Tea Party misc. — The SCV Talk Archive

Tea Party misc.

By Jeff — Jeff Wilson

A taste of what we can expect at tonight’s City Council meeting from the Signal’s article about the Tea Party crashing the council meeting:

Notice the amount of vitriol tossed your way if you even slightly criticize the Tea Party (the full comment thread is here). You’re not just accused of being sympathetic to “border hoppers,” you’re accused of being a “border hopper” yourself.

Ahh but I’m just a libruhl complaining as usual.

Maybe I should sign up for the SCV Tea Party convention/seminar being held next week at Valencia’s North Park megachurch so I can do some learnin’ on the ways of the Tea Party and the greatness of the Constitution:

Participating in this event is just about every conservative institution in the SCV. The only thing missing is some kind of tie-in to the local IHOP, where the conservatives in town usually meet. Appearing at this Constitutional learnin’ derby will be Rick Green, the ultra-conservative Tea Party Texan who headlined last year’s Mayors Prayer Breakfast (hosted by Joe Messina’s Dunamis Group, one of the sponsors -along with the Minutemen- of this year’s event)

Last year, Green ran unsuccessfully for Texas Supreme Court. But he’s not one to rest. Santa Clarita will be the 11th stop on a nationwide tour of events like the one above, where you can participate in a one day seminar on the Constitution for $45 for individuals or $75 for a family package deal.

Interestingly North Park church in Valencia is hosting the event. North Park recently finished the build-out of their swank new church campus and school, Trinity Classical Academy. The large church -which usually has a huge 4th of July parade ‘float’- is a symbol of North Valencia’s rapid development and increased power base in recent years. Think Laurie Ender’s people. Only now they’re hosting not just church services but explicitly political events.

If you, like me, support a humane immigration policy, let the City Council know. They can be reached at the following:

Mayor Marsha McLean

mmclean@santa-clarita.com

Mayor Pro-Tem Laurie Ender

lender@santa-clarita.com

Frank Ferry

fferry@santa-clarita.com

Laurene Weste

lweste@santa-clarita.com

Bob Kellar

bkellar@santa-clarita.com

Comments (86)

Kevin D. KorenthalJanuary 11, 2011 at 3:45 pm

Your hypocrisy and loathe for those that do not share your Socialist tendencies is on full display today Jeff. Where the hell were you and your blog when President Bush was constantly the subject of verbal and even cinematic threats on his life? And please tell me how studying and sharing the intricacies of our most important founding document is “explicitly political”. The term would describe an activity that promoted one political party over another when in fact this activity does no such thing. A growing number of people from both parties are coming to realize that the progressive policies of legislators in both parties over the last 20 or 30 years was a slow road to Socialism. Only those who still believe that Socialism is appropriate in America are still supporting those policies and promoting those policies going forward. For everyone else, real identity can come from an understanding of The Declaration of Independence, our Constitution and The Bill of Rights. You should do some learnin about the Tea Party and you clearly could use some education on the Constitution but now that you are an out of the closet SOCIALIST, there probably isn’t much personal value in such exercises. BTW: I don’t know happymominscv is but she is clearly not happy with the state of the Republic. A lot of people are angry on all sides of the political spectrum. Liberals are angry because Socialism is not proceeding as the 2008 election results predicted and conservatives are angry because many of them have woken up from a life-long nap and realized that their has slowly been transformed into a socialist state. Pointing out the anger on the right when NEVER showing the anger on the left discredits you and this blog and brings into question your fitness to report anything more serious than the latest food truck to hit the SCV.

MikeJanuary 11, 2011 at 3:49 pm

CINEMATIC THREATS!!! OMGZ Will there be a Kenyan birth certificate at this meeting?

Lori RivasJanuary 11, 2011 at 6:07 pm

“And please tell me how studying and sharing the intricacies of our most important founding document is “explicitly political”. ” Rick Green, whose text will be used for the above mentioned class on the Constitution, is most decidedly political, and is associated with David Barton of Wallbuilders, who also has a particular world view to sell. I had not heard of Rick Green before this posting, but I have done some research on David Barton, who is a pseudo-academic, cherry-picking quotes and twisting stories out of context. On his website, Rick Green touts that he runs the Patriot Academy, “the premier conservative political training camp in the nation.” No doubt, he is selling his bill of goods in this Constitutional class. There is no getting around the politics here.

Gang FangJanuary 11, 2011 at 8:03 pm

What is you fall into neither category? Then what?

IHeartSCVJanuary 11, 2011 at 10:23 pm

Then what? Then, on a Venn diagram with a red circle, blue circle, and purple overlap, you are the white background. Or, you don’t exist, despite evidence to the contrary.

Gang FangJanuary 11, 2011 at 10:29 pm

I’ll take “do not exist” for the win.

Leon WordenJanuary 11, 2011 at 11:51 pm

IHeart — What if you believe that we Anglo Americans — whose ancestors invaded another country in 1846-48 and forced the vanquished to sign a peace treaty handing over their land — are the descendants of “illegal” immigrants? Then what?

IHeartSCVJanuary 12, 2011 at 5:36 am

Then what? Then, you would be asked why 1846-1848 is given special preference over earlier acquisitions of land (usurpations? you may prefer) from Native Americans. Or, if you prefer, you could be a gray circle on the same Venn diagram labeled as “Other, somewhat unrelated opinion.”

Leon WordenJanuary 12, 2011 at 9:00 am

IHeart – Good point. Man (and woman) crossed the Bering Strait between 25,000 and 11,000 years ago and settled here. The SCV’s earliest known archaeological sites date to 3,500 years ago. The Tataviam arrived around AD 450 (by our calendar). Spaniards arrived in 1769. The U.S. Army (and Navy) invaded in 1846-48 and lived peaceably with the native Mexicans, whom we elected to the governorship and Legislature following our 1850 statehood. The SCV hosted immigrants from France, Germany and Switzerland in the late 1800s and had a strong German-American Association until the rise of Hitler. Which is to ask, where do we get the idea that people don’t belong here if they don’t speak English? Of course, today the heirs of Pio Pico and our own Senator Reginaldo del Valle would be unwelcome in their own land if they happen to have been born on the wrong side of a political boundary laid out by a conquering army in 1848 at the site of Universal Studios Hollywood. Q: If our 1850 statehood is ancient history, then what are the Founding Fathers of 1776?

MikeJanuary 12, 2011 at 9:20 am

Nicely put.

