We should insist that the immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes an American and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else, for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed, or birthplace, or origin. But this is predicated upon the man’s becoming in very fact an American, and nothing but an American…There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn’t an American at all. We have room for but one flag, the American flag, which symbolizes all wars against liberty and civilization, We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language…and we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people.  Theodore Roosevelt 1907

One of the questions asked of Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton during the Democratic Presidential debate last week was whether or not the United States should be a bi-lingual speaking country (meaning Spanish).

The following responses are verbatim from the transcript of the debate.

Question: Right now, there are more than 30 million people in this country who speak Spanish.

(APPLAUSE)

Many of them are right here. By the year 2050, there will be 120 million Hispanics in the United States. Now, is there any downside, Senator Clinton, to the United States becoming (SPEAKING SPANISH) becoming a bilingual nation? Is there a limit?

Clinton’s response: Well, I think it’s important for as many Americans as possible to do what I have never been able to do, and that is learn another language and try to be bilingual because that connects us to the rest of the world.

I think it is important, though, that English remain our common unifying language because that brings our country together in a way that we have seen generations of immigrants coming to our shores be able to be part of the American experience and pursue the American dream.

You know, I have been adamantly against the efforts by some to make English the official language. That I do not believe is appropriate, and I have voted against it and spoken against it.

I represent New York. We have 170 languages in New York City alone. And I do not think that we should be, in any way, discriminating against people who do not speak English, who use facilities like hospitals or have to go to court to enforce their rights.

But I do think that English does remain an important part of the American experience. So I encourage people to become bilingual. But I also want to see English remain the common, unifying language of our country.

Someone please translate the double speak for me so we all understand how English is our common unifying language, but not the official language.

In closing Hillary stumbles to the finish with this gem. “English does remain an important part of the American experience”.

The American experience? Since when did American citizenship become a day at Disneyland? Being an American citizen is a privilege. At a minimum citizens should be required to read, write and speak the language embraced by our founding fathers. It is the responsibility of legal immigrants to assimilate with America. I don’t recall seeing the Constitution or Bill of Rights written in any language other then English. Those who want to enjoy the protection offered by these documents should not be allowed to take what we have to offer in the way of jobs, health care and lifestyle and leave us to clean the cotton candy and churro wrappers left at the exit turnstiles of ‘It’s A Small World’.

Hillary says “I do not think that we should be, in any way, discriminating against people who do not speak English, who use facilities like hospitals or have to go to court to enforce their rights.”

It is not discriminatory to expect citizens to read, write and understand English. Remember Theodore Roosevelt’s proclamation? Learn the language of your adopted country. Assimilate with your fellow citizens. The promises of freedom and liberty in America require personal accountability by its citizens. Take responsibility for learning English if you want to live here.

Otherwise adios, Salaam, Tsedesutyun, Ciao, Adéu, Dag, Wiedersehen, Shalom, Bless, Daa daa, Mar sin leat, Sayonara, Ha det bra, Sudie, Bulya yo, Ate mais tarde, Hasta luego, Adjö, Sun-kia, Veda, Tam biêt, Zayt gesunt, Usale kahle, or in good ole American English… See ya.

OBAMA: Well, I think it is important that everyone learns English and that we have that process of binding ourselves together as a country. I think that’s very important.

I also think that every student should be learning a second language, because…

(APPLAUSE)

… you know, so, when you start getting into a debate about bilingual education, for example, now, I want to make sure that children who are coming out of Spanish-speaking households had the opportunity to learn and are not falling behind.

If bilingual education helps them do that, I want to give them the opportunity.

But I also want to make sure that English-speaking children are getting foreign languages because this world is becoming more interdependent and part of the process of America’s continued leadership in the world is going to be our capacity to communicate across boundaries, across borders, and that’s something frankly where we’ve fallen behind.

One of the failures of No Child Left Behind, a law that I think a lot of local and state officials have been troubled by, is that it is so narrowly focused on standardized tests that it has pushed out a lot of important learning that needs to take place.

(APPLAUSE)

And foreign languages is one of those areas that I think has been neglected. I want to put more resources into it.

Obama’s response was no more clear or direct.  ”I think it is important that everyone learns English and that we have that process of binding ourselves together as a country. I think that’s very important.”

