$850 million later, high-tech border fence a failure
The Obama administration has decided to abandon construction of a high-tech “virtual fence” along the Mexico-U.S. border, proclaiming it an expensive failure.
Just as most people expected it to be.
When the so-called Secure Border Initiative was announced back in 2006, President Bush called it “the most technologically advanced border security initiative in American history.”
“The American people are rightfully insistent on the fact that we solve this 30-year-old problem,” Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said. “And this is about a solution which we believe is going to do the job.”
Even at the time, though, most of those paying attention understood the project to be a purely political gesture by the Bush administration, which was eager to tamp down criticism of its immigration policy.
”We’ve been presented with expensive proposals for elaborate border technology that eventually have proven to be ineffective and wasteful,” U.S. Rep. Harold Rogers, R-Kentucky, warned in one 2006 congressional hearing. ”How is the SBI not just another three-letter acronym for failure?”
Eight hundred and fifty million dollars later, Rogers and others have been proved right. Last week, the Governmental Accountability Office released a scathing report on the 53-mile fence project and the performance of its lead contractor. Boeing. The report was the latest in a series of GAO reports dating back to 2007 that pointed out what investigators call “its well-chronicled history of not delivering promised capabilities and benefits on time and within budget.”
“Although some of the individual components perform acceptably, SBInet has failed to deliver on the promise of an integrated system that detects and simultaneously identifies intruders, and then quickly and accurately directs resources to intercept them,” said T.J. Bonner, president of the National Border Patrol Council.
“This is due to unrealistic expectations about the capabilities of current technology, as well as a flawed underlying concept. In their quest to automate border security, the system’s proponents appear to have lost sight of the fact that surveillance technology is incapable of apprehending anything; well-trained and highly-skilled law enforcement officers are necessary to accomplish that task.”
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454 comments Add your comment
Randalph
October 25th, 2010
3:11 pm
Nope!
we aren’t…
Randalph, the Right
lovelyliz
October 25th, 2010
3:11 pm
Another Republicans program designed to spend taxpayer $$$$$$$$ on programs that put taxpayer $$$$$$$$ into the hand of campaigns donors even if such program is an abject failure. SEE ABSTINENANCE ONLY PROGRAMS
Normal
October 25th, 2010
3:11 pm
Randalph
October 25th, 2010
3:00 pm
Call ‘em The Randalph Scouts…
BADA BING
October 25th, 2010
3:14 pm
A fence is just like a speed bump on the road. Sure, you are going to get over it, but it has slowed you and every person that comes to it. A combination of the Rio Grande, fences, watch towers, and border agents make for an effective, multi-layered control process.
The Leg Lamp is a "major award"....
October 25th, 2010
3:14 pm
lovelyliz
October 25th, 2010
3:11 pm
Waste? See LBJ’s “Great Society” programs.
Southern Comfort
October 25th, 2010
3:14 pm
Normal
From your article:
Senate filibusters were once reserved for the most divisive issues — race, conspicuously. Now filibusters are routine. From 1919 to 1960, cloture (the decision to end debate, now requiring 60 votes) was filed 27 times. From 2003 to 2006, when Republicans controlled the Senate, they filed cloture 130 times to break Democratic filibusters. Since 2007, when Democrats took charge, they’ve filed 257 cloture motions, Davis reports.
All I can say is WOW!! No wonder we can’t get sh*t done anymore.
lovelyliz
October 25th, 2010
3:15 pm
Molly Ivins: we held The Fence climbing contest. See, people talked about building The Fence back then, too. The Fence along the Mexican border. To keep Them out.
At the time, the proposal was quite specific — a 17-foot cyclone fence with bob wire at the top. So a test fence was built at Terlingua, and the First-Ever Terlingua Memorial Over, Under or Through Mexican Fence Climbing Contest took place. Prize: a case of Lone Star beer. Winning time: 30 seconds.
I tell this story to make the one single point about the border and immigration we know to be true: The Fence will not work. No fence will work. The Great darn Wall of China will not work. Do not build a fence. It will not work. They will come anyway. Over, under or through.
Jackie
October 25th, 2010
3:15 pm
@Scout
Private armies are illegal in the USA.
