Monday, July 26, 2010

Monday Morning Rant 157

The disposition of Arizona SB1070 will be preliminarily determined on Thursday, July 29th and whatever result will undoubtedly be contested. Neither side will go calmly into the night if they do not prevail. Both are firmly committed to their positions and it is safe to anticipate a continuous—and expensive—round of appeals.

Regular readers know that I do indeed, have a “dog in this fight.” The posture of Zion Beckons and your host is wrapped in the necessity of maintenance of sovereignty for the state (or any state for that matter) of Arizona and their subsequent right to protect their citizens. The federal government has obviously abrogated its responsibility by failures to substantially enforce the laws on illegal immigration.

This is not a criticism of those dedicated officers currently charged with keeping that law. Their numbers are too few for the job at hand and the nebulous promise to increase their roster has turned out to be just that—promise. Give or take a few miles, the border is 380 miles from California to New Mexico. Most of this is unfenced, unprotected, and in some cases, unmarked. Normal shift work to cover one man per mile would require four agents on three shifts with one off. To increase the staff by just one man on duty per mile would require the addition of 1,520 men for increased coverage of our border with Mexico. Any veteran serviceman will also assure you that for every man on the “front-line” in any struggle, there are nearly a dozen others backing him up with supply, administration, transportation, communication, intelligence, medical services, translators and others in support of field services.

While the border patrol cannot be directly compared to the military it can indeed become lethal and destructive to both men and equipment on both sides of any encounter. These exchanges have mounted in recent history, thus providing sufficient cause for the federal government to join willingly in the pursuit of border protection and not fight the sincere efforts of any state to assist. We find their suit repugnant and their foot dragging on the issue wholly without merit.

Most of the publicized criticism of the efforts in Arizona have centered upon the Mexican nationals involved. Just as important is the opportunity for other illlegals, not Mexican, to take advantage our porous border. We clearly have persons who would do the country harm from a myriad of other nations in central America, the mid-east, and other countries who seek to disrupt our system by illegal entry. Legal avenues exist for legitimate immigrants. There is little evidence that the federal government is eager to stop that flow either. It is long past time for those in charge in Washington to review the solemn oaths which they vowed upon taking office. God help us all!

Allen West, a real man for Congress

For a look at a genuine American who seeks higher office, I recommend you check out this brief video of an Allen West campaign event. In the process, observe the tender care for the questioner and his eloquent response. I could only wish that he was one of the choices on my ballot this coming November. If he is on yours, you know what to do. (check out this brief video)

Action vs. Reaction

Two words, so similar, but each are miles apart in reality. Being president requires a clear understanding of both. This has obviously escaped the grasp of the current office holder. His overkill response to the Shirley Sherrod address to the NAACP has exposed his visceral desire to appear to be on top of every issue. His “beer summit” with Gates and the Cambridge cop, an unnecessary interruption to the health care debate, obviously taught him nothing. He duplicated that foolishness with the call to Sherrod. Rather than exercise a thorough vetting of both incidents, his response was damagingly reactive. As further details of the activities of Mrs. Sherrod surface we find much to condemn and some to condone. Trust me; the sacrificial lamb will soon be Ag Secretary Vilsack who had the temerity—albeit prematurely-- to fire an employee for alleged racist remarks. It will be a miracle if he avoids that crowded area “under the bus.”

While urging action on the part of others involved in the oil spill, we found him unable to stir his stumps to clear the federal bureaucracy from the path of the clean up. As president, he had the tools available to suspend by executive order those impediments which stood in the way of so many actions which were delayed or never ever implemented. Refusal of offers of vessels from foreign nations, EPA regulations, overly cautious safety concerns which delayed dispatch of vessels, embargo placed on future exploration and drilling could have been disposed of temporarily to assure immediate response to the tragic spill. In each case, the president’s reaction was inaction. It is now 98 days.

His defenders claim these are the errors of a “rookie” in office. Come on! This guy has been with us now for eighteen months. Enough with the “on the job training” schtick; it is possible that I give him credit for more intelligence than he actually has but I see it as a calculated response to destroy a valuable industry. Even James Carville, the Clinton attack dog agrees with me on this one; and I with him.

The choice between either action or reaction then boils down then to what is consistent with the agenda. If it serves a predisposed agenda to instantly react—do it. If it serves to sit on your hands and take no positive and easily available steps to ameliorate an agenda driven situation—do it. The question then remains; can we survive thirty more months of this?

And finally

Life here on the ridge has returned to its usual abnormal state. The heat continues without respite or rain. The birds at both feeders keep on munching and sucking manmade nectar. The dogs and cats sleep more than usual—is that possible? Outside chores are limited to very short time intervals. And—if I hear one more person say: “It’s not the heat it’s the humidity,” I shall explode.

I should rejoice that I have marked 12 of the 21 chores outlined for mid-year off the list. If I need a lift I have only to bring the list up on the screen and review that which has been accomplished. With roughly three months of pre-solstice remaining, the balance should be easily done before the frost.

For all my complaining, I am willing to admit that we have much to be thankful for here in the Ozarks. Our prayer is that all is equally as well with each of you.

In His abiding love,

Cecil Moon

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