First thoughts

Posted: Friday, May 18, 2007 9:10 AM by Mark Murray
Filed Under: First Thoughts

From Chuck Todd and Mark Murray
*** Border Games: Yesterday's Senate agreement on immigration throws the issue back into the center of the political ring, especially on the GOP side. Immigration is to the Republican base what Iraq is to the Democratic one. But the key difference is that unlike the Democrats on Iraq, the GOP candidates are split on immigration. There are those who support comprehensive immigration reform (McCain, Giuliani, Brownback and Huckabee), and those who don’t (Romney, Tancredo, and Hunter).

*** Good News for McCain? So how comfortable was McCain standing next to Ted Kennedy during the press conference announcing the deal? Yet his troubles with the GOP base on the issue might not be as severe as CW suggests. For starters, the deal is now done -- and it's done before the summer. Now when criticized, McCain can simply say, "Let's wait and see if this works. Give the bill a chance" (which is similar to what he said on the surge). Of course, the issue could once again crop up if the House passes its own bill this summer, and the Senate and House go to conference. Also, Romney is the only front-runner who can whack McCain on the issue, which he did at Tuesday’s debate. But Romney has his own problems as well (he once said he supported a path to citizenship and has employed illegal immigrants).

*** The Dems' Own Problems: Even though all of the Democratic presidential candidates support comprehensive immigration reform, don’t think the party is completely unified on the issue. The reason why Nancy Pelosi wants the White House to guarantee her 70 GOP House votes? Because comprehensive immigration reform is a political loser for some of the Democratic freshmen who beat Republican congressional incumbents last fall, like the three from Indiana and Health Shuler. Also note that the AFL-CIO isn’t crazy about the deal.

*** About to Throw His Hat into the Ring? Perhaps the most interesting release we received last night on the immigration bill was from Fred Thompson’s office. Said the candidate-in-waiting: “We should scrap this bill and the whole debate until we can convince the American people that we have secured the borders or at least have made great headway.” The simple act of sending the release signals a likelihood that Thompson is already acting like a candidate. There are now all sorts of organizational rumors floating around (from an exploratory announcement being imminent to key hires coming on board). The Thompson-for-president campaign is no longer months away -- instead think weeks, maybe days…

*** The Clinton Tag-Team: Want more proof of how aggressively Team Clinton is going after the African-American vote? Look no further than today's one-two punch -- with Bill addressing the South Carolina NAACP, and Hillary heading to New Orleans and the Ninth Ward. It comes, however, as Michelle Obama receives another flattering front-page profile, this time in the New York Times.

*** Life After Death? Just after Jerry Falwell’s death, Gingrich gives the commencement address at Falwell’s Liberty University on Saturday -- another sign that Falwell’s influence continues even after his death. By the way, the funeral is next week. Which candidates will be there?

*** On the Trail: Dodd holds a discussion on Iraq in Des Moines, IA and later appears on Bill Maher’s HBO show; Giuliani speaks in Orlando; McCain holds a media avail in Phoenix; Obama hosts a town hall in Rye, NH; Richardson, in Omaha, NE, delivers remarks at the Young Democrats of America Convention; and Romney fundraises in Atlanta and also holds an avail at the Georgia GOP convention.

Countdown to Kentucky’s gubernatorial primary: 4 days
Countdown to the Ames Straw Poll: 84 days
Countdown to Iowa: 240 days
Countdown to Tsunami Tuesday: 262 days
Countdown to Election Day 2008: 535 days
Countdown to Inauguration Day 2009: 612 days

EMAIL THIS

Comments

Border Games? Both parties are split on this not just the republicans. Amazing how you can deliberately leave information out to make your headline a little more sticky but only a fool would believe it.

Danny Taylor (Sent Friday, May 18, 2007 9:39 AM)

Dems own problems? Yes they do don't they? They are split on every single issue there is. I'm talking the party, not just the Presidential Candidates.

Danny Taylor (Sent Friday, May 18, 2007 9:42 AM)

It is better to have lots of options on the table disuss them all then pick the best one rather than to start with a bad idea and back it to the hilt like drunken coke head.

mikeeg,abdn,wa (Sent Friday, May 18, 2007 9:53 AM)

Danny I agree with you on the Democrats; however, it isn't much different within the Republican party .... From Iraq, to immigration, to Alberto Gonzales, the republicans are at war with each other ...