The number of illegal aliens are declining and have been doing so for the last four years.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_illegal_immigration
Doggone/GA
October 25th, 2010
3:15 pm
“A combination of ”
How much in increased taxes are you willing to pay to cover the cost of all that?
lovelyliz
October 25th, 2010
3:17 pm
The Leg Lamp is a “major award”….
Why because that’s when the dixiecrats took over the Republicans party? Good riddance.
The Leg Lamp is a "major award"....
October 25th, 2010
3:17 pm
Uh oh, looks like “no soup for you, come back one year”.
PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Rhode Island gubernatorial candidate Frank Caprio, in a radio interview Monday morning, reacted angrily to President Obama’s decision not to endorse him during a visit to the Ocean State Monday.
“He can take his endorsement and really shove it as far as I’m concerned,” Caprio told talk-show host John DePetro during an interview on WPRO-AM.
catlady
October 25th, 2010
3:17 pm
I am not the scholar many of you are, nor am I an engineer. However, to my memory the Berlin Wall was pretty successful. Of course it was short. But having guards with weapons went a long way toward discouraging any fence-jumpers.
We have massive unemployment. People with good or marginal skills need jobs. People with poor skills need training and discipline. This sounds like the perfect fit. Train ‘em and let ‘er rip. With consistency we COULD do something about this!
I teach the children of illegal immigrants. The kids I teach are generally hard-working and well-behaved and their parents want them to do well. However, there are too many of them born here and able to garner American services immediately. The companies that hire their (mostly) fathers have no problem passing the expenses of these new Americans off on the rest of us and fattening the bottom line for themselves.
I believe we need to be identifying and repartriating the foreign nationals here illegally. It would be wise to identify those with skills we need, and devise a way to citizenship for them. This would include showing proficiency in English, having a marketable skill, having their children in school and out of trouble, and paying fines and penalties immediately. Failing that, back they go, and to the end of the line! Charge a per person fee for the repatriation, coming out of US aid to the sending countries.
We should also be concerned about those coming here on student visas, having children, and outstaying the visas. It isn’t just the Latinos taking advantage of the American people.
We need not only significant fines but also significant jail time for employers allowing this.
That which we do not defend we do not have. Surely, to most of us, our citizenship is one of the most important, significant, valuable things we have. It is imperative that we defend it, both for ourselves and the rest of the world.
Nice Guy
October 25th, 2010
3:18 pm
Dog – “How much in increased taxes are you willing to pay to cover the cost of all that?”
I asked you earlier, and I serious, what’s with you asking this question over and over?
The Leg Lamp is a "major award"....
October 25th, 2010
3:19 pm
lovelyliz
October 25th, 2010
3:17 pm
????????????????
LBJ defected to the Republicans? Who knew?
jt
October 25th, 2010
3:20 pm
Southern Comfort
“First, it’s gender on gender screening?????”
This is the double oughts dude. Where do our gay brothers and sisters fit in?
.” Second, everyone who undergoes screening DOES NOT go thru a full body scan.”
That is the stated goal of the TSA. It takes time to fully impliment.
“you do not have to fly. As far as I can recall, flying is not a right guaranteed by law, it is a privilege paid for by the person who chooses to fly.”
I get my rights from my creator. Rights are not guaranteed by law, only denied.
“then why don’t you come up with a better process to screen 100% of persons flying that works.”
Comman sense. The israelites do a pretty good job.
I mean really SoCo, do you feel right rummaging through the purse of a sweet ole lady from Alabama? How much time are you wasting? Why does a pilot have to be scanned when he is IN CONTROL of the biggest weapon? What is the security scanning for baggage handlers?
It is typical government incompetence that gives every one a false sense of security which also enables a few well-connected few to make billions of dollars.
It is never to late to set yourself free. Deep down, you know you want to.
LeeH1
October 25th, 2010
3:21 pm
Check out the fences the Israelis have constructed to fight suicide bombers. It works, because they mean it when they say, “Stay out!”
It’s not the size or style of wall, it’s the determination of the people behind the wall, either to go over it, or to stop them, that matters.