Berta González-HarperJanuary 12, 2011 at 10:50 am

Hi Leon. With all due respect, nations are born from conflicts and seizures of land from neighbors and have been throughout history. The United States of America is a sovereign nation with ratified immigration laws and internationally recognized borders. The nation of Mexico, and every other nation on the planet, has the right to decide who is allowed entry and under what circumstances GUESTS are PERMITTED to enter as guests of a given country. Immigration processes are in place for the orderly and controlled entry of persons who have been vetted and accepted as guests. While the history of the United States has always been a melting pot, those who willingly entered the pot, were expected to follow whatever laws were in place at the time or work to change those laws, not simply ignore them. Additionally immigrants from all over the world came to have the opportunity to work hard and make a better life for themselves and their families. They did not expect others, the American Taxpayer, to provide for their needs, nor did they expect everyone else to accommodate their language, customs, etc. Even Native American tribes did not allow just anyone to settle on their lands and hunting grounds. The penalty for unpermitted entry was enslavement to the tribe or death, not deportation.

Kevin D. KorenthalJanuary 11, 2011 at 3:47 pm

There is nothing humane about allowing the entire population of Mexico to immigrate to the U.S. and utilize services that they have never paid into.

Lori RivasJanuary 11, 2011 at 6:09 pm

The ENTIRE population of Mexico has no desire to immigrate to the US. And there is everything humane in sharing with those in need, without reciprocation or payment. It is called charity and grace, and without it, there would be no hope for humankind.

Berta González-HarperJanuary 11, 2011 at 11:09 pm

Lori perhaps you should try to sell the concepts of “charity and grace,” to the Mexican government since they do not have any for their own citizens let alone those of any other country. Mexico has very strict immigration laws and enforces them with loaded guns too.

Lori RivasJanuary 12, 2011 at 1:44 pm

When we are discussing Mexican politics, I’d be glad to debate your point, Berta. As it stands, we are talking about US policy, and if and when the US offers something more gracious and more generous than other countries, that is a point of pride for me, not a point of argument.

Berta González-HarperJanuary 12, 2011 at 2:00 pm

Lori the lack of enforcement of the laws of the United States of America may be a source of pride for you. It is an unnecessary and expensive embarrassment for many of the rest of us. Charity and kindness are offered voluntarily, not forced upon the populace of a democracy.

NateJanuary 11, 2011 at 3:51 pm

I am more of a coffee guy.

Kevin D. KorenthalJanuary 11, 2011 at 3:56 pm

I speak of “Death of a President”. A movie not about the assassination of a fictitious President but George W. Bush himself. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0853096/

NateJanuary 11, 2011 at 4:00 pm

British Film.

Kevin D. KorenthalJanuary 11, 2011 at 4:02 pm

OBAMA MARCH 18, 2009: I don’t want to quell anger. I think people are right to be angry. I’m angry! What I want us to do, though, is channel our anger that constructive way.

Kevin D. KorenthalJanuary 11, 2011 at 4:10 pm

Here is a great Boston Globe editorial (from 2003) that quotes a myriad of celebrities, pundits and politicians on the Left committing hate speech openly and freely on the airwaves. http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2003/12/28/hate_speech_of_the_left/

4eyedsueJanuary 11, 2011 at 4:22 pm

oh I just love happymominscv. She’s a fantastic spokesperson for the Tea Party. Keep on posting happymominscv!

momtwicceJanuary 11, 2011 at 8:51 pm

that quote above is hilarious.

momtwicceJanuary 11, 2011 at 8:51 pm

I mean happymominscv’s quote, too funny.

NateJanuary 11, 2011 at 4:37 pm

gotta close out those HTML tags

ReaderMamaJanuary 11, 2011 at 4:43 pm

Yeah, I tried, but to no avail. Looks like the problem started with KK’s post. I’ll give it another go.

Timothy Myers SRJanuary 11, 2011 at 4:40 pm

Jeff: Before you hoist Northpark up on a petard, like they Real Life Church they make their facilities available to non-profits and others for uniform fees. Also, Northpark has a Spanish speaking ministry and conducts some services wholly in Spanish. Wonder what Mr. Green would think of that.

NateJanuary 11, 2011 at 4:45 pm

You think a Gay non profit has a shot?

Timothy Myers SRJanuary 11, 2011 at 5:26 pm

I’ll bet they would let them use it.

NateJanuary 12, 2011 at 7:48 am

I think you are way wrong.

Lori RivasJanuary 11, 2011 at 6:14 pm

Last spring, I tried and tried to find a church that would allow me to use their facility for a public event: a friend of mine survived the Holocaust, and offered to speak to our community. Not one church would allow free use of their facilities – they all wanted a fee, and proof of liability insurance. It was disappointing. I did only try churches on my end of town, though. We ended up having her speak at Barnes and Noble, which makes is community room available, free of charge. B&N even served snacks. I’ll have to keep these churches in mind for the next time I tackle a public event. Maybe I will have better luck.

Timothy MyersJanuary 11, 2011 at 10:15 pm

Lori: They want to collect a fee, and it is not cheap, but probably cheaper than a for profit venue.

Coastal SageJanuary 12, 2011 at 1:00 am

I am glad to hear the Northpark church is charging rent and keeping their distance. A few years ago the IRS decided to revoke the tax exempt status of an Episcopal Church in Pasadena because someone complained that the minister’s sermons were way too political. And, of course there’s the Roman Catholic dioceses, which always get hit with complaints to the IRS when they start aggressively threatening Roman Catholic elected officials with ex-communication when the church doesn’t like the politicians’ stance on abortion or any number of other issues.

MikeJanuary 12, 2011 at 1:02 am

Where’s #WCH when you need him?

NateJanuary 12, 2011 at 7:49 am

Nice

Kevin D. KorenthalJanuary 11, 2011 at 4:43 pm

How the hell did my little attempt at HTML create such havoc on Jeff’s blog? I guess I am just good at sewing chaos…

Leon WordenJanuary 11, 2011 at 4:47 pm

LOL!! It would be nice if more people crossed out their stuff before they even write it.

Leon WordenJanuary 11, 2011 at 4:49 pm

See if this works …. … did it work?

Leon WordenJanuary 11, 2011 at 4:49 pm

nope, didn’t work

NateJanuary 11, 2011 at 4:51 pm

I think a few people have tried to close the strike. someone with admin rights will have to edit kevins post.

Kevin D. KorenthalJanuary 11, 2011 at 4:52 pm

Jeff, you have my permission to censor the post in which I somehow failed to successfully close the close the HTML tag.

MikeJanuary 11, 2011 at 5:04 pm

The box is open. You can’t take it back!

ReaderMamaJanuary 11, 2011 at 4:54 pm

Yeah, I can’t get into his post to edit it or delete it. Jeff will have to handle it.

MikeJanuary 11, 2011 at 5:03 pm

Korenthal is trying to silence SCVtalkers through his stikethrough virus!

Kevin D. KorenthalJanuary 11, 2011 at 6:01 pm

Extremist and extreme statements are subjective terms. They mean different things to different people.

