I've had it.

[Joe Hadenuf]

Excellent post!

[kevao]

I just can't understand you people who think a sovereign country can't survive with porous borders and unrestricted, unchecked illegal immigration. Sure, maybe a terrorist or two will slip in through our open borders; and, yes, illegal aliens comprise 28% of our prison population. But just think of all the great benefits we reap by having 350,000 illegals per year swamp our health care and public education systems.

[ought-six]

"Or do we leave them as fugitives to hide and become criminals and push drugs and steal to eat from you and me, and grow a subculture that hates us, etc. Which of those alternative is best for us in the long run?"

We stop them at the border, with force if necessary. That will give their compadres that are already here something to think about. And what is Mexico going to do about it? Fight us?

[Conspiracy Guy]

Yes. There is a BP station on a busy street near an affluent neighborhood that looks like a soccer game getting ready to start. I'd like to drive up in an INS van and watch em scatter. No they wouldn't scatter they would probably come over and try to pay the hush money.

[Conspiracy Guy]

It is my one sore spot with GWB.

[Tiffany]

1) They are undocumented immigrants, not illegal aliens. They have a legal right to be here, and the borders should be opened up.

2) They were here first, so they have more right to work here, receive aid, etc., than any of you.

3) They do help the economy. In fact, our economy has tanked since so many immigrants have been kept out. Thank God Bush is not totally in line with you on this subject.

4) What I'm reading on this thread is pure racism and a latent hatred of those of Latino descent, and if you don't watch it I'm going to hit the abuse button.

5) Any questions?!?

[johnb838]

My Texas Senators have been real nice about sending replys even when we disagree.

I've been saying for a long time that the illegals have aced the teenagers out of the labor market. I think it is real easy to say they wouldn't want the jobs anyway when they are not available to them to find out.

[johnb838]

I'd vote for Tancredo in the primary to put some pressure on W. I really like W and will definitely be voting for another term for him but he needs to feel the pressure from the base or he will triangulate too much.

[Tiffany]

1) They are undocumented immigrants, not illegal aliens. They have a legal right to be here, and the borders should be opened up.

2) They were here first, so they have more right to work here, receive aid, etc., than any of you.

3) They do help the economy. In fact, our economy has tanked since so many immigrants have been kept out. Thank God Bush is not totally in line with you on this subject.

4) What I'm reading on this thread is pure racism and a latent hatred of those of Latino descent, and if you don't watch it I'm going to hit the abuse button.

5) Any questions?!?

[Joe Hadenuf]

I just can't understand you people who think a sovereign country can't survive with porous borders and unrestricted, unchecked illegal immigration. Sure, maybe a terrorist or two will slip in through our open borders; and, yes, illegal aliens comprise 28% of our prison population. But just think of all the great benefits we reap by having 350,000 illegals per year swamp our health care and public education systems.

This is all so pathetic. Give this another couple of years, and the trouble waiting down the road is going to be right in our face.......

[Scothia]

Why are they so important to President Bush in '04? They can't vote (legally), and those who do will likely vote democrat (more than once). I don't understand why they are important to him. Can you elaborate on this?

Simple. Latinos are the fastest-growing minority demographic in the US. The Republicans are courting the Hispanic vote like Romeo after Juliet. They've made great headway with the Cubans in Florida, and are now looking to break into the Mexican mainstream as well. No way in Hades are they gonna do anything to rock this boat.

I live in Salinas, CA, part of the 38% non-Hispanic minority. A while back I was involved in a minor traffic accident, and the officer who responded said he was so amazed that the two parties actually called the police that he let us both go without tickets (we each deserved one.) He went on to say that about 80% of the traffic accidents in Monterey County are caused by undocumented drivers who just split before police arrive.

Our apartment building, in a very nice neighborhood only three blocks from the police station, just got tagged again, which means the other gang--both Mexican, of course--will be by to try to leave their mark as well. It's a constant problem. They paint, we call the city Graffiti Abatement team who remove it, they paint again. I'm really getting sick of this place.

[lonestar]

What bugs me most are the telemarketers whose accents are so bad I can't understand why they're interrupting me.

[Joe Hadenuf]

LOL!

[Abe Froman]

Spreading?? Bad in Texas?

I live in Minnesota, and when I got a resturant job as a senior in high school, nearly every one of the kitchen workers was Mexican except for the head cook. That was 10 years ago. In Minnesota, Mexicans have been flooding the fast-food industry for so long that they have moved into management. The local Wendy's and Taco Bell, Boston Market, and Burger King all have Latino managers.

It still isn't hard for a teenager to find a job however. My personal take on why it's hard to find a suburban American teen at McDonald's these days: kids don't want to go to work with several people with whom it's difficult to communicate, are non-peers, and have a different agenda in life. Suburban teens and semi-immigrant Mexican workers have little in common. Teens want to work where it's popular and friendly to work, and where they will be in contact with people who understand them and their culture. Popular places for teens to work now? (I volunteer with high-schoolers at my church) Places such as D'Amico and Sons, Caribou, Starbucks, or any other coffee shop, the local 9-hole course or golf dome, Circuit City, etc....places where they will talk to, help, and work with others of their own kind. I don't neccessarily condone this mild form of xeno-centrism, but I certainly understand it. I would want to work with my friends too.

[Tiffany]

It's the federal governments responsibility to protect our borders and our sovereignty.

I hope you're not serious. The borders should be open.

[EBUCK]

Gotta be some sort of a joker right? Real funny that clap-trap you wrote...

[Tiffany]

What's so funny?

[Reaganwuzthebest]

I hope you're not serious. The borders should be open.

You mean you didn't forget your sarcasm tag?

[BeerSwillr]

Thanks. I'll see if I can find it at my local Barnes&Noble

[ndafill]

They are. That's the problem.