BADA BING
October 25th, 2010
3:24 pm
Why are you people concerned with the cost of border protection? It is a cost that all countries must pay to protect their security. We have akways paid for protection, we would pay it even if there were no Mexican border problem. The Coast Guard, the INS, the local Police, and the FBI would all exist even without the immigration problem. They are there for other reasons as well.
Keep up the good fight!
October 25th, 2010
3:24 pm
AmVet…do you ever think they will catch on that the Berlin Wall was to keep people in and that it was the communist response to freedome. Why do they hate America so much that they will follow the communists?
williebkind
October 25th, 2010
3:27 pm
I like the idea of a wall! It would be the only shade for miles. The federal employees patrolling the border would be there every minute. Hey the FBI/ICE might show if it is cool enough.
Doggone/GA
October 25th, 2010
3:27 pm
“I asked you earlier, and I serious, what’s with you asking this question over and over?”
Seriously? You can’t figure it out? Aren’t we “Taxed Enough Already” but “the government should do something” – well SOMETHING COSTS MONEY. So you want the government to do something about illegal immigrants? HOW MUCH are you willing to cough up so they CAN do something about them?
BADA BING
October 25th, 2010
3:29 pm
Do we need border protection? Does your house have walls? Do you have a fence? Do you have burgulary insurance? Do you have locks on your doors and windows? Why? If no one is going to cause you danger, do without all these protections.
Randalph
October 25th, 2010
3:30 pm
Let’s get the illegals to build our fence! Then send to the other side once they are finished! It’s a WIN WIN!
williebkind
October 25th, 2010
3:30 pm
Keep up the good fight!
October 25th, 2010
3:24 pm
We are not communists as long as we keep progressive liberals out of office. Comparing the Berlin wall to the border wall is apples and oranges. The Berlin wall had armed towers every 100 meters–just in case you did not read that in the DNC morning blogs responses.
Bosch
October 25th, 2010
3:31 pm
“Seriously? You can’t figure it out? Aren’t we “Taxed Enough Already” but “the government should do something” – well SOMETHING COSTS MONEY.”
We need to print those on flyers and drop them from airplanes all over the country.
williebkind
October 25th, 2010
3:31 pm
BADA BING
October 25th, 2010
3:29 pm
Super point!
Jackie
October 25th, 2010
3:32 pm
What do we do with those who are illegal and are not Latino?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illegal_immigrant_population_of_the_United_States
JKL2
October 25th, 2010
3:34 pm
Keep- Why do they hate America so much that they will follow the communists?
Why do you want to reinvent the wheel? The wall worked very well. I’ll go with LeeH1 @3:21. If you actually mean it when you say you want to keep people out, and follow up on that commitment, most people will stay away. For the rest of them, we will plant crosses where the body fell.
Nice Guy
October 25th, 2010
3:35 pm
Dog – “HOW MUCH are you willing to cough up so they CAN do something about them?”
It depends on what the ’something’ is. Chances are, no matter what they come up with, a tax increase will not be justified. The guvment rakes in enough cash to where they can turnover the seat cushions in the lobby and find the money.
I mean, what’s your answer there darlin’?
williebkind
October 25th, 2010
3:35 pm
“Mexico: 13 dead in massacre at Ciudad Juarez party”
Is this the kind of people we want to cross our borders?
Confucius Say
October 25th, 2010
3:36 pm
I just don’t know if I can handle any more tax cuts to pay for all these things that the government wants to do. Obama has done given us the biggest one-year tax cut ever in history and look at all the stuff that got us. I’m just plain overwhelmed. The government needs to slow down and the only way to do that is to stop it with all the tax cuts. Take a break. The economy is going to blow a gasket if it keeps growing like this.
Redneck Convert (R--and proud of it)
October 25th, 2010
3:36 pm
Well, I see you all are still writing about this while I was taking my annual exam at the Drs. office.
I got some sound advise for you. Never go to a Dr. with big thick fingers.
Nice Guy
October 25th, 2010
3:37 pm
“We need to print those on flyers and drop them from airplanes all over the country.”
And that would accomplish what exactly?
AmVet
October 25th, 2010
3:40 pm
We are not communists as long as we keep progressive liberals out of office.
