May. 15, 2006 - 19:23 MDT

FIGURATIVE AND FIGURATIVE FIGURES

I haven't had time nor the ear to watch TV today, but every time I passed it there was some guru giving us the straight dope on the Pres' coming later latest. ( Much more up to date or screwed up than what he will say. ) Even he might be amazed at what some of the media thinks he means. So, any way here is an article by Nedra Pickler of the Associated Press that is in the Rocky Mountain News this morning. Quoted in full -- without my italics and bolds:

SHORING UP BORDER

Bush proposal calls for putting Guard on U.S. Mexico line

WASHINGTON -- "President Bush will call for thousands of National Guard troops to be deployed along the Mexican border in support of patrols aimed at keeping out illegal immigrants, a White House official said Sunday on the eve of an Oval Office address announcing the plan."

"White house aides worked into the night Sunday to iron out details of the proposal and allay concerns among lawmakers that using troops to man the border would further burden an overextended military."

"A White House official said Bush would propose using troops as a stopgap measure while the border Patrol builds up its resources."

"The troops would play a supportive role to Border Patrol agents, who would maitain primary responsibility for physically guarding the border."

"The official spoke on condition of anonymity before the address today at 6 p.m. MDT. The official would not say how many troops Bush wanted to use, except that it would be in the thousands but less than an estimate of as many as 10,000 being discussed at the Pentagon."

"Bush's national security adviser, Stephen Hadley,. would not confirm that using National Gueard troops was the plan but said it was one of the options the president was considering. but he described the same scenario."

"It's not about militarization of the border," Hadley said on CNN's Late Edition. "it's about assisting the civilian border patrol indoing their job, providing intelligence, providing support, logistics support and training and those sort of things."

"Bush's National Guard plan is aimed at winning support for broader immigration reform from conservatives in Congress. Bush's main goal is to allow foreigners to get temporary work permits to take low-paying jobs -- and idea favored by the business community."

"But many conservatives want a tougher approach on illegal immigrants trying to sneak into the country."

"About 100 National Guard troops are serving on the border to assist with counter-drug operations, heavy equipment support and other functions."

"I think what it would be is simply expanding the kind of thing that has already been done in the past on order to provide a bit of a stopgap as the Border Patrol build up their capapcity to deal with this challenge," Hadley said."

"Bush gave the same mesxsage to Mexican President Vincente Fox, who called Sunday to discuss his plans. Bush assured Fox that any military support would be administrative and logistical and would come from the National guard and not the Army, according to a news release from Fox's office"

"Criticism of the National Guard plan came Sunday from Democrats, but also an importatnt Reublican negotiator in the immigration debate -- Sen. Chuck Hagel of Nebraska. He said National Guard troops cannot secure the border over the long term and that he does not think it is wise even in the short term."

"We've got National Guard members on their second, third and fourth tours in Iraq," Hagel said. "We have stretched our military as thin as we have ever seen it in modern times. And what in the world are we talking about here, sending a Natinal Guard that we may not have any capacity to send up to do down to protect borders ? That's not their role.."

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What ? ? ? ? ? Is this a bad comic opera with lousy music or what ?

One thing I note is the following:Quote -- "Bush's National Guard plan is aimed at winning support for broader immigration reform from conservatives in Congress. "BUSH'S MAIN GOAL IS TO ALLOW FOREIGN WORKERS TO GET TEMPORARY WORK PERMITS TO TAKE LOW-PAYING JOBS -- AN IDEA FAVORED BY THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY." Unquote.

That is one thing that does ring true to me.

One thing I have noticed recently is that illegals seem to be doing work in the skilled trades, trades that once were unionized to a great extent. Now that is taking jobs away from us -- you can't make me believe that companies are paying the illegals the same scale that our citizens expect for that kind of work. So what are we headed for in our country ? The rich folk and U.S. Citizen Peons ?

Why isn't there deeper discussion of making hiring of illegals a felony ? Oh, yeah, I know business folk of this country frown on something like that.

Now just how are the National Guard going to sew up our border and make it leak proof, if they are just going to be advisors (like our military in Viet Nam). Seems to me that the Border Patrol has been more or less in the condition of the control and upkeep of the Levees in New Orleans and Huricane Protection on our gulf coast. Many dollars without results, or have there been any dollars for Border Patrol ? Why is it going to take support of any kind from the National Guard to bring them "UP TO SPEED" ?

Of course, I suppose this is just a kite Bush intends to fly to see how it will go over in Peoria. Apparently fraught with many loopholes and possibly impossible to accomplish using National Guard troops. Seemingly no Plan "B" is coming forth at this time, if ever.

Smoke and mirrors, dogs and ponies with a clown or two thrown in to put forth ideas that are and with FIGURATIVE AND FIGURATIVE FIGURES . . . . . . . . . . .

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