http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/05/30/207518.aspxFrom Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, and Domenico Montanaro*** Enter Number Eleven? Fred Thompson makes it (more) official. According to a campaign source, Thompson will file his FEC papers officially on Monday June 4. In FEC parlance, Thompson is opening aen-USCommunityServer 2.0 (Build: 60608.1)http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/05/30/207518.aspx#207527Wed, 30 May 2007 13:27:12 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:207527H P BostonMMM.. I wonder what the PUNCH really is since Bush is pushing so hard??? There is always some sinister reason behind all that he wants. He never has legitimate intentions.http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/05/30/207518.aspx#207546Wed, 30 May 2007 13:43:07 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:207546Paul Miller, Woodbridge, VABush jumping on Republicans who criticize the immigration bill for politics of fear... even more priceless than Gingrich calling Bush the GOP's Carter.http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/05/30/207518.aspx#207555Wed, 30 May 2007 13:47:41 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:207555ed, OhioThe majority of the American people oppose this immigration plan. "Those who oppose this plan, Don't know what is right for America", said George Bush! Well you know what? He is right! They voted him back in didn't they?http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/05/30/207518.aspx#207562Wed, 30 May 2007 13:51:52 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:207562jerry/corpus christi texasHopefully, someone will explain to Bush why he is wrong on Immigration, but I don't see it happening. Why do the other libs freak out about Obama? Well, he is clean, he is articulate, he seems to be someone who seems to speak the things that some of the people want to hear. His name is not Bill or Hillary, and he is not trying for the forth or fifth time to win the nomination. Unlike some of the radical libs in this blog, he seems to ride the middle. I know nothing would please you radical libs more then seeing someone come in and raise the white flag and raise taxes another 40% and just shut down the country and return us to the days of Jimmy Carter(the worst president of all time). I still think sometimes what would have happened if everyone in florida would have punched their holes correctly and Gore had won and the towers were attacked 9 months later. This is why liberals cannot be depended on to keep this country safe.http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/05/30/207518.aspx#207568Wed, 30 May 2007 13:53:57 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:207568jus sayinThe best thing going for dems is bush.http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/05/30/207518.aspx#207572Wed, 30 May 2007 13:57:55 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:207572Steve Turner Cedar Falls IowaWell, Thompson has got the 'Blubbery Old White Guy' vote locked up. After that, it's back to TV.http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/05/30/207518.aspx#207573Wed, 30 May 2007 13:59:37 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:207573jus sayinbamble ramble sputter lie i understood everything keep posted jerryhttp://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/05/30/207518.aspx#207574Wed, 30 May 2007 14:00:34 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:207574melody luse, henderson, nvYippee!!!! Run Fred Run!!!!http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/05/30/207518.aspx#207580Wed, 30 May 2007 14:05:08 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:207580Ricardo in California Jerry just for the record. The republicans in Washington (from 2000 -2006)have created the largest government this nation has ever seen. It is clear that middle america will be paying off this debt for generations. What we need is to get rid of every radical conservative who claims to be keeping this nation safe when in fact they spend most of their time in Washtingon lying, cheating, texting young boys, spreading hate, and protecting those who are gauging people at the gasoline pump. http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/05/30/207518.aspx#207584Wed, 30 May 2007 14:06:54 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:207584Ricardo in California Jerry just for the record, Bush has surpassed Jimmy Carter's record as being the worst President this nation has ever seen. Just ask some of your republican friends who are saying the same thing beginning with Gingrich. http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/05/30/207518.aspx#207593Wed, 30 May 2007 14:12:56 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:207593MK,MOallthough obama and hillary both have comendable ideas that would be good for america as a whole, and they want to get away from the fascist foreign policies which have erroded the safety of this nation, I still am concerned any repub can beat them in the general election, in missouri repubs that may not have voted otherwise would rise from the grave to vote against them no matter who the other candidate is, that's why I believe edwards still has the best shot at the general electionhttp://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/05/30/207518.aspx#207595Wed, 30 May 2007 14:14:45 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:207595Dennis E., Dallas, TXIt's pathetic when the repub. party has to stoop to hailing the arrival of a has been Senator and actor as their savior in the 08 race. Must be their longings for a return to the Reagan days. Also, its always entertaining to read Jerry's daily rant about radical liberals. Keep it up Jerry. Your rants remind me everyday about the depths people can sink to and what they will say out of desperation. http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/05/30/207518.aspx#207602Wed, 30 May 2007 14:18:43 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:207602Doug/Los Angeles, CaliforniaKudos to Jerry! Jimmy Carter is a lackey who rode in on the coat-tails of his brother, Billy. He is actually the worst President in US history! Now, let it be known that John "I'm Leader of the Pack" (Gang of 14) McCain hasn't a chance in hell of getting nominated as Presidential Candidate for the GOP. Too many people blame Bush for the improprieties of this Amnesty-Immigration bill. But please remember, Bush had NO help from most of the GOP's in Congress, especially McCain! What else was the President supposed to do??? Besides, Vicente Fox had more to say about the illegals coming into the US than Bush does. NOTE TO SELF: The Mexican Government hands out instruction manuals to coach illegals on the art of "How to" so they get into the US, stay in the US and undermine the US economy in every way they can, including FREE health care; FREE welfare; FREE section 8 housing; FREE voting; FREE got out of jail cards because local COPS can't enforce Federal law; FREE politically correct protection; compliments of the ACLU; FREE (fill in the blank with your own experiences). Enter Fred Thompson! Go