Notwithstanding this nonsense, Keep, the supposed difference is that the Berlin Wall was constructed to keep people in, while the Israelis and American Walls were constructed to people out.
I’m not sure that distinction is of much value.
And speaking of Israel, josef and I have, as fellow MOTs, lamented how the Israelis, of all people, have resorted to such similar tactics as the country that slaughtered so many Jews.
And in the case of the American wall, it was a pathetically transparent attempt to resolve a problem by putting enormous time, money and resources into exactly the wrong option.
Which was of course, a common thread of the debacle-ridden administration prior to this one…
williebkind
October 25th, 2010
3:41 pm
Jackie
October 25th, 2010
3:32 pm
Did you not see the move “The Proposal”?
Paulo977
October 25th, 2010
3:41 pm
Hard to keep illegals out ,isn’t ?Perhaps Saddam ought to have built a fence!!At least these coming over here, don’t have the power to murder millions of us , they just WORK!!
stands for decibels
October 25th, 2010
3:41 pm
Comparing the Berlin wall to the border wall is apples and oranges.
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1010/43820.html
BADA BING
October 25th, 2010
3:42 pm
We don’t want walls built to keep out the poor man looking to better his family’s lives. We want to stop the drug gangs, we want to stop the human slave traffic, we want to stop the child sex slavery, we want to stop the illegal arms traffic. Why are you people so obsessed with the racist angle?
mm
October 25th, 2010
3:43 pm
Let’s just build a wall like East Germany did. That will satisfy the wingnuts! Oh wait, one of the tea loons has already suggested it.
Southern Comfort
October 25th, 2010
3:43 pm
This is the double oughts dude. Where do our gay brothers and sisters fit in?
They do their job just like everyone else. You could advocate for the government to discriminate and only allow them to screen baggage.
That is the stated goal of the TSA. It takes time to fully impliment.
And that time could be used to find an alternative method that is effective and not as intrusive.
I get my rights from my creator. Rights are not guaranteed by law, only denied.
Ummm… The Bill of Rights guarantees rights by law. Care to try again??? I understand your point, but if everyone thought like that, then there would be no countries or divisions of land. We’d all be one community living under the laws of the Creator. How would you differentiate between the rights of your Creator versus Ahmed’s Creator or Chen’s Creator…
Comman sense. The israelites do a pretty good job.
The Israelites also profile. Are you suggesting the government profile. If you’ve ever been thru security in Israel, it can take 4-5 hours to get thru their security sometime. How would you sell that to the American traveling public? People already complain about waiting an hour for security.
I mean really SoCo, do you feel right rummaging through the purse of a sweet ole lady from Alabama? How much time are you wasting? Why does a pilot have to be scanned when he is IN CONTROL of the biggest weapon? What is the security scanning for baggage handlers?
I guess you haven’t heard of the Chechen Black Widows? An old lady might be innocent, but she could also be naive. Somebody could put things in her bag without her knowledge just because nobody expects grandma to pack explosives. It’s a waste of time if nobody’s trying to attack us. Once you can prove that, then it’s all a waste of time.
A pilot is scanned BECAUSE he is in control of the biggest weapon. There’s more to their screening other than going thru a metal detector. Baggage handlers go thru screening too. You just can’t get hired off the street and start working the next day.
If you have all the answers, as you appear to, why don’t you do an internship with DHS. I’m sure you can change things and make it 100% effective without intruding into people’s personal lives or property. People like you have all the answers for what’s wrong, but have no clue as to what’s right. Keep trying though, and eventually you’ll be right. Even a broken clock is right twice a day.
Bosch
October 25th, 2010
3:44 pm
Nice Guy,
People might read what’s written on the flyers and maybe, just maybe, begin to understand the concept.
Whacks Eloquent
October 25th, 2010
3:44 pm
“We need to print those on flyers and drop them from airplanes all over the country.”
“And that would accomplish what exactly?”
Wasting tax dollars, of course! What is government better at doing?
AmVet
October 25th, 2010
3:46 pm
BADA, I agree. The racist angle is the wrong one.
The business/money angle is almost always the right one.
It trumps everything else.
