Been busy with a project all week which has left me with little time to blog. But came across three recent news items I couldn't ignore. Mixed messages, again, from the Republicans.
First, courtesy of George Bush, the border fence they're building down in Texas separating Mexicans from real Mexicans, Brownsville from Matamoros, and franchises of Taco Bell from franchises of Taco Bell, not only is driving Texas mayors to flirtations with civil disobedience, but will also create a no man's land not seen since the armed guard, Cold War split of East and West Berlin. From an AP story:
GRANJENO, Texas - Founded 240 years ago, this sleepy Texas town along the Rio Grande has outlasted the Spanish, then the Mexicans and then the short-lived independent Republic of Texas. But it may not survive the U.S. government’s effort to secure the Mexican border with a steel fence.
A map obtained by The Associated Press shows that the double- or triple-layer fence may be built as much as two miles from the river on the U.S. side of the Rio Grande, leaving parts of Granjeno and other nearby communities in a potential no man’s land between the barrier and the water’s edge.
Based on the map and what the residents have been told, the fence could run straight through houses and backyards. Some fear it could also cut farmers off from prime farmland close to the water.
Meanwhile three of the top-tier GOP candidates -- Fred Thompson, Rudy Giuliani and Mitt Romney --have changed their minds about talking to Brown people and have agreed to appear in a Univisión-sponsored Spanish language debate. At first they said no, but now they have agreed to withstand questions like what the hell is a sanctuary city, what's up with your obsession with Castro, and why do you hate Mexicans so much. According to the article, "the acceptances are a coup for Univisión, unfamiliar to many English
speakers even though its audience surpasses that of cable networks such
as CNN and MSNBC." That's right, bigger than CNN and MSNBC. Another example of how even obvious over qualifications only barely get you to to the table.
And finally Mitt Romney, one of the top-tier recent converts to the debate, and who apparently is blanketing Florida Spanish radio with ads in espanol for his Latino listeners, came out with a English language TV ad for his New Hampshire and Iowa gringo listeners. (See ad here.) In just 30 seconds vato lays out his real feelings for immigrants: "We all know Hillary Clinton and the Democrats have it wrong on illegal immigration...Our party should not make that mistake...As President, I'll oppose amnesty, cut funding for sanctuary cities and secure our borders." Can't wait to see how homeboy defends that to the hopefully unruly Univision debate audience.
Oh, and a thanks to Soundtaste for linking to my Girl in a Coma video. Rock on.
Sadly, yet ironic enough, the Berlin Wall came down 18 years ago this week.
http://blog.magnumphotos.com/2007/11/photo_of_the_week_the_berlin_wall_came_down_18_years_ago.html
Posted by: casey | 09 November 2007 at 01:37 PM