Ricardo in California (Sent Friday, May 18, 2007 9:55 AM)

Illegal alliens are the one issue where I disagree with the dem's agenda, I believe granting amnesty to people that broke the law crossing the border sends the wrong message,it will just encourage more people to sneak across the border. Both political parties have ignored the wishes of the american public on this issue.We send jobs out of the country to avoid paying people a decent wage,then we turn around and import what amounts to slave labor to do what remains. What are people that were not fortunate enough to receive a 4 year degree supposed to do for a living? I realize the repubs look at the situation through their "I got mine,you should have got yours" glasses but it is a much more complex problem for alot of americans.I fear that amnesty is going to all but eliminate a dignified exsistance for working americans just so a few can obtain more wealth.

MK,MO (Sent Friday, May 18, 2007 10:00 AM)

Wouldn't it be nice to hear the immigration issue debated in a non-partisan manner? This is why I supported Gov. Mark Warner for President, way back when. He could talk about issues without raising your blood pressure. He stuck to facts and discussed possible solutions. Oh, for a change in the political climate...let the change start with me...

Amy B Portland, ME (Sent Friday, May 18, 2007 10:09 AM)

Once amnesty is implemented the people that are being used as cheep labor will qualify for workers benifits and pay taxes so the companies taht are currently using them will replace them with illeagal workers and pocket the taxes taken out of their pay and ignore workers rights just think Social Secutity Taxes would be more than these people want to pay. So now we will have a new batch of illeagal workers coming in to do these jobs and the people we are making citizens will be unemployed. Look I know that our repersentatives have to sell their souls to keep their jobs but they should atleast try to listen to the voters. If this is a real problem just enforce the laws we have go after the people hiring the illeagal workers. Check the social security that the employers claim they paid in, check the taxes the employers claim they paid in. We dont need a big ass fence all we need is guts to enforce the laws.

Bob Kokomo In (Sent Friday, May 18, 2007 10:28 AM)

Immigration is an issue that divides the whole country, both sides of the isles. Personally, I think the best starting point is to enforce the laws on the books already. For the life of me, I don't understand why that it is'nt being done. Employer's have no incentive to hire Legal worker's, when it's so easy to do otherwise. They are able to avoid paying Social Security Payroll taxes, which is the GOP answer to doing away with Social Security.

rick,ky (Sent Friday, May 18, 2007 10:38 AM)

The recent immigration debate is another smokescreen for hiding another agenda which is to further control the American people and restrict our freedoms. Remember the War on Drugs? No other policy before 911 had ever narrowed the interpretation of our Constitutional freedoms as much. After 911, in the name of fighting terrorism, our freedoms and privacy have been trampled on even more. Now, you have the immigration debate, mixed in with a little terrorism and "Voila" you are required to have a passport to go across the Canadian and Mexican borders, you have to be searched every time you get on an airplane to go to or arrive from a foreign country, and half the time you cannot bring a good bottle of wine or scotch home with you. A person's chances of being killed in a terrorist attack is less than being struck by lighting. For all of you who live with the false fear this government and the press like to fill you with, lighten up. It's time to say "enough" and get on with living happily and stop allowing the government to spend your hard earned tax dollars on preventing the inevitable lightning strike. Sure it's a terible thing to happen but is it worth the stress and money? Personally, I am more afraid of Bush & Co. than I am al-Quaida but only in the sense that incompetence usually leads to disaster.

Robert Catalano, Salem, OR (Sent Friday, May 18, 2007 10:40 AM)

Robert Catalano, you the man! Darn; that was well written. People appear to be iving in a world of fear. Look at all of the countries who have suffered terrorism for decades and their people go on with every day life without a thought to it. It seems to consume us. Now we want to build the China wall between us an an ally. Not much thought was given to this subject matter before the GOP made it a platform to divide the country. And they have succeeded. As one who has family members that hail from Italy, Brazil, Checkoslovakia, Germany, Ireland, and from Spanish countries, I have to say that our insensitivity toward other races has gone overboard.