And countless American businesses, large, medium and small, profiting illegally – and with complete impunity – is the paramount issue.
And the one that the law-averse Corporatist Republicans and Democrats will NOT touch…
williebkind
October 25th, 2010
3:46 pm
“I’m not sure that distinction is of much value.”
Well, lets just keep thinking about it. Sometimes bloodflow reaches the brain and provides that needed oxygen and then…
williebkind
October 25th, 2010
3:47 pm
“And countless American businesses, large, medium and small, profiting illegally – and with complete impunity – is the paramount issue.”
That, is one point of agreement.
lovelyliz
October 25th, 2010
3:47 pm
“I think it’s the stupidest idea I’ve ever heard of,” said Brian O’Brien, a wealthy Houston oilman who has an 18,000-acre ranch, seven miles of it along the Rio Grande, near Eagle Pass. “If the river doesn’t keep them out, why do you think a wall will?”
internet user
October 25th, 2010
3:47 pm
Keep….understand that the tool you are using can also be used to not sound uneducated. The boxer rebellion occured in the early 1900s. The Ming Dynasty was founded after the Mongols had occupied China and after defeating the Mongols the Great Wall was rebuilt and expanded by the Ming Dynasty.
Nice Guy
October 25th, 2010
3:48 pm
“And in the case of the American wall, it was a pathetically transparent attempt to resolve a problem by putting enormous time, money and resources into exactly the wrong option.
Which was of course, a common thread of the debacle-ridden administration prior to this one…”
So why didn’t Barack the Great ax that project?
Nice Guy
October 25th, 2010
3:49 pm
“People might read what’s written on the flyers and maybe, just maybe, begin to understand the concept.”
Ahh, to be young and optimistic!
mm
October 25th, 2010
3:50 pm
How do you make 850 million dollars disappear?
You try to implement a idea hatched by republicans.
AmVet
October 25th, 2010
3:51 pm
Well, lets just keep thinking about it. Sometimes bloodflow reaches the brain and provides that needed oxygen and then…
willie, do you ever tire of behaving like a petulant and ill-mannered brat?
Don’t answer, it is a rhetorical question…
Bosch
October 25th, 2010
3:52 pm
“Ahh, to be young and optimistic!”
Yes, Nice Guy, it is nice.
mm
October 25th, 2010
3:53 pm
“So why didn’t Barack the Great ax that project?”
Because he was too busy reaching across the aisle only to realize he had more and more missing fingers.
Nice Guy
October 25th, 2010
3:56 pm
mm – “Because he was too busy reaching across the aisle only to realize he had more and more missing fingers. You try to implement a idea hatched by republicans.”
Hey mm, I think you need eat something and then drink some water. You’re starting to sound like you’re delusional.
The Leg Lamp is a "major award"....
October 25th, 2010
3:56 pm
mm
October 25th, 2010
3:53 pm
The only finger Obama ever extended to the republicans was his middle finger.
The Leg Lamp is a "major award"....
October 25th, 2010
3:57 pm
Nice Guy
October 25th, 2010
3:56 pm
Just imagine how the hysteria from the left will escalate as we move closer and closer to the midterm election.
Keep up the good fight!
October 25th, 2010
3:58 pm
Limp leg….if only Obama had done that, America would be a better place today.
williebkind
October 25th, 2010
3:58 pm
The largest draw for the illegals is harvesting. The others are construction and service jobs. However, unions caused that with labor costs. The unions started off doing good things then got greedy. That is why we have no manufacturing. Huge wages, health insurance, retirements, vacation pay, sick leave, and other benefits that are not guaranteed in the constitution but are on every unresponsible citizen’s mind because of the liberals and unions. The socialist ideal!
Nice Guy
October 25th, 2010
3:58 pm
“How do you make 850 million dollars disappear?
You try to implement a idea hatched by republicans.”
The sound of crickets is deafening.
jt
October 25th, 2010
3:59 pm
Southern Comfort
Let’s see. We’ve had the shoe bomber and the underwear bomber.
What happens to all of us “terrorist suspects” (innocent fliers) after something is smuggled up their you know what?
jconservative
October 25th, 2010
4:00 pm
It’s Reagan’s Star Wars System all over again.
