Posted on 04/22/2006 5:13:26 AM PDT by governsleastgovernsbest
by Mark Finkelstein on April 22, 2006 - 07:56. When Ellen Ratner went a couple weeks without any major liberal loopiness, one wondered whether perhaps Jim Pinkerton was having a salubrious effect on her. But things got back to normal this morning when Ratner let Pinkerton goad her into boasting that she supports "open immigration."
The opening topic on today's 'Long & the Short of It' segment on Fox & Friends Weekend dealt with Howard Dean's recent claim that job # 1 in his view is tougher border security.
Pinkerton smelled politics, describing Dean as "somebody who is reading the polls. . . I know for a fact Americans by a majority of three or four to one are in favor of tighter border security. So I think Dean is, as it were, getting on the right train going the right direction about tougher border security. I hope he can now bring along Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi."
Ratner seemed to share Pinkerton's take: "Look, everybody will talk about tougher border security. That's what people want to talk about now. Whether it can be accomplished is a whole other issue but it will be a campaign issue in 2006."
That's when Pinkerton baited his hook. Addressing host Kiran Chetry [whose beautiful back-from-maternity-leave photo I am legally obliged to display], he slyly said:
"Kiran, in the last month or so Ellen has done a terrible job representing the far left on this immigration issue which proves to me how powerful it is. The old issue was unlimited border let everyone in. The new issue is 'get tough, build a wall'. We are getting there. I sense enormous progress. Politics do work."
Ratner went for the bait like a ravenous bluefish hitting a, well, whatever it is they hit when they're running in Long Island Sound.
"I'm in favor of open immigration, Jim!" she exclaimed. OK, then, Ellen, your far-left credentials have been renewed - at least for the time being.
Talk then turned to the 2008 presidential sweepstakes, and Kiran opened with this rather dismissive description of John Kerry's ambitions: "Let me ask about John Kerry - his statements leading some of us to think he is not, you know, giving up for 2008."
If Kiran seemed less than moved at the prospect of a Kerry candidacy, the conservative Pinkerton was positively giddy: "I hope he feels the urge to run for president. He is the worst candidate since George McGovern. I can't believe [Democrats] are that dumb."
Invited by Kiran to hop aboard the Kerry love train, Ellen allowed that "what I want is probably Senator Feingold" but did make it clear that she would "throw my weight in back of anybody that I think can win that nomination."
Pinkerton was quick to take 'yes' for an answer: "I join with Ellen in supporting Kerry for the Democrat nomination!"
Claimed Ratner: "I think there are a lot of great candidates and I bet the Democrats come up with somebody really good this time, Jim and Democrats will win the White House in 2008. I know that will keep you up at night."
Pinkerton closed with with what is surely in the minds of many Democrats and Republicans alike: "I don't think they would win with Kerry." Hmm, unless this is some truly Machiavellian maneuvering on Pinkerton's part, egging Dems into discarding Kerry in favor of the ultimately-more-vulnerable Hillary?
Finkelstein lives in the liberal haven of Ithaca, NY, where he hosts the award-winning public-access show 'Right Angle'. Contact him at: mark@gunhill.net
Fox & Friends Weekend/NewsBusters open-immigration ping to the Today show list.
"Open Immigration" is about as bad an idea as "Ratner Open Mouth".
In other words, Ratner believes that the US should cease to exist as a sovereign nation.
Liberals will BURY this country if they come to power.
Doesn't every liberal socialist believe in that as their ultimate goal?
They may just get it if Specter/Graham /Mccain have their way and pass amnesty.
Well, thankfully for us most of them have very big mouths.
True, but they often don't get this close to coming right out and saying it.
That's nothing! On the TV show I host, a Cornell radical this week came out in favor not only of open borders, but for:
1. letting immigrants become citizens and having the right to vote from day one of their arrival;
2. letting people all around the world vote in US elections - literally setting up voting booths in foreign countries for foreigners to vote in our elections;and
3. his piece de resistance was opposition to screening new immigrants for criminal history or even . . . for being active members of Al Qaeda!!
I heard her..She is a Feingold backer!!..I laughed at that one..but then she is a looney leftist.
Kerry cannot win the nomination. That is my opinion. He is just too boring and the Vietnam vets are not going away. His record of treason will not be forgotten.
The whole nation will be subjected to the "chalk screeching on a blackboard" dreadful campaign voice of Hillary.
Hillary has her coffers loaded.
I have success hooking blues with bucktails or minnies.
I think she's more a flounder or a tautog than a blue.
Wow. Well, it's not called the City of Evil fer nuthin'.
I was hoping we'd have an angling expert out there - thanks for the info!!
Unfortunately the immigration issue has been hijacked by the extreme left and right and nothing will get done, except filling up the coffers of such groups as move on and tancredo's and bay buchanan's PAC.
Conservatives could have coalesced behind the Kyl/Cornyn proposal, but some are more interested in building a neo Berlin wall with mines and such.
Ellen (loopy) Ratner has also said she 'loves' McCain.
"Conservatives could have coalesced behind the Kyl/Cornyn proposal, but some are more interested in building a neo Berlin wall with mines and such."
What a moron you are. The Berlin Wall kept people in, not out.
Every nation has the right to sovereign borders. If a wall is necessary, so be it. Build it and then let immigrants apply LEGALLY to enter the country.
"You talkin' 'bout me????"
A few points for the logically challenged:
1) Conservatives are the far right.
2) Any workable solution to the illegal immigration problem will necessitate some type of physical barrier.
3) It's liberals in the Senate and the Executive Branch who are acting in an obstructionist manner (Tancredo's house bill passed by a very wide margin).
4) Had it not been for Tancredo's efforts, this issue would not have been addressed at all by the current body of congress. 5) Things are getting done, and the ball is rolling (enforcement is already moving ahead somewhat)... just not in the leftward direction you would desire.
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