Fred!http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/05/30/207518.aspx#207604Wed, 30 May 2007 14:20:04 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:207604Ryan, MichiganThis is just getting painful. At a time when Bush needs to at least consolidate and rally his base to help Repubs for '08, what issue does he pick? Immigration, an issue that basically splits the party. I admire President Bush and I think he has made a lot of tough decisions. I have disagreed with him several times but I have always respected the man. However, this is getting too painful to watch. I think I'm just going to cover my eyes for the next several months, as I feel I'm about to witness a train wreck. Everywhere the man steps is a landmine and sometimes its his own advisors leading him right into the landmine. I have no idea how the Bush presidency will wind up looking in 15, 20, 25+ years but right now its just painful to watch.http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/05/30/207518.aspx#207627Wed, 30 May 2007 14:32:51 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:207627Amy B Portland, MEJerry, I'm not a fan of revisionist history, because one never knows how changing one factor would change another, but I'm pretty sure Gore's intelligence, far sightedness, and yes, even his prickly, patrician personality, would have better equiped him to fill the executive office than Bush. I can't imagine Gore passively saying "well let us know if you need anything," like Bush did, after Brownie gave his presentation on what would happen when Katrina hit New Orleans.(See tape.)He may not have saved the city and its inhabitants, but I'm quite sure Gore would have engaged in the attempt, challenging his FEMA director (who would NOT have been a former horse show promoter), pushing the mayor to order evacuation earlier, and at the very least, understanding the science behind the hurricane prediction. (The man knows slide shows.)http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/05/30/207518.aspx#207630Wed, 30 May 2007 14:33:28 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:207630John B, Des Moines, IAJerry, you KNOW that liberals can't be trusted to keep the country safe because you IMAGINE what would have happened if Gore had become President? By the way, historically the economy consistently does better under Democratic administrations than Republican. Apparently the wealthy like Republicans but the economy likes Democrats.http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/05/30/207518.aspx#207634Wed, 30 May 2007 14:34:56 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:207634Melissa, Dallas TXGo Fred! You got my vote!!! Funny, the majority of people that oppose anything to do with stopping the illegals, or better yet the invaders, live up north!!! How about you people come down here and deal with the fact that most of the crimes being committed are done by illegals, the nasty run down homes that have 30 people living in them (but they sure have the brand new cars!!) and EVERYTHING in Spanish……..My grandfather came here from Germany with his parents, guess what, they learned English, became citizens and supported this country! PLEASE!!! Send the illegals HOME!!!http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/05/30/207518.aspx#207640Wed, 30 May 2007 14:38:06 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:207640BuzzHere y' go, Jerry- a funny story: Bush wakes up one night and is confronted with the ghost of George Washington. Shrub asks him, "what is the one thing I can do that would most benefit this great nation?". Washington replied "be honest and show great integrity in all your dealings". Shrub falls asleep again, but is soon awakened by the spirit of Jefferson. Again, the same question- "Mr Jefferson- what is the one thing I can to that would best benefit this great nation?" TJ replies "keep taxes low, and the size of government small". One more time Shrub falls asleep, only to be awakened one more time, this time by Abraham Lincoln's ghost. Again the same question- "what can I do that would most benefit this great nation?". To which Abe replies "go see a play". http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/05/30/207518.aspx#207654Wed, 30 May 2007 14:42:39 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:207654Ricardo in California Doug if illegals are able to get all of this "free" stuff from the US government then we have no one to blame but ourselves and if you think Fred Thompson will solve this problem .. thing again. Historically republican candidates have used the immigration issue to garner support and votes (just look at them now), but once they get into office something magically happens to them and they either ignore it or figure out a way to make sure that we will always have cheap labor in this nation. http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/05/30/207518.aspx#207655Wed, 30 May 2007 14:43:34 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:207655Steve Crawford, Portland, Or Round them up, send them home and secure our border so they can't illegally sneak back into the country. I have no problem increasing immigration quotas after that. They will all be screened for disease and criminal backgrounds, the current bill does none of that.http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/05/30/207518.aspx#207660Wed, 30 May 2007 14:46:59 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:207660Doug/Los AngelesDear John B, Seriously, a President Gore would have wasted his four years trying to "invent" something!http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/05/30/207518.aspx#207669Wed, 30 May 2007 14:50:00 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:207669Doug/Los AngelesRicardo, Don't be fooled by thinking the Republicans are the only ones to blame. It is the entire block of politicians INCLUDING the Democrats! We need to secure our borders! PERIODhttp://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/05/30/207518.aspx#207679Wed, 30 May 2007 14:53:53 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:207679Ricardo in CaliforniaMelissa, et al "In March 2005, Wal-Mart, a company with $285 billion in annual sales. was fined $11 million for having untold hundreds of illegal immigrants nationwide clean its stores" This is the reason why the US government will never do anything about illegal immigration. They are up against big business. For Wal-Mart, paying an 11 million dollar fine is pennies compared to the profits they bring in and this is just one story. It's all about big business wanting to pay for cheap labor and not wanting to pay living wages to americans. http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/05/30/207518.aspx#207701Wed, 30 May 2007 15:00:42 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:207701Ed, OhioMK,MO , I have agreed with you in the past about this. Obama and Hillary do not have a snowballs chance in 90 degree southern weather. Especially in the South and conservative midwest. There are still a lot of prejudice people out there. Even if they rarely vote, they won't stand for a woman or black president. Sad but true!http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/05/30/207518.aspx#207769Wed, 