These are two Presidential candidates who have made a political career out of manipulating the English language to frame the issues as a matter of convenience. Neither of them are committed to setting minimal language expectations for legal immigrants assimilating in America, let alone establish English as the official language.

 Any new immigration reform discussion should include an English proficiency requirement. 30 States have enacted legislation declaring English as the official language. It is time for Congress to step up and have the stugots to do the same.

 Any questions?

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By most estimates there are between 3000-8000 illegals entering this country every day. Undeniably the overwhelming majority enters from Mexico and is of Hispanic descent. 

 They come here for a better way of life and to support their familes. 

• The Federal Government spends approximately 12 Billion dollars per year on education for Illegals.
• The Federal Government spends another estimated 17 Billion dollars per year on education for the American born children of Illegals.
• The Federal Government spends 1 Billion dollars per year reimbursing hospitals for health-care costs directly related to illegals, which represents only a small fraction of the real cost. The rest is paid for by hospitals, passed on to tax payers through local tax levies and bond measures.
• It is estimated that thirty percent (30%) of the prisoners incarcerated in Federal prisons are illegals, at a cost of 3.3 million dollars PER DAY.
• There are between 12-20 million illegals in this country today. Census Bureau’s projection of population in 2050 because of mass immigration is 404 million at the mid range of estimates.
• Federal law mandates hospitals treat anyone, including illegals, requiring emergency care and prohibits a patient being denied treatment on the basis they cannot afford to pay.
• LA county spent about $350 million last year providing health care to illegal aliens, the Department of Health Services said. Massive health cuts, including the closure of 16 health clinics and possibly two hospitals, as well as slashes in services, could have been avoided if that money was available for other uses, officials said.
• Without illegal aliens Hospital emergency rooms across the southwest would have about 20-percent fewer patients, and there would be 183,000 fewer people without health insurance in the southwest region alone.
• Without illegal aliens OBGYN wards would have 24-percent fewer deliveries, maternity-ward deliveries in Los Angeles would drop by 40 percent and maternity billings to Medi-Cal would drop by 66 percent.
• Without illegal aliens Youth gangs would see their membership drop by 50 percent in many states, and child-molestation cases would drop by 34 percent and auto theft by 40 percent.
• Analysis of the latest Census data indicates that California’s illegal alien population is costing the state’s taxpayers more than $10.5 billion per year for education, medical care and incarceration. Deducting the estimated tax contributions from illegal aliens, the net cost to legal taxpayers is still nearly $9 billion.
• Based on estimates of the illegal alien population in California and documented costs of K-12 schooling, Californians spend approximately $7.7 billion annually on education for illegal alien children and for their U.S.-born siblings. Nearly 15 percent, or one out of every 7 of the K-12 public school students are children of illegal aliens
• Analysis of the latest Census data indicates that Arizona’s illegal alien population is costing the state’s taxpayers about $1.3 billion per year for education, medical care and incarceration
• Based on estimates of the illegal alien population in Arizona and documented costs of K-12 schooling, Arizonans spend approximately $820 million annually on education for illegal alien children and for their U.S.-born siblings.
• Colorado taxpayers would save almost $3,000,000 in one day if illegal aliens did not access any public services, because illegal aliens cost the state over $1 billion annually according to the best estimates.

These are the facts.

Congress and authorative Federal agencies have failed to enforce the laws which mandate apprehension, documentation and deportation of individuals in violation of Federal law and statutes. The INS has statutory authority under Title 8 USC Sec. 1357, and designated officers or employees of the Service have the power without warrant to interrogate any alien or person believed to be an alien as to their right to be or to remain in the United States. The INS simply ignores this obvious opportunity to remove illegal aliens from the United States. The official policy of the INS is to target employers of illegal aliens in an attempt to remove the reason why illegal aliens come to the United States.

Cowardly congress members pandering to special interest group voters have allowed progressive lobbyists and left wing community groups to influence a slippery slope policy in this country to the detriment of our sovereignty.

Just for clarification, immigration law violators are not immigrants. They are aliens who are in the United States in violation of law. There is a profound difference between individuals who legally apply for admission and fulfill all the requirements for admission, and those who decide to enter the United States in violation of law. Labeling them as immigrants misrepresents the issue and is skewed logic. Two important distinctions of aliens and immigrants are criminal and health background checks. Those entering the country legally are subject to a review of any criminal history and a health screen. This seems like a reasonable request and a good idea to me.

