Comments on Left Bank Blog: Stating the Obvious

That's why I said, "If these opinions of yours wer...

2006-04-05T12:03:00.000-05:00

That's why I said, "If these opinions of yours were to be adopted as policy,and I were Al Qaeda, I'd be jumping for joy. "

And I didn't say "militarize the border," let alone the border with Canada. I do say secure the border, and if that means more national guard, fine. If that means physical barriers in some places, that's fine too.

Secure the border. I "imagine" a day when there is an international community which transcends national interests too, but until then, let's deal with reality.

If most Americans agree with you, then why is it t...

2006-04-04T18:19:00.000-05:00

If most Americans agree with you, then why is it that even the most extreme right-wing Republican congressmen aren't calling for militarization of the Canadian border?

It's not that I don't think this is an issue. It's just that I think militarizing a border is a hostile, impractical, unnecessary and stupid step.

And yes, I know terrorists pay attention to what our government does. Somehow I doubt that they read my blog, though.

You know, you can try to finesse this any way you'...

2006-04-04T15:54:00.000-05:00

You know, you can try to finesse this any way you'd like, but if you don't want to legitimately secure our borders, you're out of your mind no matter which way you look at it.

And I think YOU are the one on the side of 7 people in this country. Most Americans support every measure needed to provide security.

Also, I think you're seriously underestimating the attention terrorists pay to our policies, if you think we shouldn't take into consideration the fact that they will attempt to exploit what we do in any way possible.

Opposing a huge, militarized wall along the Canadi...

2006-04-03T15:44:00.000-05:00

Opposing a huge, militarized wall along the Canadian border makes me a "far-left delusionist!!?"

Wow, OK...

Well, you and the other seven people in the country who support such a bizzarre and drastic step can go ahead and think that all you want. I, for one, tend to think that I'm the one who's in the mainstream here.

Also, the mere fact that your argument is based on "What if a terrorist was reading this and your argument was official government policy??" should raise a few red flags about its strength.

Yes, of course. Fox News has taken control of my b...

2006-04-03T11:57:00.000-05:00

Yes, of course. Fox News has taken control of my brain.

What do you mean it's not realistic to assume that if we don't begin to actively take control of the borders of this country, terrorists will infiltrate it? Gimme a break. Take a second here, and think about what you would be surmising if you were an Al Qaeda operative reading your assertions just now.

If these opinions of yours were to be adopted as policy,and I were Al Qaeda, I'd be jumping for joy.

Is it pleasant to have to take these measures to apply some barriers against REAL terrorist threats? (on both borders, I might add) No. But it's necessary, and to say otherwise is just being a far-left delusionist.

I think your new-found "pragmatism" has been compromised.

I suppose you don't get the Canada thing for the s...

2006-04-03T00:07:00.000-05:00

I suppose you don't get the Canada thing for the same reason you didn't get my last post. Basically, it's an attmpt to mock the increasingly pathetic war supporters who suggest that everything is peachy in Iraq, but the media only focuses on the negative -- as if daily bombings and executions should be relegated to back page news every time a school is painted. The joke here is that there was a bombing in Toronto, and I haven't heard the media say anything about schools being painted in Canada recently. So perhaps conservatives should think the media only reports bad news from there, too.

As for the thing about immigration, I worry that all the Fox News you watch is getting to your head. Your argument is indeed a "fear card" and it's entirely abstract. So even if terrorists were trying to cross the border from Mexico (even though there is no evidence that this has ever happened or will happen), how do you propose we stop that? Build a huge fence and mobilize the army along the border, a la Pat Buchanan? And if we do that, wouldn't we also have to do the same on our Northern border? What kind of country do you envision? One in which we're so paranoid that we have to surround ourselves with walls? That's not realistic, and it's not good policy.

I don't understand the (humor?) in your second blu...

2006-04-02T23:05:00.000-05:00

I don't understand the (humor?) in your second blurb. As for the first...most are Mexicans, and most want to work....but Al Qaeda, I'm sure, would love for you to continue to assume that's who they all are and all will be coming to do. I believe in amnesty and citizenship for all the un-documented workers who are already here. Then I believe in not allowing a would-be suicide bomber to disguise his/her way across in a full-blown exploitation of your over-generalized assumption. Call it the "fear card"- fine. But call it a real fear too. I know if I were Al Qaeda, I'd be happy if you acted as though I'm not gonna try to find a way in.