Ravine Force, Kissimmee, FL (Sent Friday, May 18, 2007 11:01 AM)

Amy, I liked Warner too!! I'm not so sure that he won't be on a a ticket if another pragmatic democratic senator from Illinois gets the nomination.

Lewis, Cincinnat, Ohio (Sent Friday, May 18, 2007 11:26 AM)

Well stated Robert Catalano. I'm totally confused on what the Senate has passed, could someone who knows actually state what is being offered. I have heard that if they have been here a certain period of time they can pay $5000 and return to their own country for a short period, then they can reenter the U.S. and receive work permits and then citizenship in 5 to 10 years. I'm sure everyone of these illegal immigrants (aliens sounds retarded)is walking around with $5000 dollars and chomping at the bit to line up and leave the country. I've heard it stated over and over that a guest worker program is the only way to handle so many illegal immigrants and there is no way to enforce the existing laws because of the sheer number of illegals. I would like for Congress in all their pompus wisdom to tell me up front how many federal workers are they going to hire(how many million), what will be the total cost of this program (how many billion), and what will be the end result (in how many years). I wish all these people pushing for security, walls, intelligence, invasion of foreign countries, and wasting our hard earned dollars would shove it where the light don't shine.

Paw Paw, NC (Sent Friday, May 18, 2007 11:43 AM)

I tried to read and understand part of the immigration bill, and I just got lost. "Z" visas, pay a fine, go back home, some can stay, but only for 2 years, 400,000 guest workers a year, head of household goes home, everybody else stays...I just don't get it! The debate should be stay vs. go. No in between...no shades of gray, either stay or go. If we don't want the illegals than we should beef up IMS and enforce the current laws, start deportations and punish employers. If we want to keep illegals here than we should grant them all visas, get them paying taxes, pay them a decent wage, and document them so we know who they are. Why do we need a 643 page document...to make it so confusing that nobody can fully agree or disagree? Why can't we have a simple debate and come to a real solution instead of typical Washington mumbo-jumbo that makes the solution so cloudy that it could never work?

Al, KS (Sent Friday, May 18, 2007 11:45 AM)

ravine force, your thoughts about living comfortably with terrorism on a daily basis would most likely change if you or your loved ones got blowed all to hell,that diverse family your talking about probably entered this country legally,don't confuse immigrants with ileagal alliens, they are not the same thing. This is not about racism it is about the rich taking advantage of the poor, and the altering of the american workers wage structure by allowing employers to pay slave wages to workers for their own gain. People with your perspective of this situation think that they either won't be effected by the unchecked masses coming across the border or are one of the few reaping the benifits of slave labor, which one are you?

MK,MO (Sent Friday, May 18, 2007 12:31 PM)

MK - Being blown to hell by a terriorist strike is not the point. Going to hell through apathy or living in hell through fear is the point.

Bruce Oregon (Sent Friday, May 18, 2007 12:57 PM)

Being runover by a drunk, getting jumped by some hot headed freak or being truck by lightning are more likely than being hit by a terrorist and I dont worry unduley about any of those things, I simply exercise proper caution under the prevailing circumstances and enjoy living my life. I happen to disagree with probably everyon on border control I beleive if there were no borders anywhere the world would be a better place but as long as everyone has a border mentality there will be conflict.

mikeeg,abdn,wa (Sent Friday, May 18, 2007 1:25 PM)

I think it's pretty clear that both parties are split on this issue. For Republicans who back this new proposal, they see cheap labor and higher profits for business. For the Democrats it's a likely new block of voters. No politician backing this insane bill is thinking of the overall effect it would have on the nation as a whole. If they are, their ability to think and reason is seriously lacking. If this bill passes, by many estimates I have seen we will have in excess of 20 million new immigrants in the US within about 10 years. The entire demographic of our nation will be permanently altered. Also, about 60% of the illegal immigrants here are high school drop-outs. The majority of them are working, yes, and they pay an average of around $5,000 a year in taxes. However, they receive an average of $30,000 a year in government benefits. Who is going to pay for this new wave of immigrants? Middle class Americans. There is no way to make it work with income redistibution. Sorry, but I need every dime I make to provide for my families needs and future. I cannot afford to shoulder the needs of other families. I pay quite enough in taxes already. The GOP might want to consider their future as well. These new immigrants will register 3 to 1 as democrats when they are granted the right to vote. Goodbye Republican party. We will effectively have a one party system, and fair representation will be out the door. Many of you will be happy about that and will support this bill solely for that reason. Give it 20 years and you'll regret it. We are giving our nation away with this bill. It would be the beginning of the end of the United States of America. Crazy? You may think so now, but once the Norht American Union is firmly established you may think differently. When in the course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation...That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Is that time upon us?