30 May 2007 15:11:10 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:207769Ricardo in California Doug, the borders should have been heavily secured especially after 9/11 but that didn't happen under a Republican controlled government. I agree that Dems are also to blame but many on this blog seem to think that the illegal problem is due to some liberal agenda. As I said earlier, its all about big business, cheap labor and profits. Just ask Wal-Mart, and the multi million dollar agriculture industry in our very own state. http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/05/30/207518.aspx#207780Wed, 30 May 2007 15:12:42 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:207780Doug/Los AngelesRicardo, It is sad to hear you whine and complain about "big business". Who do YOU work for? Without competition, how much more would YOU be willing to pay for everyday necessities? You blame the same people/companies you depend on to live. Wake up man! It is NOT about the 11 million dollar fine! It is about ALL about competition! We need to stay competitive as a nation and our politicians are constantly interfering with the process. e.g.: The Post Office just raised a first class stamp to 41 cents...Why? Because the (government) post office has NO competition! I'd like to continue, but I have to go to work now. I have bills to pay...http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/05/30/207518.aspx#207806Wed, 30 May 2007 15:17:35 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:207806H P BostonThat is it Ricardo. BIG BUSINESS RUNS AMERICA. AMERICA RUNS ON BIG BUSINESS, AND CHEAP LABOR. THEY WILL NEVER ENFORCE IMMIGRATION LAWS NO MATTER HOW MANY THEY PASS.http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/05/30/207518.aspx#207840Wed, 30 May 2007 15:23:31 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:207840Melissa, Dallas TXRicardo- I'm well aware of Wal-Mart (I do not shop there) and all the other businesses that will use these people for their own selfish gain. But you have to understand, they don't care. They have free healthcare, are on welfare and have many, many people living in a house/apartment so it all evens out. If they actually put forth some effort to become citizens and learn our language they could better themselves but they demand to be catered to so this is what they get. I have no sympathyhttp://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/05/30/207518.aspx#207843Wed, 30 May 2007 15:23:40 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:207843Davey, Moscow, IDLinked on http://www.agnology.com/http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/05/30/207518.aspx#207861Wed, 30 May 2007 15:25:27 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:207861MK,MORicardo in California, I agree the root cause is big business as well as small business have became wealthy using slave labor, why pay an american a decent wage when you can pocket that cash also, who cares if some smuck can't feed his family, he wasn't going to use that money to do something important like play the stock market anyway, I believe something like that is carved in the great repub stone tablets somewherehttp://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/05/30/207518.aspx#207900Wed, 30 May 2007 15:30:00 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:207900OliviaI second what Amy B said about how she thinks Gore might have handled Katrina as it was happening. And I'll add to that that I think that were Gore President he'd now be taking a far more pro-active role in seeing New Orleans and Bay St. Louis and Waveland, Mississippi and the rest of the Gulf Region communities devastated by Katrina rebuilt instead of going into denial and forgetting all about Katrina the way Bush has. And I'm grateful that late last week Congress passed and Bush signed the Iraq funding bill because of the waiver of the 10% matching funds and the rest of much-needed Katrina recovery aid it included. It's a big step in the right direction. Though I'm not prepared to declare victory just yet because there could always be some hitch.... http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/05/30/207518.aspx#207925Wed, 30 May 2007 15:32:47 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:207925Curt in SE Iowa Democrats are smiling wide as the skirt-chaser with an undistinguished - and short - career in the U.S. Senate enters the fray for tyhe GOP nomination. Iowans don't forget that the cancer patient Fred Thompson whined about the long grueling hours in the Senate - so he quit to run for president ? http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/05/30/207518.aspx#207926Wed, 30 May 2007 15:32:47 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:207926Paul Weyrich " I don't think that it behooves the president to call people names or make accusations against them if they disagree with him." "I mean, it was just what the doctor ordered for 6 years, but now I have a problem with it. Why? Because like all neocons, I'm a short-sighted idiot and a hypocrite of Biblical proportions." "It's like watching someone get kicked in the head - there's no harm if you're watching, or even if you're doing the kicking, but it's really wrong when it's your head."http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/05/30/207518.aspx#207964Wed, 30 May 2007 15:38:21 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:207964DallasI say $1,000 fine for the 1st offense (employing an illegal); $2,000 fine & 10 days of Community Service (maybe cleaning up trash along the border if residing close to border) for the 2nd offense; $5,000 & 30 days Community Service (housing provided if necessary) for subsequent violations.http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/05/30/207518.aspx#208051Wed, 30 May 2007 15:51:22 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:208051Amy B Portland, MEFYI. I got stuck in a store after the front door was locked and I asked the cleaning crew which door I should leave by and they couldn't tell me because no one spoke English. This happened in Portland, Maine. These folks are a long way from home.http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/05/30/207518.aspx#208150Wed, 30 May 2007 16:04:41 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:208150Ricardo in California Doug ... i am not whining about big business, I'm only trying to explain the reason very little has been done about illegal immigration. For the same reason that you state "We need to stay competitive as a nation and our politicians are constantly interfering with the process" Unfortunately for many business staying competitive and making profits has come down to paying cheap labor to whoever wants it rather than paying living wages to hard working americans. http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/05/30/207518.aspx#208157Wed, 30 May 2007 16:05:48 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:208157J. Merle Stanley, Westchester, NYFred Thompson for President...Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha.........BaaaaaaWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Hahttp://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/05/30/207518.aspx#208277Wed, 30 May 2007 16:23:18 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:208277John B, Des Moines, IADoug, you're going to have to do better than something so easily dismissed as "Al Gore claims to have invented the Internet." http://dir.salon.com/story/tech/col/rose/2000/10/05/gore_internet/index.html http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/05/30/207518.aspx#208305Wed, 30 May 2007 16:28:02 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:208305H P BOSTONI gave a cashier (oxymoron) at Target a fifty cent piece, she asked what it was. I could not understand her, someone had to explain to her (in her language?) that it was MONEY! http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/05/30/207518.aspx#208354Wed, 30 May 2007 16:36:28 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:208354Scott in South TexasRicardo is right about big business, Doug confuses profit motive and overpaid CEOs with competition, and Amy, it's "Qual puerta es para salir?http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/05/30/207518.aspx#208420Wed, 30 May 2007 16:42:58 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:208420jerry/corpus christi texasOh let's see here: Ricardo(I'll pass on the name)Jimmy Carter still holds the record at 23% disapproval rating. Carter had double didgit unemployment when he left office, Bush is at 4.4%. Carter had over 20% interest, Bush is way down the list. Cater had a bunch of people held hostage in Iran and kissed the Ayatollah's rear end, Bush took out at dangerous murdering dictator....Nah, you don't get points for that one amigo. WE replaced the GOP problems with the demorcrat problems, like Dianne Feinstein and her giving offical military contracts to her husband's company and Harry reid and sweetheart land deals in nevada, and Nancy pelosi giving taxpayer money to bulid something on San franscisco bay to benefit her husband's land holdings around that area and Dollar Bill jefferson(did he ever pay taxes on that $90,000 in his freezer). I guess we tied on that one. Gas Gouging? has not been proved yet, probably never will. I will spare you the lecture on how comapnies make their money, since you live in L.A. Amy, Mexicans in portland maine???? Boy did their Coyote lead them past the line a little bit eh? Why did you not call the INS and have them arrested and the owner of the shop fined hundreds of thousands of dollars. That's the problem with you liberals. I think Gore would have been a one termer, like Carter. He would have tried to put us down the path of economic destruction so fast it would have meade your head spin. All Carter did was screw up this country so bad, no wonder Reagan won hands down.http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/05/30/207518.aspx#208423Wed, 30 May 2007 16:43:26 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:208423John Doe, The Peanut GallerySo Mr. Weyrich said "I don't think that it behooves the president to call people names or make accusations against them if they disagree with him." I find that a little bit odd seeing as, based on the conservative contributions to this blog and the comments of the conservative punditry as well as the conservative leadership... that's the only way they know how to deal with people who don't agree with them...http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/05/30/207518.aspx#208485Wed, 30 May 2007 16:52:43 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:208485Sidney, PaMay I ask a question? How many of you out there who have posted a comment, have acually contacted your government officials and told them how you felt?http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/05/30/207518.aspx#208560Wed, 30 May 2007 17:07:26 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:208560JJ in NJJerry in Texas: If Al Gore had been president, he would have actually READ the August 6 PDB and taken action accordingly, not told the CIA agents who brought it that they've "covered their asses now", the way George W. Bush did. And even if the attacks had played out, he would have gone after Bin Laden in Afghanistan and not abandoned that effort to go chasing Saddam in Iraq -- because Al Gore wouldn't have had to prove that his genitalia was bigger than his daddy's by starting a war against a country that had nothing to do with attacking us. And he wouldn't have shut down the Bin Laden Unit, and....need I go on? Face it, Jerry -- you've tethered your cart to the wrong horse. And as for your boy Fred Thompson? What does he have to say for himself now that the CIA has released the fact that Valerie Plame was, in fact, covert? Your boy is at the forefront of the "Pardon Scooter Libby" movement. http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/05/30/207518.aspx#208577Wed, 30 May 2007 17:10:59 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:208577H P BostonJoe in Ohio.....You are right about so many voters being opposed to a woman or a black man as president. It is a sad fact, we just have to read the rants of Jerry to see that it is so. http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/05/30/207518.aspx#208579Wed, 30 May 2007 17:11:19 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:208579Gary Schear, Bozeman MontanaMelissa Tx--You don't have to live in the south west to see the problem. Here in Bozeman Montana we are still in the midst of a housing boom. Many folks that don't speak English working on roofs and painting and doing skilled carpentry, and doing it cheaper then Americans would work for. Is that savings passed on to the Home buyer? HAHAHAHAHAHAHH! goes right into the pockets of the developer. Just like all the savings that other business sees from using wage slaves. Don't you ever wonder why your republicans tread lightly around this issue? Do you really think that Fred Thompson will go against the corporate masters? I believe our unsecured borders are a major problem. I believe that The Mexican and American Governments enjoy a symbiotic relationship. Our borders are a safety valve for the corrupt Mexican Government and aristocracy and our corporations and business owners benefit from cheap labor that they don't have to pay benefits to. I would have no problem with sealing the border completely and allowing the pressure to build on the Mexican government to the point where they either do something to improve the lot of their people or be dragged from their offices and their mansions and put up against the wall. I don't know what to do about the 11 to 22 million illegals that are already here. I never hear anyone, including Lou Dobbs, explain how we conduct this round up in a humane way without the use of cattle cars and barbed wire. Please, anyone, tell me how we do this?http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/05/30/207518.aspx#208643Wed, 30 May 2007 17:29:32 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:208643Ricardo in California Jerry... Bush lied to the american people and made up a war based on those lies and 3000 plus americans have lost their lives because of it ... i guess that means nothing to you ...no matter what you say, Bush will go down as the worst President this nation has ever