My boss made a wall and door for my cubicle with package tape--and has introduced me to Les Nessman of WKRP fame. Without further adieu...



I'm still looking on YouTube for the clip of the duct tape walls episode. Anyone who can find it will make my weekend.

(If you have never heard of this, it was described to me as the original "The Office." Very funny. Search "WKRP" or "Les Nessman" on YouTube and enjoy!)

Here is the only issue I can recall in recent memory that both Left and Right (I'm talking "Man in the street", not the folks in Washington) have agreed on, and agreed heartily.  A quick read of comments from "everyday folks" over at Huffington Post and Michelle Malkin say essentially the same thing: Secure the borders, and enforce the current laws on the books.

Will the Hill listen to the people?

It's interesting to note that the "bigwigs" in both Parties are taking massive flak for supporting this horrible legislation.  Lindsey Graham had his approval ratings around 65% before he supported this bill.  Now he is hovering near 30%.  Think he might have something to worry about come November?  Ted Kennedy is taking a beating over at Huffington Post for his support.  Some commentors are calling for his retirement, and looking for a candidate to run against him.  Trent Lott shows once again why he is ill qualified to lead the Republican Party.  I think the Democrats who supported this "Yea" vote will have some trouble defending that stance come election time.  This issue seems pretty clear to most Americans. 

Radio host Rick Amato related the immigration mess to the movie Kill Bill:

They met in the middle of the night, behind closed doors and thought they could sneak 'a fast one' by the American people. But you would have none of it. To the credit of the listeners of talk radio, you have forced a very powerful group of Washington elite to back down and re-visit kill bill volumes 2, 3 and 4.

We all knew the liberal arm of the Democratic Party shared common values with Hollywood. But who among us knew that President Bush did too?

Border security first. Immigration policy reform second.

Ryan, one of Townhall’s editorial interns, calls this a touchdown for the conservative movement—in so many words.

Why do so many conservatives think today’s results spell victory for the movement? NC Outrage reminds readers that “the bill can’t be bought to the floor again until the next session of Congress, Jan. 2009.”

ShiningCity has the list of who voted “yes” on today’s cloture vote, if you’re curious.

Ken, of The Playful Walrus, asks, “Now what?” To answer that question, he has posted his recommendations for the government’s priorities and the American people’s responsibilities:

Here is what needs to happen now, as far as the government:

1. Control our physical borders using agents, barriers, and technology.
2. Track visitors to our country.  Make sure they do not overstay their welcome.
3. Workplace enforcement.  Hold employers accountable.
4. Deport illegal aliens caught committing other crimes.
5. Speed up legal immigration for those who want to integrate into and contribute to American society, not live off of our foolishly socialistic systems.

What can the people do?

1. Keep pressure on your elected officials.
2. Do not hire illegal aliens.  If you don't want to pay for legal labor for various odd jobs, do it yourself (it will be good exercise), or hire some neighborhood youths.
3. Pressure businesses.  Let them know that if they hire illegal aliens, you will no longer be their customer or invest in them.
4. If you are a union member, pressure your union leadership.  Illegal aliens cost you money.
5. Seek to improve the situation in Mexico through private charity that directly helps the needy in Mexico.  Avoid letting corrupt Mexican government officials get their hands on the resources.  Many churches send teams to Mexico to provide for the needy.
6. Try to move our systems and programs towards privatization and free enterprise, and away from socialism.  The fewer handouts we offer, the less incentive for the unskilled poor to sneak into our country.

Dad, of Revie’s Ramblings, is one of many bloggers to post that today’s vote does not mean that immigration is a dead issue.

We will still have to deal with a mass influx of people crossing our borders at will. Until the government gets serious about enforcement, we will have that problem. Congress has to signal a need for seriousness on this issue. Right now, they are fiddling while Rome burns. As they fiddle, the public is getting more fed up all of the time. There will come a time where politicians will have to pay a price for their lax opinion of border security. My hope is that will occur in 2008.

If border security is still a big issue in 2008, it bodes well for a Republican to be elected at all levels.

Blandly Urbane also reiterates that this is not the last Americans can expect to hear about immigration:

What the American people can not rest easy upon is the new rise from both sides of the aisle, although mostly from the Left of political renewed interest in seeing the “doctrine” put back into play.