NateJanuary 12, 2011 at 7:52 am

Really Kevin? Do you think any comparison to a dictor who ordered the systematically murder of millions and any American politician to be extreme?

AlpinerJanuary 11, 2011 at 6:59 pm

Jeff, just because the event is held at a church, does not mean the church is in any way, shape or form sponsoring or supporting the event. They may or may not be.

Gang FangJanuary 11, 2011 at 8:01 pm

Bought 2 tickets, but Berta won’t call me back. Heartache.

Berta González-HarperJanuary 11, 2011 at 11:03 pm

Gang Fang, you never called sweetheart…

Leon WordenJanuary 11, 2011 at 8:03 pm

The drama over this “letter” is amazing. It was sent on a 3-2 vote of the council. I’ve known Laurene Weste for over 20 years. Why do people automatically assume she knew that “comprehensive immigration reform” is considered a euphemism for amnesty? In some minds, “comprehensive immigration reform” means just that: comprehensive immigration reform. Rescind amnesty, welfare benefits, health care benefits, education benefits, etc., for illegal immigrants.

Leon WordenJanuary 11, 2011 at 8:06 pm

OMG, Alan Cameron just said something like that! Go figure.

NickelDimeJanuary 11, 2011 at 8:40 pm

Leon, SCVTV stream isn’t working this eve. Just the snail-trail circle on a variety of computers and browsers. It’s me and one other guy “viewing” the circular snail trail, and I bet he’s tripping balls watching it. KK’s strikethrough virus musta hit UStream.

Leon WordenJanuary 11, 2011 at 8:55 pm

Nick – thanks for the note! Appreciate it. It’s having a bad night. Crashed a while ago & reset it, but didn’t realize it’s still struggling. I’ll have to reboot it as soon as it’s done doing some other processes. Thanks again for pointing it out! Separately, I heard that Time Warner Cable is all screwed up in Canyon Country. Some sort of an audio problem. Anyone else have that problem?

IHeartSCVJanuary 11, 2011 at 9:52 pm

ND, it worked on the City’s website (there were about 10 viewers, so a banner evening). Word has it that the Korenthal virus that strickened SCVTV relented for the 3 minutes that its creator spoke.

Bill ReynoldsJanuary 11, 2011 at 10:27 pm

Certainly Laurene was well aware of Bob Kellar’s stance on illegal immigration as it’s well known he is far more passionate on this subject than any of his fellow city council members. Why she neglected to obtain Bob’s opinion was a colossal error. City Council did not vote on the language of that letter.

MikeJanuary 11, 2011 at 11:00 pm

The city council doesn’t vote on the language of letters. Bob was on the losing side of the vote, anyway. Did he consult his fellow councilmembers when he sent a letter to Jan Brewer?

Coastal SageJanuary 12, 2011 at 1:05 am

I agree Leon. I didn’t know that “comprehensive immigration reform” were super secret code words for anything other than that plan which Bush, Kennedy and McCain proposed right before the end of President Bush’s term. I guess because I don’t watch Fox Network, I am out of the loop.

Leon WordenJanuary 12, 2011 at 1:46 am

Yeah, it’s tough to keep up with the secret code words of all the various splinter groups that don’t realize they’re the only ones who pay attention to their own rhetoric. I’ll bet you don’t know their secret handshakes, either.

ToddJanuary 11, 2011 at 10:28 pm

Someone should get the SCV Democrats to contact the church and request to use the facilities (willing to pay all fees and provide proper insurance) for a “candidate information forum” which may or may not have candidates who are “pro-choice.” I’d guess that they’ll reluctantly allow it… If they don’t, they’d be likely to face the IRS scrutinizing their tax exempt status.

Leon WordenJanuary 12, 2011 at 11:25 am

Hello Berta! (Sorry, had to start new thread; the thing is getting too narrow.) What immigrant language did we fail to accommodate? Pennsylvania Dutch? Children were taught in Dutch in some of our schools. As to the rest, I hear you. … Tax dodging is a crime. Welfare fraud is a crime. Gun running is a crime. Drug smuggling is a crime. Health code violations are crimes. Loitering is a crime. Hiring workers without proper documentation is a crime. Sounds like the problem isn’t immigration but criminality. Perhaps we should enforce our laws. And perhaps, in the process, we Americans, as the current occupants of other people’s native lands, could try to be a bit more kind to the heirs of the vanquished. Or is that too much to ask?

Leon WordenJanuary 12, 2011 at 11:28 am

Incidentally, lest we forget, there is nothing in the U.S. Constitution, and no federal law, establishing English as the official language of the United States.

Berta González-HarperJanuary 12, 2011 at 12:04 pm

An oversight which should be corrected.

Berta González-HarperJanuary 12, 2011 at 12:02 pm

Leon you lose me on this one. The Constitution, Bill of Rights, etc are written in English. When the United States took over governance of California, legal documents such as land holding titles etc were translated into or written in English. In fact, the US government seized many lands for “taxes” etc from the “Californio” rancho owners and did so in English whether those landowners spoke it or not. As a student of history, you know all of this already. I do however agree that the problem is enforcement of our laws beginning with our immigration laws and yes, I think all the other laws you mentioned should also be adhered to and enforced. As to being more kind to the “heirs of the vanquished”, we are the most generous nation on planet Earth. We help friends and foes alike in times of natural disaster such as earthquakes, floods, etc and are the donors of the largest percentage of money donated worldwide to fund orphanages, free medical services such as Doctors without Borders, the Red Cross etc without regard for the race, religion, ideology, etc of the beneficiaries of our generosity. As an heir to the vanquished of, Spanish (California under Nueva España), Mexican (under Mexican rule), British and French ancestry, those of us who are legal residents of the United States are the ones who are being denied fairness and kindness. We are not allowed to use the resources of this country to benefit those who are legally entitled to receive those benefits as citizens or legal residents of this country but instead are forced to subsidize the poor and uneducated citizens of other countries unwilling to take care of their own people. Sorry Leon but no sale. We will simply have to agree to disagree on this issue.

Leon WordenJanuary 12, 2011 at 12:11 pm

Hi Berta! While I have posed the majority of my comments about immigration in the form of questions rather than statements, we can disagree if you like … but I think you’ll agree it’s amusing, in a twisted sort of a way, to consider that the United States forced native Mexicans to prove title in a language they didn’t necessarily understand — and to prove it with documents that didn’t necessarily exist under the Mexican regime! That’s how the United States ended up with so much government land which formerly belonged to private Mexican landwowners — such as the “no man’s land” between the Rancho San Francisco and Rancho San Fernando (the Mentryville area and environs.) The Mexican landowners couldn’t prove their title to such lands in a manner satisfactory to the U.S. government, so the new government took the land. The government then turned such lands into 160-acre homesteads upon which Americans from back East were encouraged to settle. (The John Laing and Thomas Mitchell homesteads in Canyon Country being other local examples.) If the shoe were on the other foot, which I imagine you believe it is, we would call this an “invasion without a shot being fired.” (I’m referring to the period post-1850. Pre-1850, we invaded and fired many shots.

