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| Warm Welcome in Texas for Minutemen |
| 2005-06-21 |
| (GOLIAD, TEXAS) -- There was no shortage of volunteers last night as the controversial Minuteman civilian border patrol organization gathered in this historic south Texas town to organize anti illegal immigrant activities in Texas. Many volunteers said illegal immigration needs to be stopped, and since the federal government is unable or unwilling to do it, then its up to civilians to step in and get it done. "Our children can't get out into our yards," rancher and Texas Minuteman leader Bill Parmley told the group. "We're afraid. Something has to be done." The location of the meeting in Goliad was significant. The city was the home of many of the volunteers who died fighting the Mexican army at the Alamo in 1836. The unit which delivered a cannon the Alamo along with a flag that carried the defiant message 'come and take it.' Many volunteers complained that their lives have been 'turned upside down' by the surge in illegal immigration. They told of having illegals kicking down doors, damaging their property, and stealing livestock. And there was a lot of frustration with what the volunteers perceived to be the federal government's inaction on the problem. "We have met with our senators, we have sent letters to President Bush, we have gone all the way to Washington, and still no response," Parmley told 1200 WOAI's Charity McCurdy. "All we're doing is what President bush asked us to do after 9-11, to be observant citizens and look for suspicious activity and call it in. That's all we're doing." But several civil rights leaders at the rally said the Minutemen go a lot further than that. Che Lopez compared the volunteers at last night's rally to the Ku Klux Klan. "Just basically racially profiling people. Pulling them out of their cars. Intimidating them." Minutemen organizer Chris Simcox said he plans to have four chapters of the group patrolling the Texas-Mexico border in October. A Minuteman action in Arizona in April had mixed results. "We are here at the invitation of Texans," Simcox said. "Over 7,000 requests from citizens of Texans who are fed up with President Bush, and are growing weary of the situation we have on our borders." But not all Texans are excited about the presence of the Minutemen in Texas, and one of them is Senator John Cornyn, who this weekend introduced a measure calling for comprehensive changes in border security, and the hiring of 10,000 additional sworn officers of the U.S. Border Patrol. "I don't think that it is in the best interests of the country to have untrained people, who not withstanding their best of intentions, might find themselves involved in violent and unexpected situations along our border," Cornyn said, adding that he understands the 'frustrations' of the Minutemen and their supporters. "I recognize that citizens think it has fallen to them in the absence of the federal government living up to its responsibilities to provide that security along our border." But last night in Golaid, volunteers weren't interested in Senate resolutions or debates on international migration. They are increasingly frustrated with that they see as a growing threat to their lives and the security of the United States, and they want action. "I don't think that the federal government has the ability to take care of it," one volunteer said. "I think they need help, and I'm ready to help." |
| Posted by:Steve |
| #23 Steve - but what about all the free food, resposibility-free sex, drugs, and booze the Democrats have been promising for the past 30 years? You mean we have to *work* for it? Damn! |
| Posted by: CrazyFool 2005-06-21 23:59 |
| #22 Dr Steve, lol, you're just so darn nice! Lol! *taking notes* ;-) |
| Posted by: .com 2005-06-21 23:59 |
| #21 NMM wrote: Know when the LAST time the Fed minimum wage was raised? Wanna raise a family on that? Raised a while back. Inflation has been 1 - 2% in the meantime. Very few adults actually get minimum, most folks (especially in urban areas) get $8.00/hr at the bottom of the scale. In my village the kids at the Mickey D's are getting $8.00/hr. And the minimum wage is not the last wage you'll ever have in life if you have any motivation at all. I realize Democrats get all locked in on this, but a little education, some hard work, a willingness to work to get ahead, and you can do pretty decently. Lots of folks do. Ask some of the folks around Rantburg. |
| Posted by: Steve White 2005-06-21 23:56 |
| #20 RWV - you are absolutely correct. We should enforce the existing laws and strip away the corprate veil which protects executives from the decisions in this matter. If Wallmart wants to enploy 5000 illegals then the CEO should be liable for 500 years. I bet they will drop the illegals so fast your head would spin. Oh and extend the same to those officals who create 'sainctuary' cities and counties -- sorry but Federal Law trumps. And I don't buy that 'but we need the workforce' BS either. If they paid decent [non-slave] wages then they will have the workforce. And if you really need to import workers then CHANGE THE FRIGGING LAWS and allow more LEGAL immigration or guest workers (as long as they apply from OUTSIDE the united states and undergo the full background checks just like everyone else who LEGALLY immigrates.) Also deport any illegals aliens who are here. |
| Posted by: CrazyFool 2005-06-21 23:50 |
| #19 And by the Grace of God--I've been spared with any contact with TX--except changing planes in DFW on my way to LA from NYC--how's that for a stereotype? |
| Posted by: NotMikeMoore 2005-06-21 23:09 |
| #18 Nice to see you again Jennie! But the business model embraced by our GOP rulers depends on cheap labor--we don't want any of the Communist Unions guaranteeing workers a living wage! Know when the LAST time the Fed minimum wage was raised? Wanna raise a family on that? So much for compassion in your Conservatism |
