What's up with that Executive Action?

[Jim in CT]

Originally Posted by PaulS

I still haven't heard why this is bigger than what other Pres. have done - like with Pres. Reagan and Bush and their executive action on Immigration.

Here's my opinion on that. From what I can gather (could be wrong) neither Bush nor Reagan acted in a way that obviously undermined the clear intent of existing federal law.

Did either Bush or Reagan issue an executive order that driectly nullified existing, duly constituted, federal law?

I can't stand 95% of what Obama does, I'll be the first to admit I'm biased here.

Constitutionally, it' scary. But it was a brilliant political move, it allows Obama to give the middle finger to everyone who voted for a Republican (we know he doesn't tolerate opposition or criticism well) and it backs the GOP into a very tough corner. Anything they do will be portrayed on every TV station except one, as being bigoted against Latinos. It was equally astute and slimy.

[spence]

Originally Posted by Jim in CT

Here's my opinion on that. From what I can gather (could be wrong) neither Bush nor Reagan acted in a way that obviously undermined the clear intent of existing federal law.

All the action does is move law abiding illegal immigrants to the back of the line and allow illegal parents of US citizens who have lived here for 5 years, pay taxes and can pass a background check the ability to stay and work...so the federal government can focus it's resources on border security and deportation the higher priority illegal immigrants like criminals.

How is this undermining federal law?

[Jim in CT]

Originally Posted by spence

All the action does is move law abiding illegal immigrants to the back of the line and allow illegal parents of US citizens who have lived here for 5 years, pay taxes and can pass a background check the ability to stay and work...so the federal government can focus it's resources on border security and deportation the higher priority illegal immigrants like criminals.

How is this undermining federal law?

"abiding illegal immigrants"...kind of an oxymoron, but I know what you're saying.

It undermines federal law, because federal law says they are supposed to be deported.

Spence, whet would you say to an ACTUAL law-abiding person, living in some oppressive sh*thole in Central America, who is playing by the rules and waiting for years for a chance to come legally? How is it fair to him that he has to wait, given that so many people illegally ut him in line, and now we reward those people? What would you say to such a person?

Here's what liberals, in general, struggle with...we're supposed to reward bad behavior, and encourage responsible behavior. This does the exact opposite.

[Jim in CT]

PaulS, I am vagueky aware of what Bush and Reagan did, and your article (written with a certain political slant, I think you'd agree) seems to support what I thought I knew.

I saw, on the Sunday morning talk shows, a former US Congressman (representing the opposite political slant) say specifically that Congress never intended to write a law that would seperate families. And that the executive action was taken to close an unintended, unethical loophole. If your article is true, and that Congress explicitly chose not to protect the families, then what Obama did doesn't appear that different from what Bush did.

In that case, I don't like what either did, OK? Is that consistent enough for you? I wasn't able to vote back then, so excuse me if I wasn't protesting those actions, if indeed they were similar. Does that still make me a hypocrite? I don't think so.

I call Obama a facist (with slight hyperbole, as I am sure you are aware) because, in my opinion, he is. He clearly favors something a lot closer to socialism than I will ever be comfortable with. I believe that sovereign debt (the feds and the states) is by far, the #2 domestic policy issue, after national security. Obama (in part due to th ewars he inherited, in part due to his actions) has added more to the debt than almost all prior presidents combined. He shows zero concern for that. Nor has he done anything to address socal security and medicare's impending collapse, except to say that anyone who says out loud that those programs are in deep trouble, hates old people and poor people.



I'm not "miserable". I can't stand anything that Obama stands for. At the same time, I'm the happiest, most affable guy you'd ever meet. Not sure why you can csll me miserable, but I can't call Obama El Duce. Perhaps you can explain that.

[spence]

Originally Posted by Jim in CT

It undermines federal law, because federal law says they are supposed to be deported.

The act doesn't say anyone is never going to be deported. All it does is prioritize the criminal and recent illegal aliens over law abiding illegal immigrants.

I believe there's some 7 million who don't have a chance to be covered by the act and we only have resources to deport about 400,000 a year.

So you'd rather break up a law abiding and taxpaying family because it's convenient versus spend your resources stopping people at the border or deporting violent criminals?

Why the House couldn't act on this is beyond me...oh what, I think I know

[Jim in CT]

Originally Posted by spence

The act doesn't say anyone is never going to be deported. All it does is prioritize the criminal and recent illegal aliens over law abiding illegal immigrants.

I believe there's some 7 million who don't have a chance to be covered by the act and we only have resources to deport about 400,000 a year.

So you'd rather break up a law abiding and taxpaying family because it's convenient versus spend your resources stopping people at the border or deporting violent criminals?

Why the House couldn't act on this is beyond me...oh what, I think I know

"The act doesn't say anyone is never going to be deported." Is that true? Not what I thought.

"Why the House couldn't act on this is beyond me"

The GOP does need to come up with something there. Starting with securing the borders, because if we're all dead, I'm not sure our immigration policies matter. Spence, do you have front door on your house? If so, why is that?

Spence, I notice that you absolutely, completely dodged my question about what you'd say to someone who is genuinely suffering because they are playing by the rules. Zip from you on that.

"you'd rather break up a law abiding and taxpaying family "

I don't want to break them up. But I want a process that's based on common sense and compassion, not a policy built around maximizing the future voting block of the Democrats.

And for your education, the "illegals" are by definition not law abiding, and many don't pay income taxes as they have no SS#.