had ...what Dianne Feinstein did pales in comparison to the Bush/CHeney relationship with Halliburton .... Give it up Jerry ...your party has failed this nation and will pay heavily in 2008... just like they did in 2006. http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/05/30/207518.aspx#208647Wed, 30 May 2007 17:30:11 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:208647Michelle, NJAmy in Maine...don't take Jerry's comment to offense. He still thinks us women stay at home for a living so therefore we have TONS AND TONS of time to make phone calls. Agh this is why I can't wait for a democrat to be in office again. All of this white middle aged republican american male domination is screwing our country up. BIG TIME! http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/05/30/207518.aspx#208650Wed, 30 May 2007 17:30:37 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:208650Ryan, MichiganSidney - I have contacted my U.S. Rep, my U.S. Senator and several other Senators. However, I think that your point is correct. I get the feeling not many people actually take the time to call or write thier Senators or Congressmen/women...JJ - Look hindsight is 20/20 and I don't think its fair to speculate what one person might've done or not. And that goes both ways, meaning its not constructive to say that Al Gore would've done nothing and sat around "trying to "invent" something". As far as Fred Thompson and the whole Scooter Libby thing goes, I don't get why it matters in his case that the CIA still had Plame qualified as "covert"? Libby wasn't charged with the leak. Fitzgerald and the rest of the public have known for quite some time that the leak came from Richard Armitage at State. Fred Thompson wants Scooter Libby pardoned because Fitzgerald pulled a Martha Stewart on him and dug around until he could charge somebody with something. Now, obviously, I don't condone lying, especially to a grand jury (ask Bill how that worked out for him), and I think Libby should be punished but it does have that, "I don't want my investigation to be completely worthless and I refuse to prosecute the actual leaker because he's not close enough to the administration so I will dig around until I can charge somebody with something" feel to it.http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/05/30/207518.aspx#208691Wed, 30 May 2007 17:41:28 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:208691Russell in MarylandMy definition of a bully -- someone who likes to dish it out but can't take it when it hits them. Those neocons are such crybaby whiners when the crap reverses flow. Conservative Paul Weyrich tells the Washington Times that “there are legitimate reasons to oppose this legislation, and I don't think that it behooves the president to call people names or make accusations against them if they disagree with him." http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/05/30/207518.aspx#208702Wed, 30 May 2007 17:45:28 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:208702IntheMiddle, TexasJJ: Just how in the hell do you know what Gore would have did? Are you a damn mind reader. All this if I would of, I should of.Let me tell you: If a dog had a square behind he would poop blocks.http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/05/30/207518.aspx#208703Wed, 30 May 2007 17:45:57 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:208703Ricardo in California Jerry, for the record, Los Angeles is a city not a state. I live in California but in LA ..so go ahead make my day ..give me that lecture about how companies make their money .. I cant wait to hear the radical republican definition .. is it something like "hire cheap labor ..make lots of profit"?http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/05/30/207518.aspx#208708Wed, 30 May 2007 17:49:04 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:208708Darrel In Edinboro, PA Sidney in PA: I contact my elected oficials regularly voice my opinions on many subjects. Senator Specter's (sp?) office has heard multiple times from me, about immigration policy, earmarks, and several other subjects. My local representative, John Evans, from the 5th legislative, hears from me and my family so much I would guess he knows us all by first name....Frankly, I'm surprised he survived the last election, as he was one who voted for the midnight pay raise, and then had the gall to say that he deserved it! Poor guy, his office is right down the street from where I live....... http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/05/30/207518.aspx#208727Wed, 30 May 2007 17:58:03 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:208727Dave, TnSo if Hillary or Obama doesn't make it through as the nominee for the democrat party it's going to be because democrat voters are too racist, or sexist?http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/05/30/207518.aspx#208760Wed, 30 May 2007 18:13:41 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:208760Carrie, NW IowaRyan - I hope you had the same feeling about Ken Starr and Bill Clinton. If nay investigation had the feeling of "I will dig around until I can charge somebody with something" it was that whole mess. And what came of that? He lied about receiving oral sex in the oval office. As far as Valerie Plame is concerned, it is a pretty big deal that she was classified as a covert agent, considering many on the right insisted that she was not covert and therefore there was nothing wrong with leaking her identity. Regardless who leaked her name, the fact that she was a covert agent is significant in this little political melodrama.http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/05/30/207518.aspx#208761Wed, 30 May 2007 18:13:53 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:208761Ollie frenchburg kyI agree with you Michelle, NJ. I honestly beleive it is time for a woman president. The last bunch of white gray haired men have proved to be great leaders haven't they?http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/05/30/207518.aspx#208782Wed, 30 May 2007 18:22:22 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:208782Aimee, Pittsburgh, PAHow about a boycott of companies known to hire illegal aliens? When you go to a store and the cashier can't speak English, stop going there and let them know why. Stop purchasing meat from a company that you know fills its packing plants with illegals. Before you build a home make sure your contractor does not have illegal aliens working for him. When the money stops coming to these employers then and only then will this human tidal wave STOP!http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/05/30/207518.aspx#208795Wed, 30 May 2007 18:30:01 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:208795H P BostonThe Washhinton Times is a RAG!http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/05/30/207518.aspx#208865Wed, 30 May 2007 18:59:02 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:208865Ryan, MichiganCarrie - I have routinely (sp?) said on this website that I disagreed with parts of the Clinton investigation and eventually the impeachment. It was largely a waste of time and resources. I think that I didn't do a