| Posted by: NotMikeMoore 2005-06-21 23:05 |
| #17 hi jennie! :) lonng time no see. |
| Posted by: muck4doo 2005-06-21 23:03 |
| #16 But who would mow the lawn? |
| Posted by: Hank 2005-06-21 22:51 |
| #15 NMM, WTF? How about it's the Dhimmicrats who won't do bupkus about immigration because they love all those dumb and blind illegal immigrant voters! Notice the Dims have *NO* policy or plans to deal with this problem. President Bush needs to do more on this and I believe he will, but until that time, the Minutemen are doing a terrific job. And I love it that this was in Goliad where one of my Texas ancestors died at the infamous Goliad Massacre! |
| Posted by: Jennie Taliaferro 2005-06-21 22:50 |
| #14 hi nmm. loneg time no see. |
| Posted by: muck4doo 2005-06-21 22:35 |
| #13 BTW--nice SPIN on that ZF-Carl must be blushing |
| Posted by: NotMikeMoore 2005-06-21 22:34 |
| #12 Now this is amusing.. The GOP is in charge of all branches, yet still the illegal immigrations continues! Guess the "small" business owners who are the backbone of the GOP still like that cheap labor as they play fast and loose with the immigrations laws! |
| Posted by: NotMikeMoore 2005-06-21 22:32 |
| #11 RVW - That would sure as hell do it - if enforced, anyway. The first Evening News perp-walk would tie this wound off. |
| Posted by: .com 2005-06-21 22:13 |
| #10 Illegal immigration could be cut off at the knees by removing the economic incentives for it. First, give notice that starting 1 August 2005, anyone who employees illegal aliens WILL be fined $1,000 per head up to $10,000. If more than 10 illegal aliens are employed, the manager of the operation will be imprisoned for 1 year, the sentence increased by one year for each additional 10 illegals employed. For large corporations, everyone in the chain of command up to and including the chairman of the board will be imprisoned for at least 1 year. Second, make it illegal for individuals to wire money from the US to Mexico. Third, arrest and deport every illegal found. Fourth, NO MORE ANCHOR BABIES. Children born to illegals SHOULD NOT BE CITIZENS. |
| Posted by: RWV 2005-06-21 22:05 |
| #9 LOL! Right on, Mountain Man! |
| Posted by: Sheik Abu Bin Ali Al-Yahood 2005-06-21 21:50 |
| #8 Did anyone see those cubans who converted the vintage taxi into a boat to escape Fidel and come to America last week? I say let those folks in, and block all the freakin Mexicales until they get creative and build a blimp or something like the Cubans. Extra points for ingenuity. |
| Posted by: Mountain Man 2005-06-21 18:39 |
| #7 Aw fooey, Texas is fun to stir up. |
| Posted by: Mississippi 2005-06-21 18:34 |
| #6 good point zf |
| Posted by: 2b 2005-06-21 16:05 |
| #5 98zulu: Bush and the republicans will suffer for decades if the next terrorist attack comes through this area. GWB doesn't care. He's in there to do what he said he would do. Nothing in there about illegal immigratiion. The fact that he doesn't care is a feature when you share his views - it's a liability when he doesn't. But look on the bright side - we only don't agree with him on a small list of issues. If McCain or Kerry had been elected, that roster would be miles long. Fact is - no presidential candidate is going to give you everything you want. Reagan raised payroll taxes, cut and ran from Lebanon and approved an illegal alien amnesty. GWB has at least not raised taxes or backed down from the War on Terror. Even his immigration proposal isn't a full-fledged amnesty, which is why liberals are howling about it. |
| Posted by: Zhang Fei 2005-06-21 15:59 |
| #4 don't mess with Texas |
| Posted by: 2b 2005-06-21 15:52 |
| #3 I think if they want or need to let more Mexicans in they should simply raise the annual limit of legal immigrations. The race card the "activist" pulled was just plain BS. We have immigration laws in place and Bush (and numerous other previous presidents have failed to enforce them or take more precautions. (Especially after 9-11.) You can't let in 10 million Mexicans and then just turn away a boat load of Chinese in NY. We have laws with limits. They should be enforced. I side with the minutemen simply because we all know if Bush's ranch had people breaking fences and stealing shit they would be shot on sight. These people work hard to get their houses and property. It's ridiculous their requests for government help falls on deaf ears. Bush and the republicans will suffer for decades if the next terrorist attack comes through this area. |
| Posted by: 98zulu 2005-06-21 13:57 |
| #2 The situation is a lot easier then is being let on. 99% of the illegals come through narrow corridors that have very strict limitations. First, there must be a departure city and an arrival city, or at least transport near roads at your destination. Second, it must have passable terrain obstacles, no mountains, no huge stretches of desert, reasonable weather. So all that really must be done is to block these corridors. |
| Posted by: Anonymoose 2005-06-21 13:30 |
| #1 I really think this will be a big talking point of the next elections. I voted for Bush both times but I wouldn't vote for him again if it were possible. He has really failed the country on this issue. Why do I have to take off my shoes and get padded down to board a plane but illegals can walk across the border with impunity? It only a matter of time - maybe long maybe short - but one day we will get hit again from someone who walked right on in. I support the Minutemen and hope the continue to gain notoriaty as long as they play it safe and legally. It will take only 1 incident for everything they've done to be wiped away. I'd venture as far as to say the MSM probably already have prewritten headlines waiting to be published. |
| Posted by: Yosemite Sam 2005-06-21 13:15 |