Berta González-HarperJanuary 12, 2011 at 2:03 pm

Leon, the point I was trying to make is that each government/nation gets to make the rules. In this case, the government of the United States of America has a rule/law that says you must follow a specific process and be granted approval to gain legal entry into this country. Foreign nationals do not have to agree with this rule/law anymore than the Californios agreed with the rule to show “proof” of land title but they were REQUIRED (not optional) to follow the law. If they did not, there were consequences such as losing their land, life, etc. I believe that those who violate immigration law and enter this country illegally should be removed, if necessary by force, and not be given privileges (public benefits, voting, license etc) to which they are not entitled. If California, Texas, Arizona, and New México were returned to Mexican rule, I can assure you we would not be offered any public benefits nor treated nearly as well as any immigrants, legal or illegal, are treated in this country. Just ask Guatemalans, Hondurans, etc that try to enter México without proper documents how “well” they are treated. I cannot present myself in the country of my mother’s birth, México, and say “here I am, I arrived without your permission and in violation of your laws but I am an heir to a child born in your country, give me a job or have your taxpayers take care of all of my educational, financial and medical needs. Oh and translate everything into English for me too”. The same applies to my father’s country of origin, Spain, or any other county on Earth. Why are the taxpayers of the USA forced to pay the tab for those in this country without permission? Australia, Canada, México, and many other nations have very strictly enforced immigration laws to protect THEIR citizens. Ours are not even as restrictive but our politicos lack the will to enforce them. They have sold US out for future potential votes. Many of us believe this is unacceptable. If foreign governments and nationals truly believed that this country was serious about securing our borders, forcibly removing illegal entrants, punishing employers who hire illegal aliens, denying all public benefits to those not legally in the country, and denying automatic citizenship to those children born here unless AT LEAST one parent has legal status to be in the USA, the issue would largely take care of itself. Unless you remove all of these incentives and others for those who break the law and do not wait their turn for approval and legal entry, things will not change. Until our government representatives actually decide to worry about and protect the interests of the legal residents/citizens, and less about those who ignore and break immigration law, things will not improve either. Additionally, those who are willing to wait their turn and emigrate legally will not see any improvement in the process until the American people are comfortable that our borders are secure and the orderly process for legal immigration is once again the norm.

Leon WordenJanuary 12, 2011 at 3:27 pm

When I was living in Europe after high school, it always irked me that I couldn’t move to Liechtenstein unless I married somebody from Liechtenstein. Heck, I don’t even KNOW any girls from Liechtenstein.

Berta González-HarperJanuary 12, 2011 at 3:37 pm

You can always advertise on the www for a mail order bride from Liechtenstein, hee hee.

Leon WordenJanuary 12, 2011 at 3:40 pm

LOL! Thought that only worked with Eastern bloc girls?

Berta González-HarperJanuary 12, 2011 at 5:41 pm

Nope, works for Asian “brides”, Pacific Rim, all of Europe, Africa, Central & South America, Canada, and even here in the good ol’ USA. Ah, but Leon you were just an innocent lad back then…

Leon WordenJanuary 12, 2011 at 5:45 pm

Berta — Glad to know we’ve got a multicultural selection now! There may be hope for us yet.

Berta González-HarperJanuary 12, 2011 at 5:55 pm

ROFL…

IHeartSCVJanuary 12, 2011 at 8:06 pm

“There may be hope for us yet” As in Berta Gonzalez-Harper-Worden???

Leon WordenJanuary 12, 2011 at 5:48 pm

Of course, before anyone makes the mistake of taking any of this seriously, I’ll turn you on to some good documentaries on human trafficking produced by some of our public TV friends in South Africa…

Berta González-HarperJanuary 12, 2011 at 8:01 pm

Leon to bring this conversation full circle, I can relate stories told to me personally by women who actually survived being brought into this country illegally by human traffickers from México, also known as coyotes, who repeatedly raped and tortured them, brutalized them, and held them hostage until even more money was paid for their release. Some of these women said other girls “disappeared” when no one paid. The human trafficking of illegals is just one more reason we need to secure our borders, to prevent these beasts from profiting from the suffering of their own compatriots and encourage legal immigration instead.

Leon WordenJanuary 12, 2011 at 8:13 pm

Hi Berta! And to bring it beyond full circle and spin it around a few times, I believe our laws need to be enforced and, in many instances, strengthened. Just so you don’t think I’m thoroughly wishy-washy on the subject of immigration …. In my fantasy criminal justice system, Armando Garcia never would have been free on the streets to murder Deputy David March. He would have been locked away in (a state or U.S.) prison and we would have thrown away the key. We sure as hell never would have deported him one, two, three times, so he could commit increasingly heinous crimes on behalf of his drug lords. I do not believe deporting hardcore criminal aliens makes any sense. I believe in keeping them locked up. Yes, even if it means at U.S. taxpayer expense. And that goes for any hardcore, repeat offenders, regardless of national origin. I generally shun taxes, but I would be the first in line to pay higher taxes to build more prisons. My fantasy criminal justice system also would see the expansion of the death penalty to include premeditated and violent rape; selling certain drugs to minors; etc. Happy thoughts, =;->LEON

Berta González-HarperJanuary 12, 2011 at 8:38 pm

Leon now you are talking. I believe in the death penalty. The case you mention is one certainly warranting execution. As you know, Mexico will not extradite when the death penalty is possible for one of their “citizens” so I say, shoot him on site, as they would do with a trespasser from Guatemala. It will only take a few criminal “liquidations” before both the criminals and the Mexican government gets the message. I have no compassion for murderers, rapists, pedophiles, etc and make no apology.

Kevin D. KorenthalJanuary 12, 2011 at 1:49 pm

So let’s take a look at what liberals are saying about Tea Partiers and Sarah Palin, shall we Jeff? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QxgJKNpjSNI&feature=player_embedded#at=16

MikeJanuary 12, 2011 at 2:03 pm

Sarah Palin: the real victim this week.

Berta González-HarperJanuary 12, 2011 at 8:43 pm

@ IHeart OMG! I am way too old for Leon and way to opinionated… I believe the “we” Leon was referring to is the human race. Tsk, tsk.

Leon WordenJanuary 12, 2011 at 8:46 pm

LOL! Yes, I was referring to “us” in the grander sense — but Berta, don’t underestimate yourself. You’re a hottie.