good job of wording my statements about Valerie Plame. Obviously, it is a big deal that a covert agent was outed. What I was trying to say was that I didn't understand why it was a big deal that Thompson is supporting a group that is for the pardoning of Scooter Libby. The pardoning of Scooter Libby has nothing to do with whether Plame was a covet agent or not. That's not what Libby was charged with. So, to try to summerize, its a big deal that Plame was a covert agent at the time of Novak's editorial, however its not really relevant to Libby's conviction thus its not really relevant in trying to get a pardon from that conviction. I still feel like something is being lost in my own translation. Sorry if this doesn't make sense.http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/05/30/207518.aspx#208878Wed, 30 May 2007 19:04:52 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:208878Lee in CASidney- I have.http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/05/30/207518.aspx#208888Wed, 30 May 2007 19:14:05 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:208888Ryan, MichiganAs Kate O'Beirne from the NRO said, "Too bad Scooter Libby can't prove that he was in the country illegally before January of this year so he could be pardoned for past offenses."http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/05/30/207518.aspx#208895Wed, 30 May 2007 19:18:13 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:208895Ryan, MichiganIn my opinion one of the biggest demographic groups effected by illegal immigration is teenagers. Instead of having a good, character building job, they're off spending mom & or dad's hard earned money and thinking about ways to complain about how hard their life is. This country would probably be better off if the younger generation had to do some good physical labor.http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/05/30/207518.aspx#208909Wed, 30 May 2007 19:23:57 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:208909Ed, OhioSidney, I contact my represenatives every week. And I let John Boehner know that as long as he supports Bush on this war and immigration policy, he will never have my vote.http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/05/30/207518.aspx#208916Wed, 30 May 2007 19:26:37 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:208916Amy B Portland, MEI don't agree with you regarding the Libby case, Ryan. 1) You don't seem to understand the only reason Armitage, Libby and Rove were not prosecuted for leaking was because they claimed they did not know Plame was covert (a pre-requiste for being charged.) In other words, it's just not true Fitzgerald chose to prosecute Libby only because he was closer to Cheney than Armitage was, and would be a bigger catch. 2)You make it sound like the Libby case was Fitzgerald's personal hobby horse. Fitzgerald was asked by the CIA to investigate the leak, which tells me they, at least, considered it a serious breach of security. 3) You forget that Judith Miller went to prison for a year because she would not disclose to Fitzgerald that Libby had leaked Plame's name to her. Libby's lies impeded a federal investigation and sent a journalist to jail. That's real bad. Ask the journalists. 4) Thompson's drive to pardon Libby is akin, in my mind, to Rove's hosting a party to raise money for the Republicans convicted of jamming Democratic phone lines on election day. You may see nothing wrong with supporting members of your party who are convicted of political crimes, but is that partisan attitude really appropriate in someone who is elected to govern the United States of America?http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/05/30/207518.aspx#208921Wed, 30 May 2007 19:28:31 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:208921H P Boston / HOT DAMSidney- Me too. FGS! I LOVE Teddy Kennedy, such a big old wooly bear. His dog is great looking too, also works in the Senate. A great country America. Life is good!http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/05/30/207518.aspx#208934Wed, 30 May 2007 19:35:39 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:208934Ollie frenchburg kySidney pa don't do no good, there all a bunch of crookshttp://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/05/30/207518.aspx#208964Wed, 30 May 2007 19:46:56 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:208964Acid Boy, AZFred Thompson = Law & Order: The White House, another clueless actor in chargehttp://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/05/30/207518.aspx#208966Wed, 30 May 2007 19:47:28 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:208966qt, Cincinnati, OHAimee and others, Illegal immigration does not equal people from Mexico. There are many people here from Mexico who are here legally, but don't know English. Conversely, there are many people in the U.S. from many countries who may speak English, that are here illegally. And as a side note, there is physically no way to stop illegal immigration.http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/05/30/207518.aspx#208976Wed, 30 May 2007 19:55:22 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:208976Dave, TnLibby should get a punishment some where between what Clinton and baggy pants Berger received. I miss the good old days when the democrats hated the CIA, and blamed them along with America for all the problems in the world.http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/05/30/207518.aspx#209044Wed, 30 May 2007 20:33:50 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:209044buzzJee-ziz, Jerry, once and for all- CARTER did not "have a bunch of people held hostage", the Iranians did. And to most of the rest of you- Al Gore NEVER SAID he invented the internet. http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/05/30/207518.aspx#209058Wed, 30 May 2007 20:45:44 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:209058greetings from tucsonhey folks, it's already been proven that the largest employer of illegals is john q public. yes, companies make huge profits from hiring them,also, but how do you stop the people from picking up the guy to do yard work or the girl to clean house? the feds don't want to enforce laws already on the books, so they make up new ones just to play politics. i live 60 miles from mexico. our govenor is trying to secure us, but the feds are now offering border agents huge sums of cash to go work in iraq instead of spending the money to secure us. until mexico, central & south america wants to do something positive with their poor, we will always have the same old same old. please, gore would have been so much better for this country than the evil empire that got assigned to the job.http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/05/30/207518.aspx#209081Wed, 30 May 2007 20:57:20 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:209081MK,MOqt,cincnnati oh, nobody is singling out mexicans,anybody here ilegally needs sent home,they're are plenty of ways to physically stop them from walking across the border, what it amounts to is the scum of this nation keeps taking jobs away from americans that won't work for slave wages and no benifits and gives them to