Border leaders call out Chertoff

The Monitor ^ | December 20, 2007 | James Osborne

[SwinneySwitch]

McALLEN — The Texas Border Coalition — the anti-border fence group made up of elected officials along the Texas-Mexico border — is demanding the U.S. Department of Homeland Security meet with local leaders in light of the appropriations bill Congress passed Wednesday.

“The consultation we’ve been having with them up until now, it’s just been smoke and mirrors,” said coalition Chairman Chad Foster, the mayor of Eagle Pass.

“Now, we’re getting the Texas congressional delegation involved to make sure DHS is sincere when they sit down.”

The border coalition has been trying to get DHS to listen to alternatives to a physical border fence ever since the project became public earlier this year.

Now, mayors and county judges are banking on language within the $556 billion spending bill, which President Bush is expected to sign shortly. It states the agency must meet with “local governments, Indian tribes and property owners in the United States to minimize the impact on the environment, culture, commerce and quality of life for the communities and residents located near sites which such funding is to be constructed.”

Foster said he believed that to be a stronger mandate to Chertoff than what previous Congressional legislation had outlined.

“It gives him some discretion that he has not perceived he had in the past,” Foster said.

Local leaders have been urging DHS to incorporate the border fence into the levee system that runs along the Rio Grande, a proposal the agency denied in its recent environmental assessment. This week, Hidalgo County officials expressed confidence the federal government would revisit the plan.

On Thursday, a DHS spokeswoman provided the following statement regarding the border coalition letter.

“We value the input of local officials and other stakeholders when it comes to border infrastructure, and we go to great lengths to listen to their perspective,” the statement read.

“But we're ultimately going to rely on the Border Patrol to tell us what type of fencing, technology or other infrastructure they need and where they need it.” ____ James Osborne covers McAllen and general assignments for The Monitor. You can reach him at (956) 683-4428.

[Savage Beast]

LOL! Well--we can't know everything--maybe almost everything--no matter how smart and well educated we might be.

I love the dictionary/thesaurus online. It's quick and easy. The etymology, especially, allows exquisite precision.

[nathanbedford]

I use Word Web but I can't get no E-ty-mology. Which one gives good etymology?

[Savage Beast]

There's a dictionary that came with Microsoft Word on this computer. It's good.

Here's an example:

trenchant
trench·ant (trénchənt)
adj

1. incisive: direct, incisive, and deliberately hurtful
trenchant criticism

2. energetic: effective and relevant in the pursuit or achievement of a goal trenchant opinions

[14th century. From Old French , “cutting,” formed from trenchier (see trench).]

-trench·an·cy, n
-trench·ant·ly, adv

Encarta ® World English Dictionary © & (P) 1998-2004 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

The derivation of trenchant from the French word for to cut makes its meaning more precise for me.

There's also a thesaurus that is accessed by a click. Here's an example:

trenchant (adj)

incisive, cutting, sharp, biting, acerbic, severe, scathing, forceful, direct, forthright, caustic, penetrating

antonym: mild

Encarta ® World English Dictionary © & (P) 1998-2004 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

I refer to this dictionary/thesaurus a lot. It helps me find the mot juste, and it's very easy.

I get frustrated when I can't think of just the right word. I like to have the dictionary/thesaurus just one click away.

Merry Christmas! ~S

[Savage Beast]

Somehow the copy got messed up in the paste (post 23). But you get the idea. ~S

[Perchant]

Local leaders have been urging DHS to incorporate the border fence into the levee system that runs along the Rio Grande, a proposal the agency denied in its recent environmental assessment.

Okay, why isn't the fence being built on the levee? It looks to me like the government is trying to create opposition.

[nathanbedford]

Thanks for the tip.

For just plain definitions, I recommend Word Web, a free download which enables you with merely the right click of your mouse to bring up both definitions and synonyms.

[Rosemont]

This administration just does not want to enforce the border.