IHeartSCVJanuary 12, 2011 at 8:58 pm

*Sigh,* and to think you were getting along so well with your shared enthusiasm for capital punishment…

Leon WordenJanuary 12, 2011 at 9:15 pm

BTW I would say I’m in favor of “comprehensive prison reform,” but people might misinterpret it to think I’m in favor of granting amnesty to prisoners and letting them loose…

Berta González-HarperJanuary 12, 2011 at 10:38 pm

Leon I am really enjoying your wicked sense of humor. Thank you for your MERCY!

NateJanuary 11, 2011 at 4:15 pm

“Ah, yes, the reductio ad Hitlerum. Why meet a conservative with facts or logic when you can simply tar him with the Nazi brush?” inverse Ah, yes, the reductio ad Hitlerum. Why meet a liberal with facts or logic when you can simply tar him with the Nazi brush? I am pretty much against any extremists and their extreme statements. How about you Kevin?

NateJanuary 11, 2011 at 4:36 pm

Be careful with your labels. It just sounds like you are justify one group of extremist with another.

Bill ReynoldsJanuary 11, 2011 at 10:28 pm

Are you kidding!? Ha!

Kevin D. KorenthalJanuary 11, 2011 at 3:45 pm
Your hypocrisy and loathe for those that do not share your Socialist tendencies is on full display today Jeff. Where the hell were you and your blog when President Bush was constantly the subject of verbal and even cinematic threats on his life? And please tell me how studying and sharing the intricacies of our most important founding document is “explicitly political”. The term would describe an activity that promoted one political party over another when in fact this activity does no such thing. A growing number of people from both parties are coming to realize that the progressive policies of legislators in both parties over the last 20 or 30 years was a slow road to Socialism. Only those who still believe that Socialism is appropriate in America are still supporting those policies and promoting those policies going forward. For everyone else, real identity can come from an understanding of The Declaration of Independence, our Constitution and The Bill of Rights. You should do some learnin about the Tea Party and you clearly could use some education on the Constitution but now that you are an out of the closet SOCIALIST, there probably isn’t much personal value in such exercises. BTW: I don’t know happymominscv is but she is clearly not happy with the state of the Republic. A lot of people are angry on all sides of the political spectrum. Liberals are angry because Socialism is not proceeding as the 2008 election results predicted and conservatives are angry because many of them have woken up from a life-long nap and realized that their has slowly been transformed into a socialist state. Pointing out the anger on the right when NEVER showing the anger on the left discredits you and this blog and brings into question your fitness to report anything more serious than the latest food truck to hit the SCV.
MikeJanuary 11, 2011 at 3:49 pm
CINEMATIC THREATS!!! OMGZ Will there be a Kenyan birth certificate at this meeting?
Lori RivasJanuary 11, 2011 at 6:07 pm
“And please tell me how studying and sharing the intricacies of our most important founding document is “explicitly political”. ” Rick Green, whose text will be used for the above mentioned class on the Constitution, is most decidedly political, and is associated with David Barton of Wallbuilders, who also has a particular world view to sell. I had not heard of Rick Green before this posting, but I have done some research on David Barton, who is a pseudo-academic, cherry-picking quotes and twisting stories out of context. On his website, Rick Green touts that he runs the Patriot Academy, “the premier conservative political training camp in the nation.” No doubt, he is selling his bill of goods in this Constitutional class. There is no getting around the politics here.
Gang FangJanuary 11, 2011 at 8:03 pm
What is you fall into neither category? Then what?
IHeartSCVJanuary 11, 2011 at 10:23 pm
Then what? Then, on a Venn diagram with a red circle, blue circle, and purple overlap, you are the white background. Or, you don’t exist, despite evidence to the contrary.
Gang FangJanuary 11, 2011 at 10:29 pm
I’ll take “do not exist” for the win.
Leon WordenJanuary 11, 2011 at 11:51 pm
IHeart — What if you believe that we Anglo Americans — whose ancestors invaded another country in 1846-48 and forced the vanquished to sign a peace treaty handing over their land — are the descendants of “illegal” immigrants? Then what?
IHeartSCVJanuary 12, 2011 at 5:36 am
Then what? Then, you would be asked why 1846-1848 is given special preference over earlier acquisitions of land (usurpations? you may prefer) from Native Americans. Or, if you prefer, you could be a gray circle on the same Venn diagram labeled as “Other, somewhat unrelated opinion.”
Leon WordenJanuary 12, 2011 at 9:00 am
IHeart – Good point. Man (and woman) crossed the Bering Strait between 25,000 and 11,000 years ago and settled here. The SCV’s earliest known archaeological sites date to 3,500 years ago. The Tataviam arrived around AD 450 (by our calendar). Spaniards arrived in 1769. The U.S. Army (and Navy) invaded in 1846-48 and lived peaceably with the native Mexicans, whom we elected to the governorship and Legislature following our 1850 statehood. The SCV hosted immigrants from France, Germany and Switzerland in the late 1800s and had a strong German-American Association until the rise of Hitler. Which is to ask, where do we get the idea that people don’t belong here if they don’t speak English? Of course, today the heirs of Pio Pico and our own Senator Reginaldo del Valle would be unwelcome in their own land if they happen to have been born on the wrong side of a political boundary laid out by a conquering army in 1848 at the site of Universal Studios Hollywood. Q: If our 1850 statehood is ancient history, then what are the Founding Fathers of 1776?
MikeJanuary 12, 2011 at 9:20 am
Nicely put.
Berta González-HarperJanuary 12, 2011 at 10:50 am
Hi Leon. With all due respect, nations are born from conflicts and seizures of land from neighbors and have been throughout history. The United States of America is a sovereign nation with ratified immigration laws and internationally recognized borders. The nation of Mexico, and every other nation on the planet, has the right to decide who is allowed entry and under what circumstances GUESTS are PERMITTED to enter as guests of a given country. Immigration processes are in place for the orderly and controlled entry of persons who have been vetted and accepted as guests. While the history of the United States has always been a melting pot, those who willingly entered the pot, were expected to follow whatever laws were in place at the time or work to change those laws, not simply ignore them. Additionally immigrants from all over the world came to have the opportunity to work hard and make a better life for themselves and their families. They did not expect others, the American Taxpayer, to provide for their needs, nor did they expect everyone else to accommodate their language, customs, etc. Even Native American tribes did not allow just anyone to settle on their lands and hunting grounds. The penalty for unpermitted entry was enslavement to the tribe or death, not deportation.
Kevin D. KorenthalJanuary 11, 2011 at 3:47 pm