these criminals so they can gamble more money in the stock market which makes all the repubs giddy and furthers they're quest for the perfect 2 class society, business writes the laws in this country, business wants slave labor nuff said http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/05/30/207518.aspx#209123Wed, 30 May 2007 21:33:00 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:209123Terry, Columbia, SCRyan from Michigan - I like your idea...that is, about getting teenagers to work. If you could find a single native-born teenager that would do (for one day mind you) half the work any of these Mexican laborers do for builders and landscapers in my neck of the woods, that kid would without doubt go on to become a great American entrepreneur. It's been said over and over...these people make lots and lots of money for business owners of every stripe, and none of our native sons would be caught dead doing it. These laborers are paid in cash and usually go on to their night job at the chicken factory about 4PM. They surely don't need a green card to work anywhere in the economic no-man's land where illegals thrive in every kind of sweatshop....but then again, there's no work at all in Mexico. Ironically, the home of the man quickly outpacing Bill Gates as the world's richest - Carlos Slim. But anyway, that's just one segment of the new immigrant population, both legal and otherwise. It would be ideal if these people followed all the rules for obtaining residency and eventual citizenship, but the floodgates are open and short-term profits (and shortsightedness)are everything in the land of the almighy dollar. In truth, there is no ready solution to this massive problem - how do you quickly reverse a trend that is at more than a generation in the making? So, the immigration issue, the Iraq issue - selling global democracy...all great smoke screens for the usual corporate rape and pillage that lays at the bottom of all the various social conundrums without a solution...the longer they prevail the more money to be made. http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/05/30/207518.aspx#209188Wed, 30 May 2007 22:20:07 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:209188qt, Cincinnati, OHMK, assuming there were a way to stop illegal immigrants from "walking across the border" (which in itself is impractical), it wouldn't stop illegal immigration. A large percentage of "illegal immigrants" have expired visas, false papers, etc.http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/05/30/207518.aspx#209366Thu, 31 May 2007 02:26:26 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:209366Sandra Binder Canton. OhioThe left will use the old race/gender card about why Hillary and Obama do not win the South and Mid West...but they will never believe the truth is that Americans just do not like Socialism and Government hand outs. And all of you calling Fred a fat white guy and saying things about his cancer....good to hear ya...makes me think you leftists are really scared of a great American!!! Run Fred Run!!! Just tell me where to send my big evil conservative bucks for your campaign!!!http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/05/30/207518.aspx#209369Thu, 31 May 2007 02:39:54 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:209369Aimee, Pittsburgh, PAqt-I never said Mexico or Mexican. You did.http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/05/30/207518.aspx#209418Thu, 31 May 2007 04:44:04 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:209418jerry/corpus christi texasOk Ricardo, Let me teach you a little bit about economics 101. You see my hispanic friend, Oil companies make 8 cents per gallon of gasoline they refine. All the money they have to spend to find the oil, get the oil out of the ground, pump it to the refineries and get it to the consumer, a large chunk of their profit is pretty much gone. I forgot what the percentage, but I think the USA imports about 40% of it's refined gasoline from overseas, because of the tight refinery market(everyone running at 100% capacity), means that we have to have the gasoline refined overseas, which costs more money. Plus, the added disadvantage of having liberals such as yourself Ricard, keeps telling the oil companies they don't want new refineries built in the country. Therefore, the law of supply and demand comes into play here. WE have China and India, growing quick and fast and they are trying to tie up as much of the supply as possible. There is a place in Alaska called ANWR, but the liberals are afraid the poor elk or whatever the heck lives there will have a stroke if we drill and that is a no go. Off the coast of California, there are millions of barrels of oil, but because the enviromental nazi's of california will burn down the city of Los Angeles faster then the people in Watts tried to do it in 65 and 92, nobody can drill for oil off the california coast. Plus Ricardo, your state and my state applies taxes just like the federal goverment does. Tonight I paid $2.69 a gallon and If I didn't have to pay all those local, state and federal taxes listed on the pump, I would have paid $2.14 a gallon. I could go all night Ricardo, but the hour is late and trying to explain economics 101 to a liberal is like talking to a 20# bag of dog food. Any other problems you may have about why prices are so high, you know where to find me. Also, Ricardo, it pains me to inform you that research throughout the so-called great state of california has found no price gouging in the last 45 days. thank you and good night now!http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/05/30/207518.aspx#209431Thu, 31 May 2007 05:43:16 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:209431Jane, Southern MississippiI wonder if President Reagan ever regretted his decision for the amnesty back in 1986? Probably not. BTW, In The Middle in Texas, I loved your "if" about the dog. Makes as much sense as all the other "ifs." http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/05/30/207518.aspx#209492Thu, 31 May 2007 12:33:22 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:209492MonniAbout "the Wesley Clark factor" -- This has become the quick, common meme to reach for in discussing Thompson. But a look at the facts shows that General Clark did quite well in 2003/4. Before Iowa, he raised more money than any other Democratic candidate except Dean, and raised it faster; he placed better than Edwards in five of the eight primaries in which he was a candidate, and won Oklahoma. Pretty remarkable, especially considering he entered the race late and with little money, needed to skip Iowa, and wasn't a politician. Kerry's momentum coming out of Iowa rolled over all the other candidates; Clark saw the writing on the wall and graciously bowed out early to support Kerry. The myth that he did poorly is now a prop for lazy journalists.http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/05/30/207518.aspx#209520Thu, 31 May 2007 13:07:29 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:209520MK,MOqt, there is nothing impractical about securing the border or rounding up all the ilegals and deporting them if thats what the people in control