You don't drink the Koolaid, so why are you eating the Astroturf™ ?

[Richard Steele]

This is a total NON-ISSUE! (for the moment)

The only reason "immigration" is an ISSUE is because the REPUBS WANT IT TO BE!

And we have had warnings for MONTHS that they were going to do this.
DEAN warned us, (what, two months ago?) that this was going to be their
phoney-baloney 'controversy' for the 2006 election cycle.

We were warned months ago:
IMMIGRATION is the fake crisis they are going to use
to fire up their recist base and DIVIDE THE DEMS in 2006!

And we are certainly, from the looks of DU today,
we are certainly playing the ROLE assigned to us
in the NeoCon SCRIPT for 2006.

Sure, there are issues to be discussed, problems to be solved...
But "immigration policy" is NOT A PRESSING ISSUE!

We have a 'president' who openly professes to posess dictatorial power,
a Congress who plays along with his every Caligulistic whim,
and an entire PLANET who regards us as a brainwashed 'mad dog' nation.

And Y'all actually have time to flame each other over 'immigration' ?


PRIORITIES, people...
priorities.
We can worry about all this AFTER WE TAKE OUR GOVERNMENT BACK!
AFTER we restore the rule of law.
AFTER

This is a REPUBLICAN-SPONSORED bullshit NON-issue at the moment;
worrying about it NOW is actually a step below the old saw of
"rearranging the deck chairs on the Titantic".

Worried about those 'scary Mexicans' at this point in history?
Then you aren't just rearranging those deck chairs,
you are actually argueing over which fabric to re-upholster them in.



Immigration policy is NOT our biggest problem right now;
but "paying to much attention to it" just might be.

If y'all intend to keep mocking the BushBots for "drinking the Koolaid",
then you might wanna STOP EATING THE ASTROTURF!

[LSK]

1. thanks for saying this

I think Jon Stewart hinted at this last night too.

[Richard Steele]

6. Hey, no Jon Stewart spoilers!

My sweetie's work schedule has been recently rearranged,
so we watch TDS on a 2 or 3 day time-delay, whenever we get
25 minutes together at home.

But thanks for your "thanks";
CASSANDRA takes her praise where she finds it, KnowhutImean?

[Joe Fields]

22. I've been saying this for days...

In fact, I posted on this identical theme a few hours ago, but got absolutely no positive response.

[dusmcj]

2. it ain't fake.

Not that the Refucklicans are doing anything but exacerbating it, but no, it isn't fake.

[Gormy Cuss]

3. Dems need to turn it back on them.

The reasons for the rise in the numbers of illegal immigrants can be placed squarely at the feet of the pro-business, anti-citizen worker Republicans. Period.

[Richard Steele]

20. Yup. Mexicans aren't stealing our jobs, CORPORATIONS are.

Corporations are TIRED of paying us enough that we can
eat well and put nice shoes on our children's feet.

They search the planet for ANYONE who is desperate enough
to come here and sleep 10 to a room for a chance at $200 a week.

And once they find that person, and give him YOUR job...
then it's just a matter of time until YOU are willing
to work for slave-wages as well.

[sandnsea]

4. jobs are

Eating the astroturf is letting them turn this into a purely immigration issue when it's a labor exploitation issue. It's the same cheap labor policies as with outsourcing and insourcing. Standing up for labor rights is the answer.

[Richard Steele]

11. Exactly right.

This is a "Corporate Nobility" vs. "peasant labor" issue...

The rise of the mighty INC™ is the return of the FEUDAL system.

The vast Mutinational Corporations who support B*shCabal™ don't give
a rat's ass about "national borders";
most of them are much larger and more powerful
than the average, old-fashioned "nation".

"BORDERS" are just colored lines on a piece of paper....
...colored lines they can use to fire up the Sheeple to
support their policies,
PROPAGANDA which tricks their wage-slaves into working unpaid overtime
to reinforce the invisible walls of their corporate labor camp.

[meegbear]

5. Agreed 100%!

They need an issue for the elections and they played the gay marriage card (that's sooooo passe). So a new one is here.

The only problem is a large percentage of people whom this affects (Latinos) generally vote Dem and this ain't gonna draw them to the their side.

[BrklynLiberal]

7. Hey. check out the website of one of the chief sponsors of the new

immigration bill. There is no doubt ihn my mind that KKKarl Rove was at the meetings with these people working out the details of "Guest Worker Bill". This would provide them with cheap labor, higher profits, introduce a wedge issue into the November campaign, and cause the Dems to start fighting amongst themselves. A perfect storm for KKKarl!!!

When they say essential them mean CHEAP

http://www.ewic.org/

The Essential Worker Immigration Coalition (EWIC) is a coalition of businesses, trade associations, and other organizations from across the industry spectrum concerned with the shortage of both skilled and lesser skilled ("essential worker") labor. EWIC stands ready to work with the Administration and Congress to push forward on important immigration reform issues.