Darren, MB, SC (Sent Friday, May 18, 2007 1:38 PM)

If I decide to go out and get a second job today I will have to produce 2 valid forms of identification that will prove I am a legal US resident. Otherwise I would be denied employment. I was born here. My family has been in this country since the early 1700's. The way to stop this wave of illegal immigration is very simple. It does not require a new convoluted bill that no one fully understands. It simply requires enforcing current laws. Heavy fines for employers who hire illegals, deportation of any person here illegally. No room to hold them or enough ICE or INS agents to do the job? End the war in Iraq, divert the billions of dollars being spent there to our more immediate and pressing problems here. How about going even further and ending the nonsensical "WAR ON DRUGS". Billions wasted yearly on a completely ineffective and foolish idea. Legalizing, regulating and taxing marijuana alone would mean billions less spent, billions more earned, and VOILA!, there's your money to solve not only the illegal immigration problem, but many others as well. Is health care on anyone's mind? The political establishment has completely lost touch with the people, hell, with reality. As for the average person in the US, apathy reigns reigns supreme. We're losing our country, yyyaaawwwnnn, what's on TV tonight?

Darren, MB, SC (Sent Friday, May 18, 2007 1:50 PM)

Darren what amazes me about your conclusion is that is sounds very close to what Hitler preached to the Germany about the jewish population. Fear worked for him but it will not work for us.

Independent in California (Sent Friday, May 18, 2007 1:53 PM)

A typo in my 1:38 post makes it say the complete opposite of what I meant to say. It should have read: There is no way to make it work WITHOUT income redistibution.

Darren, MB, SC (Sent Friday, May 18, 2007 1:55 PM)

Same thing happened about 400 years ago, first Jamestown and the next thing you know...LA! Yes, it can happen again... "just a little old fashioned karma..."

Mark Thieme (Sent Friday, May 18, 2007 2:14 PM)

Darren, your posts are getting better and better. Not only stated with civility, but with common sense logic, be the reader Repub, Dem or Indie. If the Hispanics really, truly want to assimilate and become Americans, their first step must be to show a desire to learn English. Not to do indicates they are merely natives of another country, living in the US, taking advantage of its freedoms and opportunities and not wishing to bear its responsibilities. I don't often agree with Pat Buchanan, but his book, State of Emergency, offered solutions: remove incentives to emigrate (such as free health care and free education). Think about this: No other group of emigrants in all of US history has had the acceptance Hispanics enjoy. No ESL classes for the Irish, Germans, Italians, Chinese. No (widespread) radio/TV stations, newspapers, signage, in any other non-English language. No city in the US declaring its offcial language is a non-English language. Black people who came to the US under the most deplorable conditons struggled (often under very hostile conditions) to learn English. The US has been very cordial to Hispanic people. Some people want to file the immigration reform under "racism". It is not about race; it is about the emigrants' (ANY emigrant's) desire to become American and that should be the first and foremost criteria.

Frances Larsen, Newcastle, WA (Sent Saturday, May 19, 2007 12:11 AM)

You people just don't get it. come down here and live on the border for a few years. To get a good job in El Paso, TX you not only have to show two documents, you have to be bi-lingual, but, if you speak Spanish, one language will do. I drive a isolated highway from and to work. I work shift work, so when I am on this isolated road and see a group of 15-20 illegal aliens (official designation) I don't know if they will stay to the side of the road or throw a board out in the road to stop me. Since I am a 59 year old female, you can understand my fears. Live here, and have a group show up to your front door about 7:00 am in the morning looking for a ride. Hear about your neighbors house who has been broken in to and guns taken while she was there! Yes, they were illegals. It will take 8-10 years for those who TRY to get residence. I say, use those 8-10 years to enforce the laws already on the books. But first, the border must be closed. When these same illegals find out living in Canada is good, the benefits there are better, because ours will have been trashed or our country bankrupt, the illeglas will head north. What will Canada do?

