Posted on 06/11/2007 2:31:17 AM PDT by GOP_Raider
WASHINGTON — Flying home to Idaho on Friday, fresh from a stalled immigration debate in the Senate, Larry Craig was reminded of the old political adage, "If you have to go home and explain yourself, then maybe you shouldn't do it."
"Then there's the other side," he continued. "There are times when you stand up and lead because there's a national problem."
Craig, alone among his Idaho colleagues in backing a controversial deal on immigration, is counting on folks back home to see him as a practical problem-solver, not an apologist for illegal immigrants.
--snip--
"It's such a tough political issue because we've got people on either side of it," said John Thompson of the Idaho Farm Bureau. "We have people who think they all need to be rounded up and taken out. But all the same, when you've got crops, you need the harvest. We need the workers."
Craig, who is considering running for a fourth term next year, has championed the cause of the state's growers, sparking criticism from groups opposed to illegal immigration as well from his leading opponent, former Democratic Congressman Larry LaRocco.
"This is not a popular position he has taken," said Thompson.
The state's growers say they understand people's sensitivities on immigration. But they also believe that, despite the latest setback in Congress, they have made progress in gaining support for at least the agriculture portions of the bill.
"We all come to the dinner table, but we don't take that next step and say, ‘Geez, where does this food come from, and who is involved?'" said Kelly Henggeler, a fourth-generation apple grower from Fruitland.
(Excerpt) Read more at idahostatesman.com ...
Or as a "sellout to foreign invaders".
Pick yer own or step up to modern times and buy one of them new-fangled machines that harvest them apples real good. What a self-serving, selfish and ignorant person.
You are representing Idaho not California there Craig you moron.
If Americans don’t dump ALL the politicians that vote for this amnesty b.s. then they deserve what they get.
As for the politicians, they deserve what they get for supporting this abomination. Hopefully they fear for their jobs and safety.
Really??? Got a link to a manufacturer???
I'm as opposed to illegal immigration as anyone, but touting imaginary solutions ain't gonna cut it.
The "ag problem" is solvable by a REAL "temporary guest worker program". But any such solution must be one with REAL TEETH to assure that they GO HOME and doesn't offer any "path to citizenship".
Just say NO to Amnesty!! Keep calling!! It’s NOT OVER!!
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White House comments: (202) 456-1111
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is it pronounced Cray-POE
or is it Crap-o.
I would have changed it either way.
You are correct. The entire trouble with the senate shamnesty bill is that it begins with the assumption that 12 or 15 or 20 million or more illegal aliens have a right to be here and are eligible for immediate Z-visas and citizenship tracks.
There is no attempt to separate the desire-ables from the undesirables. What needs to be done are three things:
Countries unwilling to take back their undesirables in category #1 would be ineligible for visas in category #2. Just see how fast Mexico would be willing to take back category #1s once they see other countries which are lining up for category #2 slots.
Cray-Po.
(Although “Crap-O” wouldn’t offend us any at this point.)
Why are politicians like diapers?
Because, they need to be changed frequently, or they start to stink.
NO person who has come here in violation of our laws should EVER be, or become, eligible for citizenship, as a result of that action.
The absolute maximum amnesty for those types should be permanent residency (with NO associated path the citizenship). The best they are eligible for is that their children (if born here) will be eligible. I'd even go so far as to allow some mechanism for children not born here to become citizens, as they weren't the responsible parties in breaking our laws.
"IF" they go home, get in line with the regular LEGAL immigrants, and go through the process, THEN they can become citizens.
If this immigration bill does get re-introduced and passed, the Republican leadership will have hell to pay. This is not something you force on the majority of voters. These people seem to forget what their job is: to represent the voters — not force unwanted laws on the public for the benefit of a few, at the expense of the majority.
Gee, I really hope that’s a load of — well — CRAPO!
True, but why should someone work on an apple harvesting machine (or any other such modern marvel) when farmers can get away with hiring illegals for 4-5 bucks an hour? Especially when they can third-party the costs of their drunken brawls (hospital and law enforcement), and overbreeding (schools and medical care) onto taxpayers in other communities?
Get rid of the magnet for illegals, and the technical solutions to agriculture problems are going to appear. We don't farm like we used to a hundred years ago, do we?
It would have only taken a moment for you to find out that there are machines which attach to the trees and shake out the fruit.
Let’s just say that Crapo’s not making - or keeping - a lot of friends around here.
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