Nice Guy
October 25th, 2010
4:01 pm
Leg Lamp – “Just imagine how the hysteria from the left will escalate as we move closer and closer to the midterm election.”
It will be quite the sight. But I sorta wish the coming landslide (maybe) was going to be more of a surprise, their expressions would priceless. Instead, they’ve had weeks to prepare for it, so I expect the Coopers, Madows, & Olbermans of the world to downplay the whole thing.
Nice Guy
October 25th, 2010
4:02 pm
I’m outtie folks. Peace!
AmVet
October 25th, 2010
4:02 pm
Re the question at 3:48, I’ve already answered it above.
Twice.
But according the full-time delusionists, BHO was the single greatest liberal in the history of the universe!!!!!!!
He was going to cut and run from Iraq and Afghanistan!!!
He was going to undo allof those brilliant Bush maneuvers to keep us safe!!!
He was going to immediately close GITMO!!!
He was going to stack the SCOTUS with terrorist-coddling baby-killers!!!
And other such nonsense on and on and on…
That is two American presidents in a row that the neo-cons have been laughably dead wrong about.
Talk about ZERO credibility…
williebkind
October 25th, 2010
4:02 pm
“How do you make 850 million dollars disappear?
Use union labor!
jm
October 25th, 2010
4:03 pm
well, I guess we need to build an old fashioned physical fence. stinks for the wildlife, for sure.
AmVet
October 25th, 2010
4:05 pm
However, unions caused that with labor costs.
Now this is a new theory for me.
If I understand it correctly, American businesses by the tens of thousands, most by far non-unionized, were forced to break numerous US and state laws and illegally hire and employ illegals because of labor unions.
???
williebkind
October 25th, 2010
4:06 pm
“Talk about ZERO credibility”
See what happens when you have to much Soros in your kool-ade?
Confucius Say
October 25th, 2010
4:06 pm
I think the answer to all has been given by the posters. It is just spread out amongst many posts. Part of the answer that I have been able to assemble is to build a transparent wall (glass, I presume) so that people attempting to cross the border will bump their heads on it and knock themselves out each time they try. To save money, the wall should be short and on wheels so it can be moved as needed based on observed piles of bones from attempted border crossings that failed. I wonder if anyone has considered erecting mirrors instead of glass walls. That could be interesting. Or maybe piles of bones could be scattered out along the border and people would get that message — anyone coming this way must eat spare ribs. They would not be able to afford it and would turn around and go back home.
williebkind
October 25th, 2010
4:07 pm
AmVet
October 25th, 2010
4:05 pm
YEP! Economicaly enforced. Just like they do those poor minorities.
non-union labor
October 25th, 2010
4:09 pm
“How do you make 850 million dollars disappear?
Use union labor!
Where do I sign up.
Redneck Convert (R--and proud of it)
October 25th, 2010
4:09 pm
Well, I might of knowed this Southern Comfort was crooked as a dog’s hind leg. Taking pictures of wifes and girls and using the kind of camera that undresses them. We need to get back to hanging.
Southern Comfort
October 25th, 2010
4:12 pm
What happens to all of us “terrorist suspects” (innocent fliers) after something is smuggled up their you know what?
Has there been a visible change in security screening since August 2009?
Pull my finger: Jihadist who blew himself up on Saudi prince’s private jet hid explosives in his anus
Al Qaeda Bombers Learn from Drug Smugglers
New Technique of Storing Bomb Materials Inside Body Cavity Nearly Kills a Saudi Prince
To get his bomb into this room, Abdullah Asieri, one of Saudi Arabia’s most wanted men, avoided detection by two sets of airport security including metal detectors and palace security. He spent 30 hours in the close company of the prince’s own secret service agents – all without anyone suspecting a thing.
How did he do it?
Taking a trick from the narcotics trade – which has long smuggled drugs in body cavities – Asieri had a pound of high explosives, plus a detonator inserted in his rectum.
It’s already been tried. I’m guessing since the visible screening process has not changed much, the innocen fliers don’t have much to be fearful of. As a flyer myself, I wouldn’t mind knowing that nobody on board my flight has the capability to send me plummeting 36,000 feet, but that’s just me.