America welcomes more immigrants than any other country. But in keeping open that door of opportunity, we also must uphold the rule of law and enhance a fair immigration process. Don’t apologize for those breaking the law by blaming America for being a prosperous country offering opportunity. That opportunity was built on the backs of my grandparents and yours who came to this country legally, learned the language and were honored to assimilate as Americans. My grandfather didn’t ask for schools to teach in Italian. He didn’t ask for voting ballots written in Italian. He didn’t ask or expect to be able to “Press 2″ for an explanation in his native tongue. We are the most generous, caring, loving and humanitarian nation on the planet. We are being taken advantage of and it is time to stop the insanity.

What do you think?

We must humanely regain control of our borders and thereby preserve the value of one of the most sacred possessions of our people: American citizenship.” - Ronald Reagan

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It is time for Congress members in Washington DC to start behaving like members of Congress, instead of like star struck teen age girls at a boy band concert. This entire issue is repugnant. We are a country at war, we face major economic problems, immigration laws are not being enforced, health care costs are out of control, as is the price of fuel. Despite the significant domestic problems, lawmakers are spending time fawning over a baseball player.

Nothing was resolved. Baseball should handle its own disciplinary problems. Roger Clemens is behaving like a spoiled 13 year old. As a child when I lied to my parents I got my butt paddled with the wooden spoon and then I was grounded. It worked. Baseball should deliver its equivalent of a spanking and suspension.

Congress should have minded its own business, as it has plenty to attend to, and let Bud Selig discipline his own children. I resent that Bud Selig dumped his garbage on our door step. Tax payers are now ponying up to clean his mess.

I must admit that I did get a little thrill seeing Henry Waxman appointed to a job he can actually handle. If you recall, he was one of the 3 stooges that led the Democrat fight song about how they were going to balance the budget, end the war, and impeach Bush. His companions Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi have disappeared quietly into the night.

I defer to my earlier post about the OWL Party. “Out With Lunacy - In With Logic”

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Political attack ads are nothing new. In fact, politicians use negative campaign ads to attack opponents records, conduct and personal values in ways that are often times misleading or just simply dishonest. Television provides a powerful medium to frame messages that will influence voters decisions.  

According to strategic researcher Frank Luntz the goal in any advertising effort is to activate “mental imagery” — the mental images that the messages create in consumer minds — visual analysis is far more effective than auditory processing. Furthermore, scientific studies completed in the past decade using focus group methodology have proven that “how it is said” and “what is heard” is more important than “what is said.” For example, focus groups have alerted media consultants to the importance of “auditory stimuli” (i.e.,back  ground music and sounds) to increase attention, recall, and persuasiveness.

On the other hand, focus groups have occasional difficulty measuring the “sleeper effect,” a gradual acceptance of a particularly hostile stimulus. Americans generally have a negative reaction to negative advertising. However, the palpability, and so the persuasiveness, of the information often increases as the viewer sees it multiple times.

In one of the more controversial political ads, known as the Daisy Ad, Lyndon Johnson used the threat of nuclear war to scare voters from voting for Barry Goldwater in the 1964 Presidential Election.

Goldwater delivered a speech a few days before the ad aired, in which he said “extremism in the pursuit of liberty, is no vice”.

This was spun by the pundits to make people believe he was hawkish. It is relevant to note that in 1964 America was fighting a controversial war in Vietnam, while we were engaged in the cold war against Russia. The threat of using nuclear weapons was a very real concern. The ad aired only once before being pulled by the Johnson campaign, but is credited with being widely influential and a contributing factor to the outcome of the election.

Since then there have been several copycat versions of the ad. For example, in 1984, Walter Mondale’s presidential campaign used ads against Reagan with a similar theme to the Daisy ad. The advertisement showed children and then footage of ballistic missiles and nuclear explosions, with Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young singing ‘Teach Your Children Well’ as the soundtrack.

Other forms of attack ads are designed to assign blame. In the 1988 Dukakis vs Bush campaign the Republicans ran the famous Willie Horton ads in successful effort to cast Dukakis as being weak on crime.

Humor in political ads are more of a rarity, but score big points with me. In this ad, Christy Mihos is running for Governor of Massachusetts. The Big Dig is a 3.2 mile tunnel that when construction began in 1985 was estimated to cost $2.4 billion dollars. In 2006 with the project still not complete, the cost had soared to $14.5 billion. Very funny ad that gets right to the point without targeting anyone in particular.