wanted, but they don'thttp://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/05/30/207518.aspx#209812Thu, 31 May 2007 16:15:09 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:209812Chris W, Austin txWow, Alot of hate here. As a lifelong republican, i am highly disappointed in Bush. However, I personally feel that voting for Kerry would have been just as big a mistake (no longer sure it would have been a bigger one). The reason for that is that Bush is acting like a liberal. The only thing he has done correctly recently is the DECISION to keep after the terrorists. Yes, Iraq supported terrorrism, though not specifically Al queda (though it has been proven that he did talk to Osama). It along with Iran and Syria were the biggest supporters or terrorrism, and they found three seperate training camps in Iraq, which alot of folks seem to forget. HOWEVER, Iran was likely the bigger threat and still is. So the Decision to continue the terrorrism effort was correct, but the target was not. also, a mass military invasion was not the only was to work the issue. Undermining the government from within woulda worked, as we can now tell from Irans recent elections. As for as corruption, Both parties have it, and the Dems JUST AS MUCH as the Repubs. The only difference is that when Republicans get caught, They have the common courtesy to leave politics, and maybe go to jail. Dems Kick and scream all the way, if they dont actually use thier power to get out of it altogether (Barney Frank, Cynthia McKinney, John Murtha, just to name a few). Sometimes they even hide it in plain sight, saying they were doing thier job, and the MSM goes along with pap (Pelosi, Ried, etc). However, the whole congress is corrupt as far as i can tell. Jerry is actually Correct on the Ecomonics or the Oil industry. The oil industry is actually making alot lower net margin than alot of other industries, Like Pharma, Banking, etc. In fact, Oil is making MUCH lower net margin than Whole Foods. Why doesnt everyone cry to get THEM fines for Gouging. Why, because what they are doing is not illegal, and is actualy good for the economy. You want lower Gas Bills?? Stop using so much gas! The relief on demand will cause lower prices. Yhe macro economics involved are actually pretty simple in this case, a straight supply/demand thing. Thats why gas goes up in price in the Summer. On immigration. There is no way can can get Rid of the Illegals completely. There is no way we can get rid of all speeders. Then again, there is no way we can get rid of all rapists and murderers. Does that mean we need to give them all Amnesty? Do we need to stop enforcing Laws? I am sympathetic to the need to earn an income. However, when you have the mexican consulates teaching Illegals how to "game the system" (true, btw) and you have an entire group that DOES NOT want to join the melting pot of the US, but instead wants to bring Mexico here, then there is an inherent issue with what is happening. As a third Generation immigrant, my folks were made to learn english and to assimilate. Does that mean im not proud of my heritage? NO! However, going to Octoberfest is not the same as forcing the government to print everything in spanish because i refuse to speak english. My wife is hispanic and was called predjudiced because she told an illegal on welfare in her home town that she should not have more kids. This woman had 7 kids, was on welfare, WIC, etc, and drove a new car because her "husband" whom she wasnt technically married but was living with her actually had a skilled construction job paying 17$/hour (so much for taking jobs americans wont do). Bush is SO far left on this that he is no longer my president, and i am afraid that Paul Weyrich is correct in that this could split the Republican party. This of course means that the economy is screwed, because it has been proven time and again that higher taxes suppress spending by the public sector. Oh, btw, the person who said that the economy does better during Dem Presidencies completely made up that fact and it is wrong. Please make sure you dont lie to support your view, we are not generally politicians here, so keep to the facts. Clinton was lucky enough to be in the tech boom, and had a conservative congress that kept him from doing anything stupid. Otherwise, you had Carter (worst ecomony since the depression), LBJ (Raising taxes proven to supress economic growth), Kenedy (neutral, but he inherited an economic boom from Eisenhower), Truman and LBJ got short shrift due to the war and the great depression brought about by overspeculation in the stock market, so cant blame them. Can say that when LBJ started cutting the syopgap programs he started to help the depression, he cut alot of the wrong ones(like the CCC). Compare these Economies of high interest rates on loans and high unemployment to Bush (YES, Bush. the economy is great, no matter what the media says. Housing is the only downside), Reagan, Eisenhower, FDR, etc. Bush has once again proven that if you lower taxes, you increase tax reciepts int he long run. Compare this to the high taxes of Carter (90% taxes on the highest income bracket), and look at the respective economies. Bush's issue is that he is spending WAY to much! The war, Medicare, SS, welfare all being funded stupidly. Earmarks arent helping either, and both sides of the fence are to blame there. well, this is too long, so i'll stop here.http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/05/30/207518.aspx#210357Thu, 31 May 2007 22:48:08 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:210357jus sayinlong winded and WRONG chris.http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/05/30/207518.aspx#211893Sun, 03 Jun 2007 06:14:47 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:211893Jeff RosenthalMr. Todd I heard your comments on CNBC about people living the the midwest are upset about immigration because the hispanics are just now becoming an issue in the midwest. That statement is just plain wrong. I live in Nebraska and I have,as well as the friends and family that live in my ares, have been aware and concerned about this problem of illegal aliens immigrants for fove years or more. Another problem I have with not only you but most of commentators like yourself is you never get to the real issues. Why don't you ever discuss the huge cost to the American people if the stupid Senate immigration bill is passed and the effect it will have on the middle and lower classed in America. You people also never mention the huge numbers of people who will be given amnesty and the also huge numbers of chain immigrants that will also be allowed into the country. Ask President Bush who will pay for these people's healthcare and education? It won't be business because they don't cover American workers. Business don't pay taxes, and if they are threatned with taxes they will just leave the country. Go the China and set up shop, then exoprt their products back into the U.S. to sale. Since the average educational level of an illegal alien immigrant is the sixth grade I dougnt their earnings abality will not be too great. This so called immigration reform bill is a failed bill from special interest. Thank you.