There is nothing humane about allowing the entire population of Mexico to immigrate to the U.S. and utilize services that they have never paid into.
Lori RivasJanuary 11, 2011 at 6:09 pm
The ENTIRE population of Mexico has no desire to immigrate to the US. And there is everything humane in sharing with those in need, without reciprocation or payment. It is called charity and grace, and without it, there would be no hope for humankind.
Berta González-HarperJanuary 11, 2011 at 11:09 pm
Lori perhaps you should try to sell the concepts of “charity and grace,” to the Mexican government since they do not have any for their own citizens let alone those of any other country. Mexico has very strict immigration laws and enforces them with loaded guns too.
Lori RivasJanuary 12, 2011 at 1:44 pm
When we are discussing Mexican politics, I’d be glad to debate your point, Berta. As it stands, we are talking about US policy, and if and when the US offers something more gracious and more generous than other countries, that is a point of pride for me, not a point of argument.
Berta González-HarperJanuary 12, 2011 at 2:00 pm
Lori the lack of enforcement of the laws of the United States of America may be a source of pride for you. It is an unnecessary and expensive embarrassment for many of the rest of us. Charity and kindness are offered voluntarily, not forced upon the populace of a democracy.
NateJanuary 11, 2011 at 3:51 pm
I am more of a coffee guy.
Kevin D. KorenthalJanuary 11, 2011 at 3:56 pm
I speak of “Death of a President”. A movie not about the assassination of a fictitious President but George W. Bush himself. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0853096/
NateJanuary 11, 2011 at 4:00 pm
British Film.
Kevin D. KorenthalJanuary 11, 2011 at 4:02 pm
OBAMA MARCH 18, 2009: I don’t want to quell anger. I think people are right to be angry. I’m angry! What I want us to do, though, is channel our anger that constructive way.
Kevin D. KorenthalJanuary 11, 2011 at 4:10 pm
Here is a great Boston Globe editorial (from 2003) that quotes a myriad of celebrities, pundits and politicians on the Left committing hate speech openly and freely on the airwaves. http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2003/12/28/hate_speech_of_the_left/
4eyedsueJanuary 11, 2011 at 4:22 pm
oh I just love happymominscv. She’s a fantastic spokesperson for the Tea Party. Keep on posting happymominscv!
momtwicceJanuary 11, 2011 at 8:51 pm
that quote above is hilarious.
momtwicceJanuary 11, 2011 at 8:51 pm
I mean happymominscv’s quote, too funny.
NateJanuary 11, 2011 at 4:37 pm
gotta close out those HTML tags
ReaderMamaJanuary 11, 2011 at 4:43 pm
Yeah, I tried, but to no avail. Looks like the problem started with KK’s post. I’ll give it another go.
Timothy Myers SRJanuary 11, 2011 at 4:40 pm
Jeff: Before you hoist Northpark up on a petard, like they Real Life Church they make their facilities available to non-profits and others for uniform fees. Also, Northpark has a Spanish speaking ministry and conducts some services wholly in Spanish. Wonder what Mr. Green would think of that.
NateJanuary 11, 2011 at 4:45 pm
You think a Gay non profit has a shot?
Timothy Myers SRJanuary 11, 2011 at 5:26 pm
I’ll bet they would let them use it.
NateJanuary 12, 2011 at 7:48 am
I think you are way wrong.
Lori RivasJanuary 11, 2011 at 6:14 pm
Last spring, I tried and tried to find a church that would allow me to use their facility for a public event: a friend of mine survived the Holocaust, and offered to speak to our community. Not one church would allow free use of their facilities – they all wanted a fee, and proof of liability insurance. It was disappointing. I did only try churches on my end of town, though. We ended up having her speak at Barnes and Noble, which makes is community room available, free of charge. B&N even served snacks. I’ll have to keep these churches in mind for the next time I tackle a public event. Maybe I will have better luck.
Timothy MyersJanuary 11, 2011 at 10:15 pm
Lori: They want to collect a fee, and it is not cheap, but probably cheaper than a for profit venue.
Coastal SageJanuary 12, 2011 at 1:00 am
I am glad to hear the Northpark church is charging rent and keeping their distance. A few years ago the IRS decided to revoke the tax exempt status of an Episcopal Church in Pasadena because someone complained that the minister’s sermons were way too political. And, of course there’s the Roman Catholic dioceses, which always get hit with complaints to the IRS when they start aggressively threatening Roman Catholic elected officials with ex-communication when the church doesn’t like the politicians’ stance on abortion or any number of other issues.
MikeJanuary 12, 2011 at 1:02 am
Where’s #WCH when you need him?
NateJanuary 12, 2011 at 7:49 am
Nice
Kevin D. KorenthalJanuary 11, 2011 at 4:43 pm
How the hell did my little attempt at HTML create such havoc on Jeff’s blog? I guess I am just good at sewing chaos…
Leon WordenJanuary 11, 2011 at 4:47 pm
LOL!! It would be nice if more people crossed out their stuff before they even write it.
Leon WordenJanuary 11, 2011 at 4:49 pm
See if this works …. … did it work?
Leon WordenJanuary 11, 2011 at 4:49 pm
nope, didn’t work
NateJanuary 11, 2011 at 4:51 pm
I think a few people have tried to close the strike. someone with admin rights will have to edit kevins post.
Kevin D. KorenthalJanuary 11, 2011 at 4:52 pm
Jeff, you have my permission to censor the post in which I somehow failed to successfully close the close the HTML tag.
MikeJanuary 11, 2011 at 5:04 pm
The box is open. You can’t take it back!
ReaderMamaJanuary 11, 2011 at 4:54 pm
Yeah, I can’t get into his post to edit it or delete it. Jeff will have to handle it.
MikeJanuary 11, 2011 at 5:03 pm
Korenthal is trying to silence SCVtalkers through his stikethrough virus!
Kevin D. KorenthalJanuary 11, 2011 at 6:01 pm
Extremist and extreme statements are subjective terms. They mean different things to different people.
NateJanuary 12, 2011 at 7:52 am
Really Kevin? Do you think any comparison to a dictor who ordered the systematically murder of millions and any American politician to be extreme?
AlpinerJanuary 11, 2011 at 6:59 pm
Jeff, just because the event is held at a church, does not mean the church is in any way, shape or form sponsoring or supporting the event. They may or may not be.
Gang FangJanuary 11, 2011 at 8:01 pm
Bought 2 tickets, but Berta won’t call me back. Heartache.
Berta González-HarperJanuary 11, 2011 at 11:03 pm
Gang Fang, you never called sweetheart…
Leon WordenJanuary 11, 2011 at 8:03 pm
The drama over this “letter” is amazing. It was sent on a 3-2 vote of the council. I’ve known Laurene Weste for over 20 years. Why do people automatically assume she knew that “comprehensive immigration reform” is considered a euphemism for amnesty? In some minds, “comprehensive immigration reform” means just that: comprehensive immigration reform. Rescind amnesty, welfare benefits, health care benefits, education benefits, etc., for illegal immigrants.
Leon WordenJanuary 11, 2011 at 8:06 pm
OMG, Alan Cameron just said something like that! Go figure.
NickelDimeJanuary 11, 2011 at 8:40 pm
Leon, SCVTV stream isn’t working this eve. Just the snail-trail circle on a variety of computers and browsers. It’s me and one other guy “viewing” the circular snail trail, and I bet he’s tripping balls watching it. KK’s strikethrough virus musta hit UStream.