This site  has a rich library of television political ads dating back to the 1950’s. If this topic is of interest to you I would suggest checking it out.

The next 8 months will be interesting. I am looking forward to seeing the new version of the swiftboat ads that will undoubtedly be used by both parties. Afterall, the end justifies the means in American politics.

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I dutifully went to my local polling place this morning to vote. I approached the 3-4 white haired women volunteers sitting behind the desk in the corner and proudly announced my arrival. I signed the register as instructed and waited for my ballot. The woman on the end said “you are undeclared, you can have either the Democratic ballot or the Independent ballot, but not the Republican ballot”.

Recognizing the confused expression on my face, she continued without me saying anything. “When you registered to vote you did not declare party affiliation. In California the GOP decided that they would only allow registered Republicans to vote for Republicans in the presidential primary election”.

WHAT???????!!!!!!!

According to California Republican Party spokesman Hector Barajas the California GOP decided to exclude unaffiliated voters in February in the belief that only registered Republicans should be able to select the presidential nominee.

Has the California GOP lost it’s freaking mind? When did R.P. McMurphy and Cheswick start running the milieu? Is this how the GOP grows its base and invites everyone to join them under the big tent?

I recently moved from San Diego County to Riverside County. When I registered to vote in Riverside County I decided not to declare my Republican Party affiliation in order to avoid receiving unwanted phone solicitations, spam email, and piles of recyclable postal mail. I consider myself to be pretty well informed. I closely follow the news and try to stay abreast of the topics and issues. I completely missed this one.

So, I’ll bet you’re wondering what I did. Since I was prohibited from voting for a Republican presidential candidate… I voted for Obama. Before you start spamming me with your hate mail, consider my logic. First, it would do no good to write in a Republican candidate since the Republicans will not accept a vote, even a write-in, from an undeclared. Second, the Libertarian (Independent) candidates who were available to me on the ballot are not an acceptable alternative. Third, it felt good to give the GOP a deserving finger wave from under my chin. Lastly, a vote for Obama is a vote against Hillary. Since I couldn’t vote for the person I want, I voted against the person I don’t want. Makes perfect sense to me. Now I have to wait for the general election to cleanse myself. Gawd, I feel so dirty.

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 Kurt Streeter writes a weekly sports column for the Los Angeles Times. In his January 31st column Streeter wrote about racious fan behavior during the Oregon/UCLA basketball game played at McArthur Court in Eugene last week.

Kevin Love, a student athlete from Oregon, elected to play college basketball at UCLA. My personal observation is ‘who can blame him’? Some of the folks in Oregon don’t agree. Small minded fans jeered him with disparaging chants, signs, and boo’s throughout the game. As reported by Streeter, the verbal abuse was often callous and disgusting. It was also reported that the loudest and longest chants were “homophobic”. Pat Kilkenny, Oregon’s AD has since apologized to UCLA and the Love family for the behavior of fans. This should be the end of the story.

Streeter wants to know why offending fans were not barred from the arena. He wants the NCAA and University officials across the country to “clamp down on spectators”. He believes those fans should be removed from the arena. In this case there were about 5000 chanting students and some non student participants.

Let’s be clear. Based on what I have read, the conduct of the fans in this instance was reprehensible. They should be ashamed. However, no one threw any foreign objects onto the court. Fans didn’t interfere with the game in anyway or engage in any physical violence between themselves or participants. No game rules were broken. No laws were infringed upon. Streeter claims the homophobic name calling falls under the laws of hate speech. Hogwash. This was used as a slur. An ugly one, no doubt, but just a slur without merit or truth. There is no reason to believe that Love is really gay. This was a case of college kids just being college kids. No harm no foul. Move on. Besides, how does this stack up against rap artists using the n-word? Why is that OK? Don’t we have more important social issues to worry about? I think Streeter is walking on a slippery slope.

I am no fan of the Oregon Ducks. I have been to Autzen Stadium to watch football games. The fans are bafoons. They are everything Streeter describes in his article. However, IQ and manners are not qualifications for the right to exercise free speech. I will defend the right of the obnoxious jerks wearing nothing but their tighty-whiteys, yellow capes, and green masks to say what they want, as often as they like, at whom ever they choose.

