons and dollar menus as a mission through life. But I would rather buy a good bourbon that some rotgut bathtub stuff.

I guess I just see mind-altering substances differently. If I am gonna drink for drinking sakes, I want better quality.

[Conan71]

That is an interesting point, but I am not sure completely correct. I am the cheapest person you ever met, using coupons and dollar menus as a mission through life. But I would rather buy a good bourbon that some rotgut bathtub stuff.

I guess I just see mind-altering substances differently. If I am gonna drink for drinking sakes, I want better quality.

And if you could buy the better quality bourbon without the tax, it would be tempting to do so, yes?

[FOTD]

That is an interesting point, but I am not sure completely correct. I am the cheapest person you ever met, using coupons and dollar menus as a mission through life. But I would rather buy a good bourbon that some rotgut bathtub stuff.

I guess I just see mind-altering substances differently. If I am gonna drink for drinking sakes, I want better quality.

Yes, organic Tequila beats that well water. And bringing decrim into this discussion is just another classic example of diversion from the real issue. That's something the GOP and their neo-cons continue to fail away at...