The attempts on US flagged carriers that you referred to have all originated OUTSIDE of the US. They were not screened by US officials, so I don’t think it’s fair to say that our screening failed when it was not us that did the screening.
jm
October 25th, 2010
4:13 pm
In a similar, but related story. Dogs are the best bomb sniffers. Price tag: $19 Billion.
The fence is chump change at today’s spending standards….
http://www.popsci.com/technology/article/2010-10/after-19-billion-spent-six-years-pentagon-realizes-best-bomb-detector-dog
jm
October 25th, 2010
4:15 pm
Anyone ready for small government yet?
me! me! me! me! me! me! me! me! me!
Left wing management
October 25th, 2010
4:15 pm
What, a Bush program a ‘failure’ ?
What, a Bush program a ‘political stunt’ ?
C’mon, Jay, what universe are you living in?
williebkind
October 25th, 2010
4:19 pm
Southern Comfort
October 25th, 2010
4:12 pm
That should stop the retort, “Blow it out your a$$!”
Southern Comfort
October 25th, 2010
4:22 pm
williebkind
When I first heard about that incident last year, my first thought was that the bomber had redefined “explosive diarrhea”.
Bosch
October 25th, 2010
4:25 pm
This has GOT to be one of the saddest stories EVER in the history of mankind: you must read the last sentence to understand.
Okla. man jailed for breaking dog out of pound
http://www.accessatlanta.com/celebrities-tv/okla-man-jailed-for-690531.html?cxntlid=thbz_hm
Bosch
October 25th, 2010
4:25 pm
I think they did it for spite.
Steve
October 25th, 2010
4:33 pm
Wonder what would happen if we informed Mexico all illegals caught crossing the Mexico-US border would be dropped by parachute into Iran or North Korea.
Doggone/GA
October 25th, 2010
4:33 pm
“I mean, what’s your answer there”
We need to cut taxes
Southern Comfort
October 25th, 2010
4:35 pm
Bosch
That’s awful!!
willieb
It’s quite sobering to go to work knowing that you can be right 99 times out of 100 and still be an abject failure if you’re wrong once. At the same time, you know your adversary only has to be right 1 time out of 100 to be considered successful.
Doggone/GA
October 25th, 2010
4:45 pm
“The guvment rakes in enough cash to where they can turnover the seat cushions in the lobby and find the money. ”
Ummm…you do realize that searching under the cushions is what you do when you are SHORT on money…don’t you?
The Leg Lamp is a "major award"....
October 25th, 2010
4:45 pm
Let’s not be too hard on labor unions and say they’re accomplished nothing. After all, they are almost singlehandedly responsible for the incredible economic growth of …………..
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China!
jm
October 25th, 2010
4:48 pm
Like I said. Liberals in panic mode. Not that Clinton is really a liberal.
The problem with Clinton’s position, is that Obama is nothing like Clinton. Obama’s further left. He doesn’t know how to foster job creation. He doesn’t have any business people in his administration.
I’m not a huge fan of Republicans. But we need continual regime change until we can get someone that has their act together. Like Bloomberg, or Mitch Daniels, or Tim Kaine, etc. etc.
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1010/44111.html
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October 25th, 2010
4:48 pm
well-trained and highly-skilled law enforcement officers are necessary to accomplish that task.”
Looks like Obama came up with his own solution to the rising unemployment that’s been dogging him.
Aye chihuahua.
Doggone/GA
October 25th, 2010
4:50 pm
“Let’s not be too hard on labor unions and say they’re accomplished nothing”
Those who don’t know history are doomed to repeat it (unk)
jm
October 25th, 2010
4:50 pm
Inside baseball on the “day after” in Congress. By the way, Jay, see direct quote from Politico.
“Moderates get all the attention in tight races, but it’s liberals who completely dominate the caucus”
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1010/44089.html
non-union labor
October 25th, 2010
4:50 pm
An abundance of cheap labor and a willingness of US corporations to take advantage of it are the things that economic growth in China are made of. India too. South Korea too…
They also pump out cheap leg lamp awards. They’re a dime a dozen.