Kurt, the next time you want to suppress 1st Amendment rights, how about targeting knucklehead protesters who burn the American flag?

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About the best thing that can be said after watching the GOP debate hosted by CNN at the Reagan Library - be thankful you aren’t a Democrat. Not much of an endorsement, but better then the alternative.

Truthfully, I was embarrassed for Romney and McCain. At times it was hard to watch. Neither candidate appeared or acted Presidential while slinging grade school insults at one another. This will not endear either of them to those of us weary of the politcal acrimony, particularly in the Republican Party.

The lesson for Mike Huckabee is that less is more. CNN host Anderson Cooper’s attempt to marginalize him worked in Huckabee’s favor in my opinion. When Huckabee did have the opportunity to respond, his comments were mostly above the fray and on point. I don’t think he can win the nomination, but of the four remaining candidates he is the one that offered a distinction from the rhetoric and injected honor in the debate. Unfortunately for him I believe the die are cast and this has now become a two horse race. Unfortunately for us, the two remaining horses appear to have the DNA of a jackass.

Fellow citizens - we are screwed. There isn’t a single candidate in either party that we can be proud to call Commander in Chief. This can’t possibly be the best America has to offer.

Where is Newt Gingrich when we need him?

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I lived in a rural area of northwest Washington most of my life. The political mood of the state for as long as I lived there favored Democrats. The population center is King County (where Seattle is located), which carried that majority. Outside of King County the Republican crowd is spread north and east to the Idaho border. So when elections rolled around King County residents greatly influenced the outcome. In the mid 1970’s voters from areas outside of King County were disgusted by the relatively small Seattle region determing election results for the entire state.

In 1976 Dixie Lee Ray (Democrat) was elected Governor of the State of Washington by defeating Republican John Spellman. (Spellman would be elected the following term). She was a polarizing figure at a time of growing discontent. Villified for her moderately conservative views on taxes and environmental protection, Dixe Lee Ray served only one term.

Prior to the 1976 elections a small group of friends and associates formed an alternative political party. They called themselves the OWL Party - “Out with Logic; In With Lunacy”. The campaign slogan found on many buttons and signs mockingly said “Vote The Rascals Out”. I still have one of the buttons. They actually had candidates appear in the official voters pamphlet for Govenor, Attorney General and Secretary of State among others.

I am reminded of them as I watch the sometimes absurd political process at work right now. Oh how I wish “Bunco” Bob Kelly and Jack “The Ripoff” Lemon were running for office today. A little levity to illustrate our self absorbed human nature.

So there you have it. A very brief trip down memory lane on life in the State of Washington.

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The Clinton’s are one of the most intriguing stories in the history of American Politics. No other husband and wife have individually risen to the highest ranking office in the country as Hillary aspires to do in the footsteps of her husband.

A wise man once said if you stand for everything you stand for nothing. The Clintons have mastered the art of framing their position on issues as they shift from the uber liberal euroview policies during the Whitehouse years to a transparently formed centrist position. Matter and anti-matter can’t coexist peacefully very long without exploding. The Clintons are playing a dangerous shell game with voters that I believe will deeply harm the Democratic Party. They do so because they believe it serves their selfish interests and promotes their personal aspirations. I am no fan of the liberal left, but I am concerned about the integrity of American politics. Many Democrats are equally disgusted by the conduct of Bill and Hillary in recent presidential campaigning. Just a few months ago it seemed a foregone conclusion that the Democratic Nominee would win the Whitehouse and that nominee would be Hillary.

Because of the Clintons collective arrogance and their ill advised belief that ‘the end justifies the means’ the Republicans are back in play. Too bad for the Dems. Good news for the Reps.

The Clinton’s are disingenuous. They wouldn’t recognize truth if it were tattooed on the back of their hand. Extreme liberalism is the root cause of their failing strategy and Hillary is one of the high priests of that pagan religion. They know it would be impossible for her to win the Presidency on the socialist principles embedded under the veneer skin of their life’s work.

The Clintons teflon coating and considerable politcal aptitude has protected them from the scandalous events of the 1990’s including Travelgate, Filegate, Pardongate, Ron Brown, Vince Foster, Sandy Berger, Monica Lewinsky et al, and Whitewater.

Can you imagine Bill Clinton back in the Whitehouse with discretionary time on his hands?

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