Leon WordenJanuary 11, 2011 at 8:55 pm
Nick – thanks for the note! Appreciate it. It’s having a bad night. Crashed a while ago & reset it, but didn’t realize it’s still struggling. I’ll have to reboot it as soon as it’s done doing some other processes. Thanks again for pointing it out! Separately, I heard that Time Warner Cable is all screwed up in Canyon Country. Some sort of an audio problem. Anyone else have that problem?
IHeartSCVJanuary 11, 2011 at 9:52 pm
ND, it worked on the City’s website (there were about 10 viewers, so a banner evening). Word has it that the Korenthal virus that strickened SCVTV relented for the 3 minutes that its creator spoke.
Bill ReynoldsJanuary 11, 2011 at 10:27 pm
Certainly Laurene was well aware of Bob Kellar’s stance on illegal immigration as it’s well known he is far more passionate on this subject than any of his fellow city council members. Why she neglected to obtain Bob’s opinion was a colossal error. City Council did not vote on the language of that letter.
MikeJanuary 11, 2011 at 11:00 pm
The city council doesn’t vote on the language of letters. Bob was on the losing side of the vote, anyway. Did he consult his fellow councilmembers when he sent a letter to Jan Brewer?
Coastal SageJanuary 12, 2011 at 1:05 am
I agree Leon. I didn’t know that “comprehensive immigration reform” were super secret code words for anything other than that plan which Bush, Kennedy and McCain proposed right before the end of President Bush’s term. I guess because I don’t watch Fox Network, I am out of the loop.
Leon WordenJanuary 12, 2011 at 1:46 am
Yeah, it’s tough to keep up with the secret code words of all the various splinter groups that don’t realize they’re the only ones who pay attention to their own rhetoric. I’ll bet you don’t know their secret handshakes, either.
ToddJanuary 11, 2011 at 10:28 pm
Someone should get the SCV Democrats to contact the church and request to use the facilities (willing to pay all fees and provide proper insurance) for a “candidate information forum” which may or may not have candidates who are “pro-choice.” I’d guess that they’ll reluctantly allow it… If they don’t, they’d be likely to face the IRS scrutinizing their tax exempt status.
Leon WordenJanuary 12, 2011 at 11:25 am
Hello Berta! (Sorry, had to start new thread; the thing is getting too narrow.) What immigrant language did we fail to accommodate? Pennsylvania Dutch? Children were taught in Dutch in some of our schools. As to the rest, I hear you. … Tax dodging is a crime. Welfare fraud is a crime. Gun running is a crime. Drug smuggling is a crime. Health code violations are crimes. Loitering is a crime. Hiring workers without proper documentation is a crime. Sounds like the problem isn’t immigration but criminality. Perhaps we should enforce our laws. And perhaps, in the process, we Americans, as the current occupants of other people’s native lands, could try to be a bit more kind to the heirs of the vanquished. Or is that too much to ask?
Leon WordenJanuary 12, 2011 at 11:28 am
Incidentally, lest we forget, there is nothing in the U.S. Constitution, and no federal law, establishing English as the official language of the United States.
Berta González-HarperJanuary 12, 2011 at 12:04 pm
An oversight which should be corrected.
Berta González-HarperJanuary 12, 2011 at 12:02 pm
Leon you lose me on this one. The Constitution, Bill of Rights, etc are written in English. When the United States took over governance of California, legal documents such as land holding titles etc were translated into or written in English. In fact, the US government seized many lands for “taxes” etc from the “Californio” rancho owners and did so in English whether those landowners spoke it or not. As a student of history, you know all of this already. I do however agree that the problem is enforcement of our laws beginning with our immigration laws and yes, I think all the other laws you mentioned should also be adhered to and enforced. As to being more kind to the “heirs of the vanquished”, we are the most generous nation on planet Earth. We help friends and foes alike in times of natural disaster such as earthquakes, floods, etc and are the donors of the largest percentage of money donated worldwide to fund orphanages, free medical services such as Doctors without Borders, the Red Cross etc without regard for the race, religion, ideology, etc of the beneficiaries of our generosity. As an heir to the vanquished of, Spanish (California under Nueva España), Mexican (under Mexican rule), British and French ancestry, those of us who are legal residents of the United States are the ones who are being denied fairness and kindness. We are not allowed to use the resources of this country to benefit those who are legally entitled to receive those benefits as citizens or legal residents of this country but instead are forced to subsidize the poor and uneducated citizens of other countries unwilling to take care of their own people. Sorry Leon but no sale. We will simply have to agree to disagree on this issue.
Leon WordenJanuary 12, 2011 at 12:11 pm
Hi Berta! While I have posed the majority of my comments about immigration in the form of questions rather than statements, we can disagree if you like … but I think you’ll agree it’s amusing, in a twisted sort of a way, to consider that the United States forced native Mexicans to prove title in a language they didn’t necessarily understand — and to prove it with documents that didn’t necessarily exist under the Mexican regime! That’s how the United States ended up with so much government land which formerly belonged to private Mexican landwowners — such as the “no man’s land” between the Rancho San Francisco and Rancho San Fernando (the Mentryville area and environs.) The Mexican landowners couldn’t prove their title to such lands in a manner satisfactory to the U.S. government, so the new government took the land. The government then turned such lands into 160-acre homesteads upon which Americans from back East were encouraged to settle. (The John Laing and Thomas Mitchell homesteads in Canyon Country being other local examples.) If the shoe were on the other foot, which I imagine you believe it is, we would call this an “invasion without a shot being fired.” (I’m referring to the period post-1850. Pre-1850, we invaded and fired many shots.
Berta González-HarperJanuary 12, 2011 at 2:03 pm