From reactions and statements by the Senators involved it truly appeared to gall them that the American people were really getting into their craw. We can expect to hear more of the same clap trap rhetoric that we heard during the “rush to pass” that which they hadn’t felt a rush to pass up until recently.

Even her own readers are shocked and appalled.

"Get this: If Hillary Clinton wins the White House, is re-elected in 2012 and finishes her term, the country will have experienced 28 consecutive years of a Bush or Clinton as president.

Twenty-eight years. Nearly 12 percent of American history to that point. And that doesn’t even count George H.W. Bush’s eight years as Ronald Reagan’s vice president."


Read more at the Kansas City Star.

"Let's make a moral distinction between Islam and Muslims. Muslims are diverse. Some are like Irshad Manji and Tawfik Hamid and they want to seriously reform their faith. Others want to spread their beliefs through persuasion, or violence, or both. Others are apathetic and don't care much for politics. Others want to leave it and convert to Christianity or Nonie Darwish, or become an atheist, like me.

Islam and reform, as a set of beliefs, is hostile to everything Western. In a free society, yes, if Jews, Protestants and Catholics have their own schools, then Muslims should have theirs too. But how long should we ignore that in Muslim schools in the West, kids are taught to believe that Jews are pigs and dogs, that they should distance themselves from unbelievers, and that jihad is a virtue?

… And what about in Muslim lands? Jews, Catholics and Protestants cannot have their own schools or churches or graveyards. If Muslims can proselytize in Vatican City, why can't Christians proselytize in Mecca? Why do we find this acceptable?"



Stay tuned for more quotations from the National Press Club event last week.

Previous posts:
Why is the West so insecure...?
In Her Own Words

Why are Westerners so insecure about everything that is so wonderful about the West -- political freedom, free press, freedom of expression, equal rights for women and men and gays and heterosexuals, critical thinking and the great strength of scrutinizing ideas and especially faith? It is not the end of history. The 21st century began with a battle of ideas, and this battle is about the values of the West versus those of Islam. Tony Blair and the pope should not be embarrassed in saying it, and you should stop self-censoring.

Islam and liberal democracy are incompatible. Cultures and religions are not equal. And perhaps most important of all, Muslims are not half-wits who respond only in violence. The Koran is not a great book. It is reactionary and it's full of misogyny. And the Byzantine emperor's analysis of Mohammed was accurate -- he did spread his faith by the sword.

Why haven't I heard anyone talking about this?

There's a lot to unwrap in that news story. Check this out, for starters [emphasis my own]:

The cocktail party Rezko hosted in 2003 came at a critical time for Obama. He and Rezko timed it to help Obama show he had enough money to compete in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate against millionaire Blair Hull and state Comptroller Dan Hynes.

"This was discussed a lot. They wanted to have a good showing," said a source familiar with the fund-raiser, speaking on condition of anonymity.

"Tony was one of the biggest fund-raisers."

At the time of the party, the state was in the process of foreclosing on a low-income apartment building Rezko's company rehabbed in Obama's state Senate district -- a rehab project on which Obama's law firm worked. Rezko had also abandoned many other low-income apartments, leaving numerous vacant units in need of major repairs.

Rezko was indicted in October 2006 in unrelated fraud schemes.

Between 75 and 80 people attended Rezko's cocktail party, according to Burton, but he said the campaign has no list of the guests.

More than half a dozen people who were there said between 100 and 150 guests were treated to an open bar and food served by Jewell Events Catering, run by renowned Chicago caterer George Jewell. Valets parked cars for the guests, who each were asked to donate at least $1,000.

Rezko picked up the tab. The exact cost of the party has never been disclosed to the Federal Election Commission, which allows hosts to pay up to $2,000 for fund-raisers held in their homes and not report the expense. If a party costs more than $2,000, the candidate must tell the FEC about it.

Burton said, based on a conversation a former Obama staff member had with Rezko, that the party didn't cost more than $2,000.

Three days after the cocktail party, Obama got donations from several Rezko associates, Obama's campaign records show.

...and there's much more where that came from. Read the full story here. Also, take a look at this PDF file that charts donations from Rezko and his chums. The Chicago Sun-Times has a few related stories up, too:

• Obama's letters for Rezko
• Obama donates Rezko contribution
• Rezko question dogs Obama
• Feds sic mole on Rezko
• Obama: I didn't know about Rezko problems

Thanks to The NewsBuckit for bringing this to everyone’s attention.