Shirley, Hachita, New Mexico (Sent Saturday, May 19, 2007 1:44 AM)

Wouldn't it be nice if Mexico actually did something to take care of its own citizens? Then we wouldn't have to feel obliged to do it. We are the United States of America, not Mexico. We allow way more legal immigrants into our country every year than any other country does. Why should we let in illegal aliens? They don't want to live here. They want to make money and go back to Mexico. Let them work and live in Mexico. I'm sorry, but it's not our problem. We've got plenty of problems without having to care for another country's citizens.

Jane, Southern Mississippi (Sent Saturday, May 19, 2007 1:58 AM)

Darren - you make many valid points. A quick and easy fix on illegal immigration today will come back to haunt us years down the road. From my reading this new proposal is beyond complex and involves illegals registering, returning to the country of origin for a lengthy period, paying large fines and eventually returning for a green card. I know the current legal process for naturalization as I've walked through it to the point of citizenship with my girlfriend and her son. The right way takes time, money, endurance, legitimate employment and other benchmarks - the full process takes at least a year and many trips to the office of immigration in Charleston! It's hard to imagine many illegals abiding by the new 'grandfathered' immigration laws proposed here. You couldn't have said it better - countless billions wasted and lives lost when the money could have been SO much better spent on real solutions. As to the war on drugs, Bush continues to legitimize poppy growing in Afghanistan by ignoring it - thus enabling heroin addicts here and elsewhere to help finance Taliban activities - of course it's essentially the only (export) economy available in that country and has been forever. Where are the solutions? If the general public fails to become engaged by the ever-increasing loss of their own individual freedoms through the mechanism of trumped up fear-mongering that we're living through today, we have no chance. Bush continues to demonstrate that in the Bush/Cheney world view - when you have the foresight to create a manufactured war, you automatically put yourself above the law and reap the corporate harvest at will. All of the Bush people will go on to very lucrative positions in the private sector and none will pay a price for the massive evil they're perpetrated. We would like to believe there is justice in the world, but really this is mostly a fiction. I'd love to be proven wrong......

Terry, Columbia, SC (Sent Saturday, May 19, 2007 9:46 AM)

The answer to "Why has not the Social Security Administtration enforced the misuse use of Soc. Security numbers by the so called Undocumented immagrants?" . Think about it . . why should it when it is money coming in that does not have to be paid out. The money from the undocumented workers into Social Security is in the millions - millions. Since the source of this money is incorrect it cannot be traced.

Vince Kennedy, Salem, Oregon (Sent Saturday, May 19, 2007 3:43 PM)

how can the republicans dignify their candidates with the likes of Guiliani;who is mafia connected with Bernard Kerik ,Indicted on crimes and Jerome Hauer (anthrax killer )whom the FBI never investigated and who as appeared as a spokesman for the bush admin, Cavuto on FOX had Kerik as an expert in the Middle East .He thought part of New York was in the East across from Iran ..poor Cavuto ,its pretty sad to watch O'reilly and Geraldo (in the river )struggling to defend the bush admin with more lapses in their attacks than they realize .. There are more convicts and resignations and Indictments in this administration Than Ronald (mcduck )Reagan and bush sr. the mastermind of 911

joseph bell 2 ellis st woburn ma 01801 (Sent Saturday, May 19, 2007 5:18 PM)

Fred Thompson... ought not to bite the hand that feeds him... Or he is like Republicans in general take the money and run... Do we need another "actor" in Washington... we already have more than enough

Helene glsbrg,Il (Sent Saturday, May 19, 2007 5:23 PM)

Republican loser on this issue: McCain, big time. Republican winner: Thompson, as in, Fred. In fact, this may very well mark the zenith of ole John's quest for the White House. This immigration give-away stinks, and Republicans outside the Beltway know it.