EWIC supports policies that facilitate the employment of essential workers by U.S. companies and organizations. Current immigration law largely prevents the hiring of foreign essential workers. EWIC supports reform of US immigration policy to facilitate a sustainable workforce for the American economy while ensuring our national security and prosperity.

Membership list
American Health Care Association
American Hotel & Lodging Association
American Immigration Lawyers Association
American Meat Institute
American Nursery & Landscape Association
American Road & Transportation Builders Association
American Staffing Association
Associated Builders and Contractors
Associated General Contractors
Associated Landscape Contractors of America
Building Service Contractors Association International
California Landscape Contractors Association
Carlson Hotels Worldwide and Radisson
Carlson Restaurants Worldwide and TGI Friday's
Farm Equipment Wholesalers Association
Federation of Employers & Workers of America
First Data
Harborside Healthcare Corporation
Ingersoll-Rand
International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions
International Franchise Association
Marriott International, Inc.
Nath Companies
National Association for Home Care
National Association of Chain Drug Stores
National Association of Home Builders
National Association of RV Parks & Campgrounds
National Club Association
National Council of Chain Restaurants
National Restaurant Association
National Retail Federation
National Roofing Contractors Association
National School Transportation Association
National Tooling & Machining Association
Outdoor Amusement Business Association
Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors - National Association
Professional Lawn Care Association of America
Retail Industry Leaders Association
Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council
Society of American Florists
The Brickman Group, Ltd.
Tree Care Industry Association
Truckload Carriers Association
Tyson Foods, Inc.
United Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Association
US Chamber of Commerce

[tnlefty]

13. Thanks for posting this.

I didn't know anything about this bunch of (won't type the filth and foul). Always good to know who the (filth and foul) are.

[Bridget Burke]

8. Dealing with all* immigrants & ensuring decent labor laws for everyone....

Are serious long-term concerns. Not a CRISIS!!!!

* Yes, I've seen posts saying we should keep everyone out--legal or not. "The country is full."

[Gabi Hayes]

9. A frickin MEN! it's so obvious....just look at the difference in the

way the so called liberal media are covering EVERY fffing march, compared to the almost total non coverage of the largest demonstrations in history before/during the war.

once again, the media reveals its utter complicity with this administration

beyond disgusting

one more recommend for greatest page

this is IMPORTANT....is there any way to get the spineless party to wise up, and get their eyes back on the prize?

[Richard Steele]

15. And, on a much more REVEALING level...

Have you noticed the surprising ABSENCE of
barricades and stormtroopers at all these protests?

Frickin QUAKER MEETINGS are spied on by this administration,
and small anti-war rallies are regularly OUTNUMBERED
by the heavily armed and armored "police" who monitor them....

But suddenly all the Brown folks can just sieze the streets,
waving the flags of foreign nations,
and the faceless drones with the submachineguns don't even seem to notice?

Remember that last "inauguration address"?
It was "BBB" as far as the eye could see:
Badges, Barricades, and Body armor.

The lack of oppressive LawEnforcement at these recent "events"
is certain PROOF that BushCabal™ wanted them to happen.

And that's all I need to know about THAT.

[ugarte]

10. Great post. When I see people even on DU parroting Sensenbrenner

all I can do is shake my head at how the elites have got us fighting over table crumbs.

[Richard Steele]

17. Yup. We are reading from THEIR script on this one. So SAD. nm

[BrklynLiberal]

12. A great post about about the EWIC . Thanks to Robinlynne.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x2539113

According to the book Censored 2006, recommended by Greg Palast and sold on his website, "The leading organization behind the guest worker legislation is EWIC, the essential worker immigration coalition". The group includes 36 of the country's most powerful employer associations, including walmart, the American health care association, restaurant and hotel, etc. Each of these members rely on workforces without benefits and working at or below minimum wage." "The largest US corporations, dependent on a steady supply of immigrants (read cheap labor) got the congress and pres to introduce this legislation.. This both denies workers their rights and creates an oversupply of labor to drive down wages for all workers, immigrant and non immigrant alike"
I don't think, at this moment, this issue should even be at the forefront of our nation's discussion. We have a war,we are losing our democracy, we have fraudulent elections, we are losing our civil rights one by one. This group was created in 1999 under the US chamber of commerce. Their goal is more profits. period. Instead of arguing amongst ourselves we should be exposing the real reasons why the issue is on the table.

[FSogol]

14. Aren't we at war? Shouldn't we resolve that as a 1st priority?

That's what I say to the alarmists in this office who are scared of immigration.

[Babel_17]

16. Good points

It would have helped a lot if our representatives had gotten together prior to this and had better worked out the major points of where they stood.