Pogo
October 25th, 2010
4:51 pm
BHO is a loser. Period. And so are his supporting cast in congress. It is terrible to see people pin their hopes on an ideologue with no real redeeming quality other than his being black and his being a member of the political party of their choice. He has done nothing to either stymy illegal immigration nor to help those that have already come across other than to maintain the status quo left by the weakminded Bush (and those before him)who also did nothing but let it continue.
Immigration is a good thing if it is done in a controlled fashion. But immigration into this country is out of control and we are going to pay both financially and culturally for that. And these very same poor immigrants are going to learn very quickly how to play the system.
jm
October 25th, 2010
4:53 pm
Hmmmmm. Food for thought. From Politico:
An even bigger test: Boehner, who is way more of a deal cutter than conventional wisdom suggests, will face challenges on extending Bush-era tax cuts and raising the debt ceiling in the months after Election Day.
Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1010/44089_Page3.html#ixzz13PHBdyUF
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October 25th, 2010
4:55 pm
Since the Mexican border is the topic, let’s give a shout out to:
The scene: The border town of Práxedis Guadalupe Guerrero, Mexico, where the threats from drug cartels run people out of their homes and the unforgiving, unchecked street law—complete with beheadings—has every family living in terror.
The conflict: No experienced lawman has the guts to take the job of police chief.
The twist: But one young woman, an attractive 20-year-old criminology student with an infant son, does. Enter Marisol Valles, the police chief now being hailed as the bravest woman in Mexico.
This IS the year of strong women.
Our own president could learn from her.
jm
October 25th, 2010
4:56 pm
Ugh. Schumer? Vomit…..
There is no more important Senate race in the country than Harry Reid versus Sharon Angle in Nevada. If Reid wins, Democrats will probably hold the majority, and he will probably keep his job. If Reid goes down, all hell will break loose on the leadership front.
It’s no secret New York’s Chuck Schumer wants the job. The man’s energy is matched only by his ambition and love of the spotlight.
Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1010/44089_Page3.html#ixzz13PHwrGVI
jm
October 25th, 2010
4:59 pm
Pogo 4:51 – “loser”. Not sure that’s quite the right word, but close enough. Obama doesn’t have the leadership gene. Sure, he’s gotten legislation passed, and he’s book smart.
But he’s not leading this country. He doesn’t understand leadership. He doesn’t understand how to foster economic growth. And he doesn’t understand the political middle’s principles and ideas.
Time for a little US regime change.
jt
October 25th, 2010
5:03 pm
Southern Comfort
I didn’t know that. Incredible. I hope the TSA doesn’t get any ideas about checking us.
I have to go, but I would like you to answer the following question. Because of your unique situation, how would you feel about having your wife go through the porno scan knowing that your fellow co- workers could be watching.? Would that be a problem?
There has already been some incidents involving privacy between co-workers.
The Leg Lamp is a "major award"....
October 25th, 2010
5:04 pm
jm
October 25th, 2010
4:56 pm
Will Rogers – “I never met a man I didn’t like”.
Chuck Shumer – “I never met a camera I didn’t like”.
Murdock's Missives
October 25th, 2010
5:08 pm
I wonder what FOX coverage of Jon Stewart’s rally would look like. Hannity would have to look back through his own rallies and pick out one of many with no attendees to cut and paste onto an image of Stewart so he could claim that Stewart’s rally had no turnout.
Doggone/GA
October 25th, 2010
5:08 pm
“Will Rogers – “I never met a man I didn’t like”.
Chuck Shumer – “I never met a camera I didn’t like”.”
Is that email going the rounds again…or are you just way, WAY behind in reading yours?
jm
October 25th, 2010
5:09 pm
leg lamp – no kidding. the guy is beyond obnoxious. I’m hoping for Steny in the House, anyone else for the Dems in the Senate (not Reid or Schumer), the R leadership looks pretty crummy, but it will have to do for now.
AmVet
October 25th, 2010
5:10 pm
Illegal immigration in the US has been out of control for many decades.
Reagan merely threw gasoline on an already huge fire.
And the subsequent presidents all danced merrily around it to the tune that the monied interests and the US Chamber of Commerce dictated…