Denny, Chugiak, Alaska (Sent Saturday, May 19, 2007 5:58 PM)

the way i see it is, we are setting ourself up for another war but one between our nation. in other countries when parties dont agree, what happens next? welp you have war in your own back yard. our country is a majority rules country (ha right)this ileagal allien bill has shown us "no majority doesnt rule" in this country congress rules. welp boys and girls in congress get ready for a fight on your hands, i really dont think the american people are going to let ya'll push us around, we have spoken strongly against this bill. when it comes to money to provide for our families, nope i dont think we are going to just lay down or walk away. washington may have the last say but the american poeple will have the last action, ya'll are going to get ya'lls butts over thrown. and darren,mb,sc makes a great point, sir what are you doing in 2008? would you have time to be pres.? :)

mary, t, tx (Sent Saturday, May 19, 2007 6:22 PM)

Illegal Immigrants have more rights than we, natural born citizens and legal immigrants. They can go to any hospital and get free medical care, if they have a child - they automatically get signed up for Medicade, assistance with housing and welfare programs. Our government (ALL PARTIES INCLUDED) rewards them for breaking our laws - no wonder a 1/4 of the jail population is made up of illegals - they never thought they would go to jail. They are caught with no driver's license, no insurance and released with their car to do it again - often while being drunk besides. And, states and cities that do not enforce Federal Laws should loose federal money. (By the way: Where is the ACLU with the seperation of church and state with churches harboring federal criminals?) We need to CLOSE THE BORDER, stop making anyone born here a citizen, make everyone pay something for health care, deport criminals and then see who wants to stay.

kathy4u (Sent Saturday, May 19, 2007 9:02 PM)

Bruce Oregon ~ "Being blown to hell by a terriorist strike is not the point. Going to hell through apathy or living in hell through fear is the point." "I would rather die on my feet than to live on my knees."

Barbara, TN (Sent Saturday, May 19, 2007 11:25 PM)

Finally, people that get it. Now, how do we spread the word to get this insanity stopped before it is too late? Enforce the laws, secure the borders and then (and only then) work on our immigration policies. I believe if the present laws are enforced the bulk of the issues will be manageable. For the most part, we as American citizens are being very poorly represented. Why?

Kirk Haindel, Seaside, OR (Sent Sunday, May 20, 2007 12:24 AM)

Anybody who is more afraid of Bush then Alquida has got a real problem. Bush is not going to come into your house, cut off your head, abuse youor wife and torture your kids. For all you libs who think that Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs are going to save your miserable lives is pretty stupid. Time to put down the meth and oreos and step outside and breathe some fresh air. Trying to teach a lib about freedom is like teaching Duke not to howl when cousin pearl lets off with a song.

jerry/corpus christi texas (Sent Sunday, May 20, 2007 8:52 AM)

I saw Chris Dodd on a Sunday morning program. He was pretty impressive. I might have to give him another look. Still... I don't know why I would. In this bizarre, early campaign season, I'm not sure there's time for a second tier candidate to move up. Ron Paul is facing the same problem. There might be a window open for a new candidate to swoop in from the outside, but maybe not one open for an overt surge from the back.

Paul Miller, Woodbridge, VA (Sent Monday, May 21, 2007 8:25 AM)

Registered democrate. Changing voting status to Independent as soon as possible.

Paula, Belle, WV (Sent Wednesday, May 23, 2007 10:42 PM)

Deal is done ? Hardly, nothing has passed the house and it won't. The AMNESTY bill will die a swift death on the house floor. McCain attempted to sell out America to the Mexicans, but the House is much wiser and more in tune with reality thank God !

Bill S. Santa Maria, Ca (Sent Saturday, June 02, 2007 2:42 PM)

I have been a registered Democrate for 60 years and before I would vote for Kerry I voted for Mr. Bush . I am not sorry that I did. My son who is in the uS army is in Iraq and has been there for three years.. He is so ashmed of the way the democrates have been acting in the house of representives that he feels like the Lady chairwoman is trying to run the war. He feels like the president is his commander in chief not the democrates... believe it or not he has been a democrate untill just recently. He said they want to finish the job there and make sure it doesnt come to america... I will vote for Thompson if he runs... I am Texas born and raised and I know what its like in southern Texas....Ig grew up with the aliens and no one never said a thing and they were just there.This all sounds so much like the early years that Marin Luther King was touring the southern states... Not much difference

