Trent Lott enters dangerous territory

Trent Lott opened his mouth and stepped on very dangerous territory with these statements:

The Republican whip, Trent Lott of Mississippi, who supports the bill, said: “Talk radio is running America. We have to deal with that problem.”

At some point, Mr. Lott said, Senate Republican leaders may try to rein in “younger guys who are huffing and puffing against the bill.” (NYT)

A.C. at Fore Left! responds to Lott's remarks:

What would he recommend, breaking out the thumbscrews? My comment--what a colossal jerk turd. Even if this was taken out of context (it was in the New York Times) it still represents the stink off the pile--one of those truthy moments that sometimes winds up in the public discourse, something apparently Lott doesn't believe in anymore. Hearts and minds, Senator.

Conservative Common Man responds to Lott:

I listen to talk radio whenever I get the opportunity. I hope to do see even though Senator Trent Lott thinks I shouldn’t. I heard Mike Church talking about the eleven grievances from the original Declaration Of Independence that he believes apply today. Check it out here:

Mike Church’s Re-Declaration of Independence

Foghorn Leghorn (as Laura Ingraham refers to Trent Lott) wants to join Lindsay Graham in shutting the “loud people” up on this issue of illegal immigration. We, the people are too stupid to understand the intricacies of cutting back room deals with Tec Kennedy in order for government to accomplish anything. Talk radio connects with people and our senators can’t have the people involved.

I say we, the people have been galvanized by this most recent and most obvious act of tyranny by the government that has grown into an out of control monster. We, the people are letting our voices be heard in a way I didn’t know would be possible. Talk radio, blogs, and alternative media provide channels of information and sharing of thought that ensures everyone can be heard. (more)

A.C. on immigration:

It makes the most sense to kick this issue into the 2008 presidential debate. The politicos would rather eat dog poop, which is even more reason. In the meantime let them show us what a whole year of border enforcement looks like, just a crackdown on illegals who've committed crimes in this country would do fine [snip]

Americans are not grotesquely stupid. We know this is a representative government. And we know that issues aren't always decided via majority rule. But this issue really is a no-brainer. If Congress wants our support on comprehensive reform they need to earn it. (more)

I agree with A.C. Let's see some improvements at securing the border before anything else gets done. At to Trent Lott's statements, big mistake on his part. CNN had an article acknowledging the power of the blogs in stalling the recent immigration bill. However, that article has since been removed. Accident? Probably not.

Others:
Will our youth be affected?, J.C. Cordray

**This was a production of The Coalition Against Illegal Immigration (CAII). If you would like to participate, please go to the above link to learn more. Afterwards, email stiknstein-at-gmail-dot-com and let us know at what level you would like to participate.

Comments

[Debbie]

Jason, you are correct. This was a stupid, unthinking statement on Lott's part. Reid himself is listening to the Far Left bloggers. Bloggers and talk radio make a difference, they are part of America's free speech. We are huge in numbers and can make things happen, or stop them from happening in the case of the immigration bill.

Lott is making an a$$ of himself.

[Jason Bootie]

Great post. Next they will be crying that ALL "RIGHT" blogs should be done away with as well. Like I say and Thomas if you listen to Rush like I do and also Hannity. The left wing wackos call into their shows to argue points all the time. Well hello that means that yes even the lefties are listening to it and I think that scares the Liberals more then anything because they know losing just one person every so often due to the bi-partisan likings of Rush and Sean, that they will be doomed. Have a great day.

God Bless,
Jason

[Stormwarning]

Good points Debbie. I have to add a few more points and clarifications to my ideas and then submit them to Congress...HA!

The people in the pipeline aren't affected by my 10-point program though.

As for ICE, it, like much of DHS is a broken agency that needs to be revamped. I believe that its a new agency largely because it is part State Dept., part Justice, part Immigration, and part IC.

Its also not a short-term program. But the intent is to create a program that addresses both the security and economic aspects of immigration, legal and illegal. Further, accomplishing number 1, in and of itself, does not and will not solve the long term problem that we face.

One further comment is that the Mexican government must recognize that it has to revolutionize its economic and social policies to stem the flow of illegals in the first place. My 10-points however, are also there to prevent OTMs from entering the country.

[Debbie]

Stormwarning, I'm not sure about a new government agency. What do we have ICE for? That may create more confusion, maybe not.

If we could accomplish #1, we wouldn't have the rest of the debate, ha.

I like most of your suggestions. Border security first, then talk about the rest.

What about all the folks that have been waiting up to 10 years to enter the country legally? Would you make some kind of provision for them?

[Stormwarning]

So lets clarify. Anyone with any imagination sees these compromise immigration bills as providing amnesty. It remains a simple equation: illegal will always mean illegal. On my day long sojourn yesterday, my last meeting was with a prospective future associate in a security think tank. He cautioned me against the building of a physical wall on the border since in his opinion there were larger issues that needed to be addressed, and then asked me what I thought should be done. Here is what I said to him:

1) close the border to all immigration for a measured (pre-determined) period of time;

2) hunt down, seek out and detain all illegal aliens...yes I know how impractical this is and then perform immediate background checks to determine desirability;

3) deport all undesirables;

4) ensure "bullet-proof" identity documents (any significant improvement to what currently exists, even if not bullet-proof, is essential);

5) re-open borders once numbers 1-4 have been accomplished;

6) establish strict "application for entry" requirements that will start with a waiting period (probably six months unless a "candidate" is specifically sponsored by a known entity like a Fortune 100 company). Perform background checks to ensure desirability.

7) Establish a probationary period during which all immigrants are required to report to a new Federal Agency (yup, I would want to see another agency, maybe a component of the Department of Homeland Security);

8) no second chances (if a probationary immigrant breaks a law - at least laws of predetermined seriousness), deport, deport, deport. If it is determined that a probationary immigrant is consorting with undesirables (including suspected terrorists or terrorist suspects), deport, deport, deport.

9) "guest workers" must continue to work and prove their continuing status of employment..."guest workers" must pay taxes and yet, accept that there are no political rights afforded to them until they actually become "conditional citizens."

10) allow probationary citizens and guest workers to qualify for citizenship after a set waiting period. Such citizenship rights can be forfeited for violation of the rules as set forth.

Deport anyone who doesn't abide by the rules as set forth.

NOTE: This comment was earlier posted on my blog, "One Citizen's 10-Point Plan for Immigration Reform."

[Thomas Hamilton]

Boy, the traitors are really coming out of the woodwork over this immigration issue. Looks like most of the Dems and a nauseatingly large number of Republicans fall into this category.

Did it ever dawn on Trent Lott that maybe grass roots Americans are the ones that listen to talk radio? I enjoy listening to Rush. Rush states that passage of the amnesty bill will be the undoing of the Republican party, and rightly so as far as I'm concerned.

Don't tell me it's not amnesty. Only a lunkhead liberal or a rino might really believe that.

If the Republicans let this amnesty bill pass to the president's desk, then they deserve to lose, every damned one of them.

Too bad the country will go down in flames in the hands of the Democrats.

I guess us "younger guys" better keep huffing and puffing if we know what's good for us.