Not issuing position statements can be part of a good strategy but, as has been alluded, our representatives knew the republicans would do something that would cause the dem's to have to go on record.

I'm sure some work was done by our representatives but imo we missed an opportunity to own the republicans.

The republicans are all over the map on this. If we could have staked out the broad center and put the focus on the culpability of exploitive employers we'd be standing really tall right now.

Let's face it, our party/representatives gets cash from these exploiters/interests and that's keeping our party from voicing a more principled stand.

Additionally, we need to point out that republicans have had unprecedented control of gov't and they tout themselves as the national security party. They've let this issue build up to the point it is at now. We have the right to criticize and even nit-pick any flaws in their proposals.

I'm not saying we can't work with those republicans who will work in good faith on this. I'm saying we deserve to use this issue as a talking point in our favor.

People see Saddam as having been involved in 911. Bush benefits.

People see this issue (somewhat unfairly) as being due to the abject failure of our current (all republican) gov't. Let's go with that.

Any compromise is going to tick off a lot of people at least a little. Every time one of our rep's talks about their plans they need to emphasize that the pain people see in all these bills is due to years and years of republican inaction.

Totally fair to do that? No. Justified? Hell yes.

[Kurovski]

18. I very much appreciate your snapshot of reality.

It's clear and colorful, and so I gratefully recommend it.

And besides that, you said "Howard Dean"! :bounce:

[Richard Steele]

19. And I will say it again: "Howard Dean"!

Howard Dean, Howard Dean, Howard Dean!!!!!!!!!

He warned us, but did we listen?
He told us MONTHS ago to start preparing for this bullshit!

And, as always, he was CORRECT and he was IGNORED.

And DU falls straight into reciting lines from a script written by Karl Rove
for the nTH frickin' time.

[glitch]

21. Well said. All the dems have to say is allow guest workers, unionize them

and this issue goes back to the back burner and Karl has to think of another marketing campaign.

K & R

[Richard Steele]

23. Bingo. UNIONIZE THEM- those are the magic words.

Bush's base hate and FEAR labor unions like vampires fear garlic.
UNIONS are the only opponent who ever won a battle against their greed.

The "Captains of Industry" had a nice little slave-labor feudal system
for awhile, and it worked well- VERY well.

They made more profit from their laborers than slaveowners ever did.
Slaveowners may have BUILT cabins for their slaves,
but the "Company Store" actually CHARGED its slaves to live in them!

But then the UNIONS arose- the only thing that ever managed
to put boundaries on their greed and exploitation...
for a few decades.
Temporarily.

But now the unions are either corrupt, or faded memories of the past,
and the world's ELITE have bode their time,
BOUGHT this government, and are beta-testing 'Feudalism 3.0'

[satya]

25. I've been saying the same thing; it's a win-win outcome for all except the

cheap labor conservatives. And it exposes their lies about the "jobs Americans don't want". We just don't want to do those jobs for slave wages. Somehow we Americans got the crazy idea that we were entitled to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

[OnionPatch]

24. I agree with you to a point

I also don't have immigration on my list of top priorities, but if the cons are going to make it an issue, it will be all over the news, talk shows, etc. and the Dems should have a plan and a good response. The best I could have hoped from them is that they would use this issue to highlight the conservative cheap-labor policies and lay the blame at their feet where it rightly belongs. Heck, even the freepers are asking if there is a plan to destroy America's middle class. Now is the time to jump on the issue and point out these corporate traitors are who are selling out American workers.

[EFerrari]

26. Well said, dicksteele

:hi:

[IowaGuy]

27. It's been a little weird.........all of a sudden,

coordinated mass demonstrations across the country, re: an iss ue that has been with us for years, and now it's all of a sudden a crisis?....and coincidentally, the airwaves are full of repuke talking heads w/ coordinated talking points...

Doesn't the MSM ever get tired of being so cynically manipulated?

[Richard Steele]

28. KICK for die nosferatu...

[gordontron]

29. I was just going to post almost exactly what you said

but I think you did a better job, :kick:

the repubs wil definately try to use issues like this that play to peoples biases and emotions, and the dems may buy the crap...... dark dark dark

[robinlynne]

30. RIGHT ON!

right on right on.

[Richard Steele]

32. Thanks, and welcome to DU!

[alcibiades_mystery]

31. Ding Ding Ding

The Pavlovian responses on this board are amazing: Democrats as trained dogs for the Republican noise machine. Here they come running, salivating, see?

[Cleita]

33. I agree. They've beaten the abortion and Terri Schiavo wedge

issues to death. So this is something new to divide everyone with.

[catzies]

34. Right you are. And just like the "Hillary in 08" talk (IMO)

:thumbsup:

[mdmc]

35. yes!

Thou shall not be a victim, thou shall not be a perpetrator, and above all, thou shall not be a bystander