Sparky Palmer (Sent Saturday, June 02, 2007 9:20 PM)

Since another Actor and maybe a viable contender for the White House Fred Thompson, I wonder if he would consider interviewing me for Chief of His Staff position that he has available. My name is Jennifer F Usher, he may contact me at 7576 Bell Road Dillwyn, VA 23936. I hold a Master's in Global Management. Plus I have 17 yrs experience in building concensus. I am a moderate Republican of American Indian(LumBee) heritage. I am available immediately. Fred drop me a note, I know I will be able to get your candidacy off the ground, and will work to secure only the most competent US citzens become engaged members of your staff.

Jennifer F. Usher, Dillwyn, VA (Sent Saturday, June 02, 2007 11:08 PM)

Marshall Mcluhan differentiated the" cool" medium as television and the "Hot" medium as the printed press. This concept zooms past over the head of too many people who don't take a second to reflect on the fact that the intensity of a movie only in extremely rare circumstance comes anywhere close to the intensity of the same story in a book. Magic evolves from one's own mind. Consider that political architects like the ruthless and immoral Carl Rove depend on the passivity of American's who derive their laughably simple views from the bias of television.The ability to accurately predict opinion in demographic areas is too significant in the political climate of this country. That truth diminshes our political future to a monetary value. We, the people, are therefore easily and lacidaisically duped by the blatent corruption of administrations like the current one that is threatening our existance.Abraham Lincoln said that a house divided could not stand. Approval of this criminal administration is down from 30%. Who are these < 30%? Do you wave your Bush/Cheney bumpersticker at the general population who in turn ponder if stupidity at that level is painful? The free discourse of legitimate ideas promotes abstract thought,reason and logic. We desperately need all of these to disenfranchise our great country from the criminal acts of the vacous headed idiots now causing such incredibly mounting worldwide disgust.It isn't as significant if you think you are affiliating Republican or Democratic as it is to become advocative of international crime because you subscribe to either party. It isn't partisan to have objection to being made complicite through glaring disception. I am amazed at how frequently pontificating letters appear supportive of the disasterous ramifications of the Bush administrations policy that are abhorrantly misspelled and completely rhetorical in simplicity.The cessation of torture of world citizens in the favor of higher conscious humanity was established by George Washington and that humane regard was obliterated by George Bush! Within the borders of the United States by George Bush! In his administration not only are world citizens actively tortured here but he further establishes that citizens of the United States are also subject to endless incarceration and torture under the "Patriot Act". Is this terrorism? Please don't ask CBS. Read and consider, and oh! have someone do a spell check before submitting your opinion. There are only atoms and free space. Everything else is opinion.Everyone has an opinion and like a face some have two. Now know this! Iraqi did not have any part in the Twin Towers.Is there anyone out there who continues to accept Bush's version? Bin Laden was safely escorted from our country under the protection of George Bush. This war is a very profitable project for Bush and Cheney. Cheney who mistook a man for a duck and shot him with a twelve gauge. Alberto Gonzales deliberately perjured himsef to protect the administration from our system of check and balance.Is there anyone out there who isn't monitoring all of this? The highest ranking law officer in the United States is a liar proven fact. We need a real leader and the truth not the disception that Bush has so freely taken advantage of us all with. I am by the way a registered Republican and damn proud of it. I do not support the Bush administration. I regret being subjected to it by the means it was conceived which was clearly not via the dominant voter tradition.

KOBAR Cttnwd Calif (Sent Monday, June 04, 2007 4:38 PM)

SEND A COMMENT

PLEASE READ: All comments must be approved before appearing in the thread; time and space constraints prevent all comments from appearing. We will only approve comments that are directly related to the blog, use appropriate language and are not attacking the comments of others.

Message (please, no HTML tags. Web addresses will be hyperlinked):

Your name, city and state (John Doe, Seattle, Wash.):

Your e-mail address (jdoe@msnbc.com):

Your website (it's okay if you don't have one):

Remember me? (We'll keep it private) Remember me?

TRACKBACKS

Trackbacks are links to weblogs that reference this post. Like comments, trackbacks do not appear until approved by us. The trackback URL for this post is: http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/trackback.aspx?PostID=195354