Follow Through

Our Georgia Senators both voted against cloture this week, this after public pressure for them to retreat from the bill they co-sponsored. It is encouraging to see democracy in action and elected officials responsive to the will of their constituency. These Senator's have written a letter to the President asking for emergency funding that would provide resources for building physical barriers to illegal immigration. This is funding for facility that has already been approved by legislation. The following letter is copied from Senator Isakson's weekly newsletter.

Dear Mr. President:

Although the Senate’s effort to reform our nation’s immigration laws through the Secure Borders, Economic Opportunity and Immigration Reform Act of 2007 is stalled, illegal immigration remains our nation’s number one domestic issue. We therefore believe it is incumbent upon us and our colleagues to tackle this issue and not leave this problem for future generations to solve.

As we travel around Georgia and continue to hear from our constituents, the message from a majority of Georgians is that they have no trust that the United States Government will enforce the laws contained in this new legislation and secure the border first. This lack of trust is rooted in the mistakes made in 1986 and the continued chaos surrounding our immigration laws. Understandably, the lack of credibility the federal government has on this issue gives merit to the skepticism of many about future immigration reform.

We believe the way to build greater support for immigration reform in the United States Senate and among the American public is to regain the trust in the ability of the federal government to responsibly administer immigration programs and enforce immigration laws. There is bipartisan agreement that we need to secure our borders first, and we believe this approach will serve as a platform towards addressing the other issues surrounding immigration reform.

To that end, we believe that you and your administration could alleviate many of the fears of our constituents by calling for an emergency supplemental bill to fully fund the border and interior security initiatives contained in legislation currently pending in the Senate, as well as any outstanding existing authorizations. Such a move would show your commitment to securing the border first and to stopping the flow of illegal immigrants and drugs into our nation. It will also work towards restoring the credibility of the federal government on this critical issue.

We urge you to carefully consider this request, and thank you for the opportunity to express the views of the people of Georgia on this matter.

Sincerely,

Saxby Chambliss, United States Senator

Johnny Isakson, United States Senator

Keep pressure on your Senators and Representatives, insisting that borders be protected so that immigration is controlled. Only after this is addressed should internal issues be considered.

WE WAS ROBBED!

Seventy-five years ago today, in 1932, Max Schmeling lost a title fight rematch in New York by decision to Jack Sharkey, prompting Schmeling's manager, Joe Jacobs, to make his famous complaint.

Harry Reid Wins the Davis Cup

Harry Reid, Democrat Senate majority leader, wins the A** H*** of the Week Award for comments made on Thursday 14-June.

Reid said that Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, who took command in Iraq four months ago,

"isn't in touch with what's going on in Baghdad."

From the White House Tony Snow responded by attacking Reid.

"At a time of war, for a leader of a party that says it supports the military, it seems outrageous to be issuing slanders toward the chairman of the Joint Chiefs and also the man who's responsible for the bulk of military operations in Iraq,"

Thank you Mr. Snow!

• For those of you familiar with GOPU, the Davis Cup title is named for the classically inappropriate Rob V. Davis.

A Man Who Should Know

Nouri Al-Maliki is the prime minister of Iraq and has written this editorial posted on the Wall Street Journal's web site.
Much is written in state side media condemning the purpose and effectiveness of our mission in Iraq. Often this is based on political affiliation not pragmatic observation. To doubt Mr. Maliki's knowledge and expectations is illogical. This is a man who represents the majority of his country's population and he says:

Our message has been the same to one and all: We will not permit Iraq to be a battleground for other powers. In the contests and ambitions swirling around Iraq, we are neutral and dedicated to our country's right to prosperity and a new life, inspired by a memory of a time when Baghdad was--as Washington is today--a beacon of enlightenment on which others gazed with admiration. We have come to believe, as Americans who founded your country once believed, that freedom is a precious inheritance. It is never cheap but the price is worth paying if we are to rescue our country.

Our President Bush has been the lightening rod for anti-war sentiment. This would be the case whether the war was justified or not. There is, and always has been, a free speaking portion of citizens that oppose any war at all costs. The prime minister of Iraq's love and appreciation for the efforts being made on his country's behalf should carry more bearing and respect than that of peripheral media representatives or brethren anti-war demonstrators. The purpose is sound, people are being saved by this war.

8 Afghan Police Officers Killed In `Friendly Fire'

This headline from AP would suggest yet another error by American troops.
However, in the story itself is the explanation:

Mistaking each other for the enemy, Afghan police fired four dozen grenades and U.S.-led coalition troops fought back with helicopter gunships in a fierce battle that left eight Afghans dead before dawn Tuesday

This was how I heard hooks for the national newscasts as well. The inference being, we screwed up again. The troops defended themselves after being attached with 48 RPG's. This is unfortunate for the Afghan police.

Thurgood Marshall

Forty years ago today President Lyndon Johnson nominated then Solicitor-General Thurgood Marshall for the Supreme Court.
Up to that point Marshall was best known for successfully arguing before the Supreme Court in the civil rights victory in Brown versus Board of Education.
His original name was Thoroughgood.
Born in Baltimore on July 2, 1908.
Died in Bethesda on January 24, 1993.

Immigration Bill Down the Toilet

Like it should.
Many citizens of the United States believe that jumping the border is a punishable offense. Furthermore the of illegal aliens is to remain undocumented and avoid becoming responsible for paying income taxes. Why should we extend medical and social benefits to a individual that intentionally avoids contribution those same benefit systems.
Both Georgia senators had planned to vote Yes on cloture and changed their position to No after significant pressure from the public. Senator Specter, a Republican supporter said:

“It is indispensable to have a guest-worker program to take care of the needs of the economy, if we don’t, we will just encounter more people coming over illegally.”

This is just the kind of logic you can expect from a RINO senator. Because we need to have cheap labor we should have a guest worker policy, and because it is too hard for the government to enforce our laws, we should grandfather those illegal aliens so they will no longer remain in example of our government's unwillingness to do its distasteful responsibility. To extend eventual citizenship to aliens who are NOT our guests effectively rewards illegal behaviour.
Like the President it is the Senate's primary responsibility to defend its citizens, not pass crappy bills that are more about avoiding the label "bigot".

Ty's Graduation

The years just fly by, full of proud and loving moments.