Leon, the point I was trying to make is that each government/nation gets to make the rules. In this case, the government of the United States of America has a rule/law that says you must follow a specific process and be granted approval to gain legal entry into this country. Foreign nationals do not have to agree with this rule/law anymore than the Californios agreed with the rule to show “proof” of land title but they were REQUIRED (not optional) to follow the law. If they did not, there were consequences such as losing their land, life, etc. I believe that those who violate immigration law and enter this country illegally should be removed, if necessary by force, and not be given privileges (public benefits, voting, license etc) to which they are not entitled. If California, Texas, Arizona, and New México were returned to Mexican rule, I can assure you we would not be offered any public benefits nor treated nearly as well as any immigrants, legal or illegal, are treated in this country. Just ask Guatemalans, Hondurans, etc that try to enter México without proper documents how “well” they are treated. I cannot present myself in the country of my mother’s birth, México, and say “here I am, I arrived without your permission and in violation of your laws but I am an heir to a child born in your country, give me a job or have your taxpayers take care of all of my educational, financial and medical needs. Oh and translate everything into English for me too”. The same applies to my father’s country of origin, Spain, or any other county on Earth. Why are the taxpayers of the USA forced to pay the tab for those in this country without permission? Australia, Canada, México, and many other nations have very strictly enforced immigration laws to protect THEIR citizens. Ours are not even as restrictive but our politicos lack the will to enforce them. They have sold US out for future potential votes. Many of us believe this is unacceptable. If foreign governments and nationals truly believed that this country was serious about securing our borders, forcibly removing illegal entrants, punishing employers who hire illegal aliens, denying all public benefits to those not legally in the country, and denying automatic citizenship to those children born here unless AT LEAST one parent has legal status to be in the USA, the issue would largely take care of itself. Unless you remove all of these incentives and others for those who break the law and do not wait their turn for approval and legal entry, things will not change. Until our government representatives actually decide to worry about and protect the interests of the legal residents/citizens, and less about those who ignore and break immigration law, things will not improve either. Additionally, those who are willing to wait their turn and emigrate legally will not see any improvement in the process until the American people are comfortable that our borders are secure and the orderly process for legal immigration is once again the norm.
Leon WordenJanuary 12, 2011 at 3:27 pm
When I was living in Europe after high school, it always irked me that I couldn’t move to Liechtenstein unless I married somebody from Liechtenstein. Heck, I don’t even KNOW any girls from Liechtenstein.
Berta González-HarperJanuary 12, 2011 at 3:37 pm
You can always advertise on the www for a mail order bride from Liechtenstein, hee hee.
Leon WordenJanuary 12, 2011 at 3:40 pm
LOL! Thought that only worked with Eastern bloc girls?
Berta González-HarperJanuary 12, 2011 at 5:41 pm
Nope, works for Asian “brides”, Pacific Rim, all of Europe, Africa, Central & South America, Canada, and even here in the good ol’ USA. Ah, but Leon you were just an innocent lad back then…
Leon WordenJanuary 12, 2011 at 5:45 pm
Berta — Glad to know we’ve got a multicultural selection now! There may be hope for us yet.
Berta González-HarperJanuary 12, 2011 at 5:55 pm
ROFL…
IHeartSCVJanuary 12, 2011 at 8:06 pm
“There may be hope for us yet” As in Berta Gonzalez-Harper-Worden???
Leon WordenJanuary 12, 2011 at 5:48 pm
Of course, before anyone makes the mistake of taking any of this seriously, I’ll turn you on to some good documentaries on human trafficking produced by some of our public TV friends in South Africa…
Berta González-HarperJanuary 12, 2011 at 8:01 pm
Leon to bring this conversation full circle, I can relate stories told to me personally by women who actually survived being brought into this country illegally by human traffickers from México, also known as coyotes, who repeatedly raped and tortured them, brutalized them, and held them hostage until even more money was paid for their release. Some of these women said other girls “disappeared” when no one paid. The human trafficking of illegals is just one more reason we need to secure our borders, to prevent these beasts from profiting from the suffering of their own compatriots and encourage legal immigration instead.
Leon WordenJanuary 12, 2011 at 8:13 pm
Hi Berta! And to bring it beyond full circle and spin it around a few times, I believe our laws need to be enforced and, in many instances, strengthened. Just so you don’t think I’m thoroughly wishy-washy on the subject of immigration …. In my fantasy criminal justice system, Armando Garcia never would have been free on the streets to murder Deputy David March. He would have been locked away in (a state or U.S.) prison and we would have thrown away the key. We sure as hell never would have deported him one, two, three times, so he could commit increasingly heinous crimes on behalf of his drug lords. I do not believe deporting hardcore criminal aliens makes any sense. I believe in keeping them locked up. Yes, even if it means at U.S. taxpayer expense. And that goes for any hardcore, repeat offenders, regardless of national origin. I generally shun taxes, but I would be the first in line to pay higher taxes to build more prisons. My fantasy criminal justice system also would see the expansion of the death penalty to include premeditated and violent rape; selling certain drugs to minors; etc. Happy thoughts, =;->LEON
Berta González-HarperJanuary 12, 2011 at 8:38 pm
Leon now you are talking. I believe in the death penalty. The case you mention is one certainly warranting execution. As you know, Mexico will not extradite when the death penalty is possible for one of their “citizens” so I say, shoot him on site, as they would do with a trespasser from Guatemala. It will only take a few criminal “liquidations” before both the criminals and the Mexican government gets the message. I have no compassion for murderers, rapists, pedophiles, etc and make no apology.
Kevin D. KorenthalJanuary 12, 2011 at 1:49 pm
So let’s take a look at what liberals are saying about Tea Partiers and Sarah Palin, shall we Jeff? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QxgJKNpjSNI&feature=player_embedded#at=16
MikeJanuary 12, 2011 at 2:03 pm
Sarah Palin: the real victim this week.
Berta González-HarperJanuary 12, 2011 at 8:43 pm
@ IHeart OMG! I am way too old for Leon and way to opinionated… I believe the “we” Leon was referring to is the human race. Tsk, tsk.
Leon WordenJanuary 12, 2011 at 8:46 pm
LOL! Yes, I was referring to “us” in the grander sense — but Berta, don’t underestimate yourself. You’re a hottie.
IHeartSCVJanuary 12, 2011 at 8:58 pm
*Sigh,* and to think you were getting along so well with your shared enthusiasm for capital punishment…
Leon WordenJanuary 12, 2011 at 9:15 pm
BTW I would say I’m in favor of “comprehensive prison reform,” but people might misinterpret it to think I’m in favor of granting amnesty to prisoners and letting them loose…
Berta González-HarperJanuary 12, 2011 at 10:38 pm
Leon I am really enjoying your wicked sense of humor. Thank you for your MERCY!
NateJanuary 11, 2011 at 4:15 pm
“Ah, yes, the reductio ad Hitlerum. Why meet a conservative with facts or logic when you can simply tar him with the Nazi brush?” inverse Ah, yes, the reductio ad Hitlerum. Why meet a liberal with facts or logic when you can simply tar him with the Nazi brush? I am pretty much against any extremists and their extreme statements. How about you Kevin?
NateJanuary 11, 2011 at 4:36 pm
Be careful with your labels. It just sounds like you are justify one group of extremist with another.
Bill ReynoldsJanuary 11, 2011 at 10:28 pm
Are you kidding!? Ha!